http://www.community-links.org/media Master Feed of content published on the Community Links Website en no-reply@community-links.org Copyright 2010 2010-03-09T14:47:33+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/just-walk/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/just-walk/#When:14:47:33Z Join us on Saturday May 15th to walk the South Downs. With a 10km, 20km, 40km and our ultimate 60km challenge, whilst raising valuable funds for Community Links. Only 30 miles from London, the South Downs are a rolling-hilled, wildlife-rich, walker’s paradise. From our start location at Goodwood Racecourse on the edge of the Downs the challenging route will take participants through spectacular woodlands and picturesque villages, with fantastic views of the coast. there really is something for everyone. Finishing back at the start, walkers will receive a hero’s welcome for their fundraising efforts! Full details on how to get involved are here or e-mail emma.taylor@community-links.org for more information. News 2010-03-09T14:47:33+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/jobs/job/ey2010-project-co-ordinator/ http://www.community-links.org/jobs/job/ey2010-project-co-ordinator/#When:12:58:35Z 2010-03-09T12:58:35+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-links-launches-groundbreaking-school-for-excluded-students/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-links-launches-groundbreaking-school-for-excluded-students/#When:09:00:10Z A groundbreaking secondary school for students excluded from mainstream education launches in Newham this month, after a highly successful charity project is accredited by OFSTED. East London charity Community Links has supported excluded students for 17 years, with an unprecedented 90% going on to further education, training, or a job, making it the most successful project of its kind. Now recognised as a school, it offers 120 places in seven sites around Newham. School principal Neil Berry: “Our success is built on the vital relationship we forge between students and our dedicated staff. Recognition by OFSTED of the work that we do with our young people starts a new chapter in our development. It is a very exciting time for us all and we can’t wait to create further improvements in what we have to offer.” A formal opening ceremony will take place on Friday 26th February at the Nature Reserve East Ham with local MP Stephen Timms. For more information, contact Neil Berry, School Principal, on neil.berry@community-links.org or 0208 221 9590 / 07879 842 005 Or Will Horwitz, Community Links Communications Coordinator, will.horwitz@community-links.org or 0207 473 9669 Notes for editors: • Community Links is an east London charity with over 30 years experience working with local people to support children, young people, adults and families. • Through its Energy for Learning programme™, global energy provider Chevron is supporting the development of one of the school sites at East Ham Nature Reserve. Energy for Learning is a long-term initiative by Chevron and its retail brand, Texaco, to support learning-based programmes which create opportunities for individuals to acquire new knowledge, gain new skills or be exposed to different ways of thinking.   Press Releases 2010-02-26T09:00:10+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-links-launches-groundbreaking-secondary-school/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-links-launches-groundbreaking-secondary-school/#When:09:00:09Z Our highly successful project supporting young people excluded from education is now officially recognised as a school. Last year 90% of the students went on to work, education, or training. We have been supporting students excluded from school for 17 years, and it has proved one of the most succesful projects of its kind. With 120 places in seven sites around Newham, it has now gained OFSTED recognition as a school, and is being launched today by local MP Stephen Timms. If you'd like to find out more about the school, please contact school principal Neil Berry. News 2010-02-26T09:00:09+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-charities-win-funding-to-tackle-working-age-poverty-in-the-uk/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-charities-win-funding-to-tackle-working-age-poverty-in-the-uk/#When:09:57:03Z Community Links and Church Action on Poverty have been awarded funding for a nine month national programme raising awareness of working age poverty in the UK. The funding was awarded by the Department of Work and Pensions as part of the European Year Against Poverty 2010. Over 20% of working age adults live in poverty in the UK. The project will raise awareness and encourage those experiencing poverty to engage in the debate. Activities will include workshops held with grassroots groups around the country, roundtables with policymakers and work to change public attitudes. Community Links Chief Executive Geraldine Blake says: "We are delighted to be working with DWP and Church Action on Poverty on this project. Through our 30 years work tackling poverty in East London we know about many of the issues that keep people poor. We look forward to exploring these with partners across the country, and raising awareness around this crucial issue." Church Action on Poverty Director Niall Cooper says: "We have been working for many years to make sure that the voices of people living in poverty are heard. We are delighted to be working with our friends at Community Links to challenge the prejudices around poverty in this country, and tackle some of the issues that keep people trapped in poverty." The charities would like to hear from organisations keen to be involved in the year's activities. They should contact Maeve McGoldrick on maeve.mcgoldrick@community-links.org or 0207 473 9644   Press Releases 2010-02-24T09:57:03+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-links-appointed-to-government-advisory-group/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/community-links-appointed-to-government-advisory-group/#When:10:57:23Z East London charity Community Links was announced yesterday as the only civil society representative on the HMRC Hidden Economy Advisory Group, which was introduced in last year’s Pre-Budget Report. The charity’s unique ten years experience researching and campaigning on the issue provides crucial insights into how to reduce the number of people working informally. Aaron Barbour, National Policy Manager at Community Links, said: “People accessing our services often work cash-in-hand because they have little choice – they do so out of need, not greed. And while it can help put food on the table, it stops them moving on into better paid and more secure jobs. Supporting people to move out of the hidden economy will help people work their way out of poverty, as well as increasing tax revenue. “I look forward to working closely with the group over the next few months in ensuring the voices of those who know best – people experiencing the issue – are heard, and the recommendations reflect the lives of those working cash-in-hand.” Mike Eland, chair of the group and Director General of Enforcement and Compliance in HMRC said: “We estimate that the hidden economy contributes to around 7.5% of the net tax gap, which means we could be losing in the region of £3bn a year from people who are living and working in the hidden economy. They also gain an unfair competitive advantage over businesses that pay their taxes. This new group of experts with a variety of experience will identify new practical steps to tackle this problem.” For more information contact Will Horwitz, Community Links Communications Coordinator, on 07966 344506, or will.horwitz@community-links.org Notes for editors: • Community Links is an east London charity with over 30 years experience working with local people to support children, young people, adults and families. • Community Links coordinates the Need not Greed campaign (http://www.neednotgreed.org.uk), which aims to remove the need for cash-in-hand work by creating a modern, flexible welfare system, creating stepping stones into work. • The Hidden Economy Advisory Group is formed from independent experts and chaired by HMRC to take a fresh look at what can be done to reduce the hidden economy. More information is available at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/hidden-economy-advisory-group.htm   Press Releases 2010-01-06T10:57:23+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/about-us/event/santa-run/ http://www.community-links.org/about-us/event/santa-run/#When:14:27:34Z This 5km run takes place in London’s beautiful Greenwich Park and, with a sponsorship requirement of just £100, is open to all. Fitness advice, sponsorship tips and Santa suits are all provided for a great day out. Sign up online now.   2009-12-06T14:27:34+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/5-earnings-cap-is-turning-benefits-claimants-into-criminals/ http://www.community-links.org/news/pr/5-earnings-cap-is-turning-benefits-claimants-into-criminals/#When:09:55:21Z A cap of just £5 on the amount people on benefits are allowed to keep when they get a job is leaving people little choice but to work cash-in-hand and break the law, says a coalition of leading charities. The Need not Greed coalition, whose members work with people on benefits around the country, is calling on the government to increase the cap or ‘earnings disregard’ to £50 for single people and £100 for a couple, in the pre-budget report on 9th December. It claims the current limit, which is equal to less than one hour’s minimum wage and has not been increased since 1988, stops people declaring work, turning them into criminals. “Many people our charities help are working while on benefits, but do not tell the Jobcentre because they would then have to surrender most of their wages. It is turning hard-working, honest benefit claimants into criminals” says Maeve McGoldrick, coordinator of the campaign. “These jobs are a vital first step back to long term employment but the cap criminalises people rather than allowing them to get back into work. We estimate up to 20% of people work informally.” George, 37, has been unemployed for many years. “I got my plumbing qualifications this year, and want to set up my own plumbing business. At the moment I only get a few hours work a week. I can’t tell the Jobcentre because I would lose all the money, and I need it to buy equipment. I hate defrauding the system. Hopefully by the New Year I will have enough clients to be able to come off benefits and set up full time, but until then I don’t have a choice.” People who choose not to break the law are left stuck on benefits. Olanike Omole, 45, has been unemployed for 6 months and is desperate to get a job. “I’ve written hundreds of applications and had several interviews for full time jobs, but I’m just not having any luck,” she says. “I’d like to take some of the part time jobs I’ve seen, as a first step back into work, but I know that I’d be no better off.” The TUC and Oxfam are members of the coalition. Brendan Barber of the TUC said, “In a time of high unemployment people should be given every chance to make their way back into work. Benefit rules need to change so that people are not forced to decide between desperate poverty and illegal, vulnerable work.” Oxfam’s UK Poverty director Kate Wareing said “From our work with partners and communities around the UK we know that the benefits system traps people in poverty. Increasing the earnings disregard is a vital first step in enabling people to move off benefits into a secure, well-paid job.” Anyone interested in finding more about the earnings disregard campaign can download a briefing from http://www.neednotgreed.co.uk ENDS   Press Releases 2009-12-04T09:55:21+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/means-and-ends/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/means-and-ends/#When:12:03:57Z CoSA Paper No.11 A concluding commentary on the the work of the Council on Social Action. This report reflects on the what has been learned over the two year lifespan of the Council on Social Action,including the range of ways for CoSA to pursue its aims, from making recommendations for new initiatives to carrying out heavy duty policy development directly, from energetically chasing recommendations through to convening others to do things.The report concludes that the CoSA experiment has been useful. It can inform the ways in which social action generates new solutions to the challenges we face. Building on a set of shared values, it has generated a wide impact. It has done this in ways that will last. 2009-12-03T12:03:57+00:00 http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/time-well-spent/ http://www.community-links.org/our-national-work/publications/time-well-spent/#When:10:51:10Z CoSA Paper No.10 A Report on the Importance of the one-one relationship between civil legal aid advisors and their clients working across areas of law including debt, housing, welfare benefits, employment and immigration and asylum. Access to legal help is an essential element of strategies to tackle disadvantage and discrimination. The process of seeking and giving advice and the human bond established between advisor and client nourishes confidence, trust and self belief. Provided at the earliest opportunity, it can generate savings for other areas of public services. This report takes the learning from front line practitioners and original research to make reccomendations for wider public services delivery. 2009-12-03T10:51:10+00:00