Unemployment in the EU continues to fall, however more than one in four of the EU’s working-age population are economically inactive; meaning they are not working, are not seeking work or are not available for work. Furthermore, the vast majority of economically inactive people would like to work in some form. Eurofound’s new publication Reactivate: Employment opportunities for economically inactive people looks in detail at what could be Europe’s most important economic resource.

The number of economically inactive people has been steadily declining in the EU in recent years: in 2015 it stood at 27.5%, down significantly from 31.4% in 2002, and less than the pre-crisis figure of 29.7% in 2007. However, this substantial section of the population remains outside the labour market, and is not included in official employment statistics. While employment policy tends to focus primarily on the unemployed, there is scope for policies to focus more explicitly on the labour market integration of inactive people, and to harness their economic and social potential.

The new report examines groups within the inactive population that find it difficult to enter or re-enter the labour market and explores the reasons why. It also maps the characteristics and living conditions of these groups, discusses their interest in taking up employment and examines the barriers that prevent them from doing so. It finds that around four out of five inactive people would like to work at least some hours per week, depending on their financial needs, and approximately half would like to work 32 hours or more. The desire to work is particularly strong among students and homemakers.

The report also looks at strategies currently being implemented by Member States to promote the inclusion of those outside the labour market. It highlights that inactive people often face more than one barrier to employment, such as a low level of education coupled with care responsibilities, and stresses the importance of focusing on the specific needs of the inactive population.

Finally, the report underlines that Member States should fully implement the 2008 European Commission Recommendation on the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market in the design and implementation of labour market integration strategies. In this regard, the European Pillar of Social Rights, which refers to inactivity as an issue in relation to inclusive education and lifelong learning, provides a unique and timely political impetus. 

ABC Note: Please download the report below:

The number of nurses and midwives coming to work in Britain from Europe has plunged by 89% since Brexit, figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) have revealed. The figures also show a 67% rise in the number of EU nurses leaving the NMC's register: from 2,435 in 2015-16 to 4,067 in the last year.

Child Poverty Action Group and Working Families have launched a new project, ‘Britain works’, looking at in-work poverty and how work can be improved for families living on a low income. The polling, on behalf of Britain Works, was conducted by Survation between 14^th – 16^th September 2017. An online survey was conducted with a sample that included 1,017 parents aged 18+ in the UK, whose household income is less than £30,000 p.a. Data were weighted by housing tenure, number of children and type of family unit. Survation is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

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Low and middle-income parents want to work, want permanent jobs with a sense of purpose and put a premium on job security -  but inadequate pay, a lack of affordable childcare and poor opportunities for progression are holding them back, a survey by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and Working Families finds. 

More than two fifths (43%) of part-time workers want to work more hours but are prevented from doing so (see below). 

And working parents want permanent jobs (71%).

The UK unemployment rate currently stands at 4.3%, the lowest since 1975 (2).

Key findings:

Struggling families can’t meet costs:

• Almost half (47%) of working parents with an annual household income under £30,000   said they did not have enough money to support their families.

Working parents rate job security as highly as pay:

• Almost three quarters (74%) ranked job security as very important to them, including 36% who gave this the highest possible score of ‘extremely important’.  Similarly, 74% cited pay as very important, including 34% who said it was extremely important to them.
• Hours worked in a job are a top priority for 72%, (especially women, 36% of whom gave hours worked a top score, compared to 17% of men).
• A sense of purpose is a top concern for 64%. 
• 61% rated flexible working as a top priority.   
• Opportunities for career progression were a top priority for half of working parents; but just over one quarter (26%) said their job didn’t offer good opportunities for progression.

Many part time parents want to work more but can’t:

• 43% of parents working part time want to work more hours but can’t.  Parenting responsibilities are the biggest reason given for not being able to work more (65%), but the cost of childcare is also a big barrier (ranked high by 61%).  54% said more hours are not available to them and rated this as a major reason.
• Almost one third (32%) of working parents (full and part-time) said they didn’t have enough work to support their family. This was more likely to be true for younger parents (43% of 18-34-year olds, compared to 27% of 35-54-year olds and 9% of those aged over 55).

High childcare costs keep people out of work

• Just over one fifth (21%) of unemployed parents wanted to work but found childcare prohibitively expensive.  16% couldn’t find childcare for the hours they needed.

