Simon Collyer
One Date for the Diary
The United States presidential election of 2016, scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016, will be the 58th quadrennial U.S. presidential election.
Article Two of the United States Constitution provides that for a person to be elected and serve as President of the United States, the individual must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the United States for a period of no less than 14 years. Candidates for the presidency typically seek the nomination of one of the various political parties of the United States, in which case each party devises a method (such as a primary election) to choose the candidate the party deems best suited to run for the position. The primary elections are usually indirect elections where voters cast ballots for a slate of party delegates pledged to a particular candidate. The party's delegates then officially nominate a candidate to run on the party's behalf. The general election in November is also an indirect election, where voters cast ballots for a slate of members of the Electoral College; these electors in turn directly elect the President and Vice President.
The incumbent, President Barack Obama, a Democrat and former U.S. Senator from Illinois, is ineligible to seek reelection to a third term due to restrictions of the Twenty-second Amendment; his term expires on January 20, 2017. In the 2008 election, Obama was elected president, defeating the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, receiving 52.9% of the popular vote and 68% of the electoral vote. If incumbent President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden serve out the full remainder of their term, the voters will elect the 45th President and 48th Vice President of the United States, respectively.
Source: Wikipedia
Irish Employment Grows
Cork South West Labour Party TD Michael McCarthy has welcomed the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office which show that 29,000 more people are in work than in December 2014.
Deputy McCarthy commented: “The fact that so many more people are back in work than in December 2014 again demonstrates that Labour’s plan to create jobs and get people back to work is working.
“Up to 1,000 jobs are now being created each week, which is in stark contrast to before Labour entered government when unemployment stood at 15.1%. Importantly, jobs are being created in every region of the country.
“Behind these statistics are people who now have greater certainty in their lives because they are back at work and have a dependable income.
“For the Labour Party, the focus is not just on the number of jobs created but also the quality of the jobs. We want to see decent, sustainable, well paid jobs created.
“This is why we have increased the minimum wage by 20% since entering government and we have strengthened the rights of workers to improve their pay and conditions.
“This year I am confident we will see more jobs created and incomes continue to increase for low and middle income workers. This is no small part down to the work Labour has done in government to deliver an economic and social recovery.”
Orthodox Christmas
Happy Christmas to our Orthodox Christian visitors
Many Orthodox Christians in the UK attend special liturgies on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The Christmas Day liturgies may begin at midnight (00:00) between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day or during the morning on Christmas Day. Some people receive Holy Communion at the liturgies. Some Orthodox Christians also hold communal meals or children's parties on Christmas Day.
Orthodox Christians who use the revised Julian calendar celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar. Orthodox Christians who use the older version of the Julian calendar, celebrate this occasion on December 25 in the older calendar, which is January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
Live Commons Chamber - Womans Pension Equality
The Agenda
Oral questions: Energy and Climate Change, including Topical Questions
Business Statement: Leader of the House
Backbench Business: Effect of the equalization of the state pension age on women
Backbench Business: Children in care
Adjournment: Primary school admissions criteria and exceptional circumstances
Suella Fernandes MP (Fareham, Conservative)
Commons Chamber is a debate on Womans Pensions
Commons Chamber Debate - Womens Pension Equality
On Thursday 7 January MPs will take part in a debate on a motion relating to the effect of the equalisation of the state pension age on women in the Commons Chamber. This debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee following a bid from Mhairi Black.
This debate will be opened by Mhairi Black, Scottish National Party MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South.
Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee meets weekly on Tuesdays to consider requests for debates from any backbench Members of Parliament on any subject.
The Committee then has to decide how to allocate the limited Parliamentary time it has at its disposal. The Committee's meetings are always conducted in public and can be watched on the ABC website.
DWP Select Committee - Bereavement Benefits
Bereavement benefits
The Committee Meeting kicks off at 09:30AM
Witnesses: Lucy Coulbert, Managing Director, The Individual Funeral Company, Coulbert Family Funerals, Nigel Lymn-Rose, National Association of Funeral Directors, Mohamed Omer, Muslim Council of Great Britain, and Melvyn Hartog, United Synagogue.
