Author Archives: Maureen

Will you be lonely this Christmas?

December 18, 2013   Carers, Older care, ukcuts
17 December 2013 Last updated at 10:06

 

For most people this is probably the busiest time of year.Nights spent at parties and catching up with friends, culminating with a Christmas surrounded by family.

But the festive period is not like that for everyone.

Age UK estimates about 450,000 will be spending this Christmas alone.

A combination of the ageing population and the fact families are dispersed across the country – and abroad for that matter – means it is not always easy to get together.

Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, says it is a “chilling” thought, which combined with the shorter days and poorer weather, results in the festive period being one of the most vulnerable times of year for the frailest in society.

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A health trust is celebrating the success of its first term in a series of workshops

December 17, 2013   Carers, mental health, Norfolk

Celebration event for first term of Norfolk and Suffolk recovery college

The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Recovery College celebration event at Dunston Hall. Speaker Sue Howlett. Picture: Denise Bradley The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Recovery College celebration event at Dunston Hall. Speaker Sue Howlett. Picture: Denise Bradley

Adam Gretton Health correspondent adam.gretton@archant.co.uk
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
11:58 AM

A health trust is celebrating the success of its first term in a series of workshops and courses to empower people with mental health challenges to become experts in their own recovery.

Around 70 people attended a celebration event for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s (NSFT) Recovery College, which was set up earlier this year.

More than 120 students attended one day workshops and courses on offer in the first term of the college, which are run from Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich, and have been staged across Norfolk and Suffolk.

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MPs urge scrapping of ‘bedroom tax’

December 16, 2013   benefits, Carers, Scotland, ukcuts, Uncategorized

A House of Commons select committee has called on David Cameron’s Government to scrap the “bedroom tax” changes to housing benefit.

16th December 2013

The Scottish Affairs Committee said that while ministers considered whether to repeal the measure, the Government should suspend the penalty for claimants who cannot reasonably be offered alternative accommodation.

The MPs said the measure, which cuts housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have a spare room, was ” a budget cut suffered by those in greatest need”.

The interim report was opposed by Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs on the Labour-led committee, but they failed to prevent it being produced.

The Government reduced entitlement to housing benefit for working-age tenants in April 2013. Those with an extra bedroom have a reduction of 14% to their eligible rent, and those with two or more extra bedrooms lose 25%.

The Government estimated that 80,000 claimants in Scotland would be affected by the bedroom tax, with an average weekly loss of £12.

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