BBC APPEARANCE - Simon Collyer is talking about Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 and his SAILING WELLNESS project with BBC Presenter Tom Williams on BBC Look East TV, 18:30 BBC1

We are filming lunch time at the Blackwater Sailing Club marine lake IOM Class Radio Controlled model yachts. 

 

Image: Tom Williams BBC senior sports reporter. 

We are recieving assistance from the Chelmsford Radio Yacht Club (CRYC) Chair John Richmond and with special help from Dr Nigel Butler, Commodore, Blackwater Sailing Club.

Also assisting has been Charles Clark, IOM sailor and Chris Esdale Pearson, Commodore Harwich and Dovercourt Model Yacht Club, thanks for spreading the word.

Para-Olympic sailor Hannah Stodel is being featured on Zoom in the piece.  

Blackwater Sailing Club are running an open day if you would like to try getting afloat:

“Getting out on the water is a wonderful form of relaxation for all ages and great therapy to boost mental health. Why not come along to the Blackwater Sailing Club Open Day on Saturday 26^th June from 11:30 to 16:30 to discover for yourself the joys that sailing and other watersports can bring, you can try a taster sail on their 7 acre freshwater lake or a trip on the beautiful Blackwater Estuary.  This event is being held under the Royal Yachting Association ‘Discover Sailing’ banner. The club welcomes applications from dinghy and cruiser sailors and those who enjoy other forms of watersports such as kayaking, rowing and standup paddleboarding. More information is available on their website www.blackwatersailingclub.org.uk ”

ABC Comment, have your say below:

 

JAPAN - Simon Collyer was invited as a guest to write about Wakura Onsen and Nowaza Onsen in September 2019. 

This Flying Squid, a symbol the fishing town of Noto, on the Noto Peninsula made it onto the BBC website this week.  

This is Nowaza Onsen: https://nozawakanko.jp/en/

This is Wakura Onsen: https://www.wakura.or.jp/en/

An onsen is a hot volcanic spring enriched with minerals. The water is cooled and piped into baths. You can cook eggs in the town fountain and many people cook their vegetables outside in open pools of steaming water. 

Japanese culture is amazing and their history rivetting. Traditional Noh theatre is fascinating although you have to research it to understand what's going on. 

Below is Dolphin Smile.

Here we saw bioluminescence generated by Vargula hilgendorfii, sometimes called the sea-firefly that lights up at night like a zillion stars.

From this base, our party went swimming with Dolphins.  Japan really is amazing. 

ABC Comment, have your say below:

 

MENTAL HEALTH - Simon Collyer, founder & CEO of the Association of Pension & Benefits CIC and founder of SAILING WELLNESS has teamed up with four times para-Olympic sailor Hannah Stodel, to sail RC (radio-controlled) model yachts in a Colchester swimming pool.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 will take place 10-16 May.

SAILING WELLNESS is a ‘Blue Health’ initiative designed to help military personnel suffering from PTSD, stress, anxiety, and depression. Also planned is the acquisition of resources to get the seriously disabled sailing in the International Hansa 303 Class, which is raced in the para-Olympics and Invicta Games.

Professional sailor Hannah Stodel was born without a forearm and with three kidneys and suffered from bullying in her school years. Despite this initial setback, Hannah competes in top ocean racing events as a professional sailor including the Fastnet race. Hannah’s dream is to find the backing to be the first disabled person to take part in the rigorous Vendee Globe, a single-handed race non-stop around the Globe.

SAILING WELLNESS has attracted substantial funding recently from the Essex based Fowler, Smith and Jones Trust and much larger funding from the Veterans Foundation. 

Simon, who raced in the Olympic 470 Class, a 16-foot high-performance dinghy, representing the UK at international events and pre-Olympics wanted to do more to assist his cohort of strugglers. Realizing that Military personnel could benefit from the sheer joy of going on the water, he set out to create an initiative to get participants learning to sail to RYA dinghy levels, one, two and three in which participants can sail a dinghy in moderate weather. 

We are not simply planning to set up a sailing school, says Simon, but by teaching participants to sail, this breaks the cycle of rumination where people keep going over and over their past. Dinghy sailing needs a lot of application and concentration. Also planned are talks and social events.

We can help introduce people into the sailing community says Simon, and the plan is they can go on to learn new skills as there are over 80 RYA courses. Army personnel make excellent instructors and learning sailing skills can open many doors. Above all else, it gets personnel out of their house and gets them mixing again with their peer group and having a laugh, which is sometimes the best medicine.

Simon has received guidance and ideas from the Army Personnel Recovery Centre (PRC) based in Colchester. 

Unfortunately, Simon had just started doing a talk in schools in Portsmouth called Human Potential when the pandemic hit. 

'We all have potential, so why do some people excel while many more struggle through life….?' 'People are a collection of habits' says Simon... getting young people to think about what they do and why they do it...these talks can help young people chose a better path and make better choices.

In the SAILING WELLNESS project, Simon has assembled a Steering Group of top mental health experts and sailors. Olympic Gold and Silver medallist and Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Saskia Clark is a patron. 

Father Charles Clark is a sailing coach and radio-controlled model yacht racing expert who helped set up this initiative with Hannah and Simon.

The European Union finished a huge project in 2020 looking at the effects that water can have on wellbeing and mental health. It will come as no surprise to those who get on the water and 'mess about in boats' that there is a benefit to health and wellbeing.

ABC News: The BBC Look East / BBC Sport have shown interest in the project. We may be filming with them shortly. 

ABC Note: More information here:

SAILING WELLNESS is a ‘blue health’ initiative. The BBC have feature this major EU research in this video:  https://youtu.be/jM48kK_0IGw

You can learn more about SAILING WELLNESS here: https://www.abcorg.net/item/3656-simon-collyer-on-chelmsford-community-radio-104-4fm-with-nita-jhummu

Simon Collyer does talks in schools called; Human Potential : https://www.abcorg.net/item/3182-portsmouth-aspirations-week-birth-of-a-great-idea

ABC Comment, have your say below:

 

RENT ARREARS - A survey of Housing Associations by the National Housing Federation found- '60% of households claiming Universal Credit are in arrears, compared to 36% of households paying by other means.' 'Households claiming Universal credit are also likely to have higher arrears: an average of £610 compared to £301 for people paying by other means' 'On average, households claiming Universal Credit in arrears owe over six weeks of rent' 'In the worst-case scenario,

if this pattern continues, rent arrears could potentially rise by an additional £330m when all working age Housing Beneft claimants move to Universal Credit. Average debt per household could nearly quadruple (from £113 to £420).' Recommendations include- 'We also want the DWP to continue to work with housing associations to understand drivers for rent arrears, provide better advice to those claiming housing entitlements, and improve the claimant experience.

This includes more strategic involvement with social landlords on the co-design and improvement of Universal Credit systems.' as'..The picture around rent arrears and Universal Credit is very complicated.' 

ABC Note: Are you a professional working in this field? Social Welfare Training Ltd are running a range of courses. 

For and affordable fee, they can run courses for up to 16 staff at a time of your choosing.  

To discuss please contact us here or call 0117 9514 337 says Niel Arnott

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ABC Comment, have your say below: 

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 take action to get on top of their debts. 

You can apply through a debt adviser for sixty days’ Breathing Space. You must continue to engage with your debt adviser and not take out any new borrowing over £500 in this time. You’ll also have to continue to make certain types of payments, including ongoing housing costs, utility bills, and taxes.

Interest and fees will be paused on debts included in Breathing Space while these conditions are met.

You can only apply for Breathing Space once in a 12-month period.

