Latest news with #Children
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
AMANDA PLATELL: Prince Harry's apparently desperate to reconnect with Charles. Well I've a suggestion... but he may not like it
Many were staggered when the intensely private Prince Harry shared pictures of himself with his children Archie and Lilibet at home with their faces uncovered for the first time. Yes they were taken when the kids were infants, but it was surprising nonetheless.
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Minimum pay for childcare workers to rise by 10pc after deal brokered for funding
Employer and worker representatives have put forward proposals to increase wages for early year educators and school age childcare practitioners. Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, welcomed the proposals tabled by employer and worker representatives who are members of a Joint Labour Committee. 'The new proposals for a 10pc increase in minimum pay represent a significant step towards ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector,' she said. Ms Foley said she is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the proposals by providing a ring-fenced allocation of €45m from the government's Core Funding scheme for the sector. She said this amount has been earmarked to support services in meeting the cost of the proposed increases in pay and conditions. Recently, the minister met with the Joint Labour Committee to highlight the availability of the funding. 'I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Joint Labour Committee in these negotiations and their vital role in advancing the professionalism and value of those working in the sector,' she said. If the proposals are implemented through updated Employment Regulation Orders for the workers, she said they will bring much-needed improvements in pay for dedicated professionals and enhance the quality of childcare. 'I am hopeful that these proposals will soon come into effect, marking a positive change for our dedicated and skilled staff in the early learning and childcare sector and the services that employ them,' she said. A spokesperson for providers group, Childcare Service Ireland, said it is pleased to have reached an agreement that enables ring-fenced funding for wages to reach early years educators. ADVERTISEMENT 'There are several pressing issues facing providers, and we look forward to working with the minister to address these challenges,' she said. "Our goal is to ensure the continued sustainability of a high-quality early childhood education and care sector.' The spokesperson said any further wage increases must be fully supported by government funding 'as the ongoing fee freeze and the incoming fee caps significantly limit providers' ability to absorb additional costs'. Darragh O'Connor, Siptu head of organising, said the proposals are a big step forward in the union's campaign for recognition, respect and decent pay for early years professionals. "It's widely acknowledged that there's a staffing crisis that is impacting on parents due to a lack of supply, and impacting on quality for children because of the high levels of staff turnover,' he said. 'We need to see continued year on year investment by government for pay so that educators can afford to stay in their profession.'
TECHx
10 hours ago
- TECHx
Snapchat Updates Family Hub for Safer Teen Use
Home » Top stories » Snapchat Updates Family Hub for Safer Teen Use Snapchat has announced the relaunch of its Family Safety Hub. The updated platform aims to help families navigate the app with more confidence and clarity. The new version features improved guidance, simplified access to resources, and inclusive tools that support both parents and teens. Snapchat revealed that the update addresses the evolving digital safety needs of families. As part of the initiative, Snapchat hosted an educational session. The event was conducted in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and life coach Hala Kazim. The session aimed to educate parents, creators, and media about Snapchat's family-focused safety features. The revamped Family Center section now includes clear instructions on using in-app tools. These features allow parents to see who their teen is in contact with, without reading message content. This approach helps balance digital safety and user privacy. Snapchat reported that the platform has shifted its language to be more inclusive. Previously called the 'Parents Site,' it is now named the 'Family Hub.' This change reflects a shared responsibility between parents and teens in maintaining safe digital habits. Fatima Al Melhi, Director of Special Projects at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, emphasized the importance of child protection. She stated, 'We are working together with Snapchat and other Children's Digital Wellbeing Pact members to ensure safe digital environments.' Jawaher Abdelhamid, Head of Public Policy, MEA at Snap Inc., added, 'User safety has always been a priority for Snapchat. The Family Safety Hub demonstrates our commitment to empowering families while respecting young users' privacy.' Snapchat also revealed the addition of new features to the Hub: A dedicated FAQ section A reorganized feature overview with tab-by-tab guidance Snapchat confirmed that downloadable tools and resources are now available online. These were previously accessible only at Snap-hosted events. Videos from Snap's YouTube channel have also been embedded and will be updated quarterly. The content on the Family Hub is presented in a clear and accessible format. The goal is to help families have informed conversations about digital wellbeing. Earlier this year, Snapchat was named a key member of The Pact. This is a UAE-based digital wellbeing committee led by the Digital Wellbeing Council and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority. The Pact brings together government entities, tech companies, and telecom providers to support a safer digital experience for youth in the UAE.
Daily Record
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stirling volunteer scoops two top prizes after more than 200 hours giving back
Teenager Ellie Hodge picked up two prizes at the Young Scot Awards after her contributions to Active Stirling. A Stirling teenager who has volunteered more than 200 hours for a local sporting organisation picked up a pair of top prizes for her efforts this week. Ellie Hodge, 16, is a dedicated volunteer for Active Stirling and was nominated for two gongs at the Young Scot Awards 2025 held in Glasgow on Monday evening after being shortlisted from more 400 nominees all over the country. Her nomination praised her passion for making sport and physical activity, with Ellie put forward for the Health and Wellbeing Award at the glittering ceremony at the city's Platform venue. She walked away with that prize - but more was to come later on as she was also named the overall Young Scot of the Year. Ellie said: 'I still can't believe I won! Volunteering with Active Stirling has given me so many opportunities to learn, grow, and meet incredible people. 'I've gained so much confidence and I love helping to make sport accessible for everyone. It means so much to be recognised at the Young Scot Awards.' Ellie recently joined Active Stirling as a relief ice guard, but still plans to keep up her volunteering commitments during the school holidays. Among those commitments have seen the teenager support a wide range of programmes including The PEAK holiday camps, Health Walks, Bikes Without Barriers, SportAbility and Inspire Stirling. She has also completed specialist training in autism awareness, disability in sport, and sighted guiding. Ellie was presented with the award on the night by the Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise, Natalie Don-Innes MSP. First Minister John Swinney shared a message of congratulations with the teenager, saying: 'Ellie is the embodiment of resilience, kindness and leadership. 'Her work supporting others, particularly those with additional needs, is not only inspiring but deeply impactful. She is a shining example of how Scotland's young people are changing lives and building stronger communities. 'Congratulations to the finalists and to young people from every corner of Scotland. 'Thank you for what you are doing to help your communities, for your dedication, your enthusiasm and for going above and beyond to make Scotland the place we want it to be – a place of connection, kindness and compassion.' Natalie Wilson, Employability & Volunteer Officer at Active Stirling, said: 'Ellie is an extraordinary young person. 'Her passion, kindness, and commitment to helping others truly stand out. We're so proud of her achievements and are delighted to see her journey progress from volunteering to employment with us. 'She is a fantastic role model for other young people in Stirling and beyond.'
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Medchal DCP emphasises accountability in crime review
Hyderabad: Medchal Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) N Koti Reddy of the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate on Tuesday conducted a monthly crime review meeting. The session concluded with a strong emphasis on accountability, proactive policing, and the timely disposal of cases. The DCP directed all officers to prioritise the quality of investigations and the delivery of citizen services. The DCP undertook a detailed review of 'Under Investigation' (UI) cases, both grave and non grave, including those registered prior to 2023 and during the first half of 2024. Progress on these cases, particularly those handled by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), and the distribution of Case Diary (CD) files were thoroughly evaluated. Pendency of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) cases, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) cases, Magisterial Cases (MC), Post mortem Examination (PME) reports, and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports were all reviewed. The DCP emphasised prompt filing and close coordination for effective investigation in these crucial areas. Additionally, the performance of each police station in property detection, recovery rates, and conviction tracking was assessed. Surveillance on 'rowdy sheeters' and updates to suspect sheets for the years 2024 and 2025 were also discussed. Officers received instructions to maintain accuracy and consistency in CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) updates and to rectify any data variations.
