• Remove restrictions to post-1997 driving licenses - 'Grandfather Rights' for everyone.
    Just because of skewed statistics for the benefit of insurance companies and sub standard driver training in the 90's should we suffer a loss of skills? No, today the development of UK independent business is what is helping our country climb out the mess big banks left behind. The young generation, those born in the nineties, we are the ones investing our time, passions and future into independent business and sustainable development. Many of us are finding much resistance and obstacles to gaining the skills and legal certificates to make our growing businesses viable and recognised. These obstacles are surprisingly the effect of polices that have only been implemented in the last 20 years, therefore effecting our generation severely. I have been running and managing mobile catering at outdoor events for the last three years, and now I am ready to expand and develop but I can't drive and tow the vehicles to make this jump; i have access to these tools, but I can't use them. Yet those only 10 years older than me can, by default. To me this feels like discrimination, despite understanding that according to statistics our generation are higher risk. Yet if you look at the same reality with some common sense in tow and holistic view: The syllabus for UK driving licenses is far more rigorous than it was; before 1996 there wasn't even a theory test, and now there is the Hazard Perception Test as well (Introduced in 2002). Not only is our generation more qualified than previous years, but we have also have grow-up with and learnt on far more hectic and crowded roads, between 2000 and 2016 the number or cars on the road has increased by more than 4 million. Last but not least; the stats that our Government uses to support the changes to our driving licenses and other related policies effecting young drivers actually falls quite short; the Guardian in 2013 reviewed some stats from Transport Research Laboratory to be used to support a Goverment policy increasing the age at which you could apply for provisional license to 18. When considering the raw data only 2 of 100 of drivers between 17 - 19 yrs old are involved. Also the academic support for conclusions of TRL were majority form a 44 year paper! If our Government, and its trusted stats providers are skewing the data then, where is the support for the 1997 change to the driving license limitations and legalities? Not to mention the extortionate insurance premiums that have become the norm for all young drivers. Please Help me make it easier for young people to expand and develop their opportunities in business and work by levelling the playing (or driving!) field. On top of property prices, student debt and unpaid internships, we don't deserve to be constrained by any more age specific policies.
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    Created by Alex Woodcock
  • Trafford Residents Against The Expansion of Grammars
    1. Existing grammar schools mainly benefit wealthier families. The vast majority of students sitting the grammar school entrance exams have private tuition for one to two years before the exam. This is unaffordable for low income families putting their children at a significant disadvantage when sitting entrance exams. 2. Consequently, Trafford grammar schools have very few students from low income families (receiving Free School Meals ). Whilst 19.4% of Trafford's students receive Free School Meals only 6.7% of the borough’s grammar schools do. The reason for the lack of FSM students at grammar schools is not that they are less intelligent than students from wealthier families; it is simply FSM families cannot afford private tutors to help them pass the grammar entrance tests. Importantly, these tests also include topics that are not taught in the National Curriculum at state primary schools, leaving those students whose families cant afford private tutors very much less prepared than those who can. 3. Furthermore, over four times as many children are admitted to grammar schools from private primary schools than children on free school meals. Private schools are not required to follow the National Curriculum and can therefore put much more time and resources into focusing on the grammar school entrance exams. 4. Since TRIES was established we are finding that more and more Trafford parents are against the expansion of selective education because of its impact on family stress levels and finances, its failure to meet the needs of children with special educational needs, and its judging 75% of those sitting the grammar entrance exams as failures at 11 years of age. One Trafford parent wrote to TRIES in 2016 outlining the stress and discrimination that Trafford's selective education system has placed on her family: "Despite being clever, and being tutored, my son failed, by five marks. He was 10 years and 6 weeks old when he took the exam and he says that he found it very stressful. (I’ve heard of children being sick as they wait in the queue to take the exam, because of the pressure to succeed.) My son may have just had a bad day, but now he is labelled a failure. Fortunately, he found the positive in the situation, “I didn’t really want to go there anyway, Mum.” However, he says that some of his friends who also ‘failed’ to make the grade now feel as though they are not very clever even though they are. These children are now 12 years old and have spent the first year of their secondary school careers feeling like failures. These are not necessarily children who are ‘less academic’ and will be better placed taking a technical career path (whatever that is supposed to mean). Lots of these children are bright, engaged and enthusiastic learners who want to do well. They just didn’t do as well in one exam, on one day when they were 10 years old. My son is a brilliant mathematician, a “maths genius” according to his maths teacher and he loves computing. His friend is a fantastic writer, but he struggles with his