Update on the petition
21 JAN 2018 — The photo I have loaded to this post is of the place in parliament where Marjory Humes suffragette chained herself to the statue. Shouting "DEEDS NOT WORDS!"I am incredibly grateful to the 198 supporters of this petition. I have had no letters of response from the DWP; my MP nor members of the APPG Poverty where I have raised the matter to members of both the Commons and Lords. I have had no response from the London Borough of Hillingdon White Ribbon lunch team that had organised the Lunch with Survivors to reach out and see how they can improve their support.
I have tweeted to Loose Women and to the This Morning programmes to get some air time but had no response. I cannot believe that all that I have approached are devoid of compassion and care on the issue I am raising??!!
I have had emails from a survivor sharing the dreadful conditions she is living in and the place so damp she is getting breathless with asthma... I have put the case to my MP who is admittedly run off his feet with the multiple demands in the area from FAILED policies of this government. We have women with history of abuse upon them even marital rapes being hassled by bailiffs... we are failing women... and the added horrendous fact is the CPS with its cutbacks are failing to bring perpetrators to accountability.
It feels as if the UK is in the biggest chaotic mess ever....
I would request that all of your send a letter and this link to your respective MPs to get this on their priority agenda... as I feel my voice is being muted and not getting the much needed response.
Women's lives are being put at risk from failed support this could lead to her committing suicide and could lead to poverty related deaths from the abuse the system is pressuring her with. Women deserve financial dignity to help them heal and cut the ties to the ugliness of the past. The present failings keep women tethered to the past!
The system makes her feel valueless and worthless to help. Remember she has been living with a controlling brute that has told her time and time again she is worthless.... The psychological profile on this situation demands a more caring compassionate support of women to help them heal and for the length of time it takes her to heal too... As I highlighted to the APPG Poverty in December "Do not underestimate the post traumatic stress and impact of the abuse on women! it has been for many like systematic torture on her whole being!"
I had a interesting situation with the London WASPI team too .. The women so kind and understanding of my case and can see that to get my State Pension would at least give me some financial dignity. But there was a man that entered into a facebook comment thread with me in response to my sharing of another over 60s women that was survivor and could not get her state pension... This chap was an obvious Tory Troll he displayed no compassion for my situation and simply was challenging me- he argued that he thought the group was for pensions not domestic violence issues.. failing to see that there are older women that have come to their old age that have been financially crippled by their perpetrators and thus to get state pension at the age of 60 or even earlier would be helpful.
No show of care and concern... WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE UK SOCIETY?? I was tearful to think that I have spent my life giving care to others - seen life safely in the world, seen life out with dignity and comfort as a RN RM... and now when I was expressing my needs and the needs of others I was getting rebuffed...
A society without compassion ceases to be a society!!
I have not been offered any paid posts to rebuild my life financially, despite having numerous skills to offer some company or team. I get offered voluntary work..... no end of voluntary work... But accepting voluntary work does not give those on JSA any extra from the DWP you are still expected to operate on the £73.10 a week with housing benefit cap demanded.... I have to pay £19.10 to the London Borough of Hillingdon... and to pay council tax and my fuel bills and food.... It is difficult to operate at all when you are hungry!!!
I can feel all this is pushing me into old age - my walking affected with arthritic knees and I continue to have gut issues too, my teeth fracturing and have gum disease with scurvy.. On top of this the media and government argue the strain the elderly are putting on systems... Come on what is with this?! People in need of help being considered burdens and drain on £$£$£$ resources when I might hasten to say have paid in £££ in tax all their lives.
The policies in place and the society we are living in is worrying me as this is NOT the motherland I want this country to be.. Do you agree? How can we treat women who have been through abuse and violence against them like this? I have to continue to highlight is this is a breach of State Duty of Care to UN Directives on care of women that have been subject to violence in war and peace time!
WE need a strong and stable pathway of support to help us heal, detox from the ugliness of violence upon us and help to rebuild our lives.
This year is the centenary of the suffragette win to get votes for women..... WE need to bring to the spotlight and table the needs of women survivors of domestic violence and abuse... and the need to provide a strong and stable pathway of support to help rebuild lives.
Thank you all.
Marjorie
