FEEDBACK - We would just like to thank all those who have left 'Comments' recently. Some lovely remarks and a special thank you to Vicky who visits our website everyday while having her morning cup of coffee she says. 

We must say a special hello to our Scottish readers for whom we have suddenly attracted large numbers. Our articles get visited over time and we have some 3,200 on-line in the library/back catalog: https://www.abcorg.net/all-news.  Sometimes an article can suddenly explode with interest and we know it has gone viral. 

We have some new developments coming along and we plan to do a lot more on the rest of the website. Especially... starting next week...our much neglected, Event's section is getting a wash and brush up. 

We thank you all for continuing to visit and giving us your support. It is nice to get feedback and we enjoy talking to people learning about your experiences. 

Best wishes,

Simon COLLYER

Founder

HAPPY CHRISTMAS - To all our audience. It has been a very exciting year for ABC. 

We must especially thank Andrew Smith AAT qualified Professional of the Tax Hive Ltd www.thetaxhive.co.uk for knocking our books into shape and getting our year-end accounts done. I am very impressed by the dedication and commitment Andrew has shown to us. If you want a top-notch accountant at affordable prices, Andrew is the man to talk to. I am sure he will be going onto great things in 2020. 

I must also thank Mike Veeckmans, TRAVEEKA bvba in Belgium https://traveeka.be Mike is a Joomla software expert. Joomla is the backend software system for our website. Well done Mike and thanks for all your help. 

Very special thanks to Colchester IT, Nigel the boss, Jack and all the team: www.colchesterit.com Love the new set-up. Keep it going. 

Thank you also to the offices of Will Quince MP and all the work you have done. 

And to my family and the support they have provided. There are many others including RT TV who gave me the chance to appear twice and to BBC Essex and BBC Look East and the Colchester Gazette and Colchester Standard in particular for all the coverage.  

It has been a very eventful year and I am speaking in January at Springfield School and the Portsmouth Acadamy on January 24th as part of Aspirations Week. A talk called Human Potential helping school children navigate the world of work. Thank you to Portsmouth City Council, Economic Development Department for the opportunity.

Thank you to Carole Spiers, chair of the Institute of Stress Management Association (ISMA)  https://www.isma.org.uk for inviting us once again to their VIP conference. 

And thank you to One Stop Convenience store for our grant. We just need funding now for cameras and we will be close to kicking off Work TV. 

In September I took part in a visit to Japan on a writing trip to Wakura Onsen and Nowaza Onsen. A bit off track for the ABC, but a chance to see another culture. 

Image: Looking out to sea at Dolphin Smile Notojima Island, Japan. Tranquillity in a busy year. 

Japan is a wonderful country but it does make you appreciate what it is to be British. One could not imagine the Brexit debate occurring in Japan where there is a strong requirement to conform to group thinking. The Brits have our faults but we are a country that produces its share of strong-willed individuals. I am proud to be British despite the issues that almost threaten to tear us apart as a nation at times. 

I pay tribute to fellow Remainers and Brexitters and the battles we have had getting our points across on Facebook.

Our predictions - We have had eleven years of growth and that has seen growing employment across the Western World.

Quantitative easing has run its course and the government has stopped pumping liquidity into the financial system while taking money out of the real economy via austerity to stop inflation. Austerity is far from over but social security benefits have been so slashed it seems that there is little more that can be done without starting a revolution.

Image: We moved in May but we had no Internet for four months. Eventually we won our case at the ombudsman. Virgin Media have made some effort to make amends. 

Homelessness has skyrocketed as has child-poverty. The positive side of Brexit is that there will be no one else to blame. The EU bogeyman has been used as a scapegoat, when in fact many of their programs and initiatives are first class. We have seen the rise of populism this year and the strains caused by those that own assets gaining enormously from rising prices due to money being pumped into the economy, in comparison with those without assets who have become much poorer.

Populism will continue, and we predict as we will go into the downturn side of the economic cycle and this could become worse with social and political consequences. Whether the great new future promised by Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage emerges we will see. Will could see a bonfire of Human Rights, Workers Rights and Health and Safety legislation - well I am afraid that looks very likely. Article 20 of the ECHR guarantees one's rights to social security. What will happen when that's gone?

The NHS is already partly privatised and outrageous car parking prices are just one example of private funding. Boris Johnson will be under intense scrutiny. Brexit is a process not an event and with the EU treating the UK as competitors, not partners, negotiation will get a lot tougher. Trump may survive impeachment but we cannot guarantee a future president will be as accommodating in US/UK trade talks. We could be bombarded with cheap, chlorinated, nutrition free food, which could have long term health effects. Children of school age living in hostel accommodation will face a diet of cheap crap further opening the gap with those in public schools, for which for no expense is spared and taxes are still further cut for the rich and inheritance tax cuts allow the usual suspects born into wealth to continue to dominate the best jobs in our economy.

We might well see the departure of the Scots. If we believe in democracy then we must allow them a choice. Will our Royal Family become too much of a burden to be carried by a shrinking nation and will some adjustment be needed to provide a monarchy that fits modern times. The Queen and David Camerons offshore tax advising father were named in the Panama Papers, 11.5 million leaked documents from law firm Mossack Fonseca that detail financial and attorney-client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities. Trials are starting in January but this issue could go on for years. Further fuelling and highlighting the gap between the haves and have nots.

Image: There are many different was to make a living. This might be more of the unusual ones!

Global warming is the greatest threat of our times, yet there are still those who either indifferent or think that it is a hoax. Hello, come In.....do you read me....!!! 

It is a rum-old world out there right now. Consider investing in a bomb shelter, bullet-proof vest and a tin helmet, you might need it!!

Here at the ABC we wish you all the best. Have a very Happy Christmas.

Simon Collyer

Image: Simon Collyer on RT TV.  

Supermarket chain Lidl has announced plans to build homes alongside additional schemes to improve the local area around its stores in a bid to win over local authorities over planning permission. The discount retailer stated that it had already supported the building of several hundred houses and is currently planning on putting a school in above one of its south London stores.
 
While this may appear a bold step for a supermarket, the German retailer began its involvement in housing development back in 2008 and emphasizes its support for mixed-use developments with offices, houses and schools incorporated into planning. Rival supermarket Tesco's meanwhile has been in the business of building homes for some years, previously releasing some of its land stock for use in a home building scheme.
 
Speaking about the new plans Lidl chief executive Christian Hartnagel said that "In London alone, for example, there is the potential for Lidl stores to be part of schemes that could see over 3,000 new homes being built over the next three years. It continues to mean a great deal to us that we are able to support many of the communities that we're a part of by providing added value above and beyond affordable food."

ABC Note: Lidl is building a store in Abbots Road, Colchester near the ABC HQ. The site of the former Co-op Store. The planned opening date is the 6th September 2018.

Image: Lidl Checkout

ABC Comment Have your say below:

Cherry Lam has been volunteering for ABC for one month. Although it is a short period of time, she knows a lot more about the running of a charity organisation. Cherry is responsible for adding directories to the organisation website according to categories. Joining this placement helped her improving skills and gaining new experiences. Cherry says is extremely appreciative of the support she has received from ABC which allowed her to improve skills.

Joanie joined ABC team in early 2017. She was one of six student volunteers from the University of Essex in that cohort. The student team focused on a range of projects, including creation of Wikipedia page,‘training manual’ and most importantly, researching and adding entries to the website directory of organisations that assist the unwaged, or those on low incomes. “This placement was very helpful - thanks for the opportunity Simon.”

It is ABC founder Simon Collyer’s birthday today: November 25th. 

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I would just like to say a special thank you to all those who have helped me found the ABC and this includes Christopher Johnson - a finer friend no one could have. Without the help from Chris I would have not have made it this far. A big thank you to Chris for being my helper, strategist, sounding board and mate!! 

I would also like to say a special thank you to, Tomas Kasiulis, Volunteering Coordinator, of the Essex University, Student Union VTeam, who is giving us so much support currently. Essex are one of the UK’s finest universities with an international reputation, [especially] in Politics. We are going to have a student crew from the University working with us early next year, and I am looking forward to meeting you all next week.

I would especially like to thank Gareth Bickerton, a [former] director and expert practitioner from UnLtd, who saw the potential of the ABC and put me forward for a Millennium Award. A great honour and the spark that ‘lit the ABC fire’. Also, we must thank our friends at BIG Lottery for their support.

We have some exciting plans, but for now we have been steadily building up the content and building up our relationships with a wide range of people and organisations. There are many other people I could mention, whose help has been invaluable.

I was excited this week when mid-week, I found that if you typed ‘Autumn Statement’ into Google - the ABC was featured just below the Government website, but just ahead of the BBC!! 

Next year, as ABC founder - I am featuring in a documentary film series by Applecart Films about the effects of poverty on people. A counter to the Jeremy Kyle/Benefit Street offer, that has so derided the image of job seekers and others managing on low incomes.

The ABC are partners of the Electoral Commission [promoting registering to vote by this hard-to-reach group] and this year I attended a business course at the renown Cambridge University, Judge Business School, thanks to Social Incubator East. We have had a lot of additional help locally from Colchester Community Voluntary Service, an umbrella organisation that helps organisations with a social mission.

We have worked in conjunction with Oxford University, and the Colchester Institute Film and Media Department, winning a prestigious ‘Collins Award’ for a documentary film featuring a ‘Career in Watersports' with Brightlingsea sailboard legend, David ‘Whitey’ White.

And much more of course....

I may not be very productive today! But thank you all,

Best Wishes,  

Simon COLLYER

ABC Founder

Image: Interior of the Cambridge University, Judge Business School.