A five-year public health campaign to build a healthier food environment and protect children’s health has been launched in Northern Ireland.

Local authorities are facing a shortfall of almost £1 billion in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) budgets this year.

The mass closure of council-run centres, and the loss of specialist staff, have left many vulnerable families unable to access vital early-years support.

Only 450 of the recorded 19,456 on-street charge points in the UK have been adapted specifically for the considerations of disabled drivers.

Chief executives from councils across the country are set to benefit from a first-of-its-kind development programme.

The number of young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receiving support from councils has reached a record high.

Bristol City Council has introduced a 7-tonne IVECO Daily CNG van as a new library vehicle to distribute books between its 27 libraries across the city.
The van runs on 100 per cent renewable Bio-CNG (compressed natural gas), enabling a significant reduction of harmful emissions.
When run on natural gas such as bio-methane, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 95 per cent, greatly improving air quality versus an equivalent diesel model.

The Association of Play Industries (API) has released an open letter to the next UK government urging them to invest in public playgrounds.

Staff working in children's social care will see their pay rise to at least £12 an hour.
The scheme is backed by £19 million of Scottish Government funding. More than 6,000 people working in a direct care role in the voluntary, private and independent sector services will receive the pay rise, with all payments backdated to April 2024.
Increasing pay for children’s social care workers was a commitment set out in the 2023 Programme for Government.