In the most deprived 20 per cent of areas across England just over a third of people are income deprived and one in five of men and women are unemployed. Of the 80 districts categorised as the ‘most deprived ‘ in 2004 , 78 remained in this category in 2007. In response to the faltering regeneration programme, plans will be announced next month to give councils a greater role in economic development. 

Poor risk management in both policy making and handling crises is detrimental to the public. Often issues referred to as ‘red tape’ or ‘poor regulation’ are really matters of poorly handled risk. Following a report from the Better Regulation Commission the Prime Minister has appointed the Risk and Regulation Advisory Council as a key part of his drive to improve the way risk to the public - from public health to pensions - is understood and managed. 

Good governance is essential for social enterprises to thrive and be sustainable, according to research from the Governance Hub and the Social Enterprise Coalition. The research, undertaken by the Open University into the governance needs of social enterprises, shows that a priority for the sector is to strengthen links with governance advisers and consultants working at local and regional levels and provide them with appropriate training and support. 

A quiet revolution is changing the way that adults engage in informal learning that does not lead to a qualification. Many still follow the classroom route with fixed time sessions, but a growing number use the internet and other means. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is building a vision of adult learning in the 21st century and is seeking views on how people see the need and the ways in which it might be met. 

People living in rural areas have fewer banks and cashpoints per head of the population compared to those living in urban areas and 1 in 5 of rural households live in poverty. The Commission for Rural Communities has launched a ‘Quids In’ campaign to create greater awareness of the financial services needs of rural people and to stimulate the development of imaginative community-based solutions in rural areas. 

This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernisation. It describes the role that information cards are playing in a cross-industry initiative to protect customer identities. Central and local government online service providers as well as providers in the commercial sector are taking part in the initiative. 

Almost one fifth of the population of the UK are a deep shade of green with a high level of concern for the environment and a commitment to doing whatever possible to tackle climate change. This finding comes from a report from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs aimed at encouraging environmentally friendly behaviour among individuals and communities. 

Many families who care for children or adults with severe, profound and multiple learning disabilities get no short breaks at the moment, but all that is set to change. A strategy launched by the Department for Children, Schools and Families aims to provide breaks from just a few hours to a weekend or week, with disabled children and young people being cared for in their own home or given opportunities to access activities and places in the wider community. 

The report from the Social Exclusion Task Force sets out a vision for a local system that improves the life chances of some 140,000 UK families at risk and helps to break the cycle of disadvantage. It outlines the key characteristics of a system that ‘thinks family’ at all levels, from governance to the frontline, where staff will be empowered to innovate and cooperate in response to whole family situations. 

A 5-million pound contract to support the development of an expert carers programme, has been awarded to a constorium including the Expert Patient Programme and carers’ organisations. They will develop a programme to give carers the skills to take contol over their own health and that of the people they look after.
The consortium brings together the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Carers UK, Crossroads and Partners UK with the Expert Patient Programme.