Mothers Who Work: Tips, Advice on Work, Starting A Spare-Time Business, Family and Wellbeing

The government today pledged to stamp out the poor practice of asking children to leave care at the age of 16, before they are ready to live independently.

Eleven pilot projects across the country, costing an estimated ?6m ,over three years, will explore how best to plan care around the needs of young people and give them a greater say over whether they stay in care until they are 18, or move out into independent flats or hostels.

Kevin Brennan, Minister for Children and Families said: “We want to transform the lives of children in care, improve their educational attainment and give them the same chance in life as other children. As part of this we want to see them given more choice about their placements and to be in charge of when they leave care.

“Not all children are ready to live independently at the age of 16 – especially if they want to do A levels and consider going to university. However, whatever their future plans we know that stable placements and good care planning around the needs of the young person leads to better outcomes such as a reduction in these young people becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training) which benefits society as a whole.”

Local authorities taking part in the pilots are: Bournemouth, Barnet, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Merton, North Tyneside, Oxfordshire, South Gloucestershire, Plymouth, Tower Hamlets and Warwickshire.

From today homeowners can ask for a free A-G energy rating for their boiler with advice to help cut fuel bills, when the engineer visits.

Heating and hot water bills are the biggest energy costs households face each month, yet many people are unaware the average boiler is ‘E’ rated and could produce over 50 per cent more heat – making the recommended improvements could cut fuel bills by hundreds of pounds and reduce carbon emissions.

By Nina Hill (Professional Life Coach)

Last week I concentrated on building confidence. This weeks focus is about acting as if you are confident.

Many of us do not realise that 55% of our meaning is communicated through what we do with our body (physiology), 38% from the tone of our voice and only 7% from the words that we use.

We all know how depression or a low mood leads people to hold their body. i.e. what goes on in our head affects our physiology. What many of us do not realise is that the way we hold our body can affect what is going on in our head!

Interview Tips That Will Get You Your Dream Job
Nina Hill (Professional Life Coach)

Last week I concentrated on developing a positive mental attitude. This weeks focus is on how to build confidence.

Most of us feel anything but confident as we enter the interview room. Nervous and terrified are often words used to describe our feelings just prior to an interview. It is not unusual to feel this way, however, if you intend to portray yourself as a serious and professional candidate you must project an air of confidence and professionalism.

So how do you improve your interview confidence?

Interview Tips That Will Get You Your Dream Job
Nina Hill (Professional Life Coach)

Employers consistently say that, when interviewing candidates, there is no substitute for a positive approach, honesty, professionalism and confidence. So what stops you demonstrating these traits during interviews?

Over the next seven weeks I will cover interview tips with a difference – the vital things people don?t tell you that will help you get that job offer.

If you’re like most people, you’ve had both good and bad interviewing experiences. You may have noticed a lot of what determines how well an interview goes depends on your emotional state. Or how positively you’re thinking about yourself at the time.
So how do you develop a PMA?