Homelessness is a complex problem and, for many, it is not simply solved by finding a house. If the underlying causes are not addressed, and active support not provided, then the likelihood […]
PACE House: New long-term support for homeless people in Derby
Solidarity! Teaching Assistants and Unions from across the UK meet in Durham
A national demonstration was organised by the Durham TA action committee today bringing together groups from the whole country – including the Derby School Support / UNISON team. The groups met in […]
Mad Hatter’s cafe lease: Council shows double-standards with in-House provider
In a few days time, the Mad Hatter’s Cafe on Alvaston Park will close. It will be replaced by a Council run operation using the Derby Live team that run the Orangery […]
Women’s Work: Helping families, and children, have choices
Women’s Work is not just about women. It is also about the family, their relationships, parenting and the children….and there are projects to address all perspectives. Where one, or both, of the […]
Council re-writes history on Assembly Rooms; What happened to Cllr Repton’s “high quality experience”?
Derby City Council have very short memories when it comes to their aspirations, vision and enthusiasm for the Assembly Rooms. Cllr Martin Repton, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture back in 2013 […]
JET (Jobs, Education and Training) goes bust owing £120,000
The infamous JET charity run by Mohammed Sharief on Normanton Road finally went bust in September 2016 with no money left in the bank, and owning negligible assets. This was a totally […]
Women’s Day : A Festival of “women making waves” in Derby
The volunteer-led International Women’s Day Festival in Derby grows each year as a showcase for women and girls in the community, organisations, sport, arts, craft, business, education and more. It is a […]
Labour Councillors vote against Tory proposal to save libraries.
Last Wednesday’s Full Council meeting was dedicated to a debate over the Labour Group’s proposed budget for 2017/18 – 2019/2020. Within that plan is the much publicised and discussed idea to change […]
Shakti Academy launch : Creating opportunities through, and beyond, Dance
Born out of Shakti Arts, founded in 1995, by Anna Gautama, is Shakti Academy, launched last night at the Hindu Temple in Normanton. Based on dance as a medium of expression, the […]
Letter to Cllr Banwait : Why you were booed last night by Parents of Special Educational Needs children
Dear Cllr Banwait Being booed by a public gallery full of parents of children with special educational needs must be a first for a Leader of Derby City Council! These were not […]
Parent Forum highlights issues for Special Needs children on “Home to School” transport
The Derby Parent / Carer Forum ( an organisation led by, and for, parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the City – funded by Department of Education) ran a […]
TA Strike : Council expects autistic children to “wait and see” regarding school closures
Tomorrow will be another day of strikes across the City as a result of the Teaching Assistant dispute over pay cuts. It is important that there is a plan in place which […]
Proposed future for the Council’s remaining Care Homes and Day Centres
Following the consultation on the subject of Day Centres and Care Homes, the decision was taken at the December 2016 Cabinet meeting to offer them to 3rd Parties to own and operate. […]
Council’s £100k Xmas Bin collection saving vastly overstated – by £90k!
Over the last few years, the Council has claimed that it saves £100,000 pa by cancelling bin collections over the Xmas period. You might wonder, how a saving of this magnitude could […]
Parents affected by Teaching Assistant strike considering legal action against Council
Whilst battle lines continue to be re-drawn between Derby City Council and UNISON over the Teaching Assistant dispute, and the negotiations remain intractable, it is the Parents and some of the most […]
Truths, and Myths, about the Teaching Assistant/ School Support staff dispute
After nearly 18 months of a dispute, and 7 months of strike action, there is still much confusion over the facts, the root cause, and why negotiations are locked. There is a […]
Special Needs Children; the Council’s “forgotten priority”
Children with Special Educational Needs are a declared priority for Derby City Council, and specified as a “Must Do” in its 2015-18 Plan: “… responding to the demands of legislative changes including; […]
Labour Group scores ‘own goal’ with tax-payer funded electioneering on school crossing patrols.
The Derwent by-election activity is gathering pace and it will be an intense and close campaign ; the Conservatives won in May 2016 by just 3 votes. The Labour Party are taking […]
Labour Council has now completely lost its “soul” and “moral compass”
Can there really be anyone left in Derby who actually believes that this Labour Council is doing a good job for this City? Is there anyone who feels purposefully led by Cllr […]
Parents protest in Council Offices demanding an end to TA/School Support staff dispute
A protest was arranged today at 1.30pm by the Parents affected by the TA/School Support staff dispute in the Council reception. Also in attendance, were TAs and UNISON. It was a noisy […]
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