News

Report Proposes Business Subsidies for Voluntary Work

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 12:38

The Centre for Social Justice, a major UK think tank, is proposing an incentive for big businesses in the UK to run a tax relief scheme called the “C-Volunteering” plan. The proposed plan, which will be outlined in a forthcoming report, would encourage UK businesses to subsidise voluntary work carried out by their employees. The proposals have been drawn up in conjunction with ‘C’, a new social enterprise group led by three senior business professionals.

It is estimated that the plan would increase donations to charities by approximately £1 billion per year.

Businesses that enrol in the proposed plan would receive a tax relief for subsidising voluntary work carried out by their employees. Employees would be encouraged to give up some of their working time to a charity of their choice and the firm would increase the value of their contribution by agreeing to an hourly rate for the voluntary work. Businesses would be able to recoup some of the costs by setting their gifts against corporation tax in much the same way as they can offset research and development bills. Read more.

Anxiety UK applauds American woman’s extraordinary New Years resolution

Tuesday, 10 January 2012 10:51

Every year, many of us make a New Year’s resolution. A great number of people resolve to be more physically fit, to eat more healthily or to spend more quality time with their family. But one American woman’s resolution was much greater. Arlynn Presser, an agoraphobic since her teens, was determined to meet all 324 of her Facebook friends in an effort to beat her anxiety.
 
Like many with the condition, Arlynn’s agoraphobia triggered intense panic attacks, making it impossible for her to leave her home and for a time was unable to leave her bedroom. But this time last year, she made the daunting decision to travel the world to meet each of her Facebook friends.

At the beginning of 2011 she said on her blog, “I’m scared of travel. I’m scared of flying. I’m scared of just about anything outside my door. I probably use Facebook to keep in touch with my friends in a way that may be good or might just give me a false sense of intimacy. … I will meet every one of my Facebook friends this year, and I figure I’m going to be surprised. A lot.”

At the end of 2011, Arlynn had managed to meet 292 friends, travelling to 11 countries. “Arlynn’s efforts are a huge inspiration to anyone who struggles with anxiety,” explains Nicky Lidbetter, Anxiety UK’s CEO who herself has lived with agoraphobia for more than 20 years. “Arlynn has displayed extraordinary courage and as a result is no longer a prisoner in her own home. Anxiety UK would like to encourage those who are struggling, to take inspiration from Arlynn and to take steps to overcome their fears.”

While Arlynn still gets panic attacks, she is now better prepared to work through them. Indeed that is the experience of many people who, with the help and support of Anxiety UK, are able to manage their anxiety long term. While a person may never be totally free from their anxiety, learning to take steps to better manage it in the future is the key.

Anxiety UK supports thousands of people a year who are struggling with a range of anxiety disorders. The charity encourages anyone who is experiencing anxiety for the first time to get in touch. Nicky Lidbetter continues, “Nobody struggling with anxiety need suffer alone. We can do so much to help.”

Anxiety UK is a member of mhhp and a national registered charity formed in 1970 by a sufferer of agoraphobia for those affected by anxiety disorders, and today is the leading authority on anxiety disorders and phobias in the UK.

CIPD & Mind report – Managing & Supporting Mental Health at Work

Thursday, 05 January 2012 10:45

Report states ‘most people still afraid to disclose a mental health problem to their employer’.

Public Mental Health in the new system

Wednesday, 04 January 2012 10:15

Below is the new link to the DH website to see latest (21 12 11) publication of fact sheets on the new public health system.

These detail the roles and responsibilities of local authorities in the new public health system, and the high-level design of Public Health England.

http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/public-health-system/

Paul Burstow – next steps for social care reform

Tuesday, 03 January 2012 12:12

In a video message, Paul Burstow, Minister of State for Care Services, talks about the Caring for our future engagement process. He explains the discussions that took place from 15 September – 2 December and the next steps for social care reform.

Read Social Care Bulletins

New mobile website makes donating safer this Christmas

Friday, 23 December 2011 10:58

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has today launched a mobile version of its website, making it easy for people to check charities' details on their phone before making a donation.

The site, http://m.charitycommission.gov.uk is specifically designed for use on mobile phones. It means that when they're out and about people can immediately check if an organisation asking for donations is a registered charity.  Read more

NHS Outcomes Framework 2012-13

Thursday, 22 December 2011 10:20

The Department of Health has published the NHS Outcomes Framework 2012/13.

It builds on the NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12 and the NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12: Technical details of indicators and sets out the changes that have been to the indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework.

NHS Operating framework 2012-13

Wednesday, 21 December 2011 10:13

National Voices has put together a briefing on the NHS Operating framework 2012-13.

How do we make sure that a Big Society doesn’t fail people with mental health difficulties?

Tuesday, 20 December 2011 09:48

The mental health and big society thinkpiece by Social Spider was published 5 December 2011.
 
Copies can be downloaded from here:  http://www.mhpf.org.uk/information-centre/publications/better-mental-health-in-a-bigger-society

Listening to experience

Friday, 16 December 2011 11:49

An independent inquiry into acute and crisis mental healthcare

People with urgent mental health issues struggle to access the emergency treatment they need, according to a new independent inquiry Listening to experience released by charity and mhhp member Mind on 21 November.
 
The report on acute and crisis care can be downloaded from: http://www.mind.org.uk/news/6046_mental_health_emergency_treatment_inaccessible_and_ineffective_say_patients