2018-03-02 13:49:47 +0000
To: Derbyshire County Council
Reinstate the Funding to Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centres
Reinstate the £91,000 of funding from the County Council to Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centres so we can continue to provide a benefits advice and tribunal representation service for some of the most disadvantaged people in Derbyshire.
Why is this important?
The Derbyshire Unemployed Workers’ Centre (DUWC) received a grant of more than £41,000 annually and a further £50,000 from Public Health to carry out tribunal representation work for people challenging decisions by the Department for Work and Pensions regarding benefit reductions and withdrawals.
But the funding from the County Council will come to an end on March 31. Colin Hampton, co-ordinator of the centres for the past 33 years, said:
“DUWC, irrespective of who is in government, gives a voice to those who come to seek our help."
“You would think those in power would welcome this feedback but it appears that this authority would rather not hear what they have to say."
“The centres have many funding streams and even more supporters. We will be embarking on a massive fundraising campaign to bridge the gap left by the Council’s cynical move.”
Thousands of Derbyshire residents use the service, which has offices throughout the county. It also comes at a time when the centres are dealing with the full digital roll out of universal credit.
Please visit our website for more information about the service: http://www.duwc.org.uk/
