News

MAY DAY - May Day in the US originated to honor the Haymarket Affair in 1886 in Chicago. The working class then combined a struggle for the 8-hour workday with a struggle for change beyond capitalism. Too often since, those two kinds of struggle...

DEBT ADVICE - The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) does not come into force until 4 May 2021. What is Breathing Space? Breathing Space is a new scheme that gives people temporary protection from most types of debt collection while they...

JOBS - The UK has a 6.2 million ‘Covid employment gap’ of lower employment and furloughed employees who need to get back to work, highlighting the scale of the economic task ahead of us, the Resolution Foundation has said today in response to th...

RADIO - Simon Collyer, ABC Founder, appeared today on Forces' Radio BFBS Colchester With Presenter and Producer Liz Mullen. This was in preparation for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021. Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental H...

UNEMPLOYMENT - This information from the ONS shows the relationsship between the numbers out of work and advertised jobs available.  There are currently (officially) 2.8 people chasing every vacancy.  The most recent unemployment rate...

SAILING WELLNESS - Simon has been appearing on radio talking to the lovely Nita Jhummu about Sailing Wellness.  Sailing Wellness is a ‘Blue Health’ Project designed to help those suffering from PTSD, stress anxiety and other forms of mental...

HOLIDAY PAYMENT DATES - Benefit payment dates for the first May bank holiday If you claim tax credits or child benefit, and your payment is due on Monday, May 3, you can expect to be paid the Friday before, so April 30. Tax credits are typically paid...

THREAT OF UNION ACTION - PCS (Public & Commercial Services Union) has condemned the decision to fully reopen jobcentres today warning that it will increase the likelihood of avoidable Covid-19 infections. Pre-lo...

PENSIONS - Industry experts have raised concerns that carers may be at risk of losing valuable pension credits, after a freedom of information request by Quilter revealed an almost 20 per cent fall in the number of people claiming a carer's cred...

OUR CONDOLENCES - Prince Philip Has Died Aged 99. He had a long and satisfying life and was unswerving in his loyalty to the Queen. He could be cantankerous and impatient and he frequently said what he thought regardless of the consequences. His bone...