general Helping Others To Freedom Pt9: Practicalities And Mysteries Of Healing And Deliverance By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Mon, 15 May 2023 10:10:02 GMT In Session 9 of 'Helping Others To Freedom', David addresses many practical questions that often arise around healing and deliverance, also considering some of the mysterious matters that can confuse people. This episode on 'Practicalities And Mysteries Of Healing And Deliverance' should be extremely useful for anyone engaging in prayer ministry. This session is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Helping Others To Freedom Pt10: Revival And Deliverance - The Bigger Picture By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2023 10:10:02 GMT In the concluding session of 'Helping Others To Freedom', we look at how the principles of personal healing and deliverance apply to whole regions, and are essentially the same principles that can prepare a region for revival awakening. This is 'Revival And Deliverance - The Bigger Picture' - God sets individuals free in order to heal and deliver the world. This session is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Overcoming Adversity, Part 1: Facing Facts By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2023 10:01:01 GMT There is such diversity of opinion among Christians regarding suffering. This confusion often distresses people who are enduring suffering. What is the truth then? In this message David talks candidly about the importance of 'Facing Facts' and coming to terms with the inevitability of adversity in our lives. Also, he emphasises that we need to understand how God uses adversity in our lives. Many people wonder, 'How do I know if this is something from the Devil that I need to resist or is something God is wanting me to submit to?'. David practically teaches us how to discern in our suffering and how to react appropriately to adversity. This message is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Overcoming Adversity, Part 2: What You Need To Know By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sat, 01 Jul 2023 10:01:01 GMT In our second study in 'Overcoming Adversity', we learn 'What You Need To Know'. From the amazing Romans 8, David explains how God has given us the tools to overcome adversity. There is a special understanding that we have when we are 'in Christ' that causes us to triumph even in the worst afflictions. This comes from knowing who we are and what we have in Christ - knowing what is ahead of us in Christ; what God has purposed for us in Christ and how secure we are in Him. These keys to overcoming are available to all generations of believers whatever the current global challenges or personal trials we face. This is a message of encouragement that we all need in these days. This message is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Risk-Takers For God By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Aug 2023 10:01:01 GMT In 1 Samuel 13:23-14:15, the story of Jonathan and his armour-bearer's daring attack against the Philistines offers us many lessons in how we can audaciously take risks for God and His Kingdom. It's this kind of boldness for God that sends shockwaves in the camp of the enemy. Join us and learn how we can become 'Risk-Takers for God'! This message is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Glorious Presence Of God, Part 1: In The Garden Of Eden By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Aug 2023 10:01:01 GMT In this introductory message on 'The Glorious Presence Of God', we look at the different 'kinds' of God's presence and how at times, God manifests His presence to us, particularly in times of revival. Then David focuses on God's relationship with Adam and Eve before sin entered humanity and how our sin impacts the presence of God in our lives. This message is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Glorious Presence Of God Pt2: With The Ark Of The Covenant By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Sep 2023 10:10:02 GMT The primary way 'The Glorious Presence Of God' rested among God's people in the Old Testament was in the Tabernacle and the Temple, particularly over the Ark of the Covenant. Unfortunately, the people of God came to the point in their history of taking God's presence for granted, and consequently, they lost it. Listen along as David shares some principles around reverencing the presence of God and how God's work must be done God's way to experience the power of His presence. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Glorious Presence Of God Pt3: Its Departure By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:10:02 GMT Ezekiel tells us how 'The Glorious Presence Of God' reluctantly withdrew from the Temple in stages and eventually from the whole nation. The sins of the people had driven Him from them. This is a sobering message highlighting the need for holiness but also giving us great hope in the Saviour we have in Jesus, who brings God's presence to us through His cross. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Glorious Presence Of God Pt4: In Immanuel By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sun, 01 Oct 2023 10:10:02 GMT The greatest presentation of 'The Glorious Presence Of God' was in His Son who came to this world, Immanuel, 'God with us'. We will learn how the glory of God shone through Jesus' life and how the disciples witnessed that glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Find out how we can experience the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Glorious Presence Of God Pt5: The Passionate Pursuit Of God's Glory By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sun, 15 Oct 2023 10:10:02 GMT We need to pursue Him passionately to experience more of 'The Glorious Presence Of God'. King David reflects this in Psalm 63, and others like Moses and Isaiah show us what it is like to hunger after and interact with God's presence. In this message, you'll hear how we must turn away from other distractions and sins to gain a greater passion for God's presence. This concluding message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Jesus' Preparation For Ministry Pt1: From Obscurity To Prominence By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:10:02 GMT There is much of Jesus' early life we don't know about. We know He didn't begin His earthly ministry until around the age of 30. What did He do in those preceding years? Those years in obscurity were a vital part of 'Jesus' Preparation For Ministry'. What lessons can we learn from such obscurity and silent years? Follow Him 'From Obscurity To Prominence', as we consider this question and also the importance of Christ's baptism, holiness, obedience and His empowerment by the Spirit. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Jesus' Preparation For Ministry Pt2: Learning To Minister From Identity By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 10:10:02 GMT Many of us have been conditioned by life and culture to serve to obtain identity rather than ministering from our identity in Christ. Jesus knew who He was and what the Father thought of Him; this impacted how He served God. However, many of us behave as orphans in ministry, which often ends in our own hurt and that of others. In this message on 'Learning To Minister From Identity', David teaches us to minister from identity as children of God rather than ministering from identity like orphans. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Jesus' Preparation For Ministry Pt3: The School Of Suffering By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:10:02 GMT The Bible tells us that Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered. Even for the perfect Son of God, there was 'The School Of Suffering' that prepared Him for ministry. As His disciples, we are called to take up our cross and suffer for Christ. We will experience the test of the wilderness and face the enemy's taunts attacking our belovedness to God. Suffering cannot be avoided as Christians. Discernment is needed to know what can be resisted and what is part of God's plan for us. One thing is sure: if we are to inherit as God's sons and daughters, we must suffer for His name. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Shaking Of The Heavens By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Jan 2024 10:01:01 GMT In this topical message on revival, David relays some visions and dreams from God, indicating the shaking in the heavenly realm at this time in history and the need for us to be 'ready' in the day of God's power (Psalm 110:3). This message is available now from https://www.preachtheword.com in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Confident Prayer By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sun, 14 Jan 2024 18:01:01 GMT Many of us struggle with the lack of answers to our prayers - but is there such a thing as praying confidently in a way that gets answers? David explores three vital ingredients to sure-to-be-answered prayer. Come and learn the importance of praying from identity, with authority and certainty as we consider 'Confident Prayer'. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Practicalities Of Prayer By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:01:01 GMT All of us are learners when it comes to prayer and praying better. So whilst we must beware of gimmicks and quick-fix formulae, we also must recognise some helpful disciplines of prayer - ingredients that can help us 'arrange' our prayers better. Here in 'Practicalities Of Prayer', David shares some valuable and practical pointers to refresh our prayer lives. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Prayer Of Jabez By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:01:01 GMT The short but direct 'Prayer Of Jabez' has been a blessing to many who have plumbed its spiritual depths and excavated its potential. Explore with us how God wants to bless us, deliver us from everything holding us in the past, enlarge our Kingdom influence and grant our petitions for His glory. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Elijah And The Voice Of God By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:01:01 GMT Elijah, the greatest of prophets, came to a personal and spiritual crisis. It may be that though he was hearing the voice of God for the nation, he hadn't been hearing it for himself. God had to take him on a journey of rehabilitation, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, before he could even receive God's voice. Here is a practical message from 1 Kings 19:1-18 relevant to those experiencing burnout or a wilderness in their Christian life and service. God often has to condition us to eliminate distractions and blocks to clearly hear His still, small voice. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general God's Voice And Spiritual Warfare By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:01:01 GMT Hearing the voice of God is vital for success in spiritual warfare. It is essential to learn to use the sword of the Spirit, the rhema of God, to overcome the temptations and attacks of the devil. This message from Ephesians 6:17 will teach you the importance of using the sword of the Spirit and some practical pointers on receiving words from God to take into the battle against the enemy. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Questions About Healing, Faith And Unbelief By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sun, 14 Apr 2024 15:01:01 GMT In this message on Matthew 17:14-21, David addresses some critical questions about healing and what the Bible says. Some may object to any emphasis on healing as a distraction from the gospel's central message. However, the record of the Gospels and the Acts is that healing was intrinsic to Jesus' revelation of the Father to humanity. In this teaching, learn how faith affects healing and how our unbelief can affect our faith. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general God's Plan For Mental Health By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Wed, 01 May 2024 10:01:01 GMT Mental health problems, it appears, have escalated dramatically in recent times. Does the Bible have anything to say about our minds, how we can protect them and solutions to mental ill-health? The answer is 'Yes!'. There is power in the gospel and the Word of God to heal our minds. God has given us a plan of wholeness and healing for our minds. Join us for valuable guidance from Philippians 4:6-9. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Healing Presence By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Wed, 15 May 2024 10:01:01 GMT The power to save, heal and set free is God's power. In this healing story from Luke 5:17, we see God's power was present with Jesus to heal. We need to practice God's healing presence rather than the presence of sickness, darkness, Satan or sin. So often, when we face such obstacles, we focus on the problem, but the answer to our problems is never in the problem. The healing presence is where we must abide. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Don't Fear, Only Believe By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sat, 01 Jun 2024 10:01:01 GMT In this story of two overlapping healings - the woman with the issue of blood and the raising of Jairus' daughter - we learn some principles of how God heals. Sometimes, we can be confused about how God does His healing work. In this account, Jesus emphasises the importance of saying 'No' to fear and only believing what God has said. Don't fear, only believe! This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Healing Of A Deaf And Mute Man By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sat, 15 Jun 2024 10:01:01 GMT What a predicament to be both deaf and mute - cut off from communication and the community. Here was a man who exemplified not only those with similar physical impediments but also the spiritual condition of humanity. Yet a physical healing took place for this man in a rather unconventional manner. Here, we learn how God's methods are not always reasonable to us. There is a beautiful revelation in this 'Healing Of A Deaf And Mute Man' of the unique ways God moves with each of us and how compassionate and considerate He is to us as individuals. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Which Report Have You Believed? By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sun, 30 Jun 2024 10:01:01 GMT Whose message are we listening to? Whose report are we believing? The press, social media, medicine, or Gods Word? What voices are we allowing to influence us, and are those voices faith-inducing or faith-reducing? Isaiah 53 is such a well-known scripture about the death of Jesus and the salvation He has purchased for us. But many have neglected that this core prophetic scripture is explicit that healing has been purchased for us at the cross of Jesus. Learn what Isaiah 53 truly teaches and then ask, 'Do you believe this report?' or, whose report are you believing? This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general A Woman With A Spirit Of Infirmity By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Aug 2024 10:01:01 GMT In this miracle in Luke 13:10-17, we learn that some physical illnesses can have spiritual causes behind them. The woman in this story had to be loosed from a spirit of infirmity that she had because of something that took place in her life 18 years previously. Healing and deliverance often must come together for people to be made whole. We need to understand how the demonic can sometimes affect our health. The good news is that Jesus can still loose people from the bondage of evil spirits that bind them and debilitate their health and well-being. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general How The Devil Gets In By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 10:01:01 GMT In Matthew 12:28-29, 43-45, Jesus gives us some dynamics of how the demonic realm gains influence over our lives. We need to understand this if we are to be protected. Of course, the Gospel gives us the means of freedom to get the devil out! We'll learn about that too. We see in this teaching that Jesus was talking about more than just a person's individual problems with sin and Satan, but also how whole nations and populations let the devil in. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Great Faith Of A Gentile Woman By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sun, 01 Sep 2024 10:01:01 GMT This intriguing story of the Syrophoenician woman in Matthew 15:21-31 raises many questions for us, not least how incongruent Jesus' words and behaviour seem, in contrast to what we know and love about His character and personality. Like Jesus did with the woman, this story invites us to probe deeper into its not so obvious meaning. What is Jesus up to in this rather atypical behaviour? There are actually some precious lessons here on the nature of God revealed in Christ, the wideness of God's grace to the whole world and the type of faith that Jesus encourages us to have and responds to. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Help My Unbelief By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Sun, 15 Sep 2024 10:01:01 GMT Mark's record of this miracle in Mark 9:14-29 is different in some ways to Matthew's account. One very significant difference is how the father of the afflicted boy confessed his faith in Jesus' ability to heal; but he also admitted that he had unbelief in his heart too. There are many lessons to learn in this story concerning what demonic affliction can do to someone, even from childhood, and how Jesus ultimately set the boy free. However, we see one very encouraging truth in particular: though the boy's father's faith was imperfect, Jesus still honoured it and healed the boy. God answers even imperfect faith. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general Lessons From Lepers By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:01:01 GMT This well known gospel story in Luke 17:11-19 brings many 'Lessons From Lepers' on how we can know God's healing in our lives. Join us as David outlines ten lessons from these ten lepers, and how Jesus interacts with them. Will you be one of the grateful 10% who receive the greatest blessings from God? This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Lord's Prayer By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Oct 2024 10:01:01 GMT This prayer that Jesus taught His disciples in Luke 11:1-4 also teaches us how to be 'kingdom people'. This prayer can be prayed with our lives, as we become the prayer and the answer to it. 'The Lord's Prayer' would warrant a whole series of teaching, and even that could never exhaust its depths - but here in one message, David seeks to highlight the kingdom principles that are in the will of God for us to pray for, and live out. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format and in HD video on our YouTube Channel (https://youtube.com/PreachTheWord)... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general God's Holy Kingdom By www.preachtheword.com Published On :: Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:01:01 GMT In 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Paul gives a list of the sinful lifestyles that will not inherit 'God's Holy Kingdom' - we are not to be deceived! However, every 'type' of sinner can enter the kingdom of God through repentance and faith. Paul exhorts us to live up to our identity as citizens of the kingdom of God. He challenges us as to our behaviours, what influences we are under or bound by and whether or not we are filled with the Holy Spirit as God's holy temples. This message is available at https://www.preachtheword.com now in MP3 audio format... Full Article Religion & Spirituality
general The Darkness Comes Again. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Jun 2012 12:48:00 +0000 This morning I awoke feeling ok really, but as the hours have passed I've felt a bout of depression beginning again. I have no anti-depressants and can't get any until tomorrow, so there is no relief. It is hard to describe how it feels, it's like all the hope is going, there is no hope only futility. I try to cling onto hope as when it is gone there is nothing and that's when the crying begins. You can't stop the tears and when people say "why are you crying?" There is no answer so I hide from people. It distresses or angers people when they can't help you and they can't understand what is wrong with you. I've had my letter telling me I have to go for my "The computer says no" medical, which will not take into account my mental illness. There is nothing they can do to help me when I am like this so I don't get sectioned you see. If they could quantify and attempt to relieve my symptoms they could treat me in hospital, but as they can't I am by many not considered to have such a high degree of need, ironically if I committed suicide today I'd qualify for help tomorrow is the way it is for women like me. I have been expecting to have to go for this medical ever since Labour announced the proposed changes to disability benefits, and that income support (the benefit I receive) was to be phased out). It took them longer than they expected and the government has changed to a more heartless Tory Lib Dem coalition, but we are all receiving the pink form and the letters now. There are many of us who don't know what we will do when we are declared fit to work despite our illness not having changed at all and despite not having worked for many years, some of us have never worked in our lives. I have been doing voluntary work and studying for three years now in preparation for this moment, I even tried applying for jobs, jumping before I was pushed so to speak. The futility of it drove me mad, you rarely receive any form of reply there are so many people applying for these jobs. I've got no work history for the past ten years, I do 2 days a week in a bookshop at a local abbey which I have done for three years and now know my boss very well, so at least I can get a reference. Many people I know have no one to ask for a reference, you need two references to apply for a job stacking shelves in Iceland these days. Of all the people being forced to take mandatory work experience I wonder how many of them will actually be given a contact when they leave so they can ask for a reference, probably not many. I know people sent on these placements, they are told from the outset there is no job for them, probably because the job center sends so many people who work for free. They are treated like dogsbodys and are not trained in anything as far as I can see. So all of us thousands of people who's medical condition has not changed are now expected to apply for the same jobs as the able bodied people who have been recently made unemployed. There are not enough jobs for them even in this current economic climate it seems, yet they are adding thousands more people to this pool everyday. They have picked the worst possible time to have decided to do this, other countries increase welfare spending in times of economic crisis, not our government though. They let the richest people in the country evade tax while the poorest lose what little they ever had, and people who never suffered poverty before are feeling it's cruel bite now too. You can see how it is hard to cling to hope when I see all this happening on a daily basis, but I must as without hope there is nothing. We are hearing they starting to realise and even admit welfare reforms are not working and are flawed, too late for the people who are already declared fit for work by the flawed system, and those being declared fit every day until they actually halt the reforms and review what they have done. I can only hope that by some miracle I will find employment, and where I live it will truly be a miracle as unemployment is incredibly high all the time anyway. Or maybe my endeavors to make money on line will finally start to pay off, I'm feeling a bit more hopeful about what I'm doing now, but it happens slowly there's now way to speed it up and there is so little time left. Full Article Anxiety disorder ATOS depression
general The Great Food Waste Scandal. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:20:00 +0000 As austerity measures bite and the Condems seem to be trying to do away with the welfare state altogether and just leave us all to starve I like many others have been forced to use food banks and places that serve hot meals to those who have fallen on hard times. My local place in Ryde on the Isle Of Wight is called "The Open Arms" and takes place in the local methodist church hall (Garfield Road) once a week on a Sunday evening. The provide food for the homeless and for hungry people who are short of money for whatever reason. I have become friends with those that organise the proceedings there and learned how they get the food they serve. Most of it is donated by local business's but so far big supermarkets have refused to donate the surplus food that they actually throw away despite it still being fit for consumption. The Food waste facts are grim, an estimated 400,000 tonnes of food according to food cycle could be reclaimed from retailers every year if they would just hand it over. Sadly in our experience only small local businesses with a social conscience have actually given us anything, large retailers like Tesco and Iceland refuse to give us the food they would otherwise throw away. Right now I am roasting carrots and potatoes and making carrot and potato soup out of surplus vegetables kindly given to me by the folk at open arms that would otherwise have been thrown away. They were donated by the local farmers market I believe. There are still some left I didn't have the time to chop so I'll be making more tomorrow. It infuriates me and many others that so much food is wasted while people starve, and here are two campaigns you can join if you feel similarly angry at this and want to fight for food waste prevention. Food Cycle collect surplus food and cook it for the disadvantaged at several hubs around the country, sadly they aren't going to open anymore hubs but check if there is one near you you could volunteer at if you are interested. Feed The 5000 Invite you to sign a pledge to reduce your own food waste and encourage businesses to do the same. And also run a great scheme where farmers allow volunteers to go in and harvest crops that would otherwise be re-plowed into the soil as they are surplus or not cosmetically good enough to be sold in shops.This kind of eco food recycling and reclaiming is great and we are looking into doing this on the Island too. Finished the soup and roasted veg by the way, smells lovely, and to think it would have all just been thrown away if no one claimed it! Full Article
