All posts tagged: support

Hundreds escaping high-control religions and cults offered ‘life-saving’ support by Humanists UK helpline in first year

Hundreds escaping high-control religions and cults offered ‘life-saving’ support by Humanists UK helpline in first year

Since its launch on 21 February 2024, almost 500 people have received ‘life-saving support’ from Humanists UK’s pioneering Faith to Faithless helpline – the first UK-based phone service dedicated to helping those leaving high-control religious groups. Operating three days a week, the helpline provides confidential emotional support to individuals navigating the often extreme challenges of leaving high-control groups. These groups exert profound influence over their members’ lives, curtailing their personal freedom, critical thinking, and emotional wellbeing. Leaving such environments can be a monumental challenge, fraught with isolation, stigma, and a host of difficulties that can result in homelessness, violence, or any manner of abuse. Recognising the gravity of these challenges, Humanists UK’s Faith to Faithless helpline provides a safe, confidential, and empathetic space for individuals grappling with the complexities of leaving their religious communities. The helpline, staffed by trained volunteers, most of whom have lived experience in transitioning away from high-control groups, provides emotional support, guidance, and resources. It acts as a primary point of contact for those seeking help, offering a listening ear, and …

Bilingual children with special educational needs may be missing out on support in England

Bilingual children with special educational needs may be missing out on support in England

English isn’t the first language of over 20% of pupils in schools in England, and this proportion is rising. The children in this group who also have special educational needs or disabilities may be falling through the cracks, missing out on support that would help them succeed. My recent research analysed data from 2.5 million English primary school pupils. The findings show that bilingual learners with special educational needs especially struggle with reading. They trail behind both their peers without special educational needs, and other children with special educational needs who speak English as their first language. When a pupil has a special educational need such as specific learning difficulties or autism, their language hurdles can make it harder to see the real cause of their challenges. Sometimes, a child’s limited English masks a disability. Other times, disabilities may be confused with language problems. This confusion can delay the help they need. Reading is particularly a problem because strong vocabulary and language-processing skills are needed, and the extra task of learning English can slow them …

Supporting teachers to support Ukraine is a win-win-win

Supporting teachers to support Ukraine is a win-win-win

More from this theme Recent articles Ukraine is in the headlines again this week as peace talks between Russia and the United States are set to begin, notably without Ukraine‘s direct involvement. On the ground, however, Ukrainian children can get directly involved with British schools, shining the light of education into the darkness of war. Svitlo Education was born from the belief that ignorance fuels conflict and that education is the antidote. The school connects passionate volunteer teachers with Ukrainian students eager to learn, offering them the chance of the education they’ll need to build a better future. But what I wasn’t expecting when I launched this online school was the positive feedback loop that has brought so many benefits to teachers and schools here too. School leaders have found in us an incredible opportunity to empower their teachers and pupils to make a meaningful difference, to develop their skills along the way and to make connections around the world. Amid recruitment and retention challenges, low morale and motivation-sapping workload, volunteering to teach our Ukrainian …

MPs support replacing High Court with expert panel in assisted dying bill

MPs support replacing High Court with expert panel in assisted dying bill

MPs have rallied around Kim Leadbeater MP’s amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults Bill that would replace the role of the High Court in the Bill with a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission and expert panels. Their views come as the amendment is expected to be published late today. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision have welcomed this proposal. The role of the High Court and its workability has been repeatedly challenged by retired judges such as Sir James Munby, Sir Nicholas Mostyn, and others, on the basis that the Court doesn’t have capacity and that it wouldn’t provide additional safety. Now Ms Leadbeater is proposing a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission, led by a High Court judge or senior former judge. It would oversee all cases and report each year on the number of applications and how many were approved or rejected. It would also appoint expert panels, with each applicant for assisted dying going to a panel for a decision after sign-off by two doctors. The panel would be chaired by a senior lawyer …

The path of best resistance: “Faith-rooted messaging would help build broader political support”

The path of best resistance: “Faith-rooted messaging would help build broader political support”

