Latest news with #Coram
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man who allegedly used pipe in Coram beating brought up on felony charge
May 26—Prosecutors have charged a man accused of wielding a metal pipe in a fight in Coram earlier this month with assault with a weapon. Russell Loren Tolbert Jr., 38, of Coram, is expected to appear before Judge Paul Sullivan in Flathead County District Court on May 29 for his arraignment on the felony count. Tolbert remains in the county jail with bail set at $50,000. Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies began searching for Tolbert after responding to a reported assault on Bear Street about 3:51 p.m., May 12, according to court documents. Responding deputies found the victim struggling to breathe and suffering from injuries to his leg and chest. Medical responders loaded him into an ambulance before he could give them a statement, court documents said. But another individual at the scene showed authorities a metal pipe and said that the victim had earlier identified Tolbert as his attacker, according to court documents. After instructing the individual to stop touching the pipe, investigators examined it and found what looked like dried blood. They also found apparent dried blood in the kitchen and living area, according to court documents. Authorities later tracked down Tolbert, who was hiding near railroad tracks, with a K9 unit, court documents said. He allegedly told them that he lived at the Bear Street home and found the victim irritating. That day marked the "last straw," he allegedly said, and the two fought. He recalled pushing the victim, who then struck him with a handsaw, according to court documents. After being hit with the tool, Tolbert allegedly said he punched the victim in the face repeatedly. But investigators reported finding no marks on Tolbert's face or hands and saw no injuries to the victim's face, according to court documents. A search of the Bear Street residence failed to turn up a handsaw, court documents said. If convicted, Tolbert faces up to 20 years in Montana State Prison and a $50,000 fine. News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@
AU Financial Review
27-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Smart ESG compliance: turning regulation into strategic advantage
Deb Coram, CEO of compliance technology firm Safetrac, says ESG performance must be treated as operational infrastructure -not as a communications exercise. She says that integrating ESG into core compliance systems enables organisations to track obligations in real time, escalate emerging risks, and maintain audit-readiness without overburdening staff. 'The businesses that will thrive under the new regime are those that move beyond checklists and embed ESG into their daily workflows,' Coram says. 'Technology platforms allow that by automating reporting, centralising documentation and supporting consistent oversight across multiple compliance domains.' Boards, too, are under mounting scrutiny under the new regulatory regime. Mark Rigotti, CEO of the the nation's peak body for corporate leaders, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, warns that a superficial approach to ESG can expose directors to allegations of greenwashing, reputational harm, and broader governance failure. 'ESG is not just a disclosure issue - it's a governance issue,' Rigotti says. 'Effective oversight depends on capability, clarity and alignment with strategy.' The technology imperative Digital compliance platforms are increasingly seen as essential to this shift. By reducing the manual overhead of ESG tracking, they enable faster response times, clearer audit trails, and a higher standard of accountability. Coram says Safetrac and similar systems help organisations stay in lockstep with regulatory change while aligning ESG efforts with internal risk frameworks. 'Good compliance systems do more than keep organisations out of trouble—they provide the visibility needed to act proactively, not reactively,' she says. This is particularly relevant in Australia, where ESG disclosure is becoming both more mandatory and more sophisticated. Without structured systems, organisations face a growing risk of misalignment with regulators, investors, and customers alike. Training and capability uplift Beyond systems, people remain a critical point of failure - or success. ESG obligations span diverse areas including climate risk, anti-bribery, human rights, and diversity. Coram stresses that high-quality, targeted training is essential to operationalising these requirements across all business levels. 'It's not enough to have the policy -you need the cultural capability to deliver on it,' she says. 'Integrated training builds both awareness and accountability, and when embedded into broader compliance frameworks, it supports measurable, enforceable outcomes.' Rigotti says that boardroom capability is equally important. Directors cannot provide effective stewardship if they lack familiarity with ESG risks and regulatory expectations. He advocates for ESG to be embedded within governance and risk oversight structures - through sustainability committees, cross-functional engagement and ongoing director education. The future role of boards Coram and Rigotti agree that boards must shift from passive compliance to active stewardship - assessing their ESG maturity with the same rigour as financial and operational risks, and ensuring they have the tools and expertise to keep pace with evolving global standards. Guides like the AICD's Director's Guide to Mandatory Climate Reporting offer a starting point, but technology platforms offer the executional capability - centralising ESG metrics, aligning them to strategy, and ensuring disclosures are credible and consistent. 'This isn't just about avoiding penalties,' Coram says. 'It's about securing investor confidence, maintaining reputational integrity and reinforcing a sustainable corporate identity.' For boards navigating economic uncertainty and rising regulatory expectations, aligning ESG with enterprise strategy is no longer optional. Done well, it delivers not just compliance, but competitive edge.
