Saturday 26 May 2018

Women's voices being heard around London

This week has taken amazing shape...we are in Ramadan but I am unable to take fast because of the medical conditions and the need to for the MRI scan this week.  But as is so true of this Lunar month there can be some amazing energy around where the doors of truth open. So on Wednesday the day after my scan there was a short notice email for me to meet one of the Victim Commissioner's team to take part in a face to face interview...... 

The Victim's Commissioner in the City Hall London is reaching out to hear victims voices from all types of crimes upon them.  This is to 1. ensure compliance with Victim's Code of Practice; 2. Bring the victims voice to the table; 3. Increasing awareness of support services and 4. Help refresh the London violence against women & girls (VAWG) strategy. 
London Gov site - Victims Commissioner 
I had filled in the online survey and was then asked if I would take part in an face to face interview... Such an amazing powerful step to get across the need for a stronger platform of support for women survivors to heal, detox from the ugliness of violence upon them and rebuild their lives... The present DWP and system is in need of major reform as it is as if the system becomes the perpetrator constantly battering the woman with drops in support and inadequate support.  There is a need for staff training in local councils, jobcentres and DWP to understand the journey that a survivor has to take psychologically when out of the violent relationship - it is not a case of "you are out then you are OK now!" the post traumatic stress is immense to work through and can be exacerbated with lack of support! 

What was caring and compassionate is that in view of my medical problems the interviewer arranged to meet me in Paddington... without me having to trail to City Hall... though I hope I can go to the city hall at some point.   So Women's Voices are being heard and will be in an overall report that will be published later in the year!


I have had time with my local MP John McDonnell's PA and we have gone over not only my immediate needs but the overall view on the failure of the present DWP and local council.

Then today been with another survivor in my neighbourhood to see the newly elected local councillors..... What is happening now is that there is a need for a cross party review of strategy to provide better and more understanding support. There is a need for local governments to feed back into central government that the present DWP policies are failing to support women at risk, putting them at further risk and are in need of major review... the funding the PM keeps referring too must be made available to help meet the therapeutic needs of women so she can break the ties to the past and move on in her life. The goal of support to be able to rebuild and reconnect with herself again.  

Both of us that sat before the local councillor today had major evidence of the failings of the system; Plus how we had from the induced poverty both been in hospital so cost the NHS which is bad housekeeping of any government .. with good support we would not have had our illnesses... and would be able to heal. Both of us are not lazy, in fact get exhausted with all the system failing battles to handle.  We would like to work and contribute to society. We are not "something for nothing" as present gov policies seem to suggest when in need of benefits... We have found ourselves in this situation because we fell victim to criminal controlling violent perpetrators.  I personally have worked 38 years in the NHS and as you can see from this campaign always see the wider frame of my situation as an overall concern - that all women aside me and behind me and some in front of me are in need of better support to help them regain their lives back! 
I have to keep turning my pain into campaign to help all women's voices heard!
A society without compassion ceases to be a society for it is compassion that holds it together.
Turning pain into Campaign!

Reform to help women heal and rebuild.... when will we get this right and fair for women? Sign the petition it is still on the go till I get some debate for reform. Petition for Strong & Stable Pathway of Support for Survivors 
This campaign must continue till achieved it goals no matter what happens to me... I have to get a better pathway of support for women!

Wednesday 23 May 2018

Post MRI scan wait for report

Please read my update on the petition written 14th May Petition Link to update 
you will read my continued struggle with the DWP and the deductions for the LBH council tax. But you will also read that I was booked for an urgent abdo/pelvic scan which I had yesterday.  Now let me explain the photo I have put in of the Hijab.  My daughter got me this for Ramadan.... it is so beautiful with healing colours and so soft to touch.  Though I cannot follow Ramadan with the ill health and investigations but some how this special month is still emanating some special energy of feeling cared for.  Yesterday the staff at the Hillingdon hospital scan unit were so so kind caring respectful and preserved my dignity.  I was permitted to wear my scarf in the procedure which helped me so much to cope... I could snuggle in the softness of this to help keep me calm through an uncomfortable procedure... uncomfortable because of my presenting symptoms not clinical practice.  The clinicians were gentle and kind and skilful. 

staff are shocked and not happy with the lack of benefit support and the fact I cannot get my state pension 

I am costing the NHS with all the medical problems I am accruing... and I strongly feel this is from a lack of good financial support shoving me more and more into poverty.  In among this hassled by housing officer to pay the outstanding rent from the benefit cap... but look at this how much I get a week with deductions for the council tax for not only this OAP council bungalow but the last property were I was brutally kicked.. 
I was contacted by the housing officer for Hillingdon and I am referred to as the lady that will not pay her rent... I corrected her to say "no I am willing to pay but have no money to pay..if I could would pay in advance. you put in a position of do I pay you and starve or do I not pay you and manage to eat something!" This is not acceptable! not acceptable to UN directives on care of women that have been subject to violence in war and peace time. 

You are chased for "debts" that are not your debts but the system failing you debts... as there are drops in support, sanctions and deductions.. 

I have actioned this with a good meeting with John McDonnell's local PA. 
I have also been contacted by the Victims commissioner office and have interview tomorrow with a team member. 
I have contacted Macmillan Cancer Support MacMillan Link as I am worried with my scan and very worried that if I am to go on this pathway I am mega vulnerable with no financial dignity or freedom...of course I do not have a loving husband aside me to help me and care for me... I feel alone but the MacMillan phone response team were brilliant getting in my frame of reference and I felt a hug of care around me. They are concerned over my situation and even if the report is negative still want to keep updated on me. 
 -  do you know if I have cancer and I had my car and financial freedom I would be straight down the M4 to the Bristol Cancer Centre Penny Brohn Centre to book in for a healing week and have some sanctuary.... this is the issue for healing from my Domestic violence and any illness is there is a need to access all the help you can get to be successful on a road to well being. That does demand a good platform of support from the DWP and some reparation for the crime upon your being..... but the system treats the victim as a criminal in a way or that is what it feels instead of helping and caring and being loving towards the victim. To add to the situation I am a 1954 baby so forbidden my state pension till 2020 at this rate not going to be around and I want it recognised that the system is exhausting me.  For those that say why are you not working Marjorie - well I have been applying for work but do not get short listed these days at my age... but get voluntary unpaid work offered of which I got sanctioned on JSA for taking up on voluntary work and not a paid job.. well if no paid work is offered what can I do? In a way it is a shame I cannot get funding for all I do to change a bad system.  When government MPs say WASPI 1950s born women should do apprenticeships and work I counter this by saying nay Consultant posts and possibly consultant advisers to government as we have half a century of work experience... Many of us have fallen on unpredicted hard times... so could do with the state pension we paid in for over our years of work. 

I have to keep turning my pain into campaign to help all women's voices heard!
A society without compassion ceases to be a society for it is compassion that holds it together.
Turning pain into Campaign!

Reform to help women heal and rebuild.... when will we get this right and fair for women? Sign the petition it is still on the go till I get some debate for reform. Petition for Strong & Stable Pathway of Support for Survivors 
This campaign must continue till achieved it goals no matter what happens to me... I have to get a better pathway of support for women!