Latest news with #HCF
South Wales Argus
01-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Newport children's home to welcome residents this summer
Ty Ash, located in Newport and operated by Action for Children, was visited by Dawn Bowden MS, minister for children and social care, on May 30 for a tour of the new therapeutic facility. The four-bedroom home will welcome its first residents this summer. Ms Bowden said: "I am pleased the Welsh Government has provided important funding to renovate Ty Ash and proud of the work we have done alongside Action for Children, the Regional Partnership Board and Newport City Council to get to this point. "This is about more than funding though – it's about transforming the care experience for children and young people. "By eliminating profit from the system, we are reinvesting in people, in communities, and in the principle that care should be driven by compassion, not commercial gain." Ty Ash was developed through the Housing with Care Fund (HCF), a Welsh Government programme designed to improve housing options for individuals with care and support needs. The home will provide 52-week residential placements for up to four children aged eight to 18, who are looked after by local authorities in the Gwent area. Laurie Ryall, Action for Children's director in Wales, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome the minister to our new children's home in Newport and see another HCF-funded project come to fruition. "We are very proud of our homes in Wales and the positive impact they have on young people that have often faced significant trauma." Ms Ryall said the minister had previously attended training on the charity's therapeutic approach and showed a genuine interest in its work with care-experienced children. Emma Coombs, Ty Ash's registered manager, said: "It's taken a lot of hard work to reach this point, but we are delighted with the home. "It's a beautiful property and we have finished it to a very high standard. "It's central to our whole philosophy that we make it a real home from home and I'm sure the children will quickly feel as comfortable and safe as possible in our loving environment."
Edinburgh Reporter
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
The new-look Ron Gordon Football Festival scheduled for 21 June at HTC
Featuring members of the current Hibs men's and women's squads, and coaching staff – this year, fans have an opportunity to be managed by their heroes whilst raising funds for a wide range of community initiatives. Following on from the mould set by the inception of the Ron Gordon Football Challenge in 2023, this year will allow members of the Hibernian community to play at HTC for the day, with some special guests at the helm of each team. Hibs First Team Captain and HCF Board Member Joe Newell will be there on the day and is confirmed as one of the coaches for the event! The current captain is not alone in making his managerial debut at HTC, with Cadden brothers Nicky and Chris, Jordan Obita, Jordan Smith and Rudi Molotnikov all joining him on the sidelines. The star-studded manager list doesn't stop there, however, with more players, coaching staff and legends expected to be announced by HCF in due course. Proceeds from purchasing a spot in each team will go towards HCF's various initiatives surrounding the Hibernian Community, including: community meals, events for the elderly, mental health support networks, initiatives for New Scots, and community football. 'We are absolutely thrilled to have Joe and the others signing on this year for the Ron Gordon Football Festival,' said HCF Board Chair Steve Smith. 'The work done by the entire team at the Foundation affects the community in such a positive light, and whenever players – current and past – get involved it always allows us to elevate the event and draw more attention to the great work we do. I'm really excited for the day and can't wait to see how the players go with their coaching.' The Ron Gordon Football Festival is named in honour of Hibernian FC's late owner, Ron Gordon. Ron was passionate about the work done by HCF and about providing football opportunities for all, regardless of their background. The structure of the day will follow a slightly different format from previous years. The morning will act as a showcase of HCF's Community Clubs, offering them the chance to play at HTC. The afternoon will then follow the format of a 7-a-side round-robin tournament in which Hibs players past and present will attempt to coach their team to victory. Over the course of the day there will be food trucks and family fun on offer for families and players to enjoy. For more information on the day itself, visit the event page here. Like this: Like Related
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hindu Canadian Foundation defends Anita Anand for her talks with Jaishankar, calls out World Sikh Organization for 'bullying' her
Hindu Canadian Foundation defended Anita Anand for her talks with Jaishankar. Canada's first Indian-origin foreign minister Anita Anand recently spoke with her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar over the telephone and called the discussion productive towards strengthening Canada-India ties. This led to an internal power play in Canada with the World Sikh Organization of Canada slamming Anand and the Hindu Canadian Foundation criticizing WSF for disparaging Anand. The World Sikh Organization said it was "deeply disappointed" by Anita Anand's remarks that the conversation was productive. WSO questioned the silence of the minister over the "targeting of the Sikh community in Canada". The Hindu Canadian Foundation defended the Hindu minister and called out the Sikh organization for bullying her. The HCF said WSO does not represent the entire Sikh community and operates with their own political and social agendas. "WSO is bullying @AnitaAnandMP for merely trying to improve relations with India—an economic powerhouse in Asia. Strengthening diplomatic ties with India has the potential to benefit all Canadians by facilitating trade and fostering economic growth, particularly at a time when Canada faces external geopolitical pressures," the HCF said. "As Prime Minister @MarkJCarney has emphasized, building a stronger Canada requires unity and determination. His leadership reflects a commitment to advancing the country's interests, and his vision calls for parliamentary support to ensure national progress—an idea that resonates broadly across political lines," it said. "Regardless of party affiliation, elected officials must remain accountable to Canadians, prioritizing the nation's well-being over external influences or interests that do not align with the broader goals of the country," the HCF said. "Thank you Minister @DrSJaishankar for the productive discussion today on strengthening Canada–India ties, deepening our economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities. I look forward to continuing our work together," Anand posted after her talks with Jaishankar. 