2.00pm Saturday 1st June 2013

Campaigners from Nottingham Against Workfare protested outside record shop Music Exchange, in Stoney Street, Nottingham.

The Music Exchange is a social enterprise founded by Framework. It is now operated by Eve Trades, a social enterprise established by the charity in 2012

The Nottingham homelessness charity, Framework, has admitted that it is involved in the Work Programme. This is one of the schemes known collectively as workfare, where unemployed people are forced to do unpaid work or face losing their benefits. 

Under pressure from anti-workfare activists, Framework announced that “we are one of the organisations who participate in delivering the work programme”. Last month, campaigners from Nottingham Against Workfare delivered a letter to Chief Executive Andrew Redfern, encouraging him to withdraw from the work programme. Local activists also called on supporters to campaign on the organisation’s social media pages.

Text of the leaflet handed out:

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FOR SHAME, FRAMEWORK:

Framework, a Nottingham homeless charity involved in running the Music Exchange in Hockley, has been using labour from DWP Mandatory Work Schemes to supplement their voluntary apprenticeship programmes. Claimants placed on this scheme face benefit sanctions and ultimately the loss of their homes if they do not participate. Workfare is not simply exploitative - if allowed to continue, it will exacerbate housing problems for the poorest and most vulnerable in society hugely.

Oxfam, Shelter, the homeless charity SHP, Sense and even the PDSA have refused to participate in these schemes because they feel that Workfare exacerbates social exclusion and penalises the poorest in society.  SHAMEFULLY, FRAMEWORK CLAIMS THAT THIS PROJECT BENEFITS THE UNEMPLOYED AND WILL REDUCE HOMELESSNESS. LET'S SHOW THEM HOW WRONG

THEY ARE.

Go to the Framework Facebook page to let them know what you think, or find the

Nottsagainst Workfare fb page for details of upcoming actions and events.

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Framework uses Workfare

http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/5639

Nottingham charity involved in workfare

http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/5648

Charity targeted in protest over forced work scheme

Nottingham Post

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Charity-targeted-protest-forced-work-scheme/story-19170288-detail/story.html

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ALAN LODGE 

Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham.  UK

Email:                 tash@indymedia.org

Web:                   http://digitaljournalist.eu

Member of the National Union of Journalists [NUJ]

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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.

                                   It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"

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