21st Centurry Evangelicals ..research report "Good news for the poor?"

Our latest research report Good news for the poor?

You can read the report in full on the Good news for the poor? report page, available from today

http://www.eauk.org/church/resources/snapshot/good-news-for-the-poor.cfm

Our latest research contains fascinating details on what evangelicals think are the causes and potential solutions for poverty, and how they and their churches are personally responding to the realities of poverty both at home and abroad.

Our survey of more than 1,600 evangelicals found that many are directly involved in tackling poverty;donating to food banks, volunteering with poverty projects or supporting people they know who are struggling financially.

Our Lives: challenging attitudes to poverty in 2015

http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/library/type/pdfs/our-lives-poverty-in-2015.html

 

This is important testimony from the frontline of Austerity and the reversal of the welfare state. The report offers moving testimony and analysis of the many different ways modern poverty harms people and society. While the obvious material deprivation of the 1930s is now rarely seen real poverty is a growing problem. 

Impact of Queens Speech on Poverty and Economy in general

Ed Saville has produced this helpful summary

Full Employment and Welfare Benefits Bill 

 

The aim is for two million more jobs and three million new apprenticeships to be created.  

Reduction in the welfare cap - from £26,000 to £23,000, Actual cut in income for some of the poorest households. 

Freeze working-age benefits, tax credit and child benefit for two years. Actual cut in real terms – by inflation value. 

As part of the government's welfare reforms, young people will be required to "earn or learn",  

Automatic entitlement to housing benefit for 18-21-year-olds scrapped. More people on the streets, more 'sofa surfers'; more families breaking up? What happens to those leaving care? 

National Insurance Contributions and Finance Bill 

No rise in income tax rates, VAT or national insurance before 2020 Then the next Chancellor will have a huge catch-up to do. 

No one working 30 hours on the minimum wage pays any income tax at all.  

Raise the threshold before which people pay income tax to £12,500 - a move ministers say will benefit 30 million people. Those paying the highest rate of tax will benefit most; they will drop a tax band for some of their income (and may be drop out of the higher rate altogether. Those not earning enough to pay tax will not benefit at all!) 

Childcare Bill 

Parents in England would be entitled to 30 hours a week of free childcare for their three- and four-year-olds, for 38 weeks of the year.  

Housing Bill 

Housing association tenants will be able to buy the homes they rent at a discount. Housing Associations may have borrowed on the open market to build – how do they service the debt? By providing a poorer service or higher rents to those left? 

There will also be help for first-time buyers, with 200,000 starter homes made available to under-40s at a 20% discount. Where is the discount coming from – with deficit reduction not mentioned is this the answer? 

Immigration Bill 

New offence of illegal working - with police given the power to seize the wages paid to illegal workers as the "proceeds of crime". Why not seize the income of the people and companies employing them instead? 

 

The Burnley Pioneer Project

 

There is a new story and reflection on our Together Lancashire blog  written by youth worker Jemma Harrower at

 

 

http://tlstoriesandreflections.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/the-burnley-pioneer-project.html

 

The Burnley Pioneer Project is a Christian charity working in the heart of the community in Burnley. The project began four years ago when the Burnley Methodist Circuit employed a Youth Worker....

 

The Stoops Estate in Burnley has high unemployment, anti social behavior and many people suffering with addictions to drugs and alcohol. It is a privilege to tell people Jesus has a plan for their lives; He is for them and not against them. We are excited for the future as we work together to reach people with the Gospel.

Save the date! CUF National Conference on Financial Inclusion

 

 

People might be interested in this..This is all I have so far.

Save the date! CUF National Conference on Financial Inclusion

The CUF National Conference is coming to Manchester on Thursday 5th November and is focused around building financial inclusion. Details will be launched in the next two weeks, keep an eye out for it and we will be asking you to share this through your networks. 

