Thursday 24 February 2011

17,000 children in North and Mid Wales in deep poverty


AROUND 17,000 children in North and mid Wales are living in the deepest poverty, a shocking study has found. Gwynedd and Denbighshire are worst hit in the region with a staggering 15% of children living below the poverty line.Severe poverty for youngsters is also high in Anglesey and Conwy, where 14% of families are too poor to give a decent childhood.
The study estimates 13% of children in Wrexham and 11% in Flintshire are affected.

Save the Children called on the Chancellor to draw up an emergency plan to in the next budget to channel new jobs into the poorest areas, as well as increase financial support for low-income families.

Andrew Chalinder, head of Save the Children in Wales said: "Children up and down the country are going to sleep at night in homes with no heating, without eating a proper meal and without proper school uniforms to put on in the morning.

“No child should be born without a chance. It is a scandal that so many children in Wales are growing up in severe poverty."

Families in severe poverty, added Mr Chalinder, are going without the things many take for granted such as separate bedrooms for older boys and girls, not being able to properly celebrate birthdays or special events and not being able to build friendships by having children round for tea.

At present, the UK government has no official way to measure how many children are caught up in severe child poverty.

Save the Children said they classes severe poverty as being a lone-parent family with one child aged under 14 living on an income of less than £7,000, or a couple with two children under 14 on less than £12,500.

The Welsh authority with the highest rate of severe child poverty is Blaenau Gwent, where the estimate is one in five children (20%).

Mr Chalinder added: "If the UK government is to fulfil its commitments on child poverty, it must find a way of counting these children in greatest need. At the moment, the needs of these children aren’t fully recognised. If these children are to have a future, we must acknowledge their desperate need and urgently target government help towards them.

“Here in Wales we welcome the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to end child poverty by 2020 through the launch of the Child Poverty Strategy.

“But we further urge the Assembly government, local authorities and public bodies to establish a severe child poverty focus as part of their local child poverty strategies. This will help ensure that policy benefits those children experiencing the most intense and severe poverty"

Tuesday 22 February 2011

North Wales Ambassador Club


Whizz-Kidz is about giving disabled children and young people the independence to enjoy an active childhood – at home, at school and at play. We focus on each disabled child’s individual needs, taking into account their clinical, social, educational and developmental needs. Being independent and in control of when and where they want to go takes young disabled people from isolation to inclusion and gives them the chance to enjoy a more active childhood and realise their true potential.

The ethos of the Ambassador Clubs is ‘fun and friendship’ and they run from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturdays and during school holidays. Each day is based on a key theme such as healthy living, creativity or leadership. The programme is designed so that young people can learn key life skills, manage their own regional campaigns, play sports, develop wheelchair skills, take part in drama and music activities, whilst making new friends and having fun. All activities are free and we can also help families by providing reasonable travel expenses.

The project has been designed in consultation with our Ambassador Network. Most clubs are ‘parent free zones’, although we will encourage parents to attend the first club to learn about the activities on offer and to meet Whizz-Kidz staff, PAs and volunteers. All staff are CRB checked and all activities risk assessed prior to the commencement of each club.

Club activities are aimed at young disabled people with no or mild-moderate learning difficulties.

For young disabled people with severe learning difficulties we will offer support and advice, as well as signposting to other relevant organisations and the chance to attend other Whizz-Kidz events.

Whizz-Kidz has secured funding from BIG Lottery to run these clubs across the country over the next four years. The dates for the North Wales Ambassador Club for the next year are overleaf. We hope you will be able to help us promote this exciting opportunity to children and young people in your area.


Why would a young person join?

The Kidz Unlimited programme is designed so that young people can get the most out of being a member of their club. As well as learning new skills and making new friends, young people will have the opportunity to get a work placement, go on days out and even have a chance to attend an awards ceremony at the House of Commons in London!

When they attend for the first time they will receive an Ambassador Club welcome pack including a ruck sack, tee shirt, stickers, and loads of other goodies. All we ask for in return is that young people try and attend as many meetings as possible so they get the most from being an Ambassador. If they attend all eight meetings they will receive some gift vouchers and will automatically be entered into the grand prize draw for an iPod Touch!


Dates & Themes

4th April - Fun and friendship.

21st May - Future Leaderz.

2nd July - Campaigning Day.

13th August - You choose!

24th September - Going for Gold.

29th October - Go Team!

TBC - Healthy Living.


We want to make sure that as many young people as possible have the chance to be part of the Ambassador Network. We hope that you will be able to pass this information on to other colleagues working with children and young people.

If we can send you more leaflets, posters or application forms please email: ambassadors@whizz-kidz.org.uk or call us on 0800 151 3350.

Alternatively you can contact the Wales Ambassador Club Co-ordinator on 07919 066 085 or email z.quraishi@whizz.kidz.org.uk

Friday 18 February 2011

More than 50,000 in North Wales targeted in welfare reform

MORE than 50,000 people in North Wales will be targeted in the most radical shake-up of the welfare system in 60 years.

David Cameron admitted the reforms would be painful, but promised to end the “insidious” benefit culture and slammed the current system.
The Prime Minister’s controversial measures will see benefits stripped from claimants who repeatedly turn down job offers and ensure people are only classed as disabled if they really cannot work.
Critics warned the blueprint will hit vulnerable families – and questioned how it could succeed at a time of rising unemployment in Wales.
The latest government figures show more than 56,000 people in North Wales on out-of-work benefits, including 11,810 in Wrexham, 11,320 in Flintshire and 9,550 in Conwy. There are 8,930 in Denbighshire, 8,660 in Gwynedd and 6,140 in Anglesey.
However Denbighshire has the highest proportion of the population aged between 16 and 64 on benefits, at 15.2%, followed by Anglesey (14.7%), Conwy (14.6%), Wrexham (13.8%), Flintshire (11.8%) and Gwynedd (11.7%).
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Making low-income working families thousands of pounds worse off through welfare cuts over the next two years to claim that they will be slightly better off in 2013 is an absurd argument that will ring hollow as families suffer the toughest income squeeze for nearly a century.”
But the Prime Minister said: “We're finally going to make work pay – especially for the poorest people in society."
The proposals include replacing nearly all existing benefits with a universal credit - designed to ensure people are always better off when they are employed, and close the loophole where some couples receive more living apart.
Those who refuse to take up job offers face losing their handouts for up to three years.
Mr Cameron also announced moves to tackle the UK's "sicknote culture".
But ministers ditched controversial proposals to cut housing benefit by 10% for anyone on jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months.
Mr Cameron said the reforms would slash £5.5 billion from the welfare bill in real terms over four years.
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said thousands of Welsh households would be better off, and lift many of its poorest families out of poverty.
“Too many families in Wales are caught in the trap of benefit dependency,” she said.
“This is bad for the benefit recipients, bad for Welsh communities and bad for Wales.”
But Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane MP slammed the reform plans: “It’s a policy that doesn’t make sense at a time when the government is planning enormous job losses in the public sector, which employs 46% of people in the Vale of Clwyd and 45% in Clwyd West.”
Plaid Cymru spokesman Hywel Williams, Arfon MP, welcomed the U-turn on housing benefits, saying it was a “callous” proposal.
But he added: “While the ConDem coalition pushes ahead with slashing public sector jobs too, it cannot expect jobs to just magically appear.”
Lynne Evans, Head of Supported Housing for North Wales Housing Association, said: “Many of our residents work hard to try to get jobs and our staff work hard to support them to succeed. Lots of them give their time and efforts as volunteers, attend training programmes, and make great efforts to improve their job prospects.
“It would have been so unfair if they had lost housing benefit, and potentially lost their home, if they still had not got a job after 12 months trying.”
Business chiefs have welcomed the controversial proposals.
Regional director for the Welsh CBI David Rosser said: “We welcome the government’s plans to get people off benefits and into long-term employment, and to tackle long-term sickness.”
Rhyl City Strategy board chairman Barry Mellor gave a cautious welcome to the plans.
He said: “There is a small, hardcore minority who could work but don’t want to work and if these reforms get them into jobs I would support that. But, there are people who have been out of work, some for a long time but, need a bit of help and encouragement.”

Thursday 17 February 2011

Welfare Reform Bill: restoring the welfare system to make work pay

Launching the Welfare Reform Bill with the Prime Minister today, Iain Duncan Smith hailed what promises to be the biggest shake up of the system for 60 years.

Central to the Bill will be the introduction of Universal Credit, which will simplify a benefits system that has become unmanageable, make work pay and help release millions of people from the misery of welfare dependency and break intergenerational cycles of worklessness.

These changes will mean:

2.7 million households are better off.
Over 1 million households seeing an increase in their weekly income of £25 with 85 per cent of this increase going to the poorest families in the country.
Nearly 1 million people out of poverty including 350,000 children.
The Bill will radically reshape Britain’s welfare system for the next sixty years by:

sweeping away the patchwork of benefits and credits and replacing them with a Universal Credit to make work pay;
introducing a proper system of conditionality and make sure that unscrupulous individuals are not able to abuse or defraud the system;
a Personal Independence Payment for disabled people targeting support at those who really need it;
a new system of child support which puts the interest of the child first;
introducing new powers to tackle the problem of fraud and error.
From this summer Ministers will also bring in the biggest back to work programme since the war helping millions of people get into jobs. Delivered by private and voluntary sector organisations, the Work Programme will end the culture of a one size fits all approach.

Announcing the Bill Iain Duncan Smith said:

"The welfare system was created to meet the demand for a fairer society. Today, this Bill will seek to restore the welfare system to those founding principles."

"Our reforms will end the absurdity of a system where people too often get rewarded for doing the wrong thing, and those who strive to do the best by their families get penalised.

"The publication of the Welfare Reform Bill will put work, rather than hand-outs, at the heart of the welfare system. It will ensure that we continue to provide appropriate support for those genuinely unable to work, as we must and as we should. And it will provide a fair deal for the taxpayer."

Alongside the publication of the Bill, the Prime Minister and Secretary of State announced a review into the sickness absence system. With 300,000 people off work every year claiming sickness-related benefits, the Government has asked David Frost and Dame Carol Black to consider whether with the right help and support more people could stay in work in some form.

The Welfare Reform Bill will include:


Universal Credit, which will make more than two and a half million of the poorest people in Britain better off. At its heart, the Universal Credit has a simple ambition – to make work pay, especially for the poorest. This will finally make it easier for people to see they will be consistently and transparently better off for each hour they work and every pound they earn.

The Personal Independence Payment which will replace Disability Living Allowance with a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit fit for the 21st century. It will be supported by a new assessment which makes greater use of evidence, enabling us to more accurately and consistently assess individuals to determine who will benefit most from additional support.

By 2012 we will also have new powers to tackle the problem of fraud and error, which under the current system is highly susceptible – costing the taxpayer around £5.2bn a year. The new measures include, tougher one-strike, two-strike and three-strike rules, with a benefit ban of 3 years for people who offend repeatedly. A single investigation service and a new mobile regional taskforce will be set up to investigate each and every claim in high fraud areas, along with Civil Penalties - £50 for more minor offences.

With Housing Benefit expenditure spiralling out of control for over a decade, it’s absolutely vital that we take urgent steps to return fairness to the system to make sure that people on benefits make the same choices about the homes they rent as hard working families have to make.

It is not reasonable that households on out of work benefits should receive a greater income from the state than the average working household receives in wages. We will therefore introduce a cap, linked to average weekly earnings, which will limit the amount of benefits a household can receive.

The Welfare Reform Bill will time-limit contributory Employment Support Allowance to 12 months for those who are able to prepare for work. Those with low or no other sources of income would qualify for income-related Employment Support Allowance once their contributory ESA had ended. This underlines the principle that ESA claimants are expected to move towards the workplace and will reduce long-term inactivity or benefit dependency.

The bill is published at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/154/11154.pdf

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmbills/154/en/11154en.pdf

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Protection of Freedoms bill announcement

You may now be aware that the government has today unveiled its Protection of Freedoms Bill which aims to clarify the process of vetting for those who work with children and vulnerable adults.
The Bill seeks to scale back the vetting and barring scheme and criminal records regime to common-sense levels while ensuring vulnerable groups are appropriately protected and the proposals include:
  • merging the CRB and ISA to form a streamlined new body providing a proportionate barring and criminal records checking service
  • a large reduction in the number of positions requiring checks. Only those working closely and regularly with children and vulnerable adults will need them
  • portability of criminal record checks between jobs to cut down on needless bureaucracy
  • an end to a requirement for those working or volunteering with vulnerable groups to register with the VBS and then be continuously monitored
  • stopping employers who knowingly request criminal records checks on individuals who are not entitled to them.
The press release is available at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/news/criminal-record-checks
To access the Protection of Freedoms Bill http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/protectionoffreedoms.html

Other relevant information:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/vetting-barring-scheme/
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/crime/vbs-report
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/crime/criminal-records-review-phase1/

Justice for All - Love Legal Aid



Justice for All is the campaign to ensure everyone is treated fairly under the law, no matter who they are, how much money they have or where they live. We believe free, independent advice and representation on legal matters is essential to achieve justice for all. We are a coalition of legal and advice agencies, politicians, trade unions, community groups and members of the public.

