A Bristol couple with learning disabilities are too afraid to have a longed-for child in case the baby is taken away from them. Andrew and Michelle Bennett, who have been together for 15 years, have already had one child adopted against their wishes.

Vulnerable and elderly people in Birmingham face a huge increase in the cost of home care services in an attempt to plug a city council cash crisis.

Few households seek specialist financial advice when paying for the care of their elderly, according to FirstStop Care Advice.

The nation’s leading social services director has spoken of his fear that the government’s personalisation agenda will leave out some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

Child poverty is not only causing extreme hardship, but is imposing a large cost on taxpayers and reducing the UK’s economic potential. At a time when the government is having to spend billions to support its economic infrastructure, new research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published today estimates that child poverty costs at least £25 billion each year in losses to the Exchequer and in reduced GDP.