general Expose Your Blog. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 20:24:00 +0000 Many of my readers will have probably first found my blog through the old blog traffic exchanges like Blog Explosion and Blogazoo, they were a good source of traffic for bloggers and increased readership, sadly those sites have all gone now. But don't despair there is another Blog Only traffic exchange I've found, Expose your blog has a long timer so visitors definitely read your blog. There is currently a weekly referral and surfing contest too (see the sites forum for more details) so sign up now and start recruiting your blog readers. If you've never heard of a traffic exchange before let me explain, you add your blog and once it's approved you surf "other peoples blogs reading each one for 30 seconds (or more if it grabs your attention) you then click a button to move onto the next blog and earn credits as you surf. The ratio on expose your blog seems tight at first but there are bonus credits that appear as banners and about every 10 pages theres a verification page where you earn bonus credits. If your looking for traffic to your blog it's a good place to start. Also make sure you remember to surf at least 5 blogs to activate your blog when you sign up, I recommend surfing more in fact to gain as many credits as possible. For more advice on increasing blog traffic see my other post on the subject: My Tips On Increasing Blog Traffic Full Article blog traffic exchange improve blog traffic increase blog traffic more blog hits
general Arthur Of Albion - Book Review By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:16:00 +0000 Arthur of Albion is a beautifully illustrated version of the King Arthur Stories for children, an excellent book for older boys (or girls) interested in Knights. Published by the wonderful Barefoot Books company. It is set out as a sequence of stories told each night at the round table, as King Arthur requires one of his Knights to tell a tale of valor and adventure every knight before dinner. It is written by John Matthews illustrated by painter Pavel Tatarnikov and is truly breathtaking, the hardcover edition comes with a map folded up in the back showing the lands of Albion (or the UK as we know it now) in the days these stories were first told. It would make a fantastic gift for children who are confident readers or to be read aloud to younger children, The way the stories are told makes it an excellent book for reading aloud one story a night for example. Arthur Of Albion Available on Amazon. Full Article arthur legend barefoot books john matthews king arthur legend for children king arthur stories for children legend of arthur pavel tatarnikov
general Had My ESA Medical Yesterday. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:42:00 +0000 Regular readers will be aware that I have been campaigning against the austerity cuts our government is imposing on the UK and the effect they are having on disabled people. The benefiits system is being changed, and the benefit I currently recieve is called Income Support, this is being phased out and everyone is being put onto the new disability benefit ESA. As this happens many disabled people are having their benefits cut or completely stopped as a result of being unfairly declared fit for work by the flawed capability assessment, at the same time as services for us are also being cut, a huge accident waiting to happen I'm sure you'll agree. In fact things are already terrible, people are commiting suicide after having their benefits stopped or just from fear of having to go to the medical. Others have died from the stress of having to appeal whilst genuinely ill. I read only a couple of days about a woman who died as the stress of all these changes was too much, and a week later her mother also died after witnessing her daughters money being stopped and her eventual death at the stress of appealing. There are many cases like the one I have mentioned above yet the government are still pressing ahead with these cuts to disability benefits, even though almost daily rich people are being exposed as tax evaders and bankers who have actually failed us terribly are still receiveing pay offs and bonuses. I finally had my medical yesterday, it wasn't as bad as I thought as the asessment has been changed to suit people with mental illness better (previously everyone was given the same assessment regardless of their disability, which is grossly unfair to people with mental illness). So I wasn't asked to do any strange physical tests as others have, they just asked me about my mental health. The woman was really nice but it's not her decision what happens next. I will either be put into the "support" group where I will be repeated re-assessed but not have to go to the job center or be forced to try and find work. Or I could be placed in the "Work related activity group" where I will have to go to work focused interviews and after a year my disability benefits will completely stop and I will have to sign on to the benefit designed for people who are fit to work. If this happens then it will be the end for me as I am not fit to work, I've chronic anxiety based depression since childhood and as a result of that have social anxiety and insomnia. So I don't sleep, can't get up early and on some days can't even talk to anyone or leave the flat. Unemployment where I live is incredibly high compared to the rest of the country anyway so the chances of a woman who can't be on time for work or even come in some days beating someone who is in goood health are zero, I have no chance of finding work. In fact I don't even meet the criteria to sign on JSA so will probably end up homeless as my rent will not be paid. I just have to pray it's the support group. Full Article anxiety based depression ATOS medical depression and anxiety ESA mental health support group Work related activity group
general The Computer Said No. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:01:00 +0000 The decision after my work capability assessment came back remarkably quickly, I received it on Wednesday. I have been turned down for ESA as I was only awarded 6 points and you need 15 points to receive it. My next payment of Income Support will be my last. I was very shocked by this as I expected to be put in the "work related activity group" (WRAG) at least, and still receive ESA at a reduced rate for a year and have to attend work focused interviews etc. But they have apparently denied my illness altogether almost and said I can't even receive ESA at all. I really wish I had recorded the assessment now as she has not recorded what I said and has failed to award me points accordingly. I am of course appealing their decision and have an appointment with citizens advice next week, I'm going to have to get a sick note from my doctor too and attempt to claim ESA while I wait for my appeal to be heard. I went to the doctor yesterday on an emergency appointment to get more antidepressants and sleeping pills as I bloody need them now obviously, my illness has got dramatically worse since hearing this and realising I'm going to have to go before a tribunal and face uncertainty while I wait for that. I have to start my appeal before I can ask to receive ESA while I wait for the tribunal, I don't know if they can turn down my claiming ESA while I wait either as if they do I'm screwed. I can't claim Job Seekers allowance there is no way I could meet the criteria necessary to do it, and cope with going to sign on once a fortnight and face the meeting with an advisor. If my benefits stop altogether I could lose housing benefit which will put my home in jeopardy too, I've been advised to just keep in touch with the housing benefit people while it all gets sorted out and hopefully my rent won't stop. Full Article ATOS ATOS medical ESA Appeal turned down for ESA
general Email Your local MP telling them to stop Cuts to support for disabled people. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:47:00 +0000 38 Degrees appear to have finally started a campaign to put pressure on the government to stop cuts to support for disabled people. Click here to email Andrew Turner (or whoever your local MP is) it only takes a minute you just need to provide your postcode and fill in your address. MP's do respond to emails too I've had several letters from the house of commons in response to emails I've sent. Full Article 38 degrees email mp stop cuts for disabled