Lorraine Charlton, Debt Expert at Citizens Advice, said:

“The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on lots of people’s finances, with millions falling behind on essential bills and getting into debt. With temporary protections on debt coming to an end, we’re worried that the real struggle will soon begin for many.

“If you have unmanageable debts, the new scheme could give you the time to get the advice that will help, and to start taking action.

“Breathing Space isn’t a temporary fix to simply keep your creditors at arm’s length. You’ll need to work with your debt adviser to try and make a plan to deal with your debts.

“For anyone who feels they can’t manage their debt, the most important thing is to seek help as soon as possible from a free and impartial debt advice charity like Citizens Advice.”

Are there other types of Breathing Space?

If you’re being treated for a mental health crisis, a separate scheme applies. 

An approved mental health professional will need to confirm you are receiving crisis care. Your GP can’t make this confirmation, but should be able to refer you to someone who can. You can then seek help from the scheme yourself, or someone else - for example a carer, social worker or mental health nurse - could apply on your behalf.

The pause on enforcement lasts as long as you’re receiving crisis treatment, plus 30 days. A nominated person will need to keep in touch with your debt adviser to update them about your ongoing treatment.  However, you won't need to receive debt advice or meet any ongoing requirements listed above. 

You can apply for this type of Breathing Space more than once a year. If you still need more time to tackle your debts once your crisis treatment is over, you can still apply for standard Breathing Space afterwards.

Lorraine Charlton, Debt Expert at Citizens Advice, said:

“We know that struggles with debt and with mental health often go hand in hand. If you’re in the midst of a crisis, the special provisions in Breathing Space should give you the time and space you need until you are ready to address your problem debt. 

“Really importantly, these provisions only apply if you’re currently receiving crisis treatment when you make the application. So, even if you are struggling with your mental health, you won’t be eligible unless an approved professional confirms that you’re getting crisis treatment.”

Who is eligible for Breathing Space?

For both types of Breathing Space, you’ll need to live in England or Wales and not currently be in another formal debt solution - like a Debt Relief Order, Individual Voluntary Arrangement or bankruptcy. You’ll also need to owe at least one qualifying debt.

These qualifying debts are quite broad and include things like credit cards, personal loans or overdrafts. Many priority debts, such as rent arrears, fuel arrears and council tax arrears will also qualify.

Some debts won’t qualify for Breathing Space. These include court fines, Universal Credit advance payments and student loans. Secured debts like mortgages or car finance won’t qualify unless you’ve fallen into arrears on your payments.

Your debt adviser will ultimately advise on whether Breathing Space is suitable for you while you identify a longer term debt solution.

Lorraine Charlton, Debt Expert at Citizens Advice, said:

“Most common types of problem debt would be qualifying debts in Breathing Space. This includes priority debts - like rent arrears or council tax debt - that can have particularly severe consequences when you can’t pay them.

“Your debt adviser will work with you to find the best way forward. That might involve applying for Breathing Space to buy some time while you choose the right debt solution to fit your circumstances.”

ABC Note: The full government text is below:

The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) will give someone in problem debt the right to legal protections from their creditors.

 

There are two types of breathing space: a standard breathing space and a mental health crisis breathing space. Where there is a difference between them, we’ll refer specifically to either a standard breathing space or a mental health crisis breathing space. Where there is no difference, we will simply refer to a breathing space.

A standard breathing space is available to anyone with problem debt. It gives them legal protections from creditor action for up to 60 days. The protections include pausing most enforcement action and contact from creditors and freezing most interest and charges on their debts.

A mental health crisis breathing space is only available to someone who is receiving mental health crisis treatment and it has some stronger protections. It lasts as long as the person's mental health crisis treatment, plus 30 days (no matter how long the crisis treatment lasts).

The legislation this guidance references is The Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020. This guidance is intended to support creditors in understanding the regulations.

1. Your responsibilities

1.1 Creditors

As a creditor, if you’re told that a debt owed to you is in a breathing space, you must stop all action related to that debt and apply the protections. These protections must stay in place until the breathing space ends.

The electronic service will send you a notification to tell you about each debt owed to you in a breathing space and the date the breathing space started. You need to make sure you apply the protections to these debts from the date set out in the notification.

If you’re a creditor, it’s also possible your debt might be added to a breathing space at a later date, because it is only identified after the breathing space has started. In this case, you have to apply the protections from the date you get the notification, or when the regulations consider you to have received it, whichever is the earliest.

For electronic notifications this is the date they are sent. For postal notifications this is 4 working days after it was posted.

If you have any questions about a breathing space you’ve had a notification for, you should contact the debt advice provider whose details are in the notification.

1.2 Debt advice providers

A breathing space can only be started by:

• a debt advice provider who is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to offer debt counselling
• a local authority (where they provide debt advice to residents)

Debt advice providers (referred to in this guidance as debt advisers) are responsible for the administration of a breathing space. They are the point of contact for the debtor, their creditors (and appointed agents), and the Insolvency Service (who own and maintain the electronic service).

1.3 The Insolvency Service

We maintain the electronic service that debt advisers use to start the breathing space process, and we send notifications to creditors during it. We also maintain a private register of:

• details of people whose debts are in a breathing space
• the date a breathing space ended or was cancelled in the last 15 months

We cannot help with individual case enquiries.

2. Starting a breathing space

2.1 Applying for a standard breathing space

Debtors can only access a breathing space by seeking debt advice from a debt adviser.

Anyone who cannot or is unlikely to be able to repay their debts can apply to a debt adviser for a standard breathing space.

Although all applications must be considered, the debt adviser might decide a breathing space is not appropriate for a debtor.

For example, if a person can access funds or income, they might be able to pay their debts with some budgeting help. Another example would be if they already have assets that could easily be sold to clear the debt. In these cases, a breathing space would not be the right solution. A breathing space might also not be appropriate for a someone who can enter a more suitable debt solution straight away, without needing the protections.

2.2 Applying for a mental health crisis breathing space

The government committed to develop an alternative route to access the protections for people receiving mental health crisis treatment, so that they do not have to access debt advice first. If an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) certifies that a person is receiving mental health crisis treatment, the AMHP’s evidence can be used by a debt adviser to start a mental health crisis breathing space.

In addition to the debtor, the following people can apply to a debt adviser on behalf of a debtor for a mental health crisis breathing space:

• any debtor receiving mental health crisis treatment
• the debtor’s carer
• Approved Mental Health Professionals
• care co-ordinators appointed for the debtor
• mental health nurses
• social workers
• independent mental health advocates or mental capacity advocates appointed for the debtor
• a debtor’s representative

2.3 Debtor eligibility for a standard breathing space

Before a debt adviser can start the breathing space, they must confirm their client is eligible and meets all the conditions. These are that the debtor must:

• be an individual
• owe a qualifying debt to a creditor
• live or usually reside in England or Wales
• not have a debt relief order (DRO), an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA), an interim order, or be an undischarged bankrupt at the time they apply
• not already have a breathing space or have had a standard breathing space in the last 12 months at the time they apply

The debt adviser must also be satisfied that their client meets both of the following conditions:

• their client cannot, or is unlikely to be able to, repay all or some of their debt
• a breathing space is appropriate for their client

2.4 Debtor eligibility for a mental health crisis breathing space

The debtor must still meet the same criteria and conditions for a standard breathing space, but they must also be receiving mental health crisis treatment at the time that an application is made. A debtor who has had a standard or mental health crisis breathing space in the last 12 months may be eligible for a mental health crisis breathing space.

There is no limit to how many times a debtor can enter a mental health crisis breathing space.

