By Peter Goth, Donal McKillop and Charles Ferguson. Credit unions, the not-for-profit, co-operative financial institutions, traditionally seen as serving the financial services needs of disadvantaged communities and individuals, have an important role to play. The Government is keen to see the sector develop to improve access to affordable credit. The authors identify patterns of credit union development; quantify their performance and highlight those factors that make for success.

All local councils are being urged to insist that new developments in their areas have on-site renewable energy measures as a way of tackling climate change. The call, from Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper, coincided with the results of a Department for Communities and Local Government survey showing that many local authorities are already adopting such requirements in their local plans.The Minister said she wanted all authorities to do the same and the Government would include that request in the new planning policy guidance on climate change, which is due to be published later this year.

Read more on PLANNERS URGED TO PLAY PART AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE…

The importance of schools having proper policies on teaching handwriting is stressed in new research published today. The study, from the Institute of Education says children who do not learn to write legibly, fluently and quickly find it hard to cope at secondary school and university and could be as handicapped in the job market as people with poor reading and numeracy skills.The study found that not all primary schools have consistent handwriting policies and practices to ensure children acquire the skill. Researchers Anna Barnett, Rhona Stainthorp, Sheila Henderson and Beverly Scheib surveyed 39 large and small urban and rural primary schools in southeast England. The schools had varied socio-economic and ethnic pupil populations.

Read more on STUDY SAYS SCHOOLS NEED CONSISTENT POLICIES ON HANDWRITING…