Alfina Samaras’ Post

Visit this article from our March issue of Serve Daily:

Back in 2013, I was studying for a social policy degree at Leeds University as well as working at Chapeltown Citizens Advice Bureau. I became involved in an animation at Gipsil in Leeds - it was called Dole Animators and was a group of people living with the impact of the Coalition's welfare reform agenda. They produced a hugely impactful film which is still available on youtube, invoking George Osborne's mantra 'All in this together; are benefits ever a lifestyle choice?' 11 years on, I noticed Dole Animators have released a new video. And whilst thankfully, some of the Dole Animators are doing better in spite of the welfare system, some are still ‘literally’ scratching around to find food. Bizarrely, I recall it is was not just the Coalition who were stoking the anti-benefits rhetoric.  Rachel Reeves, Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions back in 2013, spoke of how ‘nobody should be under any illusions that they are going to be able to live a life on benefits under a Labour government … we would be tougher [than the Conservatives]'.  And went further in saying ‘we are not the party of people on benefits. We don’t want to be seen, and we’re not the, the party to represent those out of work’. So perhaps it is hardly surprising 11 years ago, there seems to be no appetite to reduce child poverty by undoing the two child limit, repealing the benefit cap or even reconsidering the now institutionalised bedroom tax. All hard-wired into our social security system. So please take a listen to the Dole Animators in 2024 and their most recent video and the accompanying briefing paper showing how their lives have changed since then. ruth patrick should also get a mention for always putting the voices of the Dole Animators front and centre – not all research is so selfless or indeed so impactful. https://lnkd.in/e3r5rS7q https://lnkd.in/eqZK2p_B

Takeaways from the APA Div. 45 Reclaiming Joy: Resistance & Healing ingredients turbulent times community gathering. 6 Healing ingredients of Joy- from Dr. Helen Neville. Gratitude to Dr. Char Newton for leading this powerful community effort!

This is all the result of ALL of California government becoming a massive entity that does not respect the US CONSTITUTION, the rule of law, individual rights, economic rights, second amendment rights, free speech, rights, etc etc etc…. literally it has become a massive welfare organization…… protecting the unproductive and plundering from the productive! #ShrinkGovernment

A big thank you to Loretta Hart for inviting me to chat live to air yesterday on Geelong PULSE Radio 94.7 fm. We had a good talk about the proposed cuts to NDIS funding for Allied Health Services, Art and Music Therapies, hopefully giving listeners some insight into what these services mean for participants. You can listen to our conversation at the link below, my interview starts 11 minutes and 30 seconds into the show. Some key points: 💡Creative and Experiential Therapists are Allied Health Professionals in Australia through our membership of AHPA, along with many other Allied Health Professions. 😞 Cuts to Allied Health Services won’t reduce needs, it will mean more disabled people are left without access to the support they really need. 🟰 The proposed cuts to Allied Healthcare Services provided by Creative and Experiential Therapists are inequitable because they remove choice and control for people with NDIS funding, and unfairly discriminate against Creative Arts Therapists who are valued members of Australia’s Allied Health Workforce. 💗 What would we love to happen instead of NDIS funding cuts to the much needed Allied Health Services provided by Australia’s Creative Therapies workforce? WE CALL ON THE NDIS TO 1️⃣ PAUSE ALL CHANGES TO THERAPEUTIC SUPPORTS 2️⃣ ESTABLISH ITS NEW EVIDENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROVIDE A DEFINITION OF THE NDIS’ ‘EVIDENTIARY STANDARDS’ 3️⃣ PROPERLY ASSESS ALL THE ALLIED HEALTH THERAPIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NDIS, BEFORE MAKING RUSHED-JOB CHANGES THAT DRASTICALLY EFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE. Sign the petition here: https://chng.it/hXfhYLMwZN #NDIS #creativeandexperientialtherapies #disabilityrights #ndissupport #ndisprovider Jordon Steele-John Office of Senator Jordon Steele-John @the Hon Clare O’Neil MP https://lnkd.in/gFhhcf63

The Ability Center is ecstatic to see Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz in a "Toledo is for Everyone" t-shirt! Thank you, Mayor Kapszukiewicz, for proudly representing our organization in the community! Check out The Blade's article on Mayor Kapszukiewicz below to learn more about how he's helping promote Toledo's "Let’s Get Moving" program! See Full Article Here: https://lnkd.in/eiVFpr3f #ToledoIsForEveryone

2025 is indeed shaping up to be a transformative year for education! The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill presents both challenges and opportunities for schools, and having resources like InsightEd 2025 is invaluable for navigating these changes. At Education Buying, we’re here to support schools in optimising their procurement processes, ensuring cost-efficiency, and freeing up resources to focus on inclusion, SEND needs, and expanded nursery provisions. Together, we can help education leaders build a strong foundation for the future while staying prepared for what’s ahead!

📢 Important Update: LeDeR Annual Report 2023/24 NHS Birmingham and Solihull have released their LeDeR Annual Report for 2023/24. The LeDeR programme aims to reduce health inequalities and improve care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Since 2018, NHS Birmingham and Solihull have completed over 300 reviews, identifying 20 key priorities for change to help citizens live longer, healthier lives. This year, the annual report is available in an accessible video format. 🎥 Discover how local services are working together to deliver real change across Birmingham and Solihull and improve care for individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people. 👉 Watch the video here: https://bit.ly/4eU9HKr Join us in raising awareness and sharing this crucial resource. #LeDeR #LearningDisabilities #Autism #Healthcare #NHSBirminghamSolihull #AnnualReport #ImprovingLives

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” - Aesop From “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual,” by Arnold Kunst 17 November We live in a world of inter-locking dependencies. Thus, I am called on ·     to accept gratefully the parenting I need as and when I perceive it offered; ·     to offer generously the parenting I can as and when I perceive it needed. #thehumanconditisonausersmanual #arnoldkunst #wordsofwisdom #advicefromrandpa #thehumancondition #ausersmanual #leveltheplayingfield #wisdom #wisdomoftheages #practicaladvice #goodadvice #adviceyoucancounton #commonsense #people #kindness #actofkindness #aesop #interlocking #dependencies #acceptgratefully #parenting #offergenerously #drowningman #drowning https://lnkd.in/gnZGxmGv

“If you aren’t going all the way, why go at all?” – Joe Namath “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual,” by Arnold Kunst 18 November “Life often presents a fairly simple choice: do I want to cling to the security of what was once appropriate, or do I want to be abundantly wealthy? Think about it - clinging fiercely to antiquated appropriateness, to apparently validated self-pity, may seem oh, so seductive, but it comes at far too high a price. Instead, surely I am meant to adjust to the changes life offers like a sailor who trims his sails to fit into his purpose any transitory turn in the weather – and like that sailor, I must refuse to abdicate my sovereignty by letting some ad-hoc commotion in the elements dictate my destination.” - Arnold Kunst #thehumanconditisonausersmanual #arnoldkunst #wordsofwisdom #advicefromrandpa #thehumancondition #ausersmanual #leveltheplayingfield #wisdom #wisdomoftheages #practicaladvice #goodadvice #adviceyoucancounton #commonsense #people #goalltheway #joenamath #simplechoice #cling #abundantlywealthy #thinkaboutit #clingfiercely #appropriatenesws #validatedselfpity #selfpity #seductive #toohighaprice #thepriceistoohigh #transitoryturn #trimshissails #abdicate #sovereignty #adhoccommotion #dictateyourdecision #simplechoice https://lnkd.in/gn7gNqCu