Becoming a parent jeopardises work progression:

• Parents returning to the workforce after having a child struggle to retain their previous pay level and job grade. Almost half (47%) had to take a salary drop, 43% had to take a lower position and 45% said inflexible hours or work schedules were a problem.

A good work-life balance eludes many parents:

• One third of working parents said they work too much and don’t’ have enough time with family.
• The highest-ranking options for improving the work/life balance of ordinary working families were: security of income (a top three choice for 41%), a higher salary (a top three choice for 58%) and more flexible hours/schedule (a top three choice for 41%).

The survey findings are published to coincide with the launch, by CPAG and Working Families, of Britain Works, a programme of work which aims to inform conversations between both charities and UK employers to identify the solutions that will improve the working lives of the UK’s low and middle-income parents.  A Britain Works report (3) on the increasing challenges of work for low-income families is also published today. The report identifies how the world of work is changing and how this is affecting moves into work, progression in work, work-life balance and the rewards from work.

Commenting on the survey findings, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham, said:

“Our findings show Britain wants to work.  Parents are saying they want job security, decent pay and good promotion prospects but too often these elude them.   Pay is often low.    Extra hours in a job aren’t always there.  Childcare costs are sky-high.  And too often parents looking to progress in work hit a brick wall.   

“We are launching Britain Works to address these problems and want a wide range of employers and parents to get involved.  But we also need action from Government.   Nearly half   of the parents we polled with a household income under £30,000 said they didn’t have enough to support their family.  The return of inflation will stretch budgets further .  The Chancellor can help in this month’s Budget.  A good first step would be to pause and fix universal credit and restore its ability to make work pay for families.”

Commenting on the survey findings, Chief Executive of Working Families Sarah Jackson, said:

“Almost half of the low paid parents in our survey say they don’t have enough money to support their families; and a third of parents we spoke to also say they do not have enough time to spend with them.  Clearly work is not a route out of poverty for many families, and can in fact impose a new form of time poverty which prevents families from thriving.

“What’s also clear is that working parents value both job security and work flexibility.  We want to encourage employers to join us in thinking differently about work design and flexible hiring, so that they can find not just the right person for the job, but provide the right job for the person.  So we can start making work work for everyone.”

Scott Abrahams, senior vice president at Mastercard, who hosted an expert roundtable event to inform the development of the report, said:

“This study reinforces the fact that parents have a huge amount to give businesses around the UK, but in many cases simply aren’t being given the right opportunities or working arrangements. It is important employers look at more ways to support working parents, whether that’s through returnships, flexible working, childcare support or maternity and paternity leave policies, which our employees tell us they really value. By ensuring working parents have the opportunities to succeed, we believe the benefits to business and wider society will be considerable.”

ABC Comment: Below you download the Modern Families Index? The Index was completed by 2,750 parents across the UK in 2016. Responses were gathered online across 11 regions, with 250 responses from each region. The regions covered were: North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, West Midlands, North West, Scotland and Wales. To take part respondents needed to be in paid employment (full or part time) or selfemployed, and to have a dependent child aged 13 or under who lives with them some or all of the time. 54 per cent of respondents had one child under 13, with 33 per cent having two children under 13. The remaining 13 per cent had three or more children under 13. The survey had an almost equal number of respondents by gender. No selection criteria were attached to relationship status, allowing both couple and single parent households to complete the questionnaire.

The are introducing the Work and Health Programme in England and Wales from autumn 2017. The Scottish Government will be introducing separate arrangements for people in Scotland.

This new contracted employment provision will help disabled people, the long-term unemployed and specified early access disadvantaged priority groups to find sustainable work.

Work and Health Programme providers will take a holistic approach to tackling barriers to employment by linking up with health and social care providers and other local services aimed at getting people into work. The aim of this integrated approach is to achieve the best possible outcomes for participants.

The Government are saying this:

• a review of Statutory Sick Pay and GP fit notes to support workers back into their jobs faster, and for longer
• encouraging Jobcentre Plus work coaches to signpost claimants to therapy
• the launch of a consultation on Work Capability Assessment reform
• encouraging employers to work with their employees with long-term health conditions to stop them from falling out of work
• a wide-ranging debate about recognising the value of work as a health outcome

Statutory Sick Pay will be reviewed so it better encourages supportive conversations and phased returns to work.