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Scots parents paying nearly DOUBLE for childcare compared to those in England, survey reveals
Part-time childcare costs for under-threes have risen by seven per cent year-on-year in Scotland CHILD'S PAY Scots parents paying nearly DOUBLE for childcare compared to those in England, survey reveals Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCOTS parents are paying nearly double as much to put their young children in nurseries compared to those in England, a survey has revealed. First Minister John Swinney claimed on Friday that Scotland had 'the most extensive early learning and childcare offer in the UK'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A recent survey by childcare charity Coram revealed that childcare costs in Scotland are rising compared to plummeting rates in England Credit: PA However, a recent survey by childcare charity Coram, revealed that childcare costs in Scotland are rising compared to plummeting rates in England. Three to five-year-olds can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare a year north of the border. But the Scottish government only funds children under three if their parents are on benefits or they are looked after by someone outside their immediate family. Part-time childcare costs for under-threes have risen by seven per cent year-on-year in Scotland, The Times reports. But the rates have more than halved in England after free childcare was increased in September to 15 hours for all children over nine months. Coram revealed Scots parents pay £120 a week for 25 hours of care for under-threes compared to around £70 in England. Scottish parents also spend £73 a week compared to £66 in England. A Coram spokesperson said: 'After new entitlements for working families are taken into account, the cost of a part-time childcare place has more than halved for parents of younger children in England, and the cost of a full-time place has reduced by more than 20 per cent. 'The increase in costs for three-to four-year-olds, and the picture for all age groups in Scotland and Wales, act as a barometer for how different the picture might have been for English working families this year without this support.' A petition to fund childcare from nine months old was started by the Scottish Women's Budget Group and it gathered more than 9,000 signatures. Martin Lewis issues urgent warning to 800,000 parents missing out on £2,000 to help with summer childcare costs Petitioner Julie Fraser said: 'The SNP website has an extremely vague description of their plans for extending funding, but there are no dates or details on what their plans are. 'In England, funding has become available for working families with children aged from nine months old. We are asking them to take swift, decisive action and to implement the same policy.' The Scottish government told Holyrood's public petitions committee it has made 'difficult choices' to restrict free childcare to three and four-year-olds. Free childcare for under-threes is being trialled in neighbourhoods around Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Fife and Shetland. But there has been no indication from the government when it will be rolled out nationwide. In a recent letter to the committee, the government said: 'Scotland remains the only part of the UK that already offers 1,140 hours per year of funded early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and around a quarter of two-year-olds regardless of whether their parents are working or not, because we are committed to promoting equality for all of Scotland's children, putting their interests first.'
Wales Online
26-04-2025
- General
- Wales Online
'Nursery costs more than my salary' Parenting in Wales, where childcare is highest in UK
'Nursery costs more than my salary' Parenting in Wales, where childcare is highest in UK "Nursery costs more than my salary after tax and pension," said one full time working mother of two. Caroline and Matt Stuart could only both afford to return to work full time because Caroline's father looks after their sons two days a week. Eligible parents and guardians of three and four-year-old children can claim up to 30 hours of free childcare each week, for up to 48 weeks of the year. (Image: John Myers ) Parents in Wales say they are being stopped from working full time, or getting promotions, because of the soaring cost of childcare in Wales. While the cost of childcare for under-threes in England has more than halved, prices have risen in Wales and are now the highest in the UK, according to separate surveys. In its 24th annual childcare survey Children's charity Coram found that in England a part-time nursery place for a child under two costs an average of £70.51 per week, which is down by 56% on 2024. In contrast prices in Wales have risen 10% while in Scotland they are up 7%. A part-time nursery place for a child under two now costs an average of £155.04 per week in Wales, a 10% increase on 2024, Coram found. Childcare costs for children aged three to four have increased by almost 5% on 2024 across the UK. Article continues below A separate survey by Oxfam Cymru found that childcare fees for under-twos are now more than double the average in England. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter her Natasha Baker opened Wibli Wobli nursery in Newport in 2019 (Image: John Myers ) Nursery would be £92 a day for each child - that's more than my salary Caroline and Matt Stuart from Lisvane have two boys aged 18 months and four. They both work full time and pay £780 a month for three days childcare with a childminder while Caroline's father takes the boys the other two. They are eligible for and get the Wales 30 hour free childcare for their oldest, but as full time work is 37.5 hours that is all used up by lunchtime on a Friday, said Caroline. Stuart is in sales and often travels for work while Caroline is a kitchen designer for a large company and can work sometimes from home, but also has to go in. She says they cannot afford full time childcare and are lucky her father can help, pointing out this is not an option every parent has. The mother of two, who returned to work after 10 months with their first child and 12 with their second, said the soaring cost of childcare meant they could not have afforded her returning to work without her widowed father looking after their sons for two days a week. As it is she is barely breaking even. "We use the cheapest options, my father two days and a childminder on the other three days as a childminder is cheaper than nursery," said Caroline. "Nursery would be £92 a day for each child. That is more than my salary after tax and pension. Before that is taken off then I would be working for £4 a day." Caroline said the government offer of 30 hours childcare does not work well for working parents because children have to be swapped them between maintained school and private nursery in two different settings, which means wrap around care is needed to take them between the two. In England the offer can all be used at private nurseries meaning children can stay in one place. Added to this full time work is 37.5 hours, not 30 hours, Caroline points out. To cover the rest of her hours Caroline works evenings from home. And despite returning to work Caroline says women are still hampered by taking maternity leave, and not all companies offer full year paternity leave. "My pay is behind because I have taken two maternity leaves and so I am behind on promotions and pay. Also, the childcare offer is over complicated and does not even cover full time hours. "It makes it hard for both parents to work. I want to progress in my career but this puts a hold on that for now. That's difficult to accept in this day and age." Describing her working day Caroline said she drops her oldest at school nursery at 9am and starts work from home at 9.15am, going in later. When school nursery finishes at 11.30am she pays for wrap around to take him on to the childminder. Meanwhile the couple's younger son is with the childminder from 8am to 5.30pm. "We can't afford to cover full time childcare. If I paid full time I would be minus £40 a day. I am doing this tio stay in a job and pay for the future and my pension," said Caroline. The childcare offer in Wales Eligible parents and guardians of three and four-year-old children can claim up to 30 hours of free childcare each week, for up to 48 weeks of the year. To be eligible for the childcare offer in Wales you must live in Wales and each parent's gross income must be £100,000 or less per year. Under the Flying Start programme those who live in eligible post codes can also get 12.5 hours free childcare to two-year-olds. The Welsh Government has said this will be rolled out to more two year-olds. Why nursery costs have risen Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru said: 'The single biggest reason that the cost of childcare has risen in Wales has been the funding rates for the Childcare Offer which hadn't increased since 2022, despite all nursery delivery costs rising significantly. This has led to fee increases for parents because nurseries have been making a loss on each funded place. 'The Welsh Government has taken steps to address this from next year with an increase in funding to £6.40 per hour and permanent relief from paying business rates. Providers are able to charge parents up to £10.80 for meals and snacks. 'While this is a helpful start, providers are still facing rapidly rising costs from April. Our recent poll with member nurseries across Wales showed that the average nursery is having to increase fees to parents by 12% which is still lower than the average staffing bill increase of 15%. 'As the two-year-old Flying Start offer expands, it's important that local authorities continue to work with existing childcare providers to ensure there are sufficient places available.' The highest earners have a choice not to take the free offer Natasha Baker, who left her job as a solicitor to open her own Welsh language nursery in Newport after having children, believes the childcare system is over complicated and flawed. She opened Wibli Wobli nursery in 2019 and now has 120 children on the books. She said nurseries have high employment costs that people don't always realise. The minimum ratio is one staff to three babies under two and one member of staff to four children for two to three year-olds and one to eight for three to four year-olds. That means staff costs are high and these have risen for employers with new National Insurance costs and higher minimum wage.r everyone Natasha questioned the viability and fairness of offering free childcare for parents earning as much as up to £100,000 each: "In my opinion we have choice not to take government funded childcare," she said. Article continues below
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Parents 'punished' by highest childcare costs in Britain
