Why campaigning for the right to work and employment should be a priority
“The welfare reform debate is confined to a single question: which Party can make it most difficult to get onto and stay on social security benefits.” Neil Crowther argues that we need a campaign about employment and work, rather than talking about welfare reform.
Access To…oh forget it
“It’s a dilemma that I shouldn’t have to have. I shouldn’t have to choose between purchasing equipment so I can work and purchasing equipment so I can get around. The two things should not be mutually exclusive.” Emsy shares her experience of the Government’s Access To Work programme
Why every young person should have a coach
“Not costly interventions, complex training programmes or mufti-faceted projects, just …a single person for those who need them most …now is that too much to ask for?” Matt Lent argues that every young person should have at least one reliable, caring, skilled adult in their lives.
‘Hard working people’ doesn’t work for me…
“There are few expressions that annoy me more than ‘hard working people’ – and few that we hear more in the current political climate. There are so many things wrong with it that it’s hard to know where to start…” As the Conservative Party gathers in Manchester, Paul Bernal takes issue with their conference theme.
Poetic justice
“One wrong mistake took me out; I felt that I was drowning in the mist of my tears when the judge sentenced me to 5 years imprisonment. I felt this way because I saw my life flash before me.” Shauna Dacres describes her experience of taking part in a restorative justice programme.
Labour need to re-define what it means to be “Working Class”. And quick
“By living under the shadows of 80s past, of militant and strikes, we have become terrified of identifying with anyone at all. It’s ludicrous. We speak for the worker. ALL of the workers.” Sue Marsh challenges the Labour Party to stand up for ordinary working people.
A huge percentage of the population without redress – that is dangerous
The Government’s plan to slash £220m from the UK’s legal aid budget has rightly been condemned for its sweeping scale but, in this series of interviews I’ve done for the Guardian, the very human impact – the effect on the individual – is laid bare. Under the proposals, victims of miscarriages of justice like Gerry Conlon, […]
Jenny’s job, and why we need more like it
Jenny Dimmock works in a pathology lab. She and her scientist colleagues handle between 3,000-4,000 blood samples a day. The 21-year-old is also an ambassador for younger students, speaking about her experiences at conferences, like how part of her job involves placing specimens on a robot. Handling the robot, however, as her workmates say, is […]
MPs get 30% pay rise, average worker gets 20% pay cut
“The Government is certainly Making Work Pay …just not for 99% of the population.” Scriptonite Daily urges action against widening inequality.
What is the ‘economic reality’?
“There is almost blanket acceptance of the ‘need’ for austerity and the tough ‘operating environment’ that this creates, not least in social policy areas such as poverty and low-pay, where policy solutions have to ‘fiscally credible’. However, the figures …suggest that the economic reality might not be all it seems.” Stephen Crossley challenges the widespread consensus for cuts.
How does the Work Programme actually work….?
A client of BHT was put on the Work Programme. She said it prevented her from moving forward in her life. She was required to do newspaper and online searches for jobs, three hours a day. She said she received no training and could not talk about her support needs. She said she became increasingly stressed […]
Accounting for the new self-employed
A report out today [6th February] from the ONS confirms the big increase in self-employment in the UK seen since the start of the Global Financial Crisis. As a result of the recessions that triggered, the number of employees fell by 434,000 between 2008 and 2012. In complete contrast, the number of self-employed people rose by 367,000 […]
Ex-offenders and rejection
“Hi. My name is Scott and I have been out of prison for 14 months now. I have no intention of going back.” Scott writing for Prisoners Families Voices describes the challenges of finding work as an ex-offender.