Archive for September, 2009
Promoting literacy
LITERACY plays a vital role in improving people’s lives. Not just in enhancing their employability, but also, according to research by the National Literacy Trust, promoting their mental health, well-being and family relationships.
Councils around the country are finding out that boosting literacy skills can bring wider benefits for the community, says Robert Bullard.
Local Government Chronicle - August 2009
Support for young asylum seekers
THE ISSUE of asylum seekers is surrounded by strong feelings, political controversy and emotive arguments. For councils, who have a legal responsibility to support young asylum seekers, this can mean treading a fine line in a highly sensitive environment.
Robert Bullard finds out how two councils are rising to the challenge.
Local Government Chronicle - July 2009
A new approach to market towns
HAVE we all been sleeping?
Or, more specifically, do we need an overhaul of the notion of ‘market towns’, and national policy towards them?
New research reveals that 11m people live in the 1600 towns that have a population of between 1,500-40,000 people (2001).
SOURCE: http://towns.org.uk/2009/05/28/new-research-on-types-of-towns/
This is equivalent to the population of Greater London and the West Midlands combined.
What is more, they are growing over twice as fast as larger settlements (5.3% growth between 2001-06) and accounted for 60% of the growth in population between 2001-06.
And yet it is rare for market towns to receive any policy focus – apart from the patchy and ad hoc Market Towns Initiatives, promoted by Regional Development Agencies.
Rural Services Network – July 2009
