Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
New figures show that levels of rough sleeping in the UK have risen by 20 per cent in just 12 months and doubled in the last five years.
The charity Crisis suggests 12,300 people are currently sleeping rough on the streets, while a further 12,000 will spend the night in tents, cars, sheds, bins or night buses during the festive period.
The estimates, which throw light on the scale of so-called ‘hidden’ homeless, have been calculated by specialist researchers at Heriot-Watt University and suggest that the number of rough sleepers in tents and buses across Britain has increased by 103 per cent since 2010.
The largest increase has been witnessed in England, where the figure has soared by a staggering 120 per cent in five years. In Scotland, by contrast, the number of people recorded as sleeping rough has dropped by six per cent.
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Christmas should be a time of joy, but for thousands of people sleeping rough, in tents or on public transport it will be anything but. While most of the country will be celebrating and enjoying a family meal, those who are homeless will face a struggle just to stay safe and escape the cold.
“This situation simply cannot continue. While the Scottish government has taken the first step in announcing a plan to eradicate homelessness, full implementation cannot come soon enough. Meanwhile, the governments in England and Wales must step up urgently with their own plans to end this crisis."
John Healey, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, said: "Slashing investment for affordable homes, cutting housing benefit, reducing funding for homelessness services, and turning their backs on private renters. The number of people sleeping rough fell under Labour but has risen dramatically since 2010. A Labour government will end rough sleeping within five years, and tackle the root causes of rising homelessness.”
Sue Robb of 4Children talks to Julie Laughton and Alison Britton from the Department for Education about the role of childminders in delivering the 30 hours free entitlement.
Located in Bromley, Japanese Knotweed Eradication Ltd has been providing solutions in the treatment and removal of Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia Japonica) for over a decade. During this time we have mastered a repertoire of methods, from herbicidal treatments to landscaping solutions, tailored to address the unique challenges our clients face with this pervasive weed.
UKREiiF has quickly become a must-attend in the industry calendar for Government departments and local authorities.
The multi-award-winning UK Construction Week (UKCW), is the UK’s biggest trade event for the built environment that connects the whole supply chain to be the catalyst for growth and positive change in the industry.
At GeoEnergy Design, we're on a mission to disrupt the traditional way heating and cooling ha
Professor Harith Alani, director of the Knowledge Management Institute at the Open University explains how AI can be used for good and bad.
Alex Lawrence, head of health & social care, techUK sets out techUK’s Five Point Plan for CareTech.