Since the beginning of this school year, the existing service (the 835) had been over crowded beyond legal capacity. When this was reported the buses started shutting their doors or driving past children when they were full, leaving the children stranded and unsafe. The imposed solution by Longdendale High School and Transport for Greater Manchester that these children should use public transport is unacceptable. The roads and traffic volumes are unsafe, there is no appropriate safe guarding and the buses do not run at convenient times. Many of the children, some age eleven and just starting high school, simply do not possess the skills or confidence to negotiate busy main roads, public transport and issues with other bus travellers effectively or safely. The imposed solution was taken without any consultation with parents, despite multiple complaints to the school and Transport for Greater Manchester. It does not take into account the safeguarding of our children, and is failing to provide an effective community service as is a contractual obligation.

Planned changes will leave Gainsborough ambulance station with only one ambulance. East midlands ambulance service wants to move Gainsborough's ambulances to bigger towns like Lincoln and Newmark. A town of 20,000 people can’t have just one ambulance. Waiting times for ambulances are already high and there have been numerous stories about accidents and problems arising from the shortage of ambulances. We believe this will leave the residents of Gainsborough and West Lindsey with an inadequate service that will put lives at risk.

We the undersigned wish to express our profound disquiet at the roll-out of digital Universal Credit (UC). The Government’s plans will continue to replace all means-tested social security benefits and tax credits for those of working age, across Greater Manchester and beyond. We believe that we should not stand for such wilful ignorance of the impacts of the new system. We urge individuals, groups, organisations, MPs, councillors, landlords and housing associations to stand in solidarity against the Universal Credit roll-out. Signed and shared by: Greater Manchester Law Centre, GM Poverty Action, Big Issue North, Salford Mayor Paul Dennett, Salford Council Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Team, Salford Star, People's Plan GM, Coffee 4 Craig, St Mungo's Unite, Kill the Housing Bill, Cllr Gary Bridges, Cllr Bev Craig, Cllr Basat Sheik, Cllr Richard Leese, Council Labour Group, Manchester Shield, Withington Lib Dems. As this catastrophe unfolds the shortcomings and blind spots of UC have increasingly become clear. The following are the six issues, faced by individuals and families, which concern us most: 1. People are experiencing waits of six to twelve weeks (sometimes longer) for their first payment of Universal Credit. Consequently, people are spiraling into debt and rent arrears which they may find it impossible to recover from. 2. Universal Credit claims can only be processed online through a system called verify which cannot be completed without requisite ID or computer access. Some of the most vulnerable people, such as those who are disabled, precariously housed, homeless or non-UK citizens, find it extremely difficult to claim. This both lengthens the waiting period for first payments and makes it difficult for individuals to maintain their claims, putting them at risk of sanctions. 3. Sanctions are being applied erratically and arbitrarily in relation to UC. There is mounting evidence highlighting unfair use of sanctions, for example individuals have received them for being at work and missing their work focused interview. Full service roll-out will also bring housing benefit into the realm of sanctions, directly increasing the risk of evictions and homelessness. 4. Under UC many will see a reduction in their financial entitlement and will be living off substantially less money. In some cases individuals will be around £100-£300 less well off per month than on previous legacy benefits like Employment and Support Allowance and Severe Disability Premium . Disabled people and those with debilitating heath conditions will be pushed further into poverty as a result. 5. Young People aged 18-25 will be disproportionately affected by UC, . For example, those aged between 18-21 will not be entitled to housing benefit under UC unless in an exempt category. The exemptions will not cover thousands of at risk young people, resulting in mounting debt and homelessness. 6. Evidence suggests that UC is pushing more children and families into poverty. Unjust elements of UC like the two child limit do not support working or non-working families. Direct links to welfare reform, specifically UC are causing professionals to highlight the risk of more children going into care and families becoming homeless. We call on the Government to halt the roll-out while all of the problems are reviewed, to avoid creating unnecessary suffering. Universal Credit, if rolled out in its current form, is a Universal Catastrophe that will place an unsustainable burden on the finances of local authorities, charitable organisations and support services who will ultimately be left to pick up the pieces.

Changing SMI from being a benefit to a loan will mean that yet again many of our vulnerable people will end up further into debt. Also the fact that this has been done relatively on the quiet is another example of this governments rough shod ways of dealing with the most vulnerable people within our society.

There are thousands suffering due to bad or incorrect assessments this needs to be addressed and changed to provide proper medical evidence by properly qualified doctors & specialists( psychiatric &medical) not just someone with low medical training eg physiotherapists and the like.

My mum was only 46 years when she got diagnosed with a brain tumour and told she had three months to live. I was stunned when the funeral director said it would cost £5,000 for a cremation. I felt shame having to owe people money. Because I was unable to repay the debt and deal with my own emotions, I wasn’t able to grieve in peace. The government funeral fund used to cover the cost of a basic funeral for families who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford one. Now it covers less than 40% - that's just £700 for direct funeral expenses. According to Money Advice Service, the average cost of a funeral can range from £1600-£4257.but it can be much more in places like London which is double the national average. Many families like mine are being forced into debt and poverty because they can't afford a funeral when someone they love dies. Now the Fair Funerals campaign is calling on the government to raise the funeral fund and help families grieve in dignity. One in six grieving families get into serious financial problems trying to pay for a funeral. Tell the government to save grieving people like me from funeral debt. Please sign this petition now.

Policy will directly lead to hundreds of thousands of existing and prospective social tenant households made homeless It means the poorest cannot afford the lowest rents even those in work and creates poverty It means hundreds of thousands of children will be housed in temporary homeless accommodation which damages their life chances It will increase the Housing Benefit bill by £10 billion over the 5 year period- and will require further cuts elsewhere to pay for it

Aldershot has never seen as many rough sleepers as it has in the last few years. For some years now a Winter shelter was provided by the council and this year apparently they cannot afford it! Street homeless people die in extreme weather . Doing nothing means the council believe it’s the problem of those who find themselves homeless, whereas truth be known it’s society’s problem. These individuals often have very complex issues- mental health and addictions etc, they are very vulnerable and need a lot of input. We cannot just cast people aside like rubbish because they don’t ‘fit’ in our community in our opinion.

Single Parents under 25 will be entitled to £15 a week less under Universal Credit. However, there is no reason why young families should receive less money. Food, nappies, clothes etc cost the same, regardless of age of the parent. Paying young families less is age discrimination and will push more families into poverty.

Dialysis is an essential treatment that keeps Renal patients alive, it is not a cure. We cannot decide whether to miss a session due to lack of funds but that is what we are being forced to do

We need Linaker as it stands, the same building, all day every day access and the same friendly staff! Southport children centre's saves lives! Anybody can become vulnerable at any time in their life, childrens centres, family support workers and other professionals based at centres like Linaker are nothing less than real life superheroes! The community, the children, the parents and the professionals ALL need the local childrens centres! Stop tradgey happening and help save our local childrens centres!

Cranbrook is a vastly growing town with a huge population of children under 5. In fact we are in the top 5% of the country and to take away a service that has been offered for nearly 5 years at this thriving group is a huge blow. Our group is inclusive and caters to children of all ages up to preschool and so is much more suibale for parents who have children of various preschool age. This group supports families old and new and helps people forge friendships in what can sometime be an isolating time in new parents lives, especially if they are new to the area. Baby weigh and health services were a big lifeline to new parents as they could meet other new mums and dads and often their children will grow up with the group and stay with us until they start preschool. Now we have lost this vital service, we have lost a lot of babies coming to group which in turn may mean we will not have the toddler's coming along when the babies grow up. We are aware there is a Tuesday session available but by all accounts this day is not suitable for all and by taking away the Thursday session it will put more pressure on the Tuesday group with waiting times and maybe not being able to seek the advice needed from the health worker in attendance as so many people will want the same.