Family Policy and the New Government
Our family policy conference held on 13 July.
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Teen Worries - March 2010
Inequality in Britain - February 2010
Work-life balance – for fathers too - October 2009
RoSPA releases new film to help families stay safe at home - October 2009
Working Mothers and Children's Health - October 2009
Vetting and Barring scheme - September 2009
Public spending - 3 new reports - September 2009
Teenagers - August 2009
Parental leave - July 09
Family breakdown - July 09
New study from DPPI on the lack of information about choices and services for disabled parents-to-be
Newsflash: 21st Century Schools - 30 June 2009
New blue print for public services - 29 June 2009
Families and the recession - 10 June 2009
National Family Week - 25 May 2009
No improvements in child poverty - 13 May 2009
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill 2008-09 - House of Commons Committee - 5 March 2009
The State and the Family: Supporting Relationships - time for a rethink?
New study on commercialisation
Nursery World Awards 2008
£25 billion annual cost of child poverty
New debates at PC2008
New UN proposals
Independent complaints service
Beverley Hughes to open PC2008
Government launches new UK council for child internet safety
Working mums
Homes Fit for Families - 10 July 2008
Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO) in children's and young people's services - 10 July 2008Parenting support services - 07 July 2008
Youth Justice - 13 June 2008
Child Poverty – June 13 2008
Mental health - children and parents... - 08 May 2008
International links
Fairer fuel deal for families?- 25 April 2008
What are today's social evils? - 21 April 2008
Families and new technology
Bringing Up Britain
Slim chance of being obese?
Staying Safe: Action Plan
The Children's Plan
Work, income and childcare
Children and young people have safety fears about the new ContactPoint database for children in England
New measures to tackle childhood obesity
Help parents and children have their say about using the internet and video games safely
BBC poll on family life
'Bringing up baby'
Survey of children's freedom
'In work, better off' webchats with Ministers
Ofsted guidance on parental complaints
Money, relationships and the law - University of Exeter seeks co-habitees to complete survey
Narrowing the gap between rich and poor must involve schools, families and communities – Monday 3 September
Balancing family and work?
JRF drive to identify modern 'social evils' Calling practitioners and all parents, children and young people
Safeguarding Children from Abuse Linked to a Belief in Spirit Possession
Consultancy for Respect Action Areas
NAPP
LAs
Budget
Every Parent Matters
Maternity Care
SETF Families Reivew
The Money Programme
Marriages decrease
McCreaddie won't be taken into care
Johnson rejects marriage as the only way to raise children
Working mothers still face discrimination
Progressive Inequality?
UK is accused of failing children
Meet the parents!
Teen Worries - March 2010
Recently, teenagers have been the subject of a number of reports concerning their habits and experiences
A study published in the Archives of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine looked at two groups of teens in New Zealand, 16 years apart, concluded that the more time teens spend watching television or playing on a computer or games console, the less likely they are to be close to their family and friends
Independent
A report by Action for Children has argued that the school day should be lengthened to help "latchkey kids" who are left alone after school while parents work.
Independent
Half of children have experienced age discrimination according to a survey carried out on behalf of the Children's Rights Alliance for England
CRAE
In her annual report, the Chief Inspector of Prisons has said that children continue to be jailed too far from home.
CYPNOW
Inequality in Britain
- February 2010
The National Equality Panel, commissioned by the Government, reported how unequal Britain had become. In its 'An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK' report, 2007-8 was the highest level of income inequality since world war two with the richest 10% of the population over 100 times wealthier than the poorest 10%.
Children in "severe poverty" rose before the recession even started from 260,000 in 2004 to 1.7m in 2008, a Save the Children report found. This is likely to rise even further.
People living in poorer neighbourhoods are still more likely to die younger and spend more time with a disability, according to a new report into health inequality in England.
Channel 4
The government failed to "significantly improve" children's health despite spending over £10bn an Audit Commission study found. The Commission said the persistence of health inequalities meant children under five living in deprived areas had a significantly "higher risk of poor health".
Guardian.
The most disadvantaged families in the UK are failing to access childcare even when it is offered to them for free, according to a Department for Children, Schools and Families commissioned report.
The gap between rich and poor students attending university has widened slightly since the mid-90s, figures published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England show.
Telegraph.
Statistics obtained by the Liberal Democrats show the gap between the achievements of the most disadvantaged children in different parts of the country is now greater than the national performance gap between rich and poor.
Telegraph
The government must do more to communicate with parents of black and minority ethnic young people to tackle inequality in training provision, a National Skills Forum report found. This comes just weeks after unemployment figures shows young black people are twice as likely to be unemployed as their white counterparts.
Children and Young People Now
Work-life balance – for fathers too
FPI's chief executive, Dr Katherine Rake responded to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's report on the pressures working fathers face.
"It is clear many fathers want to spend more time with their children. Parents have told us that they want flexible working to be extended so it becomes part of everyday working life. Ensuring all parents feel confident to work flexibly is the way forward. Currently, many mums and dads don't ask for flexible working because they fear that if they do it would mark them out as somehow less committed and make them more vulnerable to redundancy.
