Historic legislation to establish Scotland’s first social security system has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Social Security (Scotland) Bill will give the Scottish Government the powers to deliver eleven benefits devolved as part of the Scotland Act 2016. Continue reading Scotland’s own Social Security Bill published
Over the last year Voluntary Action Scotland (led by Volunteer Glasgow and Trust Volunteering Inverclyde), Department of Work and Pensions and the wider TSI (third sector interface) network have been collaborating on making it easier for those who claim welfare benefits to volunteer. Continue reading Guidance for benefits claimants who volunteer
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.
Increased Carer’s Allowance to be delivered next summer
The first social security payments to be delivered by the Scottish Government have been outlined to parliament by Social Security Secretary Angela Constance. Continue reading More cash for carers
Over the past year almost 113,000 awards have been made under the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) scheme, with a total value of £51.9 million, according to the latest figures released by the Scottish Government. Local authorities paid out the money during the period 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017, with an average payment of £460. Continue reading £52 million spent to mitigate effects of Westminster’s Bedroom Tax
Alison Johnstone MSP, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has urged the UK Government to urgently reconsider its cap on Child Tax Credits for more than two children. Continue reading Two child cap: Johnstone urges rethink
Targets aimed at reducing child poverty in Scotland are too long range according to a report issued on Monday by the Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee. Continue reading Beef up the Bill: Committee calls for interim targets for tackling child poverty
Local people united in the fight to keep families in their homes will meet next week to plan the next stage of their campaign. Continue reading Campaigners to step up challenge to benefits cap
A group of local women and their supporters will lobby councillors as they arrive to attend the first meeting of the new city council this morning. Some of the group face becoming homeless as a result of benefits cuts and the women will urge councillors to take action to stop children being forced from their homes.
Many of the women and their families live in MSP Ben Macpherson’s Northern and Leith consituency, and the MSP’s office has taken up their case.
Ben Macpherson said: “As of April this year, the Tories have reduced their punitive Benefit Cap and the effects are, distressingly, already being sharply felt in our communities. This regressive UK Government policy is hitting vulnerable groups across our communities, causing hardship and poverty. I have been working hard to help all of those I represent who are suffering as a result of Tory UK Government welfare reform, and recently, in particular, those affected by the Tory Benefit Cap.
“With an election coming up, the Tories should be judged on their dismal record of shamefully and repeatedly punishing those less fortunate.
“As well as harmful Tory cuts, one of the biggest challenges we are facing as a result of UK Government welfare reform is a lack of clarity – and as a result people aren’t benefiting from the financial support to which they are entitled. This is causing stress and anxiety, and shockingly for some it is resulting in homelessness. This distress and injustice is both wrong and unnecessary and the Tories need to realise the anguish and grief that their policies are causing.
“As we all try to deal with the negative consequences of Tory welfare reform, there must also be a focus on ensuring that people are aware of the benefit changes currently taking place, how the changes will affect them and what financial support they are entitled to. I am glad that Edinburgh City Council have already responded to my request to assist those affected in North Edinburgh; and that, as part of this, the Council are planning to hold advice surgeries to provide clarity and support for local people, in order to try to avoid further instances of homelessness.
“Yet again though, in Scotland we are having to try to “mitigate” senseless Tory cuts. Across Scotland, the Scottish Government is spending £10.9m, up from £4.8m, to help mitigate against the Benefit Cap through LHA rates. And this week, I will be leading a debate in the Scottish Parliament about the cuts to housing support for 18 to 21 year-olds – a Tory policy which is a clear attack on young people in our country, and yet another example of the fact that the Tories are quite prepared to damage the prospects of younger and future generations. These cuts that the Tories have pushed through are putting more and more pressure on local services and support systems, as well as senselessly harming those affected.
“Mitigating all of the cuts coming from the UK Government would cost Scotland £2 billion. Scotland cannot be expected to pay twice because the Tories don’t have the decency, empathy or wisdom to provide an adequate social security safety net. We cannot give carte blanche to the Tories to keep making their senseless cuts. The Tories are the party who are responsible for proposing and implementing these futile policies and they must be the ones who are held accountable for the damage they are causing.”
He went on: “Since being elected, a number of my constituents with children have been housed in B&Bs as a result of having to declare themselves homeless. This cannot go on. I fully recognise, as does the Council, that this type of accommodation is both unacceptable and unsuitable for families, and I am glad that Edinburgh Council have said that they are taking active steps to eliminate such use of B&Bs in the near future.”
With suitable housing in short supply, it’s difficult to see how the council will tackle this crisis – and the introduction of Universal Credit will make the situation even more critical.
The council meeting starts at 10am.
Local groups Power to the People and All About Me have been joined by Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty to protest against benefits cuts. The local groups, who meet at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, aim to highlight the plight of families being made homeless as a result of welfare reforms. Continue reading Groups rally to support victims of benefits cap
