We are told that our client group is disappearing and that we are no longer financially viable. Although we do offer employability courses we also provide other valuable training and help to people in our communities. Although the headline unemployment numbers for Fife and Scotland are at a record low. We know from experience that the realities on the ground are much bleaker than the statistics show, largely due to the roll out of Universal Credit. We are now working with the most hard to reach client groups in Fife. The very long term unemployed. Lead carers who have not worked for years, as they were bringing up their children and were always under the radar. People recovering from drug and alcohol issues, homeless people, people with mental health issues, people on ESA and PIP. Since the full roll out of Universal Credit in December 2017, the numbers having to actively seek employment and can benefit from our help has actually increased. Youth unemployment is still sitting above 9% in Fife. At the end of 2017 the amount of 16 to 19 year olds who were not in education, employment or training was higher in Fife than anywhere else in Scotland. West Fife Enterprise has always offered these young people an environment where they can learn, develop and successfully move into work or further education. Over the past year we have been working with more single parents and lead carers who now have to seek employment. A huge part of this work is overcoming and helping this group who were largely isolated and ignored in the past, to look outward and to help them move on. Our courses provide a new network of people and contacts for them. It builds their confidence and allows them to meet and interact with new people. It provides a very successful work placement programme, that results in a huge boost to their own confidence. This group have huge gaps in their employment history and have very little recent work experience. They are also very much IT novices and are struggling to cope with the new requirements UC puts onto claimants. As part of the Scottish Governments “Fair Start Scotland”, contracts have been given to Triage and Working Links. Where they have people in Fife directed to them for up to 2 years by the DWP. The Scottish Government has allocated £96m for the delivery of this “employability” service across Scotland. Once again private companies will profit whilst third sector companies like WFE and Gingerbread is face closure. Below are some quotes from some trainees who attended WFE • “I learned a lot from the course and my confidence improved. The tutor was very approachable and supportive. I am the way I am because I got somewhere to go, something to do” • “Thanks to WFE, I am in a better place right now. I am actually doing what I want to do: getting out of the house, volunteering, seeing people” • “The tutor’s support on the course was amazing. The agency is brilliant. They build people up again” • “Change does not frighten me anymore. I now have a clear goal and the placement organised by WFE means the world to me. I do not want the journey to come to an end…’ • “Very sad news indeed , changed my career path for the better and has helped 100’s of people from our wee village alone” • “I got my SVQ2 thru west fife enterprise then went on to college to do my HNC they helped so much with building up my confidence I hope this wee place can be saved” • "This experience has been one of the biggest and best life changing opportunities I have ever had. I have grown so much in the last few months and I couldn't have done it without your unconditional guidance. You have set me up for the next chapter, thank you." • “Just wanted to send you a quick e-mail to say thank you for all of your help and support. You really have gone the extra mile and it's appreciated more than you will ever understand. You have helped me so much and my family. That's me into my second week now and I'm really enjoying it. Still in training until end of this week. It's great being back in employment and feeling part of society again!” The above quotes proves that WFE does much more than just employability and getting people into work. We help with isolation, confidence, we give people a purpose.

The removal of the Animal Rescue Unit by Surrey Fire and Rescue will jeopardise their chance of survival if needing a specialist rescue. Looking at the unofficial fire rescue Facebook page it seems as though at least one animal a week is rescued by the unit. Without them horses and other farm animals will be left stuck in a ditch, leaving the owner no choice but to call a vet who has no equipment to perform a rescue. Animals live with us and work alongside us. Animals enrich our lives and provide us with resources. We need to nurture, protect and cherish the animals in our communities. We don't know when Surrey Fire & Rescue plan to close the unit down but we are calling all pet owners, horse riders, farmers, and animal lovers throughout Surrey to recognise the value of a highly-trained, specialist Animal Rescue team in Surrey!

The new 26-30 railcard was made available to the public at the start of 2019. However, unlike all other railcards - including the 16-25 and senior railcards - it is available 'digital only'. This means that only 26-30 year-olds possessing an Apple iPhone or Google Android mobile 'phone who download the railcard app can get one. It seems unfair to assume that people of this age-group must have a smartphone, or to require them to get one, when people of other age-groups eligible for a railcard are able to use a physical, paper or plastic railcard instead. As a 26 year-old without a mobile 'phone, I find access to nearly all services and opportunities is quite straightforward without one, and believe that this should remain the case in future. I'm no Luddite, I just don't feel that I want or need a mobile. When I was 25, this certainly didn't stop me having a 16-25 railcard. I can see no reason why I should be barred from getting the new railcard now I'm 26 and struggling just as much to afford rail fares. Not everyone aged 26-30 has a mobile 'phone, and we shouldn't be expected to become customers of Apple or Google - both of which are huge multinational companies with a lot of power and influence as it is - in order to take advantage of the chance to have affordable rail fares. Young people are already struggling to afford the growing expense of travel, which is why the new railcard was introduced in the first place. Please don't expect us to pay hundreds of pounds for a smartphone in order to get it! I'm petitioning for the right to choose to get a physical railcard instead, just like everyone else who's entitled to one.

We have one of the lowest state pensions here in the UK

His humble dedication, without any expectation of reward, is an example to us all in the finest traditions of public service by a British citizen.This should be recognised and rewarded.

There are many riders in the local area who need somewhere too practice their skills and are in need of a skatepark

West Sussex council’s proposal to cut help for rough sleepers by £4m will have drastic consequences - more lives will be lost. By 2020, the money the council spends on housing support services for rough sleepers, victims of domestic abuse, care leavers, and vulnerable elderly people, will decrease from £6.3 million to £2.3 million. Years of under-investment by West Sussex County Council in social housing, social care and mental health services have resulted in increasing numbers of homeless people, many sleeping rough in parks, shop doorways and in beach shelters. At a time when funding desperately needs to be increased, West Sussex County Council is proposing even greater cuts. The council needs to reverse its decision and make sure these services are protected for the future.

Oakleigh House is a small 5 bedroom Mental health respite center. It's the only place like it in Cornwall. It provides a safe haven for those in crisis and recovery. Up to 5 people can stay for one week at a time for 4 times per year. Oakleigh has saved thousands of hours of hospital time and hundreds of lives. All of this for £140,000 per year. Yet no replacement is offered or consultation with the service users has happened. Please save Oakleigh and Save a life.

Most bread bought in shops these days comes in a plastic bag.Most people buy this bread as it is cheaper than unwrapped bread. Millions of bags end up in landfill . We need a campaign to change wrappers now!

Our pub is an important part of the local community, we do not want to loose it. We would like to see the Acton open again, we miss the contact with our friends and neighbours. Many teams are run from it, its a place where you can find help for all sorts and it can be so much more. Some of our locals have offered the pub company to run it as a managed house so the pub can reopen again but so far the pub-co has refused. We don't understand why, it is much easier to find a tenant for a pub that is open and running, or do they have plans which none of us know about?

crones disease is a very disabling disease there is no cure for it and in some cases it hospitalizes the person it can travel through your body With Crohn’s, you are slightly more likely to develop other health problems. Your doctor will watch you closely to help prevent them. They include: Colon cancer, if Crohn’s disease affects your colon or large intestine. Lymphoma. This is a cancer of the lymphatic system, the body’s disease-fighting cells and structures. It’s more likely if you take certain medicines for Crohn’s. Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. This means blood clots could form in the veins or lungs. Primary sclerosing cholangitis. This is serious inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts, the tiny tubes that allow bile to pass through the gastrointestinal system. Psoriatic arthritis, a form of arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis.

Given the recent worldwide attention given to this period of history, it would be of great benefit to the town to support this and help bring more people to the area to enjoy the strong and fascinating history. Other areas across Scotland in which Robert the Bruce is known to have links to have commemorated him in their towns. Robert the Bruce lived the remainder of his life in what is now West Dunbartonshire and St Serf's in Levengrove Park is one of three significant burial sites for the King. This is why we feel, given the strong links, that not enough is being done to honour the history.