Tag Archives: family

Revealed: Growing number of elderly dying alone with no relatives

  • The number of elderly people dying alone in Wales with no relatives has been highlighted in figures obtained by WalesOnline.
  • By Brendan Hughes, WalesOnline
  • Aug 21 2012

 

The Eleanor Rigby statue in Liverpool

The Eleanor Rigby statue in Liverpool

Older people’s charity Age Cymru warned that as Wales’ population aged, the problem of loneliness was growing, with older men most at risk of isolation.

Figures from Welsh health boards show almost £400,000 was spent over the past four years on holding funerals for patients with no traceable relatives – a problem the Beatles sang about in their 1966 hit Eleanor Rigby.

More than 620 funerals have been paid for by health authorities in Wales between 2008-09 and 2011-12 for patients who have died with no next of kin.

Kirklees families to benefit from free childcare up to age of 14

A local authority in West Yorkshire has announced plans to trial free childcare for parents of children up to the age of 14.

By Mathew Little, Monday 20 August 2012


A local authority in West YKirklees council is offering free childcare for children up to the age of 14.

Kirklees Council, which covers areas including Huddersfield and Dewsbury, is to trial the scheme for families on jobseeker’s allowance.

Up to 25 hours free childcare during term time will be made available for children up to the age of 14 from eligible families. The families of children with special educational needs or a disability will be entitled to take part in the initiative until their children turn 18.

Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Council, said the scheme would be one of the council’s flagship programmes for supporting families.

“Evidence suggests that children who attend high-quality childcare settings are better prepared for starting school and perform better as they move through the education system,” he said.

‘Meet the Truckers’ event builds excitement before weekend convoy

Visitors to the Forum were kings of the road on Saturday when they had the chance to meet the people behind the wheels of the East Coast Truckers.

Lucy Wright Monday, August 20, 2012
10:45 AM

 

 

Trucks parade along the A47 at Blofield for the East Coast Truckers 2011 convoy to Pleasurewood Hills. Photo by Simon FinlayTrucks parade along the A47 at Blofield for the East Coast Truckers 2011 convoy to Pleasurewood Hills. Photo by Simon Finlay

Trucks lined up outside the Forum from 10am until 4pm on Saturday and people could sit in the cab, talk to the drivers and listen to live music.