Fw: CVS E Bulletin Issue 21 Vol 3

 

Some important news from the CVS

 

----- Original Message -----

From: CVS

To: Greg Smith - Together Lancashire -

Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2015 9:01 AM

Subject: CVS E Bulletin Issue 21 Vol 3

Welcome to the latest edition of the CVS E Bulletin. Please click "view entire message" at the bottom if you can't view the full edition. View this email in your browser Welcome to our E Bulletin Issue 21 Vol 3 An important announcement from Richard Emmess Dear friends and Colleagues, I write to let you know that at last nights CVS Board Meeting I handed to the Chair a letter of resignation from my post as Chief Executive of Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Council for . This resignation has reluctantly been accepted.   With your support CVS has made considerable progress from the position it was in two years ago when I took up post. I hope you would agree that the organisations reputation is restored and its role as representative of the sector has allowed a greatly improved liaison to be established between the Voluntary Community and Faith Sector and the public sector bodies such as the NHS and local authorities.   My reason for resigning is owing to personal issues relating to my family.   I believe the further development of CVS and the sectors collaborative working with the statutory sector will require more time than I will be able to commit to the role. Rather than cling on I have decided that the sector and the people it supports would be better served by somebody able to wholeheartedly commit to the task as I have these past two years.   As an interim arrangement the Board last night agreed that Jane Williams, the manager of Fylde and Wyre Together, would take over my post whilst the substantive post is advertised.   Additionally, Mike Bullock has also stepped back from the role as Chair of CVS, also due to personal reasons. His post will be taken by Paul Greenwood until the organisations AGM in September 2015. Michelle Scott will take Paul Greenwood's role as Vice Chair.   My final working day in this post will be 24th June 2015 and I have two weeks leave to take before this date.   Both myself and Mike Bullock have enjoyed our respective roles immensely. May we take this opportunity, therefore, to thank you for your support and hope to work with you again in some capacity in the near future.   Wyre Together Community Showcase Plus Event Do you want to promote your group? Do you want to network with other local groups? Do you want to find out more about what is happening in Wyre? Then book a stall at the Wyre Together Community Showcase Event which is taking place on Thursday 4th June, 1pm – 4pm at the Marine Hall read more This week There's lots going on in the sector including....  Health related funding workshops available; would you like to be the star of your own radio show? and the Lowther Pavilion signs up to dementia friends. As always there are also sector vacancies and funding streams. More CVS Updates Blackpool Dementia Action Alliance Launch The Blackpool Fairness Commission were delighted to host the launch of this worthy organisation in Blackpool last Tuesday. With dementia affecting more and more of the population in some way it is vital to be well informed on the effects it has on everyday life. The Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) is a movement with a read more Peoples Health Trust – Active Communities Programme Under Active Communities, local charities and community groups can apply for grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 to address health inequalities.  The Active Communities Funding Programme aims to close the gap between those communities which experience the worst health in England, Scotland and Wales and the majority of the population.  The programme is currently open for applications in some areas. To find more information and if your area is open for applications, please click on the link below. www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk Sector News Capricorn Singers summer events 2015 Saturday 13th June 2015, 1:30pm Thornton-Cleveleys Gala, Jubilee Gardens, Cleveleys See us perform some of our new repertoire on the stage at Thornton Cleveleys Gala in Jubilee Gardens, North Promenade, Cleveleys. We are performing at 1:30pm, just before Thornton-Cleveleys Brass Band. Make a day of it with a fun fair, free activities for children, shopping and community stalls, great food read more   Helping Hand with recycling wins national award Blackpool Council's innovative idea to boost recycling has scooped a national award. The Rover service, which travels to various locations around the town and takes away their unwanted items, has been hailed as the 'Best Community Recycling Initiative' in the LetsRecycle.com Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management. The awards were announced on Thursday read more Ormerod Trust need your help Ormerod has supported people with learning disabilities since 1972. We are a local charitable organisation that aims to make a difference to people's lives. We support adults and children within their homes, their communities, colleges, employment and in specialised groups. As you may be aware Lancashire County Council removed all funding for non-assessed children's services read more   Care for Cleveleys, proposed new community group "Visit Cleveleys, Live in Cleveleys, Care for Cleveleys" Published: 13th May 2015;  Modified: 17th May 2015  Visit Cleveleys If you love Cleveleys and want to help to keep this town great, and make it even better, read on and join this virtual community group! What's 'Care for Cleveleys'? We're all busy. We've all got a lot read more Helping with the