KUWG Christmas Party, Monday 18 Dec 2017, 7pm-10pm at Prince of Wales PH, 101 Willesden Lane, London NW6 7SD

(Blog post by a new blogger, represented here with permalink related to an actual post title)
TO FRIENDS OF THE UNEMPLOYED

"COME ON DOWN"

THE KUWG CHRISTMAS PARTY THIS YEAR

MONDAY 18^TH DEC  7PM-10PM (SETTING UP FROM 6.30PM)

PRINCE OF WALES PUB,  101 WILLESDEN LANE, KILBURN, NW6 7SD

Reservoir KUWGS

WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE-DOME!

6.30PM SETTING UP, 7PM MUSIC STARTS, 7.15 SPEECHES-WELCOMES 7.45 ACTS UNTIL 9PM, THEN SECRET SANTA, THEN 9.30 ALTERNATIVE CAROL SINGING. 10PM TIDYING UP.

One free drink if you pick up a ticket, entrance free, food free...if you want to bring a delicacy for sharing please do. If you can sing, play an instrument, anything, please do.

Due to events last year, no TWERKING permitted before 9pm. No use of 4-letterish words like “Gauke”, “IDS” or “Tom Watson.” ALL FRIENDS OF KUWG INVITED!

Don’t the great unwashed know their place anymore? The Sin

PC gone BONKERS! Financial Crimes Unfair to the Rich! illuminati news

PRINTED BY THE KILBURN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS GROUP PROPAGANDA UNIT

Tues 24 Oct 2017 KUWG Public Meeting against local jobcentre closures

Agenda for KUWG Public Meeting Against Jobcentre Closures,
Tuesday 24/10/17 6.30pm-8.30pm Kingsgate  Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, NW6 2JH

How to get there

6:15pm: Room set up and grabbing a seat!

6:30pm-to-8:15pm: Meeting

8:15pm-8:30pm: Room clearance

Chairperson: A KUWG member who uses Neasden Jobcentre

Speakers

• Giselle as KUWG and Chair of Unite Community Brent, with the aid of a big map, highlighting how people especially with walking problems will be seriously affected, and thus more easily sanctioned
• John Kilvington from Somali Cultural Centre, on the absurd cases he has had and how it obviously will make people with language and cultural issues prone to misunderstand and get sanctioned. 
• Winvisible [Women with Visible and Invisible Disabitlities] to confirm our experiences and offer their campaigning skills.
• Pete Firmin as Chair of Brent Trades Council will speak about how workers could be affected, and mention how other closures of public buildings impact the community.
• Tulip Siddiq MP has sent message of support. 
• MP Dawn Butler has been asked to come or send message of support. 
• Siân Berry Green Party Member of the London Assembly has sent her apologies. 
• Brent Green Party member Peter Murry will speak from a Green Party Trade Union Group perspective
• Green Party Member Alan Wheatley has sent KWUG placards as room decorations, while he cannot attend in person
• Councillor Shama Tatler (Brent Council) who wrote to DWP about proposed closures has been requested to attend.
• PCS [jobcentre workers union] speakers invited, but no response.

PS: WinVisible add:

Tues 24 Oct - WinVisible speaking at KUWG meeting vs Jobcentre closures

Tues 24 October 2017, 6.30-8.30pm

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group (KUWG) have invited us to speak at their:

 

Public meeting on the proposed Jobcentre closures of Kilburn & Neasden JCPs

the impact on claimants and what we can do

at Big Hall, KINGSGATE COMMUNITY CENTRE,

107 KINGSGATE ROAD, NW6 2JH

(wheelchair accessible)

Speakers include: Giselle Winston (“Benefit Tales” blogger, KUWG member); John Kilvington, welfare rights worker at Camden Somali Cultural Centre.

We’ll be speaking about how the closures will affect people, and what we’ve been doing, including pressing the exemptions from ESA/PIP exams, and about the latest benefit concessions won by public pressure.

(See our blog for self-help info, search “exemption”.) 

In March, we attended the PCS (DWP staff union) meeting in Parliament against Jobcentre closures.

Come along if you can!

Tuesday 24 October update: Cllr Sham Tatler writes:

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately I cannot attend due to a prior engagement.

I too share your concerns over the closures and the impact they will have on vulnerable residents, particularly as they are in areas in most need.

I had written to the previous minister, and am currently engaging with the DWP over the closures. I have asked to see their equality impact assessment as I am not certain they have taken into account the difficulties our residents will face. I have told them, that we do not understand the rationale for the decisions and am seeking assurances on making sure our residents are protected and not under-served.

