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Opinion Formers
Latest Comments
NEA: Draft Bill could cause misery for millions warns charity
"Fixed it for you Mr Osborne." National Energy Action on the Draft Energy Bill, and how to raise social and environmental aspirations.
Guide Dogs for the Blind: DLA replacement PIP will fail to meet needs of blind people
The Government’s proposed changes under the Welfare Reform Act represent one of the most significant changes undertaken by the Coalition Government. There have been many different controversial proposals put forward as part of the Bill, with considerable implications for the lives of blind and partially sighted people across the UK. Guide Dogs for the Blind explore the replacement of DLA with PIP here.
TACT: Legislate at haste, repent at leisure
TACT (The Adolescent and Children's Trust) have commented on the government's adoption scorecards as mentioned in the Queen's Speech, and suggested they might be pandering to headlines instead of focusing on vital post adoption support.
BHA: Secret recordings reveal anti abortion group spreading falsehoods in schools
Whatever a group’s ideological background, it is important that all the claims they present match up with the evidence. When will SPUC stop spreading these untrue stories, and when will the government start properly scrutinising their activities, and the claims they are making in schools?
TACT: In School and Out of School: Admissions, Exclusion and Children in Care
TACT (The Adolescent and Childcare Trust) have written an exclusive comment piece on looked-after children and school exclusion.
United Response: Eight steps towards a fairer society
Did you know that, based on the Government’s own figures, 24% of the spending cuts made in the last two years are falling on just 2% of people – those who require require social care, probably the most vulnerable members of our society? What’s more, 58% of all cuts fall on disabled people, older people needing support and people living in poverty?
United Response: Campaigning for a fair society – House Of Lords manifesto launch
Yesterday afternoon United Response was among more than a 100 present at the launch of a new manifesto by the Campaign For A Fair Society in the House Of Lords. Two people we support joined us to hear first hand the eight positive principles Campaign For A Fair Society believe could create a better future for all of us in the UK.
NUT: Danny Alexander's pensions negotiation deadline is premature when his proposals are simply not an option for most teachers
The Government’s position continues to be that it expects teachers to work longer, pay more and get lower pensions when they retire. The outcome of discussions with the DfE thus far is that five of the eight teacher unions, representing the vast majority of the profession, have declared themselves unwilling to sign up to the Government's proposals. Read why here in an exclusive comment by the National Union of Teachers (NUT).
TACT: Michael Gove's speech shows a welcome change of tone, but adoption reform is only one part of the change we need to see
TACT agrees with the Minister for Education, Michael Gove, that more children should be adopted and unnecessary delay and bureaucracy reduced. However, improvement of the adoption system should only be seen as part of overall improvement. TACT, along with other charities in the sector, is currently planning an enquiry into permanence in care and hope to engage the government in this work.
Terry Ryall: When traditional education fails, we must start to look at what other sectors can offer
Terry Ryall from v inspired comments on Nick Clegg's plans to reward charities and businesses for getting unemployed young people into work or training.
TACT: Looked after children and Offending: Reducing Risk and Promoting Resilience
Many myths exist about looked after children, one of which is spending time in the care system leads to crime. Whilst it is true looked after children are over represented in the youth courts (and prison population), less than 10% of the looked after population actually come into contact with the justice system.
bpas: Taking stock of the morning-after pill
Clare Murphy, BPAS Director of Press and Public Policy, discusses the reaction to BPAS’s Christmas campaign promoting advance prescription of the Emergency Contraceptive Pill.
BHA: Main opposition to reform on assisted dying will come from well-funded but unrepresentative religious lobby
The British Humanist Association calls for compassion and rationality on assisted dying.
Mayhew Animal Home: A call for dog ownership reform
Over twenty organisations, including The Mayhew Animal Home, are now campaigning as a united voice for the coalition government to finally take action in revising dangerous dog legislation.
bpas: Inflating the cost of abortion services
Clare Murphy, BPAS Director of Press and Public Policy, challenges the claim that ‘taxpayers spend £30million a year more on abortion than previously thought’.
Dr Hadwen Trust: Aid for AIDS - An anniversary to note but not to celebrate
Thirty years ago, on 5th June, 1981, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Los Angeles, California, reported the outbreak of an unusual form of pneumonia. This case became the first in a long series that defined a previously unknown syndrome: the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, more commonly known as AIDS, which was to have a significant effect on worldwide health.
Breast Cancer Care: Valuing Older Women
Breast Cancer Care is publishing recommendations on how to improve outcomes and experiences for older women with breast cancer in a new policy briefing, supported by Age UK.
Unlock Democracy: David Cameron must keep his promise to increase the number of female ministers by the end of his first term
The Centre for Women and Democracy, Electoral Reform Society, Fawcett Society, Hansard Society and Unlock Democracy, have joined forces to launch Counting Women In, a new campaign calling for David Cameron to keep his promise to have 1/3 of his ministers be women by the end of his first term as Prime Minister
NEA: How can the most vulnerable manage energy bills in a high cost, low carbon world?
The UK Government is committed to a number of statutory objectives relating to energy security, renewables, climate change and fuel poverty. Compliance with this mix of environmental and social obligations has proven to be both challenging and costly and will continue to be so if Government objectives are to be attained.
BHA joins with leading scientists and other leading organisations to say: ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’
Today the BHA launched a new campaign along with Sir David Attenborough, Prof Richard Dawkins, Prof Michael Reiss, 27 other scientists and four other organisations calling on the government to introduce guidance that creationism may not be taught in schools, and that the teaching of evolution must be.
Electoral Reform Society: Reduce and Equalise, the battle starts here
Yesterday at midnight the Boundary Commission published the initial proposals for the boundary review in England, providing us with the first glimpse of Britain’s political map in 2015.
Mayhew Animal Home: How can we stem this canine crisis?
A release of statistics last week revealed there has been a 130% rise in the number of stray dogs on Britain’s streets. The Mayhew Animal Home gives their perspective on what needs to be done to stem this canine crisis.
TACT: Adoption and Fostering - a balanced debate?
TACT is concerned that popular opinion can be influenced by unfortunate comments such as Mr. Nearey’s that that if not adopted ‘children are languishing in the care system’. This fails to recognise both the key role played by the thousands of foster carers.
TACT: Back to School – looked after children and the education reforms
The coalition has introduced a whole raft of educational reforms. With schools re-opening after the summer holidays, now is a good time to take stock of these changes and the likely impact on a particular group of children and young people whose educational outcomes are very poor – children and young people in the care of the local authority.
MRSA Action UK: Is the DoH putting their own interests before those of the patient who they are charged to care for?
MRSA Action UK health warning on misleading headlines as Department of Health proclaim hospitals are MRSA-free
TACT: The Welfare Reform Bill should consider the contribution made by long-term foster carers
The Welfare Reform Bill that is presently before Parliament will introduce fundamental changes to the benefits that people receive. During all the debates, both inside and outside Parliament the interests of one small but significant group of people have been ignored: foster carers.
ESRC: Riots and rationality
The rioting and looting in London and other cities has led to shocked reactions from residents and victims, while the Prime Minister has vowed to "restore order to Britain's streets".
Guide Dogs for the Blind: Compulsory microchipping will encourage responsible dog ownership
People ask me what good will putting a microchip in a dog do to prevent dog attacks? My answer is that this will be about responsible dog ownership.
Guide Dogs: A load of rubbish? Or a fine idea to tidy up the streets of Bedford?
It was interesting to read this week about the plans of Bedford Council to fine residents up to £1000 for failing to remove their wheelie bins from the street after collection.
IFAW : International Whaling Commission (IWC) - Transparency and corruption
Anyone familiar with the complex make-up and procedures of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will understand how frustrating and difficult it can be to achieve results at the forum.
Opinion Former Comment: NUT - `There is an alternative`
It is absolutely essential that the Government rethinks their economic policy. Attacking the public sector and implementing swingeing cuts was never the right approach.
Opinion Former comment: Livability - how funding cuts are affecting the most vulnerable
As a leading disability charity, Livability is concerned by the sweeping funding cuts the Government is putting in place. Our main worry is that the cuts seem to be having a disproportionate impact on disabled people and other disadvantaged groups in our society.
Opinion Former Comment - IFAW analysis of the coalitions first year in power
There have been a few early tests of the Coalition Government's approach to animal welfare and conservation issues. The first test came almost immediately after the election and it was one which the coalition passed well.
Opinion Formers
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Latest News
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Special event coverage
Festival of Social Sciences: Celebrating the Social Sciences
Evidence-based policy should not be a radical concept. It needs to be celebrated.
Festival of Social Sciences: 2 languages: 2 brains, 2 minds, 2 cultures?
As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences, the Deafness Cognition And Language Research Centre (DCAL) hosted an event exploring the powerful benefits of bilingualism in spoken and sign languages, for hearing and deaf people alike - benefits that reach hearing and deaf people alike.
Opinion Former Events
Voice: Feeling stressed? Understand yourself? Now, move forward Conference
Application forms are now available for an exciting conference in Manchester. The fun-packed day will give you practical solutions and advice on managing stress and time to help you achieve a work/life balance.
BHA: The Marriage Debate - ‘This house would legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales'
Two weeks before the Government’s consultation on same-sex marriage draws to a close, Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association is participating in a debate hosted by Catholic Voices on the motion, ‘This House Would Legalise Same-Sex Marriage’.
BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition and Conference
This one-day event is targeted at professionals operating in the information destruction industry, and aims at keeping delegates updated on recent developments in their sector, providing an opportunity to network with fellow professionals, whilst offering access to an informative exhibition and a comprehensive conference programme.
ABI: The Future of Long-term Savings & Retirement Income - Automatic Enrolment and Beyond Conference
The Future of Long-term Savings & Retirement Income - Automatic Enrolment and Beyond Conference
Take the Gold Challenge for St Dunstan's
We provide lifelong support for blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women. You can help give more blind heroes an independent future by taking the Gold Challenge
TACT: 2013 Virgin London Marathon
Join TACT at one of the greatest sporting events on the planet and help give a child in care a future to smile about.
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