UK

Letter Published: 16 May, 2013 

ON May 8 Camden United for Benefit Justice held a self-help community workshop at the Crossroads Women’s Centre in Kentish Town.

The aim: to defend people’s rights to benefits, housing and services, and to discuss campaigning against the cuts.

The centre was packed. Lawyers and experienced grass-roots organisers explained how benefit decisions and sanctions are being challenged.

Unpublished letter to The Guardian. 

Dear Editor,

While the MOD tries to claw back some of the overseas ‘aid’ money which is supposed to ‘tackle poverty’, poverty is rising, abroad and in the UK. (‘Ministry of Defence campaigns for overseas aid to pay for military patrols’, 1 May 2013)

On 1 May, International Workers Day, a network of organisations, campaigns and individuals came together in the House of Commons to defend the welfare state, and demand a living wage for mothers and other carers.

Becky Shah, Hillsborough Justice Campaign 

• Mothers are 92% of single parents. (F)

• Even in two-parent families, mothers do ¾ of the family’s child care during the week – a statistic that does not include the caring work for others (such as aging parents) who may need it. (F)

• Parents in the UK spend 1/3 of their take-home income on child care compared with other industrialised countries where the average is 13%. (F)

Camden United for Benefit Justice is holding TWO SELF-HELP WORKSHOPS on

Housing Benefit & Bedroom Tax Council * Tax Benefit Sickness & Disability Benefits * Carer’s Allowance * Child Benefit * Social Fund & Emergency Help * Tenancies & Evictions * Sanctions * Workfare * Service Cuts & Closures * Debt Poverty & Food Banks * Children taken into care . 

1st Workshop: Wednesday 8 May 5-8.30 pm