{"id":283,"date":"2016-02-08T02:01:29","date_gmt":"2016-02-08T02:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=283"},"modified":"2017-07-18T02:08:43","modified_gmt":"2017-07-18T02:08:43","slug":"ecap-visit-oxgangs-neighbourhood-centre-to-say-no-workfare-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\/?p=283","title":{"rendered":"ECAP visit Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre to say NO WORKFARE HERE!"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 8th February members of Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty visited Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre in Edinburgh to give out leaflets and talk to those present to explain why the Centre should withdraw from workfare. This followed several phone calls and e mails and many Facebook messages which had all been ignored by the Centre management. \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The visit had a significant impact, lively discussions breaking out in the middle of the cafe area where ECAP members were leafleting. A member of the\u00a0Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre management committee promised they would discuss the issue at their meeting this Wednesday 10th and reply to ECAP’s request to address the management committee on the issue. Centre manager Robert Scott seemed none too happy however, threatening to call the police to evict the leafleters! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre uses workfare conscripts from provider learndirect on the Community Work Placements scheme, whereby jobseekers have to work for their benefits for six months under threat of sanction. \u00a0The Centre management has been directly involved in having sanctions imposed on claimants sent to them. \u00a0Jobseeker Jimmy, sent to do workfare at Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre in early 2015, explained to the Centre manager that he did not think such a community group should be using workfare.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Centre manager sent him away and reported him to Learndirect, who in turn sent a sanction referral to the DWP, causing his benefits to be stopped. \u00a0Fortunately Jimmy sought support from ECAP, who fought his case with both Learndirect and the DWP, insisting that Learndirect contact the DWP to withdraw the sanction referral. \u00a0Thanks to this solidarity, all Jimmy’s benefits were restored.<\/span><\/p>\n

To tell Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre that you think they should withdraw from workfare, you can write a review of the Centre here\u00a0https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Oxgangsneighbourhoodcentreorg\/reviews\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The text of the leaflet given out at Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre follows:<\/span><\/p>\n

AN APPEAL TO OXGANGS NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

DO THE RIGHT THING<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

END THE CENTRE’S INVOLVEMENT IN \u00a0GOVERNMENT WORKFARE SCHEMES<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The good work done by Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre is being undermined by the Centre’s participation in the compulsory government workfare schemes which force jobseekers and even disabled people to work for their benefits \u2013 or lose their money.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Centre takes claimants sent by government contractor Learndirect on Community Work Placements. They are forced to work unpaid for six months. Jobseekers have had their benefits stopped because of this. One was sent away after criticising the Centre’s participation in workfare and unjustly lost his benefits when a Centre manager reported him to Learndirect. This makes a mockery of genuine volunteering.<\/span><\/p>\n

We appeal to the Centre to join the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council, Oxfam, Shelter, Christian Aid and 632 other charities who embrace volunteering and boycott workfare \u2013 see\u00a0keepvolunteeringvoluntary.net<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workfare not only exploits the claimants forced to work for nothing, it undermines all workers’ wages and conditions. \u00a0There is a grave danger that workfare will be used to replace paid workers as public services and funding for voluntary organisations are savagely cut.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workfare is part of the class war being waged by the rich and the governments of the world against the poor. \u00a0They want US to pay the price for the economic crisis caused by THEIR greed and THEIR profit-dominated system. \u00a0Why should we accept growing inequality and austerity? \u00a0Society has the wealth to provide plenty for all \u2013 if resources were held in common and shared. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are an independent group of claimants and low waged workers. \u00a0Several claimants have approached us, appalled that this Centre supports workfare. \u00a0Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre – do the right thing and end your participation in exploitation and sanctions.<\/span><\/p>\n

EDINBURGH COALITION AGAINST POVERTY \u00a0edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk\u00a0ecap@lists.riseup.net<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0On Facebook and Twitter<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to get involved in these kind of activities against workfare contact\u00a0ecap@lists.riseup.net<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

==<\/span><\/p>\n

BEING SENT ON WORKFARE YOURSELF?<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact\u00a0ecap@lists.riseup.net<\/a>\u00a0for support<\/span><\/p>\n

Or call in at our Tuesday drop-ins at ACE, 12-3pm<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TELL OXGANGS NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE WHAT YOU THINK OF THEM USING WORKFARE<\/span><\/p>\n

Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre<\/span><\/p>\n

oxgangsneighbourhoodcentre@gmail.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

0131 466 0678<\/span><\/p>\n

Robert Scott manager<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/oxgangsneighbourhoodcentre.org.uk\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

facebook – Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre<\/span><\/p>\n

We suggest addressing complaints to the Management Committee<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LOCAL COUNCILLOR<\/span><\/p>\n

Urge the local SNP councillor Richard Lewis to tell ONC they should\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

withdraw from workfare. \u00a0ONC get funding from City of Edinburgh Council\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

– who have an anti workfare policy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Email:\u00a0richard.lewis@edinburgh.gov.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Twitter account<\/span><\/p>\n

@RichardLewisSNP<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LOCAL MP<\/span><\/p>\n

Urge the local SNP MP Joanna Cherry to tell ONC they should withdraw\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

from workfare.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joanna.cherry.mp@parliament.uk<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

@joannaccherry<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\r\n\t\t