2.5 Information the debt adviser needs

To apply, a debtor must provide their debt adviser with their:

• full name
• date of birth
• usual residential address (in some very limited circumstances, this address might be withheld from the breathing space register and any notification to creditors)
• details of the debts that they owe, including the type of debt they owe
• the name and contact details for the creditor

if relevant and known, the name and contact details for any agent appointed by the creditor

If the debtor is a sole trader and has business debts to include, they must also provide:

• their trading name or names
• any business address

Debt advisers will also try to find out and provide extra information that might help you identify the debtor or their debt. This might include:

• the debtor’s previous names and addresses, if they’ve recently changed
• details of any amounts or references relevant to the debt (such as the debtor’s National Insurance number, if the debt is a government debt, or a credit card number)

However, this information is not required before a debt adviser can start a breathing space.

A debtor must have at least one qualifying debt owed to a creditor, and this must be included in the application. The debtor must tell the debt adviser about all of the debts they know about and give them the contact details they have for each creditor. If they know about a debt collection agent acting on a creditor’s behalf, they might also give the debt adviser those details. This does not change the legal standing of either the agent or the creditor.

2.6 Qualifying debts

Debts included in a breathing space must be qualifying debts. Debts are any sum of money owed by the debtor to you, while liabilities are any obligation on the debtor to pay money to you. Most debts are likely to be qualifying debts. These will include:

• credit cards
• store cards
• personal loans
• pay day loans
• overdrafts
• utility bill arrears
• mortgage or rent arrears

Government debts like tax and benefit debts are all likely to qualify, unless they are included in the list of excluded debts.

Joint debts can be included in a breathing space, even if only one person applies for a breathing space. The joint debt would become a breathing space debt, and you must apply the enforcement action protections to the other people who owe that debt to you. You are still able to charge the other people interest or fees, and the breathing space does not affect the other people’s debts and liabilities in their own names.

While guarantor loans can be included in a breathing space, the protections do not extend to the guarantor. The guarantor can apply for their own breathing space, if they’re eligible.

Qualifying debts can include any that the debtor had before the Breathing Space legislation came into force on 4 May 2021.

New debts incurred during a breathing space are not qualifying debts. Neither are new arrears on a secured debt that arises during a breathing space.

2.7 Excluded debts

All personal debts and liabilities are qualifying debts, except for:

• secured debts (like mortgages, hire purchase or conditional sale agreements). You can only include arrears on these debts that exist at the date of an application for a breathing space. Any new secured debt arrears that happen after the breathing space starts are not protected. If a secured debt is also an ongoing liability and a debtor misses payments, it could mean the debt adviser stops their breathing space
• debts incurred from fraud or fraudulent breach of trust. You should think of this in the same way you would if a person is bankrupt. Discharge from bankruptcy does not release a person from bankruptcy debts which they incurred by fraud. If you request a review of a breathing space because of fraud or suspected fraud, you might have to provide evidence to the debt adviser or to a court
• liabilities to pay fines imposed by a court for an offence. This includes any interest on the fine and any penalties connected to it. This does not include penalty charge notices, like a parking ticket
• obligations from a confiscation order
• child maintenance or obligations under an order made in family court proceedings
• a crisis or budgeting loan from the social fund
• student loans
• damages they need to pay for death or personal injury caused to someone else
• advance payments of Universal Credit
• council tax liabilities have not yet fallen due. If all instalments for that financial year have fallen due and have not been paid, these are considered to be a qualifying debt. If a debtor has been served with a ‘reminder notice’ to pay a council tax bill, the remaining liability for the financial year is a qualifying debt

While some business debts also qualify for the breathing space, they do not qualify if the debt only relates to the business (not the debtor personally) and the debtor is VAT registered, or the debtor is a partner in a business with someone else.

An eligible non-domestic rates debt (or business rates) is a qualifying debt if all instalments for that financial year have fallen due and have not been paid. If a debtor has been served with a ‘further notice’, the remaining liability for that financial year is a qualifying debt.

2.8 Request to not disclose debtor’s address

When applying for a breathing space, a debtor or their representative can ask their debt adviser to withhold their usual residential address from you.

The address can be withheld if it is reasonably expected that showing the address would lead to violence against them or someone who normally lives with them. If the debt adviser decides that the debtor’s address should be withheld, it will not appear in any notifications sent to you and will not be on the register maintained by the Insolvency Service.

2.9 When a breathing space starts

A breathing space will start the day after the debtor’s details are put onto the breathing space register.

If you receive electronic notifications about the start of a breathing space, you should receive a notification the same day that details are put on the register. It’s likely this will be the day before the breathing space starts. If you receive notifications by post, it’s likely you’ll receive it after the breathing space has started.

Once a debtor’s details have been put onto the register, you’ll receive a notification, telling you the breathing space start date and details of your qualifying debt (if the debt adviser had those details). If the debt adviser is aware that you are owed more than one qualifying debt, you will receive a notification for each debt. ‘Taking action on the notification’ has advice on what to do if you are not sure which debt or debts the notifications relate to.

You can receive notifications by:

• electronic communication (either a notification directly from the electronic service or an email). We can only send electronic communications to you if you opted in through the electronic service
• post
• someone leaving a copy of the notification at your address

The regulations consider that you’ve received:

• an electronic notification on the day it was sent
• a postal notification 4 business days after the notification was posted
• a notification left at your address on the day it was left

3. What to do during a breathing space

3.1 Taking action on the notification

When you receive a notification, you must search your own records to identify the debt owed to you by the debtor. This needs to happen as soon as possible. If you have only received notification about one debt, but you are owed two debts (for example, the debtor has an overdraft and credit card debt with you) then you should consider applying the protections set out below to both debts and, in all cases, you should tell the debt adviser about the additional debt. It is the debt adviser who will decide if the additional debt qualifies for the breathing space.

You must make sure you stop:

• the debtor having to pay certain interest, fees, penalties or charges for that debt during the breathing space
• any enforcement or recovery action to recover that debt, by you or any agent you’ve appointed
• contacting the debtor to request repayment of that debt, unless you’ve got permission from the court

Interest can still be charged on the principal in secured debt, but not on the arrears.

If it’s not possible to stop interest, fees, penalties or charges accruing on the debt during the breathing space (for example, this could be because of IT system limitations), it can continue to accrue. However, the debtor must not be required to pay charges or interest that accrue in this way either during or after the breathing space.

Nothing in the regulations changes what a customer is contracted to pay. For example, if a payment is due during the breathing space and it includes interest that would have been due normally, creditors are not expected to make complex system changes to recalculate these payment amounts. Instead, creditors can make an adjustment to the overall balance owing on the debtor’s account as soon as they can.

Ideally, communications you send debtors should not show interest, fees or charges that accrue during a breathing space. However, it does not breach the regulations to show them, as long as you do not require the debtor to pay. You must make sure you are not asking the debtor for payment. You might want to tell the debtor how you’ll deal with this accrual during the breathing space. You can contact the debtor with information about how you will deal with their breathing space.

3.2 If you have sold the debt on

If you receive a notification of a breathing space debt that you have sold to another creditor (an ‘assigned creditor’), you must tell that creditor the breathing space has started and give their contact details to the debt adviser.

If you do not do this as soon as possible, you’re liable for any losses the debtor or the assigned creditor have as a result.

If you’ve told a debt adviser the contact details of the assigned creditor, they must update the details on the electronic service. You will not receive any more notifications about that debtor or the debt, and you will not be able to view any of those details on the electronic service.

If you are the assigned creditor, the original creditor should tell you about the breathing space. From the date the breathing space started, you must stop any interest and fees on the debt from being charged and any enforcement action. You will receive a notification from the electronic service, which will tell you what action to take.

