In June 2014, the Government introduced charges for using the Child Maintenance Service. To apply for a maintenance assessment it costs £20.00, with no guarantee any maintenance will ever be received. To then have the maintenance collected, more charges are imposed on both parents. The paying parent pays an extra 20% on top of their maintenance assessment and the receiving parent has a further 4% of their maintenance deducted. This means on an assessment of £100, the paying parent actually pays £120 and the receiving parent only gets £96, with the government taking a total of £24, not including the application fee. So far the charges have totalled over £8.5 million and are rising to a staggering £1 million per month. This money should be supporting the future of children and going towards essentials such as clothes, healthy food, books, education and heating. The charges are designed as a deterrent for using the Child Maintenance Service and it is feared that thousands of children are not receiving maintenance as a result. Even the government’s own research predicted 100,000 fewer parents would make maintenance arrangements because of the introduction of charges. Where maintenance is received it is often at a lower amount, either because parents feel pressured to accept a lower payment rather than use the Child Maintenance Service and face charges, or because they use the service and have money deducted by the government. The new system also puts extra pressure on relationships between parents, particularly when there is a history of abuse and/or violence. Studies have shown how essential child maintenance is for lifting the growing number of children living in poverty out of that desperate and disadvantaged situation. The charges are due to be reviewed at the end of the year so now is the time to call on the government to end this unfair tax on single parent families. Sign the petition asking the Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions to end all charges for the use of the Child Maintenance Service.

The government wants the young to get working but they do not want, I am not surprised they do not want to work for peanuts while someone who is over 25 will make double the wage of 16. The price of bread is not different for 16 year old person to what it is for 25 year old person, so I do not know why there is big wage gap.

This is a main thoroughfare for pedestrians between Winchester University (via West Hill Cemetery), Winchester City Center and the Railway Station. I personally walk there frequently, have impaired vision coupled with delayed reactions, and so find it hard crossing busy roads. It can take up to five minutes to cross sometimes and it is difficult to see in both directions on the hill, and then you have Clifton Terrace traffic to consider. This is a very dangerous crossing point in our city which should have had a green man crossing years ago as there are already drop curbs in place. It isn't JUST a crossing safety issue either. It is well known that we have a SERIOUS air pollution problem in Winchester, where 40 to 50 people a year die from air pollution related illnesses. If the city could be made more accessible to people wanting to get about on foot, in a wheelchair, with pushchairs, mobility scooter or on bicycle, this would help to increase air quality. There are nowhere NEAR ENOUGH places for people to cross Romsey Road safely, with the pavement disappearing on one side for large sections, and it is one of the main air pollution traps of the city. Priority of access to Winchester needs to be turned around so that walking and other low-carbon forms of transport are catered for in the first instance, followed by public transport (buses). Also speed limits MUST be properly enforced, especially with the new homes to be built where the old Police HQ was. This will create massive increases in footfall and greater need for safe crossing points and enforcement of speed limits. I suggest flashing signs to tell drivers to stick to 20 mph. Last year Winchester City Council, in collaboration with WinACC (Winchester Action on Climate Change), launched FeetFirst, their Walking campaign led by Liz Kesler. They have been conducting Walking Audits on different routes to determine areas which need to be made easier, safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and others using low-carbon forms of transport. This includes making sure pavements are maintained, foliage is kept out of the way so it doesn't take up too much room, and adequate signage. The crossing for which I am campaigning was highlighted as a major obstacle to people getting around Winchester on foot. Work has already started to dig up the pavement to see if it is possible to put in the electrics for a crossing. This is promising, but I won't hold my breath as progress has been delayed. Also, it needs to be a crossing that beeps all the time and gives pedestrians a fair amount of time (1 minute) PLEASE SIGN MY PETITION AND HELP MAKE WALKING THE PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORT FOR GETTING AROUND THIS BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC CITY!

Schwarzkopf, here's an important message for you. Animals are not ours to abuse or test products on. There are now many alternatives to test your products to make sure they're safe for use and do not pose a danger to consumers. Animals do not need to suffer for your products to pass their safety tests, get onto shelves or into consumers homes. Not only is animal testing unnecessary in the world we live in today, it's completely unethical and unimaginable that any human being could cause that amount of pain to a sentient being for the sake of cosmetics. It's important to rid of animal testing in cosmetic companies because it's unethical and unnecessary. It may also be important to know that in fact your sales could potentially rise. Veganism and activism against animal cruelty is growing every single day. Every vegan and every animal activist is a potential customer for cruelty free companies so this may be something to consider.

I am the wife and carer for a gentleman with complex, permanent and debilitating physical disabilities and life-long mental health problems. Just before Christmas 2012, my husband was stripped of his Disability Living Allowance (DLA) following a Work Capability Assessment. He had received this vital benefit since suffering two unfortunate industrial accidents, which meant he could no longer continue to work. His DLA enabled him to access a Motability car, which he lost through the process. This meant he could no longer maintain the same independence in life. Now, this summer, another Work Capability Assessment this time for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), the DWP has found my husband to be "fit for work". However, he's not elligible for Job Seeker's Allowance - because the Jobcentre acknowledge he's too sick and disabled to work - so he has fallen into a welfare gap. He now has almost no income and is entirely dependent on me (I work full time as well as care for him), for all his care needs, his mobility and his home. This makes him feel about an inch tall. We now have the prospect of a stressful appeal process through an Employment Tribunal. From speaking with many other people in the same position as us, we realise that there is a serious problem with the Disability Welfare Reform process, that many able-bodied people in society are not aware of. There are a lot of very vulnerable people in our country who are suffering terribly - not only because of their disabilities but also from extreme financial hardship - from The Austerity Choice that our government has made. There are people dying because they have suffered shock, trauma, lost income and people actually can't survive without the care they once received. My husband is lucky - I earn a wage. Many people are alone, alone and uncared for. I think this is an issue that needs to be heard - in 21st Century Britain, the systematic disadvantage of the most vulnerable in our society shouldn't be ignored. Everyone has a valuable contribution to make to society, not just those who pay tax. I'd be nothing without my husband by my side. Surely we all have a piece of our heart we can find to care for people who are less fortunate than ourselves?

