Work TV

EDUCATION - The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers approximately 470 teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries and is open for applications.

Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright offers flexible awards including multi-country opportunities.

The Fulbright Program's mission is to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.

— Senator J. William Fulbright

Have you thought about applying?

ABC Comment, have your say below: 

AUGUST TREATS - We have been advised to go 'Muffin Mad' over the August Bank Holiday by Cadbury's PR gurus. 

Chocolate expert, Charlotte - wants to share these amazing deals with us she says, now Muffins are just £1 for a pack of 2!

The muffins come in either Cadbury Dairy Milk or Cadbury Dairy Milk with Caramel flavours and both feature a deliciously indulgent gooey centre. They are on sale at Morrisons for just £1 between 24th August and 9th September!

Cadbury Dairy Milk with Caramel Muffin 2pk - WAS £1.50 NOW £1

ABC Note: Let us hope they stock them at the Food Bank!!

On a more serious note - benefits paid on the 31st will be paid on the 28th.

More time to get your Muffins in!!

ABC Comment, have your say below:

EVICTION BAN - The government, following intense pressure, has extended the eviction moratorium. 

• Ban on evictions continues for 4 weeks taking the total ban to 6 months
• New 6 month notice periods to be in place until at least 31 March 2021
• Once eviction hearings restart, the judiciary will carefully prioritise the most serious cases including those involving anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse

Renters affected by coronavirus will continue to be protected after the government extended the ban on evictions for another 4 weeks, meaning in total no legal evictions will have taken place for 6 months, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced today (21 August 2020).

The government also intends to give tenants greater protection from eviction over the winter by requiring landlords to provide tenants with 6 months’ notice in all bar those cases raising other serious issues such as those involving anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse perpetrators, until at least the end of March.

The government will keep these measures under review with decisions guided by the latest public health advice.

When courts do resume eviction hearings they will carefully prioritise the most egregious cases, ensuring landlords are able to progress the most serious cases, such as those involving anti-social behaviour and other crimes, as well as where landlords have not received rent for over a year and would otherwise face unmanageable debts.

The government has taken unprecedented action to support renters during the pandemic, preventing people getting into financial hardship and helping businesses to pay salaries – meaning no tenants have been evicted since the start.

As a result, according to independent research, 87% of tenants have continued to pay full rent since the start of the pandemic, with a further 8% agreeing reduced fees with their landlords.

The vast majority of landlords have shown understanding and leadership, taking action to support tenants.

With coronavirus still posing an ongoing risk to public health, the government will continue to take action where necessary to further protect households in both the private and social rented sector are supported over winter, helping to keep them safe.

Today’s extension to the stay and 6 month notice periods will ensure those most at risk are protected. If tenants are unable to afford their rent we encourage them to speak to their landlord to agree a solution, and some households may decide to consider moving.

Government will continue to work with the judiciary and stakeholders to ensure that the courts are prepared for eviction cases to be heard safely.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said:

Image: Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP. 

I know this year has been challenging and all of us are still living with the effects of COVID-19. That is why today I am announcing a further 4 week ban on evictions, meaning no renters will have been evicted for 6 months.

I am also increasing protections for renters – 6 month notice periods must be given to tenants, supporting renters over winter.

However, it is right that the most egregious cases, for example those involving anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse perpetrators, begin to be heard in court again; and so when courts reopen, landlords will once again be able to progress these priority cases.

Further information

Case listing, including prioritisation, is a judicial function and we are working with the judiciary through the Master of the Rolls’ Working Group on possession to consider the categories of serious cases that would be prioritised when hearings resume. Further detail on those categories will be set out in due course and we will engage with key stakeholders on this.

Independent polling for the National Residential Landlords Association recently found that 87% of private tenants have paid their rent as normal throughout the pandemic so far. An additional 8% said that they had agreed a reduced rent, a rent-free period or made some other agreement with their landlord or letting agent.

The extension to the ban on evictions and prioritisation of the most serious case applies to courts in England and Wales

The intention to extend notice periods to 6 month applies to England only.

On 5 June the government announced that the suspension of housing possession cases in the courts had been extended by a further 2 months.

To support those on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit in the private rented sector, Local Housing Allowance rates have been set to the 30th percentile of rents in each area. For those who require additional support Discretionary Housing Payments are available.