self-belief because he thinks he mustn’t be that clever… because he failed an exam. They will succeed though, but not because of the selective system. Any success they achieve will be in spite of it. But they will always carry the knowledge that they failed their 11-plus and that makes me sad. The selective system is divisive. This was demonstrated to me when we attended the open evening at our local grammar school, and the headteacher announced in his welcome speech that, “We only have the best of the best here.” I was appalled. What sort of message is this? If this is the message given in that school, the kids who go there can only end up thinking they are ‘better’ than others like my boy. How is this good for either set of children or for society? I have another younger son, currently in Year Five, who is dyslexic. I know that there is simply no point even considering entering him for the grammar school entrance exam as I know he would fail, despite being above average intelligence. It is my understanding that the grammar school makes no allowances for dyslexic children, such as extra time etc. This sends out a rather strong message that these children are not welcome. In Trafford children with SEN seem to be forgotten about, in favour of lauding our grammar school system. It feels very much like there is an ‘us and them’ situation in Trafford. Those parents whose children pass can feel somewhat superior, while those whose children don’t make it often feel resentful towards those who do. People won’t admit it, but that is the truth of the situation. It would be so much better if our children could attend an outstanding comprehensive where they could all receive the best standard of education, but without all the stress and division created by the selective system we experience in Trafford." Note: If you require access to the sources for the above facts please contact the petition administrator.
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    Created by Steven Longden
  • LGBT+ Support Session
    I am a student at Blackburn University Centre I have created a project linking with the LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals and Transgender plus) Community. I think there is a lack of support out there. There was support sessions in place but due to funding cuts the help diminished so I want to re-instate that to the public. So I want to have support sessions in place offered by trained staff in all schools, colleges and Universities. I feel that there is a need of this campaign due to a lack of understanding of the meanings and clarification of the LGBT+ Community. SO I want YOUR HELP!! Some facts - 58% did not feel that their school was a safe and welcoming place for lesbian, gay or bisexual pupils, also 13% said that reporting bullying actually resulted in anything being done about it. 50% of lesbian and bisexual women under the age of 20 have self-harmed in the past year, compared to 1 in 15 generally. (Stonewall: 2008) and finally LGB people are twice as likely as heterosexual people to have suicidal thoughts or to make suicide attempts. Also another shocking fact - Lesbian, Gay and Bisexuals people are two to three times more likely than heterosexual people to suffer from depression. I want your help so please sign this petition - I will appreciate it!
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    Created by Robert Howarth
  • Remembrance Sunday- The Living Men and Woman Veterans who have been forgotten by their country.
    This Generation have given us everything. They fought for our freedom during WW2. Yet we give them nothing but misery, made to live on a pittance of a State pension. Without this Generations efforts and sacrifices during WW2, none of us would be here today.
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    Created by Michael Thompson Picture
  • Homophobic Bullying in Rural Areas
    In school, I have been campaigning for Stonewall and by using the Stonewall website I have learned a lot about homophobic bullying and how it affects young LGBT people, while looking at homophobic bullying I read a story by the guardian that stated "Hate Crime is everyday reality for rural LGBT people". This is one of the biggest reasons I believe that rural areas especially need to run more services in support of LGBT people. I live in Somerset, Bridgwater and I only know of one group that people can easily visit name 2BU. Using the website I also read stories of children affected by homophobic bullying such as Mikey Barnes who said "I first came out at school at the age of 12 and it wasn’t always easy – a lot of students bullied me for it, and even the few teachers I opened up to told me that I was “too young” to know for sure. I struggled with my mental health for a long time as a result." I believe that many other children part of the LGBT community have felt this way before. I believe more support groups like 2BU or Stonewall support groups would be beneficial to many young people. Stonewall have a history of helping people internationally and locally to not only accept themselves a part of the LGBT community but have also helped to spread awareness to those who might not understand who the LGBT community are and what they represent. Through looking at the work they do around the world they help me understand the struggles the LGBT community have faced but also show how far they have come since the charity organisation started. I hope people look at the website to find more information and understand why there need to be more services available to young people who consider themselves homosexual. What can be done? I think it would be useful if more young LGBT people recieved support by having more groups that they can attend to talk about their issues. It would be great if there could be either a helpline or a way which young people could ask and answer questions anonymously. An increased awareness in school about homophobic bullying by providing schools with advice, posters ,booklets and training to stop bullying in schools.
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    Created by Fiyin Fagbohun
  • We do not consent to Smart Water Meters
    Haringey residents have six concerns about the Smart Meter installation programme: 1. Not being consulted prior to installation; 2. Not compulsory (?); 3. Penalise poor people who live in crowded homes; 4. Risk to the health of humans, animals, pollinators, trees and plants; "10. The World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorised RF EMFs as a Possible CARCINOGEN (Group 2B), the same as lead, DDT, chloroform & methylmercury (31 May 2011)". "11. Dr Andrew Goldsworthy’s research warned that electromagnetically-conditioned water flow could strip lead from pipes (after firstly removing limescale) leading to lead poisoning. (1998, 2007, 2012 and 2016)". 5. Surveillance of water, gas and electric usage; and 6. Security risk through (nuclear) electromagnetic pulse attacks, space weather and hacking (“cybercrime”). Our focus is on Smart Water Meters but not exclusively. Full details about the Stop Smart Meters Haringey campaign can be found on our website below. This petition will be initially delivered to Haringey Council. The target is 2,200+
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    Created by Ron Hawkins
  • Allow Boys To Join The Guide Movement
    Both genders should be equal. We shouldn't be showing such blatant gender discrimination to any age group, especially children. There should be equality for all genders, even within the scout and guide movement. Since 2007 girls have officially been able to join the Scout Association, a movement traditionally for boys. So why can't we have equality within both movements? It's an archaic rule that discriminates based purely on gender and has no place in the 21st century. The times are changing, and the Guide Movement needs to realise that. Some boys would feel more comfortable at a Guiding Group than at a Scout Group and it's wrong to discriminate against them. If you believe in gender equality and extending it to our youth, please sign.
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    Created by Megan Day Picture
  • Rights for Children to have a relationship with both parents following divorce/separation
    We want to see positive change for all children to develop and by nurtured by both parents and their respective families after divorce and or separation. Help us challenge for Change.
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    Created by Leannemarie Teague
  • Stop the DfE from gathering pupil nationality data
    I wonder what it must be like to be a non-British family worrying about the possible outcome of Brexit and then to receive a text message from your children's school saying "Info required-If your child is not of British Nationality or was not born in the UK, pls inform the school by tomorrow"? Then, a few days later, you receive a letter from the school ([1]). Maybe you've also been asked to declare your nationality by your employer too ([2])? We should not discriminate between British and non-British children in our schools: * It is not clear what purpose this data serves given that the DfE already records pupils' ethnicity and first language. * The data is unlikely to be accurate since responding is optional and non-respondents will be assumed to have British children. * The data could be abused in the future ([3]). * The Greater Manchester Law Centre has called parents to ignore the census to avoid discrimination and inequality ([4]). Thanks for reading this far. Please have a think about this issue and decide whether to sign this petition. The DfE's plans are probably entirely innocent, but is this the direction we want our country to go in? [1] https://twitter.com/twrc/status/783744325234679808 [2] https://speakout.38degrees.org.uk/campaigns/fw-proposal-petition?utm_campaign=speakout_campaign_1437&utm_medium=thank_you&utm_source=twitter [3] http://schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-nationality-data-is-safe-with-us-says-government/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/05/ignore-school-census-queries-on-nationality
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    Created by Glyn Normington
  • Re-instate Sound Money
    The current system of creating money through the sale of ever increasing layers of debt, and now, the BofE operating an unaccountable balance sheet which defies principle or prudence, is plumbing the depths of fantasy economics, is unsustainable in nature. It is starting to resemble a listing pirate ship liable to sink at any moment. Only Sound money can deliver a reduction of inequality, a sustainable future for the environment and the next generation and re-establish trust in government, creating a new united kingdom that everyone can believe in.
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    Created by Tom Naysburn
  • Stop the discrimination of homosexual people at the NHS blood and transplant.
    Lives are at risk by not letting people donate who can donate. Every drop counts, even if it extends a life by just a few years. When a couple is together for a year, they can get a aids test done and let that result be the green or red light for donations. There is a higher risk in heterosexual couples who participate in "dogging" , if blood stocks are that low as they claim it is, every drop of blood counts. If this works then another campaign can be tagged on this one to allow people donating after ten years after the transfusion date. The symptoms should show by then to proof you have it or not.
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    Created by Arjan Wilbie
  • Improve disabled access in Portsmouth
    So that wheelchair/Frame/Scooter users can travel around the beautiful city easily and hassle free. Personally as a young wheelchair user living in Portsmouth I know how hard it can be to get around the city and into buildings without having to take longer routes or going into the back entrances of buildings due to lack of disabled access.
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    Created by Faith Martin