New Leisure and Personal Development courses starting after Easter at South Thames College - A range of new courses, including some very topical ones like Managing your Budget and Interview and CV preparation, have been launched and are recruiting now.

Get into parks – The Prince’s Trust are running a 2 week programme for young people interested in working in the Parks and Green Spaces industry. Employability days will take place on 21-22 April 2009, the taster days on 23-24 April and the main programme will take place on 27 April -1 May 2009. To apply, please send the referral form to Katy.Reiff@princes-trust.org.uk.

Young Leaders – be sexwise! The Terrance Higgins Trust are looking for 12 young people (13-19 years old) to be on the regional board for London. Please contact Andie Dyer or call 020 7812 1791.

Fully funded apprenticeships – Free apprenticeships are available in the following fields: carpentry; bricklaying; general operative; and plant maintenance. Please complete and return the candidate submission form and return to relay@gle.co.uk.

YPF 2 Local Grants Recruitment – If you are between 10-25 and want to learn new skills then the Big Lottery Fund is looking for young people to join their decision making committee.

Unheard Voices – The Royal Court is running an 11 week playwriting course starting in May 2009 to develop and nurture the next generation of young Muslim writers. To apply for the course, send us a maximum of 10 pages of writing intended for the stage. Deadline for applications is 17 April 2009.

BBC Switch - The BBC is looking for young people, age 12-17 who want to tell their stories about the realities of growing up in a city. For more information please contact Chloë Bryan-Brown or call 020 7278 3405.

Young Environmental Photographer of the Year includes a category which is open to anyone under 21, including photography students. The winner of this category will become the Young Environmental Photographer of the Year and receive £500. To find out more click here.  

UNICEF UK’s Junior 8 2009 competition is now open. They are looking for a team of four young people, aged 14-17 to attend the UNICEF J8 summit. The closing date for entries is 8 April 2009.

Beating Cyber bullying – The charity Beatbullying has launched a website to help crack down on online bullying.

Battle of the campaigns – Young people wanting; cheaper bus fares? to abolish university tuition fees? Want their school to recycle more? They can cast their vote in in Battle of the Campaigns '09 from UK Youth Parliament.

Positive activities – The NYA has produced two free downloadable lists for young people looking for funding to support positive activities or awards in recognition of their involvement in positive activities.

Young people and governance – The British Youth Council are conducting a survey on young people and governance. The survey only takes 5 minutes, but they are keen to get as many views as possible.

Changes to Care to Learn – View details of changes that are being made to Care to Learn.

£8.25 million to give young people a voice – Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, announced a further £8 million, on top of the £8 million announced in 2006, to give thousands more disadvantaged young people the opportunity to produce creative media projects.

Youth Crime Action Plan: Handbook for Practitioners – The Home Office has published a new handbook for practitioners which sets out the goals for the Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) and provides guidance on its execution.

Breaking the link between disadvantage and low attainment – This is a summary document by the DCSF of international and national evidence of the link between deprivation and education. It highlights some of the good practice already shown by schools and LAs and signals future policy direction.

Independent Safeguarding Authority delayed – The Government's new vetting and barring scheme to protect children and vulnerable adults has been delayed until July next year.

Uploading of details to ContactPoint suspended – The uploading of children's details to ContactPoint has been temporarily suspended because of security problems.

Think Fathers – The DCSF has launched a Think Fathers website to offer information to individuals and organisations to offer better support to dads.

Improved care for young witnesses – Plans to give young, vulnerable witnesses better support and encourage more witnesses to come forward with evidence of crimes has been published by Justice Minister Maria Eagle.

Call to allow more offenders to volunteer – Baroness Julia Neuberger has called for more offenders to be able to volunteer as part of their rehabilitation.

Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) £5 million pledge – New funding will be used to extend the Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) for another year.

Universities drop youth work training courses – At least three universities are planning to drop their youth work courses, sparking urgent talks on the implications for the workforce, read more here.

Myplace funding – Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, announced the 41 successful myplace projects to be awarded a share of £180 million.

40% fewer homeless young people in bed and breakfast – National figures released, show that the number of vulnerable young 16 and 17 year olds being housed in bed and breakfast accommodation has fallen by 40% over the last year.

