“I’m going through topical steroid withdrawal – and getting support from TikTok”
“I’ve been struggling with topical steroid withdrawal for years, but TikTok made me realise I wasn’t alone”
Amrit Virdi
Editorial Graduate @ Music Teacher Magazine and Children & Young People Now
Gold Standard Level 5 NCTJ-Accredited Journalist
Bylines @ Stylist, Clash, OK!, DIY, Women's Health, London Runway, LeftLion etc
Podcast Producer @ CYP Now and Former Formula One Podcast Host
My Most Read Work
Invest £50mn in evaluating child domestic abuse support, ministers urged
The government is being urged to invest £50mn in evaluating support for child victims of domestic abuse as Foundations warns that more children could experience abuse than start primary school this year.
Digital solutions in children’s services; social work training cuts; Anne Longfield’s new book
Produced and edited by me, featuring my story on the blocking of a children's home in Huntingdonshire.
Mayoral elections 2024: What the results could mean for children and young people’s services
Mayoral elections 2024: What the results could mean for children and young people’s services
Members of the public have taken to the polls in devolved areas and in the capital to vote for elected mayors, signaling a big win for Labour which took all but one of 10 mayoral seats in England.
Members of the public have taken to the polls in devolved areas and in the capital to vote for elected mayors, signaling a big win for Labour which took all but one of 10 mayoral seats in England.
Partnership campaigns for better lives for young care-experienced Londoners
Partnership campaigns for better lives for young care-experienced Londoners
Care-experienced young people have worked with the council to create the Pan London Care Leavers Compact, a better offer for young care leavers.
Care-experienced young people have worked with the council to create the Pan London Care Leavers Compact, a better offer for young care leavers.
Next Wave #1169: Dylan Gossett | Next Wave
Dylan Gossett has played a part in using social media to re-introduce the world to folk and country music… and gotten Noah Kahan’s seal of approval in doing so. CLASH writer Amrit Virdi spoke to the Texas-born singer-songwriter across timezones on Zoom about finding your feet in the industry and bring country music to life on stage.
“I was definitely brought up around music – my parents loved it. Listening to the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson laid a foundation for me and my brother Bla
“I was definitely brought up around music – my parents loved it. Listening to the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson laid a foundation for me and my brother Bla
Children's Commissioner urged to expand research into school mobile phone bans
The Children’s Commissioner for England has been urged by researchers to use her statutory powers to extend research into the benefits of phone bans in schools after an initial study showed such policies led to improved outcomes for children.
Early SEND support needs going unmet
A shortage of special needs support in the early years is increasing pressure on childcare providers and schools, new reports reveal.
Latest analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reveals the benefits of Sure Start children’s centres to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Researchers concluded that children’s centres – a central plank of New Labour’s childcare policy – were found to have increased the amount of SEND support available for pre-school age
Latest analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) reveals the benefits of Sure Start children’s centres to children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Researchers concluded that children’s centres – a central plank of New Labour’s childcare policy – were found to have increased the amount of SEND support available for pre-school age
Longfield think-tank calls for expansion of school mental health support teams
Former children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield has called for an expansion of mental health support offered in schools as data shows 1.4mn children in England now have a probable mental health condition.
Adoption England pledges to boost diversity among adopters
Adoption England has launched its three-year strategy to "modernise adoption services" in England, setting a goal to recruit adopters from diverse communities to support more children’s needs.
Girlguiding launches plan to reduce environmental anxieties among children
Girlguiding has launched a new environmental strategy designed to reduce environment-based anxieties facing children.
The strategy involves building awareness among staff and young members and offering more eco-guiding activities by 2028 and lobbying ministers to half carbon emissions by 2040.
According to Girlguiding, young women and girls are more likely to have environmental concerns and related negative emotions than young men and boys, with 84% of Girlguiding’s young members saying it’s i
The strategy involves building awareness among staff and young members and offering more eco-guiding activities by 2028 and lobbying ministers to half carbon emissions by 2040.
According to Girlguiding, young women and girls are more likely to have environmental concerns and related negative emotions than young men and boys, with 84% of Girlguiding’s young members saying it’s i
DfE to repurpose unused school spaces for childcare
The Department for Education has revealed plans to pilot the use of surplus school spaces to offer childcare provision as part of its expansion of funded hours.