As announced at the spending round for 2020/21 there is already £180 million in Discretionary Housing Payments for Local authorities to distribute for supporting renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sectors.

The government say they remain committed to bringing forward reforms to provide greater security to tenants, but it is only right that this is balanced with an assurance that landlords are able to recover their properties where they have valid reasons to do so. This is vital to ensuring the future supply of good quality housing in the rented sector.

The government also say they  will bring forward legislation in due course, once the urgencies of responding to the pandemic have passed, to deliver a better deal for renters and a fairer more effective rental market.

ABC Comment, have your say below:

BREAVEMENT BENEFITS - The Liberal Democrats have warned it is "shameful" that bereaved families of NHS and care workers who die of coronavirus risk losing access to welfare benefits if they receive payments under the government's Covid-19 compensation scheme and called on Ministers to "scrap this senseless rule immediately."

The Government has confirmed that families who receive the £60,000 payout under the scheme will no longer be able to claim for universal credit, housing benefit or pension credit, as they would be in breach of capital limits.

Layla Moran led the cross-party campaign calling for the introduction of the Covid-19 compensation scheme for families of NHS and care workers who lose their lives to coronavirus.Figures she uncovered in July revealed only 19 families had benefited so far from the scheme, despite there being over 540 Covid-19 related deaths of health and social care workers in the UK.

Image: MP Layla Moran.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: "It is utterly shameful that bereaved families of NHS and care workers face losing access to benefits if they receive a payment from the Covid-19 compensation scheme."This scheme was set up to provide financial security and comfort to the loved ones of those who tragically died on the frontline against coronavirus.

"This exercise in penny-pinching is completely tone-deaf and risks rubbing salt in the wounds of grieving families. The Government must scrap this senseless rule immediately."

ABC Comment: Why should these families lose access to benefits. These awards should compensate for the loss of the earning potential of these key workers over their whole lifetime. It should not affect the rights of family members to claim in their own capacity. 

ABC Comment, have your say below:

HOMELESS CHIEF RESIGNS - The government confirmed today that Dame Louise Casey had stepped down from her role as the leader of its Rough Sleeping Taskforce. This is rather embarrassing as the government is about to hit a storm when the eviction moratorium ends on Sunday 23rd.

The task force was set up in May to work with councils and ensure rough sleepers housed in temporary accommodation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic could move into long-term housing. Dame Louise was chosen to head up the team after being appointed as an independent advisor in February to lead an independent review into the causes of rough sleeping.

Commenting on the exit of Dame Louise, housing secretary Robert Jenrick thanked her for her work and said she was key to helping people off the streets and safe during the pandemic.

He said: “Her work leading the Rough Sleeping Taskforce will ensure as many people as possible who have been brought in do not return to sleeping rough.

“Our plans for longer-term accommodation – 3,300 homes this year alone – and tailored support, backed by half a billion pounds of funding this year and next, will help us to meet our commitment to end rough sleeping once and for all.”

Dame Louise was given a cross-bench peerage at the start of the month.

ABC Comment, have your say below:

MEDIA - Simon Collyer, ABC Founder is appearing on Future Radio on Monday 24th August appearing around 11:40 AM. Simon will be talking about the current homlessness pandemic and the ending of the Eviction moritorium on August 23rd.

Future Radio is one of the largest and longest running community radio stations in the UK. The station has a dedicated management team and over 100 volunteers. 

The station is part of Future Projects and was one of the first community stations in the country to be awarded a five year full time community broadcast license.

The station is situated in a disadvantaged part of Norwich and serves Norwich and beyond. 

Future Radio, Open Norwich, 20, Bank Plain, Norwich, NR2 4SF

ABC Comment, have your say below:

GETTING A JOB - Recently ABC Founder, Simon Collyer was counselling a friend who has not had a job in over eight years. The person in question never buys any airtime and calls people and hangs up expecting them to call him back. This is an irritating habit, but it is a clear indication, that though this individual has convinced himself he is trying to get a job and making no progress…in reality, he is trying much less hard than he thinks. 

What counts on your CV as you get older is; what you have achieved recently, especially in the last ten years. What you did education-wise (in my friends’ case forty or fifty years ago) gets less important the older you get, except in certain special situations. What you need to show is how you have; added value. 