Open Dialogue UK Summer seminars in 2015 During the course of the week of 22 to 26 June 2015 Nick Putman (Open Dialogue UK) and Mia Kurtti (Western Lapland Psychiatric Service) will be travelling across the UK to lead one day seminars to introduce the Open Dialogue approach to mental health professionals and managers, service users, carers and students. The day will be be a mixture read more Enthusiastic volunteers required for music events The Friends of Stanley Park and Salisbury Woodland are a group of enthusiastic volunteers who care about two of Blackpool's favourite green spaces. We have a number of sub groups who get involved in gardening, wildlife conservation and events. This summer beginning on the 31st of May, they have a packed program of music at read more Fleetwood treated to Extraordinary Bodies LeftCoast has teamed up with circus and performance organization Extraordinary Bodies to create a huge community choir, to coincide with a visually spectacular show that will be performed at Fleetwood Festival of Transport and SpareParts – and we want you to be part of it. Extraordinary Bodies is the UK's only professional integrated circus company. read more   Blackpool Civic Trust Summer Events Blackpool Civic Trust are celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year and as always they have a busy calendar of events this summer. Please see the details of these events below. Event:  Town Centre Blue Plaque Tour Venue:  The tour will be leaving from the Town Hall Date:  16th June Time:  Morning Tour – 10.00am Afternoon read more   Food for thought... Charity leaders call on civil society minister, Rob Wilson to launch Local Sustainability Fund Neil Cleeveley of NAVCA and Sir Stephen Bubb of Acevo say the long-awaited fund, which is intended to help service-delivering voluntary organisations in danger of closing because of financial pressures, should be a priority. Charity leaders have called on Rob Wilson to swiftly launch the long-awaited Local Sustainability Fund after he was reappointed as Minister read more   Upcoming Events Sector vacancies Sport and Activity Leader Closing date 4th June Youth Activity Worker Closing date 4th June Pre Crisis Project Co-ordinator Closing date 29th May Pre Crisis Support Development Worker Closing date 29th May Service Development Worker Closing date 28th May Health Liason Officer Closing date 28th May Finance Officer  Closing date 5th June Cultural Connector Closing date 4th June   Training Courses Free Workshops in the NW Area from MacMillan Relationships and Sexuality Training for people with learning disabilities Renaissance @ Drugline new training dates April, May and June First Aid Training Courses Everyday First Aid Get On Line: Drop in sessions   Funding Streams Funding for Rural Community Enterprises (UK) Plunkett has funding and support available for new and diversifying rural community enterprises. Communities that would like to expand their current service provision by adding a shop, café, library, bakery or bar, for example, or want to set-up a co-operative from scratch, can apply for a £2000 feasibility support package, which includes 2 days with read more The National Churches Trust – Community Grants Programme (UK) The National Churches Trust has announced its Community Grants programme and applications can be submitted between now and 30th September 2015. The Community Grants Programme is for grants of £5,000 and above for projects which introduce facilities to enable increased community use of places of worship. Projects must have an estimated cost of at least read more Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Launches New Food Funding Strand (UK) The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, one of the UK's largest independent charitable foundations, has announced the launch of its new food strand. Esmée will offer total funding of £5m over a period of three years and is inviting applications from organisations focused on understanding and investigating the critical role that food plays in wellbeing and the read more Homelessness Transition Fund Launches Future Ready Fund (England) The aim of the Future Ready Fund is 'To protect and enhance essential and strategically critical services for single homeless people and support them in the transition to becoming sustainable'.  Grants of up to £25,000 are available for projects that /lead: To stronger organisations or test/pilot new approaches that will attract funding;  prepare organisations for read more   Not seen the funding you require in the list above? The CVS can help Grantfinder has over 8000 funders waiting to be applied to. Sessions must be pre-booked with us on 01253 624505 and a member of staff will assist you tailor in your search. The session will result in a written report indicating potential funding sources to which you may apply. In order to pay for Grantfinder licences next year we would like to suggest that organisations accessing the service make a donation of £5.00.      If you have enjoyed this bulletin please like us on Facebook.     Share Tweet Forward Share The Council for Voluntary Services (CVS), supporting communities across Blackpool Wyre and Fylde for 80 years. CVSBWF is a trading name of Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Council for Voluntary Service. Registered Charity No 1057178 - Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales No 3185767,Registered office 95 Abingdon Street, Blackpool, FY1 1PP, Tel 01253 624505. Copyright © 2015 CVS, All rights reserved. You are receiving this as you have not opted out of our E Bulletin subscribers list. Our mailing address is: CVS 95 Abingdon Street Blackpool, Eng FY1 1PP United Kingdom Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences