Society daily 01.08.11

Sign up to Society daily email briefing Today's top SocietyGuardian stories • Coalition cuts have saved £3.75bn in eight months, says Maude • Children's eating disorder figures cause alarm • Drinks industry grip on alcohol panel criticised • 'Poor will lose out to rich' under NHS reforms • Bradford's poverty obscured by focus on unrest • London 2012 park sparks architectural argument between old and new names • British women more likely to get cancer • Bupa to take scalpel to 'unnecessary' surgery • Diane Abbott: 'Blue Labour is a blind alley' - video • Charlie Brooker: Let's think outside the box here: maybe blue-sky thinking is nonsense All today's SocietyGuardian stories The pick of the weekend's SocietyGuardian news and features • Public sector workers need 'discipline and fear', says Letwin • Coalition cuts are making life tough for mothers • Pauline Black: Going back to my roots All Sunday's SocietyGuardian news and features All Saturday's SocietyGuardian news and features Other news • The Mirror: British charities face ConDem cuts of £100million according to report published tomorrow • Telegraph: Civil servants payouts cost £1bn a year • Independent: NHS urged to pay for music therapy to cure depression • Inside Housing: £20 million scheme to tackle rough sleeping launched • Community Care: Social worker struck off after exposing child to risk • Third Sector: Charity Commission confirms 125 jobs to be cut in restructure On my radar ... • The fact checkers at Full Fact, who are concerned about the media's use of incapacity benefit statistics . Full Fact last week warned about inaccurate reports of the number of claimants found "fit for work" and has referred previous incorrect stories to the Press Complaints Commission. But it says more may need to be done and has written to the UK Statistics Authority "... to ask that they intervene by requiring the Department for Work and Pensions to include guidance on how incapacity benefit statistics should and should not be used. In particular, we would like the Authority to warn against some of the most egregious examples of inaccurate reporting that we have seen." • A great rallying cry from Mike Barrett , chief executive of the Porchlight homelessness charity in Kent: "... recent events in relation to media coverage about the cut to the rough sleepers' service shows that some commissioners are not taking responsibility for the decisions they are making. These decisions are incredibly difficult, I understand that, but surely honesty and transparency are vital now so that organisations and service users know what they are facing in the coming months and years ahead. "Arguing" these issues out in the media spotlight is not the best way to arrive at a thought through strategic decision about how to provide (or not) for the most vulnerable in our society. Unfortunately this was the only way to get an admission that this service is being severely cut by some 75%. I have also been in this sector long enough to know that by raising these issues we will have blotted our copy book, but there is a time I feel, when a duty of care to our services users and a duty to stay true to the charity's constitution overrides politics and "playing the game". If we don't stand up for the homeless and poor it seems that some parts of the establishment are happy to sacrifice services for the sake of keeping the bureaucracy ticking over." • Dads. Charity 4Children and parenting website DadTalk are today calling for more help to get dads involved in parenting . As the deadline nears for responses to the government's proposed changes to employment rights for parents, 4Children says it wants to see fathers being given new rights to attend antenatal appointments and classes. The charity's chief executive, Anne Longfield, explained: "From our work with families, we know it takes time for some dads to feel fully included as equal partners in parenting – especially with first babies. If a man can be present for as many of those crucial moments as possible, before and after birth, it can only help to build happy, stronger families from the very beginning." • New research from the Drinkaware charity which finds that adults are turning to alcohol in response to stress or a bad day at work . The charity says we are more likely to reach for a drink due to negative experiences than as a result of having a great day or a good day at work. The research also reveals that three in five women are drinking two or more large glasses of wine on a typical night, exceeding the recommended daily unit guidelines; and two-thirds of men say they drink at least two pints of beer (4 units) on an average evening at home. • A fabulous, inspirational blog, DisabledLives , which profiles some of the artists, scientists, writers and politicians who also happened to have disabilities . Thanks to Sue Marsh for the recommendation On the Guardian Professional Networks • Live Q&A from noon: localism in housing - how to solve regional housing problems • The perfect recipe to improve the running of charities , by Caron Bradshaw, chief executive of the Charity Finance Directors' Group • Will the planning framework dirty our green and pleasant land , asks planning expert Jay Das? Events and seminars How can social and community enterprises access public sector assets? 14 September 2011, London Examine the theory and practice behind the transfer process, learn about forthcoming legislation and explore which tactics and strategies are most effective for social enterprises. Effective Events Fundraising 16 September 2011, London Explore the strategic role of events fundraising in charities. Learn to plan, market and deliver events aligned to your brand and wider strategies. Hear from experts, network with fellow fundraisers and share best practice to maximise participation and income. Public Services Summit Scotland - Re-examining and innovating for better delivery 22 September 2011, Edinburgh Challenge thinking, share innovations and debate the future of public services alongside other senior public services deliverers. Book before 26 August for a 20% early bird discount. Social Media in Social Housing: How to do it 4 October 2011, London Communication with tenants and increasing media coverage can be made easier with social media use. Join us for clear and practical examples on saving money, improving communications and writing a social media strategy. 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