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Reconsider removing tax allowances from ex-patsThere are hundreds of thousands of British Ex-pats around the world that have worked all of their lives in the UK and then retired abroad. They have paid their taxes in the UK for all of their working lives, many still paying today and should not now be penalised if they choose to emigrate. I also believe that it is 'uneuropean' in as much as it impedes the freedom of movement within member states by the population of the UK by effectively taxing them to leave. This policy punishes mainly those ex-pats that have served their country in the armed forces, police, NHS, fire brigade and civil service and shows that the UK government has no loyalty to it's most deserving of citizens.376 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Glen Allsopp
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SAVE DRAGON AND OTHER LOCAL LEISURE CENTRESBodmin has had swimming baths for decades and the success of Bodmin and District Swimming Club is testament to its worth. The potential closure of this popular leisure and health facility is serious. Former club member Cassie Patten competed in Olympics and other local swimmers have had great success. Tennis, hockey and football players alike have been successful in their chosen sports following coaching at the facility but more importantly, local school children from Bodmin and surrounding areas learn to swim and engage in sports here. Engaging in positive activities such as sport raises aspiration in children and young people and Cornwall Council can cut costs in other areas without detrimentally impacting upon local communities in this way. There is little else positive to do in Bodmin and other similar towns; there are only do many hairdressers and charity shops one can amuse themselves in. If a well used and popular Bodmin Dragon Centre facility is closed as a cost cutting exercise, what does it spell for similar facilities in the rest of Cornwall?4,360 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by Tris Thomas
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Keep breast surgery at New Cross HospitalHaving to travel further than necessary to Cannock Chase Hospital for breast surgery, having never visited the hospital before, will place patients, their families and carers under even more stress. The Breast Cancer Action and Support Group feels that the consultation process on the proposed changes to services has been rushed and not well-publicised. Many Wolverhampton residents the group has spoken to are not even aware of the proposed changes, or that a consultation period should be allowed.443 of 500 SignaturesCreated by Janice Graham
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Support for victims of sexual abuseBased on data from the ‘Crime Survey for England and Wales’ around 473,000 adults were victims of sexual offences (around 404,000 females and 72,000 males) on average per year from 2009-2012 (Sexual Offending in England and Wales, 2013). 90% of victims of the most serious sexual offences reported they knew the perpetrator, yet only 15 per cent of victims of such offences said that they had reported it to the police. Stating that it was ‘embarrassing’, they ‘didn’t think the police could do much to help’, that the incident was ‘too trivial or not worth reporting’, or that they saw it as a ‘private/family matter and not police business’. We must learn from the tragic case of Frances Andrade, who tragically died at her home in Guildford, Surrey in January 2013, just a week after giving evidence in court about historical sexual abuse by her former choirmaster. Her husband, Levine Andrade, 59, found his wife, known as Fran, dead at 8am on 24 January last year. He said, "Apart from the trial bringing it all back up she felt the defence barrister seemed to be attacking her personally. "It got her completely down and she felt completely defenceless. I think she felt she was not prepared enough for the trial. She was not expecting to be attacked personally and have to answer so many direct questions in public. Much more needs to be done to provide and promote professional high-quality support services to help victims move on with their lives. Only when victims have sufficient support can they make the choice to go through the criminal justice system. More importantly victims must have sufficient professional support to endure the often lengthy and protracted court process. In the policy 'Ending violence against women and girls in the UK' it stated that the government would part-fund 87 independent sexual violence advisers and pledging £1.2 million for 3 years from 2012 to improve services. The problem is this funding will end in 2015 and 87 part-funded ISVA's are far from adequate for the number of victims we have in the UK. We need to put this on the public and government agenda before the next elections.645 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Yehudis Goldsobel
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Statutory Youth ServiceCurrently there is no statutory obligation placed on local authorities to provided a Youth Service via the respective Councils in the UK. Recently, this has meant that councils when faced with Government austerity cuts have chosen to cut vital services to our young people. Through these draconian measures many Youth Centres in the hearts of our communities have already faced forced closure and hundreds of thousands of young people now face a much reduced range of services, support, guidance and now lack access to opportunities to acquire critical life skills. Youth workers who have trained over three years to become professionally qualified are being put out of work after many years of loyal service. The young people in disadvantaged communities, in particular, are being harder hit by these measures. For many vulnerable young people their locally provided service is a lifeline and is a much needed supported pathway to a more productive, happy and fulfilled adulthood. Up and down the country young people, communities , supporters and their Youth Workers have been trying to resist these cuts - but a much louder voice is needed to ensure that services are put on a statutory footing - helping to prevent even more cuts and the betrayal of our young people in the future. With your help and public outcry we may be able to ensure our young people receive the necessary services, opportunities and support that so many so desperately need and rely so heavily upon. Please help.7,464 of 8,000 SignaturesCreated by Pete Sims
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SOS: Save Refuges, Save LivesTwo women are killed every week in England by a partner or ex-partner. These are the women who desperately need these specialist refuges. Last year Women's Aid member organisations supported nearly 10,000 women and over 10,000 children in refuge accommodation. However, on one day alone in 2013, 155 women with 103 children were turned away from the first refuge they approached, primarily due to a lack of available spaces. From 2010 to 2014 the number of specialist refuges declined from 187 to 155, leaving many more vulnerable women and children at risk and without specialist support. Closures of specialist refuges will cost lives. Help us to keep these services open for the women and children who need them. Help us Save Refuges to Save Lives.40,132 of 45,000 SignaturesCreated by Women's Aid
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Reverse the Beeching CutsIt will encourage many people to commute by the railways to get quicker travel and cheaper payments. In addition many people are asking for their railways to be brought back especially in North Wales. My Dad would use the railways more then he would use the car.427 of 500 SignaturesCreated by D George
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SAVE PETERBOROUGH LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTRESThis campaign is an important way of bringing together local communities. Shutting down local libraries and Community Centres would not only cut members of the community off but it would also affect the local schools and isolate vulnerable people in the city of Peterborough. Children get taken to local libraries in the afternoons to help further their education. Not only that but some people rely on the library for access to reading material, computers or even just for social gatherings and this is true of community centres, which have taken over as a venue for families to access where Children's Centres have closed down. Not everybody can afford, or is able, to travel further distances to 'bigger libraries'. We are starting this petition to help voice all the smaller communities and to help them stand up to Peterborough City Council Cabinet Members and their plans. Libraries and Community Centres are a focal point for the whole community. They are a diverse space where children learn to read, pensioners can go to socialise, and free internet access is provided for everyone. They provide access to education and the arts for everyone. We cannot afford to lose them. Peterborough City Council is currently holding a consultation to find out the experiences and opinions of local people. Once you’ve signed the petition, please fill out this Council survey to let the Council know how important your library and Community Centres are to you: The Link for the survey is below http://www.nwaresearch.co.uk/surveys/pcc/community.htm The deadline for replies is 5pm on Friday 26th September 2014.703 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Darren Bisby-Boyd
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Stop the Scottish police routinely carrying firearmsIf police carry arms routinely, this will fuel fear and criminals might arm themselves more heavily. Despite this, a number of police officers (around 300) are now routinely carrying sidearms while on patrol in much of Scotland. Armed police officers have been seen in a bakery, in a branch of Aldi and at a routine traffic incident in Glasgow - all incidents where it was unnecessary for the officer to have a firearm by his side. Until 2009, firearms officers had to keep their weapons in a locked safe and have a senior officer’s authorisation to take them. Firearms officers should revert back to this practice, because it is not necessary that they take their arms on routine patrol.3,527 of 4,000 SignaturesCreated by Stephen Tomlinson
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Support Your FirefightersThe government is threatening to change firefighters’ pension schemes, meaning all members will pay more, work longer and still get less. Pay more Before 2010, firefighters already contributed one of the highest proportions of their salary towards their pensions (11%), and in April this year it increased for the third year running. Firefighters typically now pay over £4,000 a year from a £29,000 salary, and the government has announced they will impose another increase in 2015. Work longer Firefighters will be expected to work until they are 60 however the government’s own report by Dr Tony Williams, published in December 2013, recognises that two thirds (66%) will not meet the current fitness standard. Firefighters, who are forced to retire at 55 due to a natural decline in fitness, could lose up to half of their pension or face the sack. Get less Firefighters will only receive the full pension they signed up for if they work for 40 years in the service which given current retirement and fitness rates is unlikely for the majority of firefighters.8,268 of 9,000 SignaturesCreated by Liam Reed
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Reinstate the money taken from the Norfolk Learning Disabilities ServiceThe LD service is very specialist with relatively few staff doing different but highly specialist jobs. LD staff visit people in their homes for many reasons. For instance, we work hard to keep people out of hospital, if people do go to hospital we work to prevent readmission, we adapt homes so people don’t have to leave their family home or go into expensive care services, and we work with people to help them stay healthy and active, so that they don’t have to use other more expensive health services. And very often, there just aren’t any other services that can provide the care that we do. Norfolk County Council has cut Learning Disabilities Services by £960K and chosen to use the money elsewhere. But this money should be protected by Law for the specific care needs of people with learning disabilities. Help us get Norfolk County Council to reverse its harmful decision to cut Learning Disabilities services.1,118 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Giancarlo Tolaini
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FIRE CUTS RISKS LIVES IN LANCASHIREThere are only two Fire Engines at Lancaster Fire Station covering one of the largest areas in the county.Due to Government cuts the Fire Authority has no other option than to remove one engine from the station. We as serving Firefighters must make the public aware that we need a minimum of two engines and nine Firefighters to ensure a successful rescue at a house fire or a road traffic collision. Without these resources arriving promptly, the outcome could prove fatal. If the cuts are imposed there will be a minimum five minute delay from turnout of the proposed 'on call' replacement engine. This would be crewed by retained staff who would not have the same amount of training hours as a full time crew. This is your Fire Service for which you only pay approx £56 per year from your council tax, this is a great value ' insurance policy' that covers rescues from fire,flooding,sea,rivers,building collapse, lift, trench collapse, large animal rescue..... The list is endless. Demand your monies worth, Demand your safety oppose the cuts.269 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Simon Walker
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