'Appreciate the telecon with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada. Discussed the prospects of India-Canada ties. Wished her a very successful tenure,' Jaishankar wrote on X.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health insurance warning as dad forks out $1,200 bill: ‘So many people forget'
Around 15 million Australians are paying for private health insurance, but a sizeable portion haven't made a single claim in the past 12 months. With insurance costs rising and the cost of living continuing to pinch, many Aussies are considering ditching or downgrading their policy, but experts are warning people to think twice. Petrus Buys took out health insurance for his family in November last year but hasn't yet made a claim. The 29-year-old civil engineer told Yahoo Finance he had been putting off getting insurance, but the birth of his son, Caleb, kicked him into gear. 'We essentially came back home [from the hospital] and I realised now that I've got a kid, I'm not just caring for myself and my wife anymore,' he said. RELATED Simple way Aussie mum cut health insurance cost by $1,600 after price hike: 'Big opportunity' $3 million superannuation tax change sparks property warning as 'panic' selling begins ATO warning ahead of $1,288 cost-of-living cash boost: 'Shooting yourself in the foot' Buys, who moved to Australia two years ago from South Africa, ended up taking out a hospital and extras policy with HCF two days after his son was born in the public system. He used comparison site iSelect and is paying $100 a month for the cover, or $1,200 a year. Despite not needing to make a claim yet, Buys thinks paying for health insurance is worth it for his family. '$100 a month is not a lot considering that I'm sleeping a lot better knowing that I'm covered for all the critical things, especially dental, that are not covered by Medicare,' the Sunshine Coast dad said. 'It's just that peace of mind, really, and for that money, I'm comfortable.' New Finder research found two in five Australians with health insurance hadn't made a claim in 12 months, despite paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in premiums. That included 38 per cent who didn't use either their hospital or extras cover in the past 12 months and 32 per cent who only used extras like dental or physiotherapy. Only 17 per cent of the 1,013 people surveyed claimed on both hospital and extras in the past year. Finder health insurance expert Tim Bennett said millions pay for insurance but never claim. 'Health cover is a valuable safety net for unexpected illness or injury, but for many it feels like dead money,' he told Yahoo Finance. 'If you're paying for it, use it. So many people forget they're entitled to things like dental check-ups, physio visits or optical rebates — claiming just a few of these can make your policy far more worthwhile.' It comes as high premiums combined with cost-of-living pressures are also forcing some Aussies to put their health on the back burner. iSelect research found 33 per cent of Aussies were delaying routine check-ups like dental, hearing and cancer screenings, while 31 per cent were putting off GP visits. With private health insurance rising by 3.73 per cent on average in April, one in three policyholders were also considering cancelling or downgrading their cover. Buys said he was 'feeling the pinch' from the rising cost of living, especially after having his child and with his wife now working less. 'We bought a house about a year ago, and we probably are spending about 40 per cent of our income on the mortgage,' he said. Along with housing, Buys said the cost of groceries and household bills like electricity and water had also been rising. 'We are definitely cutting back a lot on leisure expenditures, so things like going on holiday, going to visit the family back in South Africa are happening less frequently,' he said. 'Myself being the main provider for the family, you're getting forced into a corner where you need to start considering doing second jobs and side hustles and ways of generating additional income.' Bennett said Aussies were facing a 'tough juggling act' but warned people against ditching their health insurance cover altogether. 'No one wants to be caught out without cover when they really need it,' he said. He said now was a good time to audit health insurance costs. 'Don't waste another 12 months paying too much for a policy that doesn't match your needs,' he said. 'Now's the best time to shop around for health insurance relief as insurers fight for business ahead of the new financial year.' Buys said he planned to compare his health insurance policy again once it comes up for renewal and was looking at claiming extras for a dental checkup and a visit to the optometrist.
AU Financial Review
16-05-2025
- Health
- AU Financial Review
Australia moves towards a US-style health system - is that a good thing?
If you live in a capital Australian city and need to see a dentist or optometrist, there is a good chance you will end up in a clinic owned by your private health insurer. The same could be true for hospitals in the near future. Health funds such as Medibank Private, HCF, NIB and Bupa are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into primary care and telehealth. The move marks a significant shift in the healthcare model. Insurers have traditionally funded healthcare, but now they want to provide it as well.