I will be continuing to raise the issue and happy to engage with you.

Kind regards

Cllr Shama Tatler

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Growth, Employment and Skills

Labour Councillor fo Fryent Ward

London Borough of Brent

Free short art film screening 'KUWG LIFE' on Thursday 11 May at 2:30pm at Kingsgate CC, NW6 2JH

Please come along and support a group that supports local people!
11/05/17 @ 2:30pm @ Kingsgate CC, NW6 2JH

Transcript of flyer:

Free Short Art Film Screening: KUWG LIFE

Are you local to NW6? Are you concerned about local people who need support?

What is the film about? Filmed over 2 years, this is a hidden and obscured camera view of life and interactions of the Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group.

Created by embedded member and local socially engaged artist Helen Mandley.

The screening is part of the continued dialogue within the community. KUWG members support people that face:

• Jobcentre Plus 'benefit sanctions'
• ATOS assessments
• evictions, and 
• disabled person's needs. 

We also show solidarity with other local and national groups as austerity measures are cutting across the country. KUWG also leaflet and advise outside local jobcentres, housing offices and ATOS assessment centres.

KUWG organises local protests such as against the planned closure of Kilburn Jobcentre and organised vigils for local benefit claimants that have died due to stress placed upon them by jobcentres.  KUWG also advises anyone affected by imposed jobcentre regulations  amongst many other issues that arise as austerity measures hit an all time high in this country.

Helen Mandley feels that discussion, interaction and acts of translation are invaluable to her socially engaged art practice; and KUWG are a group doing just that!

PLEASE COME ALONG AND SUPPORT A GROUP THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL PEOPLE

11 May 2017 @ 2:30pm @ Kingsgate Community Centre
Kingsgate Road, NW6 2JH

https://helenmandleyartist.wixsite.com/website

Hampstead & Kilburn hustings for 2015 UK General Election 2015

Compiled with assistance of Martin Francis' Wembley Matters blog, Yahoo! search engine, streetmap.co.uk, and other sources.

• Overview of
• Hampstead & Kilburn constituency
• The candidates
• Hustings for w/c 6 April
• Hustings for w/c 13 April
• Hustings for w/c 20 April

An overview of the constituency can be found at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-the-60-seats-that-could-decide-the-outcome-10140079.html. Hampstead & Kilburn is deemed to be the #1 Labour/Conservative key marginal, but the Hampstead & Kilburn Labour majority of 42 at the 2010 General Election was after a boundary change that turned SE3 resident Glenda Jackson from MP for the more leafy Hampstead & Highgate constituency into the MP for more-urban Hampstead & Kilburn.

And the casework of Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group meetings suggests that in the majority of cases, Glenda Jackson displayed an indifference to poorer single people that was characterised by the catch phrase: "What do you expect me to do about it?"

Meanwhile the messaging of Camden Councillor and Tory Hampstead & Kilburn hopeful simon Marcus is much less likely to focus on mansion tax in Kilburn where a high proportion of people live in rented property, than in Hampstead and Fortune Green; and the smaller parties are on the rise in this General Election.

An overview of the candidates can be found at http://westhampsteadlife.com/2015/01/24/election-2015-hampstead-kilburn-candidates-line-up/15963

•  Thu 9 April 7.30pm for 8pm start - Queen's Park Area Residents Association (QPARA) - St Anne's Church, 125 Salusbury Rd, NW6 6RG. Further details at QPRARA website. 
•  Fri 10 April 8pm - St Andrew's church hustings, Finchley Road, NW3 7DY - 8pm. Location map 

• Mon 13 April, 7:30pm: Brent Stop War Coalition hustings with Hampstead & Kilburn candidates Rebecca Johnson (Green Party) and Tulip Siddiq (Labour), plus Conservative, Lib Dem, TUSC and Ukip candidates for the other Brent constituencies. Venue: Pakistan Community Centre, Station Parade, NW2 4PU near Willesden Green tube. Buses 260, 266, 460. Location map

• Tuesday 14 April   6pm-8.30pm : Why Does My Vote Matter?
  • Have a big issue you want to talk about with representatives from parties standing for election in the Borough of Camden? 
  • Join Women of Colour in the Global Strike in partnership with Stopwatch and representatives of groups based at the Crossroads Women's Centre on Wednesday 15 April. 
  • Come and find out what local representatives will be doing to defend our multi-racial community. 
  • Add your voice, ask your questions. Issues include policing and crime; immigration and Islamophobia; women, children and young peoples’ experiences. 
  • Free, open to all. Refreshments 5.45pm for 6pm start.
  • Venue: Kentish Town Community Centre, 17 Busby Place, NW5 2SP. Location map
   

