Tag: welfare refroms

First Minister calls for changes to “broken welfare state”

Universal Credit contributing to child poverty

‘Broken’ benefits system failing Scotland’s families

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to make urgent changes to Universal Credit (UC) as she backed warnings from Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner Bruce Adamson over the ‘disproportionate effect’ of UK Government welfare policies on young people. Continue reading First Minister calls for changes to “broken welfare state”

Scrap the Cap, Stop the Evictions: exhibition launch at North Edinburgh Arts

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.