The pilot, beginning this summer, will explore how unused school space can be repurposed to support childcare settings and offer more places.
It comes as part of the rollout of the government's funded childcare expansion which allows all eligible two-year-olds of working parents to access 15 hours of funded care per week, increasing to
The pilot, beginning this summer, will explore how unused school space can be repurposed to support childcare settings and offer more places.
It comes as part of the rollout of the government's funded childcare expansion which allows all eligible two-year-olds of working parents to access 15 hours of funded care per week, increasing to
Hundreds of young people to reveal lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry will hear from hundreds of young people about the lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to form legal evidence for future recommendations.
The Children and Young People Voices project, announced in January, is set to collect data from several hundred nine- to 22-year-olds. The project is a collaboration between the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and Verian.
Children from a range of ethnicities, genders, socio-economic backgrounds, various geographical regions and those identify
The Children and Young People Voices project, announced in January, is set to collect data from several hundred nine- to 22-year-olds. The project is a collaboration between the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and Verian.
Children from a range of ethnicities, genders, socio-economic backgrounds, various geographical regions and those identify
Sadiq Khan reveals plans for youth investment ahead of mayoral election
Sadiq Khan has pledged to provide 250,000 more positive opportunities for young Londoners in youth clubs, including mentoring and youth worker investment, in the lead up to next month's mayoral election.
In his manifesto, published before Londoners take to the polls on 2 May, pledges on 2 May, the current Mayor of London has said he will focus investment on “youth clubs, schools, pupil referral units, custody centres and major A&Es” to “tackle the complex causes of crime”.
After school activit
In his manifesto, published before Londoners take to the polls on 2 May, pledges on 2 May, the current Mayor of London has said he will focus investment on “youth clubs, schools, pupil referral units, custody centres and major A&Es” to “tackle the complex causes of crime”.
After school activit
Childcare leaders question DfE claims of successful rollout of expanded entitlement
Early years bodies have questioned government assertions that the rollout of the funded childcare expansion is going to plan and claim that latest data fails to show a complete picture of the reality on the ground.
The Department for Education has claimed 195,355 children are benefitting from the government-funded childcare expansion launched in April.
The expansion allows all eligible two-year-olds of working parents to access 15 hours of funded care per week, increasing to 30 hours per week
The Department for Education has claimed 195,355 children are benefitting from the government-funded childcare expansion launched in April.
The expansion allows all eligible two-year-olds of working parents to access 15 hours of funded care per week, increasing to 30 hours per week
Surrey Hills Young Composer Competition prizewinners announced
Borimir Ivanov, 16, takes first prize at the Surrey Hills International Music Festival's competition for young composers
The Surrey Hills International Music Festival (SHIMF) has announced the prizewinners of the 2024 Young Composer Competition.
Borimir Ivanov, 16, from Tiffin School (Kingston upon Thames), was awarded first prize for his piano duo Festival of the Hills, described by the competition jury as 'lively, joyful, and rhythmically exciting — a perfect way to celebrate the Festival’s
The Surrey Hills International Music Festival (SHIMF) has announced the prizewinners of the 2024 Young Composer Competition.
Borimir Ivanov, 16, from Tiffin School (Kingston upon Thames), was awarded first prize for his piano duo Festival of the Hills, described by the competition jury as 'lively, joyful, and rhythmically exciting — a perfect way to celebrate the Festival’s
Children with SEND disproportionately excluded from primary school, research finds
Almost all primary school aged children who experience exclusions have a special educational need or disability (SEND), research has found.
Chance UK’s latest research highlights that children with special needs or from poorer backgrounds are disproportionately affected by exclusion and suspension.
Some 70% of pupils excluded or suspended from primary schools were eligible free school meals, with 60% identified as a 'child in need’ by social services. Some 97% are classed as having SEND, accor
Chance UK’s latest research highlights that children with special needs or from poorer backgrounds are disproportionately affected by exclusion and suspension.
Some 70% of pupils excluded or suspended from primary schools were eligible free school meals, with 60% identified as a 'child in need’ by social services. Some 97% are classed as having SEND, accor
MPs back plans to tackle youth vaping
MPs have backed major plans to tackle youth vaping and smoking including a ban on the marketing of vaping products aimed at children.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been passed through to the next stage in Parliament following a vote in the House of Commons last night (16 April).