general Should We Blame ATOS? By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:12:00 +0000 Today I have read a blog post where the author basically suggests disability campaign groups are wrong to go after ATOS to the extent that they are, and that ATOS are only the IT company in charge of a system put in place by the DWP and they are the ones we should really be targetting. I've also seen several leading disability campaigners openly support this view, and even not support DPAC's protests at the Paralympics (which are being sponsored by ATOS). I do agree with this argument to an extent, we do need to clearly target the people behind this assessment process, and not just ATOS. I thought we had been from day one though? We have constantly lobbied the government and named the ministers responsible for this crisis as well as targeting ATOS. But the defense "we are only doing what the government/DWP is telling us to do" is an empty one in my view. Wasn't it also the defense many NAZI's also used when being tried after WW2 was over? "we were only obeying orders"? Recent documentaries that used secret filming have shown us that ATOS assessors are having crisis's of conscience over the process, they cope by blaming it on "the decision maker" (which sounds incredibly Orwellian to me). I think these individuals need to be made to take responsibility for their own actions, they could speak out even if it is anonymously, or they could quit their jobs and find another one. At least the NAZI's had the defense that they would have been executed if they disobeyed Hitler's orders, no one is going to shoot an ATOS assessor for walking out and saying "I can't do this anymore". When a disabled person goes to one of these assessments their life and quality of life is in this persons hands, the decision maker makes their decision based on what box these people tick. In my case after examining the criteria I can clearly see 3 places my assessor should have awarded me points and failed to, and I appealing their decision. All I wanted was to be put in the work related activity group where I would receive the help and support I need to get back into work after 10 years of unemployment. Just one year to give me a fighting chance of finding a job I can reliably do with enough hours to support myself and some kind of support system that ensures I do not lose my job if I become ill again for a short period, and I would stick my middle finger up to the DWP and never claim again. But they did not give me that, they only awarded me 6 points, and I was lucky to get that by all accounts. I have the support to be able to make an appeal which I am confident I will win, but many others don't. Many people will not be able to act when they receive that dreadful letter saying they have been turned down for ESA, they will just sink into despair and lose everything, end up homeless and destitute. Some will harm themselves or even kill themselves alone, they may not be found for days or even months. So I'm sorry but I say YES we should and must blame ATOS, we must blame everyone responsible for this horrific mess. If anything we need to focus more of our attention on the organ grinders and not the monkeys, but we must not give in and let up in our campaigns against ATOS to gain sympathy from the right wingers. We must continue to target every one of them, and not rest until they ALL are bought to justice. Full Article ATOS work capability assessment
general Ed Miliband's reply To Sonia Poulton. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:19:00 +0000 I'm reading that lot of people seem to have taken a lot of negative things from Ed Miliband's reply to Sonia Poulton's letter regarding welfare reform and the new Work Capability Assessment that was signed by thousands of people including myself. I'm actually quite surprised by this as I thought for a letter from a Politician it was very positive and actually addressed what it said in the original letter directly, which is quite rare. Lets look at it again for a moment. Dear Ms Poulton, Thank you for your correspondence regarding the Work Capability Assessment, and my apologies for the delay in replying. Disabled people need support and compassion, and the Labour Party believes in a welfare state that fulfils this principle. The previous Conservative Government took the opposite approach and left many disabled people on Incapacity Benefit with little support to return to work where possible. It is also important to separate out ill health and disability from the decision not to work, which is taken by a distinct minority. For these reasons, the previous Labour Government introduced the Work Capability Assessment, and I am supportive of the principles behind this test. However, I share some of the concerns that have been expressed about the test by you, along with many charities, disability groups and healthcare professionals. These concerns, the high percentage of appeals, and Professor Malcolm Harrington’s expert reviews have shown that the test must be improved. The Government needs to listen to Professor Harrington’s advice, especially when his third review for 2012 comes out. We have also forced a vote in Parliament on the need to reduce the human cost of the wrong decisions that result from the WCA in its current form. Given the importance of this issue, I am keen that you discuss this further with the Labour Party and share with us some of the experiences of people going through the WCA that you have collected. Anne McGuire, my Shadow Minister for Disabled People, would be happy to arrange a meeting in order to do so. Please contact her on ********** to arrange a convenient time. Thank you again for taking the time to get in touch on this issue. Yours sincerely, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP I can see it's going to have been the first paragraph that has angered people so much, he is stating what the new WCA was meant to achieve there. I agree with the points he makes, there was little or no support for people wanting to return to work from incapacity benefit under the old system. I have always wanted to work and said that in every medical I ever had under the old system. The problem is that I have to have a job I can reliably do, and mental illness prevents me doing a lot of jobs. The new system was supposed to support me to get back into work which I was pleased to hear, but when I finally had my assessment I was horrified to find they were trying to deny me ESA altogether. I was confident I would get into the work related activity group where I would still receive ESA for 1 year and attend groups and activities designed to help get back into work. I am now having to go through the stressful and uncertain process of appealing their decision, and I daily read about people who have severe physical disabilities or are even dying being declared fit to work. If we lived in a Utopian society where every employer would pay for adaptations and carers for disabled people from their own profits to enable them to work, and every employer was trained in mental health issues and was sympathetic towards employees who suffer from them. If businesses could afford to employ people who may be absent because they are receiving medical treatment or just too ill that day to show up, then it would work. Every disabled and mentally ill person would have a job and we'd all stand in a big circle with the able bodied and mentally well holding hands and sing "I'd like to teach the world to sing". But here's the problem Ed, society is not like that, hate crimes against the disabled are being committed every day, employers can't afford to adapt buildings and employ carers without any funding available. And where are all these jobs we are supposed to be applying for anyway? There aren't even jobs for the able bodied who have just been made unemployed, let alone jobs for a woman like me who hasn't worked for 10 years because I'm mentally ill and prone to nervous breakdowns. And all the thousands of others who have even more severe metal illness's and physical disabilities, who is going to employ them Ed? Even if I do make it to the Work Related Activity group, what will the people there actually be able to do for me to remedy these problems? Are the department for work and pensions even the best people to be in charge of such a thing? How are we going to change society enough in the one year I have to get me a job? There are thousands like me, nothing the DWP alone will be able to do will find us all suitable jobs. Money needs to be available to employers to enable them to employ us, and they need to be educated in the many and complicated needs of people who have mental illness and disabilities. More jobs need to be created to meet the demand for them, as we want to work Ed we really do, this minority of people who don't want to work are non existent Ed. Only someone who's never had to live on benefits would say something like that, it is a soul destroying experience and everything rests on the words of an anonymous decision maker who you will never meet. So that's the bit that makes us angry fair enough, but he does go on to talk about the human cost of what is happening, so he's admitting things aren't right there in a veiled way. And he says that he has concerns about the high number of appeals, that's all we can really hope for, he's a politician after all. He's never going to turn around and just say "sorry everyone it's not working like it should have, we didn't think it through we'll go back to the drawing board", Politicians just don't do that. But there is hope that behind closed doors they are frantically reassessing what they've done and realising it is going horribly wrong. Bills have gone through parliament now though and thousands of people are suffering, if they admit they were wrong they will have to compensate everyone who has suffered, I can't see that ever happening. It will take years to undo the damage that has been done, the human cost has already been too great and will only get worse is the horrible truth. It's not only the benefits system that has to change for this to work it's the very nature of employment and societies attitude to disabled people that has to change too, and that will take more than a year. Full Article
