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The author discusses activities of a social inclusion team working at George Spencer Academy, which specializes in aiding the learning of young carers. He cites a research by BBC, which suggests that schools should identify the support needs of such vulnerable group of students by looking out for particular factors signifying that the student is a young carer. Among various facilities, the policy also offers individualized support, staff training, and reasonable allowances.

This article describes some of the more recently established ways the Alzheimer's Society is using to support people with dementia and their carers living in the area of Derby, UK. The article covers Alzheimer Cafes, pamper days, arts and crafts days, and a carers support group.

Families and carers of drug misuers have been promised more help and support by the Government as part of a major new strategy. Looks at what this may mean to families.

In the second of two articles, Barbara Pointon analyses the chaos of funding and benefits that rarely seem to help the people they are intended for, and asks again, ‘Whose service is it?’

This article looks at results of a government-commissioned study in Great Britain concerning kin carers. It found that despite suffering more financial hardship, many kin carers are paid less than unrelated foster carers. They are more likely to receive little or no social work support, have no family placement worker and no access to training. It warns that special guardianship orders could similarly be used by local authorities to restrict services for kin carers.

Describes a support group where family carers new to the challenges of dementia can learn more without loosing their privacy. 'One Day at a Time' is a series of monthly talks run by the Dementia Development Team within social services in Kensington and Chelsea who want to develop their understanding and knowledge of dementia, without disclosing all in an emotional support group.

This article discusses the aims and objectives of the new working-age agency, Jobcentre Plus, and the challenges faced by staff in the former Employment Service and Benefits Agency in delivering on its vision of a work-focused service designed to reach 'hard to help' groups. It looks at the training needs of staff involved in the new service, and how the Jobcentre Plus Stakeholder Forum contributed to identifying them. It considers some of the early successes and problems in this process, and then goes on to explore the needs of one particular client group, carers.

Colin Dugdale, BSc, RMN, RGN, dementia trailblazer, NHS Executive North West. As a community mental health nurse team leader I was seconded to the NHS Executive North West for the role of dementia trailblazer to develop the Admiral Nurse Service in the north-west of England.

Good multi-professional care in the field of dementia is essential, so all practitioners must understand what is needed, say social care researcher Jill Manthorpe and health researcher Steve Iliffe.

Chreanne Montgomery-Smith tells the story of ‘Singing for the brain’, a music programme for people with dementia and their carers.