Government drive to help workers on Universal Credit boost prospects

OVER 1.2 million low income earners on Universal Credit can now tap into additional support to help secure promotions and higher wages. The support known as the:- 'In Work Progression' offer has rolled out across all of Great Britain and includes help with CVs and signposting to skills provision.

Work coaches can support in work claimants to tackle barriers to progression including:- accessing childcare costs, which as announced last week will now be paid up front rather than in arrears. They can also help eligible claimants with other expenses such as travel costs through the Flexible Support Fund.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP said:- "In Work Progression is 1 of this Government's core priorities. It's about supporting people in work to raise their incomes, and ultimately becoming financially secure. Rolling out this voluntary offer nationwide demonstrates our commitment to help even more people take control of their careers and finances, setting them firmly on a pathway to a brighter and more prosperous future."

Work coaches delivering this support to claimants who want to increase their earnings and progress in work will be supported by Progression Leads, of which 37 have been recruited to cover all Jobcentre Districts.

Progression Leads work with Local Government, employers, and skills providers, such as the:- Federation of Small Businesses and local Chambers of Commerce to identify and develop local progression opportunities. They also work with partners to address local barriers that limit progression, such as:- childcare and transport.

For example, a holiday park, in Scotland, has agreed to combine part time shifts for cleaners and waiting staff which will allow employees to have a full time job, whilst Whitbread, in Dumfries, have also followed the same approach, combining part time roles to increase hours for hospitality focused staff.

From September this year, the Government will start to require that more working people on Universal Credit engage with the In Work Progression offer. This will ensure that around:- 460,000 working claimants, who are in what's known as the:- 'Light Touch' group will receive tailored help to progress and increase their earnings.

Orchard Day Nursery must be saved, says UNISON

THE owners of a Merseyside day Nursery that closed without warning at the weekend; leaving more than 50 staff jobless and the parents of more than 200 youngsters without childcare; must think again, says UNISON. Orchard Day Nursery, Huyton, shut its doors at such short notice that many workers, children and parents only found out about the permanent closure on the day, via a notice fixed to the gates, the Union says. The Centre is part of:- Brightstart Day Nursery Group that owns 8 premises across the North of England.

The 1st some staff and parents knew was when the company sent an email, on Saturday, announcing the immediate closure. But many remained unaware until they turned up to work or arrived to drop off their children, claimes UNISON. The shutdown chaos comes just days after workers at the Nursery took industrial action on:- Wednesday, 15 March 2023, over pay.

The walkout came after the company refused to pay qualified Nursery Workers more than the real living wage, which is:- £10.90 an hour. UNISON said Nursery bosses should be paying all employees at least this amount, with more experienced and qualified staff earning more. The Union believed it was close to an agreement on a boost to pay earlier this month. But the employer has had no contact with UNISON since the industrial action took place and the union's plea for talks late last week has gone unanswered.

The closure has caused huge disruption for many parents who were unable to attend work, while staff fear for their futures, says UNISON.

UNISON Knowsley Branch Organiser Karen Greer said:- "It's devastating for the local community to find that the Nursery has closed at such short notice. The employer must reconsider and come to an agreement that can get staff and parents back to work. And most importantly, end the distress for the children who want to be back in a place they adore. Knowsley Council will be working with the union to support those affected. Brightstart should do the right thing, talk to staff and parents, and reopen the Nursery. These workers are vital to the community. They love their jobs but can earn more in local supermarkets. All they want is a fair wage that helps them weather the cost of living crisis."

87% of planners say social media fuels misinformation on local planning issues

A survey conducted by the Royal Town Planning Institute's (RTPI) magazine The Planner found that 87% of planners feel social media is fuelling misinformation around local planning issues.

Planners are finding themselves the targets of online trolls as a result of this misinformation. Survey respondents highlighted the role of local Facebook groups and pages in creating an environment for misinformation and allowing negative campaigners to skew discussion around planning applications.

Insults, harassment, and violent threats have also been exacerbated online. Nearly a quarter of planners said they have:- 'regularly' or 'occasionally' been targeted through social media because of their role. A further 20% said they had been targeted, but 'rarely.'

41% of respondents from Local Planning Authorities said social media is impacting their well being. Some respondents report leaving the public sector or deleting social media accounts as a result.

Sue Bridge, President of the RTPI in 2023, said:- "Social media can help raise community awareness around the benefits of local planning decisions. But all too often we are seeing the opposite effect, with the spread of misinformation bleeding into public opinion. The survey suggests that misinformation often begins with a lack of understanding of the planning system from outside of the profession. I have made educating the public a central pillar of my presidency, to help communities understand that planning decisions are not done to them, but with and for them."

Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said:- "In January, our Big Conversation report found that ¾ of Local Planning Authority officers in Wales felt overstretched in their work. In our latest survey, we wanted to take the pulse of the entire planning profession. The results paint an alarming picture of the harassment that planners are facing online today. Our concern is that the spread of misinformation about local planning issues is leading to further stress for Local Planning Authorities and the wider public sector, who are already struggling to deliver services after a decade of cuts."