Increases in stamp duty, changes to mortgage tax relief, and stricter regulations have all lead to a significant slowdown in the residential buy-to-let market. With Brexit looming and the financial turmoil it may bring, should those with money to invest turn their attention to the commercial market instead? Here are seven reasons to invest in…
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The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, has published a report claiming that in March, 2017, there were almost 20,000 babies under one year old identified by local authorities as being “in need”. Entitled “A Crying Shame”, the report states that around a quarter of these babies were currently being looked after by social services,…
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Councillors at a meeting of Herts County Council Cabinet have decided that the Primary Support Base attached to Bowmansgreen Primary School will close from 1st September, 2019. The PSB offers inclusive support for children with emotional and behavioural issues, and who may be at risk of exclusion for their violent or aggressive behaviour. The services…
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We are supporting the Law Society’s campaign for legal aid to be re-introduced for early legal advice. If you wish to support this campaign you can help by using the link to quickly write a letter to the Lord Chancellor. It takes just two minutes! Why we support this campaign As one of the few…
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According to The Fostering Network charity, there are over 65,000 children living with almost 55,000 foster families across the UK. This figure makes up nearly 80% of the 83,000 children in care away from their home at any given time. And figures produced by the Department of Education show that the number of looked after…
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Representatives from the Law Society have been hard at work at this year’s party political conferences, lobbying Ministers, MPs and delegates about the ever-tighter restrictions on public access to justice. The Ministry of Justice is soon to carry out a review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (known as LASPO),…
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Figures released by the Office for National Statistics claim that property prices in Hertfordshire increased by 1.4% over the 12 months to July, 2018. The figure represents a slight downturn when seen against the rise of 2.4% for the East of England and 3.1% for the whole of the UK. However, St Albans is still…
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So sang American pop star Neil Sedaka, way back in 1962. What was true for him then is certainly true today for 68 year old Mrs Tini Owens, after the UK’s highest court rejected her appeal against being refused a divorce because of her husband’s unreasonable behaviour. Following a 37 year marriage, Mrs Owens issued divorce proceedings on…
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Around the world the month of September has been chosen to raise awareness and highlight the issues surrounding Alzheimer’s Disease, with September 21st designated as World Alzheimer’s Day. It is estimated that worldwide there may be 50 million sufferers from the disease, with an estimated 850,000 in the UK alone. And with aging populations everywhere…
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When children are placed for adoption the Local Authority (LA) often opposes any direct continuing contact with the birth family. LA’s argue that they would not be able find adopters who would agree to this, and fear that continuing contact could disrupt the adoption placement. In the past, adoption was typically a very secretive process,…
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