Waving not drowning’s March e-bulletin.

[Guest guest]

March 2010

Waving not drowning, Working Families’ Project for Carers and Parents of Disabled Children who Work or Wish to Work

· Welcome to Waving not drowning’s March e-bulletin.

· What’s happened to last week’s some spring-like weather? Best wishes to those of you celebrating Easter, Passover or any other seasonal festivals and I hope you’re all able to enjoy a break from work.

· I hope you’ve received your copy of the Waving not drowning newsletter. If you would prefer to get it by email, please let me know. At janet.mearns@... .

· The first winner of the Waving not drowning Draw was ticket number 000019. You too could win up to £50 in the Waving not drowning Draw, a fun way you can support the Waving not drowning project. Just complete and return the attached form to buy monthly tickets at £2 each by direct debit.

o One third of the profits will go to lucky prize winners each month.

o The more tickets sold the greater the prize money. The rest of the profits go to help the Waving not drowning project including

o Staffing a helpline advising carers and parents of disabled children

o Publishing a free newsletter for carers and parents of disabled children

o Campaigning for a better deal for carers and parents of disabled children in the workplace

Working Families has published its annual report on its free legal advice service for disadvantaged parents and carers who are seeking help with employment rights and benefits.

The report identifies five key areas of concern which are:

1) discrimination against women who are pregnant or on maternity leave

2) forced changes in contracts

3) fathers

4) time off for dependants

5) health and safety of pregnant women

You can read the full report at http://workingfamilies.org.uk/images/Report%20on%20Working%20Families%20Helpline%202009(1).doc

From 6 April 2010 you can earn up to £110 a week before you have to pay National Insurance contributions but you will also have to earn more than £97 a week before you’re entitled to Statutory Sick Pay.

· Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, has pledged more support (£600,000 in 2010/11) for trainee teachers in England who want to work with severely disabled children.

· From April 2010 the traditional sick note will be replaced by a Statement of Fitness to Work or 'fit note'. Your doctor will have the option of suggesting to your employer such things as reduced hours or modifying your work routine to help you get back to work sooner.

· A new report from Grandparents Plus and the Equality and Human Rights Commission shows that Grandparents in low-income families risk financial hardship to provide free childcare. You can read the full report at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre/new-report-from-grandparents-plus-and-the-equality-and-human-rights-commission/

There is now a Waving not drowning Facebook group. If you’re already on Facebook, join the group and add your comments and questions about combining paid work and caring. If you want to join Facebook go to www.facebook.com. Signing up is very straight forward.

Working Families’ booklet Getting into Work is still available for you to download from Working Families’ website. www.workingfamilies.org.uk. Please let me know if you experience any difficulties. You can get a hard copy by sending me an A5 stamped (76p), addressed envelope. If you work with parents or carers contact the Working Families office for the postage and packing costs for bulk orders.

Please forward this e-bulletin to any friends or colleagues who would be interested. They can contact me at janet.mearns@... to get on the distribution list for the e-bulletin and for the free Waving not drowning newsletter.

There’s lots of information about parents’ and carers’ rights in the workplace on Working Families’ website, www.workingfamilies.org.uk. If the website doesn’t answer your questions you can ring me on 020 7017 0072.

Please remember to let me know at janet.mearns@... when you change email address so that you always get my e-bulletin. Similarly, if you move house make sure you notify me so that you continue to get your copy of Waving not drowning.

If, for any reason, you don’t want to receive the e-bulletin, just email me at janet.mearns@... and I’ll take you off the distribution list.

Janet Mearns

Disability Adviser

Parents of Disabled Children Project

Working Families

Registered office

1-3 Berry Street

London EC1V 0AA

Direct line: 020 7017 0072

Office Tel: 020 7253 7243 Fax: 020 7253 6253

www.workingfamilies.org.uk

janet.mearns@...

My usual working days are: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

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