Consideration is also being given to extending fit notes from doctors to other healthcare professionals to help ensure people receive more tailored support.

Ministers believe the system this government inherited in 2010 simply wasn’t working. Good progress has been made encouraging those who can work, while ensuring a safety net for those who can’t.

However, there is further work needed to ensure the system is better targeted and works for everyone.

The Green Paper announced by the government today includes:

• the creation of a Disability Confident Business Leaders Group to work alongside Ministers and officials to increase employer engagement around disabled employment, starting with FTSE 250 companies
• a consultation on the Work Capability Assessment, the process for assessing Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit claimants’ capability for work – the proposals would put an end to the binary ‘can work/can’t work’ groups
• developing large scale trials on how health-led services and support can help get disabled people and those with long-term conditions back into work – with a specific focus on mental health and musculoskeletal conditions
• working with Health Education England, Public Health England and others to make the benefits of work an ingrained part of the training and health workforce approach

The Green Paper also includes a new Personal Support Package. This includes:

• a new Health and Work Conversation between new people on ESA and their work coach, focusing on what they can do rather than what they cannot
• recruiting around 200 Community Partners into Jobcentre Plus, including expertise from the voluntary sector
• a trial voluntary work experience programme for young people with limited capability for work, enabling them to benefit from experience with a mainstream employer to build confidence and skills, enhance their CV and demonstrate their ability to perform a role
• extending ‘Journey to Employment’ job clubs to 71 Jobcentre Plus areas with the highest number of people receiving ESA with limited capability for work

Work and Pensions Secretary, Damian Green, said:

When things need improving, like the Work Capability Assessment and fit notes, we mustn’t shy away from big decisions.

We must be bold in our ambition to help disabled people and those with health conditions.

This Green Paper marks the start of our action to confront the attitudes, prejudices and misunderstandings that, after many years, have become ingrained within the welfare state, within the minds of employers and across wider society.

Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, said:

The additional cost to the NHS of treating long term health conditions that keep people out of work is estimated to be in the region of £7 billion per year.

This means it is vital the health service is part of this new conversation on health and work. This Green Paper launches a wide–ranging debate about recognising the value of work as a health outcome.

With all the evidence showing that work is a major driver of health, this is a big opportunity – to make sure that people get the support they need, improve their health and benefit the NHS all at the same time.

I hope that health professionals will contribute their expertise so that we can ensure the best possible outcomes.

Plans are set out in the government’s Work, Health and Disability Green Paper. It outlines how disability or a health condition should not dictate the path a person is able to take in life – or in the workplace.

What should count is a person’s talents and their determination and aspiration to succeed.

The gap between the employment rates of disabled people and non-disabled people sits at 32 percentage points – a gap the government is determined to start closing.

Despite a record-breaking labour market, 4.6 million disabled people and people with long term health conditions are out of work.

Disabled people, employers, health professionals, and a wide range of other stakeholders will be asked for their views on how to make sure the health and welfare systems support those who can work with better opportunities to stay in employment, while protecting those who can’t work.

Image: Damian Green MP

Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green has also reiterated his commitment that no new welfare savings are being sought through this Green Paper.

ABC Note: Prime Minister Theresa May's deputy, Damian Green, has said allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female activist are "completely false". Kate Maltby Tory activist wrote in the Times that he "fleetingly" touched her knee in a pub in 2015, and in 2016 sent her a "suggestive" text message.

According to Maltby According to her article in the paper, a text was sent by Green "Long time no see. But having admired you in a corset in my favourite tabloid I felt impelled to ask if you are free for a drink anytime?"

Following the welcome announcement last week that Government is dropping Local Housing Allowance rates from the funding mechanism for supported housing, the Committees have now received the full response from Government to their joint report.

The response shows that the Government has also acted on the Committee’s concerns that local authorities should not have to “top up” payment for supported housing, by introducing a new “sheltered rent” that means the cost of sheltered and extra care housing will be entirely covered by Housing Benefit or its replacement Universal Credit, in accordance with and actually going further than another of the committees’ central recommendations.

