Work TV

LEEDS - Champion volunteer, David Harrison, has been updating these documents for the benefit of those in the Leeds area as part of an initiative organised by the Leeds Food Aid Network.

We love this infographic and we hope it will help.

City Centre Map:

This map shows some of the drop-in food provision and services that are available in Leeds city centre, particularly for people who are homeless. 

This map can be used by people needing the services, to help them to find the venues.

More details about these services and other services outside the city centre are on the Homeless and Food Aid Document. 

ABC Comment, have your say below:

UNPAID BENEFITS - The Social Security Committee visited Wester Hailes Education Centre as they continued their inquiry into benefit uptake. The Committee met with various organisations and individuals to try to uncover why a huge number of benefits remain unclaimed.

The Committee then visited a Community Flat run by Calders Residents Association where Broomhouse Community One Stop Shop offer help and advice.

Image: Bob Doris MSP

Following the visit, Bob Doris MSP, Convener of the Social Security Committee, said:

“We launched our inquiry into benefit uptake as the Committee is concerned by estimates which suggest millions of pounds in benefits are going unclaimed by those eligible for them.
“Our committee visit to the Wester Hailes Education Centre provided an invaluable opportunity for us to meet with creative and resourceful organisations, volunteers and locals who have worked hard to make sure that those in need receive the benefits they are entitled to. We also heard about some of the barriers that people face that lead them to not claim benefits that they may be eligible for.”
“The Committee would like to thank each of the community groups, organisations and individuals who took the time to meet with us and have helped inform our ongoing inquiry.”

The Committee heard from the following groups:

• Broomhouse Community One Stop Shop;
• City of Edinburgh Council Housing Support;
• Foursquare;
• Maximise Project.

 ABC Note: More details on the inquiry can be found here.  

Background

The Committee held an informal session at the Wester Hailes Education Centre, Edinburgh with various organisations before visiting a Community Flat run by Calders Residents Association where Broomhouse Community One Stop Shop have an outreach base.

ABC Comment, have your say below:

TRAINING - Funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund and South East Business Boost, the ABC has been getting some excellent business management training. This Project Management course was delivered at Southend’s Civic Centre by Grae Laws a project management expert at Beyond Touch Ltd.

The training course was organised by Enterprise Support Alliance based in Cambridge, a well-known organisation in business training and personal development. CEO Pat Smith was on hand to ensure all ran smoothly.

Project Management – the basic steps, we learnt about the following:

Constructing a PID a Project Initiation Document, we then moved on to create a Project Management Canvas, a R.A.C.I a Responsibility Matrix showing key members in the team, a Resource List, PERT which stands for Project Evaluation Review Technique, a project GANTT Chart, a Communications Plan (Comms Plan), a Risk Register and of course a Project Cost.

We also looked at Project Management software and shared ideas. There were many experienced business people on the course and it was fun to share ideas and avoid the 'chalk and talk' style of teaching you get on some courses. The course was very hands-on with attendees taking part in actual project planning.

Image: Trainer Grae Laws.

The great thing about learning such techniques is they can be adapted to any situation from making a cake to managing a major construction project.

A career in project management can be well paid and if you get a chance to attend courses run by these organisations, the training is of the highest calibre.

Image: Grae Laws, a project management expert at Beyond Touch Ltd discusses actual paper examples. 

Image: Gannt Charts were use to build Liberty ships in WW2 to replace Allied losses.

Image: The Project Management Canvas.

Image: PERT (Project Evaluation Review Technique). 

Image: Pat Smith. CEO of the Enterprise Support Alliance, based in Cambridge.

ABC Note: Pat Smith, has over 30 years senior management experience in economic development. This experience has been gained working in complex, multiple stakeholder environments across mainland Europe, North London, Greater Essex, and the 6 counties of the East of England.

ABC Comment, would you find such a course useful?

FOOD POVERTY - As the General Election nears, the Trussell Trust is calling for politicians of all parties to pledge to protect people from hunger by ensuring everyone has enough money for the basics. The charity reports more people than ever before are being forced to food banks, with more than 820,000 emergency food parcels given out in the past six months.

New data released today shows April to September 2019 to be the busiest half-year period for food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network since the charity opened. During the six months, 823,145 three-day emergency food parcels were given to people in crisis in the UK; more than a third of these (301,653) went to children.

This is a 23% increase on the same period in 2018 – the sharpest rate of increase the charity has seen for the past five years.

The main reasons for people needing emergency food are low benefit income (36%), and delays (18%) or changes (16%) to benefits being paid.

