An estimated 35,000 people across Britain face the prospect of losing their home between now and Christmas day, Shelter says today.

The warning comes as the charity launches its new advertising campaign showing that every two minutes someone faces losing their home. This could mean an estimated 35,000 people – 630 people a day – will receive a letter threatening the loss of their home between now and Christmas which could see them ending up in court, fighting to keep their home.

Read more on 35,000 PEOPLE FACE HOMELESSNESS BEFORE CHRISTMAS…

There has been a substantial rise in public sector job vacancies in October according to figures published today. This increase is in line with earlier indications that staff cuts were front loaded in the earlier part of the financial year

Read more on PUBLIC SECTOR TAKES ON NEW STAFF…

Community budgets pilots are to be extended in April 2012. Councils have been invited to bid for community budget funding to support families with complex needs.

The first pilot community budgets schemes were launched in April 2011 and in June 2011 plans to extend the schemes were announced. There are further plans to extend community budgets beyond families with complex needs.

Read more on COMMUNITY BUDGETS GO NATIONWIDE…

The National School for Government, the Sandhurst of the Civil Service, will close its doors in March 2012 and private companies will be invited to bid for contracts to provide non-technical training.

Read more on NATIONAL SCHOOL FOR GOVERNMENT AXED IN MOVE TO PRIVATISATION…

As the economy sheds almost 15,000 jobs each week, companies providing welfare to work services are playing a crucial role in stemming the rising tide of youth unemployment.

The latest job figures from UK National Statistics show that unemployment is at a 17 year high with the youth the jobless rate at 21.3%.

Read more on WELFARE TO WORK INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO DISMAL EMPLOYMENT FIGURES…

There should be a temporary halt to public sector job cuts to stimulate economic growth and combat rising unemployment. This call for the cuts to be halted for several years comes from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in a report published today.

Read more on CALL FOR HALT TO PUBLIC SECTOR JOB CUTS…

Organisational change and re-structuring across the public sector has resulted in a 50 per cent increase in stress-related absence. Job insecurity is a major contributory cause of stress.

Rising stress levels is a major finding from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Simplyhealth Absence Management survey. The survey found that a combination of cuts to jobs, pension benefits and pay freezes bring pressures which staff are finding difficult to cope with.

Read more on PUBLIC SECTOR WORKPLACES ARE STRESSED SAYS SURVEY…

London councils are to share a ‘one stop shop’ service for procurment, a move that could potentially help save millions of pounds. Initially the shared service will be used by councils, but later it will allow all public sector organisations in the capital to share services.

The shared services online portal ‘Procure4London’ was launched today. It will allow councils in London to share procurement information, contracts and best practice more easily than ever before. Sharing information in this way will reduce the time and money spent on lengthy, individual tendering procedures.

Read more on SHARING PROCUREMENT SERVICES TO BRING SAVINGS…

The NHS has launched a range of online tools to help patients learn more about their condition and the options for tests and treatments on conditions such as cataracts and breast cancer.

Read more on PATIENTS GET MORE SAY ABOUT HEALTHCARE…

Three councils aim to save £1m by combining top and senior management level posts. This is the first instalment of savings expected to come from a wider programme of sharing services.

Read more on SHARED SERVICES BRINGS SAVINGS BONUS…