Generation Next Foundation – A charity that offers young people the chance to develop skills in film production and fashion design in order to steer them away from gang culture.

Plans for more young Mayors unveiled – New opportunities to become a young mayor with a real mandate and a real budget were announced by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

Youth crime – This publication is a small research study exploring attitudes from adults and young people towards youth crime.

Gun and knife crime survey – A survey of more than 1,700 children and young people by 11 Million and You Gov reveals the level of concern children and young people have over gun and knife crime.

A literature review has also been published, which was commissioned by 11 MILLION and carried out by Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, which provides a review of evidence around the effectiveness of interventions to tackle children and young people's involvement in gun and knife crime.

Safeguarding agencies fail to share information – Less than 30 per cent of respondents said they have mechanisms in place to include the views of parents, children and young people in policy making, a MORI survey commissioned by the DCSF reveals.

Kids in the Middle – This guide from the DCSF contains small, simple steps to help separating parents realise the impact of their actions on their children and provide them with support through this difficult time.

Young people and weapons – A survey carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Youth Justice Board found in a survey of 4,750 young people aged 11-16 that 17 per cent reported carrying a penknife in the past year.

Changes to Care to Learn – View details of changes that are being made to Care to Learn.

£8.25 million to give young people a voice – Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, announced a further £8 million, on top of the £8 million announced in 2006, to give thousands more disadvantaged young people the opportunity to produce creative media projects.

Youth Crime Action Plan: Handbook for Practitioners – The Home Office has published a new handbook for practitioners which sets out the goals for the Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) and provides guidance on its execution.

Breaking the link between disadvantage and low attainment – This is a summary document by the DCSF of international and national evidence of the link between deprivation and education. It highlights some of the good practice already shown by schools and LAs and signals future policy direction.

Independent Safeguarding Authority delayed – The Government's new vetting and barring scheme to protect children and vulnerable adults has been delayed until July next year.

Uploading of details to ContactPoint suspended – The uploading of children's details to ContactPoint has been temporarily suspended because of security problems.

Think Fathers – The DCSF has launched a Think Fathers website to offer information to individuals and organisations to offer better support to dads.

Improved care for young witnesses – Plans to give young, vulnerable witnesses better support and encourage more witnesses to come forward with evidence of crimes has been published by Justice Minister Maria Eagle.

Call to allow more offenders to volunteer – Baroness Julia Neuberger has called for more offenders to be able to volunteer as part of their rehabilitation.

Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) £5 million pledge – New funding will be used to extend the Tackling Knives Action Programme (TKAP) for another year.

Universities drop youth work training courses – At least three universities are planning to drop their youth work courses, sparking urgent talks on the implications for the workforce, read more here.

Myplace funding – Beverley Hughes, Minister for Children and Young People, announced the 41 successful myplace projects to be awarded a share of £180 million.

40% fewer homeless young people in bed and breakfast – National figures released, show that the number of vulnerable young 16 and 17 year olds being housed in bed and breakfast accommodation has fallen by 40% over the last year.

Generation Next Foundation – A charity that offers young people the chance to develop skills in film production and fashion design in order to steer them away from gang culture.

Plans for more young Mayors unveiled – New opportunities to become a young mayor with a real mandate and a real budget were announced by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

Youth crime – This publication is a small research study exploring attitudes from adults and young people towards youth crime.

Gun and knife crime survey – A survey of more than 1,700 children and young people by 11 Million and You Gov reveals the level of concern children and young people have over gun and knife crime.

A literature review has also been published, which was commissioned by 11 MILLION and carried out by Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, which provides a review of evidence around the effectiveness of interventions to tackle children and young people's involvement in gun and knife crime.

Safeguarding agencies fail to share information – Less than 30 per cent of respondents said they have mechanisms in place to include the views of parents, children and young people in policy making, a MORI survey commissioned by the DCSF reveals.

Kids in the Middle – This guide from the DCSF contains small, simple steps to help separating parents realise the impact of their actions on their children and provide them with support through this difficult time.

