Time to start paying carers a realistice allowance

We finished off assessing the carer’s small grants applications this afternoon and hopefully those who have qualified will be receiving theirs in the very near future. One of the things that struck me as I read through them though, was how many people simply don’t claim what is theirs by right, carer’s allowance.

The current carer’s weekly rate is £53.10 and there are some restrictions. For instance, if you receive certain other benefits at £53.10 or more a week, carer's allowance cannot be paid to you as well. Has anyone who sets these rules any idea whatsoever how little £53.10 actually is? Quite a few of the grant applications I read were from carers who wanted a short break away somewhere, often with the cared for person who may be their partner. Nothing too extravagant, just a simple break to re-charge batteries or experience a change of scenery from the same four walls. It’s £10 just to go and watch ‘Alice in Wonderland’ here in Wrexham. So £20+ for a couple that happen to be a carer and cared for, doesn’t leave much out of £53.10.

Around 1 in 8 adults in the UK is a carer and it’s estimated that all together they save the country £87billion a year. Actually they save us way more than that because annually £740 million carer’s benefits are unclaimed. Isn’t it time we took a serious look at £53.10 and re-assessed it within reasonable living standards? We could also look at re-vamping the claim form too and make it a whole lot less daunting, particularly for elderly claimants.


nick

Problems in Perspective

I took part in the first session of sifting through the mountain of applications for a Carers small grant yesterday. There is a great deal of sadness mixed in with the pleasure of knowing we are helping many Carers who have applied to AVOW for a small amount of funding to help with decorating, gardening or a short holiday. When one reads of applications to help pay for a few days away together because this time next year a cared for partner simply won't be here, you can't help but be moved. It's a humbling experience to be taking part in, but more importantly it is a startling reminder that a lot of the superfluous crap that goes on in our lives is exactly that, superfluous. The circumstances facing so many of our fellow citizens means they have little to be thankful for, yet they face each day with such fortitude and optimism. Life, health and happiness really are the only goals that truly matter.


nick

Ian Lucas MP

My thanks go to Ian Lucas MP who kindly dragged First Minister Carwyn Jones over to Lori's desk to introduce her to him at this morning's launch of the new Solar Centre at Sharp in Llay. He did the same a short while back and introduced her to Ed Milliband.

A nice gesture, thanks Ian.


nick

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/85994/first-minister-opens-landmark-solar-centre-in-wrexham.aspx

Michael Foot

Just got back from a meeting in Newtown, had a cd on in the car, so only heard about Michael Foot seconds ago. A truly great life.


nick

Prevent crime and the rates will improve.

It's difficult to say 'things were better in my day' without sounding like some old reactionary, but sorry, they were!

The PM's right about it not being acceptable to meet targets, but in my day it simply wasn't done, not to be out on the street. And we're not even talking about Victorian policing, but the 70s and 80s. We had 5 beats within Wrexham town centre and a PC was allocated to each one for the shift. If anything untoward happened while you were away from that beat you had some explaining to do. Similarly, if a supervisor was on that beat and called for you and you weren't around you could expect some grief. We were kicked out the police station on mornings by 6.10 to check town centre properties, before a tea break at 7. The system worked fine, it had done for years and years. Then along came bloody Thatcher. Amazing what a few QPMs dished out amongst ACPO will achieve, well she did plan on us to oversee the heart of mining communities getting torn out! We were told by senior management that 'the public aren't getting value for money when you're walking the beat doing nothing', so we had to start upping the bookings and Fixed penalty tickets were introduced to get those tills ringing even faster.

Ann so when I took Sarah to the railway station at 6.20 this morning and saw absolutely zero Police presence throughout the town, is that value for money? While I acknowledge things are different today, I don't accept that either a better service is provided or that the service is better value for money. Switching the responsibility for the protection of life and property over to CCTV cameras and operators may have been a cute move by Chief Constables, but long term the public has suffered. Maybe if the prevention of crime was actually measured as a positive outcome we could all sleep a little more soundly in our beds.


nick

The beauty that belongs in our oceans

I’ve never been to Florida, it’s a part of the US that simply doesn’t appeal to me. However if I was ever in that State, I’m sure I wouldn’t be visiting SeaWorld in Orlando. Killer Whales are beautiful, socially aware and intelligent animals that belong in our oceans where they can swim up to 100 miles a day; they do not belong in small tanks performing for hotdog guzzling tourists. If you feel the same way, why not click here and send PeTA’s message to the Blackstone Group, the company that owns Sea World, and ask that it immediately set in place a firm and rapid plan to release the animals to sanctuaries that can provide them with a more natural environment.


nick

How to get Communities First running right

I find it disappointing to read this in regards to the accusation that Communities First "has not delivered good value for the significant amount of public money spent on it".

Last December I was invited to the AGM of one CF, the Oldford estate in Welshpool. Everything that is right about CF is typified there. A three-year Action Plan launched in December 2007 involved over half of the households on the Oldford estate. There are a number of sub groups that concentrate on the environment, young people, training and education, crime and community safety, active community and facilities. The annual reports from these groups showed significant yearly improvement. In short the estate is a better place to live than it was and the Chair confirmed this to me when we had a chat.

If there is a genuine need to improve CFs in other areas, they couldn’t do much better than follow Oldford’s example.


nick