Given that the report cited concerns around the future viability of supported housing, it is important that the Government makes clear as soon as possible what its new proposals will mean for the actual levels of funding beyond 2020 and the future viability of the sector, which has experienced long term shortfalls. The report cited figures showing there are currently around 17,000 fewer supported housing units than needed, which is likely to double,  to over 35,000 places, by 2020/21.

The Government response says:

As announced last week, the Government will not be applying Local Housing Rates rates to tenants in supported housing or the wider social rented sector. This was a clear recommendation in the joint Committees’ report, which said, “The LHA is an inappropriate starting point for a new funding mechanism for supported housing”.

For sheltered and extra care housing (approximately 71% of all supported housing), the Government will introduce a ‘Sheltered Rent’, which will keep see housing costs fully paid for by tenants’ Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. This is in line with the committees’ call for a “Supported Housing Allowance …sufficient to ensure supported housing tenants only require recourse to locally-administered top-up funding in exceptional circumstances” but goes even further, scrapping any local top up

However, to control costs in the sector there will be a cap on the amount paid to social landlords providing this type of housing. The new proposals make clear that the level of ‘sheltered rent’ will be regulated by the social housing regulator, with the cap level set as one outcome of the consultation published yesterday. Overall funding for the sector will therefore be partly determined by the level that ‘sheltered rent’ is capped at. 

The Committee called on the Government to remove the local top ups and fund supported housing this way to “Reflect the actual cost of provision… incentivise investment in all regions equally… [and] not introduce uncertainty into the long-term housing arrangements of vulnerable people”, a system that would be “sophisticated enough to reflect the diversity of provision in the sector, recognising that costs vary substantially”. The Government response says that ‘sheltered rent’ will take into account any regional variations and reflect the variety of provision across the sector.

Other long-term supported housing (such as for those with physical impairment or learning difficulties) will also continue to be funded fully through the welfare system, with the Government consulting with the sector to develop arrangements to ensure costs are also controlled.

Again in line with the committees’ recommendation on short-term and transitional supported housing (including homeless people and those receiving support for drug and alcohol misuse) that “Government should consider a system of grants paid to local authorities so they are able to commission emergency accommodation in their areas. Local authorities should pay providers directly, so services are available when they are needed”, the Government proposes that 100% of this provision will be commissioned at the local authority level, funded locally through a ring-fenced grant, and underpinned by a new local planning and oversight regime. Funding will no longer be met through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, removing these emergency supported housing costs from the welfare system altogether.

However, the Government did not support the committees’ recommendation that refuges for women and children should be funded through a national funding and planning mechanism, outside the restraints of differences in local authority provision.

Image: Frank Field MP

Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “The Government has gone even further than we recommended, scrapping any local authority top up for rent and housing costs in the supported housing sector, on top of the welcome announcement last week that they were scrapping the Local Housing Allowance as a basis for funding. As always however, the devil is in the detail. We need to know that all the necessary funding is in place. Likewise, costs must be controlled – taxpayers cannot fund whatever landlords in the sector demand. The new ‘sheltered rent’ cap must be set at a level that will allow investment in the sector to begin to reverse the steep shortfall in supported housing places.

“It is disappointing though that the Government refuses to address the postcode lottery that faces desperate women and children seeking refuge from domestic violence. It cannot be right that access to potentially life-saving shelter is determined by disparities in local authority funding and access rules across the UK. I hope they will reconsider.”

Image: Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee.

Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Committee, said: “We are pleased the Government has listened to the joint Committee by proposing a funding mechanism that reflects the actual costs of providing Supported Housing and reduces uncertainty for tenants. As we recommended in our Report, the Government is right to remove short-term supported housing from the welfare system, giving greater control and oversight of provision to local authorities. However, the Government must offer more clarity on proposed funding levels beyond 2020 to give the supported housing sector the long-term certainty they need.

ABC Note: The response was published as a Command Paper by the Government – pdf attached

For this year's International Stress Awareness Day (1 Nov 2017), Tom Meyers and Danielle Sax International Stress Management Association (ISMA) members from Belgium have gathered interviews from inspiring experts around the world who want to Speak Up and Speak Out About Stress. Each guest, like Carole Spiers, here in this video, will share their unique personal story, experience or expertise on the topic of stress. 

The Universal Credit Advances are anything but generous and they expect a fast payback. 

