Dear Friends,
Today, Friday 1st of March, marks the National Day of Action Against Universal Credit; local actions protesting to Scrap Universal Credit are taking place Nationwide.
In London the action is happening in Parliament Square from 12noon-4:30pm and at Peckham Jobcentre from 1:30pm.
Universal Credit seems to be one of the biggest changes of the welfare system, affecting employed/unemployed people, those with long term conditions and the disabled, as well as working families. It brings together under the same umbrella six welfare benefits: Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Working Tax Credit, supposedly wanting simplifying the existing complicated systems.
However so far seems this is creating great disruption and difficulties: some people have received no payment for weeks, left in debt and with difficulties not everyone can handle, specially when alone, vulnerable and/or ill. It might be working for some few, but it has also pushed many people to rely more and more on food banks, and some have taken their own lives. The system is obviously full of faults and as it is constantly changing only few find it to make sense. Four single mothers have successfully taken DWP to Higher Court, winning their case on unlawful assessments.
If the Welfare Reform and Work Act (2016) impacted you or your family do seek for help, do not despair. Also do get in touch to help Inclusion London research by next week, March 8th.
In 3 weeks time we are going to have our FEEL event at Kingsley Hall, "Psychiatry: An Abuse Of Human Rights?" on Friday 22 March.
If you have not seen the leaflet yet, please find copies attached in various formats and share where possible, please.
We will be meeting for the March monthly meeting at LARC on Monday 18th. Please join us if you can.
In the main time we'd like to wish to the Cool To Believe group at Bow Haven, a very Happy 5th Birthday, which will be celebrated on Wed 13th March (pls note that you need to be registered or get in touch with them first, if new to the group).
Please find below some updates and forthcoming events. NSUN has launched a new Campaign on the Value of User Led Groups.
There are raising alarms over the number of user-led services closed down. The same has been happening for Deaf Cultural and Social Centres, Deaf Schools and specialised centres that provide dedicated services as required by individual's needs. Ability Bow, London's only Disability Gym is also at risk. Sign the petition pls you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-london-s-only-disabled-gym
Services are disappearing, going mainstream, privatised, or packed together to give attention to corporate profits and greed, rather than fulfilling basic and necessary human needs.
Where is society going to? Will the "few privileged" ones ever be happy?
The Value of User Led Groups - NSUN 2019 Campaign
Please complete the survey at the latest by Monday March 25th www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/
If you have any difficulty with doing this, please let us know at info@nsun.org.uk or call us at 020 7820 8982
See also the article User-led sector ‘faces threat of extinction' www.disabilitynewsservice.com/
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WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Friday 1 March - Sunday 31 March 2019.
Multiple venues.
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Friday, 8 March
- Women's Strike LONDON womenstrike.org.uk
Happening at various times and locations across town:
-10am - 12pm, My Mum Is On Strike - free stay and play sessions in Walthamstow, Hackney, Deptford
-5pm - 7pm, Assembly - outside the Bank of England
-7pm - 9pm, Sex/Work Strike, Leicester Square
-9pm - 3pm, Women's Strike After Party, The Jago 440 Kingsland Road Dalston E8 4AA
If your organization would like to support the women's strike please email info@womenstrike.org.uk
-Defending our children & our world, by Global Women’s Strike
12-14pm Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand, London WC2A 2LL
WinVisible, Mental Health Resistance Network women and others in the disability movement are taking part in this outdoor event.
More info contact E:win@winvisible.org W:www.
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East End Women's Museum, Profiles, Making the Museum eastendwomensmuseum.org
Are you a local resident with strong ties to your local community? Are you interested in women's history?
Do you want to see a museum representing the amazing women of east London, past and present? Then, we are looking for you!
If you're interested please fill in this form by Sunday 10th March 11pm. Selected participants to be interviewed on 18th and 19th March.
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DARK NIGHTS of the SOUL Philadelphia Association Film Season 2019
4 Marty's Yard, 17 Hampstead High Street, London NW3 1QW
FREE monthly gatherings with film screenings followed by discussions.
E: office @ philadelphia- association.org.uk ; Ph: 0207 794 2652; www.philadelphia-association. com / events
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Shaping Our Lives AGM
21 March, Voluntary Action Islington, 200a Pentonville Road, London, N1 JP.
To attend please contact becki@shapingourlives.
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"Psychiatry: An Abuse Of Human Rights?"
Friday 22 March 7-9 pm Doors to open at 6:30pm
Kingsley Hall Community Centre, 1 Powis Road, London E3 3HJ
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Mental Health After Capitalism Public · by Mental Health Under Capitalism
Wed 27 March, 18: 45-21: 00, Common House 5E Pundersons Gardens, E2 9QG
What would mental health look like after capitalism? In part 1 and 2 of this series we talked about what capitalism does to our mental health. Amongst the bleak visions and grinding oppressions of the current moment, in this 3rd and final part, we will meet to think about what happens afterwards? What if we won? What kind of mental health care do we want and should we demand? What would the effect of a more egalitarian and classless society have on our lives and mental health? What would a society based on collective care, community and the commons look like? A world without bosses and profit, without borders, racism and patriarchy, without the rule of abstract value and endless accumulation; How would we feel in such a world? Would our distress be different? How would we look after each other? What kind of people would we be? www.facebook.com/events/ 340637936554986 /
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Bad Housing Makes Us Sick - by Homes for All
Sat 30 March 10:00 - 16:00, Unite the Union 33-37 Moreland Street London EC1V 8BB
There is a toxic link between bad housing and bad health. The cost is enormous - at least £ 1.4 billion a year for the NHS - but this is not the full account of all the ways our lives and communities are being damaged. This special conference will discuss what we can do to stop bad housing making us sick. Keynote speakers will include Dawn Foster (Guardian columnist), Dr Jackie Turner (Doctors in Unite) and Eilleen Short (Homes for All). The event is being supported by the Unite union and Generation Rent. Workshops will focus on the issues facing private renters and the homeless, Universal Credit, housing for people with disabilities and the mental trauma of demolition and displacement www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bad- housing-makes-us-sick-tickets - 57316748939
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Saturday 30 March, Glasshouse Arts Center, Wollaston Road, Amblecote, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4HF
Fee: £ 35: 00 (£ 25: 00 concessions). Places are limited - please book by email or call Helen - helenfordhealing@yahoo.co.uk 07954 412973
Online booking is also available via www.brownpapertickets.com/ event / 4089342
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Compassionate Mental Health - Safe Spaces for Suffering & Joy
Mon 1 April, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Kingsley Hall, Bromley-by-Bow, London E3 3HJ
Changing the script around mental health, challenging stigma and raising expectations. Speakers and facilitators include: Will Hall, Dr Joseph H. Berke, Akiko Hart and core Compassionate mental health team members, Malcolm Stern, Andy Bradley and Brigid Bowen compassionatementalhealt
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Social Death - the impact of austerity and poverty
Wed, 1 May, 6-8pm, Portcullis House, Attlee Suite, 1 Parliament St, Westminster, London SW1A 2JR
The purpose of this event is to place on record well sourced and tragic. Aim of austerity and poverty.
Homeless deaths on the streets in freezing weather, suicide under pressure of mounting debts & low / no income, infant deaths rising of the babies of poor mothers are reasons why we convene this seminar to get the facts about current austerity & poverty collated on record www .eventbrite.com / e / social- death-the-impact-of-austerity- and-poverty-tickets- 56029267046
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Tue, 7 May 14: 00-16: 30pm, St. Aloysius Church 20 Phoenix Road Kings Cross London NW1 1TA
Dr. Rowan Williams will present on the above theme. Event organized on behalf of The National Spirituality and Mental Health Forum www.spiritualitymentalhealth. org.uk
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Petitions & Consultations:
-Questionnaire on "the rights of older persons with disabilities" - Call for submissions
Submissions should be sent by e-mail to the address sr.disability@ohchr.org no later than 15 April 2019 .
Concise responses are encouraged, including of relevant attachments where available bit.ly/2EAaCkP
-Stop Capita PLC bidding on public sector work & review all current contracts
petition.parliament. uk / petitions / 235165
-Phase out current mental healthcare model and implement the Open Dialogue model
-Involuntary/Assisted Outpatient Treatment Survey
-QualityRights - Good practice community based mental health
(chance to recommend Open Dialogue and natural remedies perhaps?)
- Documentary on MHA detention
A radio journalist based at City University is making a documentary about the Mental Health Act. Keen to interview people who have previously been sectioned, had difficulties during the tribunal process or they felt sectioning was used inappropriately. Interviews can be done under a pseudonym if necessary. It will be recorded in late March/early April. Please email katherine.mcginn@city.ac.uk if you can help.
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F.E.E.L. - Friends of East End Loonies
FEEL meets the third Monday of each month 6.30 - 8.30 pm
@ LARC 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel, London E1 1ES
www.facebook.com/feel.campaign
