Many carers, pupils and staff are collectively, extremely dissatisfied with the current draconian behaviour “modification" policy being implemented by the Athena trust across all settings and we are making a request for positive change. Specifically, but not limited to Launceston Community College. We feel there is a need to implement a layered or graduated response to rule breaking, to provide more alternative options prior to ‘reflection’ (isolation) and ‘suspension’ (short term exclusion) being implemented. The current system is viewed as unfair, and often disruptive to education. Students are being excluded for very minor misdemeanours, such as wearing the wrong colour socks. This is quite clearly a disproportionate and inappropriate response. While we can agree that we want to support children to behave well, the current system is often exasperating and worsening the behaviour of a key minority of student, causing more issues than it is resolving. Where there are persistent and repetitive cycles of undesirable behaviour, followed by punishment, followed by more undesirable behaviour, the cycle needs to be broken. There needs to be a new emphasis placed whereby “suspension” (fixed term external exclusion) and “reflection” (isolation) are being used only as a last resort. We are asking for Athena trust to adopted a new behaviour policy which both pupils and carers feel is fair and proportionate and which offers support to the most challenging, and often the most vulnerable, students within the school system. The most vulnerable students will no longer be given repeated exclusions and instead will be given the help and support they so drastically need. The SEN Code of Practice (2015) advises that reasonable adjustments should be made to ensure that expectations of students with disabilities are developmentally appropriate and fair. We request that lower, middle and higher order strategies to support all students to manage their behaviour are implemented. These will include, but are not limited to: · A verbal reprimand / warning · Sending the pupil out of the class for a few minutes · 'Time out' from the lesson · Expecting work to be completed at home, or at break or lunchtime · Detention at break or lunchtime. (Note - with lunchtime detentions staff will allow reasonable time for the pupil to eat, drink and use the toilet.) · Detention out of school hours (usually, but not limited to after-school hours) · Referring the pupil to a senior member of staff · Letter / phone call / meeting with the parents of the student · Putting a pupil 'on report' · Removal from lessons (known as “reflection’' for one lesson only) · Implementing a behaviour contract. · Suspension · Permanent exclusion Removal from the classroom or ‘reflection’ and ‘suspension’ (known as external fixed term exclusion) will become one of the higher order sanctions, which may only be use for a range of serious breaches of discipline, or repeated, persistent lower-level breaches of discipline, and will no longer be the first port of call, as this is causing a huge disruption to education for some and is causing unnecessary anxiety. We request that these changes to the behaviour system are made following an inclusive consultation with staff, support staff, SEN/SENCO staff, parents, carers and students whereby consent will be given by the majority. A new behaviour policy will help to foster a more positive atmosphere where students feel safe, encouraged and supported. This will help create safe, inspiring places to learn where pupils feel their opinion is valued and they are being fairly treated. The system which is currently disproportionate and punitive for many SENs students will be replaced by the additional support and help needed for this minority to thrive. This will result in better academic outcomes and improved mental health.

Russ Cook run the entire length of Africa. That’s 9,940 miles. Russ ran the equivalent 385 marathons in 352 days across 16 countries. His efforts have raised over £900,000 for charity so far! Along the way he was kidnapped, held at knife point and had numerous issues with his body that stopped him from running. Russ Cook deserves to be recognised for his efforts and I think he should be included in the nominations for Sports Personality of the year. Let's make this happen and give the man the kudos he deserves! Russ encouraged health and fitness and showed what the human body is capable of, if you commit your mind to something. He is nothing short of an incredible inspiration to a lot of people and more people need to hear his story!

Thousands of bank branches and ATMs have disappeared from high streets across the UK in recent years. For many, losing their local bank isn’t just an inconvenience. Elderly people, rural communities and people without access to the internet are being cut off from vital banking services - and easy access to their own money. Barclays should reconsider the decision to close the Allerton Road branch to help those in the local community who don’t have access to online services

Currently private landlords need no reason to evict you. They just need to give you two months' notice and you have to uproot your life and find a new place to live. No-fault evictions let landlords bully tenants into staying quiet about disrepair or accepting unaffordable rent increases. It means you can never really know if you can trust your landlord or how long you can stay in your home. Five years after they promised to scrap them, new laws are being held up by a few dozen MPs who want landlords to keep calling the shots. But because of support from other parties, the Prime Minister has the votes he needs to make the laws reality, but newspapers are reporting that he's still refusing to schedule the vote because of a small number of rebel MPs. If enough of us come together, we can force the Prime Minister to do what’s right and ban no-fault evictions NOW!

This is equally if not worse than the post office scandal The government is aware Leaseholders are trapped in homes they cannot sell, there have been suicides, bankruptcies, severe mental health issues, all because freeholders are literally fleecing LH We cannot sell, mortgage and the properties are not maintained? Wales, and England are the only countries in the world with this feudal system, which the conservatives will NOT change as most are freeholders themselves

My name is Dr Adam Janjua, and I’m an NHS GP in Lancashire. In my job, there’s nothing more important to me than making sure that everyone is able to access good care in their community. But I’m very worried because due to funding cuts, there are hundreds of practices across the country that risk closure. In 2023 alone, nearly 60 GP practices closed their doors. In my own area, over a hundred practices have seen reduced income and rising costs, while 10 are at risk of closure.  I'm working with 38 Degrees to demand our political leaders come up with a serious plan to fix the impending crisis of GP practices closing. The benefits are obvious. Investing in local doctors creates a ripple effect throughout the healthcare system. If we strengthen our GPs it helps make us healthier, reduces the burden on hospitals, and creates a healthier society. We need to change how GP surgeries are funded so they can afford to stay open without charging patients. In the past few years, money meant for individual surgeries has been split between hundreds of practices. This has made it harder for GPs like myself to keep up with costs. We need leaders who care about the health system to step up and make sure the NHS doesn't fall apart. Our politicians should listen to doctors and patients, and stop trying to divide us by trying to shift the blame for the problems in the NHS on to staff like me who care. This is a serious problem, and we need a solution NOW!

In the middle of a cost of living crisis where even families who are working are struggling to make ends meet and relying on food banks or starving why are we treating prisoners better than our children? In prison three meals a day are provided at the tax payers expense but we don’t give our children a free school Meal after year 2. Teachers can see the effect a decent meal has on children’s academic performance but the government would rather them stave. For some a hot meal provided at school might be all they have that day but yet our government deny them this basic human right unless parents pay. Why do prisoners deserve better than the next generation? In a time where millions are choosing between heat and eat and many are pushed into poverty why are we choosing not to provide all pupils in the uk with a hot school meal. The current maximum income permitted to be eligible for a free school meal is so low it’s a joke and it doesn’t alter even if you have more than one child it’s time to rethink the system. Parents are struggling with rising bills and are having to make choices between heat and eat. Pupils are going without hot meals or even a meal so let’s take one worry away and have universal free school meals for all from reception to year 11. Prisoners get three meals a day but the our children are only provided with a free meal until they finish year 2, how is this right that we treat criminals better than our future?

The housing programme currently being operated is doing very little for people with a small or no deposit who want to get on the housing ladder, either by rent or purchase. Each area, including, rural areas, have been designated a target housing stock number by you , the Government, to instruct Local Authorities to implement this programme. This flies in the face of democracy and public opinion of these developments on what sort of housing and furthermore it does not state a suitable price. Builder Contractors are enjoying a building boom by building properties that are selling for an average of £300,000. This is totally not a programme for people who are on a low financial budget but are trying to find a decent home for them and their family. Houses should be built for young families with enough suitable space to accommodate them at an affordable rent or purchase, and all new builds should as standard, install solar panels. I suggest you take a step back and have a plan to reintroduce council housing and suitable, sustainable housing for all families, which are not undersized, but adequate for all needs. Do you not agree that the house building programme currently ongoing is not suitable for those with very little income to support these new builds? If you don't agree, can you suggest how people can find an affordable sustainable home in the area where they wish to be? Because there are many people struggling to secure decent, sustainable living accommodation for them and their families. whereby they can live in the area of choice and near other family members, if they so wish. Currently the building programme is altering the dynamics of an area and not allowing young adults who have grown up in these areas to remain there. It is important to build community not just housing. A house is a home and that is the difference between these estate built dwellings, where there is no infrastructure or support to allow residents to integrate in the local area or economy.

I am reaching out to residents and asking them to support my open letter to Dan Norris addressing the former 36 bus route, which connected Bristol South, Bristol East. Dear Dan, I am writing to you on behalf of the residents of Withywood and Hartcliffe regarding the lack of bus services in our area. As you may be aware, there are currently no buses taking passengers from our community to Knowle or Brislington. This has caused a lot of inconvenience for the residents, especially when it comes to important daily activities such as going to work, visiting family and friends, and even doing our weekly shopping. For instance, to get to Jubilee Pool in Knowle, we have to take a bus to central Bristol and then another one to Knowle. This is not only time-consuming but also costly, especially for those who rely on public transport. The same goes for those who work or want to shop at the Brislington retail park. We have to take a bus to central Bristol and then another one to the retail park. This is not feasible for those who work there or for families who want to do their shopping with their children. Moreover, for care workers, it is nearly impossible to get to their place of work by bus. The former number 36 bus used to provide a direct route from Hartcliffe and Withywood to Knowle, Brislington, and beyond, but it was cut years ago. We understand that there may be various reasons for the lack of bus services in our area. However, we would like to request a meeting with you to discuss any plans to improve the bus services in Bristol. We believe that ordinary people must have access to reliable and affordable public transport to go about their daily lives. We hope that you will consider our request and meet with us to discuss this matter further. We are eager to hear about any plans or initiatives that are being considered to improve the bus services in our community. We believe that with your help, we can find a solution that benefits both the residents and the city of Bristol. Thank you for taking the time to read our letter. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

A major government watchdog says thousands of women were “failed” by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) over the rise in state pension age and must be compensated for the “significant injustice” caused. Yet the DWP refuses to apologise, leading the Ombudsman to take the rare move of calling on the Government to intervene. An entire generation of women have endured decades of financial struggle because of this scandal. The Government must act swiftly by bringing in emergency legislation to compensate all the women affected with the watchdog’s suggestion of £2950, and apologise for the immense suffering caused. It’s time to finally give thousands of women the justice they deserve.

it is important we keep the day centre open to meet the needs of the individuals and families who use this service currently, and for those to come. it allows families to have peace of mind to go to work or recharge their batteries, in the knowledge that their loved one is safe and receiving person-centred care

Several pairs of the iconic ground-nesting Skylark breed on Wanstead Flats. These birds represent the closest population of breeding larks to the centre of London but for how much longer? Nationally, the population of Skylarks has been in decline for decades so the Wren Group – in conjunction with the City of London Corporation – is determined to do all it can to protect their numbers locally.