The new chair of the equality watchdog has taken up his new post, despite question-marks over potential conflicts of interest arising from his legal firm’s work for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and other government departments. David Isaac took up the post of chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) this […]
Category: Newsletter-News
Pioneering £5 million DRILL programme sends out first call for funding bids
A pioneering programme backed by £5 million of lottery cash has issued a call for user-led teams across the UK to apply for funding to research new ways to remove the barriers to independent living faced by disabled people. The Disability Research on Independent Living and Learning (DRILL) programme is believed to be the world’s […]
Wheelchair taxi rules will finally come into force… after 20 years
A report by peers on the impact of equality legislation on disabled people appears to have secured its first success, after the government agreed to bring into force taxi regulations – 20 years after they were first included in legislation. The regulations will mean that taxi-drivers can no longer refuse to accept wheelchair-users, and will […]
Crabb’s mixed signals on fresh disability benefit cuts
The new work and pensions secretary has sent out mixed signals on whether he wants to make further cuts to spending on disability benefits. Stephen Crabb, who was appointed after the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith in March, was giving evidence for the first time to the Commons work and pensions select committee yesterday (11 […]
Jailed conman who targeted disabled people ‘defrauded hundreds’
Hundreds of disabled people are believed to have fallen victim to a “manipulative” fraudster who posed as a lawyer to steal money they were owed from discrimination cases, and then launched legal actions against them if they complained. Karl Lindon was jailed for three years after being found guilty by a jury at Guildford Crown […]
Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru trade accusations in assembly standoff
Parties accuse each other of arrogance as impasse over who will be first minister leaves assembly in limbo. Welsh Labour and the nationalists Plaid Cymru have accused each other of arrogance following an extraordinary impasse over who will be the country’s next first minister. Labour won 29 of the 60 seats at last week’s assembly […]
Building Livelihoods poverty project a success, charity says
A new approach to combating poverty which has been piloted across Wales is effective and saves money from the public purse, Oxfam Cymru has said. The charity has called on the new Welsh Government to learn from the outcomes of its nine projects across Wales. Building Livelihoods tackles the nearly one in four households in […]
New EHRC Commissioner for Wales
Message from Kate Bennett: June Milligan appointed EHRC Commissioner for Wales I’m thrilled to announce that June Milligan has been appointed as our new Commissioner for Wales. June has a strong track record as a champion for equality and human rights in Wales. Her knowledge of Wales and determination to change people’s lives […]
Digital Communities Wales
From 2009 until 2015, Communities 2.0, a Welsh Government digital inclusion project, helped 60,000 to get online. Despite this good progress, 19% of adults in Wales remain digitally excluded. The Wales Co-operative Centre delivers Digital Communities Wales, Welsh Government’s current digital inclusion programme. Digital Communities Wales aims to build on this good work, by developing […]
NEST – tackiling fuel poverty
Working in partnership to tackle fuel poverty The Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme aims to tackle fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of existing homes across Wales. Nest provides free advice to help households reduce their energy bills, increase their income and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The scheme also provides […]