The new figures come just a week after the Trussell Trust released State of Hunger, the most in-depth study ever published into hunger and the drivers of food bank use in the UK. The research revealed:

• The average weekly income of households at food banks is only £50 after paying rent
• One in five have no money coming in at all in the month before being referred for emergency food
• 94% of people at food banks are destitute

State of Hunger shows there are three drivers hitting people simultaneously and leaving no protection from hunger and poverty. These drivers are problems with the benefits system, ill health or challenging life experiences, and a lack of local support.

One of the key issues people at food banks face is the five week wait for a first Universal Credit payment. Although Universal Credit is not the only benefit payment people at food banks experience problems with, the majority (65%) of food bank referrals made in April – Sept 2019 due to a delay in benefits being paid in the UK were linked to Universal Credit.

At the moment, people moving onto the government’s new benefits system have to wait at least five weeks – and often longer – with no money. People can get offered an Advance Payment, but this is a loan that must be paid back, often forcing people into debt.

As the election nears, the Trussell Trust is calling for politicians on all sides to pledge to protect people from hunger by ensuring everyone has enough money for the basics.  It is asking the next government to start working towards a future where no one needs a food bank by:

1. Ending the five week wait for Universal Credit
2. Ensuring benefit payments cover the cost of living
3. Investing in local emergency support for people in crisis

The Trussell Trust’s chief executive Emma Revie said:

 “More people than ever before are being forced to food banks’ doors. Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty, but currently thousands of women, men and children are not receiving sufficient protection from destitution.

 “This is not right. But we know this situation can be fixed – our benefits system could be the key to unlocking people from poverty. This General Election, all political parties must pledge to protect people from hunger by ensuring everyone has enough money for the basics. We want our next government to start working towards a future where no one needs a food bank by ending the five week wait for Universal Credit; ensuring benefit payments cover the cost of living; and investing in local emergency support for people in crisis.

“Together, these three changes will put money back into the pockets of people who most need our support. It’s in our power as a country to end the need for food banks. This can change.”

Image: Trussell Trust reports 23% increase in Food Bank use.

ABC Comment, have your say below:

WORKER EXPLOITATION - SNP candidate for Glasgow South, Stewart McDonald, has announced his party will ramp up pressure on the UK government to ban exploitative unpaid trial shifts once and for all.  
 
The SNP’s manifesto for the upcoming UK General Election will contain a commitment to introduce legislation on Unpaid Trial Shifts in the next Parliament - with the aim of ending the practice of employers asking job applicants to work for hours, days, or even weeks without any payment or guarantee of a job at the end of it.
 
Mr McDonald, who has served as the MP for Glasgow South since 2015, has led on the issue in Westminster by introducing a Private Members Bill that was eventually blocked by the Tory government.
 
It is estimated that unpaid work trial shifts contribute to an estimated £3 billion in lost wages in the UK every year. 
 
Yesterday (Saturday 9^th),  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced SNP MPs will demand the next UK government delivers equal pay for equal work by ending the rip-off of 89,000 young workers in Scotland.
 
Commenting, SNP candidate Stewart McDonald said:
 
"I’ve heard countless horror stories from people across the country who are being asked to work several hours unpaid, without knowing if they will even get the job – if there even is one available. It’s a soul destroying practice that must stop.
 
“As we head in to the Christmas period in particular, we will see a rise in people being offered unpaid trials shifts, often advertised where no job even exists. This must be the last Christmas of the unpaid work trial.
 
“Whilst I was pleased to secure new government guidelines that make clear unpaid trials are wrong, it is obvious that this is not enough and we need proper legislation to outlaw unpaid trial shifts.  
 
“The SNP is the party of workers’ rights and have a solid record in advancing them where we can at Holyrood, as well as seeking greater work place protections at a UK level.
 
“Whilst the Tory government went out of its way to block previous legislation, there is a huge consensus across the country that unpaid trial shifts are pernicious and plainly unfair. Unpaid shifts serve as a blockage to those trying to find honest, paid work and must go.
 
“So today the SNP is laying down a challenge to every political party in the UK: back our plans to get rid of unpaid trial shifts or stand with the Tories who continue to deny workers a fair wage.”

ABC Comment, have your say below:

LEGAL AID - One organisation that has expanded its services of late is the Suffolk Law Centre that can now provide advice and assistance where some or all of the cost can be provided by Legal Aid.

Legal advice is being provided by a dedicated housing caseworker, externally supervised by a housing solicitor from Hackney Community Law Centre. 

 We recently met housing legal expert James Hanlon at the Suffolk Law Centre and we can vouch for the high quality of the help and advice you can expect to receive. Clients come from as far afield as Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex said James. 