"This needs to be addressed to make life easier for fathers and mothers, which would help increase parents' involvement in their children's lives. We want employers, employees, the government, schools, families and parenting support services to work together to help working mothers and fathers so they can do what's best for their family
"We should see this recession as an opportunity to re-imagine the workplace and make flexibility work for both employers and employees. FPI welcomes this report which shows what we all know that families are under strain in managing the twin responsibilities of caring for children and earning a living."
RoSPA releases new film to help families stay safe at home
- October 2009A short film highlighting the dangers facing under-fives in the home has been releases by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents today (October 19) to tie in with the first day of Parents' Week 2009.
Safe At Home follows the story of two-year-old Sam as he tries desperately to make his parents aware of the hazards facing him in the family home.
Embarking on Operation Unlocked Window, Operation Unsecured Medicine Cupboard and Operation Unsecured Matches, Sam uses his toys in an attempt to alert his parents to the dangers. But will he succeed before he gets injured?
The eight-minute film has been produced as part of the wider Safe At Home project, the national home safety equipment scheme, and it can be watched for free online at www.safeathome.rospa.com
Working Mothers and Children's Health
- October 2009Research by Professor Catherine Law at UCL's Institute of Child Health says mothers who work raise unhealthier children than stay-at-home mums. The study concluded that children of working mums are more likely to be driven to school, watch TV, snack on fizzy drinks and eat too few portions of fruits and vegetables.
FPI said: "FPI welcomes this report which shows what we all know that families can be under strain in managing the twin responsibilities of caring for children and earning a living. We need more information about whether less healthy eating happens in the family home, child care or nurseries and schools so we can encourage healthy eating and lots of outdoor play for children. The answer is not to keep blaming mothers and fathers especially in a recession but to help them. Working mothers and fathers are always trying to do what is best for their family; they need help from employers, for example, greater flexibility over the way and hours they work. "
The report shows, and we agree, this is about making work-life balance easier so children growing up in working homes are as healthy as they can be." Mary MacLeod, chief executive, FPI "
Vetting and Barring scheme
- September 2009From July 2010 the vetting and barring scheme becomes operational for individuals working with children and vulnerable adults.
Where people work paid or unpaid with children (or vulnerable adults) on a frequent or intensive basis, or overnight, they will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
The scheme's requirements only apply to arrangements made through third parties such as a school or a club; the personal arrangements parents make, for example with friends, are obviously excluded from the scheme.
DCSF
Public Spending - 3 new reports
- September 2009How to save £50 billion
A joint publication by the Institute of Directors and the TaxPayers' Alliance proposes 32 measures to save £50 billion including
- Abolishing Sure Start, Building Schools for the Future , the Education Maintenance Allowance and Contact Point
- Also abolishing Child Benefit and the Child Trust Fund, and increase the Child Element of the Child Tax Credit to address child poverty concerns
- Abandoning plans to extend the compulsory school leaving age to 18
- Reducing non-frontline staff in health and schools by 10 per cent
Tackling the fiscal crisis: A recovery plan for the UK
Dr Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesman, looks at new and radical ways to tackle the fiscal crisis.
His proposals include:
- Tapering the family element of the tax credit
- Scrapping several major IT systems including ContactPoint
- Curbing the centralisation in education, by cutting national strategies and scrapping quangos
Dynamic Benefits: Towards Welfare That Works
The Centre for Social Justice is an independent think tank established, by Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP in 2004, to seek effective solutions to the poverty that blight parts of Britain.
At the core of the CSJ's recommendations in its new report are measures to make work pay, and reduce the working couple penalty. The report concludes that under the present system, claimants are no better off – and sometimes poorer – if they quit the dole to take on low-paid jobs, typically those paying up to £15,000 a year.
CSJ
Teenagers - August 2009
Some teenagers do not go to after school clubs or do organised activities because they are too lazy or are under pressure from their peers, new research from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has found. The study segments young people into six different categories based on their behaviour and attitudes.
DCSF
Parents are not to blame for their teenager's behaviour according to a new report from the Nuffield Foundation. Researchers found that parenting standards had not got worse despite public concern about young people's behaviour.
Nuffield Foundation
Figures from the Family and Parenting Institute show that 60% of adults in England believe the behaviour of teenagers (including anti-social behaviour and teenage pregnancy) is one of the greatest concerns facing the family today, but less than a fifth (18%) of those who have contact with their family members say that it is a worry for their own family.
The Government is giving £10 million to projects that will help raise young people's aspirations. The money will be shared between 15 projects across England.
Communities
The Family and Parenting Institute is currently working on a new project around parental involvement in young people's education and career choices. A book with research findings and guidance for schools will be published in January 2010. We are also holding an event at the Conservative Party conference with the charity Family Links on teenagers.
The Family Room
Parental leave - July 09
The think tank Reform has recommended that flexible working regulation should be reformed to make it easier to introduce. It is one of a number of recommendations made in its new report "Productive parents".
