Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Helen Riley
Appeal to Dads
Kind Hearts has been working in the Norristown Community to try and spread the need for helping kids and dads who are disconnected from each other. We have several programs and need lots of help, expertise, and enthusiasm to help us grow. We want to serve more schools, more dads, more kids. Please connect with me to let me know if you are interested in being part of an upcoming community nonprofit. Helen Riley
Fire Fighter Day
This event was added by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own. Norristown | Featured Event Feb 8 Sat, Feb. 8, 2020 at 11:30 AM Norristown Recreation Center 340 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, Pa 19401 A day with our finest Norristown fire fighters. Learn about their service and get some fire safety tips. One of our monthly programs to get Kids+ Dads Konnected. Free for dads and kids. Some light refreshments. Must register with Helen Riley @ bruhel1428@gmail.com, #484-620-5345.
Bingo by Kind Hearts
What are Featured Events? Featured Events are paid listings by users and receive priority placement on Patch, on our social pages and in our daily newsletters. To promote your local event on Patch, click here. Feature your event on Patch now
Focus on Fatherhood = Economic Empowerment
What are Featured Events? Featured Events are paid listings by users and receive priority placement on Patch, on our social pages and in our daily newsletters. To promote your local event on Patch, click here. Feature your event on Patch now
Children's services commissioner quits at failing council
By Joe Lepper | 26 September 2019 The commissioner appointed by the government to oversee the transfer of children's services in Northamptonshire to an independent trust is to leave the role. Children's commissioner Malcolm Newsam has resigned from the Northamptonshire role The announcement of Malcolm Newsam's resignation comes two months after Northamptonshire County Council's children's services was rated "inadequate" by Ofsted for the second time in six years.
Councils urged to review SEND support to help schools be more inclusive
By Joanne Parkes | 26 September 2019 Councils should their review how well they are supporting schools to be inclusive of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a report urges. Levels of inclusive practice vary hugely between schools, research has found.
Knife orders will lead to 'unnecessary criminalisation of young people'
By Joe Lepper | 26 September 2019 Youth justice campaigners and councils have raised concerns that tough new laws to combat knife crime could lead to children being unnecessarily criminalised and imprisoned. The government should properly consider the views of young people before bringing in new Knife Crime Prevention Orders, say children's rights campaigners.
In the October edition of CYP Now: Strengths-based practice, local safeguarding and SEND careers advice
By Derren Hayes | 26 September 2019 The latest edition of CYP Now looks at how practitioners working with disadvantaged young people are tapping into their hidden talents to help them overcome adverse childhood experiences. It includes a case study on the strengths-based programme in Sefton which is working with teenagers at risk of offending or struggling at school. There is an in-depth analysis on how the new local safeguarding system will work when it is launched shortly.
Cafcass has 'not acted on any IRO referrals'
By Joe Lepper | 25 September 2019 Court advisory service Cafcass has not brought any legal proceedings on behalf of children in care despite referrals from independent reviewing officers (IROs) over the last decade, according to data obtained by campaigners. Cafcass is being urged to review how it protects children's rights. Picture: Peter Crane. Posed by models Figures show that Cafcass has not initiated legal action in any of the 20 IRO-referred cases between 2009/10 and 2018/19.
Research project launches to better protect vulnerable children
By Joe Lepper | 25 September 2019 A £1.9m research project has launched to find ways to better protect vulnerable children from threats such a child sexual exploitation (CSE) and county lines drug dealing. The project aims to help those who support vulnerable children to develop innovative ways to protect young people.
PM has forgotten what diverts young offenders
PM has forgotten what diverts young offenders The Prime Minister's recent law and order announcements are clearly intended to pave the way for a new debate on criminal justice in any forthcoming general election. The £5bn announcement centres on hiring 20,000 extra police officers, building 10,000 more prison places, and an expansion of the stop and search provision. Very law, very order.
Community action groups face steep funding challenges, finds research
By Nina Jacobs | 24 September 2019 Nearly half of youth clubs and community groups involving young people say their services are needed now more than ever but a lack of funding is making it harder to deliver activities than five years ago, research shows. Understanding the experiences of younger people in community groups should be a “key priority”, says Groundwork.
Project unpicks the trauma of care to address offending
Get all issues promptly by mail
Support to tackle the trauma left by ACE
Get all issues promptly by mail
Accountability key to helping SEND pupils
Get all issues promptly by mail
Prize fund challenges young people to become tech trailblazers
By Nina Jacobs | 24 September 2019 Young people from disadvantaged areas are being encouraged to submit practical artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to issues such as climate change, health and wellbeing as part of a £25,000 prize fund. Nesta Challenges will provide resources to schools and youth groups that want to enter teams to stimulate young people's creative thinking.
Systematic Review of Organisation-Wide, Trauma-Informed Care Models in Out-Of-Home Care Settings
By Deanne Mitchell, information specialist, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) | 24 September 2019 The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the current empirical evidence for organisation-wide, trauma-informed therapeutic care models in out-of-home care.
Impact of Brexit on Erasmus+
Get all issues promptly by mail
Champion for children's rights: Carol Homden, Coram chief executive
Champion for children's rights: Carol Homden, Coram chief executive Derren Hayes talks to Carol Homden, chief executive of Coram. Carol Homden has been chief executive of charity Coram for more than a decade. During her tenure, Coram has grown to become a group of specialist charities providing services and shaping policy across early years support, education, social care and children's rights.
Evidence Review: Developing Trauma Informed Practice in Northern Ireland
By Deanne Mitchell, information specialist, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) | 24 September 2019 This large evidence review carried out for the Northern Ireland government looked at the evidence in relation to trauma-informed practice in public services. Author Lisa Bunting et al. Publisher Queens University Belfast, (2018) For the purposes of this summary, only the findings related to child welfare services are reported.
Healing Environments For Children Who Have Experienced Trauma
By Deanne Mitchell, information specialist, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) | 24 September 2019 This evidence summary attempts to answer the question, "What are some of the elements of a healing environment for children who have experienced trauma?". Author Annelies Allcock Publisher IRISS (2019) The summary includes evidence from a range of literature, including mental health and architecture.
PRU embeds trauma understanding among teachers
PRU embeds trauma understanding among teachers The Key Education Centre has trained all staff to understand how trauma manifests in children and how to respond effectively. Children's trauma can "infect" practitioners, curtailing their ability to form strong relationships with a child A year after being introduced, pupil outcomes have improved and staff absence decreased ACTION Most teachers have felt it; that creeping, embodied sense of fear or dread when a certain pupil enters the classroom.
Young people supported to get wise over exploitation
By Nina Jacobs | 24 September 2019 YMCA WiSE, YMCA Downslink Group's support service, helps young people affected by or at risk of sexual exploitation through its trauma-informed approach.
Streamlined system marks new era for safeguarding children
Get all issues promptly by mail
Good parent-worker dynamic vital for impact
Good parent-worker dynamic vital for impact Each November the Blackpool Centre for Early Child Development holds its annual conference for professionals and community members working with families in the town. This year's theme is "How Evidence is Changing our Town", which made me think about what and how we are delivering services on the ground.
Campaign urges council duty to help children access play
By Nina Jacobs | 23 September 2019 A manifesto calling for greater leadership, investment and legislation for children's play in England is being sent to all political parties ahead of a general election. Councils should be under a statutory duty to assess and secure sufficient play opportunities, campaigners claim.
Labour pledges 'unprecedented spending' on early years
By Joanne Parkes | 23 September 2019 The Sure Start children's centres programme will be relaunched if there is a Labour government, the party's conference has heard. Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has pledged to renew Sure Start. Picture: UK Parliament Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner told delegates yesterday that investment in a new "Sure Start Plus" scheme would form part of Labour's early years policy, which includes free nursery education for all two- to four-year-olds.
Rayner unveils plans for new children's services inspectorate
By Nina Jacobs | 23 September 2019 A new inspectorate for children's services in England could be created after Labour pledged to abolish Ofsted if it wins the next general election.
Decline of 'good' children's services prompted by cost-cutting, Ofsted finds
By Neil Puffett | 20 September 2019 A major restructure to cut costs resulted in a decline in standards within a children's services department previously rated as "good", an Ofsted inspection has found. Children's services in Derbyshire were previously rated as "good" following an inspection in 2013.
One in five children 'leaving education without basic qualifications'
By Neil Puffett | 20 September 2019 The proportion of children leaving education at 18 without five GCSEs at grade C or better has risen by a quarter in the past three years, according to research. Children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield has called on government to take action on school leaver attainment levels.
Inspectors slam quality of London borough's SEND support
By Joe Lepper | 19 September 2019 Health and care services in the London borough of Merton have been criticised by inspectors for a raft of failures in supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Struggling council prioritises cuts to children's residential care
By Joe Lepper | 19 September 2019 An "inadequate" rated council is looking to slash its spending on residential childcare in a bid to reduce a predicted £4.2m overspend on children's services this year. Increasing numbers of young people are being placed in residential care in Torbay Torbay Council says that despite an increase of £4.4m in its children's social care budget, it is still forecasting an overspend of £4.2m on supporting vulnerable children this year.
Extra school cash fails to address "unprecedented" spending slowdown, says IFS
By Joe Lepper | 19 September 2019 A government pledge to spend an extra £4.3bn on schools over the next three years will only reverse cuts of the last decade and still leave further education facing a £1bn shortfall, according to analysis by the think-tank The Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS). Spending on schools per pupil is at the same level as a decade ago Last month, the government announced a £4bn package of investment for schools until 2022/23, as part of its latest spending review.
Young people reveal violent treatment in secure care homes
By Joe Lepper | 18 September 2019 An overhaul of secure children's homes is being called for in a critical report into the violent treatment of young people being confined against their will.
Children's leaders criticise inquiry claims over council placement practices
By Dan Parton | 17 September 2019 Children's services leaders have hit back at claims by a parliamentary inquiry that councils are acting as "recruiting sergeants" for paedophiles and criminal gangs by placing children in care homes out of their local area.
Information watchdog backs DfE decision to withhold details of 'mythbuster' document
By Dan Parton | 17 September 2019 The Department for Education acted legally by withholding information relating to the withdrawn children's social care "mythbuster" guide, according to a ruling by the Information Commissioner. Charity Article 39 had sought disclosure of correspondence relating to the DfE mythbuster guide.
Young adult carers' housing needs still overlooked
By Dan Parton | 16 September 2019 The housing needs of young adult carers are still being overlooked, according to a review by education and training think-tank the Learning & Work Institute.
Inspectors criticise SEND services in South Tyneside
By Dan Parton | 16 September 2019 South Tyneside Borough Council has been heavily criticised by Ofsted for its slow pace of reform to services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) over the past five years. Inspectors found problems with the quality of some education, health and care plans in South Tyneside.
Taylor announces departure from YJB
By Derren Hayes | 16 September 2019 Charlie Taylor, the former government adviser whose review of the youth justice system led to widespread reforms to custody, is to step down as chair of the Youth Justice Board (YJB). Charlie Taylor became chair of the Youth Justice Board in April 2017 In an email to board staff today, Taylor confirmed he would not be reapplying to be chair when his current one-year term ends in March 2020.
Quality early years provision 'leads to fewer emotional difficulties'
The results of a long-term study funded by the government also revealed that children who are looked after by an informal carer, such as a relative, have better language development by their fourth birthday. Research conducted as part of the ongoing Study of Early Education and Development (SEED) tracked 3,930 children and their families to discover how different forms of early childhood education and care (ECEC) affect cognitive and socio-emotional development.
Uniformed youth groups to expand with £5m funding boost
The money, from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, will be managed and distributed by the Youth United Foundation, to support expansion of police cadets, Scouts, Guides and faith-based organisations. The aim is to create an additional 5,500 places. Youth United previously established 20,000 such places with £10m of funding between 2014 and 2016.
Concerns remain at major children's trust, Ofsted finds
Concerns remain over the standard of social work practice within the largest children's services trust to be established, Ofsted has found. Birmingham Children's Trust was launched in April to improve standards within the council's children's services department, which have been rated as "inadequate" since 2009.
Inspectors praise creative youth justice work in Hampshire
An inspection by HM Inspectorate of Probation conducted in June found that in the area of court disposals, staff demonstrated good joint working with partner agencies, and adopted creative interventions to help reduce reoffending and support desistance. In one example a young person created an online tool to research his peers' views on carrying knives, which staff then used to challenge his view that such behaviour was normal.
Youth violence: Labour MP calls for action on 'dangerous' drill videos
More must be done to tackle music videos posted to social media sites glamourising drug dealing and murder if high levels serious youth violence are to be addressed, a Labour MP has said. Lyn Brown, Labour's shadow treasury minister who represents the West Ham constituency, where nine teenagers and young adults have lost their lives to violent crime since 2017, said youth violence is "fuelled by social media".
Scotland set to become first UK country to ban smacking
The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill has been introduced by Green MSP John Finnie and has the backing of the Scottish Government and MSPs from all political parties. Currently in Scottish law parents are allowed to use physical punishment on their children under the defence of "justifiable assault". But Finnie's bill would remove that defence.
Zahawi: Government taking action to reduce number of children in care
Steps are being taken to try to stem significant increases in the number of children being taken into care, with the government "acutely aware" of the impact the situation is having on local authorities, children's minister Nadhim Zahawi has said.
Ofsted rates ADCS president's council 'outstanding'
A children's services department led by the current president of the Association of Director's of Children's Services (ADCS) has become the latest to be rated "outstanding" by Ofsted. Inspectors said leaders in East Sussex, where Stuart Gallimore has been director of children's services since 2014, set exceptionally high standards, adding that they clearly communicate that "this is simply what all vulnerable children are entitled to".
Initiative to help youth services raise commercial income launches
As part of the five-year Enterprise Development Programme, run by Access - The Foundation for Social Investment, a fund worth £1.85m will help charities and social enterprises operating in youth services or tackling homelessness to "develop or grow their enterprise activity and income". From 24 September, charities will be able to apply for feasibility grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 so they can investigate and develop an "enterpise proposition".
Healthy diet unaffordable for 3.7 million children, study finds
A report published by the think-tank The Food Foundation calculated the bottom 20 per cent of families would have to spend 42 per cent of their income, after housing costs, on food in order to eat the government's recommended diet set out in the Eatwell Guide. Published by Public Health England (PHE), the guide suggests a balanced diet would cost £41.93 a week for an adult.
Greig City Academy Open Morning
Friday, October 21, 9-10.30am. Do you have a Year 6 or year 5 child? A chance to visit and tour a successful local state secondary school during the school day to see what it has to offer - the most successful state sailing school in the country and the only Haringey school to offer a Latin GCSE among other things. Everybody welcome. The school can be found on the High Street, Hornsey, N8 7NU, tel 020 8609 0101, email: enquiries@greigcityacademy.co.uk,www.greigcityacademy.co.uk
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Helen
Contact Helen, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack