Moving video: The impact of support offered by Brent Carers Centre

I think this video of carers talking about how they have been helped by Brent Carers Centre deserves wider circulation.

More information about the services offered by Brent Carers:

http://www.brentcarerscentre.org.uk/

Why I am standing for the Greens in the Kenton by-election

Michaela Lichten

Brent Green Party has selected Michaela Lichten to contest the Kenton by-election

Michaela said:

I have been a Kenton resident for 19 years (and a Brent resident for 38).

Having raised my children in local schools and taught basic literacy skills to adults, I am particularly interested in education within the borough and advocating equal educational opportunities for all.

I am at present time a carer for my husband who has Alzheimer’s and so have an interest in elderly care delivery which at present is, worryingly, earmarked for cuts. Many of the people who will be affected by these cuts are in the difficult position of increasingly needing help whilst being decreasingly able to access that help.

Being lucky enough to live in  Brent with the wonderful resource of our many parks and Fryent Country Park, I’d like to focus on the issue of fly tipping and litter which affects everyone's enjoyment of these open spaces and blights the streets where we live. This can only get worse with the introduction of selective payment for rubbish removal and proposed cuts in residential street sweeping.  The cost of removing illegally dumped rubbish will far exceed the revenue raised and makes no sense.

As a Brent parent I’m anxious to see opportunities for young people to get into employment. New approaches have to be made to help them, we have to see that it is an asset to us all for our children to make the transition from education to the workplace as productively as possible. Apprenticeships, continuing education and help to set up their own businesses are ways in which this can be achieved.

I support the building of affordable homes which are truly affordable. I would like to see the estimated 3000 empty houses in Brent brought back into use and and an end of the Right to Buy scheme which further depletes the housing stock.

As we all become more budget conscious under austerity most of us are becoming greener through necessity, but being green has a relevance to our lives in the wider world and it’s my understanding that it is only The Green Party that has put the individual at the centre of their policies and is committed to a fairer society.  That is why I’m standing as The Green Party candidate in this by-election.

Contribute your experience on secondary schools' socially selecting their intake

Brent parents and practioners may be interested in contributing to this research

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) has been told that some secondary schools in England are attempting to socially select their intake by reducing the admission of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), from minority ethnic groups, with English as an additional language (EAL), and from families on a low income.

The OCC has commissioned NFER to gather the views of parents and carers from these key groups who have recently gone through the admissions process for secondary school in England. They would like us to examine whether parents and carers feel that certain schools either encouraged or discouraged them from applying for a place for their child.

The OCC, which works to make sure all adults listen to the views and experiences of children and young people, wants to find out more about the admissions process so that they can shine a light on the situation and share these findings with decision-makers, like the Government.

You have been directed to this website because you are either a parent or carer, or because you have worked with families who have recently gone through the school admissions process. If you are interested in talking to us about your views and experiences, please click on one of the links below for further information.

I am a parent or carer...

I am a practitioner who supports families...

We look forward to hearing from you.

The Research Team

Fiona Walker

Kerry Martin

Richard White

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