Actually – let’s not. We’re back at Stockport jobcentre: First thing that happens – a security guard who over summer has made a keen, if hopeless, effort to befriend our protest group hurries out the front to pass on a … Continue reading
When will modern society work out that hating and bullying people in poverty doesn’t eradicate poverty? Last Wednesday, I spent several hours at Oldham foodbank, speaking with people who’d come in for food parcels. I visit Oldham foodbank from time … Continue reading
I have an article on the debts people owe in austerity at politics.co.uk today: Student debt dominates headlines – but why don’t we hear arguments for writing off debt for people who austerity has crushed with council tax charges, DWP … Continue reading
Any help on this one appreciated: On the topic of compliance and Income Support – I’m speaking atm with a woman aged 31 who has a five-year-old and a six-month-old (we met at the South Chadderton foodbank on Monday). She … Continue reading
Yesterday, I was over in Oldham talking to Mike Kendrick from the South Chadderton foodbank. The South Chadderton foodbank is open on Mondays from 11am to 2pm. He reckoned that about 50% of the people who came through the foodbank’s doors … Continue reading
A little more about mental health conditions and unemployment as described by people who are experiencing those things in our hardbitten day and age: I was at Oldham jobcentre last week. Outside, I spoke for some time with Peter*, a … Continue reading
Yet another disabled JSA claimant is told that his jobcentre no longer has specialist support for disabled jobseekers: (You can read earlier stories on this same issue here and here): Last week, I spoke at length with a 66-year-old woman … Continue reading
Any MP or prospective MP who thinks that workfare and working for nothing is so bloody great should try it. For years at a time. They can report back after that. The rest of us will continue to fight workfare, … Continue reading
Back to Kilburn jobcentre this morning for a Thursday signon session with Eddie, the 51-year-old man with learning and literacy difficulties who I’ve been working with as he’s tried to get his fortnightly jobsearch done and avoid sanctions. The jobcentre … Continue reading
Wednesday 30 July: updated with more photos at the end Yesterday, I went to the home of a Kilburn man who is 51, has mild learning difficulties and currently signs on. He has worked all his life in hotels and … Continue reading