• Wed 15 April 7pm - West Hampstead Synagogue at Dennington Park Lane NW6 1AX. Location map 

 

• Thursday 16 April, 7:30pm-9:30pm: Hustings for Kensal to Kilburn Transition Town at Queens Park Community School, Ayleston Ave, NW6 7BQ Location map
   
• Friday April 17th (Brent Central and Hampstead and Kilburn)  8pm Church of Transfiguration, 1 Wrentham Avenue, NW10 3HT. Location map

• Sun 19 April -  Brondesbury Park Synagogue, 143/145 Brondesbury Park, London, NW2 5JL. Location map
   
•  Mon 20 April, 5:30pm-7:30pm: Hampstead & Kilburn Hustings, hosted by KUWG in association with Somali Cultural Centre and The Winch Youth Project at
  UCL Academy School, Adelaide Road, NW3 3AQ. (Swiss Cottage tube, 31 and C11 buses.) Location map

• Tue 21 April 7pm - Hampstead & Kilburn Hustings: Camden Federation of Private Tenants - Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA. Location map 
  
• Wed 22 April 8pm - Hampstead & Kilburn Hustings: Ham & High hustings at JW3, Finchley Road, NW3 6ET. Location map

The Housing Action Group meets 24/02/2015, 12pm-2pm at Kingsgate Community Centre

Samantha Lewis, a Community Organiser based at Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, Kilburn, NW6 2JH writes:

Hi everyone
Just a reminder the housing action group meeting is this coming Tuesday 12-2pm @ Kingsgate Community Centre look forward to seeing you all
regards 
Sam

Like KUWG, The Housing Action Group is a self-help organisation that helps people with their casework. For further details, contact Samantha.Lewis AT corganisers.org.uk 

How to get there by public transport, cycling and/or walking 

Next Housing Action Group meeting 27 August

WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND PUBLICISE THIS MEETING TO OTHERS WHO MAY WANT TO BE INVOLVED:
11AM-1PM, WEDNESDAY 27 AUGUST 2014 @ CASA LATINA

Priory House, 10 Kingsgate Place, London NW6 4TA

This meeting picks up where the 13 August meeting left off, and will then include casework of people who attend who have problems with their housing situation that the want help with.

If you want help with your case, please bring essential paperwork/documentation.

The Housing Action Group

Kilburn Housing Strategy Meeting — 13 August 2014

 A massive thank you to all who supported and came along to the first meeting of the Kilburn Housing Strategy. 

A lot of major topics and issues were discussed and we have made headway in establishing a strategy. 

Mapping the issues in the housing crisis

Come along to decipher more and learn more.

Real people's stories testify to housing crisis

(You probably wouldn't get any of these stories from Zoopla or RightMove!)

1. The housing problem — 2 children in one bedroom, 11 and 7 years. I give up bidding, I have 388 points, when I nearly reached 600 they took it off me. I try with a swap — they didn't accept me, comething about data protection. Exhange — people don't like the estate, 3rd floor.
2. Would want to live here, own flat, we live an a very small flat, in the long term for a bigger place — hit barriers, housing pricess... in a way it's good if you own — property prices going up... those schemes that can assist those who do earn... will drive out diversity if only rich can afford to live here.
3. One thing: the cuts to local government — council tax benefit — that affects my mum — it's talking money out of other things she needs, my sister has diabilities.
4. Housing issues — for a young man, is very hard, I'm at my parents. You should be offered something especially if you're working. They could build affordable council housing.
5. I don't realistically earn enough to live where I am... I wouldn't want it to get much more expensive round here, I hope people can still afford to live round here... a lot of the lawas for social housing are being dodged... It's a London-wide problem, it's a higher level problem, we need a new government, need Tories out, Lib Dems turned out useless, I voted for them. The vast majority of developments ave not much social housing — I read Private Eye, how they fudge the figures bout how much social housing. They don't think bout how it's going to be, even if you have more expensive restaurants, who's going to work there, people are having to travel further to work, pay more for travel. My brother and sister are caretakes for an estate that's empty, that's the only way they can live there.
6. Policies needs to be put in place... policies about rent control... a small proportion will stand to gain from gentrification. You can put on as many community shows, or entertainment and events and projects, but it doesn't mean shit if no one can afford to live here. A short-termism
7. Trieds to ask the landlord about damp — the council said, NW6 can easily find someone to replace you. — the landlord can send in environmental halth but there's no safeguard against not renewing contract or raising rent.
8. There's gentrification, landlords, no housing stock around here, might want to start a family, a terrible fear you won't get the diversity of classes, inocme bands... everything I love about this area would be destroyed.
9. I used to live here, now I live in Cricklewood, this was a small flat — had to go to Cricklewood to get a bigger one... Council would have to wait long... housing project build compounds.
10. 1 bed flat, 5 kids, me and husband didn't give any points, health and safety, kitchen and sitting room together.
11. If I could afford to buy a house here I'd stay; got the theatre, cinema, etc; don't know what else I'd want
12. Get a camera, do a documentary about homeless people — more and more people bing kicked out.
13. I have been threatened with evictions, the stress, amount of work to find new accommodation, it's too much, it disrupts the rest of your life. Your work.

