Stigmabase | Isles

One in 50 babies has a birth defect: research : It could be better general health, such as people eating more fruit and vegetables." Prof Morris added that the overall incidence of Down's syndrome is increasing, reflecting the profile of older mothers. She said it was essential that better overall ... Telegraph.co.uk

Chelsea lead Liverpool in Villa pursuit as Blues consider swap deal with Torres : Barcelona striker Villa has been linked with a shock move to Aston Villa in the Spanish press, but Alex McLeish's clubs are trailing behind Liverpool and the Blues as potential destinations for the 30-year-old. Sportsmail have revealed that Chelsea ... Daily Mail

Free insulation could lift 1.3 million UK homes out of fuel poverty : Take up of existing free insulation schemes could lift around 1.3 million homes out of fuel poverty , according to analysis by insulation producer Rockwool. Over 5 million UK homes are currently classed as fuel poor , spending over 10% of their income on ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Youth v total unemployment since 2001 : By Louisa Peacock, Jobs Editor Charities have warned the UK's young people risked becoming "tomorrow's poor " if the Government does not do more to tackle the youth unemployment crisis. The warning came as official figures showed the number of 16 to 24 ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Weather warning: Snow and flooding for Wales : The rail line between Cardiff Central and Bridgend has closed after a lightning strike hit signalling equipment. Arriva Trains Wales said services were being diverted via the Vale of Glamorgan line through Barry with extended journey times. ... BBC News

Isle of Man teenager's death prompts 'legal highs' drug ban : A record number of new "legal highs" were reported across Europe in 2010, with four times as many found in the UK than any other country, figures show. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction said there were 41 new substances, ...

Drug smugglers jailed for 18 years : The investigation began after UK Border Agency officers discovered around 645 kilos of cannabis – worth approximately £2 million – hidden in a load of used clothing from Holland at Harwich International Port in March 2010.

Isle of Wight charity claims youth unemployment 'worst ever' : Figures released earlier saw UK youth unemployment rise to 1.027 million, the highest since records began in 1992. In the South East, the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) are 159000. Five years ago, this figure ... BBC News

Unemployment surges to 17-year high as eurozone crumbles : But charities warned the UK's young people risked becoming "tomorrow's poor " if the Government does not do more to tackle the youth unemployment crisis. Barnardo's chief executive Anne Marie Carrie said: "Today's statistics represent yet again the ... Telegraph.co.uk

The Political Junkie: UK: Perry's anti-gay stance plays to the GOP base : UK : Perry's anti- gay stance plays to the GOP base. The Economist The nastiness of Rick Perry LIKE most people, I felt a deep pang of sympathy for Rick Perry ...

Spread some warmth and pass on old coats : Each winter, at least 250 elderly people die needlessly from the effects of cold weather, but with Age UK's support older people can get benefits and grants to help with heating costs; get access to groceries during bad weather and gain some important ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Orchard has record year and forecasts further growth for 2012 The company, which provides housing management, financial management and ICT solutions to the public and social housing sector, exceeded targets by growing 15% last year to reach a turnover of £12.5m. Managing Director Ian Shard is fired up about the ...

How social enterprise can transform rural life : The issues facing rural people are well-documented: physical and social exclusion, the decline of rural services resulting from an increase in commuting, lack of affordable housing and an ageing population are all challenges that rural communities face ... The Guardian (blog)

Birkenhead runner completes three marathons to raise £1700 for charity He then applied to run in the Edinburgh marathon for Deafness Research UK – and his London dream came true after the charity found a place for him in the capital run. But not content with running two marathons in the space of a month, ...

Kate Middleton and Prince William raise £1million for charity in a single day The couple hailed the “overwhelming generosity of the British public” for the Unicef appeal – but remain “hugely concerned” for children still at risk. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Unicef emergency supply centre in Denmark to publicise ...

Charity helping needy families may close after funding halted : The charity gets referrals from childrens centres and social workers and provides support to families with problems ranging from addiction to drugs or alcohol, mental health and isolation. Unlike other nine-to-five services it offers round-the-clock ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Compton review signals big shake-up of health : He added: “It also describes changes to services for children and those with a disability or mental health difficulties. “It recommends, over time, fewer major hospitals providing acute services and a much greater role for GPs in an integrated approach ... Belfast Newsletter

Cardiff hailed as a retail leader by Thomas Pascoe, South Wales Echo CARDIFF is “ahead of the game” when it comes to supporting high street shops, business leaders have said. It comes as TV retail expert Mary Portas yesterday published her suggestions for improving the high street ...

Wirral construction industry recycling venture Recipro benefits community and ... by Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Daily Post A NEW recycling venture which could be rolled out across the UK has launched on the Wirral. ReciproCity Wirral sells surplus construction materials to charities and community projects for less than half the retail ...