Young people and weapons – A survey carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Youth Justice Board found in a survey of 4,750 young people aged 11-16 that 17 per cent reported carrying a penknife in the past year.

 

Engaging young people: local authority youth work 2005–08 – Engaging young people draws upon evidence from local authority youth services inspections which took place as part of Ofsted’s joint area reviews of children’s and young people’s services from 2005 to 2008.

Progression through Apprenticeships – The Skills Commission has launched a major report into apprenticeships.

The Protection of Children in England: A Progress report – This report by Lord Laming, commissioned by the Children’s Secretary Ed Balls in November 2008 is aimed at making sure that good practice becomes standard practice in every service.

Does Every Child Matter? Children Seeking Asylum in Britain – Refugee and Migrant Justice has released a report which details how children seeking asylum experience the immigration system.

Database state – A report commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd to map the main central UK government databases has revealed that children are among those most at risk of privacy infringements and calls for ContactPoint and the electronic Common Assessment Framework to be scrapped or substantially redesigned.

The Young Inspectors' Pilot Project: Interim Findings Report – The Young Inspectors' project was initiated to pilot a youth led process for looking at how six identified boroughs in London undertake consultation work with young people in their respective localities.

Targeted Youth Support Pathfinders Evaluation – This evaluation from the DCSF involved in-depth case studies in six of the 14 TYS pathfinder areas and interviews with LA strategic and operational leads and a review of the TYS model development.

London Review of Safeguarding Children – In December 2008 borough leaders ordered a review of safeguarding arrangements in London and agreed a report setting out the review’s recommendations.

Safeguarding children and young people who may be affected by gang activity – This supplementary guidance from the DCSF is intended to help agencies and professionals ensure that the safeguarding process responds effectively to the needs of children and young people who are at risk of gang-related violence and harm. The closing date for comments is 19 June 2009. 

150 years of the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer: On the state of public health 2008 – The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2008 draws attention to major health challenges requiring immediate action, and details progress made in key areas identified in previous annual reports.

A Children’s Environment and Health Strategy for the United Kingdom – The Health Protection Agency has published a Strategy to improve the health and well-being of children in the United Kingdom by changing the environment in which they live.

 

Engaging young people: local authority youth work 2005–08 – Engaging young people draws upon evidence from local authority youth services inspections which took place as part of Ofsted’s joint area reviews of children’s and young people’s services from 2005 to 2008.

Progression through Apprenticeships – The Skills Commission has launched a major report into apprenticeships.

The Protection of Children in England: A Progress report – This report by Lord Laming, commissioned by the Children’s Secretary Ed Balls in November 2008 is aimed at making sure that good practice becomes standard practice in every service.

Does Every Child Matter? Children Seeking Asylum in Britain – Refugee and Migrant Justice has released a report which details how children seeking asylum experience the immigration system.

Database state – A report commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd to map the main central UK government databases has revealed that children are among those most at risk of privacy infringements and calls for ContactPoint and the electronic Common Assessment Framework to be scrapped or substantially redesigned.

The Young Inspectors' Pilot Project: Interim Findings Report – The Young Inspectors' project was initiated to pilot a youth led process for looking at how six identified boroughs in London undertake consultation work with young people in their respective localities.

Targeted Youth Support Pathfinders Evaluation – This evaluation from the DCSF involved in-depth case studies in six of the 14 TYS pathfinder areas and interviews with LA strategic and operational leads and a review of the TYS model development.

London Review of Safeguarding Children – In December 2008 borough leaders ordered a review of safeguarding arrangements in London and agreed a report setting out the review’s recommendations.

Safeguarding children and young people who may be affected by gang activity – This supplementary guidance from the DCSF is intended to help agencies and professionals ensure that the safeguarding process responds effectively to the needs of children and young people who are at risk of gang-related violence and harm. The closing date for comments is 19 June 2009. 

150 years of the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer: On the state of public health 2008 – The Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2008 draws attention to major health challenges requiring immediate action, and details progress made in key areas identified in previous annual reports.

A Children’s Environment and Health Strategy for the United Kingdom – The Health Protection Agency has published a Strategy to improve the health and well-being of children in the United Kingdom by changing the environment in which they live.

Every LGBT Youth Matters Conference – The LGBT Consortium are putting together this conference which is looking at the new legislative rights and specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans gender young people.  It will take place in London on 24 April 2009.

Young Londoners Participation Network meeting will focus on working with looked after young people on Monday 27 April 2009. If you have a project you would like to share that addresses a related topic then please contact Rosie Fergunson.

Positive activities for young people – This conference jointly organised and hosted by the LGA, NYA and DCSF will look at how councils and their local partners are working together to commission positive activities for young people. It will take place in London on 28 April 2009.

Volunteering works: making a real difference in your community during recession and beyond – This is a joint conference being organised by the Local Government Association in partnership with Volunteering England and will take place in London, on 29 April 2009.

Fairbridge Training is the external training division of leading youth charity Fairbridge. They are currently taking bookings for Working More Effectively with Young People, which costs £150 +VAT for each day. All dates take place at their Kennington Centre in London on 6, 13 and 20 May 2009. For further information please contact Annalisa Monzione on 0207 902 1248.

Training the trainer in alcohol awareness is a one day training course provided by UK Youth on 7 May 2009 in London. Delegates will receive resources such as the Drinkaware Toolkit which they can use in their training delivery and work with young people.

The state of London debate – Each year the Greater London Authority like to give you the chance to talk to the Mayor and other senior figures in London about the issues that matter to you in your city. This event will take place on 9 May 2009.

Disclosing criminal records to employers – This free half day training course from Advice UK, organised by East London Connexions, will identify best practice in assisting clients to disclose criminal records and describe the system of Criminal Records Bureau checks. It will take place on 27 May 2009 in Stratford.

Understanding how domestic violence affects the lives of young people – This course from Youth Access aims to explore and develop participants’ understanding of the different ways that domestic violence can affect the lives of young people. This will take place in London on 18 June 2009.

Advising Young People on Housing and Homelessness (in partnership with Shelter) – This course from Youth Access aims to develop participants’ understanding of young single homelessness and the relevant legislative frameworks. This course will take place on 2 July 2009.

 

Every LGBT Youth Matters Conference – The LGBT Consortium are putting together this conference which is looking at the new legislative rights and specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans gender young people.  It will take place in London on 24 April 2009.

Young Londoners Participation Network meeting will focus on working with looked after young people on Monday 27 April 2009. If you have a project you would like to share that addresses a related topic then please contact Rosie Fergunson.

Positive activities for young people – This conference jointly organised and hosted by the LGA, NYA and DCSF will look at how councils and their local partners are working together to commission positive activities for young people. It will take place in London on 28 April 2009.

Volunteering works: making a real difference in your community during recession and beyond – This is a joint conference being organised by the Local Government Association in partnership with Volunteering England and will take place in London, on 29 April 2009.

Fairbridge Training is the external training division of leading youth charity Fairbridge. They are currently taking bookings for Working More Effectively with Young People, which costs £150 +VAT for each day. All dates take place at their Kennington Centre in London on 6, 13 and 20 May 2009. For further information please contact Annalisa Monzione on 0207 902 1248.

Training the trainer in alcohol awareness is a one day training course provided by UK Youth on 7 May 2009 in London. Delegates will receive resources such as the Drinkaware Toolkit which they can use in their training delivery and work with young people.

The state of London debate – Each year the Greater London Authority like to give you the chance to talk to the Mayor and other senior figures in London about the issues that matter to you in your city. This event will take place on 9 May 2009.

Disclosing criminal records to employers – This free half day training course from Advice UK, organised by East London Connexions, will identify best practice in assisting clients to disclose criminal records and describe the system of Criminal Records Bureau checks. It will take place on 27 May 2009 in Stratford.

Understanding how domestic violence affects the lives of young people – This course from Youth Access aims to explore and develop participants’ understanding of the different ways that domestic violence can affect the lives of young people. This will take place in London on 18 June 2009.

Advising Young People on Housing and Homelessness (in partnership with Shelter) – This course from Youth Access aims to develop participants’ understanding of young single homelessness and the relevant legislative frameworks. This course will take place on 2 July 2009.