 The type of work the law centre deal with day-to-day is varied. Possession claims can be brought by local authorities, housing associations and private landlords and help can be made available as soon as possession is sought, i.e. when a notice seeking possession is served.

 Legal Aid can also finance counterclaims including disrepair counterclaims.

 More complex is mortgage repossessions which are classified as a debt matter and clients must first apply via the Civil Legal Advice helpline to be referred to the Suffolk Law Centre.

 A growing problem is a homelessness and the threat of homelessness and those seeking assistance from a local authority under Part 6 or Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. This includes advice on entitlement and suitability of accommodation.

Financial help is also available for the review of any decision made by a local authority. Legal Aid may cover an appeal to the county court provided public law merit tests are met and may be provided to clients living in unsuitable accommodation that could be considered as being unreasonable to continue to occupy.

 Legal Aid is also available for unlawful eviction claims and threatened unlawful eviction. The representation can be provided purely for reinstatement.

 One again, Legal Aid is available for advice and assistance regarding housing disrepair and for bringing a claim for an injunction to remove or reduce a serious risk of harm to a client or a member of their family.

 Advice and representation are also available to those seeking accommodation under certain community care provisions. E.g. Children Act 1989 s17/s20-s24, Mental Health Act 1983 s117, Care Act 2014 Part 1.

Victims of harassment can also apply for Legal Aid to bring proceedings under the Harassment Act 1997 or to defend against such injunction. Legal Aid can fund advice and a warning letter.

Where agencies have failed in their statutory duties, Legal Aid can enable a Judicial Review.

Homelessness is creating an increasing caseload but Universal Credit has brought in much stricter tests regarding UK residency and this is causing issues for people say the Law Centre who have lived in the UK for years. 

There are rules regarding financial eligibility for Legal Aid please visit: http://civil-eligibility-calculator.justice.gov.uk/

Advice is also availale in these areas:

Legal advice is available in the following areas:

• Small claims , contracts
• Dispute resolution
• Employment
• Family
• Personal Injury
• Insolvency
• Housing

The Tackling Discrimination in The East provides free legal advice and representation for people who have suffered unlawful discrimination, on the basis of the following protected characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion and belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Living Rights

Living Rights Project is an EU funded project to give EU migrants legal information and referral to advice.

We found the advice and assistance to be excellent and this Legal aid contract is providing a great deal of benefits to clients. 

ABC Note: For more information, you can call the Suffolk Law Centre on 01473 408111 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

You can visit their website here:

ABC Comment, have you used a law centre, what did you think?

MISLEADING ADVERTISING - The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) finds DWP’s “facts” were all misleading.

In its ruling, the ASA said the DWP couldn’t sufficiently substantiate its claims about Universal Credit. It said the so-called “facts” presented in the adverts were all misleading. These included claims that:

• people could move into work faster under Universal Credit
• payments could be made sooner than five weeks
• people could get “advance payments” (with no explanation that these are loans that come with conditions).

Jonathan Blades, External Relations Manager and Parliamentary Co-Chair of the Disability Benefits Consortium of with the ABC is a member , said "It’s equally disgraceful these adverts have cost the taxpayer more than £225,000, at a time when disabled people are typically losing £1,200 a year thanks to welfare system changes. The DWP must apologise for its actions and concentrate on fixing Universal Credit."

ABC Note: There will be a few red faces at the DWP HQ over this. 

ABC Comment, where the DWP wrong, what do you think, have your say below?:

EXHIBITION - The Ipswich Job Fair, Job Fair at Corn Exchange in Ipswich on 6th Nov 2019 (Wed, 6 Nov, 10:00 – 13:00) run by Jobs Fair was a well attended event. It was good to see some different employers attending as these events which have often seem to be dominated by the care homes sector in recent years. 

Jobs Fair, the event’s organisers are running around 170 events in 2020 and the organisation continues to grow their offer. There are other job fairs however and Ipswich Council HR department claim to support events each month of one sort or another. 

The Civil Nuclear Constabulary – the leading UK authority on the armed protection of the civil nuclear industry were exhibiting. Seventeen weeks of training gives new Police Officers everything they need to know to become highly trained firearms professionals. You can train to become a Dog handler, Special Branch Officer, Firearms Instructor or a Strategic Escort Group Officer: www.cnc.jobs

Image: The Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

The how to write a CV stand was the most eye-catching in custard yellow, yet no one was available and none of the leaflets gave much of a clue who was running this service. We would have liked to have known more. 

Scoots Hire based in Dereham, Norfolk, provides mopeds and scooters from just £5.57 per day. If you have a job and need to get mobile this is one solution. The all Honda fleet is available throughout Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, parts of Essex, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire and Huntingdonshire. No deposit is needed, and you don’t need to come to the offices. You will have to be vetted but it is all done on-line. www.scoots-hire.com

Image: Scoots Hire can get you to work for a very modest cost. 

