Join our free creative writing group at BUCFP to be inspired, chat, swap ideas, and working on creative writing techniques.
We experiment with prose, poetry, fiction, non fiction, journalism, script writing and creative exercises in a safe and informal environment. This drop in group is open to all levels of abilities. For more information about other free courses and workshops click here.
We are meeting lots of people at our welfare rights drop in who have been told wrong information about their universal credit claims when they are moving directly from ESA. Here's how it *should* work;
If you are on ESA, you will only have to change to Universal Credit if your circumstances change so that you need to make a new claim. Eg if you move to a new council area where UC is already in full service, if you move in with a partner, or your relationship ends.
If something like that happens, your limited capability for work status should move over to UC with you. If you are in the support group on ESA, you should get the LCWRA element from the start of your UC claim. If you are in the WRAG on ESA, and you have been claiming ESA since before April 2017, you should get the LCW element from the start of your UC claim. Whichever group you are in, you do *not* need to fill in another questionnaire and have another assessment.
These rules are set out in Regulation 19 of the Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations, 2014. Tell your work coach or case manager to look it up if they are telling you something different.
If you have to claim universal credit because you didn't get enough points at a Work Capability Assessment to stay on ESA, Regulation 19 doesn't apply to you. But if that decision is later overturned on appeal, then it does. We can help with appeals - many are successful.
At the moment, in Brighton & Hove, everyone who wants to make a new claim for benefits has to claim Universal Credit. From next year, the government is proposing to start the process of moving existing claimants over to Universal Credit. They have published proposed regulations to cover how this process would work.
Based on our experience of supporting hundreds of people to make and maintain Universal Credit claims in the last six months, we have submitted a response to the Social Security Advisory Committee's consultation about these plans.
Brighton & Hove Council officers reported in July on the results of the introduction of Universal Credit in the city, for new claimants:
Our consultation response includes case studies illustrating some of the problems faced by our clients, and makes 10 recommendations, including:
We urge the government to delay the start of the full rollout until sufficient changes have been made to the system to mitigate the issues identified by the National Audit Office, and full service areas are no longer reporting that Universal Credit is causing additional hardship for vulnerable claimants.
Most of our clients are disabled, and many are struggling to cope with the harsh changes in disability benefits over recent years. The planned roll out of universal credit is a real worry.
The benefit cap means there is no effective safety net for families with children in high rent areas like #Brighton. No wonder food bank use is soaring.
It's now so much harder for people to afford somewhere to live. Shifting housing support from local councils to the DWP has also meant a loss of expertise, so vulnerable claimants have to explain their needs over and over.
Universal credit is a disaster for workers on low incomes. Miserly and unreliable, it pushes people into debt and towards eviction. And the treatment of self-employed people is a scandal waiting to happen.
There will be no yoga classes from 10th -31st August.
The last class before the break is on Friday 3rd August 11am - 1pm
The first class after the break is on Friday 7th September 11am - 1pm, classes will then continue weekly as normal.
Early Years Lead – permanent contract
£19,430 per annum pro rata; £10.07 per hour (NJC scale 4, spinal point 20)
20 hours per week. The playroom is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 1pm.
Actual working hours to be arranged
Closing date: Friday 11th May 12 noon Interview date: TBC
Required qualification level: Minimum Level 3. EYP / EYT status desired
The Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project (BUCFP) is for the people of Brighton and Hove who are unemployed and low-waged. We offer low cost meals, laundry facilities, computer facilities, courses, benefits advice, parent support and quality childcare and education.
We operate an Ofsted registered environment which we call our ‘playroom’ which follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and offers free drop in places for the children of our centre users. Parents can volunteer or take part in free or low cost activities while their children are in the ‘playroom’ which is run by a qualified Early Years Teacher and a team of Early Years Practitioners and Volunteers. Parents/carers stay on the premises while their children are with us.
We are looking for an Early Years Lead to support the Early Years/Parent Support Co-ordinator in the running of the playroom, to support and guide our staff team with EYFS and to deputise when required.
Applicants must have a minimum Level 3 qualification in early years practice (Early Years Professional (EYP) / Early Years Teacher (EYT) status is desirable but not essential); experience of working in a supervisory role in an early years environment is also essential alongside experience of working well within a team; good literacy and communication skills; excellent knowledge of the EYFS curriculum and practical knowledge of planning, observations and assessment; good knowledge of the Ofsted welfare requirements, of early years legislation / policy and safeguarding.
The role is to provide direct support to the children and families attending the playroom, to support the implementation the EYFS and Ofsted welfare requirements and to support the day to day delivery of this.
The Playroom works with a diverse range of families and children, many of whom have English as an additional language, we embrace this and work hard to establish and maintain positive and respectful relationships with parents and children. The playroom service is free at the point of delivery and many of our parents become playroom volunteers. The successful applicant will need to feel comfortable working within a mixed team of paid and volunteer workers.
This post is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
BUCFP Early Years Lead job ref APRIL
Early years lead job description original