10:02am Friday 12th August 2011
More than a thousand children, parents and carers enjoyed a sun-soaked play day last week as part of a campaign to get more young people playing outside.
New research has revealed that, while 72 per cent of parents regularly played outside, only 40 per cent of children today play outside to the same extent.
Savlon and Play England, the groups behind the findings, are worried children are at risk of losing out on essential life experiences that outdoor play brings.
Carers Scotland study finds that carers are twice as likely to be hit by illness and disability as the rest of the population
Carers are twice as likely to be suffering long-term illness and disability as the rest of the population, a study reveals today.
The survey, for Carers Scotland, found that 96% of unpaid carers had experienced a negative impact on their health because of their responsibilities, with more than a quarter rating their own health as poor or very poor. More than half had a long-term illness or disability, and two-thirds had experienced a range of physical problems.
Last updated at 12:43 PM on 9th July 2011
Charities fear that more than 650,000 people face losing their benefits because of a new disability test.
The government’s decision to introduce the medical assessments is designed to save more than £600 million a year.
But voluntary groups, including Mind, Disability Alliance, and Scope claim the tests – scheduled to be introduced from April 2013 – will hit hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.
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