National Documents.

UNITED KINGDOM.

Disability:

• Mental Health and Social Exclusion Report
  This new report, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Social Exclusion Unit, outlines how for the first time, action will be taken to address the full range of issues affecting people with mental health problems, rather than focusing solely on medical needs. There is a strong focus on employment.

• Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People
  Consultation document about the opportunities available to disabled people, both children and adults, to improve their quality of life.

• Full and Fulfilling Employment
  The UK Government document about creating the labour market of the future.
  

• Framework for Supported Employment
  A study commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation for the development of supported employment services.
  

• Pathways to Work - initial report
  The UK Government Green Paper on assisting people on incapacity benmefits back to employment.
  

• Pathways to Work - The Government's response to the consultation exercise on Pathways to Work
  

• Commons Select Committee Report
  A 2003 report on disability and employment by the House of Commons Select Committee on Work and Pensions.

Race/Ethnicity:

• Duty to promote Racial Equality - a code of practice for public authorities
  This statutory code of practice aims to help public authorities meet their duty. It has been designed to give them practical guidance on the steps they should take to tackle racial discrimination and promote equal opportunities and good race relations.

Youths:

• Supporting the Hardest to Reach Young People: The contribution of the Neighbourhood Support Fund - Research report
  Key findings of the evaluation of the Neighbourhood Support Fund are presented in this document. They relate to participants from the target group; outreach work and establishing links with agencies; ethnicity clients; and positive outcomes, including education, training, employment or referral to Connexions.

• Supporting Young People to Achieve: Towards a new deal for skills
  The Chancellor announced in Budget 2003 that the Government would review financial support and incentives for 16-19 year olds. This report examines the role of financial support in achieving the Government's skills objectives, alongside supporting families, independent young people and those in very low-paid employment. It also examines the case for rationalisation of the system of financial support for 16-19s.

• Every Child Matters
  Every Child Matters sets out for consultation a framework for improving outcomes for all children and their families, to protect them, to promote their well being and to support all children to develop their full potential. It focuses on four main areas: early intervention and effective protection, supporting parents and carers, accountability and integration, and workforce reform.

• Youth Justice - Next Steps:
  This companion to Every Child Matters sets out possible reforms, on which the Government seeks views to develop the youth justice system over the next few years. The key proposals are to strengthen parenting interventions; improve understanding of trials and trial preparation; manage remandees better in the community; establish a simpler sentencing structure with more flexible interventions; run community intensive supervision and surveillance as the main response to repeat and serious offending while still having custody available; introduce a more graduated progression between secure, open and community facilities; and improve youth justice skills and organisation.

Homelessness:

• Improving Employment Options for Homeless People
  This briefing is intended to improve understanding of homelessness and to highlight issues that local authorities and other agencies should address through local homelessness strategies and services.

Sexuality:

• New Guidance Issued To Councils On Engaging Lesbian, Gay And Bisexual Communities
  A guide which aims to provide local authorities with information and advice on how to engage with lesbian, gay and bisexual people was launched by local government leaders to help councils fulfil their responsibilities as employers and service providers.

  ‘Sexuality - the New Agenda’, follows the introduction of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 which came into effect at the beginning of December, placing a legal requirement on local councils and other employers to recognise lesbian, gay and bisexual people as equal citizens. It is a tool that should also help councils to fulfil their obligations in relation to community cohesion, social inclusion, best value and community participation in local governance. For a copy of the guidance, priced at £20 (local authorities & charities), £40 (all others), contact Colin Divens at the Employers Organisation on 020 7296 6872.

• A Guide To The New Regulations Related To Religion, Belief And Sexuality.
  From the beginning of December 2003, discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief or sexuality was made unlawful in employment and training. This heralds a major extension to the existing body of anti discrimination legislation in this country.

  Government guidance on the new regulations is now available via Acas. DIALOG have produced an initial guide that (a) provides local government employers with the nuts and bolts of the new requirements (b) looks at the ways employers can start to be proactive in this new area and, (c) answers a wide range of FAQs.

  In April 2004, DIALOG will be providing a more detailed guide on matters such as the provision of prayer rooms, how HR procedures might be changed, and what prayer obligations are required by the main religions.

General:

• Green Paper - Equality and non-discrimination in an enlarged European Union
  This Green Paper sets out the European Commission's analysis of the progress that has been made so far. It seeks views about how the EU can continue and reinforce its efforts to combat discrimination and to promote equal treatment. It responds to calls from the European Parliament and others to organise a public consultation on the future development of policy in this area.

• A Different Deal? Welfare to work for people with multiple problems and needs
  Department: Economic and Social Research Council
  Date of Publication: 01/06/04
  The research examined the labour market experiences of those with multiple needs or problems. It found that welfare to work was not helping them, as it ignored their life needs, of which work was only one part. The continuing, flexible and independent support that they need is not being provided by the current system.

• Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies: Document Analysis and Review
  The study was conducted for the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit during 2003, as part of ODPM’s Local Strategic Partnership Evaluation and Action Research Programme. The objectives were: to collect and collate Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies; to provide analysis of the content of LNRS documentation submitted by NRF LSPs, using a template developed collaboratively with the NRU; and to provide a collective analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the documentation and identify where LSPs may need additional support to develop these strategies.

• Impacts and Trends: The Drivers of Social Exclusion
  An important starting point for Impacts and Trends(Social Exclusion Unit) was to establish a clear evidence base about the drivers of social exclusion. This review was commissioned by the SEU to bring together the wide-ranging literature. A team from the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York undertook the review. It covers a broad range of issues including poverty, employment, housing, education and skills, networks and neighbourhoods.

• 'Fairness for All: A New Commission for Equality and Human Rights' White Paper
  The purpose of this White Paper is to set out the Government's proposals for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) in detail,including its role, duties and powers, and outline the way in which it will deliver to its key stakeholders. It also sets out the anticipated next steps towards its establishment.

• Reducing Regional Disparities in Prosperity
  This is the Government response to the Select Committee’s report on Reducing Regional Disparities in Prosperity. It makes a number of important points which the Government is already attempting to address and others which will need to be considered within the context of the work being undertaken to deliver the regional economic performance Public Service Agreement (PSA) target