The Family and Parenting Institute agrees that flexible working regulations should be revisited. The Work and Families Act 2006 gives parents the right to request flexible working arrangements. The right to request was extended to all parents of children 16 and under and parents of disabled children aged 18 and under.
It is up to their employer to consider the request and either grant or deny permission. The Act does not provide the employee with the right to work flexibly; it only places a duty on the employer to reasonably consider any request for flexible working.
Employment tribunals looking at cases where a request has been refused have limited powers. Tribunals simply check that the procedures have been followed correctly when a request is made; they are unable to look at the business case for refusing a request.
Parents have told the Family and Parenting Institute that they want the right to have flexible working, not just the right to request it.
Read our recent consultation documents on this subject.
Family breakdown
- July 09A new research paper has been released from the Department of Children, Schools and Families, written by the Thomas Coram Institute, called 'Impact of family breakdown on children's wellbeing - evidence review.' It highlights that "although children are at increased risk of adverse outcomes following family breakdown, and negative
outcomes can persist into adulthood, the difference between children from intact and non-intact families is small and the majority of children will not be adversely affected in the long-term."
Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute responded to the report saying: "Growing up in a loving, stable family gives children the best of starts in life. All families go through periods of strain and no relationship is conflict-free. Our new book on couple relationships shows parents split up for all sorts of reasons. Stress from financial worries, domestic violence, alcohol or drug abuse and infidelity are just some of the causes of family breakdown. It is often what has happened before and after separation as opposed to the separation itself that mark the start of poor outcomes for children.
"Separation is an upheaval for children - sometimes a very welcome one where they feel safer and more secure; but even when separation is unwelcome, they can get through and do well if they don't feel caught in the middle between warring parents. Warring parents who stay together do not necessarily protect their children from the effect of their unhappiness and strife - children in Family and Parenting Institute surveys are twice as likely as parents to say that parents getting on together is key to children's happiness. Adults need to understand fully their responsibility as parents however angry and betrayed they feel. Children need to feel loved and cared for by their father and their mother and have an ongoing relationship with them, unless it is not safe. Relationship support and mediation services can offer valuable support during this difficult time."
New study from DPPI on the lack of information about choices and services for disabled parents-to-be
A UK study on physically disabled parents' experiences of maternity services reveals that physically disabled people embarking on parenthood face a number of challenges in getting appropriate information and support, including negative attitudes from some health professionals, a lack of knowledge and information available for both parents and professionals, as well as poor communication between disabled parents and professionals.
Newsflash: 21st Century Schools
- 30 June 200921st Century Schools will need to know how and when to engage positively with parents. The Government's new White Paper on schools is expected to emphasise that parental engagement in education helps children learn and thrive. Read our press release
The Family and Parenting Institute has trialled parental engagement in schools for seven years. We offer knowhow on how to make positive links with parents that deliver results for children. What works for one school in one community won't work in every school. Our latest report on school-parent partnerships by Anne Page identifies five models that schools have adopted and that we know can work well, whether it's employing a school-parent link worker in every school or running a consultation event open to all parents when their children start at a new school.
Check out our resources here:
- School-parent partnerships: full report
- School-parent partnerships: a short guide
- Listening to parents: a short guide
New blue print for public services
- 29 June 2009The Family and Parenting Institute warmly welcomes the replacement of targets with citizen's rights under the Government's new blue print for public services announced today. The reform was recommended in the Institute's discussion paper The Contractual Culture and Family Services published in 2007. It's author Clem Henricson commented:
"I am absolutely delighted to see the Government promote a shift in power relations from central management to citizens with rights and entitlements. Entitlements provide an opportunity to embed service standards now and into the future. It is a real chance to build some strong leverage into the system."
Families and the recession
- 10 June 2009Relate and Parentline Plus have each released new reports on how the recession is affecting family life and the strain money worries are putting on relationships.
Relate found that a quarter of families are arguing more because of the recession. This follows on from the Family and Parenting Institute's research last year which showed that 29% of families were rowing over financial matters.
One in five parents told Parentline Plus they were spending less time with their family because they had to work more to make ends meet with 10% parents saying they thought money worries were threatening their relationship.
National Family Week
- 25 May 2009The Family and Parenting Institute is pleased to support National Family Week which takes place from Monday 25 to Friday 31 May 2009.
Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute said: "Most people say that their families are the most important part of their lives. Contrary to the myths, families like to spend time together but tell us that the cost of leisure activities can make this hard. So we hope National Family Week will be a vehicle for loads of free opportunities for families to have fun and enjoy themselves together."
We have loads of information for parents from how to save money and manage the family budget, to healthy eating and tackling temper tantrums.
Find out more about our information for parents here
No improvements in child poverty
- 13 May 2009Again, there has been no improvement in the number of UK children in poverty, according to the latest Households Below Average Income (HBAI) figures which were released on Thursday May 7 2009. www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbai.asp
This means that the Government is falling further behind on its pledge to halve child poverty by 2010 and end it by 2020.