While on the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to be a dictator on “day one.” Trump has been president for only three weeks and he has followed through on that threat and promise with a zeal and enthusiasm that has shocked those Americans who thought he was kidding or being hyperbolic. These attacks through dozens of executive orders and edicts — many unconstitutional and illegal — were publicly previewed and detailed months ago by Project 2025 and Agenda 47. None of what has transpired during these last few weeks of Trump’s so-called shock and awe return to power should be a surprise.  I do wonder if Trump and his MAGA agents and the other right-wing enemies of democracy are surprised at how smoothly their return to power has gone given the quick collapse of the so-called resistance, including the Democrats who appear to have no idea how to be an effective opposition party. In the most recent example of the opposition serving as de facto collaborators with Trumpism and the MAGA movement, Senate Minority Leader …

Mobile games can support each other in the race for user attention | Aarki

Mobile games can support each other in the race for user attention | Aarki

Aarki recently released its Mobile Retention Radar Report for 2025, in which it details the difficulties that app and mobile game developers face in the oversaturated attention economy. It also provides insights into how marketers can best promote their new mobile titles in spite of the difficulties — namely, how to retain players and keep them interested in spite of the deluge of competition. The report covers all sectors of the mobile industry, not just gaming. However, for gaming specifically, the report noted the importance of understanding user thought patterns. Gaming, it says, is the cornerstone of the so-called “App Hive,” driving 41% of all downloads. From there marketers can map patterns of behavior across multiple types of apps, including where they go after they leave the game, and make “more precise cohort-based targeting.” Avi Das, Aarki CRO, said, “This report highlights a simple truth: it’s not just about keeping users in one app—it’s about understanding where they go next… The secret is in creating connections. By aligning your campaigns with user preferences and timing, …

Who are the settings in like for support

Who are the settings in like for support

More from this theme Recent articles The vast majority of “stuck schools” targeted for improvement are already academies – and a third won’t be eligible for help because they’ve already undergone “structural change”. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said stuck schools were “the new front in the fight against low expectations”, warning that “more than 600” such settings educated more than 300,000 pupils. Stuck schools, called “coasting” by Conservative governments and, confusingly, “struggling” by Labour last year, are those graded ‘requires improvement’ at their last inspection and less than ‘good’ at the inspection before that. These schools will receive “targeted intervention” and grants of up to £100,000 to help turn them around under a £20 million scheme. If they aren’t up to scratch within two years, they’ll be academised or re-brokered. But how are the stuck schools? Schools Week investigates… 1. Most are already academies Ofsted data analysis found 626 schools that fitted the ‘stuck’ description. Of these, 85 per cent were already academies. Half were sponsored academies – those academised because they failed, while …

Lords support bill to replace collective worship with inclusive assemblies

Lords support bill to replace collective worship with inclusive assemblies

A Bill to replace mandatory daily Christian collective worship in schools in England without a religious character with inclusive assemblies has passed its second reading today in the House of Lords. The Education (Assemblies) Bill – tabled by Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group (APPHG) Baroness Burt of Solihull – is being supported by Humanists UK, who welcomed the debate and passage. If enacted, the Bill would remove the requirement of daily collective Christian worship from schools in England without a religious character. Instead, these schools would be required to provide inclusive assemblies that promote ‘the spiritual, moral, social and cultural education of pupils regardless of religion or belief’. Staff and pupils could voluntarily arrange collective worship if they wished, but pupils, and their parents, would have the right to choose whether to attend. The Bill had previously been introduced in 2021 when it passed through the House of Lords but ran out of time to be debated in the House of Commons. Mandatory collective worship either forces children to be a part of …

Four examples of Trump’s neverending support for Israel | Israel-Palestine conflict News

Four examples of Trump’s neverending support for Israel | Israel-Palestine conflict News

The return of US President Donald Trump has been hailed by parts of the Israeli public who see his second term as a return of uncritical support of Israel. Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, supported Israel in its war on Gaza, as well as its invasion of Lebanon, but his administration’s occasional misgivings about Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which is now thought to have killed close to 62,000 people, made parts of the Israeli public unhappy. Trump’s involvement in a ceasefire that led to the release of some Israeli captives from Gaza and his enthusiastic suggestions of ethnically cleansing Gaza have raised Israeli hopes that his second term will be as pro-Israeli as his first. Here’s how he has helped prop Israel up. Diplomacy Trump’s diplomatic moves and appointments reflect his unwavering support for Israel. He wants the US ambassador to Israel to be Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who opposes the two-state solution that would give Palestine a state and has even questioned whether “such a thing as a Palestinian exists”. Trump’s previous ambassador to Israel …