The All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image (of which Central YMCA provides the secretariat) is conducting an inquiry into the causes and consequences of body image anxiety in the UK and what practical steps can be taken to address this. The group is hearing from a range of organisations and individuals in Parliament between Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 and welcomes public attendance at these sessions. It also welcomes written responses. If you would like to provide a response to the Inquiry, please click here.
The FSI (Foundation for Social Improvement) undertakes regular research into the issues affecting the UK's small charity sector. They are carrying out a survey on localism and the impact of small charities in their communities. Click here to take part.
4) Consultation on Clare's Law
The public are to be asked their views on whether to introduce a scheme for disclosing information about an individual’s history of domestic violence to a new partner. The consultation asks asks whether the protection of victims of domestic violence can be improved by the establishment of a national Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme and if such a scheme could work in practice. This consultation presents three options:
- option 1: continue current arrangements under existing law
- option 2: a 'right to ask' national disclosure scheme -this would enable a person to ask the police about a person’s previous history of domestic violence or violent acts.
- option 3: a 'right to know' national disclosure scheme where the police would proactively disclose information in prescribed circumstances
Click here to find out more. The consultation closes on Friday 13 January 2012.
5) Office of the Children's Commissioner is calling for evidence in respect of child sexual exploitation
This is a request from Sally Stocker, Business Manager for Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Board and Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board which she has received from the Office of the Children's Commissioner calling for evidence in respect of child sexual exploitation.
As child sexual exploitation is part of the business plans for the Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Board and Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Boards this year, it would be appreciated if you could send a response from your agency to this request if appropriate and copy Sally.Stocker@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
From: Childrens.COMMISSIONER@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk
Sent: 21 November 2011 20:03
Subject: Children's Commissioner's Inquiry into child sexual exploitation in gangs and groups - Call for evidence
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner launched an Inquiry into child sexual exploitation linked to gangs and groups (CSEGG) on 14 October 2011. With this launch they published a call for evidence targeted at professionals and adults, which is available on their website.
They are keen for as many professionals as possible to complete the call for evidence and would really appreciate a considered response from you. The call for evidence is for use by professionals and adults only. Due to the emotional, sensitive and often traumatic nature of child sexual exploitation it is not appropriate for children and young people to engage directly in this aspect of the evidence gathering process. Please use evidence and intelligence from your work with children, young people and adults to submit your response, rather than speaking with children and young people to gather your evidence.
They have developed a specific participation strategy for separately engaging children and young people in the evidence gathering process. This strategy adheres to specific ethical and safeguarding protocol for the engagement of children and young people throughout the CSEGG Inquiry; they only seek to engage with children and young people in accordance with this strategy and in a way that is overseen by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. If you work with children and young people who you feel would benefit from engaging in the CSEGG Inquiry please notify the CSEGG Secretariat for support, advice and assistance.
It is crucial that they receive the views and opinions of as many stakeholders as possible to provide us with data on victims and/or perpetrators of this abuse reflecting a wide population. We are particularly interested in hearing from:
- Community Saftey Teams
- Local Police Forces
- Loal Safeguarding Children's Service
- Parents and carers
- Education providers (including Pupil Referral Units)
- Youn Offender Institutions
- Housing Providers
- Health Agencies
- Voluntary and Community Groups
- Young Offending Services
The call for evidence document for phase one of the Inquiry, which is focused on: The scale, scope, nature and extent of gang and group-associated child sexual exploitation, victimisation and abuse is available to view on the website. They want to know what is happening, to whom, where, when and how often, and who is doing it.
Evidence should be submitted by professionals or adults only, as a Microsoft Word or PDF document. Written evidence will be accepted as well as video, imagery and other forms of expression. All evidence is to be submitted to CSEGG.Inquiry@childrenscommissioner.gsi.gov.uk by noon on Friday 20 January 2012.
6) Central Bedfordshire Council Budget 2012 - Making your money count
In the Autumn, Central Bedfordshire Council asked residents what the council’s spending priorities and the level of council tax should be for 2012/2013.
Having listened to residents’ feedback, the council has drawn up a draft budget for 2012/13. A summary of the draft budget is available to view here or at your local library. Central Bedfordshire Council are now inviting all residents and partners to comment on the draft budget.
You can have your say on the draft budget by
All responses must be received by 12 noon on Friday 27 January 2012. A budget timeline is available to view below:
Tuesday, 6 December |
Executive agree the draft budget. Consultation begins. |
Friday, 27 January |
Closing date for consultation |
Tuesday, 14 February |
Executive agrees final budget |
Thursday, 23 February |
Full council agrees final budget |
March |
Communicate decision and explain how public have informed our decision making. |
7)
Think Father Survey
The Think Fathers Sub Group originated from the Parenting and Think Family Strategic group, and is attended by representatives from a range of services and teams currently engaging with families in Central Bedfordshire. The Sub-group includes staff from Health Visiting services, Maternity Services, Adult Learning, Children’s Centre Development, Child care development, parenting support services, voluntary organisations.
In order to understand the current level of engagement of dads and male carers, the sub-group has developed a Think father Survey, which is intended to identify the views and feeling of dads and male carers in Central Bedfordshire regarding services and support available to them, and to identify what support or services dads are specifically requesting. This survey is available online or a printable copy is available to download here.
Feedback from the survey will be reviewed by the Think Fathers sub-group and begin to address gaps in provision of services for fathers, and support the continued development of father friendly working and services across all of those represented within the sub group. The views expressed will help them understand the needs of fathers and how we can enable greater engagement of fathers in the lives of their children. The survey is live until Friday 27 January 2012.
8) Bedford Borough Vision for Education Consultation
At a time of significant change in education and local government more generally, it is right that the Council reviews its education strategies and makes sure that they are robust and will continue to support schools in delivering the high quality education to which we all aspire.
We have produced a consultation draft Vision for Education. It is vital that we capture the views of stakeholders and members of the public. Please spare a few moments to read the document, and let us know what you think. The consultation document can be viewed here. To have your say, fill in the online response form. This consultation will run from Monday 9 January 2012 to Monday 12 March 2012.
9) Bedford Borough Health and Wellbeing Strategy Consultation
Health and Wellbeing Boards are a key element of the proposed Health and Social Care Bill. This will enable local authorities to deliver new duties and improve joined up working from April 2013.
Bedford Borough’s Health and Wellbeing Board, established in 2011, brings together those who buy services across health, social care, and children’s services. Members of the board also include elected councillors, service users and patients to ensure that decisions about services meet local needs and are informed by local people.
Underpinning the work that the Board does is Bedford Borough’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2012 - 2013. This strategy outlines the proposed top priorities for improving the health and wellbeing of all people in the Borough. The draft strategy can be viewed here.
Bedford Borough Council would like to hear your views on the draft strategy, and the priorities contained within it. We are consulting with a number of different stakeholders, including our statutory and third sector partners and the public who are central to our vision. It is vital to the development of the strategy that stakeholders and members of the public give their views on proposals, so that we produce a fit for purpose strategy
Responses will be considered by members of the Bedford Borough Health and Wellbeing Board on conclusion of the consultation period. The strategy will then be approved by the Board for implementation in June 2012. Click here to have your say. The consultation will run from Wednesday 18 January 2012 to Wednesday 14 March 2012.
10) Big Lottery Fund Seeks Views on New Programme
The Government is providing a one-off £30 million investment in local infrastructure in England. The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) has indicated that it will add £20 million.
Following the publication of its discussion paper on the new programme last month, voluntary sector and social enterprise managers, working in frontline or support capacity, now have an opportunity to voice their views on how they think the new funding should be used to develop support for their sector.
One of BIG's main objectives is to help support the voluntary and community sector become more effective. It is also keen to help social enterprises develop so that they can help deliver BIG objectives. In an effort to meet these objectives, BIG has spent more than £200 million in the last decade on capacity building.
To further develop its approach, BIG is making the discussion national through an online survey and discussion events to be held throughout the year. According to BIG, the discussion paper is intended “to stimulate debate and thinking to shape, influence and inform our future thinking and investment.”
The discussion paper and the online survey can be found on BIG's website. The survey must be completed by Thursday 15 March 2012. A revised paper will then be published which will set out further details on BIG’s plans for funding.
11) Cross-government definition of domestic violence consultation
Young people under 18 could be included in the cross-government definition of domestic violence for the first time. The government is asking the public, police, charities and practitioners for views on the definition of domestic violence. They would like to know whether broadening the definition would help provide greater protection and support to victims.
The consultation seeks views on three areas:
- whether the current cross-government definition of domestic violence introduced in 2004 is working and should remain
- whether 'coercive control' should be reflected in the definition
- whether the definition of domestic violence should include younger victims below 18 years of age
Coercive control
Coercive control is a complex pattern of abuse using power and psychological control over another – financial control, verbal abuse, forced social isolation. These incidents may vary in seriousness and be repeated over time. It is widely recognised that domestic violence is often underpinned by a pattern of such behaviour.
Click here to read the full consultation and to respond. The consultation will run until Friday 30 March 2012.
