Christian remand fostering centres closed because of Govt inflexibility

Government procedures branded as “impractical” have forced CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) to shut down two of their successful remand fostering centres.

Despite good assessments, the National Care Standards Commission refused to treat CARE Remand Fostering (CRF) as one agency. So they charged each local project – which meant that CARE was facing four separate bills for the one service.

“The Government has created a near impossible environment for independent agencies,” said Tim Clewer, former head of CARE’s scheme. CARE claim such procedures don’t offer any flexibility for smaller bodies.

“In carrying out the Care Standards Act 2000, the Government departments involved fail to work with the Home Office. They claim to aspire towards a joined-up approach, but in this case do not practise what they preach. They are aware of the situation but refuse to do anything about it.”

At present, the Government allocates the costs of remand fostering to local authorities. But because of lack of funds in local authorities, most young offenders are more likely to end up in custody – paid for by the Home Office.

However the DFES paper Youth Justice – the Next Steps underlines the Government’s desire to send young offenders to remand fostering. Tim Clewer commented: “Unless the Government sorts out the funding, this is destined to fail.

“Legislators need to fully understand the costs of their decision-making. Remand fostering saves taxpayers’ money by reducing reoffending, saving police action and court time. It also helps society by re-entering young people as productive players in education or employment.”

CRF is part of CARE. Established at Reading in 1998, the scheme grew to Brimingham, Chelmsford and Tees Valley – providing young offenders with a short-term stable environment in a caring foster family.

Children's charity applauds minimum wage for 16 and 17-year-olds

NCH has called Gordon Brown's Budget announcement that there will be a minimum wage for 16 and 17-year-olds “excellent news”.

“It is only right that this age group have proper protection from the exploitation of unscrupulous employers,” said a spokesman. “This brings long-awaited fairness into the workplace and will be applauded by teenagers up and down the country.

"Tough enforcement of the minimum wage is essential if it is to make a real difference to working 16 and 17-year-olds. NCH will be calling on the Government to step up its campaign against employers who continue to flout the law and pay workers below the minimum wage.

"Ideally NCH would like to see all school-leaving youngsters stay in education or embark on some form of training. But in reality many do leave school to go into employment - or juggle a job with some form of training. These teenagers are entitled to a minimum hourly level of pay."

The charity also believes the Budget is a boost for teenagers and young children.

"Extra investment in Sure Start, early years education and childcare in the most deprived areas is a vital step to stamping out child poverty. It will improve the lives of many families living on the breadline.
"Giving every teenager up to the age of 18 the chance to receive training or education will help to bridge the gap between the highest and lowest achievers. But these changes need to be flexible enough to meet the needs of all children and teenagers. The Government must make sure that staying in education after the age of 16 is worthwhile."

For further information visit www.nch.org.uk

Teens in abortion backlash

A recent magazine survey overwhelmingly demonstrated a ‘growing backlash against abortion’ among teenagers according to Student Lifenet.

The social survey of 5,000 young people, commissioned by Bliss magazine, found that 65% think “there are too many abortions” and 66% think “people have abortions too lightly”.

Patrick Leahy, director of Student LifeNet, said the survey “sends a very clear message to the government: you are out of touch with our opinions on abortion”.

He added: “This Labour government has failed to significantly reduce the overall abortion rate. Instead it has made the morning-after-pill and the RU-486 abortion pill more easily available. It is alienating young people.

“With Reverend Joanna Jepson’s popular court battle, America’s partial-birth abortion ban, and now this clear indication from the future of Britain, there is increasing pressure on the government to limit access to abortion. It is clearly time to reduce the upper limit on abortion.”

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