When you first claim Universal Credit it usually takes about 6 weeks until you get your first payment.

You can ask for an advance of your Universal Credit payment if you will face financial hardship while you wait for your claim to be processed. This includes if you can’t afford to pay your rent or buy food.

You will need to pay back your advance a bit at a time from your future Universal Credit payments.

You may also be able to get a Budgeting Advance to help pay for emergency household costs.

How to apply for a Universal Credit advance

You can ask for a Universal Credit advance when:

-you make your claim for Universal Credit

-while you are waiting for your first payment

-if you have just reported a change in your circumstances to us

You can call the Universal Credit helpline or speak to your work coach.

The Universal Credit helpline adviser will need to speak to you and your partner if you have a joint Universal Credit claim.

You’ll need to:

-explain why you need the advance

-provide your bank details so that the Universal Credit helpline adviser can arrange payment if the advance is agreed

-have had your identity checked

We will usually let you know on the same day if you can get an advance.

Which number to call depends on if you are using Universal Credit live service or Universal Credit full service.

If you don’t have a Universal Credit online account and contact us by phone you are using Universal Credit live service.

Universal Credit live service

Telephone: 0345 600 0723
Textphone: 0345 600 0743
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

If you have a Universal Credit online account and contact us via your online journal you are using Universal Credit full service.

Universal Credit full service

Telephone 0345 600 4272
Textphone 0345 600 0743
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

How much you can get

The maximum advance you can get is half of your estimated Universal Credit payment. You will need to repay an advance from future Universal Credit payments, so it is best to only ask for what you need.

Cost of repayments

The Universal Credit helpline adviser assesses whether you can afford to repay the advance. If they agree to the advance, they will tell you over the phone:

• how much you can have
• the monthly repayment amounts
• when the first repayment is due

How the advance is repaid

Deductions are made from your single monthly Universal Credit payment. The first deduction is made on the day you get your first payment.

You will have to repay the advance within:

6 months if you are a new claimant

12 months if you are transferring from another benefit to Universal Credit

You can ask for your repayments to be delayed for up to 3 months if you can’t afford them. This is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.

If you are refused an advance.

You might be refused an advance if you:

• have enough money to last until your payment of Universal Credit
• live with parents, relatives or friends
• have any final earnings or redundancy payments
• have any accessible savings

You can ask for the decision to be reconsidered but you do not have a right to appeal.

Get a Budgeting Advance

You can get what is known as a ‘Budgeting Advance’ to help pay for emergency household costs (for example buying a new cooker) or for help getting a job or staying in work.

A Budgeting Advance is a loan, and you’ll need to repay it through your regular Universal Credit payments – your payments will be lower until you pay it back.

You’ll be told how much your payments will be reduced by.

You’ll have to agree another way to repay your Budgeting Advance if you stop getting Universal Credit.

What you’ll get

The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to:

£348 if you’re single

£464 if you’re part of a couple

£812 if you have children

How much you can get depends on whether you:

• can pay the loan back
• have any savings over £1,000 (we will reduce the loan amount we offer to you by £1 for every £1 you have in savings over the £1000 threshold)

How the Budgeting Advance is repaid

Deductions are made from your single monthly Universal Credit payment. The first deduction is made on the day you get your next payment.

You will have to repay the Budgeting Advance within 12 months.

Eligibility

To get a Budgeting Advance, you must have:

• been getting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for 6 months or more, unless you need the money to help you start a new job or keep an existing job
• earned less than £2,600 (£3,600 jointly for couples) in the past 6 months
• paid off any previous Budgeting Advances

ABC Note: this is far from generous and the DWP want to recoop any advance quickly. You would be paying £58 a month back if you are single and on benefits £133 per month with chrildren, yet the money advanced is but half that the government says you need to live on. Landlords are not happy, claimants are not happy. 

According to the SNP:

Pressure is mounting for a halt to the disastrous roll-out of Universal Credit as a new report by the Resolution Foundation reveals working families will be hundreds or thousands of pounds worse off under the botched Tory policy. The report is the latest evidence that Universal Credit is driving families into hardship, with the Resolution Foundation showing working families will lose an average of £625 a year, with working single parents losing out by an average of £1,350 a year, and 1.1million two parent families losing an average of £2,770 a year. Commenting Neil Gray MP, SNP Social Justice spokesperson said:“With each day more evidence mounts of the devastating impact that Universal Credit is having – pushing people into poverty, debt and destitution, and forcing families to rely on foodbanks and emergency aid just to get by.“It is a disgrace that millions of working households will be hundreds or thousands of pounds worse off under Universal Credit as a result of Tory cuts – making a complete mockery of the Tory pledge to make work pay.“The UK government must finally listen, halt the disastrous roll out of Universal Credit now and take the time to fix these deep-rooted problems, before even more households are driven into hardship and crisis.”

How often do we hear the gender pay gap blamed on women’s failure to negotiate their salaries, or women taking the ‘mummy track’ and never recovering ground?

Jamila Rizvi has written a new book, Not So Lucky, which offers a modern feminist’s perspective on gender inequality in the workplace. Rizvi lays the blame for the gender pay gap not at the feet of individual women, but rather frames it as a societal problem that has many contributing causes which she says can only be solved by collective action from women, and men.

For example, Rizvi argues that our culture brings up girls to be ‘nice’ and to ‘work hard’, but discourages competition and gloating. Boys have no such expectations. Successful women then feel they need to explain their success as ‘luck’ rather than ‘achievement’, to make sure they’re still viewed as likeable by their peers.

Culture is just one problem. In this interview with WA Fabian Keryn Anderson, Rizvi explains that the gender pay gap, which has sat around 17-23% for over 20 years and accumulates to almost a million-dollar deficit by the end of a career, is a complex systematic problem of workforce inequality that can be described using the analogy of a house.

The roof and the ceiling represent the dominance of men in decision making positions, including corporate management and in parliament. The walls represent silos between industries, where women are segregated into lower paid industries (teaching, nursing, child care, aged care) which have a high component of emotional labour. This work is less valued than the work of men. The floor represents the low paid jobs that women dominate, including entry level, casual, award dependent and minimum wage jobs.

It is this type of practical explanation, mixed with relatable personal anecdotes and clear, simple advice about how to tackle gender inequality in the workplace, which makes Rizvi’s book such an enjoyable, and valuable, read.

The government is trying to head off much more serious criticism by trivialising the sexual harassment and bullying complaints it has recieved, in the press today. 

The BBC had this to say on their website: Sources close to Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon have confirmed he was once rebuked by a journalist for putting his hand on her knee during dinner (2002). Radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer had recounted the "mildly amusing" incident without naming Sir Michael. After his identity was revealed in The Sun, she tweeted saying she had not been "remotely upset or distressed".

MP's cannot be sacked, and they don't have employment contracts. They can be expelled from their Party, but we must remember they are in a very powerful position and can abuse that position and get away with it much easier than a member of the public might. Sir Cyril Smith, MBE was a British Liberal Member of Parliament for Rochdale. After his death, numerous allegations of child sexual abuse by Smith emerged, leading the police to believe that Smith was a serial sex offender.

Everyone should have the right to be treated in a respectful and courteous manner at work, and certainly not be pressured into doing anything against their wishes. Understandably the government wants to wriggle off the hook, but in the interests of all employees we must not let that happen. 

Image: The late Sir Cyril Smith MBE and Jimmy Saville

Native oysters were being enjoyed by the great and the good at the annual Colchester Oyster feast in October in Colchester Town Hall, however, around the corner the Alternative Oyster Feast was being held at the Greenstead Social Club where fish and chips were being served up. The alternative event was hosted by councillor Dave Harris and over 100 people tucked into the fish and chips.

The Oyster Feast was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jenny Tolhurst, as well as the High Sheriff of Essex, Simon Hall, High Steward of Colchester, Sir Bob Russell, and Garrison Commander, Lt Col Stephen J Caldwell, pull a galaxy of celebrities and civic dignitaries.  

Who had the most fun? Well that’s not for us to decide, but the idea of an alternative event is an excellent idea.

Image: The great and the good tuck in.

Image: Racing legend Bob Champion was one of the Oyster Feast speakers.

Image: Colchester Mayor Gerard Oxford on the Town Hall Balcony. 

Image: The Alternative Oyster Feast. Fish and Chips at the the Greenstead Social Club. 

Images courtesy of the Colchester Gazette.