VIEW, Issue five, 2012


, Issue four, 2012


VIEW Standing firm


Pages 6-7 A campaigner tells his story and we look at the latest developments in fight against human trafficking


The £1m ladies


Pages 8-9 VIEW visits a Concern shop in Newcastle to hear how a remarkable bunch of women volunteers have raised more than £1m


End this abuse


Website: viewdigital.org CONTENTS


Page 2


Charity jump


Page 13 Frances A Burscough (left) talks about her fears as she agrees to do a parachute jump for charity


Bicycle power


Pages16-17 VIEW takes a look at the upcoming Maracycle by recounting the story of one rider and his memory of doing it back in 1985


Banking on us


Pages 10-11 Jacqui- Montgomery-Devlin (above) talks about Barnardo’s fight against child sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland


Editorial By Brian Pelan, editor


endorsed the most ‘radical’ shake-up of the benefits system for years. Critics opposed to the measures have describe it as an ‘ideological assault’. A recent development in this ongoing


A


process has been the signalling of an intention to cut benefits for unemployed alcohol and drug addicts if they refuse treatment. The idea of axing the benefits was raised re-


cently in a speech by the Works and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith Those who would have little sympathy for


addicts will argue that it’s a good idea and will mean that people suffering from an addiction will get


s we await on the Assembly to debate the Welfare Reform Bill, we know one thing for certain that the Coalition Government has


treatment – even if they don’t want it – and in the long run, this is a good idea. The problem with that approach, as argued in


not be forced into abstinence. Since the Assembly has not debated the


VIEW this month by a leading charity in the field, Addiction NI, is that it won’t help addicts, and could also exasperate their condition. Niamh Eastwood, the chief executive of the


charity Release, said: “Iain Duncan Smith’s proposal is tantamount to coercive treatment.” Martin Barnes, the chief executive of


Addaction – one of the UK's largest specialist drug and alcohol treatment charities – said people could


DrugScope, said was no evidence to suggest that “using the stick of benefit sanctions” would help people engage with treatment and aid recovery. And Simon Antrobus, the chief executive of


Welfare Reform Bill, we don’t know for sure that this measure will come into effect in Northern Ireland. But we do know that the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland recently carried out its own consultation on the Coalition’s Welfare Reform Bill. It said: “The Northern Ireland Assembly has


devolved responsibility for social security but in practice this is delivered on the long standing principle of parity, i.e. an individual in Northern Ireland will receive the same benefits and be subject to the same conditions as an individual elsewhere in the UK.” Charities and addicts have cause for concern.


Alternative formats – audio, DAISY, mp3, braille, large print or Word document of anything can be produced by: RNIB NI Accessible Media. T: 028 9050 1888 E: amni@rnib.org.uk W: www.accessiblemedia.co.uk


Page 23 Director of Operations Jonathan McAlpin (above) talks about the role of the Ulster Community Investment Trust


VIEW, the online publication for the community/voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.


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