But Family Foundation Giving Trends, co-written by Cathy Pharoah of the Centre for Charitable Giving and Philanthropy, reveals an overall increase if the largest foundation, the Wellcome Trust, is excluded.

Recent scientific research has suggested there could be a connection between hearing loss and the brain, contributing to greater cognitive decline as we age. By Prof David McAlpine Director of the UCL Ear Institute

Esther Rantzen has launched a new 24-hour helpline service for the elderly in the Isle of Man. Silver Line, fronted by Mrs Rantzen, will provide a helpline in the same way which ChildLine works for young people.

Convicted criminals have been encouraged to apply for jobs in care homes looking after frail, elderly people.

The watchdog has been making serious efforts to restore professional confidence, but news that it may appoint a former Conservative party chief executive as its chair is concerning, by Peter Beresford

While the government consults on a radical reduction of guidance, campaigners say headteachers should be mandated to report any allegations to local authority officers

The chair of Rochdale’s Safeguarding Children’s Board has resigned. Lynne Jones had been involved with a review following the recent child sex grooming trial in Rochdale, which heard girls as young as 13 were exploited.

Regulation of the care sector is not fit for purpose, care minister Norman Lamb has said as he unveiled proposals on care homes for consultation.

Children’s Roma parents deny allegations of abuse in background to case that has raised community tensions

Councils have criticised the latest publication of adoption scorecards by the government, warning that the data could lead to ‘misleading’ comparisons between authorities.