If successful, the Bill will restrict how vapes are marketed to children and lead to fines of up to £2,500 for people who sell non-nicotine vaping products to under 18s.
Packaging, contents and flavouring of vapes ac
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has been passed through to the next stage in Parliament following a vote in the House of Commons last night (16 April).
If successful, the Bill will restrict how vapes are marketed to children and lead to fines of up to £2,500 for people who sell non-nicotine vaping products to under 18s.
Packaging, contents and flavouring of vapes ac
Councils face £300 million shortfall in youth homelessness funding
English local authorities are facing an annual shortfall of £332 million in youth homelessness funding, economists have warned.
Newham Council, in London, was found to need as much as £32mn, with Liverpool, Hammersmith and Fulham, Cornwall, London boroughs of Ealing and Bexley needing in excess of £10mn, according to research published by youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.
Rising costs to meet obligations under the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) were found to be a key factor behind the
Newham Council, in London, was found to need as much as £32mn, with Liverpool, Hammersmith and Fulham, Cornwall, London boroughs of Ealing and Bexley needing in excess of £10mn, according to research published by youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.
Rising costs to meet obligations under the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) were found to be a key factor behind the
Falling school rolls spark fears of £1bn funding drop
State-funded primary and secondary schools in England are set to lose out on £1 billion worth of funding by 2030 driven by a projected 1% drop in pupils numbers each year over the same period, researchers warn.
A report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) on the effects of falling school rolls has found that all regions will experience a decrease in primary school funding between 2023/24 and 2029/30, with the North East projected to experience the largest decrease of 9%.
The East of Englan
A report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) on the effects of falling school rolls has found that all regions will experience a decrease in primary school funding between 2023/24 and 2029/30, with the North East projected to experience the largest decrease of 9%.
The East of Englan
English Teacher captivates listeners with theatrical debut
Leeds-based four piece English Teacher make a theatrical and unique mark on the British-indie scene with their strong debut, This Could Be Texas, which emphasises the band’s lyrical talent alongside their stellar experimental sound.
The highly anticipated album follows the band’s 2022 debut EP Polyawkward – and pre-released singles from the LP, such as ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’, have already amassed over one million (well-deserved) listens.
What has always made English Teacher unique a
The highly anticipated album follows the band’s 2022 debut EP Polyawkward – and pre-released singles from the LP, such as ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’, have already amassed over one million (well-deserved) listens.
What has always made English Teacher unique a
Scouts wins £129,000 DfE contract to boost teacher recruitment
Scouts has been handed a £129,000 government contract to promote teaching as a career pathway to its young members.
The Get into Teaching Candidate Pipeline Strategy aims to tackle teacher sufficiency by increasing the recruitment of young people who may not have considered it as a career.
The strategy focuses on promoting teaching through partnerships to a younger audience, with a focus on areas where recruitment is most challenging, including: science, technology, engineering, and mathematic
The Get into Teaching Candidate Pipeline Strategy aims to tackle teacher sufficiency by increasing the recruitment of young people who may not have considered it as a career.
The strategy focuses on promoting teaching through partnerships to a younger audience, with a focus on areas where recruitment is most challenging, including: science, technology, engineering, and mathematic
Council blocks plans for new children’s home
Huntingdonshire District Council has blocked plans for a new children's home in the village of Old Weston, citing “a lack of infrastructure" and "safeguarding issues for residents” as key reasons behind its decision.
GCSE results for disadvantaged children 'greatly improved by Sure Start'
GCSE results for disadvantaged children 'greatly improved by Sure Start'
Children eligible for free school meals (FSM) who live near a Sure Start centre saw increased performance at GCSE by three grades, six times higher than children not eligible for FSM, new research has found.
Children eligible for free school meals (FSM) who live near a Sure Start centre saw increased performance at GCSE by three grades, six times higher than children not eligible for FSM, new research has found.
Charity uses nature to reduce persistent absenteeism
Hundreds of young people have benefitted from therapeutic experiences in nature as part of an outdoor initiative designed to help children back into education.
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