3.3 Debts identified after a breathing space starts

When you receive a notification, you must search your records for details of the debt you’ve been notified about. You must also search for any additional debts owed to you by the debtor.

If you find an additional debt, or it is not clear which debt the notification is about, you must tell the debt adviser about it as soon as reasonably practicable. What is reasonable may depend on the nature and complexity of your systems, records and processes or the type of debt or liability owed by the debtor.

When the debt adviser is given (or becomes aware of) details of an additional debt, they must decide whether it is a qualifying debt. If the debt adviser decides that it is, they must update the electronic service. The electronic service will send you a notification.

The additional debt does not become a breathing space debt until the debt adviser has updated the electronic service and a notification has been sent to the creditor. You do not need to apply the protections to this debt until you receive the notification or it is considered in the regulations that you have received the notification, whichever is the earliest (the day it was sent if you receive it electronically or 4 days after posting). However, this will not change the original start or end date of the breathing space.

The exception to this is where the debt adviser is told of the additional debt more than 45 days after the breathing space started. In these circumstances, it’s possible the debt adviser might think it’s not appropriate to add the additional debt to the breathing space and can decide not to do so.

If the debt adviser decides not to add the additional debt to the electronic service, you will not receive any notification about the debt from the electronic service. In these cases, you can continue any action to recover the debt.

If you notified the debt adviser about an additional debt but have not had a notification about the start of a breathing space for it, you should contact the debt adviser dealing with the breathing space to confirm what is happening.

3.4 Stopping enforcement action

Once a breathing space has started, you or anybody acting on your behalf must not take any enforcement actions against the debtor or anyone who is jointly liable with them for a breathing space debt.

Enforcement action is when you try to:

• collect or enforce a breathing space debt, including where this is done by any agent you’ve appointed. This includes the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) where they are collecting a breathing space debt on your behalf through third party benefit deductions (not including Universal Credit or an ongoing liability payment). It does not include an existing attachment of earnings order made before the start of the breathing space, which may continue
• apply to DWP for a new third party deduction to be taken from an individual’s benefit payments
• try to enforce a judgment or order issued by a court or tribunal, before or during the breathing space, without the court’s permission
• enforce your security over a breathing space debt
• obtain a warrant or writ
• get or seek a liability order
• sell or take control of the debtor’s property or goods. If a bailiff or enforcement agent has taken control of any goods by removing them and securing them elsewhere before a breathing space started, the goods may be sold during the breathing space and the costs of the sale deducted from the proceeds. However, fees accrued during the breathing space for storage of those goods cannot be charged either during the breathing space, or after it ends
• start any action or legal proceedings (including bankruptcy petitions) against the debtor
• make an application for a default judgment for a claim for money against the debtor
• take steps to install a pre-payment meter or use a pre-payment meter already installed for the supply of gas or electricity, to collect payment for a debt in the breathing space, unless the debtor has already provided their consent to do so, before the breathing space starts
• take steps to disconnect a debtor’s premises from a supply of gas or electricity, unless they have taken that supply illegally
• serve a notice to take possession of a property let to the debtor on the grounds of rent arrears due up to the start of the breathing space; or take possession of a property let to the debtor having served such a notice prior to the start of the breathing space
• contact the debtor about the enforcement of a breathing space debt. The only exception to this is where you are required to contact or engage with the debtor under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, or by the FCA Handbook

Firms that report to credit reference agencies if payments are received or not can keep doing this during a breathing space. But there should be no automatic effect on a debtor’s credit file triggered by starting the breathing space, and no automatic flag or code that will stay on the file after the breathing space has finished.

3.5 Appointed agents

If you are notified that a debt has gone into a breathing space, you must tell any agents you’ve appointed or instructed to recover it. You must tell the agent to stop enforcement action.

You must also tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if they’re making deductions from benefits (not including Universal Credit) in respect of your debt. To do this email DWP at:

1. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Income Support (IS)
2. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for Pension Credit payments

Existing deductions from Universal Credit are not included in breathing space. You should not tell DWP if they’re making deductions from Universal Credit for your debt. If you do this accidentally, the deductions will stop until you apply to DWP again to start the Universal Credit third party deduction.

If you do not tell your agent to stop enforcement action as soon as possible, you may be liable for any losses the debtor or the agent have as a result.

If the debtor gives the debt adviser contact details for any agent appointed by a creditor when the debtor applies for the breathing space, a notification of the start of the breathing space will also be sent to the agent. If the agent is sent this notification, a creditor is not liable for any of the agent’s losses they could have avoided. Where an agent manages the debt on behalf of a creditor, they should tell the creditor of the breathing space and the protections.

During a breathing space, any agent you have appointed or instructed must not:

• take enforcement action regarding the breathing space debt
• give notice about collecting or enforcing that debt
• visit the debtor’s home or business to take their goods
• take any of the debtor’s goods
• sell any of the debtor’s goods, unless the agent took them before the breathing space started. If a bailiff or enforcement agent has taken control of any goods by removing them and securing them elsewhere before a breathing space started, the goods may be sold during the breathing space and the costs of the sale deducted from the proceeds. However, fees accrued during the breathing space for storage of those goods cannot be charged either during the breathing space, or after it ends
• collect a breathing space debt through existing third party deductions from an individual’s benefit payments (apart from Universal Credit)
• seek to collect a breathing space debt by applying to DWP for a new third party deduction to be taken from an individual’s benefit payments

It is possible that the debtor will only give the debt adviser details of an agent, not of the original creditor, and that only the agent managing the debt is notified of the breathing space. If you are an agent that has been appointed to manage debt on behalf of a creditor, and you receive a notification, you will want to inform the creditor of the breathing space as soon as possible.

3.6 Existing legal proceedings

If you had already filed a petition for bankruptcy or started any other action in a court or tribunal relating to a debt that is now in breathing space, you must tell the court or tribunal in writing. You must do this as soon as you receive notification of the breathing space.

3.7 Where a court judgment or order has not yet been issued

Any court that receives notification about a breathing space debt where a bankruptcy petition has started, must stop the bankruptcy proceedings, until the breathing space ends or is cancelled. Other court proceedings about the debt (other than enforcement of court judgments or orders) can continue until the court or tribunal makes an order or judgment.

3.8 Where a court judgment or order has been issued

Unless the court or tribunal gives you permission to continue, the court or tribunal must make sure any action to enforce a court order or judgment about a breathing space debt stops during the breathing space. These might be actions like:

• holding a hearing during the breathing space
• making or serving an order or warrant, writ of control, writ of execution or judgment summons
• instructing an enforcement agent to serve an order, warrant, writ of control, writ, execution or judgment summons

The court or tribunal can still send notices or correspondence to the debtor about an action or proceeding.

Court orders and judgments for a breathing space debt, which were made before the breathing space began, cannot be enforced until the breathing space ends. This is unless the court or tribunal gives permission for these actions to continue.

Existing legal proceedings can continue when the breathing space ends. If a time limit for enforcement or new legal claims related to the debt ran out during the breathing space, this is extended to 8 weeks after it ends.

You can still start or continue any legal action relating to any debt that is not a breathing space debt, during a breathing space.

3.9 Contact between creditors and debtors during a breathing space

Generally, during a breathing space, you (or any agents you have instructed) must not contact a debtor about any collection or enforcement action for a breathing space debt. This includes asking them to pay or starting or continuing any legal action.

During the breathing space, you can contact the debtor’s debt adviser about the debt you are owed, or to discuss a debt solution.