general Condems, Bringing 19th Century Values to 21st Century Britain. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Sun, 09 Sep 2012 15:24:00 +0000 Captioned Photo Kindly provided by Christos Palmer I was reading "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens yesterday, a book written in 1843, and I'd like to share this excerpt from the first chapter. Two men enter Scrooges office on Christmas eve asking for charity for the poor. .... "at this festive season of the year Mr Scrooge," said the gentlemen, taking up a pen "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some light provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common comforts sir." "Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge. "Plenty of prisons" said the gentlemen. Laying down the pen again. "And the union work houses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?" "They are still" returned the gentleman "I wish I could say they were not" "The treadmill and the poor law are in full vigour then?" said Scrooge. "Both very busy sir" "Oh! I was afraid from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their Useful course", said Scrooge "I'm very glad to hear it". "Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body in the multitude" returned the gentlemen " few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the poor some meat drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because of all others, when want is keenly felt, and abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?" "Nothing!" Scrooge replied "You wish to be anonymous?" "I wish to be left alone" said Scrooge "since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen that is my answer. I don't make merry myself and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned - they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there." "Many can't go there; and many would rather die" "If they would rather die" said Scrooge "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides - excuse me but I do not know that" "But you might know it" observed the gentlemen. "It is not my business" Scrooge returned "it is enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to intrude with other peoples. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon gentlemen." Seeing Clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and an even more facitious temper than was usual with him... As you can see the attitude towards the poor and destitute in Britain is becoming chillingly close to that of 19th century Britain. The current government is bringing values from that century that even the Victorians were ashamed of and sought to bring to public attention the hypocrisy and barbarism of as early as 1843 to this century. So before you harshly judge a benefit claimant as workshy or a scrounger remember, the welfare state was bought in to put a stop to the inhumane methods of dealing with the poor used before it's creation. The benefit claimants of today are no different to the poor and destitute of the Victorian era. Do not let the government drag us back to the 19th century with their propaganda about "benefit dependency" and "tough love". The only thing that will end benefit dependency and help the long term unemployed and sick and disabled back to work is job creation, and a more sympathetic and helpful attitude towards them, that enables them to get work and remain employed. Labeling, hounding and cutting off benefits will not help anyone except the government in their endeavours to save money, caused by a crisis they created with their relentless pursuit of profit over humanity. Full Article charles dickens condems dickensian victorian attitudes in the 21st century
general Atos Are The Number One Provder of Occupatuional Health Services In The UK. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:49:00 +0000 Last night I was furious to discover that giant multinational IT company Atos is not only responsible for administering the government's hellish Work Capability Assessment, they have also been providing occupational health services in this country for years too, in 2010 they even won an award for it. So they are declaring the sick capable of work, then if you are lucky enough to get a job (if your not one of more than half the people declared fit for work who end up destitute) you will still probably have to put up with them telling you how much time you can have off when your illness returns. As none of these people being declared fit for work have actually got better, they are just expected to work around their disability, so there is no escape from the bastards it seems. Yesterday I learned that Co-Op uses their occupational health services, so much for ethics eh? They have posted a statement saying they can't just close the contract but will consider not renewing it. So DPAC are encouraging people to boycott them and go and inform them of this on their facebook page, at least until they issue a statement saying they definitely won't renew the contract. I did some digging last night and found that: Royal Mail also uses them, and until recently The Armed Forces Mutual Support Organisation had a phone line provided by Atos. The page has been removed now but still shows up in the google cache. DEFRA also uses their services. And two county councils I found also use them West Sussex County Council, and Lancashire County council also uses them too. Since they are apparently the number one provider of Occupational health services in the UK there must be many more companies and councils using them too, and I saw lots of job vacancies for them posted all over the country. This post informs you of much money they are raking in with double digit growth in the UK this year, as lives are daily ruined and even ended by the software they own the copyright to. And I'm also learning that this huge multinational company owns oil companies (including Shell and Esso), electronics manufacturers and many more highly profitable companies, more on that to come as I collect the evidence. Full Article
general Guest Post By Lynn AKA "Sign And Save Lives" By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:15:00 +0000 Guest post by Lynn My name is Lynn, I’m 60 years old and I’d like to share my son’s illness with you all to try and help you understand the predicament thousands of others like my son are faced with next year, regarding DWP Benefit Reform for the sick and disabled. My youngest son aged 40 has suffered from Paranoid Schizophrenia and emotional instability Personality Disorder since the age of 18. I have lived the illness with my son, the highs, the lows, and numerous hospital admissions over the years. My son had another very bad psychotic breakdown in August 2010, which resulted in a section 3 of the Mental Health Act and he has been in hospital care for 2 years this time. Although my son is nearly 40 years old, mentally he is only 15, he is immature and extremely vulnerable and easily exploited. Therefore needs much support and care when living in the community. My son, like thousands like him, who suffer from a Severe and Enduring mental health problem, has no voice when it comes to the DWP or ATOS, he like others wouldn’t be able cope with being interviewed next year 2013 when the Disability Living Allowance changes to Personal Independence Payment and he has to be assessed by DWP. He, again like many others, who suffer severe mental illness, doesn’t believe he is ill, and just wants to be left alone. The severely mentally ill will be hugely disadvantaged by the GOV/DWP/ATOS putting them through this ridiculous assessment in 2013, particularly people who don’t believe they are mentally ill, who to anyone who doesn’t know them, or, their background, can come across as fine, strong, healthy people, and may not appear ill at all, or, that they need help and support in their day to day lives, keeping them and others safe in the community, they won’t see the risks for the mentally ill, and many won’t have family or support to go with them to the assessments! My son would tell an assessor he wasn’t ill, and say he just wanted to be left alone to get on with his life, which would see him losing his DLA/PIP for sure. Yet in reality, my son cannot get on a