Latest news with #LynnPerry
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Boy, 11, among 2,000 kids arrested last year for dealing heroin, cocaine and amphetamine, The Sun can reveal
Ministers want to bring in a law so drug kingpins who force kids into county lines gangs can be jailed for up to ten years CRIME SHAME Boy, 11, among 2,000 kids arrested last year for dealing heroin, cocaine and amphetamine, The Sun can reveal Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BOY of 11 was among almost 2,000 under-17s arrested last year for dealing drugs including heroin, cocaine and amphetamine, The Sun can reveal. Police figures show an average of about 40 children aged 16 or younger were held every week in England and Wales on suspicion of peddling Class A substances. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Experts believe many are vulnerable victims of county lines gangs who are coerced into transporting drugs from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries. The 43 forces in England and Wales, plus British Transport Police, released figures after a Freedom of Information request. They showed that 1,914 under-17s were nabbed for either selling drugs — or having such huge quantities they were suspected of being dealers. The 11-year-old was held in Wiltshire. The forces for Merseyside, Northamptonshire and Hampshire did not provide figures so the true total would be higher. London saw most arrests, with 219 — including seven 13-year-old boys. Greater Manchester had 128, two involving boys of 12. One was trying to deal in Class A drugs and the other attempted to supply cannabis. The same force nicked a boy of 13 for trying to sell heroin. West Midlands Police arrested 114 under-17s, including two girls of 16 over Class A drugs. Leicestershire saw 108 arrests, with children pulled in for allegedly dealing in LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis and heroin. York's Hidden Crisis: County Lines, Gangs, and the Fight for the City's Youth Sussex cops made 102 arrests, two of boys aged 13 on suspicion of dealing in crack and heroin. Anastasia de Waal, of the Civitas think-tank, said: 'We're continuing to see the exploitation of very vulnerable children here. Such exploitation blights not only these youngsters' childhoods but also their futures. Not enough is being done to prevent it.' Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo's, added: 'Children who are exploited are often forced to commit crimes by being coerced, threatened and made to feel like there's no way out.' Ministers want to bring in a law so drug kingpins who force kids into county lines gangs can be jailed for up to ten years.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Boy, 11, among 2,000 kids arrested last year for dealing heroin, cocaine and amphetamine, The Sun can reveal
A BOY of 11 was among almost 2,000 under-17s arrested last year for dealing drugs including heroin, cocaine and amphetamine, The Sun can reveal. Police figures show an average of about 40 children aged 16 or younger were held every week in England and Wales on suspicion of peddling Class A substances. Advertisement Experts believe many are vulnerable victims of The 43 forces in England and Wales, plus British Transport Police, released figures after a Freedom of Information request. They showed that 1,914 under-17s were nabbed for either selling drugs — or having such huge quantities they were suspected of being dealers. The 11-year-old was held in Advertisement Read More on crime The forces for Merseyside, Northamptonshire and Hampshire did not provide figures so the true total would be higher. London saw most arrests, with 219 — including seven 13-year-old boys. Greater Manchester had 128, two involving boys of 12. One was trying to deal in Class A drugs and the other attempted to supply cannabis. The same force nicked a boy of 13 for trying to sell heroin. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Live Blog Exclusive West Midlands Police arrested 114 under-17s, including two girls of 16 over Class A drugs. Leicestershire saw 108 arrests, with children pulled in for allegedly dealing in LSD, ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis and heroin. York's Hidden Crisis: County Lines, Gangs, and the Fight for the City's Youth Sussex cops made 102 arrests, two of boys aged 13 on suspicion of dealing in crack and heroin. Anastasia de Waal, of the Civitas think-tank, said: 'We're continuing to see the exploitation of very vulnerable children here. Such exploitation blights not only these youngsters' childhoods but also their futures. Not enough is being done to prevent it.' Advertisement Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo's, added: 'Children who are exploited are often forced to commit crimes by being coerced, threatened and made to feel like there's no way out.' Ministers want to bring in a law so 1 A boy of 11 was among almost 2,000 under-17s arrested last year for dealing drugs including heroin, cocaine and amphetamine Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
470,000 households have Universal Credit payments cut due to controversial rule
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HUNDREDS of thousands of households have had their Universal Credit payments capped due to a controversial rule. New data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that 469,780 households were impacted by the two-child cap in April 2025, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous year. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Critics argue the policy deepens child poverty Credit: Alamy The policy, which denies additional child-related benefits for third or subsequent children born after April 2017, now impacts 1.67million children. It means parents can't claim the child elements of Universal Credit worth up to £3,513.72 per year for third or subsequent children. While 453,600 households receive no child element for at least one child, 26,300 households were granted exceptions, mostly for multiple births. Critics argue the policy deepens child poverty, with the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) revealing it has pushed 350,000 children into poverty and 700,000 into even worse conditions. Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo's, also said: "Ending the policy would lift half a million children out of poverty." Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer previously stated his government couldn't afford to remove the cap, which the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates would cost £3.4 billion annually. Ministers have toed the party line for months, but the narrative started to shift in May, with Sir Keir reported to have asked the Treasury to see how scrapping it could be funded. Labour MPs who pushed Sir Keir Starmer to reverse major PIP cuts last week had hoped to scrap the benefit cap next. However, plans to shelve the rule have been binned because of Labour's £5billion welfare U-turn. The DWP has been contacted for comment. All the freebies you can get on Universal Credit Who's exempt from the two-child benefit cap? THE two-child benefit cap means that you can only get more child tax credit or Universal Credit for your third (or more) child if: They were born before April 6, 2017 They are disabled (disabled child element only) You qualify for an exception in child tax credit or special circumstances apply in Universal Credit You qualify for an exception or special circumstances for each third (or subsequent) child if: You have adopted them or other children in your household You receive guardian's allowance for them or other children in your household They are the second (or more) child born in a multiple-birth They or other children in your household are the offspring of one of your children who is under 16 years old They or other children in your household are not your child or stepchild, and you look after them under a court order They or other children in your household are not your child or stepchild and you look after them under an arrangement with Social Services (except for formal foster care) They were conceived as a result of rape, and you do not live with the perpetrator What additional childcare help is available? Up to 30 free childcare hours You may be able to get free childcare for your child aged nine months to four years old if you live in England. The number of hours working parents can claim depends on the age of their child. If your child is: Nine months to two years old, you can get 15 hours per week of free childcare Three to four years old, you can get 30 hours per week of free childcare From September 2025, children aged nine months to two years old will qualify for 30 hours per week of free childcare To qualify, you'll need to earn at least the equivalent of the national minimum wage for 16 hours a week. Both parents will need to earn the equivalent of at least £166 per week, each with a taxable income of no more than £100,000. Your two-year-old can also get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits: Income support income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA) income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) Universal Credit and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments The guaranteed element of pension credit Child tax credit, working tax credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax Universal Credit childcare costs Parents on Universal Credit and in a paid job can have up to 85% of their childcare costs covered, up to £1,031.88 a month for one child and £1,768.94 a month for two or more children. It doesn't matter how many hours you work. If you live with a partner, you both need to work to qualify. You usually have to pay for the childcare and claim back the costs, but if you go back to work or increase your hours you can request for the money to be paid upfront. Child benefit You can get child benefit if you're responsible for a child aged under 16, or if they are under 20 and in approved education or training. Child benefit is currently worth £26.05 a week for the eldest child or only child. For each subsequent child, parents get £17.25 a week. The cash is paid every four weeks and there's no limit to how many children you can apply for. Bear in mind though, that those who earn more than £60,000 a year have to start paying back some of their child benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). If you or your partner earns £80,000 or more, you have to pay all your entitlement back. You have to pay the HICBC to HMRC through self-assessment.
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Big fall in support for struggling families in England, charity says
Community support for struggling families in England has declined significantly over the past 15 years, with data revealing that the availability of specialist children's services has plummeted by over a third. The number of family hubs and children's centres in England has reduced by more than a third since 2009, while spending on centres was cut by almost £1.4bn between 2010/11 and 2023/24, according to freedom of information data compiled from 108 local authorities by the charity Barnardo's. Access varies according to region in a 'postcode lottery of support', the charity said. Over the same period, child poverty levels have risen by more than 15% to include over a third of children, with growing numbers struggling with their mental health, lacking basic life skills, and entering the care system, the charity said. Lynn Perry, the chief executive of Barnardo's, said: 'Family hubs offer a safe, welcoming space where parents and children can access vital support. 'At their best, these centres are a local 'nerve centre' where parents can come for a 'stay and play' session, and in the same familiar and welcoming environment receive help with breastfeeding, talk to a health visitor, receive support with speech and language, attend a parenting course, and even access highly specialist help with issues such as domestic abuse and substance abuse for those who need it. 'Evidence also shows that family hubs, by getting to families with support before they reach crisis point, also have a long-term financial benefit to the country.' Family hubs are rooted in Labour's Sure Start programme, which began in the 1990s, and help families before they reach crisis point, providing services including pregnancy and breastfeeding support, child developmental health clinics, mental health support, advice on online safety or knife crime, and support for addiction and domestic abuse. Recent UCL research found that one in four children in England needed social care services by the time they turned 18 as a result of funding cuts to preventive and early support services, including children's centres. Barnardo's is calling on the government to include a commitment in its forthcoming child poverty strategy to develop a network of 3,500 centres across England. The charity's report analysed two parenting programmes at the Sandwell family hub in the West Midlands. It showed that for every £1 spent on one programme, it brought benefits to the public purse worth £3.82, while the other delivered £2.44 for every £1 spent. Parents who shared their stories with Barnardo's said they had benefited from soft play sessions, which gave their children access to toys and experiences they couldn't afford, support for postnatal depression, and parent networks that provided mutual advice. Mellissa Gaskin, a service manager at Ladywood family hub in the West Midlands, said one of the benefits of family hubs was that 'families can get support for multiple issues without having to repeat their story to multiple professionals'. As an example, she said a child at a play session might have language development needs identified. 'This means they get earlier intervention than if they had to wait for an issue to be identified and referred later on,' she said. The education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: 'The support offered through the Family Hubs programme is a lifeline for so many families – but with a third of those on the lowest incomes still struggling to get the support they need, I know the system we've inherited does not go far enough. 'We've already taken vital steps to back families through the government-funded childcare rollout, free breakfast clubs and free school meals for every child on universal credit, but we won't stop there. We will carefully consider all available evidence and research as we develop our plans for reform so that every family, regardless of background, can benefit from high-quality, joined-up support.'
Western Telegraph
21-05-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
‘Child sexual abuse support services face closure or cuts in funding shortfall'
The centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre) said a research survey of providers had found more than three-quarters facing uncertainty about future funding and a fifth considering closure or cuts to their services. The centre warned that, despite a recommendation from the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) almost three years ago that specialist therapeutic support should be guaranteed for child victims of sexual abuse, 'thousands' have been left waiting months or years to access support. The CSA Centre said its findings were based on 124 support services in England and Wales responding to its survey. This report starkly illustrates the huge shortfall in support for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, with many services reporting that they are now on the verge of breaking point Ian Dean, CSA Centre The centre said 23 support services closed in the 18 months since their last national survey in 2023, leaving 363 such services across the whole of England and Wales. The organisation estimated that this equates to each remaining service having an average of 16,500 victims and survivors to support. The survey results found more than three-quarters of respondents said they were facing uncertainty about future funding for their services, with some indicating there was less money available and others citing the short-term and insecure nature of funding. One in five respondents said they were facing full or partial closure or could have to cut support without 'sufficient' funding being confirmed within the next few months. Centre director Ian Dean said: 'This report starkly illustrates the huge shortfall in support for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, with many services reporting that they are now on the verge of breaking point.' He said the current situation is that 'thousands of children and adults are still left waiting months or even years to access support, with services struggling to meet rising demand on increasingly overstretched budgets'. He described as 'essential that the Government honours its commitment to victims and survivors of abuse by ensuring the consistent, widespread funding of support services that is so desperately needed across the country'. The need for specialist services has never been greater, yet funding for these very services continues to decline Lynn Perry, Barnardo's Fay Maxted, from The Survivors Trust, said the research 'powerfully sets out the impact that the current funding crisis is having on specialist services and the challenges victims and survivors are facing in accessing the support and help they need and are entitled to'. The CSA Centre is mainly funded by the Home Office and hosted by Barnardo's. The charity's chief executive Lynn Perry said the research 'shines a light on the concerning reduction in support available for children who have been sexually abused' and said the Chancellor must make a commitment to investment in her spending review next month. Ms Perry said: 'The need for specialist services has never been greater, yet funding for these very services continues to decline. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse rightly called for a guarantee of specialist therapeutic support for child victims of sexual abuse. 'We urge the government to use the upcoming spending review to invest in these vital services and to seize this opportunity to make sure no child misses out on the support they need to work towards a positive future.'
