Dads should do more Disengagement of fathers is a crucial source of the relative failure of boys in schools, education secretary Alan Johnson said this week. He said fathers-only parent evenings at schools would form part of a new government parenting strategy, at which they would hear reports from teachers about their children's progress. Mr Johnson, who was largely brought up by his older sister, called for "a welfare state that does more to support parents". Fathers, he said, were not optional extras in the family unit, and should not be regarded as such. (Guardian 27.02.07) Most Popular Baby Names: England & Wales 2006 It's all change at the top of the most recent list of baby names for England and Wales - for girls that is. Olivia is the new No 1 girl's name while Jack tops the boy's list for the twelfth year running. Find out more here Profound and lasting change in society

David Cameron has called for a massive culture change which makes it as socially unacceptable for fathers to duck responsibility for their children as it is for motorists to drink and drive. In advance of a keynote speech in Manchester, the Conservative Leader made the case for "profound and lasting change in our society" - in order to restore right values to the way parents bring up and care for their children. And dismissing Labour's top-down, centralising approach to family break-up, social breakdown, and crime, he declared: "We need to change our culture, and no-where is that more important than in how we bring up and care for our children." Mr Cameron stressed: "We need to make it as socially unacceptable for fathers to avoid their responsibilities as drink-driving now is. As with drink-driving, it is a combination of government action and culture change that will make the difference." Seizing on the findings of a paper drawn up by the Conservatives Social Justice and Policy Group led by Iain Duncan Smith, which emphasises the central task of ensuring that young people grow up with a strong male influence in their lives, Mr Cameron went on: "Social responsibility means each and every one of us playing a part." Mr Cameron referred to the recent UNICEF report putting Britain at the bottom of the international league table for the well-being of children, and the recent spate of shootings involving young people, and stated: "We see no sign that Labour recognise the scale of the challenge - or have the first idea how to go about tackling it. "From Gordon Brown, whose top-down, centralising policies have done so much to undermine families and the foundations of our society, there is silence. From Tony Blair, whose short-term, headline-driven approach to politics is now drowning in its own shallowness, there is the response we have come to expect - crackdowns cobbled together for the Sunday newspapers and a Downing Street summit." He said: "Don't these Labour politicians realise that we need profound, lasting change in our society? Don't they understand that government is only part of the solution, not the whole solution? We need to put the right values at the heart of our society. Government can give a lead, but in the end it is a question of social responsibility: we need to change our culture, and nowhere is that more important than in how we bring up and care for our children."

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It’s a great way to raise vital funds for the Meningitis Trust and raise awareness of the disease, whilst having a cuppa and a chat with friends and even enjoy a spot of networking or just good fun.