You, or any agent, can only contact the debtor:

• about anything not related to the breathing space debt, like ongoing liabilities or an excluded debt
• if the debtor asks you to talk about a breathing space debt or a debt solution
• to respond to a query or complaint the debtor sent you
• about any action or legal proceedings the court or tribunal have allowed
• if you or your agent are required to do so under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 or by the FCA Handbook

These restrictions are intended to stop contact that reinforces the message that the debtor owes money to you or that they need to make payment. These communications can be worrying to debtors.

It is not intended to stop communication that might be helpful to the debtor. You might want to contact a debtor at the start of a breathing space to tell them they do not need to worry about normal communications you send them. This might be particularly important if there are debts governed by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, where you’re legally required to send them communications.

Any communication you send should be minimal and must be carefully drafted to make sure it could not be read like it is about asking them to pay what they owe.

If you receive calls from customers worried by letters they receive from you during a breathing space, this may mean that you need to consider whether the letters are appropriately worded, and whether they are consistent with the regulations.

3.10 Contact between creditors and debt advisers during breathing space

You and the debt adviser may contact each other during the breathing space on anything about the debtor and your debt. This might include things like:

• a breathing space debt
• a debt solution for the debtor
• telling them about an additional debt
• asking for a review
• telling them the debtor is not meeting their obligations

You will need to consider your own data protection obligations and decide what action you might need to take where you are sharing personal data. The regulations make clear that the duty to disclose information under the breathing space scheme should be taken into account in determining whether doing so would contravene data protection legislation. The Data Protection Act 2018 permits you to disclose personal data to a third party where you are required to do so by law.

3.11 Creditor access to the breathing space register

We will maintain a private register with details of:

• the debtor’s full name
• the debtor’s date of birth
• the debtor’s usual residential address
• the trading name or names and any address, if the debtor has carried on business with qualifying debts included in the breathing space
• the debtor’s breathing space debts
• the date the breathing space started
• the date the breathing space ended or was cancelled

If you have received a notification about a breathing space debt, you’re allowed to see any information on the register about that debtor and the breathing space debt they owe to you. You are not able to see any information held about:

• any other creditor the debtor has
• any other breathing space debt owed to another creditor
• the debtor’s usual residential address if it has been withheld

3.12 Receiving payments during a breathing space

A breathing space is not a payment holiday. While you cannot enforce a breathing space debt during a breathing space or charge interest or fees on it, a debtor is still legally required to pay their debts and liabilities. During the Breathing Space, the debtor should continue to pay any debts and liabilities they owe you. You can continue to accept these payments, including those you get from existing direct debits.

If there is a controlled goods agreement in place with an enforcement agent on a qualifying debt and a repayment plan has been agreed between the debtor and the enforcement agent, the debtor should continue to make payments under that agreement as they fall due. Although no enforcement action may be taken during the moratorium period and any time limit within the plan will be extended until 8 weeks after the end of the moratorium period, when that time limit expires, any unpaid instalments may be treated as a breach of the repayment plan.

3.13 Ongoing liabilities during a standard breathing space

Certain debts are considered ‘ongoing liabilities’ during a standard breathing space. The debtor needs to keep paying these if they can. If they don’t, the debt adviser might cancel the standard breathing space.

An ongoing liability is any payment the debtor has to pay during a standard breathing space for:

• a mortgage secured against the debtor’s primary residence (this does not include arrears accrued up to the start of the breathing space)
• a lease or rental agreement for the debtor’s primary residence (this does not include arrears of rent for the property accrued up to the start of the breathing space)
• an insurance agreement
• any taxes, duties and national insurance contributions
• any local taxes or rates for local authorities
• water, sewerage, electricity, gas, heating oil or solid fuel bills

Any other debts or bills (secured or unsecured) that fall due during a standard breathing space are not ongoing liabilities.

3.14 If a debtor does not pay ongoing liabilities during a standard breathing space

Where a debtor does not pay an ongoing liability, the debt adviser might decide to cancel the standard breathing space. The debt adviser will consider whether cancelling it is unfair or unreasonable to the debtor. This can be done as part of the midway review process. This obligation and review process does not apply to debtors during a mental health crisis breathing space.

3.15 Debt adviser midway review during a standard breathing space

During a standard breathing space, a debt adviser must carry out a midway review between day 25 and day 35. This is to make sure they are satisfied the debtor is complying with their obligations.

If the debt adviser thinks the debtor has been meeting their obligations and communicating with them, the standard breathing space will continue until the end date.

If the debt adviser thinks the debtor has not met all of their obligations, they can cancel the standard breathing space in respect of some or all the debts.

If you have asked for a review of a Breathing Space, the debt adviser might combine this with the midway review.

3.16 Cancelling a standard breathing space

Provided they do not consider that the debtor’s personal circumstances would make it unfair or unreasonable, the debt adviser must cancel a standard breathing space for one or more of the related debts after carrying out a midway review if they consider that:

• the debtor has not met one or all of their obligations. This includes them not paying their ongoing liabilities (unless the debt adviser considers that the debtor did not have the financial means to do so)
• they have put a debt solution in place
• they have not been able to communicate with the debtor about their breathing space. This includes where the debtor is not contactable or is not available
• there is an issue with the debtor’s application, or there has been some unfair prejudice to the creditor’s interest, after completing a creditor’s request for a review

If the debt adviser decides it’s necessary to cancel a standard breathing space after a midway review, they should discuss this with the debtor before it’s cancelled, where they can. They must then:

• notify the debtor that the breathing space is being cancelled
• update the electronic service to tell the Insolvency Service the breathing space has been cancelled

Updating the electronic service automatically updates the breathing space register. The cancellation takes effect on the following day. The electronic service will also send notifications to the creditors telling them the date of the cancellation and the reason the breathing space was ended.

3.17 Cancelling a mental health crisis breathing space

A mental health crisis breathing space does not have a midway review, but the debt adviser will regularly check that the person is still receiving mental health crisis treatment. The mental health crisis breathing space will continue for the duration of this treatment, plus 30 days.

However, the debt adviser must cancel a mental health crisis breathing space if:

• they believe the evidence provided to them about the debtor’s mental health crisis treatment contains inaccurate, misleading or fraudulent information, and they do not consider that the debtor’s personal circumstances would make the cancellation unfair or unreasonable
• the debtor asks for the mental health crisis breathing space to be cancelled

3.18 Request a breathing space review

You can ask a debt adviser to review the breathing space, or specific debts being included in it, only if you consider that:

• the breathing space unfairly prejudices your interests. For example, you think that there has been discriminatory treatment in respect of you, or your debt
• the debtor does not meet at least one of the eligibility criteria for a breathing space
• any of the debts included in the breathing space do not qualify
• the debtor has enough funds to repay their debts

You have limited time to request a review, either:

• within 20 days of the breathing space starting, based on the start date in the notification you received
• within 20 days of an additional debt being added to the breathing space, based on the date when you received or were deemed to have received the notification

To request a review, you need to give the debt adviser a written statement with the reasons you want a review and provide any supporting evidence you want to provide. This will need to be done outside of the electronic service.

The debt adviser can decide to carry out the review you have requested as part of the breathing space midway review process.

The debt adviser must cancel the breathing space in respect of all or some of the debts if they agree with you unless the debt adviser thinks cancelling the breathing space is unfair or unreasonable due to the debtor’s personal circumstances.

3.19 Breathing space cancelled after creditor review

If a debt adviser decides to cancel a breathing space after a creditor request for a review, they will update the electronic service to tell the Insolvency Service it has been cancelled. You’ll receive a notification that the breathing space has been cancelled, and whether this is for some or all of the debts. After you have received this notification, you can restart enforcement action and charges. You cannot backdate any interest or fees accrued during the breathing space period, unless a court lets you.

