Youth unemployment hits record high of almost 20%

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Central Government and also in Communities
Wednesday 11th November 2009 – 9:39am

Youth unemployment hits record high of almost 20%

the youth unemployment rate reached a record high of almost 20% today as the jobless total continued to increase, although at a slower pace.

The number of people out of work increased by 30,000 between July and September to just under two and a half million.

Other figures showed that the number on jobseeker’s allowance rose by 12,900 in October to 1.64 million, the 20th consecutive monthly increase, giving the worst total for 12 years.

The number of people classed as economically inactive, including those on long-term sick leave, looking after a relative or who have given up looking for work, reached a record high of eight million after a 41,000 increase over the latest quarter.

The inactivity rate is now over 21% of the working age population and the total is the highest since records began in 1971.

Youth unemployment also continued to rise, with the number of 16 to 24-year-olds up by 15,000 to 943,000, giving a rate of 19.8%, a record high.

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds out of work rose by 24,000 over the three months to 746,000, a rate of 18%, the highest since 1992.

Have i got the dates wrong is it April 1st

Tories now ‘the party of the poor’

By Andrew Grice, Political Editor

Oliver Letwin, the Tories’ policy chief, declared that the party now has “an array of policy” to tackle inequality, help the poor and achieve what Gordon Brown’s “centralised approaches” have failed to accomplished.

Just found this on Cllr Ws Blog.

The Tories “The Party of the Poor” Oh look a flying pig and pink elephant together. Don’t make me laugh!

I am really glad you posted this when this pink thing shot past my windscreen on the way home i had no idea what it was.

You have to admit they are well known for spin but thats taking the ——-.

In sat in work today and heard the Shocking news over youth unemployment.

So Labour have failed

And the sad Part the Tories criticise.and worse.

They don’t come up with any answers.

I feel like we have been here before, sorry i can’t spell the french word…

Parents vow to save Harrop Fold School

11:10am Wednesday 11th November 2009

PARENTS have hit back at suggestions that a school which is improving year-on-year should close.

They described the idea that Harrop Fold School in Little Hulton should shut as absurd, given the school has only been open since 2001.

They added that the school, the result of a merger between Little Hulton Community School and Walkden’s Joseph Eastham High, had a bright future.

Suggestions that the school should close instead of neighbouring St George’s RC School in Walkden were made by the independent schools adjudicator, Canon Richard Lindley, last week.

Salford Council wanted to close St George’s and build a new school as part of its Building Schools for the Future programme, to reshape secondary education in the borough.

But, as reported in The Bolton News, Canon Lindley went against Salford Council’s wishes to shut the school and instead suggested that children in St George’s RC should be housed in the Harrop Fold School building, effectively signalling the closure of that school.

Education chiefs in Salford have said they will fight to keep Harrop Fold open and they have been backed by parents and staff at the school.

Michelle Dickinson, from Little Hulton, whose daughter, Jade, aged 12, goes to Harrop Fold, said: “Harrop Fold is a good school, my daughter enjoys going there. There is no reason why they can’t keep both schools open.

“They should leave Harrop Fold School as it is.”

Fellow mum Samantha Roberts, whose daughter Hannah, aged 12, attends, added: “It is a new school so it wouldn’t make sense to shut it. It should stay as it is. It is a brilliant school and my daughter loves going.”

Senior leaders at the school expressed surprise that Harrop Fold — named as one of the most improved in the country — had been put forward as a possible solution to keeping St George’s RC open.

Dr Antony Edkins, executive head of Harrop Fold, said: “Not once was Harrop Fold School requested or required to provide evidence to assist the adjudicator in his deliberation.

“To all intents and purposes Harrop Fold School was not included in the process.

“It is, therefore, very surprising that a maintained secular comprehensive school is cited as a possible solution to the future of Roman Catholic education in Salford.”

Council chiefs set to quit as cuts bite

Many council chief executives are likely to quit their posts faced with a “perfect storm” of budget cuts, attacks from politicians and the media and increased scrutiny of their pay, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives has warned.

This worries me we are in a very dangerous situation if we cannot attract and Hold social workers.

Baby P “deterring social workers”
Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Board, Cllr Shireen Ritchie, appeared on 5live and Radio 4′s Today programme this morning to talk about how the public reaction to the baby Peter Connolly case has scared social workers away from the profession. An LGA survey has found the number of councils experiencing problems retaining children’s social workers has increased by 50% in the past year. Cllr Ritchie is quoted: “The vilification of children’s social workers has increased the risk of harm to some children by opening up gaps in the safety net which works so hard to protect them.”