 

There were contrasting reports on the state of the retail sector last month.

Struggling high streets

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) retail sales growth almost stalled in February as consumers cut back on spending. Sales growth slowed to 0.4% when compared with February 2008, a sharp slowdown in the rate of growth after a 3.6% rise in January. This was the smallest annual increase since September 1995, according to the ONS. The figures suggest that retailers are still attracting shoppers, but through discounting that has hit profits.

Retail sales have so far held up much better than many analysts had expected as other parts of the economy have declined. Nevertheless, the past year has seen a big change in the spending patterns of UK households, in response to the growing recession and the credit crunch, the ONS said separately, in its latest edition of its publication Economic & Labour Market Review.

On a monthly basis, retail sales fell from January to February, more than had been predicted, with textile, clothing and footwear store sales down by 3.7%.

While High Street retailers are reporting weaker profits and cutting back expansion, supermarkets have announced better than expected results. The value of food sales has held up strongly as most food is still regarded as an essential item, the ONS said in the Economic & Labour Market Review.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury's reported that same-store sales increased in the first three months of the year boosted by its range of cheaper "basics" products. That followed rival Morrisons, which reported a 7% increase in annual pre-tax profits, and Waitrose, which saw sales touch £4bn for the first time. The ONS said that sales at food stores were 4.9% higher for the three months to February than in the same period last year.

Central London bucking the trend?

The British Retail Consortium/KPMG Retail Sales Monitor suggests that like-for-like sales in Central London were up 5.9% on one year earlier.  This compares with a 1.8% fall over the same period for the rest of the UK.

Helen Dickenson, Head of Retail for KPMG commented that “The results for the month were impacted negatively by the snowy weather in the first week - but this was more than offset by the ongoing benefits of the increased level of foreign visitors continuing to take advantage of the favourable exchange rate, and the high levels of discounting and promotions”.

At present London’s labour market appears to be holding up better than the UK as a whole. London’s working age employment increased to 71.7% (up from 70.7% a year earlier) in the three months to January 2009. That of the UK fell from 74.9% to 74.1% over the same period. 

There were contrasting reports on the state of the retail sector last month.

Struggling high streets

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) retail sales growth almost stalled in February as consumers cut back on spending. Sales growth slowed to 0.4% when compared with February 2008, a sharp slowdown in the rate of growth after a 3.6% rise in January. This was the smallest annual increase since September 1995, according to the ONS. The figures suggest that retailers are still attracting shoppers, but through discounting that has hit profits.

Retail sales have so far held up much better than many analysts had expected as other parts of the economy have declined. Nevertheless, the past year has seen a big change in the spending patterns of UK households, in response to the growing recession and the credit crunch, the ONS said separately, in its latest edition of its publication Economic & Labour Market Review.

On a monthly basis, retail sales fell from January to February, more than had been predicted, with textile, clothing and footwear store sales down by 3.7%.

While High Street retailers are reporting weaker profits and cutting back expansion, supermarkets have announced better than expected results. The value of food sales has held up strongly as most food is still regarded as an essential item, the ONS said in the Economic & Labour Market Review.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury's reported that same-store sales increased in the first three months of the year boosted by its range of cheaper "basics" products. That followed rival Morrisons, which reported a 7% increase in annual pre-tax profits, and Waitrose, which saw sales touch £4bn for the first time. The ONS said that sales at food stores were 4.9% higher for the three months to February than in the same period last year.

Central London bucking the trend?

The British Retail Consortium/KPMG Retail Sales Monitor suggests that like-for-like sales in Central London were up 5.9% on one year earlier.  This compares with a 1.8% fall over the same period for the rest of the UK.

Helen Dickenson, Head of Retail for KPMG commented that “The results for the month were impacted negatively by the snowy weather in the first week - but this was more than offset by the ongoing benefits of the increased level of foreign visitors continuing to take advantage of the favourable exchange rate, and the high levels of discounting and promotions”.

At present London’s labour market appears to be holding up better than the UK as a whole. London’s working age employment increased to 71.7% (up from 70.7% a year earlier) in the three months to January 2009. That of the UK fell from 74.9% to 74.1% over the same period.