3.20 Breathing space not cancelled after creditor review

If the debt adviser decides not to cancel the breathing space, they will tell you about this decision. The breathing space continues, but you can take further action by applying to a court, if you still do not agree.

3.21 Apply to court to cancel a breathing space

After a review, if you do not agree with a debt adviser’s decision, you can apply to a court to cancel the breathing space in respect of some or all of the debts.

You need to apply to the court within 50 days of the breathing space starting, or 50 days after being notified about an additional debt being added to it. You cannot do this before the debt adviser has completed their review and has let you know the outcome.

If you decide to apply to the court, you should tell the debt adviser. You should make the application based on the same reasons you sent to the debt adviser for your original review. The court will consider your case and tell you, the debtor, and the Insolvency Service of its decision. If the breathing space is cancelled for all of the debts or just some of them, the Insolvency Service will update the breathing space register. You will receive a notification that the breathing space has been cancelled, and whether this is for some or all of the debts.

You cannot backdate any interest, penalties, fees or charges accrued during the breathing space period, unless a court lets you.

3.22 If you do not comply

You must apply all the breathing space protections for a debtor after you’re notified about a breathing space.

If you do not, any action you take is null and void and you may be liable for the debtor’s costs.

The debtor can complain to their debt adviser, who will contact you to remind you of your obligations. The debtor can also complain directly to you, using your complaint procedure. This might include referring their complaint to any external ombudsman, oversight body or regulatory body.

If you still do not meet your obligations, the debt adviser can tell the Insolvency Service and we’ll contact you to remind you of your obligations.

Repeated breaches of the regulations can be considered by your regulator, where appropriate.

4. End of a breathing space

4.1 When a standard breathing space ends

A standard breathing space ends:

• 60 days from the date it started
• the day after a debt adviser or a court cancels it
• if the debtor dies during the breathing space period. In this case, the breathing space ends on the day after the debtor died

4.2 When a mental health crisis breathing space ends

A mental health crisis breathing space will end either 30 days after the debtor’s mental health crisis treatment ended, or 30 days after the date a debt adviser had no response after asking for confirmation from the nominated point of contact about a debtor’s ongoing mental health crisis treatment.

4.3 End of a breathing space notification

When a breathing space ends, you will be sent a notification. It will tell you the date the breathing space ended. If the breathing space was cancelled by the debt adviser or the court, or the debtor has died during the breathing space period, the notification will tell you the reason why it was cancelled.

4.4 Next steps

When a breathing space ends, you can:

• start applying interest, fees, penalties and charges to the debt from the date that the breathing space ends. You cannot backdate or apply any interest, fees, penalties or charges that accrued or would have accrued during the Breathing Space period, unless a court allows you to do this
• take any action to enforce your debt, including contacting the debtor, or collecting debts from benefits
• start or continue any legal proceedings about your debt

You cannot take these actions if the debtor has gone into a debt solution. This could include a debt relief order or bankruptcy.

You also cannot take action if they have made a formal arrangement with their creditors to deal with their debt, such as an individual voluntary arrangement.

You can check the Individual Insolvency Register to see if your debtor is in a formal insolvency solution.

ABC Comment, have your say below:

 

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 the latest ONS labour market statistics,.

The latest data showed a labour market in deep freeze in early 2021, with employment, unemployment and total hours worked all down slightly in the three months to February.

However, the number of job vacancies increased by 16 per cent between February and March, suggesting that the labour market is starting to thaw as some parts of the economy – such as non-essential retail and outdoor leisure and hospitality – reopen in April.

But while the latest data hints at some green shoots of recovery, the Foundation warns that the UK faces a huge task in getting the economy back to normal – such as closing its 6.2 million ‘Covid employment gap’.

This gap includes the 827,000 fall in payrolled employment since the pandemic started (between February 2020 and March 2021), an estimated 600,000 fall in self-employment over this same period, and the 4.7 million employees who were fully or partially furloughed in March, according to separate ONS data.

The key challenge facing businesses and the Government is to close as much of this gap as possible before the furlough scheme is unwound at the end of the Summer, in order to limit the scale of rising unemployment due later this year.

Nye Cominetti, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said:

“The UK labour market remained in a deep freeze in early 2021, though the sharp increase in vacancies in March ahead of retail and outdoor social activities reopening in April suggest it is starting to thaw at last.

“But the UK currently has a Covid employment gap of 6.2 million people who need to get back to work. This highlights the true scale of the labour market challenge ahead of us as economy reopens, that can be hidden by just looking at employment numbers.

“Unless this gap is closed before the furlough scheme ends in September, we are likely to see a worrying rise in unemployment later this year – which will extinguish many people’s hopes of a post-Covid living standards recovery.”

Young Black workers hardest hit by Covid-19 job shock Young people have experienced a sharp rise in unemployment during the pandemic – despite widespread furloughing and a rise in studying – with the increase fastest among recent education-leavers and young Black people.

The BBC has reported the decline in the employment rate for the over-50s has been twice as big as for those aged between 25 and 49.

The Resolution Foundation also found that after losing work, older workers take the longest to return.

It called on the government to tailor retraining opportunities to over-50s.

The report suggests that the Covid-19 crisis has created a "U-shaped" employment shock, with older and younger workers affected more than those who are middle-aged.

Although workers aged under 25 have seen by far the largest fall in employment in the past year, the fall in employment among those aged over 50 has been twice as big as those aged between 25 and 49, a 1.4 percentage point declined compared to 0.7 percentage point dip.

ABC Comment, have your say below;

 

 

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 Health Awareness Week will take place from 10-16 May 2021. The theme is 'Nature'.

ABC Comment, have your say below;

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 - for December to February - was 4.9%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

About 2.2 million people, or 6.5% of all workers, could be unemployed at the end of the year, the government's spending watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility says.

The number of unemployed is expected to fall next year as the economy recovers.

According to the BBC in March 2021 there were 2.7 million seeking either Jobseeker's Allowance or universal credit because they were "searching for work". This compares with 1.4 million in March 2020, before the pandemic began to take effect.

These are the numbers of jobs available compare to those looking for work. 