In the early years of this decade, both the percentage of UK children living in poverty and the absolute numbers fell. Over the past few years, however, progress has stalled. These latest figures relate to 2007/08, so do not show the impact of the current recession.
Carena Rogers, Policy Adviser at the Family and Parenting Institute said: "It is disappointing that we are no further towards reaching the Government's targets to tackle child poverty. It is not just parents who are out of work that are in poverty, some parents who work but earn low wages are also struggling and many find themselves in poverty."
You can view Family and Parenting Institute's response to the Government's consultation on child poverty here.
Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill 2008-09 - House of Commons Committee
- 5 March 2009This Bill makes provision about apprenticeships, education, training and children's services amongst others provisions. Clem Henricson, Director of Research and Policy and Deputy Director of FPI was summoned by the Public Bill Committee examining this Bill to give evidence on proposed changes to children's services and schools' complaints procedures for parents.
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmpublic/appren/090305/pm/90305s04.htm
The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill proposes putting Children's Trusts Boards on a statutory footing with a duty to prepare and implement Children and Young People's Plans. In addition it imposes a new requirement on local authorities to include arrangements for sufficient provision of children's centres to meet local need.
The Bill also proposes that the Secretary of State's role in schools complaints will be replaced by a new parents' and young person's independent complaints service (referred to in clauses as the Local Commissioner).
The State and the Family: Supporting Relationships - time for a rethink?
22 December 2008
Mary MacLeod was a plenary speaker at the government relationship summit held on 18 December 08.
The overall aim of the summit was to help develop the Government's relationship support strategy and to enable attendees at the Summit to contribute to this process. Ed Balls started the session by setting out the Government's vision for relationship support as part of wider family policy.
Download Mary MacLeod's speech here
New study on commercialisation
The Family and Parenting Institute will be releasing a new report on commercialisation in the next few weeks called 'Business Think Family'.
The study, written by Professor of Marketing Dr Agnes Nairn, looks at how children are targeted by commercial advertising. In particular, it addresses some of the problems online advertising can create for parents including how children often know more about the web than their parents.
The report argues that some companies' advertising practices go against current legislation and regulation.
It makes recommendations on how businesses could be more responsible with their advertising. And it looks at things that have worked well in the US and Europe and questions whether similar initiatives could be equally successful here.
More details and a download version will be available soon.
To request a copy of the report please email press@familyandparenting.org
Nursery World Awards 2008
The Family and Parenting Institute was the proud sponsor of the 'Working with parents' category of the 2008 Nursery World Awards.
The winner was 'Stoke Speaks Out' a project which works with parents to increase the bond between them and their child as a way to tackle the causes and effects of speech and language delay.
The project organised parent-run toddler groups. Playworkers trained parents on how to manage the groups themselves. Parents were encouraged to play actively with their children. It improved outcomes for children by giving parents more confidence.
£25 billion annual cost of child poverty
As well as the extreme hardship felt by families there is also a serious financial cost of child poverty to the UK taxpayer and economy.
New research, out yesterday Thursday October 23 2008, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) revealed that into the UK is running at a £25 billion loss because of child poverty.
The report found that:
- £12 billion of taxpayers money is spent on services that the government spends addressing the effects of child poverty i.e. social services
- another £2 billion is spent in extra benefits paid to adults who grew up in poverty and are now out of work
- And that child poverty is also diminishing UK GDP by at least £11 billion through reduced earnings of those in work, £3 billion of which would have gone to the Exchequer in taxation.
Donald Hirsch, Poverty Adviser at JRF said: "Tackling child poverty would bring a double benefit – for the families whose life chances and quality of life would be improved and for society, which would no longer have to pay such high costs of picking up the pieces."
Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute said: "The report from JRF reiterates the importance of acting on child poverty now – not later. It is vital the Government does what it can to stick to its commitments to half child poverty by 2010 and eradicate it by 2020. This research shows the financial costs of not ending child poverty. We cannot underestimate the human costs on families in this country; it can ruin relationships and quash children's chances of a decent future."
View the full report.
New debates at PC2008
8 October 2008
Youth crime and the commercialisation of childhood will be the hot topics for two extra debates at our flagship conference in November, PC2008 – Getting it right for families?
These issues are a great concern for many parents and we will be asking what more can be done to tackle them. The Family and Parenting Institute will bring together leading experts and speakers in both of these fields to debate the issues.
The debates:
(13 November) Should parents be expected to protect their children from commercial pressures?
(14 November) Can parents be expected to solve youth crime?
Click here to find our more about the conference and to book your place.
New UN proposals
3 October 2008
The UN wants to see more protection for children involved in TV reality programmes in the UK to stop them being exploited. That was one of the areas of concern highlighted in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child report. Sally Gimson, Director of Communications at the Family and Parenting Institute said: "We welcome the UN's proposals for more regulation and it is something that we have been advocating for some time now.
