Latest news with #Charities
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Speculation over SEND provision 'will bring fear and anxiety'
Families whose children have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) fear the government may be considering plans to scrap them, a charity has has been a sharp rise in recent years in the number of pupils with EHCPs, putting local authorities under financial with an EHCP are legally entitled to receive additional support if they have learning disabilities or face social, emotional or mental health challenges.A Department for Education spokesperson said it would be "totally inaccurate to suggest that children, families and schools might experience any loss of funding or support". 'Respite' Jane Johnson's 17-year-old son has had an ECHP since he was at primary said it enabled his move into special education. Ms Johnson, from Oldham, said: "It was when he was in year one that we first noticed a major difference."He couldn't cope with the large class sizes and it led to unwanted behaviours which would have led to exclusion."In a recent letter published in The Guardian newspaper, several charities and academics warned that, without EHCPs in mainstream schools, "many thousands of children risk being denied vital provision or losing access to education altogether".Ms Johnson said her son's EHCP afforded him the security of knowing he could stay in school."You've got a little bit of respite with an ECHP," she explained. "You're not as worried that they might get excluded tomorrow and without that, you're right back to square one with that worry every day." 'Steep rise' More than 482,000 children and young people in England have an the north-west of England alone, there are now more than 73,000 EHCPs - more than double the 32,000 recorded in Greater Manchester borough of Tameside has seen a fourfold increase while Halton in Cheshire has recorded a threefold rise has been driven by several factors in recent years, according to the Institute for Fiscal independent think tank pointed to a steep rise in the number of children and young people diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder also said more young people have speech and language problems while the number of students with social, emotional and mental health needs has also increased. Point is an Oldham-based charity which supports more than 4,000 families who have children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Manager Andrea Greenhead said many families had been left unsettled by speculation in the media about the future of said: "Headlines saying that EHCPs are going to be taken away from children in the mainstream setting will bring fear and anxiety and a cause for concern. "What families really need is the detail that sits behind it and a family and parent voice incorporated into the plans because the lived experience that families have are really crucial." 'Complex area' Many local authorities are struggling to afford the additional transport costs that are often associated with Council's bill has increased from about £2m to nearly £8m, while local authorities covering Stockport, Halton, Manchester and Trafford have also seen sharp of the money is spent on providing EHCP recipients with taxis to and from taxi bill has gone up more than fourfold in a decade, while Warrington has seen a 270% rise during that same period, from £1.25m to £ government said it inherited a system "left on its knees".When asked if she could scrap EHCPs, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described it as a "complex and sensitive area".Full details of the proposed changes to SEND provision are due to be announced in October.A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We have been clear that there are no plans to abolish SEND tribunals, or to remove funding or support from children, families and schools." Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
HMRC warns anyone born on these dates could be owed £2,200 in unclaimed cash
If the parent didn't open a Child Trust Fund, then HMRC would have opened one on behalf of the child - this means there are thousands of young people that may not realise they have one HMRC is urging parents to check if their child has a forgotten savings account worth an average of £2,000. Child Trust Funds were saving accounts given to children born between September 1, 2002 and January 2, 2011. Each child was given a voucher worth £250, or £500 for those from lower income families to start the account. Families could then add up to £9,000 a year into a Child Trust Fund. If the parent didn't open a Child Trust Fund, then HMRC would have opened one on behalf of the child - this means there are thousands of young people that may not realise they have one of these accounts. Latest figures from HMRC show more than 670,000 people aged 18 to 22 have yet to claim their Child Trust Fund. On average, each account is worth £2,212. In a post on X, HMRC said: "If your child is between 18 and 22, they can cash in their #ChildTrustFund. The average amount claimed is £2,200." You can't open a new Child Trust Fund but you can continue to pay into an existing account. It is only possible to access a Child Trust Fund once the child turns 18. How to fin If you know the name of your Child Trust Fund provider, you can contact it directly to find out more about your account. If you've lost track of your account, you can ask HMRC to help you locate it by filling out a form on You can ask HMRC to find a Child Trust Fund if you're a parent or guardian of a child under 18, or if you're 16 or over and looking for your own account. You will need your National Insurance number and Government Gateway - this is free to create - to fill out the online form. Once you've entered the right information, HMRC should tell you the name of the Child Trust Fund provider within three weeks. You can also request details by post by writing to: Charities, Savings and International 1, HMRC, BX9 1AU. Try to include as many details as possible, such as the full name, date of birth and address of the account holder, plus their National Insurance number. In a comment published last November, Angela MacDonald, HMRC Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive, said: 'Thousands of Child Trust Fund accounts are sitting unclaimed – we want to reunite young people with their money and we're making the process as simple as possible. 'You don't need to pay anyone to find your Child Trust Fund for you, locate yours today by searching 'find your Child Trust Fund' on
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Duke of Edinburgh becomes fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh has said it is a 'great honour' to be formally inducted into the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Edward was formally inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the charity, described as 'Scotland's National Academy' at a ceremony on Thursday. He was given the honour in recognition of his long-standing public service and commitment to creating opportunities for young people. The Duke is patron of more than 70 charities and organisations across the arts, sport and education, including Northern Ballet, the British Paralympic Association, the National Youth Theatre, and the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. He also leads The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, where he has served as chairman of trustees since 2015. The Duke, who was in Scotland during royal week, was inducted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) president, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli. In his address to the RSE Fellows and members of the Young Academy of Scotland on Thursday, the Duke said: 'I thank the Fellows of The Royal Society of Edinburgh for this great honour of inducting me into your society to join your ranks. 'I am proud to join and recognise this institution's rich history and its unwavering commitment to the advancement of knowledge for good, and it has been wonderful to learn about the breadth of this work today.' The RSE, which has more than 1,800 fellows, supports, and mobilises expertise from across academia, business, and public service for the benefit of Scotland and the wider world. Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli said: 'His Royal Highness has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the health and happiness of young people across such a wide range of areas of our society and latterly has taken on the leadership of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation. 'Today's celebration continues an unbroken and vital connection between Scotland's National Academy and the Royal Family, one which I am deeply proud to pay tribute to today.' After his own induction the Duke presented an RSE Royal Medal to Professor Peter Kennedy, Burton Chair of Neurology at the University of Glasgow. Edward is also Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow. The Royal Medal is the RSE's highest recognition of achievement with only 52 having been presented since their inception in 2000. Professor Kennedy was awarded the medal for his contribution in distinguishing the major human brain cell types, paving the way to significant diseases and infections, as well as identification of a novel therapy for African trypanosomiasis, known as sleeping sickness. The Duke of Edinburgh said he is 'delighted' that the society has recognised the work of Prof Kennedy. He said: 'It is a great honour and privilege to be able to present him a RSE Royal Medal in recognition of his important work.'
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Duke of Edinburgh becomes fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh has said it is a 'great honour' to be formally inducted into the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Edward was formally inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the charity, described as 'Scotland's National Academy' at a ceremony on Thursday. He was given the honour in recognition of his long-standing public service and commitment to creating opportunities for young people. The Duke is patron of more than 70 charities and organisations across the arts, sport and education, including Northern Ballet, the British Paralympic Association, the National Youth Theatre, and the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. He also leads The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, where he has served as chairman of trustees since 2015. The Duke, who was in Scotland during royal week, was inducted by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) president, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli. In his address to the RSE Fellows and members of the Young Academy of Scotland on Thursday, the Duke said: 'I thank the Fellows of The Royal Society of Edinburgh for this great honour of inducting me into your society to join your ranks. 'I am proud to join and recognise this institution's rich history and its unwavering commitment to the advancement of knowledge for good, and it has been wonderful to learn about the breadth of this work today.' The RSE, which has more than 1,800 fellows, supports, and mobilises expertise from across academia, business, and public service for the benefit of Scotland and the wider world. Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli said: 'His Royal Highness has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the health and happiness of young people across such a wide range of areas of our society and latterly has taken on the leadership of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation. 'Today's celebration continues an unbroken and vital connection between Scotland's National Academy and the Royal Family, one which I am deeply proud to pay tribute to today.' After his own induction the Duke presented an RSE Royal Medal to Professor Peter Kennedy, Burton Chair of Neurology at the University of Glasgow. Edward is also Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow. The Royal Medal is the RSE's highest recognition of achievement with only 52 having been presented since their inception in 2000. Professor Kennedy was awarded the medal for his contribution in distinguishing the major human brain cell types, paving the way to significant diseases and infections, as well as identification of a novel therapy for African trypanosomiasis, known as sleeping sickness. The Duke of Edinburgh said he is 'delighted' that the society has recognised the work of Prof Kennedy. He said: 'It is a great honour and privilege to be able to present him a RSE Royal Medal in recognition of his important work.'
AsiaOne
10-06-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
Singaporean owner of defunct company barred from raising funds for charity after regulatory breaches, Singapore News
A Singaporean man, 26, has been barred from carrying out fundraising activities after he was found to have breached multiple regulations. Eugene Liow Chia Hau will not be able to raise funds for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes from Tuesday (June 10). In a joint statement on the same day, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said that the Commissioner of Charities had received feedback between July 2023 and January 2024 about fund-raising appeals carried out by Direct Hope, which was run by Liow. The now-defunct company was engaged by the youth charity Bilby Community Development as a commercial fund-raiser between May 2023 and January 2024. Investigations by MSF found that Liow, who is the sole proprietor of Direct Hope, had multiple breaches under the Charities (Fund-raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations. Liow did not place adequate "control measures and safeguards to ensure proper accountability" of donations collected by Direct Hope, and to prevent them from being lost or stolen, MCCY and MSF said. "He also did not maintain proper accounting records of the fund-raising appeals, or a list of the personal particulars of Direct Hope's collectors," they said. Checks by AsiaOne showed that Direct Hope is not a registered charity. Its business records listing its principal activity as "other social services without accommodation". Its other principal activity involved the sale of handicrafts, collectibles and gifts. Direct Hope was registered as a business in August 2021, and its licence expired three years later and was not renewed. A screenshot of the Direct Hope website, shared on social media, showed the group describing itself as a "community-driven social youth enterprise" that purportedly supports "marginalised youths" through "direct selling activities". AsiaOne found that online complaints about Direct Hope going door to door soliciting donations have been circulating since 2022. MCCY and MSF said that while most fund-raising appeals are genuine, it is important for the public to continue practicing safer giving to ensure "their donations are used for genuine charitable purposes". The ministries said that members of the public should ask questions and check the Charity Portal at to find out if a charity is registered or has shared details of its public fund-raising appeal. They can scan a QR code on the official letter provided by the charitable organisation, which will lead to more details on the Charity Portal. Members of the public can also send an SMS to 79777, which should be formatted as FR , followed by a space and the organisation's name, or call the Charities Unit on 6337-6597. "Members of the public should not feel pressured to give if they have concerns or suspect that an appeal for donations is not legitimate," MCCY and MSF said. They can make a report to the COC at mccy_charities@ to alert them on suspicious fund-raising activities. If it is a suspected scam or fraud case, then they should file a police report immediately. [[nid:688365]] chingshijie@
