Author Archives: wendy
Woman told to find work is in a COMA
A mentally ill woman forced on to the Coalition’s Work Programme is in a coma – but is still being sent letters by benefits assessors.
Bipolar patient Sheila Holt, 47, was sectioned in December after being taken off Income Support. Days later she had a heart attack and fell into the coma.
This weekend, Miss Holt, of Rochdale, Gtr Manchester, was sent a letter by Atos to ask why she was not working.
Local Labour MP Simon Danczuk said: “I am in favour of welfare reform but trying to bulldoze through changes in a reckless and insensitive way is not the right way to go about it.
“This Government is causing a huge amount of damage and I have no doubt that Sheila’s story is being repeated in towns and cities up and down the country.
Imperial College London is first university to offer emergency child and adult care
Imperial College London is the first university in the UK to offer its staff access to emergency child and adult care, as part of a new service to support parents and carers at the College.
Date of article: 20-Jan-14
Article By: Sue Learner, News Editor
The new service is being rolled out in partnership with My Family Care, a specialist provider of family-friendly services and resources, to provide all staff with access to three backup care services – emergency childcare, school holiday cover and backup adult and eldercare.
Professor James Stirling, provost of Imperial, said: “Imperial recognises that parents and carers, who make up a significant proportion of our staff, can find it challenging to juggle the demands of work and family. This initiative is part of our continuing commitment to ensuring that Imperial staff receive the support and help that they need to balance these responsibilities.”
The College will fund the registration costs to My Family Care, with the staff then paying for any care depending on how long services are required.
‘Exempt carers from Bedroom Tax’
A LABOUR councillor called for Charnwood Borough Council to treat carers in the same manner as war widows and exempt them from the Spare Room Subsidy known as the Bedroom Tax.
“There are 21 households including a resident carer affected by the Bedroom Tax”
Coun Robert Sharp, deputy leader of the opposition Labour group, told a full council meeting: “There are 21 households including a resident carer affected by the Bedroom Tax. In view of the small numbers could the leader agree to treat carers in the same manner as war widows and exempt them from the Bedroom Tax.”
Coun Jane Hunt, speaking on behalf of Coun Jenny Bokor, who is the lead member for benefits, said the council understands the personal sacrifice made by all those who act as carers. She said that discretionary funds were available to support them but that some of the carers level of income exceeded £670 a week, which would exclude them from accessing the funds.