"In some reality TV programmes babies and young children have been subject to outdated parenting practices. They have been left alone for hours to cry and in acute distress for entertainment. Unfortunately the welfare of children in all types of reality TV programmes isn't made paramount.
"Plus, what happens after the camera is switched off and the film crew have gone home? There is no evidence to suggest any follow up is made or the welfare of those involved is monitored.
"If you are a child actor the time you spend in front of a camera, on a set or on stage is extensively regulated. But there's nothing for kids who are involved in reality TV programmes, similar restrictions would go some way to stopping their exploitation."
Independent complaints service
24 September 2008
The Government's plan to overhaul the school complaints procedure and install a new system that is fairer and more efficient was hailed by the Family and Parenting Institute as a true commitment to listening to parents.
New plans, unveiled at the end of September, outlined how parents will be able to refer any issues that they are unhappy with, including those around uniform or behaviour, to an independent service if they feel the school has not addressed their complaint properly.
This gives mums and dads the chance to have their complaint looked at independently and in cases where the school is deemed to have acted inappropriately action, such as requiring the school to review its policies or for the governing body to reconsider its decision, will be taken.
The Family and Parenting Institute is keen for parents to make the most of the opportunity to respond to the consultation.
Beverley Hughes to open PC2008
1 October 2008
Beverley Hughes, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, will open the Family and Parenting Institute's flagship conference - Parent Child 2008.
The Minister will launch the two day event which will see a host of keynote speakers from across the globe debate issues around family wellbeing and the connection between housing and family relationships.
Speakers include:
- Professor Alan Hayes, Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies on the strains and stresses of families in Australia and lessons from longitudinal studies
- Professor Kathleen Kiernan from York University on the effect of different family settings on children from birth to five
- Patricia Crittenden PhD from the Family Relations Institute in Miami on how to raise parents
- Professor Peter Stratton, from Leeds Family Therapy and Research Centre on family resilience and the implications for practice
- Professor Susan Golombok, Director of the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge University on assisted reproduction and the consequences for children and families.
Plus delegates will also be able to attend a choice thirty workshops on different aspects of working with parents and families
The event takes place in London on 13 and 14 November 2008.
Places are still available and can be booked online, click here for further details.
Government launches new UK Council for Child Internet Safety
29 September 2008
Online bullying, violent video games, advertising to children and creating safer search engines are just some of the issues at the heart of the new UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS).
The Council was launched by the Prime Minister on Monday September 29 2008 and will be chaired by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Home Office. It brings together over 100 organisations from the public and private sector – as well as parents, children and young people.
FPI on board
Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute is one of over 20 members of the Executive Board which will steer the Council's work in making the internet safer for children.
"Parents are very concerned about the internet and the threat it poses to their children," said Mary. "Yet, while there are many pitfalls to surfing the web; there is also a lot to be learnt and gained from it.
"Mums and dads don't want to stop their children benefiting from the internet, but they are very keen to do what they can to protect their children from the dangers it brings whether it be violent video games, explicit content or advertising."
Byron report
The establishment of a UK Council for Child Internet Safety was a key recommendation in Dr Tanya Byron's Report 'Safer Children in a Digital World' which was published in March this year.
Click here to read the DCSF press release.
UK kids most at risk online
Only last week the London School of Economics (LSE) revealed how British children were most at risk when they're online compared to children from other European countries. In its new report 'Comparing Children's Online Opportunities and Risks across Europe' the LSE also highlighted that UK parents are confident their children can cope with the dangers of the worldwide web.
Click here to find out more about the LSE research.
Working mums
28 September 2008
New research from mumsnet.com found that over 90% of mothers who go out to work think they are a good role model for their children and that more than half of them are happy to raise their children and continue working.
In response to the survey, Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive of the Family and Parenting Institute told the Observer newspaper: "'What's been a shame, is the stoking of the mummy wars over recent years, by pitting working mothers against those who choose to stay at home. Whatever choice a woman makes, she feels she has to defend it when presented with research suggesting she might have done the wrong thing."
Mary's comments were based on two new research studies on motherhood from the Open University and a new Family and Parenting Institute publication called 'Listening to Mother' all of which were launched at an event in July hosted by the two organisations.
Homes Fit for Families - 10 July 2008
This paper explores how children and families are affected by their physical environment, both in their home and their immediate neighbourhood. It suggests policy solutions to ensure housing is fit for families. A download will be available shortly
Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO) in children's and young people's services - 10 July 2008
C4EO aims to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families by identifying and coordinating the evidence of what works at a national, regional and local level. Establishe and funded by DCSF, C4EO is a programme that brings together many of the organisations at the forefront of the children's sector.
FPI will be recruiting parents and carers for an advisory group whose views will have a direct influence on what C4EO does.