VACS01   Vacancies1 and Unemployment
						United Kingdom (thousands), seasonally adjusted
		All Vacancies1 (thousands)	Unemployment2 (thousands)	Number of unemployed people per vacancy
		AP2Y	MGSC	JPC5
Apr-Jun 2001	(r)	680	1468	2.2
May-Jul 2001	(r)	673	1472	2.2
Jun-Aug 2001	(r)	661	1483	2.2
Jul-Sep 2001	(r)	661	1487	2.2
Aug-Oct 2001	(r)	637	1487	2.3
Sep-Nov 2001	(r)	625	1495	2.4
Oct-Dec 2001	(r)	602	1520	2.5
Nov- Jan 2002	(r)	607	1518	2.5
Dec-Feb 2002	(r)	616	1508	2.4
Jan-Mar 2002	(r)	619	1515	2.4
Feb-Apr 2002	(r)	619	1522	2.5
Mar-May 2002	(r)	613	1542	2.5
Apr-Jun 2002	(r)	616	1520	2.5
May-Jul 2002	(r)	611	1527	2.5
Jun-Aug 2002	(r)	613	1539	2.5
Jul-Sep 2002	(r)	609	1566	2.6
Aug-Oct 2002	(r)	609	1546	2.5
Sep-Nov 2002	(r)	608	1532	2.5
Oct-Dec 2002	(r)	603	1516	2.5
Nov-Jan 2003	(r)	603	1480	2.5
Dec-Feb 2003	(r)	594	1517	2.6
Jan-Mar 2003	(r)	592	1531	2.6
Feb-Apr 2003	(r)	585	1517	2.6
Mar-May 2003	(r)	588	1486	2.5
Apr-Jun 2003	(r)	579	1467	2.5
May-Jul 2003	(r)	574	1506	2.6
Jun-Aug 2003	(r)	578	1504	2.6
Jul-Sep 2003	(r)	593	1502	2.5
Aug-Oct 2003	(r)	605	1473	2.4
Sep-Nov 2003	(r)	610	1461	2.4
Oct-Dec 2003	(r)	614	1457	2.4
Nov-Jan 2004	(r)	616	1442	2.3
Dec-Feb 2004	(r)	617	1436	2.3
Jan-Mar 2004	(r)	623	1434	2.3
Feb-Apr 2004	(r)	630	1437	2.3
Mar-May 2004	(r)	637	1435	2.3
Apr-Jun 2004	(r)	640	1437	2.2
May-Jul 2004	(r)	652	1423	2.2
Jun-Aug 2004	(r)	654	1405	2.1
Jul-Sep 2004	(r)	652	1401	2.1
Aug-Oct 2004	(r)	653	1397	2.1
Sep-Nov 2004	(r)	655	1407	2.1
Oct-Dec 2004	(r)	661	1423	2.2
Nov-Jan 2005	(r)	668	1425	2.1
Dec-Feb 2005	(r)	657	1447	2.2
Jan-Mar 2005	(r)	644	1416	2.2
Feb-Apr 2005	(r)	635	1420	2.2
Mar-May 2005	(r)	642	1436	2.2
Apr-Jun 2005	(r)	641	1437	2.2
May-Jul 2005	(r)	633	1424	2.2
Jun-Aug 2005	(r)	624	1420	2.3
Jul-Sep 2005	(r)	621	1437	2.3
Aug-Oct 2005	(r)	610	1500	2.5
Sep-Nov 2005	(r)	606	1538	2.5
Oct-Dec 2005	(r)	608	1567	2.6
Nov-Jan 2006	(r)	618	1551	2.5
Dec-Feb 2006	(r)	610	1584	2.6
Jan-Mar 2006	(r)	598	1604	2.7
Feb-Apr 2006	(r)	597	1633	2.7
Mar-May 2006	(r)	596	1664	2.8
Apr-Jun 2006	(r)	603	1685	2.8
May-Jul 2006	(r)	608	1698	2.8
Jun-Aug 2006	(r)	611	1690	2.8
Jul-Sep 2006	(r)	611	1693	2.8
Aug-Oct 2006	(r)	619	1691	2.7
Sep-Nov 2006	(r)	619	1674	2.7
Oct-Dec 2006	(r)	619	1701	2.7
Nov-Jan 2007	(r)	622	1703	2.7
Dec-Feb 2007	(r)	628	1708	2.7
Jan-Mar 2007	(r)	643	1704	2.7
Feb-Apr 2007	(r)	646	1692	2.6
Mar-May 2007	(r)	650	1670	2.6
Apr-Jun 2007	(r)	658	1658	2.5
May-Jul 2007	(r)	669	1645	2.5
Jun-Aug 2007	(r)	680	1645	2.4
Jul-Sep 2007	(r)	682	1650	2.4
Aug-Oct 2007	(r)	683	1629	2.4
Sep-Nov 2007	(r)	686	1633	2.4
Oct-Dec 2007	(r)	686	1608	2.3
Nov-Jan 2008	(r)	687	1617	2.4
Dec-Feb 2008	(r)	692	1622	2.3
Jan-Mar 2008	(r)	702	1622	2.3
Feb-Apr 2008	(r)	693	1667	2.4
Mar-May 2008	(r)	678	1625	2.4
Apr-Jun2008	(r)	656	1680	2.6
May-Jul 2008	(r)	642	1724	2.7
Jun-Aug 2008	(r)	625	1793	2.9
Jul-Sep 2008	(r)	615	1840	3.0
Aug-Oct 2008	(r)	598	1875	3.1
Sep-Nov 2008	(r)	563	1941	3.4
Oct-Dec 2008	(r)	525	2003	3.8
Nov-Jan 2009	(r)	493	2057	4.2
Dec-Feb 2009	(r)	469	2128	4.5
Jan-Mar 2009	(r)	459	2235	4.9
Feb-Apr 2009	(r)	453	2296	5.1
Mar-May 2009	(r)	444	2395	5.4
Apr-Jun 2009	(r)	432	2448	5.7
May-Jul 2009	(r)	433	2478	5.7
Jun-Aug 2009	(r)	442	2484	5.6
Jul-Sep 2009	(r)	441	2475	5.6
Aug-Oct 2009	(r)	440	2484	5.6
Sep-Nov 2009	(r)	442	2455	5.5
Oct-Dec 2009	(r)	453	2453	5.4
Nov-Jan 2010	(r)	457	2434	5.3
Dec-Feb 2010	(r)	459	2496	5.4
Jan-Mar 2010	(r)	461	2526	5.5
Feb-Apr 2010	(r)	466	2510	5.4
Mar-May 2010	(r)	479	2508	5.2
Apr-Jun 2010	(r)	484	2488	5.1
May-Jul 2010	(r)	482	2488	5.2
Jun-Aug 2010	(r)	463	2476	5.3
Jul-Sep 2010	(r)	458	2470	5.4
Aug-Oct 2010	(r)	461	2513	5.5
Sep-Nov 2010	(r)	477	2502	5.2
Oct-Dec 2010	(r)	482	2503	5.2
Nov-Jan 2011	(r)	490	2524	5.2
Dec-Feb 2011	(r)	485	2492	5.1
Jan-Mar 2011	(r)	480	2483	5.2
Feb-Apr 2011	(r)	471	2462	5.2
Mar-May 2011	(r)	461	2500	5.4
Apr-Jun 2011	(r)	461	2540	5.5
May-Jul 2011	(r)	460	2556	5.6
Jun-Aug 2011	(r)	464	2611	5.6
Jul-Sep 2011	(r)	467	2662	5.7
Aug-Oct 2011	(r)	472	2677	5.7
Sep-Nov 2011	(r)	466	2713	5.8
Oct-Dec 2011	(r)	465	2689	5.8
Nov-Jan 2012	(r)	469	2674	5.7
Dec-Feb 2012	(r)	467	2655	5.7
Jan-Mar 2012	(r)	464	2635	5.7
Feb-Apr 2012	(r)	464	2625	5.7
Mar-May 2012	(r)	470	2599	5.5
Apr-Jun 2012	(r)	475	2577	5.4
May-Jul 2012	(r)	481	2600	5.4
Jun-Aug 2012	(r)	485	2551	5.3
Jul-Sep 2012	(r)	490	2539	5.2
Aug-Oct 2012	(r)	494	2534	5.1
Sep-Nov 2012	(r)	497	2532	5.1
Oct-Dec 2012	(r)	501	2535	5.1
Nov-Jan 2013	(r)	497	2537	5.1
Dec-Feb 2013	(r)	500	2584	5.2
Jan-Mar 2013	(r)	503	2540	5.0
Feb-Apr 2013	(r)	514	2525	4.9
Mar-May 2013	(r)	522	2511	4.8
Apr-Jun 2013	(r)	534	2515	4.7
May-Jul 2013	(r)	540	2492	4.6
Jun-Aug 2013	(r)	537	2504	4.7
Jul-Sep 2013	(r)	549	2483	4.5
Aug-Oct 2013	(r)	554	2404	4.3
Sep-Nov 2013	(r)	570	2340	4.1
Oct-Dec 2013	(r)	573	2357	4.1
Nov-Jan 2014	(r)	581	2340	4.0
Dec-Feb 2014	(r)	595	2256	3.8
Jan-Mar 2014	(r)	616	2212	3.6
Feb-Apr 2014	(r)	639	2161	3.4
Mar-May 2014	(r)	652	2112	3.2
Apr-Jun 2014	(r)	660	2061	3.1
May-Jul 2014	(r)	667	2010	3.0
Jun-Aug 2014	(r)	680	1972	2.9
Jul-Sep 2014	(r)	685	1961	2.9
Aug-Oct 2014	(r)	699	1953	2.8
Sep-Nov 2014	(r)	703	1924	2.7
Oct-Dec 2014	(r)	708	1870	2.6
Nov-Jan 2015	(r)	715	1858	2.6
Dec-Feb 2015	(r)	726	1840	2.5
Jan-Mar 2015	(r)	733	1826	2.5
Feb-Apr 2015	(r)	726	1813	2.5
Mar-May 2015	(r)	726	1848	2.5
Apr-Jun 2015	(r)	728	1849	2.5
May-Jul 2015	(r)	739	1822	2.5
Jun-Aug 2015	(r)	741	1779	2.4
Jul-Sep 2015	(r)	741	1760	2.4
Aug-Oct 2015	(r)	739	1715	2.3
Sep-Nov 2015	(r)	741	1687	2.3
Oct-Dec 2015	(r)	746	1688	2.3
Nov-Jan 2016	(r)	753	1684	2.2
Dec-Feb 2016	(r)	750	1700	2.3
Jan-Mar 2016	(r)	749	1687	2.3
Feb-Apr 2016	(r)	742	1666	2.2
Mar-May 2016	(r)	744	1648	2.2
Apr-Jun 2016	(r)	745	1643	2.2
May-Jul 2016	(r)	747	1635	2.2
Jun-Aug 2016	(r)	753	1668	2.2
Jul-Sep 2016	(r)	756	1618	2.1
Aug-Oct 2016	(r)	765	1613	2.1
Sep-Nov 2016	(r)	759	1602	2.1
Oct-Dec 2016	(r)	755	1585	2.1
Nov-Jan 2017	(r)	748	1573	2.1
Dec-Feb 2017	(r)	762	1550	2.0
Jan-Mar 2017	(r)	769	1527	2.0
Feb-Apr 2017	(r)	789	1520	1.9
Mar-May 2017	(r)	784	1489	1.9
Apr-Jun 2017	(r)	786	1485	1.9
May-Jul 2017	(r)	785	1457	1.9
Jun-Aug 2017	(r)	796	1452	1.8
Jul-Sep 2017	(r)	806	1429	1.8
Aug-Oct 2017	(r)	812	1422	1.8
Sep-Nov 2017	(r)	818	1437	1.8
Oct-Dec 2017	(r)	819	1463	1.8
Nov-Jan 2018	(r)	816	1451	1.8
Dec-Feb 2018	(r)	812	1419	1.7
Jan-Mar 2018	(r)	811	1417	1.7
Feb-Apr 2018	(r)	807	1416	1.8
Mar-May 2018	(r)	819	1408	1.7
Apr-Jun 2018	(r)	833	1362	1.6
May-Jul 2018	(r)	840	1358	1.6
Jun-Aug 2018	(r)	849	1363	1.6
Jul-Sep 2018	(r)	855	1377	1.6
Aug-Oct 2018	(r)	864	1373	1.6
Sep-Nov 2018	(r)	859	1370	1.6
Oct-Dec 2018	(r)	853	1363	1.6
Nov-Jan 2019	(r)	851	1338	1.6
Dec-Feb 2019	(r)	842	1343	1.6
Jan-Mar 2019	(r)	838	1298	1.5
Feb-Apr 2019	(r)	834	1304	1.6
Mar-May 2019	(r)	834	1292	1.5
Apr-Jun 2019	(r)	826	1329	1.6
May-Jul 2019	(r)	826	1294	1.6
Jun-Aug 2019	(r)	826	1314	1.6
Jul-Sep 2019	(r)	831	1306	1.6
Aug-Oct 2019	(r)	815	1281	1.6
Sep-Nov 2019	(r)	807	1306	1.6
Oct-Dec 2019	(r)	803	1290	1.6
Nov-Jan 2020	(r)	803	1343	1.7
Dec-Feb 2020	(r)	811	1364	1.7
Jan-Mar 2020	(r)	785	1365	1.7
Feb-Apr 2020	(r)	633	1367	2.2
Mar-May 2020	(r)	476	1384	2.9
Apr-Jun 2020	(r)	341	1381	4.0
May-Jul 2020	(r)	381	1451	3.8
Jun-Aug 2020	(r)	443	1522	3.4
Jul-Sep 2020	(r)	507	1624	3.2
Aug-Oct 2020	(r)	545	1692	3.1
Sep-Nov 2020	(r)	564	1724	3.1
Oct-Dec 2020	(r)	589	1744	3.0
Nov-Jan 2021	(r)	597	1703	2.9
Dec-Feb 2021	(r)	599	1675	2.8
Jan-Mar 2021	(p)	607	..	..
						Data source: ONS Vacancy Survey/ Labour Force Survey
						Vacancy Survey enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 01633 456777
1. Excludes Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.
2. Unemployment estimates are produced from the Labour Force Survey and are always one period behind the ONS Vacancy Survey estimates.
.. Data not available

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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 health issues. Mental health is of course the issue of our times.

On a super-safe, lake/reservoir we plan to deliver courses to those whose lives have not all been plain sailing.

Sailing Wellness is Wellness first and sailing second. We aim to take people into a new environment and teach them to sail to a level of competency set by the Royal Yachting Association where they will learn to be able to sail a dinghy in moderate weather to a reasonable standard with certification at an award ceremony at the end of the event.

We will be running evening events, beach barbeques, talks and other social activity. Our goal is to break the negative cycle where people who have suffered a set-back in life sit and brood at home by themselves with physical injuries slowly become mental ones.

We plan to restore - where applicable, people’s self-confidence and zest for life. To ignite people’s sense of humour and bring people together in a shared experience.

For the physically disabled we will be using special Hansa 303 boats, docking and a hoist. The Hansa is an international Class, sailed in para-Olympic events and the Invicta Games. Using a joystick rather than a tiller, the disabled will sail alongside an instructor who will help and guide them. 

We are about giving people opportunity and opening the door to a whole world of future potential, aligned with the sheer joy of going on the water. 

We have an all-star team of Olympic sailors, including Gold medallist and a para-Olympian and a team of mental health specialists. The Anglian Ruskin University, Veterans & Families Institute for Military Social Research, working with us to produce planned outcomes. Our project has the ‘thumbs up’ from the National Academy for Social Prescribing and the Institute of Stress Management Association. The founding organisation the Association of Pensions and Benefits Claimants CIC is a link to some 17,000+ plus organisations that can assist those struggling.

Some of our student learners with go on to some more of the 80 odd RYA courses. Some will use this initial knowledge to find a job in the marine industry or stay with us and learn to become instructors and some may become champion sailors and go on to sail offshore or even around the world.

The results of the recent ‘Blue Health’ study by the EU with 90 leading academics across Europe demonstrates the positive effects that ‘Blue Health’ can have. Failure to address mental health issues is not just a failure of society but there is a measurable cost involved.

We think we can make a difference, but we need your support. Together we can make it happen.

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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 every four weeks or weekly, while child benefit is usually every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has not yet confirmed when other benefits - including Universal Credit and PIP - will be paid.

Benefit payment dates for the second May bank holiday

Tax credit and child benefit claimants can also expect to be paid early if their payment date falls on the second bank holiday.

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