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Northamptonshire councils invest £1.5m in domestic abuse service
Northamptonshire councils invest £1.5m in domestic abuse service

BBC News

time09-07-2025

  • Health
  • BBC News

Northamptonshire councils invest £1.5m in domestic abuse service

Two councils have earmarked an estimated £1.5m a year to deliver safe accommodation and support for domestic abuse funding would be split between North and West Northamptonshire councils and would secure refuge spaces and a range of wraparound services, with the current contract due to end in 51 refuge units were provided through partnerships with Eve and Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service (NDAS). In 2023/24, these services received more than 500 referrals.A council report, which will be discussed at North Northamptonshire Council next week, described domestic abuse as a "pervasive issue" with "serious and long-lasting impacts" on health. About 10,400 women in the north of the county were estimated to experience domestic abuse each year, according to figures set out in the new service would include women-only, men-only, specialist substance misuse and multicultural accommodation. Other services, such as therapeutic support for adults and children, helplines, counselling and awareness training, were also expected to be and NDAS have been operating under a rolling annual grant since 2021, but the councils now said there was a need for a more formal and robust Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that the new contract would run for three years, with an option to extend by two further years. Funding will come from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Northamptonshire Council will lead supplier engagement on behalf of both unitary authorities, with a full tender process scheduled to begin by the end of August. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Boosting support for parents of children with disabilities in Japan
Boosting support for parents of children with disabilities in Japan

Japan Times

time09-07-2025

  • Politics
  • Japan Times

Boosting support for parents of children with disabilities in Japan

When children with disabilities in Japan graduate from special education high schools, the support services they have relied on are abruptly discontinued, leaving their parents in a difficult position. Many such parents, who have been balancing work and care-giving responsibilities, are often forced to leave their jobs to devote more time to caring for their children. This situation, known as the "age 18 barrier," frequently leads to financial hardship. In response, some businesses and local governments have developed support measures to help parents remain in the workforce. "In a society where dual-income families are the norm, only parents raising children with disabilities are left behind," said a mother who resigned from her job of 30 years after her daughter graduated from a special education school. She spoke at a news conference in Tokyo last December, organized by a general incorporated association of parents raising children with disabilities and those requiring medical care. When children with disabilities reach adulthood, the central government shifts its welfare support to programs that promote their independence. Children with disabilities who attend daily living assistance facilities that provide constant nursing care, or continuous employment support facilities that offer light work opportunities, will no longer be permitted to use after-school day services. Previously, such services allowed students at special education schools to stay until around 6 p.m. after classes ended. Most of these and similar facilities are available only until around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. As a result, many parents are forced to leave their jobs because they cannot find care for their children during the late afternoon. This situation leads to concerns about lower pensions in the future, as well as worries about how their children will manage without parental support after they are gone. The government has been implementing the revised child care and nursing care leave law in stages since April. The new regulations require businesses to give due consideration to employees' individual circumstances, helping them better balance work with child care or nursing care responsibilities. Nursing care leave can now be used not only for caring for the elderly, but also for supporting individuals with disabilities or those in need of medical care. For parents raising children with such needs, companies are required to survey employees' preferences regarding working hours, job assignments and other related matters by the time the children turn 3 years old, and to accommodate these needs as much as possible. Some companies, responding to the heartfelt concerns of employees raising children with disabilities, are taking proactive steps ahead of legal requirements. Fujitsu and NEC, for example, now allow employees to work reduced hours for as long as they need to provide nursing or other care. East Japan Railway permits employees to take up to two years of leave, depending on their children's needs. Additionally, the railway operator, known as JR East, is developing a support network through which employees raising children with disabilities or intractable diseases can share information and discuss their concerns. Still, despite these corporate initiatives, challenges remain, particularly regarding career development and income stability. It is therefore essential to further expand welfare resources, such as increasing the availability of facilities that support children with disabilities. Starting in April, Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward extended the operating hours of its daily living assistance centers. As a result, about 15 children, including ones from dual-income families, are now utilizing these facilities. "After listening to parents, we became acutely aware of their urgent need for assistance," said Kaori Matsuyama, chief of the disability support section at the ward office's welfare department. "Both the facilities and the ward office wanted to take action. As we anticipate an increase in the number of users in the future, we hope to establish a system that can accommodate their needs." Similar support measures have been introduced by other municipalities as well. In April, Tokyo's Setagaya Ward launched a project to assist with transportation between daily living care facilities and users' homes.

Family services hubs to opened by all England councils
Family services hubs to opened by all England councils

The Independent

time06-07-2025

  • Health
  • The Independent

Family services hubs to opened by all England councils

The Department for Education has announced a nationwide rollout of 'Best Start' family hubs across every council in England. A £500 million investment targets disadvantaged communities, aiming for a hub in every local authority by April 2026, with up to 1,000 hubs by the end of 2028. These hubs will offer a range of services including birth registration, debt advice, midwifery, and support for separated parents. The initiative aims to provide a "lifeline" to families, improve life chances for children, and build on the legacy of previous family support programmes. While charities like Save The Children and the NAHT union welcomed the move, the Conservatives criticised it as a potential rebranding of existing services.

Sleeping pods for Skegness homeless approved
Sleeping pods for Skegness homeless approved

BBC News

time05-07-2025

  • General
  • BBC News

Sleeping pods for Skegness homeless approved

Plans to install four emergency accommodation pods for rough sleepers in Skegness have been approved. The self-contained units include a toilet, wash basin and bed. They will be heated and have solar-generated shelters are designed for people who have been rough sleeping and have complex needs. East Lindsey District Council said it expected the pods would be ready for use by the end of October. Councillor William Gray, portfolio holder for communities and better ageing, said: "Nobody should be without a home and these pods combined with the wraparound support services will aim to get people back on their feet as soon as possible. "This decision reflects the commitment of the council and our community to address homelessness in East Lindsey in the most compassionate, dignified and practical way possible - something I think we should all be very proud of." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here, to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here, to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.

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