bus or use any public transport due to his paranoia that people are staring at him. He would get upset and get angry, probably end up getting in to trouble, because his self-esteem is low as is his confidence, and he thinks the world and his mate are against him. To avoid this kind of stress and a way of coping, he needs taxis to anywhere he has to go, shopping, to any appointments he has. It is the only way he can cope with going out, and without his DLA/PIP he would be housebound and have no quality of life at what so ever. If mental health sufferers lose their DLA/PIP benefit, (same as all disabled), it will place a huge extra burden on family, carers and friends emotionally and financially to provide the care and support and finance they need, which most of us couldn’t afford! All to often family/friends who are carers, as in our own case, are ill, worn down. I was diagnosed 2 years ago with Moderate to Severe ME/CFS and told by my consultant it was due to being a carer for 22 years. My husband is 76 years old, in bad health, tired, it catches up with us and having to provide even more care to our loved ones should they lose their benefit, will put carers at more risk mentally and physically. Because I understand the plight of the severely mentally ill, and have insight to the wider implications of what the GOV/DWP actions will cause for the sufferer and family, and carers, I have started this e-petition asking the Government to Exclude all severely mental ill from the 2013 DLA/PIP assessments, because what the GOV/DWP are doing is the biggest travesty and betrayal to our sick and disabled who in most cases have already proved their illness/disability with medical evidence and assessments they have already had to go through to get their DLA in the first place, and many like my son, were awarded DLA for an Indefinite period because they have provided proof their illness/disability is a life long one! There are a number of e-petitions about Benefit Reform, I have signed them all which everyone should do to try and help protect all disabled, however, this petition is specifically to try and get the severely mentally ill EXCLUDED from the assessments because they do not have a strong enough voice and they will be hugely disadvantaged as I said before. As a mum of a severely mentally ill son, and on behalf of all other sufferers like him, I know these assessments will cause SUICIDES in our most vulnerable, and cause huge hardship all round, please may I respectfully appeal to your good hearts and souls to support this e-petition and sign it, to share it with family & friends, on twitter/face book accounts, groups you may belong to, as I need 100,000 signatures to stand any chance of getting the House Of Commons to debate this, and at the moment I only have 2,456 signatures, we only have until March to get the 100K! Thank you all for taking the time to read this my plea, and I very much hope you will feel able to sign this petition. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35092 Kind Regards Lynn --------------------------------------- You can follow Lynn on Twitter > @SignSaveLives Full Article
general High Court rules Work Capability Assessment arguably unlawful By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:00:00 +0000 This is a press release from earlier this year about the judicial review that is due to be heard at the Royal Courts Of Justice on the 15th, 16th and 18th of January 2013. Lets pray it goes in our favour as it will open the floodgates for legal action over the WCA if it does. Thursday, July 26, 2012 The High Court has today granted permission to two disabled people to bring a claim forjudicial review against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to challenge theoperation of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA).WCAs are face to face interviews carried out by healthcare professionals (HCPs)employed by Atos Healthcare (a private contractor), to assess disabled people’sentitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (a sickness benefit that has replacedthe old Incapacity Benefit). Each existing recipient of Incapacity Benefit is now beingassessed for eligibility for ESA, at the rate of some 11,000 people per week. WCAs havebeen the subject of serious criticism by all relevant stakeholders in civil society includingdoctors and NGOs working on behalf of disabled people.The present case concerns some of the problems with the system as experienced bypeople with mental health problems. Although medically trained, Atos HCPs typicallyhave very limited knowledge of mental health. The interviews are often hurried, and relyon applicants to explain the limitations on their ability to work.This is a serious problem for people with mental health conditions who lack insight intotheir conditions, whose conditions fluctuate in seriousness, or who cannot easily talkabout their disability. Such people are placed at a substantial disadvantage in navigatingthe system. Even if they appreciate the need to get expert medical evidence forthemselves, they are often less able to navigate the system successfully and to obtainthe medical report that they need. The Equality Act 2010 requires the DWP to makereasonable adjustments to avoid such disadvantage.The reasonable adjustment to the process that the claimants seek is for medicalevidence to be sought by the Atos HCP and the DWP at the very outset of the claim.This would ensure that very sick people for whom having to go through a WCA would beextremely distressing are exempted from the process, and for those that do attend aWCA, the assessment of fitness to work takes place in the correct medical context, sothat dangers associated with forcing people back to work are correctly identified.At present, the DWP do not routinely ask for expert medical report from an applicant’scommunity-based doctor. The judge has held that it is arguable that this failure is abreach of the duty to make reasonable adjustments, and is therefore unlawful.In granting permission to apply for judicial review, the judge stated:“I consider that it is reasonably arguable that the reasonable adjustmentsrequired by the [Equality Act 2010] include the early obtaining of independentmedical evidence where the documents submitted with the claim show that theclaimant suffers from mental health problems and that this has not been done, orat least not done on a sufficiently widespread basis”.The claimants, known as MM and DM, were granted anonymity by the court. Theirsolicitor, Ravi Low-Beer of the Public Law Project said:“The present system results in many thousands of unnecessary appeals at greatpublic expense, with a high success rate. What is not counted is the cost inhuman misery for those people who should never have had to go through theappeals process in the first place. This could be avoided if doctors were involvedin the assessments at the outset. The Government’s policy of by-passing doctorsis inefficient, unfair, and inhumane. We gain heart from the court’s finding that asa matter of law, it is arguable that something has to change.”For further information contact Ravi Low-Beer onr.lowbeer@publiclawproject.org.uk/0845 543 5944or Adrian Lukes ona.lukes@publiclawproject.org.uk/0845 543 5946.Public Law Project (PLP)PLP is an independent, national legal charity which aims to improve access to justice forthose whose access is restricted by poverty, discrimination or other similar barriers. Tofulfil its objectives PLP undertakes research, policy initiatives, casework and trainingacross the range of public law remedies.For more information on our work, events and publications: www.publiclawproject.org.uk Full Article
general The Effects Of The Cuts - Why I Campaign By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Fri, 04 Jan 2013 20:31:00 +0000 The Welfare Reform Bill was a disaster waiting to happen, we campaigned against it before it went through but it was forced. The country did not listen and now 73 people a week are dying after being declared fit for work by the deeply flawed Work Capability Assessment. Which is being administered by Atos, a French multinational IT company on behalf of the DWP. This is not a figure we just plucked out of the air like some the government are presenting as reality in relation to welfare, it was obtained from a freedom of information request to the DWP themselves. So it is their own statistic. They want people to believe that these measures are "tough love" and they are "helping people back to work" but in reality they are just cutting off peoples benefits and leaving them destitute. There is no support for people who are disabled to find work, in fact remploy factories that employ disabled people, and have since the end of WW2 are being closed. Making disabled people who did have jobs unemployed at a time when the fully able are struggling to find work. What chance do we have? The changing of DLA to PIP will mean many disabled people lose this benefit altogether, this benefit helps disabled people cope with the additional costs being disabled creates, Disabled people with jobs clim it to help them work. So disabled people who work will no longer be able to, as they will no longer be able to afford the adapted cars they rely on to get to work for example. In short none of these cuts are designed to enable the disabled to get back to work, it's just a callous cost cutting measure effecting the most vulnerable in society, and thousands are suffering and even dying needlessly. When the proposed benefit changes take effect at the end of April it will effect not just the Disabled but working families who are already struggling to make ends meet. A new survey by shelter shows 1.4 million people in Britain are struggling to pay their rent or mortgage at the moment. People who have never suffered financially like this before are finding themselves facing unemployment and homelessness. And the government are about to cut housing benefit and council tax benefit, pushing more people even further into rent arrears and poverty. The government wants you to believe that these cuts are necessary and unavoidable but there are alternatives they could pursue. Tax avoidance costs the state an estimated £95 Billion a year, since the banking crisis the average pay of FTSE 100 directors has risen by 55%, corporation tax has been cut, and rather than clamping down on tax avoidance they have actually cut Staff at HMRC, and there has been no reform of banks. They are selling off the NHS to private healthcare companies under our noses, when many of the very MP's who voted through the NHS bill have financial interests in private healthcare companies. Click here for a link to a list of Conservative MP's who have financial interests in private healthcare companies, no wonder they voted yes to the NHS Bill. Social media means it's harder for the government than ever before to dupe the public into believing their lies, we know that what they are doing is wrong and we won't stand for it. It's time for us all to stand up and show them that we will not pay for a crisis crated by bankers who have gambled away billions, while awarding themselves massive bonuses on top of already huge yearly salaries. And millionaires are allowed to legally evade tax. We will not allow them to make the poor pay for a crisis the rich created, we must campaign and peacefully protest to show them we not passively sit by and allow it to happen. They will drag Britain back to a system of Victorian values where the poor cannot access proper healthcare and are forced into workhouses. The welfare state and NHS are great things that show our compassion to those less fortunate and vulnerable in society, people fought protect and create these things, over the years many people have campaigned and worked hard to keep them. Don't let this government dismantle them in flurry of propaganda about scroungers and dependency, we are not just statistics, we are human beings. Full Article
general Atos Triggers People To Self Harm. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:15:00 +0000 My latest youtube video about the tremendous harm Atos are doing to the mentally ill and vulnerable in the UK. I'm going to start making a lot more youtube videos so stay tuned, just ordered a webcam will be starting in earnest then. Full Article
general Paint Your Red Nose Black In Protest 2013 By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:39:00 +0000 This year I and others are painting our red noses black and intend to boycott the television shows we'd like you to join us, and I'm sure you'd like to know why? We are not against Comic Relief or the good work it does and encourage you to buy a red nose if you can afford it. But this year Comic Relief saw fit to include clips of David Cameron in the music video to One directions charity song. We feel including the Prime minister in this video is a slap in the face to the millions of people he has plunged into poverty in this country with his misguided austerity measures. There are currently 3.6 million children in the UK living in poverty according to barnardos 58% of them are in a family where someone works. Yet the Coalition have pushed through measures to ensure benefits even those for disabled people and people in work, like tax credits only go up by 1%. Further punishing children who will be forced further into poverty as their parents incomes are reduced even more compared to inflation. These cuts risk putting the UK in breach of the UN Economic and social rights convention we are signed up to. Food poverty has risen so sharply that there has been a massive rise in emergency food banks already. The cuts to housing benefit for many people living in social housing deemed to be over occupying their properties dubbed “The Bedroom Tax” Will see people expected to move to a smaller property or pay a charge for their extra room, even though there is a huge shortage of suitable smaller properties for them to move to. This will further increase the poverty people are suffering in the UK as they are forced to make up shortfalls in their rent or face eviction and homelessness. The coalition also rolled out across the country a new and untested Work Capability Assessment when they came into power in 2010. Between January and November 2011 10,600 disabled people who clearly wrongly had their benefits stopped died within 6 weeks of losing benefit. (a sharp rise in the statistics compared to the year before). Yet despite all these alarming statistics David Cameron's ministers continue to claim these cuts are fair and needed. Though they have made no cuts to their own wages, continue to claim massive expenses, and have not sufficiently cracked down on tax evasion by large multinational companies. But apparently we are “all in this together”. We presented all this information to comic relief and they have ignored our requests to remove David Cameron from the video, and have even promoted pictures of David Cameron's wife Samantha baking in her tax payer funded kitchen at Number 10 with her children. Making cakes she will apparently sell to downing street staff to raise money for the event. Well it's alright for some isn't it? Join us by liking the facebook page where there is a list of actions you can take and by tweeting your disgust at this flawed decision by comic relief using the hashtag #blacknoseday. Full Article
general The War On Welfare Petition. By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:50:00 +0000 The War On Welfare petition is one of the most important petitions the Number 10 site will ever see. The Welfare Reform Bill put the UK Government in breach of the UN Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and this cannot be ignored. How they respond to our petition will show how much they really care about and respect the UN Convention on Human Rights as whole, and judging by their actions so far as coalition, they care very little. Thousands of disabled people have died, we will probably not know the true number of deaths for a long time, but one day this country will hang it's head in shame that they let this happen. We need more than ever to to start discussing the situation with friends and family, and while at other anti-cuts demonstrations. We need to raise awareness of the petition among other groups to bring it to a new audience and get them on side campaigning for us too. We can't just keep talking amongst ourselves on twitter and facebook, new people have to hear of our campaign and start sharing it with their friends too. Each protest or meeting is a golden opportunity to raise awareness of what has been happening and to let people know they can help by the signing the petition. It also doesn't hurt to remind people gently that most disabled people aren't born disabled they become disabled after an illness or accident; and in the future there will be no welfare safety net for anyone if we don't act now to protect it. Also never forget a lot of the people effected by these brutal welfare changes cannot physically get to demonstrations because of illness or disability, we have to do this for them too. Print out a poster and put it up somewhere people will see it, I asked our local law center and citizens advice if they could put on up, they both agreed. Request fliers and cards to give out at anti-cuts demos. It would also be great if we could get stickers and badges made up to help promote the campaign too. If you haven't already signed it click here to sign the War On Welfare Petition, and be sure to share it, and if you'd like to download a poster to print out and put up Click here to visit the WOW Petition website. Full Article
general By nancythroughthelookingglass.blogspot.com Published On :: Mon, 06 May 2013 12:25:00 +0000 Sorry for the lack of posts I've been busy elsewhere, hope you enjoy my video of the 4th May Protest in Trafalgar Square London. We hope you join us for the next one. Full Article 4th May Protest London 99% protest Anonymous.