Parenting support services - 07 July 2008
Bristol City Council have been working with the FPI on a new
commissioning process to develop a new externally managed parenting
support service targeted at mothers, fathers and carers of children and
young people aged 8-19. This service will be planned and delivered in
partnership with local schools and integrated with a wide range of
mainstream family services. To find out more information and/or apply
please contact:
Jane Taylor, Parenting Commissioner, Bristol City Council, The Park
Centre, Daventry Road, Knowle, Bristol
BS4 1DQ; Tel: 01179039750; e-mail: jane.taylor@bristol.gov.uk
Youth Justice - 13 June 2008
The UK's four Children's Commissioners submited a joint report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
UK Children's Commissioners' Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
On youth justice, the Commissioners recommend that the UK Government and devolved administrations should increase the age of criminal responsibility, reconsider the use of ASBOs, reduce the numbers of children in custody in England and Wales and establish a public inquiry on children in custody.
In November 2007 the Family Commission recommended to the United Nations Human Rights Council an increase in the age of criminal responsibility and proposed that criminal prosecution routes should be the exception rather than the rule
A Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review 2007 from the Family Commission
Family Commission - November 2007
An overview of the law as it relates to children and young people is provided in our factsheet published in May 2007
Managing children's behaviour: Parents, children and the law
Family and Parenting Institute - May 2007
Other recent reports that are of interest include:
E Solomon and R Garside; Centre for Crime and Justice Studies - May 2008
J Margo; Institute for Public Policy Research - February 2008
R Sabates, L Feinstein and A Shingal; Department for Children, Schools and Families - February 2008
Davies and W McMahon (eds); Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, King's College London - May 2007
Links to these and more information are available through searching our Family Policy Digest
Child Poverty – June 13 2008
The latest in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series from the Department of Work and Pensions has just been published - covering 1994/5 – 2006/7
In a new paper on child poverty, we look at why child poverty matters, its affects on a child's life chances, how it is measured and what can be done.
Child poverty briefing paper
Family and Parenting Institute – June 2008
Further information is available from the digest.
Mental health - children and parents...
This year's Mind week is from 10 to 17 May and is based on the theme of debt and mental health.
A new CAMHS consultation has been launched -
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services review - call for evidence
New published reports include:
Stress and resilience factors in parents with mental health problems and their children
Social Care Institute for Excellence
This research briefing discusses the factors that affect parents' and children's ability to deal with parents' mental health problems.
Mental wellbeing of children in primary education: Promoting children's social and emotional wellbeing in primary education
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
And
A new Department of Health Survey shows that attitudes to mental health remain broadly sympathetic
Also - The Parent Know-How programme, as announced in the Children's Plan, was launched in March .
A specific initiative includes information and professional advice to any adult concerned about the mental health or emotional well-being of a child or young person through the Young Minds helpline
More on mental health issues can be found in our digest
International links
Sharron Cole, Deputy Chief Commissioner of the New Zealand Families Commission is visiting the UK and is meeting with people from other organisations who are engaged in work which is similar to the Commission's.
Their work is wide ranging and covers Working Regulations, Family Support, Family & Parenting Support. New Zealand has a strong history of developing new approaches to family policy and services.
Sharron is meeting the FPI on 27 May 2008
Fairer fuel deal for families?
- 25 April 2008Energy companies have promised to do more to help low income households get out of fuel poverty.
This is part of new measures that were announced yesterday following a summit with government Ministers, energy companies and campaigners.
The meeting was hosted by the energy regulator Ofgem in a bid to tackle the needs of those who struggle to pay their gas and electricity bills.
The new measures include educating customers on switching energy suppliers and help for the poorest households.
Earlier this week, charities campaigning for a fairer fuel deal released new research which revealed that over 4 million households are spending more than 10% of their income on fuel. Following the meeting the campaigners welcomed the raft of initiatives but said that the new measures did not go far enough.
What are today's social evils?
21 April 2008Joseph Rowntree Foundation's consultation on modern-day social evils.
The summary is available on their website.Fairer fuel deal for families?
Families and new technology
New technology is part of all our lives and is constantly being examined in response to both the possibilities this allows and the threats posed.
A selection of links is presented here. For a full list search our websitefor "technolog".
Contribution To Debate: Do New Technologies Undermine Or Underpin The Family?
Lydia Plowman / November 2006
Staying In Touch: A Parent's Guide To Mobile Phones
Byron Review welcomed
March 2008
And in our digest
Parent Know-How programme launched
March 2008 Byron review report: Safer children in a digital world
March 2008
Home Access to Technology consultation
January 2008
NSPCC finds computer retailers unhelpful on child safety
November 2007
What Do We Know About Children's Use of Online Technologies? A Report on Data Availability and Research Gaps in Europe
September 2007
Bullying guidance issued
September 2007
Bringing Up Britain
BBC Radio Four is broadcasting the first programme in a new series called Bringing Up Britain on Wednesday 2 April 2008 20:00-20:45
The Family and Parenting Institute's Director of Business Development, Honor Rhodes, is on the expert panel of the first programme.
Slim chance of being obese?
A third of all year-six school children are overweight.
That's according to the Department of Health's latest study into the height and weight of the nation's children which also found that one in four under-fives is obese or overweight.
Since 2005, 900,000 pupils aged five to 11 have taken part in the National Child Measurement Programme: part of the Government's fight to help people lead healthier lives.
