Broken Britain – A Genuine Picture?

Sometimes when reading the letters pages of the local press, one can be given a rather depressing and nihilistic view of the world. Often, the same narrow band of correspondents are pushing an intolerant view of life, choosing to focus upon that which divides society rather than what brings us together.

Other times, those with a particular axe to grind will seek to make political capital out of isolated national tragedies far from Shrewsbury. A recent instance is David Cameron’s ‘Broken Britain’ claims following the child violence case in South Yorkshire.

Personally I prefer to concentrate on the facts, and recognise that not all was well in the good old days. For example the number of violent deaths among children in England and Wales fell by almost 40% in the past 30 years, or nearly 50% when taking into account growth in the child population, according to the recent report by Bournemouth University.

Improvements in social care systems, along with a greater focus on child poverty, had helped lower the death rate. Thirty years ago England and Wales were the third or fourth highest child killers in the western world, but we’re now fourth lowest.

These national tragedies are terrible and one violent death of a child is too many but this research clearly proves the way to protect children’s lives is to invest in our social care systems, fight child poverty and support those families who need it.

To consider cutting initiatives such as Labour’s Sure Start scheme, which provides health, education, parenting and employment services to pre-school children and parents, is in my opinion, bordering on the cruel.

I hope our Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski will confirm that he will back our four Shrewsbury Sure Start centres in Monkmoor, Crowmoor, Harlescott and Meole Brace, and not permit any cuts in their funding laid out nationally by his own party.

Breakfast! It’s Whats for Lunch.

It’s breakfast for lunch at primary schools for one day only

Shropshire school pupils will be able to eat breakfast for lunch as part of a special menu in primary schools next week.

Pupils can tuck into a special menu on Friday 29 January to celebrate Farmhouse Breakfast Week, which takes place next week.

The menu will feature a traditional farmhouse breakfast, made up of bacon, local sausage, free range scrambled eggs, beans, hash browns and a wholemeal wedge of bread.  There will also be the option of a Vegetarian breakfast, consisting of a wholemeal bread plait containing, vegetarian sausage, tomato and mushrooms topped with cheese, served with hash browns and baked beans.

Alongside that will be a choice of marmalade muffins, strawberry and oat cookie, fruit, yoghurts and fresh fruit salad.

Wendy Seager, Shropshire Council area supervisor responsible for the event, said: “We want parents and pupils to remember that breakfast is a really important meal of the day, and hope that pupils and parents will continue to support the school meals service.”

Meanwhile, pupils have an extra incentive to eat school meals in January with a competition giving the chance to win tickets to Alton Towers, an England football kit, or tennis equipment.  If a pupil eats 10 meals in between 11 January and 5 February, they are entered into the prize draw.

Ann Hirst, area manager at Shropshire Council, said: “With 2010 having so many key sporting events this promotion will provide some fun and offer some prizes to promote an active lifestyle.”

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for children and young people, said: “School meals are an excellent way of ensuring your child eats a healthy and nutritious meal every day.  Promotions such as Farmhouse Breakfast Week and this competition are a bit of fun and aimed at keeping children interested in their school meals.”