Carer's Allowance recipients have a higher hour threshold than workers, for a lower rate of benefit than Job Seekers. The rate of Carer's Allowance undermines the value of the work undertaken (estimated at £119bn per year - Carers UK and the University of Leeds (2011) Valuing Carers 2011: Calculating the value of carers’), and the additional expenses that caring can incur - (Carers UK (2014) Facts about Carers).

It is very important they we don't suffer in vain with these cuts to the disabled people

The volunteer Services Grants scheme enables many charities and voluntary organizations to keep going locally to provide essential services for those who are in need of it. Between 30-40 local charities and voluntary organisations will loose the chance to bid for the £366,000 funding to pay for essential costs. Youth services, homeless support and elderly support will diminish and 20 organizations have said that their charitable activities will half and are at risk of disappearing entirely. We need to now stand up for our charities that have given us all a safety net if the worst should happen and sound assistance when us or are loved ones need help.

Stephen Sowden a middle aged disabled man suffering with cancer has been banned from his local disabled sorts club. Stephen lives in the Harold Hill suburb of the London Borough of Havering has attended the Havering Disabled Sports Association since 2007 taking part in the sport of archery. In September last year Stephen was banned from this organisation for under very dubious circumstances. He asked to appeal the decision and was aided by a local campaigner and the hearing was held in a public environment which has been described as a Kangaroo court. Since Stephen’s dismissal from the HDSA both the local authority who have financed this organisation unconditionally for a number of years and his local MP have refused to come to Stephens aid. In a number of disturbing developments Stephen has been subject to threatening phone call’s first from an individual masquerading as a journalist from a national newspaper who tried to belittle his story and since this unsavoury incident has received a number of calls from if not the same another individual advising him their will be dire consequences if he continues to pursue having his membership re-instated. This seems unbelievable in our country in 2016 that a disabled individual can still be subject to this kind of discrimination and intimidation belonging to a different era of countries history. Please see below a statement from Stephen he made shortly after his membership was terminated: "I have been a member of Havering Disabled sports association for many years and due to my Disabilities have had opportunities I would not have had without the transport and help provided. Three weeks ago I was informed my name had been taken of the transport list and I was not to attend the meetings. I eventually contacted one of the Committee in order to find out what had happened but got no information. Last week I got a letter telling me to attend a Committee meeting at the Broxhill centre if I wished to Discuss my situation. I replied to the letter stating that I would be happy to attend but would bring some one to help me and witness the meeting. This was agreed. I went expecting a meeting with the three committee members but was surprised to find that they intended to hold the meeting in front of all the members of the club with no privacy. They had it seemed decided to put me in front of a Kangaroo court and proceeded to ask me personal questions about my Health and private life. They had no evidence of any wrong doing only hearsay and accusations with out any substance. However one of the members stated that if I was to come back he would leave the club simply because he had not liked my attitude. I am at present expecting them to stop me attending the club. They have handled this in a very unprofessional way and have treated me with total disregard for my feelings. I am asking that if a Charity funded by the Council and its tax payers has to comply with any anti bullying regulations and if they are given funding for transport can they simply stop allowing me to use it. I have done nothing wrong and have been under a lot of strain lately having my original disability and having had two major operations for mouth cancer last year. I am still not able to eat solids and have problems speaking or writing due to the operations. If you are unable to help me can you point me to some one who can". We as a group of campaigners and concerned citizens who live in the London Borough of Havering are demanding a proper enquiry into the reasons why Stephens membership was cancelled and will petition the HDSA to re-instate unconditionally Stephen’s membership . All Stephen wants is to be able to continue his beloved sport of archery and get on with his life without intimidation and prejudice. With best wishes. TEAM STEPHEN

It sets right a wrong that must be addressed and it celebrates the best of British ingenuity

Community Councils are a cornerstone of any community and legally are not allowed to be politically motivated. By allowing three activists take up key position in the Lochgelly Community Council for the benefit of local Labour councillors then community representation is lacking and the process of local representation and local democracy is subverted to benefit political agendas to the detriment of the wider community.

I propose a reformation of the education system, whereby the onus of learning of students is not on the teacher but is back on the students, this is unfair and creates a system where teachers have to do incredible amounts of work, rather than the students. There should be less paperwork involved in teaching and the teacher should be judged on the quality of teaching and lessons as well as the number of consistent or improved grades rather than classes as a whole. Allowing qualified people to teach would be a step forward allowing for greater creativity and well rounded learning rather than gaining a teaching qualification after a number of years after a graduate has already spent many years of study for their first degree. On the job training towards a qualification should also be employed as well as shorter qualification times. A certain amount of discipline should be a key part of the classroom so students can respect their teachers as a whole and the classroom also as a whole can benefit. British education should be comparable to that of an international education, perhaps a return to the older O-Level system would be a welcome return with emphasis on Mathematics, Science and English. We also would welcome breadth and depth in History not just on the World Wars, World History should be taught as well as the British Empire. I have been a private tutor for many years and I have never been as busy as I am at the present. Although good for myself, I want all students to have the great education and understanding that they deserve across the country. Due to pressure from Ofsted reports teachers sometimes have to shift focus on how to teach rather than what they are teaching and many schools are suffering from staff shortages. It is also difficult for me to enter the system despite many years experience since I do not have a PGCE. This could also be said for many well qualified people that have retired from such jobs that would be well suited to teaching, or those that have spent long enough in Education. We want to make the British Education the best in the World again by making it accessible, enjoyable and well rounded and to give our teachers the creativity to teach and let their passions shine through rather than fade over time.

These creatures are nearing extinction due to the few in the East and the game hunters who pay huge monies to kill. We need them to take responsibility for their actions and think about putting their money into saving human life instead of killing animal life.

It has affected over 150 businesses in the Brynymor, Uplands, St Helens, Wind Street and City Center Area, I have personally spoken and taking statements from all of these businesses and they have all stated they have suffered economic loss due to loss of trade because of these Parking Fines. It has also become apparent that there has been a large amount of parking restrictions placed recently where these businesses are located, purposely for the intent of issuing Parking Fines. This affects everyone!

The current Wheelchair Symbol, while internationally recognised, is found offensive by some and confusing to many. It is wrongly thought to be the representative image for disability and causes people to falsely benchmark other disabilities against it. This causes numerous instances of judgemental comments/abuse toward people using accessible facilities, for legitimate reasons, who show no outward signs of being disabled. The widespread use of the symbol re-inforces a stereotype which, is then compounded with media stories of benefits cheats/scroungers faking disability.

if these homes and day centres are sold off to private companies, then ordinary people will not be able to afford to put their loved ones in these places, even as council run they are quite expensive, this city and many others in the country ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet, and when a loved one suffers from dementia it is hard to look after them and your family, and knowing that they are cared for and safe takes a great worry off the families who need these services, private companies means shareholders and all shareholders care about is money, and to make a profit, they make cuts in care, staff and wages and employ people untrained in dealing with the elderly and dementia

The 6 week holidays, has been a tradition in Barnsley forever. However, the Barnsley council have decided to change the Barnsley tradition to 4 weeks and 4 days. As kids, we work our socks off to keep on top of all of the homework we get. In most schools, every school break you get a project to do but, due to having a shorter break we will not have the time to relax AND do homework, study for tests and spend social time with friends as it is Summer. Vote to save OUR social time, OUR relaxation and OUR six weeks holidays!