Calls to charity report concerns for babies : Nearly 50 calls were made to a children's charity by people worried about the safety of babies in Lancashire, in just one year. The NSPCC has released new figures today revealing 47 referrals, with concerns for a child under the age of one, ... Lancashire Evening Post

Cannabis demo man accused of growing the drug : “In England , following the decriminalisation of cannabis , the admissions to psychiatric hospitals of youths with schizophrenia have increased significantly,” he says. adding that the UK's Independent newspaper publicly apologised for campaigning for ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Hot meals for Yarmouth homeless : Anyone who may have a similar stock of items they could donate or anyone who would like to make a donation towards the work of the Salvation Army this Christmas can ... Norfolk Eastern Daily Press

Bedroom tax could cost poor families £1400 per year : The Government has previously estimated that 670000 families across the country will lose an average of £676 per year under the new social sector "size criteria". But an analysis by the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations ... United Kingdom | Ireland

Renting a home in the UK unaffordable for many : Local authorities started to use a lot more private rented accommodation to meet the housing requirements of those found to be in housing need, after declaring themselves homeless. Large-scale social house building projects in the UK have come to an ... United Kingdom | Ireland

250000 sign petition against St Petersburg “gay propaganda” law The draft law would punish the promotion of LGBT lifestyles in public alongside paedophilia in Russia's second largest city. The US and UK Governments have already issued statements expressing concern that the new fines would severely limit the freedom ...

Launch event of Pride House Pride House London on 26 July 2012 will open its doors on 26 July 2012 in support of the lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) community during the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. London, UK . 9th December 2011 Molleken, Executive Director ...

British coroner rules anti-bullying advocate's death a result of suicide In a ceremony held in London last month by the LGBT Equality Rights charity Stonewall UK , Crouch was presented with Stonewall's Hero of the Year award. Crouch advocated for substantial changes so that British schools must treat rumors and teasing as ...

Somerset's 'Surving Winter Appeal' gets council backing By Angelocal | An appeal aimed at helping the most vulnerable elderly residents survive the cold winter will benefit hundreds of pensioners in South Somerset this Christmas. Cash raised by the scheme comes from the ...

Developing world leads the way in global aid A consequence of these shifts is what UK researcher Andy Sumner has called a "new geography of global poverty " – where most of the world's poorest people now live in countries officially considered not-so- poor . According to his estimates, ...

Cabbie's Killer Murdered in Prison Investigators believe Anthony Steadham, 38, was killed by his cellmate at California State Prison -Sacramento, 43-year-old Maurice Woodson, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation . Steadham was serving a life sentence ...

Having an abortion does not increase risk of mental health problems, major ... By Susan Perry | Women with unwanted pregnancies who have an abortion are no more likely to develop mental health problems such as anxiety and depression than those who give birth, a comprehensive new British study ...

Syria unrest: Deadly clashes hit restive north-west Security forces have killed at least 28 people in Syria, activists say, hours after the UN put the death toll from the nine-month- old uprising at 5000. In the restive north-western province of Idlib, troops reportedly opened fire on a funeral ...

Legislative committee will address jail suicide, DNA evidence, prison issues ... youth justice programs in Missoula, Kalispell, and Helena. Additionally, the Department of Corrections will respond to allegations that the state's prison system focuses too much on retribution and retaliation rather than on rehabilitation , ...

NY man gets prison for killing rehab center guard AP KINGSTON, NY -- A 26-year-old man who admitted stabbing a security guard to death at a drug abuse rehab center in upstate New York has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison . Richard Giga (GEE'-guh) pleaded guilty in August to second-degree ...

Blantyre man who stabbed grandmother 16 times sentenced The High Court in Glasgow heard the 37-year-old is a danger to himself and to the public. A psychiatrist said Weir experiences hallucinations in which he is told to harm others. Weir was originally charged with murder, but the Crown accepted his plea ...

Major charities refine their focus as incomes are set to diminish The latest annual accounts for three of the biggest UK children's charities – the NSPCC, Barnardo's and Action For Children – have been filed with the Charities Commission in recent weeks. They reveal that all three charities recorded a loss in 2010/11 ...

British Heart Foundation opens its 700th charity shop | UK Fundraising The British Heart Foundation (BHF) today opens its 700th store, and claims that it is the UK's largest charity retailer by number of stores and income. The charity's ...

52% rise in drug addicts seeking help in Ireland Opiates, such as heroin, were the most common drugs - used by six out of 10 wanting treatment - with 21% addicted to cannabis and 11% hooked on cocaine. Cannabis was the most common problem drug for new cases in 2010 - overtaking cocaine, which peaked ...

I might be 107, but I can still reach for the Skype Margaret Goodwin, a National Internet Champion for Age UK who showed Helen how to use the software, said more and more older people were seeing the benefits. “Skype is just so easy to use,” she said. “You can ring anyone, it's free and you can see them ...