The ancient legal principle that the Government is not above the law is being flouted by the DWP's implementation of benefits sanctions. David had his benefits repeatedly sanctioned by Jobcentre Plus officials. This resulted in him being unable to control his diabetes because he had no money for food. This caused diabetic ulcers. These became infected and he had to have a leg amputated. All these sanctions were eventually overturned, but it was too late. Other cases of illegal benefits sanctions we are fighting include claimants with learning disabilities, mental health problems and physical impairments having their benefits stopped for being unable to get to totally unsuitable appointments. The imposition of unachievable requirements by the DWP, and then the removal of benefits for being unable to meet such requirements, breaches the Equality Act and a set of legal principles governing the way public bodies should behave called Public Law. We support over 500 people to get benefits reinstated each year. Last year we recovered £507,393 for claimants. Help fight back against the destruction of the social security system fought for by our ancestors. We are also interested in launching a class action class action so if you have been affected by illegal benefit sanctions, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Because young people are the next generation and it is likley that they will never be able to pick themselves up without early intervention from local councils and british goverment

Help us protect our Crisis Line in Bristol! Earlier this month, Bristol Mental Health (BMH) announced the proposed closure of the crisis line from the end of November 2016. Some concerned users of the crisis line have expressed anxiety over the potential changes, sharing that they worry they would "lose a valuable service" that has helped them 'throughout the last eighteen months or so', approximately how long the line has been operational. With at least one in four people experiencing a mental health issue in their lifetime, now is the time for increased and clear mental health support that is easily accessible for all. We feel that there needs to be more improved signposting, with clear and easily accessible information available for people wanting to use mental health services and seek support. We want to ensure that any changes to the crisis line are in the best interests of those currently accessing services, and those that may access Bristol’s mental health services in the the future. We will be meeting with BMH and Bristol CCG on 9th September to discuss the crisis line further, and will also announce a date for an open meeting to get wider views in the near future. In the meantime, please join us in ensuring proper scrutiny of the future of our Crisis Line and spread the word of this vital campaign by signing and sharing this petition to show you are with us when we meet with them. If you want to get in touch about this campaign, or share your experience of using the Crisis Line, then please drop BIMHN Secretary, Tom, an email at: [email protected] References 1. BIMHN article breaking the story: http://bimhn.org.uk/news/bristol-crisis-line-closure/ 2. Bristol Cable article: https://thebristolcable.org/2016/08/mental-health-crisis-line-to-close-oh-wait/ 3. Second BMH Statement: http://bristolmentalhealth.org/news-and-events/bristol-mental-health-news/2016/august/statement-regarding-bmhs-crisis-line/ 4. Latest BIMHN statement and link to third statement from BMH: http://bimhn.org.uk/news/response-latest-crisis-line-statement/ 5. Updated BIMHN news article on the campaign, including latest statement from BMH: http://bimhn.org.uk/news/crisis-line-update/

Our kitchen is non funded completely volunteer run and serves over 40 homeless, isolated and vhuranable people a week for free. We have build relationships with business who donate food. We have created relationships with people who are on the outskirts of our society. We have continued & will continue to offer communtiy on the street but we fear we will lose our homeless members of we can't provided a warm dry place to eat together.

A generation of Haemophiliacs were infected with HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products (Factor 8 & 9) on the NHS throughout the early 1980's. People with haemophilia can bleed into the joint space after an injury or, at times, without obvious cause. The pressure of blood filling the joint cavity causes significant pain and can lead to chronic swelling and deformity. This is a condition which can, at best, be delayed, but invariably leads to chronic Arthritis. Unlike modern clotting agents the Factors given to this generation weren't as effective as they are now and it's very rare to find a patient who hasn't suffered lasting multiple joint damage. In recognition of this many were awarded higher lifetime rates of Attendance Allowance and or Mobility Allowance (now combined into DLA). This has allowed many to live a much more productive and full life than they otherwise could. DLA is currently being replaced by Personal Independence Payment. This requires anyone in receipt of DLA, regardless of term awarded, to undergo an assessment which ranges from highly stressful to traumatic. Given that most surviving Haemophiliacs from this group have already been left traumatised by the multiple infections given to them many are viewing this assessment with much trepidation and concern. Some Haemophiliacs have surrendered the benefit rather than have to go through it. The Scottish Parliament has taken steps to alleviate the financial concerns of this group, well above the lamentable efforts by the UK parliament and should be applauded for their compassion and understanding. It would greatly help the survivors further if they were made exempt from this humiliating process.

This service serves the public very well and is well used. I believe that this is a crucial service, particularly because of the difficulty accessing health care both in normal working hours and OOH services.

The actions of the NEC are so undemocratic they do not belong in this country. All across society they have excluded members and supports with bitter choices. This cannot be allowed to go on in The Labour Party.