Spending Reviews and budgets are always about priorities, especially when times are hard. This week, the Chancellor chose to remove money from the poorest both here and abroad, whilst massively increasing spending on the military. On many levels, these are the wrong priorities. Each of these …
Universal Credit
Response to Government’s announcement on winter food provision for families
It is simply not right that children can go hungry in the UK – especially during a pandemic. The Government’s announcement of a grant scheme to fund food programmes this winter is much needed and very welcome. Local churches will continue to play a crucial role in delivering projects and ensuring …
How I fell out of love with Universal Basic Income
I desperately want to see an end to Universal Credit. Last month I sat with a church member facing threats of eviction from her landlord. Like many people at the moment, work has dried up and she has no income coming in. Her application for Universal Credit has been denied repeatedly. She will get …
Holiday Hunger, Summer 2020
Each year around 3 million children – of whom 1 million receive free school meals – are at risk of “holiday hunger”. These families’ budgets have difficulty stretching to meet the added costs of having children at home full time. In many ways, this year will look very different – but the pressures …
Universal Credit is still not delivering
Today, the government spending watchdog the National Audit Office has reported on Universal Credit and has again found it wanting. The government has been very keen to say how successful they have been in enrolling people onto Universal Credit during the Covid crisis. But this report lays out …
Supporting everyone during the Coronavirus crisis
The response to COVID-19 has seen the government take unprecedented measures to strengthen the support available for those who need it. Changes have already been made to Statutory Sick Pay. The government have announced a job retention scheme, offering grant support for employers to retain employees …
How to help foodbanks under pressure
The Coronavirus pandemic is placing pressure across society. This is increasingly affecting the most vulnerable in our communities, who are finding it harder to access the support they need. Already, more families need help from foodbanks. For some people work has dried up and the benefit system …
Universal Credit’s website pointed people to work in strip-clubs
Yes, you did read the headline correctly. The first search suggestion in the online “Universal Credit toolkit” for “elementary services occupations” – a page for jobseekers without qualifications – is “striptease artist”. For the avoidance of doubt, the job description given was “dances at adult …
Meet Your MP – Adventures in Asking & Action (Day 5)
“Listened well… but didn’t change her view” This week we are celebrating some of the stories of congregations from our churches who have taken up the challenge to meet their local MP. Each congregation was able to demonstrate their concerns for the local area, express their hopes and dreams, …
Brexit, Populism and Universal Credit
“A willingness by politicians to say what they think the public want to hear, and a willingness by large parts of the public to believe what they are told by populist politicians, has led to a deterioration in our public discourse” Justice Secretary David Gauke, 3rd July 2019 In 2010 the …