SMEToday had the opportunity to talk to Natash Blake, one of Banya Fostering Carers, during the recent Foster Care Fortnight. Who lives in your house? “My mother who’s also a Foster Carer, Javanna – my daughter and back-up carer, and our three foster daughters.” Where in the UK do you live? “West Norwood which is in South London.” How old are the children you are fostering? “We have one 14-year-old and two 15-year olds.” How long have the children lived with you? T “The sibling group have been with us for 9 years, and a new placement one month.” How…
Author: sme-admin
Introduction: Since the first case of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was diagnosed in December 2019, it has swept across the world and resulted in unprecedented global action. This has necessitated the practice of physical distancing (also known as “social distancing” but I prefer physical distancing) in countries all over the world, resulting in changes in national behavioural patterns and shutdowns of usual day-to-day functioning. While these steps are critical to mitigate the spread of this disease, they will undoubtedly have consequences for mental health and well-being in both the short and long term. Large-scale disasters are almost always accompanied…
Costain, the smart infrastructure solutions company, is supporting the Future Generations Leadership Academy (FGLA). The FGLA is an ambitious and innovative 10-month programme to support young people with opportunities to learn and enhance their skills, to ensure Wales has strong leadership today and for the future. At the heart of the programme is the aspiration to achieve the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015), a new and progressive piece of legislation that builds on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to require public bodies to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities…
Schools, colleges and nurseries across England remain on track to open to more children from 1 June, the Prime Minister confirmed on Sunday 24 May. Primary schools will be able to welcome back children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6, while nurseries and other early years providers will begin welcoming back children of all ages. Secondary schools, sixth forms and colleges will also provide face-to-face contact for Year 10, Year 12 and equivalent 16-19 further education students to help them prepare for exams next year. It is expected this will begin from 15 June, with around a quarter of…
Prime Minister Boris Johnson sets out a timeline for retail to reopen in June Thousands of high street shops, department stores and shopping centres across England have been given the green light to reopen next month the Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday 25th May. Outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to reopen from 1 June, as soon as they are able to meet the COVID-19 secure guidelines to protect shoppers and workers. All other non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics, plus tailors, auction houses, photography studios, and indoor markets, will…
Sellafield Ltd’s Geospatial and Strategic Spatial Planning Team have used their skills to help support the most vulnerable in the community as part of Cumbria’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Richard McGrath, who heads up the team at Sellafield Ltd said, “Three colleagues worked closely with Cumbria County Council since the beginning of lockdown, to help them develop a web-based interactive ‘app’ to help triage and coordinate support to the most vulnerable in the community.” The application provides information, in a web-map, on where vulnerable people in the community live and matches this with the geographical spread of local community…
The race to manufacture millions of doses of a coronavirus vaccine has been boosted with a multi-million-pound government investment, Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced on Sunday 17th May. The government will invest up to £93 million to accelerate construction of the new Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) which, when completed, will have capacity to produce enough vaccine doses to serve the entire UK population in as little as six months. The funding will ensure the centre opens in Summer 2021, a full 12 months ahead of schedule. The new Centre, which is already under construction, is a key component…
From yesterday (Thursday 14th May) anyone in England wanting and able to move house can do so, as long as they follow new guidance the Government has published. When the lockdown was announced in March, the rules changed so that people could only move home if they thought it was “reasonably necessary”. That meant that more than 450,000 buyers plans were put on hold. Under these new guidelines people can now start to move forward with their house moves. Under the plans estate agents offices can re-open, viewings will be permitted – whether virtual or in person, show homes can open…
The Chancellor announced yesterday, Tuesday 12th May, that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until the end of October. In a boost to millions of jobs and businesses, Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme would be extended by a further four months with workers continuing to receive 80% of their current salary. From the start of August, furloughed workers will be able to return to work part-time with employers being asked to pay a percentage towards the salaries of their furloughed staff. The Chancellor commented “This extension and the changes we are making to the scheme will give…
Rolls-Royce is publishing, for free, its world-class digital skills training programme to help people and businesses around the world prepare for a potentially digital-centric recovery from COVID-19. Bringing together its trusted training partners and platforms, the first suite of courses includes introductions to data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, coding and digital culture. Courses range from ‘bitesize’ 20-minute sessions, to extended fully certified training programmes. This release by Rolls-Royce follows its founding role in establishing the global Emergent Alliance, a voluntary group of technology companies and data science specialists working together to find new ways to accelerate and smooth the…