Too many job seekers are thinking about their needs when they go for a job. What you need to do is to put yourself in the employer’s position. 

If you have nothing current to show, going for a job where you lead in with your CV is not a good idea. You can still do it, but do not rely on that as your only strategy, that is a very sound piece of advice.  

If you use job boards, you will be judged on your CV which is likely to be rejected by software long before it even gets human scrutiny. To review 150 CV’s is a huge job. The way to get a job is to approach companies and seek out the unadvertised job market. It requires focus and effort and you will have to sell yourself. 

The suggestion Simon made was to aim to get a less glamorous job and build yourself up, or do some volunteering, and get something recent on your CV. Simon suggested cleaning is a large growth area in this current pandemic. Not much glamour in that occupation most would agree and Simon's friend was incandescent..he had A-levels in computer science from years ago he said and the idea of him being a cleaner was rejected outright. Cleaning, however, is an ideal job, you can do office cleaning at night and leave the daytime free for more job searching, it does not require training and qualifications or a lot of mental resources. Firstly though, people need to get into the work habit. 

In the video below psychologist Jorden Peterson explains the way to tackle a boring mundane job is not to do the very minimum you can get away with, it is to try as hard as you can. To arrive early for work and not dash straight out the door at finishing time. In between to work as hard as you can as long as you can.

If you do that, Jordan argues, you will start to be recognised as a grafter. You will start to earn more. If not then move jobs he says, however, never quit without another job to go to. 

Some staff when reprimanded by a superior for being lazy - for example, say they are leaving in a few months to escape the pressure - inevitably they find themselves getting laid off and a month or a weeks’ notice. If you are planning to leave never announce it in advance. 

Madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result according to psychologists. Yet, how many people bash away with the same approach looking for a job? 

Successful people are pro-active. Obstacles are there to be overcome, they are not permanent barriers. 

Do not fight this war [to get a job] with the tactics of the last war – the world is different today. 

In the world of IT, companies can take on young IT graduates, fresh out of university. The average salary a graduate earns around £22K. Someone my friends' age in his late fifties needs to show career progression, the taking on of more responsibility. Training and learning and up to date skills and experience, plus a mature attitude.  

People, in the end, are a collection of attitudes and habits. Hard work is a habit. You can train yourself to work hard. Simon explains this in the ABC talk, Human Potential. 

Image: Warren Buffet.

Warren Buffet. American investment guru explains there are three things to look for in an employee:

• Intelligence
• Hard Work, and
• Integrity

Intelligence - Regrettably, some people are simply so stupid they cannot learn anything, fortunately, these people are few and far between. The more you learn the more you earn goes the adage. You do not get a fixed quota of intelligence. Your intelligence can be expanded and there are different types of intelligence. The human mind organises itself over time and Ray Dalio, manager of the world largest hedge fund talks about systems. You should develop systems over time, and these can be written down. Recently at ABC, we bought a car and found its true value was double what we paid for it. So now we have a system for buying cars. In computing, this can be called an 'algorithm' a mathematical and logical sequence. You can develop systems over time and refine them, even for job searching.  

Hard work - There is no substitute for it. Some people want success, but they are frequently not prepared to work hard consistently over a long time. Lazy people can suffer from mental health issues, depression and alcoholism or drug abuse. Depression is anger turned against oneself. People know they are not trying as hard as they could sub-consciously and they start to feel guilty. Salespeople sacked for laziness can feel this inner guilt. The way to tackle finding a job is through massive action. To succeed by really trying, harder than you have ever tried in your life. People who are still unsuccessful can at least feel good about themselves, they will not blame themselves in the way the lazy do. My friends’ condition has become that of the person who sees the glass half empty… Nothing will ever work out in his mind; he is a victim of a cruel world that has singled him out. Rather than suffer the pain of failure his way of dealing with it is to do as little as possible to avoid disappointment, thereby this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Like an alcoholic, people like this want to move somewhere else, but alcoholics frequently move because they want to leave themselves and their past behind. The only way out in reality is to change yourself from the inside. To throw yourself into the task of finding work and to take on volunteering, anything – to get busy. When reviewing CV’s of university students, we picked those who were the most active. Who joined clubs and societies? Who had a track record of being active? It pointed to a lively mind and an abundance of personal ENERGY. 

Integrity - Lots of young people…especially those who go into business try and cut corners and find a quick way up the mountain. Life is a long-distance race and your reputation, and how you treat people, will affect your life’s outcomes, assuming you do not die young. If you get given company expenses, treat them with respect. You will be watched like the bank manager who gives you your first overdraft or loan. Did you rush to spend it and live at the bottom of your overdraft permanently or did you use the money practically and sensibly? Did you meet your loan repayments? Bankers use the ‘C’ word - it stands for character. Build a reputation for being trustworthy and reliable. A person of their word. In the long run, the doggy characters who seem so promising heading for overnight success – in our experience, they crash and burn...so above all else preserve your reputation and good name. It is your most valuable asset. 

Every time someone meets you, they are judging you. Businesspeople get judged by the company they keep. So do a 'friend’s' audit and get rid of those who could be a liability. Simon shocked a room full of 16-year-old schoolchildren suggesting this, but avoid negative people and steer clear of those who seem to be permanently unlucky. 

In the end, you become what you think about. You can never manage others till you can manage yourself. Learn to control your finances, your vices and your relationships with others and be prepared to organise and plan for the future. The people who succeed long term are the ones who look ahead and not just live in the moment. 

ABC Note - Simon Collyer and the ABC are bidding for funding to train Millennials is has been joined in his bid by Reed Global. This is a first for reed Global according to their communications department. Simon will be resuming his Human Potential talk in schools as soon as it is safe to do so. 

ABC Comment, have your say below:

CHARITY SUPPORT - The London Legal Walk returns on the 5th October but this year the organisers say it is going virtual! With huge demand for free legal services your help in supporting this initiative is vital.

Please find a video message from Rob ‘Judge’ Rinder below to find out more about the event, why your support is needed now more than ever, and how to register.

What is the London Legal Walk 10xChallenge?

Take on 10k your way, whether that is walking, running, cycling, skipping or space-hopping your way to 10km.

 Or you can showcase your skills instead of walking by taking on any challenge to a multiple of 10 that can attract sponsorship. That could be baking 10 cakes, writing 10 poems, 100 minutes of your favourite exercise class (Yoga, Pilates, Zumba), 1,000-star jumps/sit ups, or doing a team challenge to reach 10,000 or even 100,000 together.

The cause

Many advice agencies have reported a six-fold increase in demand as a result of the pandemic, and so while the Walk cannot go ahead in its traditional format, we must not give up the fight for access to justice. Fundraising for free legal advice services is more critical than ever and agencies are continuing to do a fantastic job in preventing homelessness, resolving debt problems, gaining care for the elderly, and fighting discrimination and exploitation. But they need our support.

What do you need to do?

 Register here and join thousands of walkers, cyclists, runners and hula-hoopers who will be taking part on the 5th October. You don’t need to have your full team together to sign up. Only one person needs to register for now and the charity will set you up with a fundraising page via Virgin Money Giving.

So do please support this intiative. 

ABC Comment, have your say below: 

UNIVERSITY - Here are some tips if you are planning to go to university in September. Student budgeting and cost-cutting ideas:

If you are starting or returning to university in September, here are some tips to help you keep your costs down before, during and after your studies.

While coronavirus has caused disruption to those at university this spring and summer, September may see students return to universities across the UK.

Here are some things you can do to keep your costs down and make your cash go further while you are studying and after you have graduated.

Getting ready for university

Apply for your student loan

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has a handy guide explaining how student finance works depending on where in the UK you’re from and where you’re looking to study.

Budget for your living costs

Setting and sticking to a budget makes sure you do not spend more than the money you have coming in - this is especially important if you need to survive off a single student loan instalment each term.

You may want to make use of our ultimate student budget planner, which helps you budget for all aspects of your student life. It helps you keep track of everything from personal spending, household costs, transport and nights out.

Saving money before you start university

Savings rates are not great right now, largely due to the Bank of England Base Rate being at record lows. However, it is never a bad idea to put money aside, particularly to cover unexpected living costs.

A good way to do this is to open a savings account. Even putting a small amount away each month can make a difference further down the line.

Learn more about how different types of savings accounts work and compare savings accounts.

While you’re studying

Getting a student bank account

Many large high street banks offer current accounts just for students. These accounts typically offer services like more generous overdrafts than standard current accounts, freebies and other perks.

Read our guide on how to find the best student account.

Student discounts and perks

Many high street retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues offer discounts to students. Some only require you to prove you are a student, by showing your National Union of Students (NUS) card.

Meanwhile, others will only offer you a discount if you are part of a discount scheme, like StudentBeans, Unidays and Totum. 

Paying your bills

If you live in halls of residence, most bills are usually included in your rent. Some student houses will also include all bills in the rent you pay.

If you will live with others and have to pay your bills separately, work out exactly how you will split and pay the bills in advance to avoid falling out.

There are a range of smartphone apps you can use to split your bills and keep track of who owes whom, and how much. These include Splitwise and Splittr.

Broadband, phone, and TV

Do not just look for the cheapest package you can find - find one that covers everything you need, whether that is all the sports channels, free minutes to phone home or a decent broadband download limit.

If you will only be in your student house for 9 months, look for deals that offer a shorter contract, in case they are cheaper than having to pay for an entire year.

Use our student broadband comparison to find the cheapest internet deal that suits what you need.

Utilities

Unless it is included in your rent, you will have to pay for the gas, electricity and water you use.

As well as picking a cheap supplier for each, you can save money by limiting how much you use and submitting meter readings to make sure you are not paying for more than you are using.

For some tips on how you can save, read our guide to cutting your utility bills.

TV Licence

A standard TV Licence costs £157.50. You can pay in one go, or you can spread the cost over the year by Direct Debit. If you don’t need your licence for a full 12 months, you can apply for a refund.

Full details on how to pay for a TV Licence.

Council tax

If everyone in your house is a full-time student, you will not need to pay any council tax.

However, you will need to apply for exemption from council tax if you get sent a bill for it - you can do this on the GOV.UK website.

Working while you are studying

If you study in the UK during term time, but you have a holiday job abroad, you’ll need to pay UK tax on everything you earn above your personal allowance.

You can find out more about how students who work part-time are taxed on the GOV.UK website.

Learn more about tax codes, and what to do if you think you’ve paid too much tax.

Benefits

If you’re a student with a low income, you may be eligible for extra financial support beyond any student finance and maintenance grants you may receive. For example, you may be able to apply for Income Support.

UCAS has detailed information on how to apply for DSAs and what kind of help these payments can provide

Once you’ve graduated

Once you have completed your studies you may be looking to enter further study or to begin working.

Postgraduate student finance

You may be able to obtain a Master’s loan from the government to cover the cost of postgraduate courses. The way you apply for this kind of loan will vary depending on where you normally live.

Selling your old course books

Some universities offer the ability to sell course books you’ve bought over the course of the year to other students who may be interested in buying them second hand.
The website Save The Student! has some handy tips on how to sell your used course books online.

Understand student loan repayments

The Money Advice Service, a government-run organisation that provides advice, guides and online tools to help you manage your personal finance, has a detailed guide on how loan repayments will work for you.

Get the right bank account for you

As mentioned earlier your student bank account will usually turn into a ‘graduate’ account once you finish your course.

It is worth checking how your existing student account will treat any overdraft options you have, and how they change after you’ve finished studying. You can continue to use your student account after you graduate or get a new student account that offers a better overdraft.

Compare student bank accounts to find the best deal

The MyTutor Guide to UCAS: Your One-Stop Guide

https://www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/the-mytutor-guide-to-ucas-your-one-stop-guide/

This guide contains plenty of helpful information such as:

• A useful, step-by-step guide for parents whose children are applying to university through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The guide explores a good range of issues in a detailed but easily accessible way.
• Information to help guide parents through the application process, including important considerations such as visas, disabled access, and funding (did you know that 80% of students use a loan to pay for their degree?).
• Practical tips and advice that will prove helpful to your teen’s UCAS application, including tips on choosing courses and universities, filling out the education and employment sections of the application, how to write the best personal statement, how to get references, and submitting the application itself.
• A section on the benefits of mentorship – letting students and parents know that help is available from tutors who have been through the same process themselves.

Image: Oxford University.

ABC Comment, have your say below:

PROTEST - Irish housing activists are building for the protest at 2 pm Saturday at the Custom House. The Customs House is an 18th-century building in Dublin, Ireland which houses the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Social distancing must be practised and Covid-19 mask's worn.

Please watch the video below. 

ABC Comment, have your say below: