COALITION AGAINST THE WELFARE REFORM BILL (CAWRB) Demo/Lobby In Manchester on Monday 25th September 2006

A leaflet on the Manchester demo giving times and everything else you need to know

· A statement to the government, which is more information

· A petition...... would be great if you could copy this and get it filled out and sent back (and I already know that some of you will do this)

· An opportunity to make a donation to the campaign though Danners might want to support DAN and your colleagues instead.

Hopefully this information will start tailoring off now many thanks for your patience

Rich

CHALLENGE THE INCAPACITY BENEFIT CUTS!

The new Welfare Reform Bill that was introduced on July 24th 2006 will seriously affect disabled peoples lives, as many of us will be forced to take paid or unpaid work in organizations where prejudice and widespread disabilism still exist in spite of anti discrimination legislation.

Under the Welfare Reform Bill, a new Employment and Support Allowance will replace incapacity benefit but, for the first time ever, disabled people will have benefit conditions forced upon them to seek work which they may feel unable to do, may not want to do, or be expected to work in totally inaccessible work places. These conditions could lead to disabled peoples benefits being cut
which would lead to more poverty for disabled people.

CALL FOR NO SANCTIONS: -

The effect will make disabled people feel more fearful of an increasingly inflexible benefit system. We do not think attaching ‘work’ conditions to benefits is the answer. The answer is to give more disabled people an opportunity to take up paid work when they are ready to do so.

FOR A DECENT DISABILITY WELFARE SYSTEM: -

We demand Government quickly rethink this damaging policy and that welfare reform is tackled from a social model of disability approach by:

• Recognising the real barriers to work are employers’ attitudes, disability benefit conditions, work rules and inaccessible work places;
• Tightening up disability discrimination laws in the work place to penalise companies that are actively hostile towards the employment of disabled people;
• Providing more support (Access to Work) for disabled people who are able and want to do paid or unpaid work;
• Introducing disability related income, which promotes a degree of choice between paid and unpaid work.

CAWRB is supported by British Council of Disabled People, UK Coalition of People living with HIV and AIDS, National Union of Journalists (Disabled Council Members), Spinal Injury Association, Disabled Peoples Action Network, Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association, People First, Trade Union Disabled Peoples Alliance, Alliance for Inclusive Education, Regard, National Centre for Independent Living, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People and many many more.


· Gather at 3pm in Exchange Square, opposite the Arndale Centre on Corporation St (¼mile to Victoria Stn, 1mile to Piccadilly and coach stns). The stroll and roll joins the protest outside the Labour Party Conference at the G-MEX centre on Lower Mosley St. The protest will be from 3pm so join us there if you can’t do the march.

· Campaigners can meet you at either the bus or train stations. If you have booked transport, there is a safe drop off point arranged with the police.

Please get in touch for more information:

Telephone Steve on 01362 850130, Web Telephone 05601 343608 Email
 cawrb@welfare-reform.org.uk
Contact Sheffield Welfare Action Network for more of these leaflets which are on one page and available in word.  sheffieldwelfare_an@yahoo.co.uk or
www.welfare-reform.org.uk
Simone Aspis
Telephone number: 0208-459-2998
Email address:  simone@bcodp.org.uk
Address: BCODP,
Litchurch Plaza,,
Litchurch Lane,
Derby, DE24 8AA


Welfare Reform Statement:-

COALITION AGAINST THE WELFARE REFORM BILL STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF ORGANISATIONS OF DISABLED PEOPLE

A call upon Government to do a U-Turn on Welfare Reform:-

The new Welfare Reform Bill which was introduced on July 24th will seriously affect disabled peoples lives as many of us will be forced to take paid or unpaid work in organizations where prejudice and widespread disabilism still exist in spite of anti discrimination legislation.

Under the Welfare Reform Bill, a new Employment and Support Allowance will replace incapacity benefit but, for the first time ever disabled people will have benefit conditions forced upon them to seek work which they may feel unable to do, may not want to do or is in totally inaccessible work places. These conditions could lead to disabled peoples benefits being cut which would lead to more poverty.

The effect will make disabled people feel more fearful of an increasingly inflexible benefit system.

We do not think attaching ‘work’ conditions to benefits is the answer. The answer is to give more disabled people an opportunity to take up paid work when they are ready to do so.

We demand Government quickly rethink this damaging policy and that welfare reform is tackled from a social model of disability approach by:

Recognising the real barriers to work are employers’ attitudes, work and disability benefit conditions and rules and inaccessible work places.

Tightening up disability discrimination laws in the work place to penalize companies that are actively hostility towards the employment of disabled people providing more support (Access to Work) for disabled people who are able and want to do paid or unpaid work through the proposed individualized budgets.

Introducing disability related (non means tested) income, which promotes a degree of choice between paid and unpaid work.

This is a statement that has been supported by the following national organisations of disabled people: -

British Council of Disabled People, UK Coalition of People living with HIV and AIDs, National Union of Journalists (Disabled Members’ Council), Spinal Injury Association, Disabled Peoples Direct Action Network, Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association, People First, Trade Union Disability Alliance, Alliance for Inclusive Education,
Regard, National Centre for Independent Living,

· Please sign our petition against the Welfare Reform Bill We are against the Welfare Reform Bill which will make changes for disabled people claiming disability-related benefits and cuts in benefits for disabled people who feel they are unready for work.

We want Government to:
· Improve work choices by tackling discrimination by employers
· Improve services for helping disabled job seekers
· Improve the funding to remove work barriers for disabled people from the Access to Work Scheme.

We call upon the Government to remove benefit penalties (cuts) for disabled people who feel unready to prepare or look for paid work.

Name Address Email address Signature

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Please return to Simone Aspis,
British Council of Disabled People, Litchurch
Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA by November 15th
There is also an electronic petition at

www.welfare-reform.org.uk.

RAISING MONEY FOR THE COALITION AGAINST:-

We need your help to raise money so that we can run this very important campaign. The Welfare Reform Bill will affect every single disabled member of your group.

BCODP which is a member of the Coalition Against the Welfare Reform Bill have joined forces to plan the national and local actions. We need your help with money in order to get as many disabled people supporting this campaign to cover telephone conference calls, photocopying and distribution of leaflets etc.

If every organisation just gave at least £20 then we could have £2,000 to run this very important campaign. However, we can do a lot more with a lot more money.

If you can help please make cheques payable to British Council of Disabled People and address the envelope to:-

Sheila Blair
Campaign Against The Welfare Reform Bill
C/o British Council of Disabled People,
Litchurch Plaza,
Litchurch Lane,
Derby
DE24 8AA

GIFT AID DECLARATION TO:-

The British Council of Disabled People (BCODP)
Registered Charity Number: 1068743

I (We) (title):-…………………………………………………

Name:-…………………………………………………………

Address:-…………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………

Post code……………………..

· I (We) would like all donations I (We) make to the British Council of Disabled People to be treated as Gift Aid donations. I understand I must be paying Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the amount being reclaimed by BCODP.

· I (We) understand I can cancel this Gift Aid declaration at any time.

Signature of Donor(s):- ……………………………

Date:- ………………

Notes:
1. You may cancel this declaration at any time by notifying BCODP.
2. You must pay an amount of Income or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that BCODP reclaims on your donations in the tax year (currently 28p for each £1 that you give).
3. If in the future your circumstances change and you no longer pay tax on your income and capital gains equal to the tax that BCODP reclaims, you can cancel your declaration
4. If you pay tax at the higher rate you can claim further tax relief in your Self-Assessment tax return.


· This email as been sent to you by Richard Downes, Coordinator of Brent Advocacy Concerns and member of the Disabled People’s Direct Action. For a chat on either phone 020 8459 1493