Watch it live below.
When & If Contracts under Fire
Labour Youth has today reaffirmed its position on tackling precarious work by making a submission to the expert consultation group which will look into legislation to end the use of If and When Contracts, as recommended by a study conducted by the University of Limerick.
National Chairperson of Labour Youth, Grace Williams comments: "It is important that legislation to end the use of If and When Contracts is prioritised.
"Precarious contracts pose a significant threat to ensuring stable and quality employment for workers, something which we, in Labour Youth, believe is essential.
"Minister Ged Nash has made great strides in improving the rights of workers in this government. We hope to see this legislation brought to cabinet in the coming weeks to complete these achievements.
"We believe there are three main points which must be included in this legislation which will ensure quality employment for all and end the prevalence of precarious work.
"Workers should be given a significant notice period, 72 hours, to start work, allowing them to organise their lives around their work schedule in advance.
"They should also have a minimum amount of guaranteed hours for a week of work, giving workers financial stability so that uncertainty does not dictate their every purchase.
"We also believe that a minimum of a three hour consecutive shift is necessary to ensure that pay for one shift does more than cover the cost of transport to and from their place of work."
Labour Youth Policy and Education Officer, Hazel O'Driscoll adds: "During this term in government the Labour Party has worked tirelessly to improve working conditions for low paid workers and legislating against If and When Contracts is the final part of this proud legacy."
Is Greed Really Good?
High Pay Centre Lunchtime Lectures
Do you ever feel that someone else is grabbing all your 'cheese'?
The High Pay Centre are running two thought provoking lunchtime lectures. Well worth a visit if you are in London.
|
|
Welsh Business Start-ups
Figures show that with 11,345 new businesses in Wales in 2015, Wales had fewer business births than the rest of the UK.
Plaid Cymru's Shadow Economy Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has pledged to tap into Wales' entrepreneurial spirit as figures reveal that the number of business start-ups in Wales is amongst the lowest in the UK.
Executives
-
Simon Collyer
Position: Founder & Director
Simon Collyer hails from Brightlingsea in Essex, a small town on the coast between Colchester & Clacton. Simon worked very successfully in the leisure marine industry in the UK and in Australia. Later in London Simon worked in the web development and publishing fields, founding a below-the-line sales promotion agency in the early nineties and then later a software company Red Banner in South Africa (2002-06). Here in South Africa, Simon became interested in the Third Sector and starting his own organisation.
-
Christopher Johnson
Position: Bookkeeping and Administration
Chris lived in Oxford for twenty years, having been educated at Magdalen College School. Chris sought a career with British Rail and spent twenty years in railway retail management ending with Virgin Trains at Euston Station. Christopher retrained in bookkeeping and accounts in 2000 and now works for Chelmsford Community Transport.
A strong, enthusiastic team player with a meticulous eye for detail, Christopher brings a range of skills to the ABC.
Team
-
Frances Rimmer
Position: Researcher
When not charming snakes Frances is a Modern History student at the University of Essex, focusing specifically on social history. The lives and experiences of the ordinary person rather than on politics or the military. Outside of her studies, Frances enjoys film and writing. As a keen roller skater who plays roller derby with the Kent Roller Girls, Frances secret wish would be to become a skating instructor and open her own rink, as she has always wanted to help people in some way, and feels it would be great to do so while also sharing her passion with like-minded people.
-
Stuart Meyers
Position: Researcher
Stuart Meyer, is a final year American Studies student at the University of Essex. Stuart focussed his academic life on global justice and the rights of migrants. Additionally Stuart has a passion for writing, both creatively and with the aim of providing accessible information to those who need it most Stuart has made a great contribution to our library of Advice Guides demonstrating his versatility by writing intelligently on a wide range of topics.
-
Louis Jones
Position: Film Maker
Louis is a 19 year old TV and film student studying at Colchester Institute. Along with hand-picked fellow students, Louis made the ‘Membership’ video that can be seen on the ABC website. Louis volunteers at, Hospital Radio Colchester, as a football commentator. A true fan of the ‘Great Game’ Louis insights have been sought after on occasions by key local media, the Colchester Daily Gazette & even BBC Essex.
-
Marcus Pierpont
Position: Film Director
Talented student film maker, Marcus Pierpoint, directed the ABC 'Membership' film which can be seen on the organizations website. Marcus has recently graduated from a BTEC course, studying Creative Media Production at Colchester Institute and he claims a true passion for films and filmmaking. Marcus also enjoys radio work and volunteers at the local hospital radio station, producing and presenting his own show. Marcus is enrolled at the University of Greenwich, and dreams of a career in the media industry.
-
Shane Mitchell
Position: Film Maker
Shane Mitchell, is another Colchester Institute Film and TV student that aspirers to be a Director of Photography in the future. Shane was the camera operator for the ABC Membership video, fun to make says Shane but it is also work he is very proud of. Shane loves all things ‘film’ and he makes videos even in his spare time.
-
Joe Corlett
Position: Film Director
Ex-student script writer/director, Joe Corlett, directed the ABC's corporate video (About Us) which is now viewable on the main website. Joe graduated from the Colchester Institute with a BTEC diploma in the field of media. Joe is passionate towards film making and hopes to continue making more that are constructed form his own material. On the side he's loves being out jogging in all terrains and when not out side he's writing scripts for future projects. Joe is now out in the world ready to start his life goal of working in the Media industry.
-
Jon Taylor
Position: Film Maker
Jonathan Taylor has been working in the media sector for 3 years and for our filming projects he worked as the production manager. John worked on graphical elements of our film, About Us for example, rendering images and making them look good on screen.
Jon is also experienced in animation and he made the logo and animation sequences in the ABC corporate videos.
Part of Jon’s brief was to also organise the administration side of filming, known collectively to admin experts the world over as ‘the paperwork’.
-
Thomas Hearn
Position: Film Maker
Thomas Hearn, has been involved in media, for about three years. Tom likes to work a lot at a computer, particularly the editing suite. For the ABC project, Tom worked on the edit itself; created and pieced together both the footage and the music, Tom created the visual elements of the ABC ‘About Us’ video and put most of the visual effects on the video.
I think we can agree that along with the rest of our youthful student team; Tom has done a very fine job indeed.
-
Max Gillard
Position: Film Maker
The last of our film team Max Gillard has recently finished college studying Creative Media Level 3 and Max hopes to continue the course on to University to someday gain a job in the media industry.
We wish Max the best of luck.
-
Harry
Position: Film Maker
My name is Harry Genge and I am an aspiring film maker. I have skills in the majority of film orientated jobs, though I am most interested in the creative roles such: Directing, Director of Photography and Writing. In my spare time I make short films, write, read, draw/paint and take the dog out for long walks.
-
Ned
Position: Producers
My name is Ned Woodcraft and I’m an aspiring Producer. As well as completing a diploma in media production I have also had a number of jobs in the professional market. I’m also a keen sailor and water sport enthusiast.
-
Brandon
Position: Producer
My name is Brandon and I’m an aspiring producer and actor. I enjoy bringing a production together with planning and preparations to create a great finished product. My hobbies also include street magic and bass playing.
-
Callum
Position: Writer and Director
My name is Callum Olive and I’m an aspiring writer and director. I’m always looking for a new project and love writing new stories and screenplays at home and on the move. My hobbies include playing the piano and street magic.
-
Joanie DeMuro
Joanie joined ABC team in early 2017. She was one of six student volunteers from the University of Essex in that cohort. The student team focused on a range of projects, including creation of Wikipedia page,‘training manual’ and most importantly, researching and adding entries to the website directory of organisations that assist the unwaged, or those on low incomes. “This placement was very helpful - thanks for the opportunity Simon.”
-
Cherry Lam
Cherry Lam has been volunteering for ABC for one month. Although it is a short period of time, she knows a lot more about the running of a charity organisation. Cherry is responsible for adding directories to the organisation website according to categories. Joining this placement helped her improving skills and gaining new experiences. Cherry says is extremely appreciative of the support she has received from ABC which allowed her to improve skills.
Join
FREE
Here
Sponsors & Supporters