Avenues provide supported living, residential and outreach services across London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Shropshire. They support people with learning disability, autism, and brain injury to make choices, build relationships and enjoy life. If you want to use your life skills to support people in your community they are recruiting: www.avenuesgroup.org.uk

Ipswich Borough Council were busy with a variety of vacancies on offer. You can sign-up for weekly job alerts at www. ipswich.gov.uk 

Fancy working as a merchandiser in major stores? You can earn £8.21 per hour and work between 5-10 hours per week. Your travel and mileage are paid. There are flexible hours over a seven-day week. Completely tailored to fit around childcare, studies and family commitments say the agency. Apply online at www.expd8.co.uk/register-for-a-vacancy.

Image: One of the job walls. 

BT was recruiting and looking for people who can run networks from the Adhara operations centre at Adastral Park. BT recruit Apprentices, Graduates, Network Engineers & Leaders. Email; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cephas Care Ltd provide a range of jobs in the care industry across Norfolk and Suffolk. If you want to make a difference to someone’s life you can find out more on; www.cephas-care.co.uk Jobs include care Manager, Deputy Care Manager, Senior Support Worker and Support Workers. Hours are flexible. 

Active Assistance is also recruiting live in & out Care Assistants, Nurses, Care Coordinators, Mobilisation Teams, Senior Support Workers and many other positions. See here: www.activecaregroup.co.uk 

Avon has been trading over one hundred and thirty years and this year is an important anniversary in the UK. You can sell and work ad hoc, or you can build your team and progress to a high income. Locally meetings are held in the Holiday Inn, London Road, IP2 0UA. Sacha Blacker is the regional Avon manager. Sacha can be contacted on 07734 879 038.   

Image: There was plenty of good advice on hand from exhibitors.    

PeoplePlus provide skills training in a safe and positive learning environment. They offer a wide range of training courses in maths, English IT and a whole variety of other skills needed in today's workplace. They have supported over 170,000 people into work since 2011. They are based in Fraser House, 23, Museum Street, Ipswich IP1 1HE. To book a place email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Grove Social Care is an agency who provide workers to companies who deliver support and accommodation to young people. Are you interested in providing support? You can find out more: www.grovesocualcare.co.uk

Fancy getting on the tools? Orwell Housing Association were offering apprenticeships in plumbing. Orwell are based in Lowestoft, You can contact Orwell Housing www.orwell-housing.co.uk and they will get you started towards learning a trade. 

A career in teaching can change lives. The Colchester Teacher Training Consortium is looking for recruits. If you are looking for new opportunities and to develop new skills the CTTC partnership was established 15 years ago and includes over 40 local schools and colleges. Annually CTTC trains around 80 primary and secondary teachers from its base at Colchester County High School for Girls.  www.colchesterttc.org.uk

Reed had a prominent stand. A variety of recruitment consultants attended. Marcella McGovern Cert PRP looks after temporary vacancies. You can contact Reed on Tel 01473 295090 or visit the website: www.reedglobal.com

Image: One happy job seeker came away with a Reed gold coin. Not quite wages yet..but one day!

These were just a few of the exhibitors attending. 

The ABC will be visiting next: 

Job Fair at Excel in London E16 

Fri 15 Nov – Sat 16 Nov

ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway

London

ABC Comments, were you present, what did you think of the show? 

PARLIAMENT - t has now been dissolved until the General Election. Therefore, there are currently no Members of Parliament. If you need help from your MP, you are out of luck...!! 

We must thank MP Will Quince for the great work he has done for the ABC. Will has been a very good constituency MP.

He has wonderful staff, and to top it all Will is a very nice person. Had Will had a higher position at the DWP than Junior Minister it would be interesting to see what difference he could make? 

We hope whoever gets in they will have a change of philosophy. Chile is a prime example how things could go, along with the 'yellow vests' in France.   Let's hope we have a government with a greater sense of fairness and a kinder attitude to those struggling. Alas, Boris Johnson seems a most unlikely candidate for changes of that sort. Boris is Britain’s Trump and if Farage fades away with no seats for his Brexit Party, the champion bullshitter 'mantle' must past to Boris

ABC Comments, have your say below:

IRELAND - The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D., has welcomed the latest statistics published by the CSO today which show that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October 2019 was 4.8%, down from 5.7% at the same time last year.

The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 117,300 in October 2019, compared to 136,700 in October 2018, which is a year-on-year drop of 19,400.

ABC Comment, have your say below: