New Deal and Flexible New Deal Exposed

I suggest you contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for advice.

Jason: They have an appeals procdeure. But I doubt the decision will be overturned unless you can come up with a very good reason why you failed to fill-in the job search sheet for one week?
By not filling it in, even for 1 week, you have failed to …

More snippets from the official website…

#880 Business & Finance Special

Entrepreneur, Dragon’s Den star and newly appointed Big Issue Chairman – James Caan talks to us about taking philanthropy to the next level. Also in this issue… Our top tips on staying debt free in 2010… Ethical investments – the businesses securing social and financial returns in their communities. PLUS 50% OFF ALL FOOD AT SLUG & LETTUCE FOR EVERY READER.

(back copies issue #880 – seems profit enterpreneur James Caan (not his original name) wants a cut)

Who is gaining? Is Big Issue helping the homeless?

£4

(cost of backcopies purchased direct from Big Issue – no homeless vendor profits from this or gets any cut – the £1.70 magazine is sold for £4 all payable to the Company and not the Foundation)

*and*

Become a Supporting Subscriber

By becoming a Supporting Subscriber to The Big Issue magazine your organisation can demonstrate a commitment towards social responsibility, align itself with the most talked-about social business in the country and help us offer a lifeline to homeless and vulnerably housed individuals.

There are 3 simple options available to your organisation:
For £250 a year (£200 for non-profit/ educational organisations) you can receive a copy of The Big Issue delivered to your door, each and every week.
For £500 a year (£400 for non-profit/educational organisations) your organisation can be seen as a supporter by having your logo printed in the magazine. In addition, you will receive 3 issues every week, plus a 15% discount on any recruitment advertising within the well-established recruitment section of the magazine.
For £1000 (£900 for non-profit/educational organisations) your organisation can have its logo in the magazine and 5 copies a week, as well as the 15% recruitment-advertising discount. In addition, you will be invited to visit The Big Issue offices and to various events throughout the year.

Supporting Subscribers are of vital importance to us; they help us to continue our invaluable work – could your company help a homeless person to help themselves?

(this is now actually bordering on fraud – the subscriptions (similar concept to the back copies… the vendors dont see any of this money) are promoted as helping a homeless person… I question this because: a) it is only the Foundation which helps homeless people, not the Company, and b) where the Company might seem to be helping the homeless by letting them get 85p for each magazine they sell… this is obviously not the case if purchased direct and delivered!)

There is absolutely no mention of any percentage of the Big Issue Company revenue (such as subscriptions and back copies) being donated to the Foundation – or any promise where x percent of profits are donated to the Foundation.

Personally seems like a lot of rules especially when the Big Issue doesn’t even become your employer.

Big Issue (SW) Code of Conduct:

The following may lead to the suspension of a vendors badge – possibly indefinitely

1. Obstructing the general public – this includes sitting on the pavement, being a part of a gathering on your pitch, or having a dog that is not under control.

2. Using threatening or aggressive behaviour or offensive language, (including racist, sexist or homophobic comments) at any time whilst acting as a Big Issue vendor.

3. Using threatening or aggressive behaviour towards Big Issue staff or volunteers.

4. Being or appearing to be under the influence of drink or drugs whilst selling or buying The Big Issue magazine.

5. Dealing or consuming drugs on Big Issue property or registered pitches. ‘Dealing’ includes giving advice, directions or in any way helping someone else obtain drugs. Details of vendors suspected of dealing drugs will be passed onto the police.

6. Committing any other crime while wearing the Big Issue badge or in any way behaving in a manner likely to bring The Big Issue into disrepute.

7. Selling old editions of the magazine, not offering change or not handing over the magazine, or not wearing a Big Issue vendors badge while selling the magazine.

8. Begging or busking whilst wearing your Big Issue badge or while holding a Big Issue magazine. You must not sell in any way associated with begging, such as sitting, lying down, or using a bowl for money.

9. Knowingly selling magazines to de-badged or suspended vendors, or vendors who have been refused magazines from the office.

10. Arguing or fighting over pitches with other vendors or those who make a living on the streets.

11. Not adhering to your Big Issue office’s pitch systems at all times.

12. Not adhering to local bye-laws.

13. Not co-operating with staff if they feel selling the magazine is making your situation worse and increasing the problems you have.

14. If we feel you might be especially vulnerable, or if you may be a threat to yourself, other vendors or the public.

(no mention of being revoked once you have secured housing)

The link below is to a series of audio recordings made by a jobseeker during a Jobcentre meeting with a New Deal Advisor. He refused to go on the New Deal. Please listen to them!

http://www.lifeinthemixtalk.com/?cat=6103

Jobcentreplus New Deal Interview Part I,Part II,Part III

John Bird has a nerve suggesting the unemployed should do community work in return for their benefit. That work is already being undertaken by criminals sentenced to Community Payback. In any case, he should put is own house in order (SEE BELOW).

The Big Issue has been the centre of much controversy among publishers of street newspapers, mainly because of its business model. Publishers of some other street newspapers, especially in the United States, have criticised it for being overly “commercial” and having a flashy design; according to these critics, street newspapers ought to focus on covering political and social issues that affect the homeless, rather than on emulating mainstream newspapers to generate a profit. Publishers of some smaller papers, such as Making Change in Santa Monica, California, said they felt threatened when The Big Issue began to publish in their area. Other papers have also criticised The Big Issue for its professional production and limited participation by homeless individuals in writing and producing the newspaper. Others, however, have stated that The Big Issue uses a successful business model to generate a profit to benefit the homeless, and its founder John Bird has said that it is “possible to be both profitable and ethically correct. SOURCE WIKIPEDIA.

This is an important expose of something that’s annoyed a lot of people for a long time.

Congrats!

Thats terrible – A shame you didnt keep a copy.