Royston/Wardieburn – Page 37 – The NEN

Friday was a frantic afternoon for the women of the All About Me group – the women presented their new film at the Central Halls in Tollcross before getting back across town to screen the film again and launch an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia at North Edinburgh Arts. The events were the latest efforts to publicise the dreadful impact changes to the benefits system are having on families.

The exhibition highlights the actions taken by the group to support friends faced with losing their homes

None of the young women had any experience of political campaigning but over the last six months the women have:

Met with politicians and community activists to highlight their plight
Protested at council meetings
Staged peaceful protests at the North Local Office
‘Occupied’ Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson MSP’s constituency office
Made a film with filmmaker George Williamson which eloquenty tells their story and the journey so far.

While the group has won some small victories, another local family lost their home last week. The women are determined: the fight goes on.

See the exhibition at North Edinburgh Arts.

A day of celebration but serious challenges lie ahead

Local women have just completed a lottery-funded Making It Work employability course and they celebrated their success with a special event at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre last week. The highlight of the event was the premiere of a film made to document the young mothers’ experiences, and while there were smiles and laughs there were tears and no little anger too.

Film maker George Williamson worked alongside the women during their experience of getting ready to return to the world of work and he recorded the difficulties the young mums have faced along the way. From juggling household finances and getting kids to and from school to finding affordable, flexible childcare is challenging enough – but then to be hit with changes to the benefits system that could see you lose your home adds a whole new series of anxieties.

Some of the women have been faced with as a result of welfare reforms, exacerbated by cuts to Discretionary Housing Payments. Some don’t know where they will be living from one day to the next – yet they are still expected to look for work.

This sudden change in circumstances has seen the women add another string to their bow: lobbying and campaigning. The women have lobbied councillors at the City Chambers and last week held a peaceful protest at Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson’s constituency office in Roseburn.

The film sparked a debate about the implications of welfare reforms and benefits at the packed Royston Wardieburn event which was attended by MSPs Alison Johnstone and Ben Macpherson, North and Leith prospective MP Diedre Brock and new Forth Councillor Ellie Bird.

“We want to work, but it’s not easy”, said Johan. “There are a lot of barriers.”

“Not knowing where your kids will be sleeping is heartbreaking. It’s the not knowing that’s most upsetting – that’s the hardest part” said Rachel, one of the victims of the welfare reforms.

“Mums work all day, every day and even when the kids reach school age there are very few jobs that fit around the school day”, said Heather. “Single mums do want to work, but not just any job at any cost.”

Yvonne was lucky enough to be offered her ‘dream job’ – only to have to turn it down when childcare arrangements fell through. “It’s a nightmare to try to plan work commitments around childcare. There needs to be much more flexibility” she said.

All About Me mums organised and ran the whole event with the help of their support worker Pauline Nicol-Bowie, who also wrote a poem for the occasion. The Benefit Cap was read by group member Jade Ashley-Parker (below).

The poem, The Benefit Cap, reads:

Oh look, here they come

Scrounging their benefits

and away they run.

Make-up, eyebrows, brand new phones,

Dinnae bother paying their loans.

Bairns in designer gear

Jog on, pal!

We live in fear.

Sanctions, PIP, ESA

I cannae pay my bills

What am I tae dae?

Benefits caps, foodbanks,

Homelessness to name a few.

Ignore us, Councillors,

‘Cos it’s no’ happening to you.

Another week, another meeting,

Get a job is all I hear,

I’m trying!!

Sick of greetin’,

I’m never gettting a career.

Kids are fed, homework done,

Oh,today wasnae fun!

Kids tucked up nice and cosy,

One more thing, their kiss and story.

Kids asleep, it;s time for ma tea

Oh, shit!

There’s nowt for me

It’s okay, I’ll eat tomorrow,

It just means I’ll have to borrow.

Even with my daily struggles

My kids will always get lots of cuddles.

All my worries are so depressing

Thank God for my kids

THEY ARE MY BLESSING!

Capital City Partnership’s Irene Thomson (below), who leads the Making it Work project, said: “This was a Big Lottery funded initiative to support lone parents into work. Over the four-year duration we have supported 100 people into work and eighty into training, far exceeding the targets set at the outset so it has been a great success.

“It will be really sad to leave behind such a great bunch of very inspirational women, but we hope that we are leaving them in a better place.”

The funding for the group ends in September, but the women plan to continue to meet regularly. They also have a Facebook page.

Congratulations Tasha, Ashleigh, Heather, Rachael, Michelle, Johan, Jade, Deborah and Siobhan who made the event such a success – and congratulations too to everyone else who took part in the group but who couldn’t be there on the day.

There will be two further opportunities to see the film and meet the women this month.

On Friday 23 June, the Making it Work team will hold an event at Central Hall, Tollcross from 1.30 – 3.30pm. As well as an opportunity to meet the parents and see the film there will be face-painting and balloon modelling activities with free creche.

The group will also present their film at North Edinburgh Arts on Friday 23 June at 4.30pm.