Claim free trees in the North West and help the Woodland Trust fight climate change by reaching a magic 5 million milestone

THE Woodland Trust is urging Schools and communities across the North West to join the fight against climate change and nature loss; and reach a remarkable 5 million free trees planted across the United Kingdom since 2020; by taking advantage of its latest tree pack giveaway.

Applications for the charity's ever popular free tree packs scheme are open now and Schools and community groups are needed to push up the numbers of trees planted by:- 800,000 to reach a whopping 5 million.

Woodland Trust senior project lead Vicki Baddeley said:- "We're so proud of the numbers of free trees we've been able to give away, knowing they'll be planted where they can really make a difference; in School grounds and out in the community. We're in the grip of a climate and nature crisis which can't be overcome without concerted action, so I'd urge every School or community group who can, to get involved and plant more trees! Applying is easy and all saplings are fully funded for those receiving the trees in our autumn delivery in November. All you need is time and a small piece of land to plant on."

The last round of the Trust's free tree packs scheme in the spring of 2023 delivered a total of:- 540,630 saplings to- 3,272 organisations across the UK, including:- 55,080 trees to 347 Schools and community groups in the North West:-

• Cheshire:- 10,260 trees to 67 organisations.
   

• Manchester:- 3,375 trees to 22 organisations.
   

• Greater Manchester:- 13,500 trees to 96 organisations.
   

• Lancashire:- 22,680 trees to 119 organisations.
   

• Merseyside:- 5,265 trees to 43 organisations.

Trees are 1 of our strongest defences against the climate and nature crisis. Evidence shows they combat the devastating effects of:- flooding, pollution and extreme weather and temperatures. They are the ultimate carbon stores. They are essential havens for wildlife and people. And they make the planet a healthier, happier place for everyone.

The Woodland Trust is committed to planting another 50 million native trees across the UK by 2030 and is urging people to get behind our mission to plant more trees and help us create a greener world.

Baddeley added:- "In just a few years, your trees will have grown big enough to lock away carbon and be a thriving habitat for wildlife. They'll offer free shade and shelter and help make the community space or playground, and the people who have access to it, happier and healthier. It would be incredible if we can reach a total of 5 million since 2020 this year; what an achievement and contribution that would be. There's no time like the present, so sign up and take advantage of the scheme."

The Woodland Trust's tree packs have been generously funded by lead partners:- Sainsbury's, Lloyds Bank, OVO Energy, Bank of Scotland and Sofology. The UK's largest woodland conservation charity has given away 13.9m trees since 2010. And if Schools and communities can rise to the challenge and claim:- 800,000 saplings in the current round, that figure will be approaching a staggering 15m, an average of more than 1m every year.

Single Mothers would need to work to age 93 in order to retire with the same pension as a man

NEW research released on Single Parents Day (21 March 2023) has revealed that 1 in 3 of all working single Mothers are ineligible for a workplace pension under current auto enrolment rules despite 59% being employed. Consequently, working single Mothers have missed out on over £852m in pension savings since the introduction of auto enrolment in 2012.

Since it was introduced, auto enrolment has transformed how millions of people in the UK save for their pension. Yet for far too many in our society, a comfortable retirement remains out of reach, usually through no fault of their own.

The research, conducted by NOW: Pensions, the pension provider for almost 2 million people and the PPI shows that there are currently over 1.59 million single Mothers in the UK, but only a fraction are saving into a workplace pension. Of those single Mothers who are eligible for workplace pensions, they will be saving an average of £885 per year into their pension, compared to the UK average of £1,573.

The number of single Mothers working part time is at 54% compared to the UK average of 21%. The high proportion of part time workers means that they might not meet the eligibility criteria as pension saving is only triggered once earning £10,000 in a single role. Therefore, single Mothers are not only missing out on a workplace pension, but vital employer contributions too.

In comparison to single Fathers, the startling statistics reveal that single Mothers may have to work an additional 28 years (until age 93) to retire with the same amount of money as a man. Whereas, single Fathers may only need to work an additional 3 years to age 68.

The data reveals that over a 40 year career, (assuming no career breaks), single Mothers will reach retirement with a private pension income total of £48,000. Yet, the PLSA's retirement living standards suggest an income of £12,800 per year is needed for a:- 'minimum lifestyle.' A woman retiring at age 65 can expect to live for another 22 years, meaning that they face significant pension poverty.

Childcare and the juggle struggle stats published by the TUC, on 10 March 2023, have revealed that the average full time Nursery place is now almost £15,000 per year, with:- 1 in 4 parents saying the cost of childcare is now MORE THAN 75% of their take home pay.

Research published by single parent charity, Gingerbread, highlights that whilst there has been an increase in jobs being advertised with flexible working:- 7 out of 10 jobs are still not suitable. As a result, there is a growing trend for single Mothers to seek:- 'fully flexible' working and zero hours contracts.

Victoria Benson, Chief Executive of Gingerbread, the charity that supports single parents said:- "We already know that too many single parents are locked out of quality work and it's devastating to see they are also likely to be locked into pension poverty. More needs to be done to better support single parents throughout their working lives and beyond. It's not right that such a large section of our society will continue to experience hardship well into retirement simply because they parent alone."

NOW: Pensions are supportive of the Private Member's Bill to increase pension saving for single Mothers... The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has backed MP Jonathan Gullis' Private Member's Bill on plans to expand auto enrolment. The bill, seeks 2 extensions to auto enrolment, abolishing the lower earnings limit for contributions and reducing the age for being automatically enrolled to 18.

If single Mothers could pay into their pension on the very 1st £1 of earnings, they would increase their annual pension contributions to £1,385 (+56%) which means over a 40 year career they could have a pension pot of £75,125.

Samantha Gould, Head of Campaigns at NOW: Pension commented:- "As a working single Mother myself, I know all too well that the cost of childcare is a huge obstacle for single parent households. Working single parents must juggle work and caring responsibilities meaning that they are more likely to reduce their working hours or stop working altogether. Through no fault of their own, too many single Mothers are locked out of the auto enrolment system, unable to earn enough to put money aside for later so find themselves on the wrong side of a growing pension savings gap. We must ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to save for their futures and build an adequate savings pot for later in life."

Visit https://FairPensionsForAll.Com to read more about how we are fighting pension inequality.