My Lovely 84-year-old mother has the terrifying condition Dementia. This means she will eventually forget everything, including who her loved ones are, how to do day to day tasks, how to feed herself and eventually how to breath. For me her daughter this is heart breaking to see and placing her in a care home was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but knowing she was safe and receiving the care she needed was some conciliation to me. However, the more I visit my mam in her care home the more I come to realise that our care homes are in crisis and our mams, dads, grandparents, aunties, uncles and most probably eventually ourselves are not receiving the care and dignity that they deserve. This is due to staff being over worked and stressed due to inadequate staffing levels. Currently there are no legal requirements in our care homes for staff to service user ratios. I have personally witnessed 4 staff to look after up to 28 service users all with different needs and challenging behaviours, the carers do their best with what time and resources they have but this is not enough i have witnessed my mam (who is unable to feed herself) sitting in the dining room with her food in front of her and no one assisting to feed her due to lack of staff, I have also witnessed my mam and other service users sitting soaked in urine as staff have not got around to changing her in time due to their work load. This problem could easily be solved if the companies that run the care homes take on more staff to meet the ever changing needs of the service users, instead of keeping staff to a bare minimum to maximise profits. Please Sign my petition and get this to the house of commons and get the law changed so our vulnerable relatives get the care and dignity that they deserve.

Mike Ashley has made himself a billionaire through illegal and unethical practices. The crimes perpetrated at Sports Direct have been in effect admitted, as widely reported in the national press this week, before a parliamentary select committee. This petition calls upon our director of public prosecutions to hold Mike Ashley to account for these crimes.

Weapons kill people. The companies that manufacture weapons profit from selling them to states which kill people. A more peaceful world means less weapons are required which, in turn, would hurt the profits of arms manufacturers and the dividends of public money investments. We should not be relying on dividends to help fund our local authorities when those dividends only increase as more weapons are sold. This is morally wrong! The article which spurred this petition can be found here: https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/8521/killing-name

The UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond landed in Addis Ababa today – just miles from where my partner (a British citizen) Andy is being illegally imprisoned under sentence of death. He could use this visit to demand Andy’s freedom and bring him home to our family in London, and pressure is building on him to do so. Andy made Britain (London) his home in 1979, after fleeing political persecution by the Ethiopian government. He is a prominent opposition activist, working towards a democratic Ethiopia. In 2009, the regime said that they would execute Andy if he ever returned. But he was kidnapped by Ethiopian security forces from an airport in Yemen in June 2014 and rendered to Ethiopia. He is now held in a brutal prison in Ethiopia. We're not able to speak to him, and we have no idea what is going to happen to him. Until now Philip Hammond has refused to demand Andy’s release. If he’s going to change his position, he needs to know that he’s out of step with public opinion – and we need to remind him that he has a duty to Andy’s children to bring their father home. If enough of us sign this petition, we could convince Hammond to follow our lead and make a demand directly to the authorities who are holding Andy. We have to act fast – Hammond’s visit is only for two days.

The internet access policy should be reviewed with a view to increasing access to sites that enable detainees to pursue and support their immigration claim. Detainees are often unable to download information documents sent in PDF format, for example from the websites of legal practitioners or other support groups such as Freedom From Torture. The Home Office’s blanket ban on the use of social media appears to be counter-productive and unjustified, particularly for those who will subsequently be returned to their home country and who want to make connections in order to prepare for return. Also immigration detainees tend to be particularly isolated from the outside world. Research has shown that approximately 80% of asylum seekers do not receive any personal contact from family and friends. Further isolating them by blocking Skype, Facebook & other social media is inhumane.

Kenny Bailey suffers from severe memory loss problems and is paralysed down one side of his body, he has suffered a stroke, the result of this meant that he lost the right side of his head, following a DWP fit for work assessment the DWP told him he is fit for work. His benefits have now been cut and he loses £156 per fortnight. DWP have told him he must now seek work, this guy can not work or play with his family, DWP failed him by stating that he can walk 200 yards unaided and is able to get up from the chair. For this guy to attend appointments he needs to write every appointment down or he would forget where and when his appoints are. Therefore the DWP should re-instate the full entitlement of benefits to Kenny Bailey and offer him a full apology following the misjudgement of a DWP medical.

The UK government has failed to effectively aid the millions of people fleeing uncertain futures in war zones so Lincoln students need to take action. In the UK, whilst we do not enjoy free undergraduate education, we have a system in place to ensure we receive a world-class standard of education that is available to everyone. Around 30 British academic institutions already offer some form of free education or aid service to refugees, the University of Lincoln and its student union should continue to lead morally as well as academically. We have seen an unprecedented level of human movement from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe due to civil war and economic hardship. Many of these refugees are young people, many of them are educated to a high standard and all of them had to leave for fear of the own lives. Our universities societies, by their members own admissions, are already well funded and supported. We also enjoy hosting one of Lincoln's premier venues, The Engine Shed, and we will soon see a new multi-million pound technology building. The University and its SU are not short of money and you cannot put a price on human life or a good education. Sign this petition and ensure that a young person gets the future that we all deserve.

It proves to young people that democratic systems work

I have found it impossible to register to vote as I live in a Safe House in Bristol. With the local elections happening right now, and the EU referendum coming up, I'm left without a vote, without a voice, without a say on local Councillor appointment, City Mayor, the Police Crime Commissioner position or whether we stay in or out of the EU. My struggle to register made me realise this is a huge issue that no one even realises. As I live in a safe house it is vital for my safety that my name and address do not appear on the electoral register. The current system does provide an 'anonymous registration' process designed to protect vulnerable or at risk people who can't disclose their residential address. However this form requires evidenced approval through proven Court Injunction, written signature from a Police Superintendent or Adult Social Services management. For many in my situation, (estimated at 70% of all residents in Bristol safe houses by support staff here) their registration would not be eligible for sign off. Taking away the civil right, human right that was fought so hard for back in 1918 that introduced the 'Representation of the People Act' allowing women the right to vote. Across England there are over 250 independent refuges providing safe emergency accommodation for people fleeing domestic abuse. Thousands of people living in secure residential accommodation where location secrecy is of utmost importance. Thousands of people who will not be able to register to vote. That is a huge number of women being denied basic Human Rights. The Human Rights Act (1998) states "it is unlawful for public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with European Convention right". Safe houses and refuges by their very nature ensure all residents staying with them are in need of safety and security after leaving abuse. Therefore having management level able to sign the anonymous registration form is more than enough evidence for each residents need for anonymity. Such a simple solution for such an important change that needs to be made. Please sign and share this petition so we can no longer be kept in silence. Thank you.

The election has been marred by Islamophobic claims made against the Labour Candidate for The London Mayoral Election. This has brought British Democracy into disrepute and will exacerbate distrust in and disillusionment with the electoral system and UK Government by both Islamic people and other minorities. This sets a dangerous precedent for future elections, will divide society further, will increase a sense amongst British minorities that they cannot expect fair and just treatment from British Government and reduce the sense amongst many that there is any point in engaging in democracy. It may in addition increase the risk of instability in The UK.

Anyone who has seen this BBC interview with Vera will understand how much it means to her to see her daughter again. https://www.facebook.com/BBCSouthEastToday/videos/10154134213503648/

Javad was a young teenage boy when the Bam earthquake killed both his parents in 2003. He was put in an orphanage many miles away in Tehran where he didn't agree with being forced to learn how to use guns or with the extreme religious teaching. To escape this, he ran away. His fear of what might happen to him on his return alone is completely ruling his life preventing him from moving forward. Javad has mental health issues, poor memory and suffers from Autistic Spectrum Disorder which make him appear much younger than he really is and gives him a simplistic view of life. For the first time since his parents died, he has found a family ready to offer him a permanent home. A family who love him and are willing to teach him the basic life skills, support and stable environment. His application for asylum or leave to remain has been rejected by the Home Office. Unless they can be persuaded to change their decision and grant Javad discretionary leave to remain- they will uproot this extremely vulnerable young man again and send him back to a place he barely remembers and where he has nothing.