Latest news with #DianeMorton
BBC News
20-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Friendship dog charity gains more volunteers after funding boost
A charity which uses dogs to battle loneliness has recruited dozens more volunteers after a cash and Company aims to reduce social isolation for the elderly across north-east England, through regular visits from a furry pal. The £10,000 from rail company LNER's community fund meant it could carry out thousands more visits, the charity causes are being urged to apply for an award before the application window closes on 25 August. Awards are available to charities based within 15 miles (24km) of the East Coast Main Line, which connects London King's Cross to Morton, founder and chair of Wag and Company, said: "The funding has allowed us to recruit 40 new volunteers and their dogs who've brought companionship, comfort, and joy to over 200 older people. "The new volunteer teams have enabled us to deliver an additional 3,000 individual visits, offering not just a friendly face and a wagging tail, but a vital lifeline."She said the funding had made a "real difference" and encouraged other charities to submit a bid. Rachael Wilson, community investment manager at LNER, said: "We're incredibly proud to be able to support projects which have such a profound impact on people's lives. "We're really looking forward to supporting more charities in 2026 and eagerly await those applications." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Reform council leader urges Labour to reconsider visa tightening for care workers
The leader of a Reform-run county council has written to the government to express 'grave concern' about a planned tightening of visas for health and care workers, despite the party's wider commitment to significantly reducing net migration. Linden Kemkaran – the leader of Kent council, which is one of 10 authorities in England run by Nigel Farage's party since May – said the changes, including an imminent end to the specific visa route for care workers, could have a significant impact on local care homes. Kemkaran and Diane Morton, the council's cabinet member for social care, said the changes risked seeing an exodus of overseas care staff, as they highlighted the impact on the sector of a rise in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) in the budget. In a letter to Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, and Stephen Kinnock, the care minister, they said that about 20% to 25% of the county's social care workforce was from overseas and able to work via licensed sponsorships from employers. This route expires on 22 July, part of a wider tightening of migration rules, including on health and care visas, announced by the government in May. The Reform councillors' letter warned about the impact on 'a number of displaced social care workers who may have lost their jobs, or the sponsoring provider has lost their licence'. When care workers' existing visas expire, they wrote, to keep a visa they would need to earn at least £41,000 a year, the new minimum salary for skilled worker visas. Added to the NICs rise, 'this is totally unsustainable, and the risk is that many care workers at this level will go home and leave providers on a cliff edge', the letter said. They added: 'Due to the challenges facing the adult social care system in general, and care providers in particular, we urge you to reconsider these changes and look forward to your support in addressing these urgent pressing matters.' While Reform does not have a definitive national position on this issue, the general approach set out by Farage and his fellow MPs has been to push repeatedly for a significant fall in overall migration and curbs to work visas. In May, Farage said care staff were not skilled and overseas care workers should only be allowed in on strictly time-limited visas. More widely, he has called for zero net migration, meaning there can be no more arrivals than departures. Richard Tice, Reform's deputy leader, has said Britons should do care work rather than what he termed 'a never-ending stream of cheap, low-skilled labour from overseas'. Reform UK and the Home Office were contacted for comment.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Kent council issues plea to house adults who need extra care
People in Kent are being urged to open their homes to adults who need extra County Council's (KCC) Shared Lives scheme has supported more than 150 carers over 30 years who provide homes for adults with learning disabilities, autism, dementia, mental health conditions, and physical or sensory the paid role, carers offer either short breaks or a full-time home, similar to fostering, but for people over the age of 18 who want to live as independently as possible. KCC's plea comes amid Shared Lives Week, which runs until Friday. "Every arrangement is tailored to meet the needs and preferences of the adult, creating a unique and empowering support system built on trust, respect, and shared living," the council Childs, Kent Shared Lives' registered manager, said: "Our mission is to match as many adults with carers who can provide a home-based, person-centred approach to their support and change as many lives as possible."Diane Morton, KCC's cabinet member for adults social care and public health, said: "The Kent Shared Lives service provides a vital real 'family home' alternative to supported living or residential care where people can develop lifetime relationships and family bonds to help them truly flourish."
