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Debt Talk: Foodbanks & Welfare State (Podcast)

6% of UK children now rely on foodbanks. What does that say about the state’s responsibility toward children and other vulnerable members of society? Is the current welfare state fit for purpose? Or are we sleepwalking into the slow erosion of what remains of it? In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, hosted by Ripon Ray, three distinguished experts joined the conversation on “Foodbanks & the Welfare State.” Helen Barnard from the Trussell Trust spoke about how poverty in the UK runs far deeper than it appears. The prevalence of child poverty reflects the shameful state of public affairs in Britain, where turning to foodbanks has become the norm for many families. The lack of food at home doesn’t just affect individuals—it also places added pressure on public services, including health and social care. Dan White from Disability Rights UK highlighted how already marginalised communities, particularly disabled people, have been further targeted by current government policies. Discrimina...
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Campaign against food poverty

Enough is Enough calls against food, fuel and cost of living crisis. National Trade unions come together to organise a nationwide campaign - Enough is Enough. There are calls for rallies all  over London due to the severe crisis faced by Londoners as a result of squeeze in income, increase in cost in food, fuel, housing, transport and council tax and many more things. Join the campaign and share the message in every corner of London and Britain against the cost of living crisis and against hunger.

UCAN speaks to Unite Coventry and Warwickshire on the cost of Living

 

Cost of Living Crunch - Housing Summit supported by UCAN

About this event UPDATED TIMETABLE!!! Link to the event here The impact of the pandemic exposed huge disparities in access to decent housing. The removal of support measures for those impacted by the pandemic, the spike in living costs, including food and fuel, along with the threat of rent and service charge hikes across both social and private sector housing, all mean the housing crisis is continuing to damage health, livelihoods, families and communities. Women, black and ethnic minorities are still bearing the brunt of discrimination. But if we work together we can fight this. New housing groups continue to emerge and win their struggles, such as the Action for Fire Safety Justice Campaign that pressured property developers to take responsibility for cladding costs. We need to challenge the power of developers and the government who continue to prioritise profit over people and the environment. The aim of the summit is to build strong networked national housing campaigns for the co...

Former Debt Adviser secretly tells UCAN of MaPS contract

Due to fear of being penalised by their employer,  a former debt adviser secretly explains working under Money Advice Pension Service (MaPS) contract. ' MaPS very nearly broke me, and I had to leave debt advice altogether in order to have a quality of life. ' 'The MaPS contract, and in particular its nonsensically onerous DAPA requirements, ended over 20 years of dedicated service with an organisation I had expected to retire working for. The MaPS contract nearly destroyed my physical and emotional health, and that of other long-term, incredibly hardworking debt advisers, who were also left with no option but to change their career direction after 10-20 years and leave to work for other charities or housing associations. The MaPS contract turned both debt advisers and clients into faceless commodities; it was all about the numbers without consideration for the impact its unrealistic and unachievable DAPA requirements have on both debt advice staff and, as a result, clients....

Fuel Poverty workshop organised by Positive Money delivered by UCAN

The price of fuel is going up, inflation is also going up, already 9 fuel suppliers have gone bust and £20 cut on universal credit which Rishi Sunak addressed by changing taper rate from 63p to 55p for working claimants. In coming months many vulnerable communities may face hardship.  Positive Money Hackney and Positive Money Tower Hamlets called for a Facebook live and in person public meeting on 10 Nov 2021 to raise awareness of fuel poverty. Ripon Ray, founder of UCAN gave members of the public of insight into the fuel industry and your rights against suppliers when they go bust.

Campaign against fuel Poverty

The price of fuel is going up, inflation is also going up, already 9 fuel suppliers have gone bust and £20 cut on universal credit which Rishi Sunak addressed by changing taper rate from 63p to 55p for working claimants. In coming months many vulnerable communities may face hardship.  Positive Money Hackney and Positive Money Tower Hamlets call for a Facebook live and in person public meeting to raise awareness of fuel poverty. Join us to understand about the fuel industry and your rights against suppliers.