What we're about:
  • We value justice for all because community legal and advice services help the most vulnerable in a community get treated fairly.
  • We value justice for all because the right advice early on can save £10 for every £1 invested and keep families together in their homes, and in work and education.
  • We want justice for all, yet demand for advice is outstripping supply.
  • We want justice for all, yet it is becoming increasingly difficult to get expert advice and representation.
To achieve Justice for all:

•We need advisers to be free to advise on any problem, where and when they are needed.
•We need adequate levels of government spending on legal aid, but spent on services not on wasteful systems.


Contact us

Want to get in touch with Justice for All?
Email us at: campaign@justice-for-all.org.uk
Press enquiries e-mail: press@justice-for-all.org.uk

or call Justice for All's press spokespeople:
Citizens Advice - 020 7833 7078 (Press enquiries only)
Law Centres Federation - 0207 842 0736 (Press enquiries only)

Who am I contacting?

The Justice for All coordinated by a steering group comprised of founding members and representative organisations who believe in justice for all. The steering group shares responsibility for responding to all enquiries. For more information on the steering group, please email us.

Monday 14 February 2011

Blue badge drivers face new medical tests

Disabled drivers face tough new medical tests before they can get Blue Badges for parking, in a Government clampdown on abuse of the scheme.
Around 2.5 million people currently pay councils in England and Wales for the badges, which allow free parking in pay-and-display bays, at meters and even on single- and double-yellow lines.

However, ministers estimate that around half of the users are not really entitled to the badges - and the fraud costs town halls millions of pounds a year in lost parking fees and fines.
Under the Government's plans, to be announced within days, councils will be given additional powers to impose checks on applicants similar to those undergone by people claiming disability benefits.
At the same time, ministers will announce an increase in the price of a badge from £2 to £10. The price rise for the badges, which last up to three years, is the first since 1983.
Source: The Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/8320554/Blue-badge-drivers-face-new-medical-tests.html


Wednesday 9 February 2011

Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales (CREW) - Events Notice

Community Housing Cymru, Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales (CREW) and Care and Repair Cymru have organised a series of local events in the election campaign period. The events are called Are You On-board and provide an opportunity to meet local candidates. Each event will examine national and local issues in housing, care and regeneration and explore some of the work being done locally and the current challenges faced. Each event will include 3 spokespeople and 3 tenants/service users who will give their perspective on the key issues in their local area. The event will end with a cross-party panel discussion with sitting AMs and prospective candidates.

The table below indicates the dates and places for each event and the person to contact to register attendance and receive further details. The events will provide an opportunity to engage with local candidates and discover more about these three key policy areas.

Newport
28th February - 9:30 – 12pm
Denise.Taylor@seren-group.co.uk

Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
28th February - 2:30 – 5pm
Kate.Bradbrook@monmouthshirehousing.co.uk

Cwmbran, Torfaen
1st March - 9:30 – 12pm
ben.black@bronafon.org.uk

Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent
1st March - 2:30 – 5pm
paula.skyrme@melinhomes.co.uk

Ystrad, Caerphilly
2nd March - 9:30 – 12pm
thughes@uwha.co.uk


Merthyr, Merthyr Tydfil
2nd March - 2:30 – 5pm
sjones@mtha.org.uk

Newtown, Powys
3rd March - 9:30 – 12pm
awilliams@mid-walesha.co.uk

Wrexham
3rd March - 2:30 – 5pm
Sarah.Manners@wwha.co.uk

Flint, Flintshire
4th March - 9:30 – 12pm
judith.gavin@pennaf.co.uk

Rhyl, Denbighshir
4th March - 2:30 – 5pm
ceri.evans@taiclwyd.com

Llanrwst, Conwy
7th March - 9:30 – 12pm
Sandra.Lee@cartreficonwy.org
 
Holyhead, Anglesey
7th March - 2:30 – 5pm
Linda@taieryri.co.uk

Caernarfon, Gwynedd
8th March - 9:30 – 12pm
gwenan.davies@ccgwynedd.org.uk

Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
8th March - 2:30 – 5pm
elspeth.edwards@taiceredigion.org.uk

Haverfordwest, Pembrookshire
9th March - 9:30 – 12pm
donna.dennison@pembs-ha.co.uk

Carmarthen
9th March - 2:30 – 5pm
hilary.jones@bromyrddin.co.uk

Swansea
10th March - 9:30 – 12pm
Joanna.Margetts@gwalia.com

Neath, Port Talbot
10th March - 2:30 – 5pm
janet.gange@coastalhousing.co.uk

RCT, Pontypridd
11th March - 9:30 – 12pm
LouiseO@rcthomes.co.uk

Cefn Glas, Bridgend
11th March - 2:30 – 5pm
diane.slater@v2c.org.uk

Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
14th March - 9:30 – 12pm
mared.williams@newydd.co.uk

Cardiff
14th March - 2:30 – 5pm
s.reynolds@taffhousing.co.uk


Professor Dave Adamson, OBE
Chief Executive
Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales (CREW)
Ynysfach Engine House
Ynysfach Rd
Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1AG
Tel: 01685 389153 or 01685 385449
Mob: 07875 523 360
Email: dave.adamson@regenwales.org
Web: www.regenwales.org

STEP UP PROJECT OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED

 
On Friday January 28th South West Rhyl Communities First, launched a new innovative mobile project.
“The Step up Project” has been developed by South West Rhyl Communities First and a variety of local partners to give residents in the area access to a doorstep service, helping them to gain access to relevant information on a wide range of services, activities, events and training. Information and services available will encourage residents to become actively involved in gaining skills, increasing their confidence, raising their aspirations and improve their chances of gaining meaningful employment in the future.
The Step up project is designed to encourage more people to take advantage of a doorstep extension of local services and actively engage people to participate in activities and events that will improve their lives, reduce poverty and provide them with opportunities to broaden their aspirations.
Research conducted by South West Rhyl Communities First identified a number of priorities for residents including the need to address service & public information are made more available within the local area.

Local resident Steffani Butler says: “People are not likely to visit somewhere that is out of their area whether it’s a mile away or four miles away. It makes sense to go to them.’”
Chris Ruane M.P for the Vale of Clwyd who along with Ann Jones Assembly member for the area who officially launched the project said ” “The step up bus will help take vital information on jobs, training, volunteering to individual streets in our communities. There are hundreds of local organisations which can transform lives of individuals, families and communities and this bus will help take this to the people.”

Thursday 3 February 2011

Referendum on the law-making powers of the National Assembly for Wales

3 March is your chance to have your say.


On 3 March 2011 there will be a referendum on the law-making powers of the National Assembly for Wales and Denbighshire's Counting Officer Mohammed Mehmet is urging voters in the County to be ready to have their say.

Voters that want to have their say in the referendum need to have registered to vote by Wednesday 16 February. The electoral register is updated annually and if your details have recently changed, for example if you have moved house, then you need to register with your new details if you want the opportunity to vote in the referendum on 3 March.
If you are a student, you can register at your home and term time addresses which ensures that you have a choice of where to vote on 3 March.

Mohammed Mehmet said: “Registering to vote is simple, quick and easy. You can go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk, print off a registration form and send it us. It only takes a few minutes to secure your vote for this important event, so make sure you do so now.”

“This is also a good time to consider where you will be on 3 March and if you would find it more convenient to vote by post or by proxy, where you ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. To do this, you will need to fill in a form, which is also available on www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
“The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that takes decisions and makes laws that affect you, so it is important that you take part in the referendum so that your voice is heard on its future”.
“The only way in which you can do this is by ensuring that you are registered to vote and that you do this by February 16.”
The Assembly has powers to make laws in 20 subject areas. In each subject area, the Assembly can make laws on some matters, but not on others. The referendum will ask voters whether the Assembly should now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for.
For more information contact your local electoral services department on 01824 706101 or visit http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/