By R Sarkar and A West.This guide responds to the Government’s initiative towards creating a better system for planning services that involves local people having a chance to say what they want. It aims to offer understanding and encouragement to individuals and community groups about the development of Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and the formulation of community strategies. It explains the aims of a community strategy and the importance of creating a shared vision by looking ahead at future service needs and developments. The guide identifies where community and voluntary groups fit in, what this means for them, and how they can become involved. It also explains the role of local and regional government. The guide will be useful for members of local communities who may like to become more involved in their area and for discussion within local residents’ groups,playgroups, schools, libraries and carer schemes.

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The emphasis in street-based youth work with vulnerable young people is shifting from offering longer-term support towards short-term projects where the funding is limited and staff turnover is high, according to the first major study of provision across England and Wales. The national survey was carried out by researchers from the universities of Luton, Durham and Lincoln.The study identified 564 projects that were in touch with 65,000 young people, mostly in the 13 to 19 age bracket, who were also targeted by the Government’s Connexions advice and support service. They found coverage varied widely in different areas. Some of the highest concentrations of the street-based work were in small towns, rather than big cities.

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Police forces still have no common understanding of ‘institutional racism’ five years after the MacPherson report raised questions about the management of race relations in the service.A report today also shows there is a strong view among black police associations that open racism
has given way to a covert form in the post-MacPherson era.

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