Its plans include increasing the amount of PE enjoyed by children a week from two to five hours by 2011.
The Children's Society has also raised questions over the health and well being of young people through its study into the commercialisation of childhood in which 61% of parents said the Government should ban the advertising of unhealthy food.
Staying Safe: Action Plan
The Staying Safe Action Plan was published in response to the Staying Safe consultation on the cross-Government strategy for improving children and young people's safety. Staying Safe was launched for consultation in July 2007, The FPI response to this consultation is available 
here.
This Action Plan sets out the work which Government will take forward over the next three years to drive improvements in children and young people's safety, which will be measured by the new PSA to improve children and young people's safety.
Every Child Matters
THE CHILDREN'S PLAN
On Tuesday 11 December the Government issued its new report The Children's Plan: building brighter futures, with a covering press release. FPI has put together a detailed overview of the plan with a 
covering letter.
WORK, INCOME AND CHILDCARE
The consultation on ending the right to income support for lone parents whose youngest child is 7 or over has just ended. Published responses include those from FPI and One Parent Families|Gingerbread.
A related report, Still home alone, by Karen Buck, a London MP, who examined the lack of childcare for 11 to 14 year olds, comes from 4Children.
Meanwhile the government has commissioned an independent review to look at whether the right to request flexible working should be extended to the parents of older children, and the Department for Work and Pensions has published statistics showing a fall of 133 thousand over the last year in the numbers claiming the key out of work benefits. Minister for Employment Caroline Flint said: "For these people getting off benefits and into work means the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families. Finding work can help boost self confidence and improve health as well as ensuring financial security." DWP research shows that more couples are in work and better off, according to new research by the DWP. The proportion of 'work-rich' couples (where both partners are in work) has increased from 57% in 1994/5 to 67% in 2005/6.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SAFETY FEARS ABOUT THE NEW CONTACTPOINT DATABASE FOR CHILDREN IN ENGLAND
The Office For Standards In Education (OFSTED) has issued a press release on the new report published on 21 November by the Office of the Children's Rights Director for England (OCRD), which found that safety and confidentiality are the main issues for children and young people when asked for their views on the Government proposed rules for running the new ContactPoint database. These reflect some of the concerns expressed by the Family and Parenting Institute in its response to the Government's consultation 
on the proposals for the database in July 2007. See also the news item from the Independent of Monday 26 November 2007, which includes a quote from Mary MacLeod, and the Minister's House of Commons statement about the delays to the implementation of the system.
NEW MEASURES TO TACKLE CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Every year children in Reception and Year 6 have their height and weight measured in schools as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The Government is seeking to improve the effectiveness of the programme by informing all parents of children who take part in the NCMP of their child's results, unless they request not to receive them. Parents will still have the opportunity to withdraw their child from the programme and children can also decide not to participate on the day. Depending on the parliamentary timetable, we hope these changes will be in place for September 2008.
When parents are given their child's results, they will also receive information about healthy eating and lifestyles, and details about where they can go for further information, advice and help.
The NCMP is an important programme in our efforts to tackle childhood obesity. Without accurate data local areas can not plan and commission the children's health services they need. We therefore encourage parents to let their child participate, and not withdraw them, even if parents are not interested in receiving their child's results. There is further information about the programme at: www.dh.gov.uk/healthyliving.
An information booklet Why your child's weight matters, can be downloaded at: www.dh.gov.uk/healthyliving or ordered for free by quoting 277810 from DH Publications Orderline: 08701 555 455 or by faxing 01623 724 524 or emailing dh@prolog.uk.com 
There is also an online child height weight calculator, which will help parents interpret their child's results at www.direct.gov.uk/childweight.
HELP PARENTS AND CHILDREN HAVE THEIR SAY ABOUT USING THE INTERNET AND VIDEO GAMES SAFELY
Dr Tanya Byron has been asked by the Prime Minister carry out an independant review looking at the risks to children from harmful or inappropriate content in video games and the internet. She has launched a consultation including a special 'call for evidence' aimed at children and young people and is asking all those with an interest in parenting and children's issues to make sure that their voices are at the heart of her review. Click here to find out more.
BBC POLL ON FAMILY LIFE
Three-quarters of people in Britain are optimistic about the future for their families, a BBC poll suggests.
Despite dire political warnings about family breakdown, that figure is 24% higher than when the same question was asked in 1964. And of 1,001 adults surveyed, 95% said their families were close - a rise of 4% since 1999.
However, 70% of people still believe family life was more successful in their parents' generation. And asked what lifestyle they would prefer, 7% more people would like to live alone today than in 1999.
BRINGING UP BABY
The following letter was published in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday 16 October 2007:
Sir
As a group of academics and professionals we are alarmed that Channel 4 is broadcasting such an exploitative parenting series as Bringing Up Baby – the last part of which is to be shown tomorrow. Many techniques used in these programmes are outdated and completely fly in the face of our scientific knowledge about brain development in very young babies.
That anyone should be billed as an expert and allowed to promote ideas such as not making eye contact with babies and not comforting them when they are in distress is at best irresponsible and at worst dangerous. And to see these theories being put into practice with real babies in the name of entertainment is deeply worrying.
Last year, the Family and Parenting Institute surveyed parents to ask them their opinions on TV parenting programmes and some 83% of the respondents said that they found a technique in these programmes helpful to them. So with these programmes having such an influence on parents it is shocking that broadcasters are not exercising more responsibility.
Sadly the exploitation of both babies and children in the pursuit of high ratings is becoming ever more common: the BBC3 programme Baby Borrowers earlier this year was another case in point where babies and young children were "lent" to teenage couples in a programme that was intended to bring in viewers by being shocking.
We call on all production companies to stop making television programmes which give parents irresponsible advice and turn the suffering of tiny babies and children into adult entertainment.
Mary MacLeod
Chief Executive
Family and Parenting Institute
Penny Mansfield
Director
One plus One
Dorit Braun
Chief Executive
Parentline Plus
Dr Shirley Gracias
Chair
The Association for Infant Mental Health UK
Dr Cheryll Adams
Acting Lead Professional Officer
Unite-Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association
Christine Bidmead
Chair of Health Visiting Forum
Unite-Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association
Stephen Scott BSc FRCP FRCPsych
Professor of Child Health & Behaviour
Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
King's College, London
Helen Dent
Chief Executive
Family Welfare Association
The paper also carried an article on the subject.
SURVEY ON CHILDREN'S FREEDOM
The Children's Rights Alliance for England's 'Get Ready for Geneva' project has posted an online survey on the theme of 'freedom'. They would like to find out what children and young people think about their privacy, whether they can get information they need, if they know how to make complaints, and if they feel they can express themselves. This is the third survey in the children's rights investigation, so please pass this link to the survey on to any child or young person you think would be willing to spend 10 minutes filling it in.
'IN WORK, BETTER OFF' WEBCHATS
DWP Ministers will be taking part in webchats to answer questions about the 'In work, better off: next steps to full employment' consultation paper.
Tuesday 9 October at 10.40am
Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, will be taking part in a live webchat on the Number 10 Downing Street website. Go to Number 10 Downing Street website to post your questions to the Secretary of State.
Monday 15 October at 2.30pm
Caroline Flint, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, will be answering questions about helping single parents find work on the [xlink=http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk]Parents Centre website. Email your questions for Caroline Flint to welfare.reform@dwp.gsi.gov.uk .
'In work, better off' was published on 18 July and sets out proposals to help people who have found it most difficult to find work back into sustainable employment.
OFSTED GUIDANCE ON PARENTAL COMPLAINTS
Ofsted has produced guidance for parents and carers whose children's school is giving them causing for concern on when and how to complain to Ofsted, the type of complaints that can be considered and the action parents can expect Ofsted to take in response to a complaint.
MONEY, RELATIONSHIPS AND LAW - UNIVERSITY OF EXETER SEEKS CO-HABITEES TO COMPLETE SURVEY
"Money touches many aspects of our lives - and this often includes our relationships. This survey is part of a larger project that looks at how people organise or manage money in their relationships and the implications this might have for family law. How do you and your partner deal with money in your everyday life?
"The Law Commission for England and Wales is currently considering whether some aspects of cohabitation law should be reformed. We are therefore particularly interested in unmarried couples, their views on money and on living together more generally. Previous research has mostly focused on married couples - this is one of the first studies that is concerned with people who are not formally married." The survey takes 25-35 minutes to complete and cover a range of topics - from views on money, relationships and living together to more general views on domestic life. It is anonymous and there is a prize draw.
NARROWING THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR MUST INVOLVE SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
– Monday 3 SeptemberA new report released (Monday 3 September 2007) by the National Children's Bureau, Family and Parenting Institute, and the Institute of Education sets out new ideas of how we can 'narrow the gap' between rich and poor.
Coming at a time when many disadvantaged children in our country do less well than their innate abilities should allow, Reducing Inequalities: realising the talents of all, explores what happens to children at home and in school, and explains the complex dynamics of inherited disadvantage.
The report reveals that it is the middle socio-economic groups who have the highest number of children who, without additional help, will face disadvantage later in life. It highlights that universal services are needed for all children, not just targeted services for the poorest children or those that score worst on risk assessment.
Barbara Hearn, deputy chief executive of the National Children's Bureau and one of the report authors, said: 'The government has said that ensuring every child achieves their potential is one of its highest priorities. This report is groundbreaking in its exploration of the link between children, schools and families and the impact that schools, families and the community have on children's outcomes. We believe that it will inform the work necessary to achieve this laudable aspiration'.
'Evidence tells us that able but disadvantaged children are not doing as well as they should be. This can be changed. If we work to strengthen parent's ability to support learning, children's ability to regulate their own behaviour, rethink the goals of the school experience and extend learning deep into every community, we will see improvement. Without action, schools will remai
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