NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD CENTRE AGAINST  UNEMPLOYMENT

 

We were formed in 1978, the first centre of its kind in Britain, we have never accepted unemployment and never stopped campaigning for both full employment and quality jobs.

 Our two main Functions are to represent and work with and for the unwaged.  We give advice and representation to all benefit claimants free of charge.   We alone in Newcastle and Gateshead do redundancy councelling sessions at the work place prior to workers leaving their jobs.  We run an open door policy,  no appointment needed.  Cover for all welfare benefits 0900am till 4.30 Monday  to Friday, we also represent clients at tribunals.

 We think of all unwaged people as workers without jobs, and we call for the maximum unity between employed and unemployed.  We are proud of our trade union nnections  and have always thought the trade union movement best placed to unite workers with  and without jobs together.  We have

allways demanded respect for benefit  claimants saying unemployment is not the fault of the unemployed, from Governments,  the Employment Service(dole), Benefits Agency (social security) [they have now merged and are called Job Centre Plus].  We reject all forms of government  compulsion for claimants and we are constructive critics of all government  training programs aimed at the unemployed. 

 The Newcastle and Gateshead TUC Centre Against Unemployment  Is part of a nation-wide combine of Unemployed Workers Centres campaigning for full employment and quality jobs. In 2005 we are still campaigning for the same, for despite Government claims to the contrary, the issue of full employment  has not been resolved.
 
 Unemployment means poverty and the last round of benefit increases of around 55p in April achieves nothing in resolving the poverty trap for the unemployed. In fact 55p is about the average price of a packet of peanuts and so  the Centres, along with claimants and anti-poverty groups, established the campaign 'Peanuts 4 Benefits' to demand a substantial rise in benefit payments and a subsequent link to average earnings. In fact, if benefits had increased at the same rate as  average earnings since 1978. Jobseekers Allowance claimants would now be £30 per week better off. We live in one of the richest countries on earth. No one should be forced to live in poverty.

   
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine  estimates that the bare minimum income needed for healthy living for an unemployed, single, childless adult after housing costs is £91 per week,  but nearer £125 in London. Jobseekers Allowance will be £44.50 for 18-24  and £56.20 for 25+.  Some people say the country can't afford to pay higher  benefits.

WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO!

 Poverty is linked to poor nutrition in women, which can lead to low birthweight in their babies.  In the worst areas of the UK there are third world rates of  low birthweights (11-14%). Low birthweighs can lead to developmental health  problems both physical and mental.

POVERTY RELATED ILL HEALTH COSTS THE NHS AT LEAST £30 BILLION EVERY YEAR.

Although unemployment is falling, there are still millions of people forced  to claim benefits. Of course, getting more people into work would be a good thing but there always will be many people, at some time in their lives that  will need to claim benefits.

We only take upto 4 students at a time.

We run free basic computer courses in partnership with Newcastle College, successful completion will give the student a nationally recognised certificate.

We specialise in the absolute beginner and only take a maximum of four students at a time. The course lasts for 24 hours and can be studied at the students convenience, no set day of the week or time the students tells us when they are coming in, as long as it is between 9-00 am and 4-30 pm
 Monday to Friday they can stay for half a day or a full day, as many times a week as they want to.

If you want more information click on the link below to contact us, or call in, we are at 4 Cloth Market, Newcastle opposite the main Newcastle Job Centre Plus.

 We give a free taster session the first time you come in, this is for you to check out the course and Tutor and to see if you are happy with the arrangements, if you are happy with both the next time you come in we will sign you up as a student of Newcastle College.

 Click here to e-mail the Tutor to make an appointment