Meet in August to address the Housing Crisis in Kilburn and London

A daytime strategy meeting to address the Housing Crisis in Kilburn and London

Called for by Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group

Supported by KUWG, Unite Community membership, and Community Organisers.

Everyone is now aware of the dceepening crisis in Housing in London and its impact on local residents and ourcommunities. Over the last two years the Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group has been dealing with — and campaigning on — more and more housing cases in the wider area.

We want to bring together people from across our community for a more united and sustainable response:

• Individuals (especially those with housing problems)
• Tenants and Residents Associations
• Housing and advice workers
• School, community and council rerpresentatives
• Trade Unions and political organisations.

We want to hold an inclusive, participatory strategy meeting so we can begin to:

• share experiences about the housing challenges faced by people in Kilburn and build connections
• help each other cope and find solutions; make our voices heard
• develop and campaign collectively around policies which would begin to meet real housing needs in the area

WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND PUBLICISE THIS MEETING TO OTHERS WHO MAY WANT TO BE INVOLVED:
11AM-1PM, WEDNESDAY 13 AUGUST 2014 @ CASA LATINA

Priory House, 10 Kingsgate Place, London NW6 4TA

(Some of) what's happening now:

• .... Housing insecurity and homelessness; inflated rents and house prices; huge shortage of social housing; overcrowding, disrepair, evictions... displacement
• ... reduction in the Local Housing Allowance (housing benefit for private accommodation), the benefit cap, 'Bedroom Tax', charging Council Tax on Benefits, "Affordable" rent being defined as 80% of the market rate [on a London that is becoming a global billionaires' Monopoly board], spike in benefit sanctions...
• ... Cuts to legal aid, advice, support and language services; no security of tenure in private and social housing; exploitation, bully and victimisation, ...
• ... Low pay and 'zero hour contracts', rogue landlords, loan sharks...

 KUWG is part of the Unite Community and the London Coalition Against Poverty and campaigns with Social Work Action Network, Brent Housing Action, Housing 4 All, and the London Radical Housing Network.

Pics from recent demos

Here's some recent pics from demos outside Neasden and Kilburn Jobcentre to protest unfair Employment and Support Allowance decisions, which deny sick people the money they are entitled to and "sanctions" of Jobseekers Allowance, where claimants have their money stopped or reduced for allegedly not doing enough to look for work.

These issues make up the vast majority of our personal cases and cause no end of heart ache to our members.

Although both issues might look like personal problems: the number of times they occur points to systematic problems in the administartion of these benefits.

This is why we at Kilburn Unemployed Workers believe in fighting them as a collective problem, with public demonstrations and publicity!

Welcome to Kilburn Unemployed Workers!

Welcome to Kilburn Unemployed Workers.

We are a group for and by Unemployed People and Benefits Claimants in Kilburn.

We believe that everyone deserves to have our claims decided quickly and fairly, to be treated with respect and to have enough money to live on.

Everyone deserves satisfying work, dignity and a future for their children.

Often it can feel like we are on our own, battling a huge and faceless machine. It doesn't have to be like this. We believe that together we are strong. We can defend each other and assert our rights.

Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group is only as strong as our members. We need everyones help to write letters, to support each other at Jobcentre interviews, to challenge unfair decisions and to win victories.

Kilburn Unemployed Workers is only young but we have big plans. We are currently leafletting Kilburn Jobcentre to make our presence known. We are also arranging training to arm ourselves with the skills we will need in the battles to come.

If you have some time to spare and would like to learn new skils and help other people or if you are having problems and need the support of others then we want to hear from you.

We meet every Thursday at the Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, Kilburn and everyone is welcome. Or you can telephone, email or join us on facebook.