Families in Wales are being "punished" by childcare bills for under-twos that are more than double the average of those in England, Oxfam Cymru has said. Parents in Wales with children aged two or under do not receive any government help with childcare costs, whereas in England parents can claim 15 hours of free childcare a week for children aged between nine months and two years. Children's charity Coram said nursery costs for under-twos were now more expensive in Wales than anywhere else in Great Britain. The Welsh government said it had invested more than £100m a year to sustain and grow high quality childcare. What help is there with childcare costs in Wales? Who can get 15 and 30 hours of free childcare? Moving 10 miles could save us thousands in childcare According to a survey by Coram, the cost of a part-time (25 hours per week) nursery place for a child under two in Wales is now £155. In England, the cost of a part-time place - once the funded hours are taken into account - has fallen to £70. "These are bills that many families simply cannot afford - and risk keeping parents locked out of the workplace," said Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare. Sarah Rees, head of Oxfam Cymru, said the data showed families in Wales were "really being punished in comparison to the offers being provided to families who need childcare in England". "People in England have access to childcare support for younger children – from nine months onwards – and that means their bills are practically half of what bills are for families in Wales." The cost of childcare is why mum-of-three Katie Bromley feels she is not in a position to go back to work. "Childcare costs have gone up," said Ms Bromley, who was with her one-year-old daughter at a Salvation Army baby and parent group in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, while her two older children were at school. "Even with my husband working full-time every day it's still expensive and hard to get back into work. "If I had more support I would definitely be looking for a job... so I can get a bit more freedom and find a job that could help me get back out there." Mum-of-three Ffion Ryan said it was a "struggle" until children turned three, after which parents can claim financial help with childcare costs wherever they live in Wales. "We're expected to go back to work after nine months and obviously it's a long time from then until three and that's when you need the help really," said Ms Ryan, a teacher from Llansannan in Conwy county who is currently on maternity leave. Ms Ryan said she believed financial support towards childcare should be available at the point that maternity pay ends. In the UK, statutory maternity pay ends at 39 weeks, or roughly nine months. "If you're asking women to go back to work after nine months, then the help should be there," said Ms Ryan. In England, working parents of children between nine months and two years can claim 15 hours of free childcare a week, which will be expanded to 30 hours for all under-fives from September 2025. However, some childcare providers in England have expressed concerns about rising costs, leading to fears over a shortage of spaces. In Wales, funded childcare is available for children aged two, three and four. Under the Childcare Offer, parents and guardians of three and four-year-old children can claim up to 30 hours of free childcare each week, for up to 48 weeks of the year. The Flying Start programme provides 12.5 hours of free childcare to two-year-olds in eligible areas. It is being rolled out gradually to all two-year-olds, prioritising the most disadvantaged. Oxfam Cymru said it should be rolled out "much quicker" and that only 60% of families with two-year-olds had access to it so far. But nursery owner Lisa Owen said she did not believe the childcare system could support free care for children from nine months, even though she agreed with the principle. Ms Owen said the money which providers received from the Welsh government for delivering the Childcare Offer did not meet costs and had an impact on parents' bills. "All of our costs have gone up," said Ms Owen, owner of Chuckles nursery in Newport. "We have staff ratios to maintain so when costs go up, the only thing we can do is put charges up. "The Childcare Offer unfortunately underfunds so we're losing money. To try to recoup those costs we've had to put our overall rates up which has a massive impact on the children two years and under." She said the increase to nurseries' National Insurance bills added to problems. "We're losing money hand over fist every day," she said, warning some settings were at risk of closing. Childcare costs are likely to feature in the 2026 Senedd election campaign. Plaid Cymru, which helped to secure free childcare expansion for two-year-olds as part of a 2021 deal with the Welsh government, said it wanted to "deliver an expanded, more affordable and seamless childcare offer in 2026". The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds, who helped to pass the Welsh government's budget last month which included an extra £30m towards childcare, wants 30 hours of free childcare for all pre-school Welsh children from nine months old. The Welsh Conservatives said the consequential funding Wales received as a result of the UK government's increased childcare spending should be used "to replicate England's policy of 30 hours of free childcare for all under-fives". The Welsh Labour government said it was focused on the most disadvantaged communities in the first instance. "We are providing an additional £50m in 2025-26 for the further expansion of our Flying Start childcare scheme to two-year-olds, which will support more families, and to increase the hourly rate for the childcare offer to further support childcare providers," a Welsh government spokesperson said. What help is there with childcare costs in Wales? Who can get 15 and 30 hours of free childcare? New mums say careers hurt by high childcare costs Childcare costs could force us to sell our home
