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The Kettle Box : A new symbol of Britain ?  Thoughts from the Trussel Trust

1/29/2014

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Originally posted 28 Jan 2014 by
Julian Dobson @ Huffington Post
You might not have heard of 'kettle boxes' before. They sound innocuous enough; maybe, with the right kind of marketing, even a bit fashionable. Whole meals you can prepare with nothing more than a handy electric kettle.

What might you find in a kettle box? Dried soup. Instant mash. Porridge you make just by adding water. And of course that student staple, Pot Noodles.

No kettle? For you, there are 'cold boxes'. It may be harder to sell these as a culinary fashion item. They're for people who need to prepare food without heating or hot water. In comparison, the kettle boxes are positively upmarket.

This is Britain today. Staff at the Trussell Trust, which coordinates a network offood banks, have come up with the idea of kettle boxes and cold boxes because they're seeing people who cannot afford to heat their food, or simply don't have what's required to do so. Morecambe Bay food bank is giving out a couple of each of these every week to its clients.

When government apologists tell you their welfare reforms are working, they don't tell you about the people surviving on kettle boxes. They know most people won't ask.

The other day a friend told me about people he sees on a Sheffield estate who go into a takeaway twice a day for cheap, fatty food. 'No wonder they're obese,' he said. "They're just bone idle.'"

Another friend was shocked to hear that around 30,000 people in Sheffield are undernourished. 'Don't these people get benefits?' she asked.

Of course some people are bone idle, and not all of them are in the House of Lords. But studies of people who are long term unemployed suggest that most people on out-of-work are desperate to work and have a work ethic at least as strong as those in employment
The people who go to takeaways twice a day may find it cheaper to buy hot snacks than to pay gas and electricity bills. They may be seriously depressed and struggle to find the energy to cook the same basic ingredients week after week. It's much easier, though, if we can assume they're idle and blame them for their predicament.

There are people who struggle with budgeting and who mismanage their income, or who seek oblivion in drink and drugs. It's more obvious when they have little than when they are hidden behind suburban curtains. But the reality is that many more are having to cope with the consequences of decisions taken by others, in particular the unforgivable delays in paying out of work benefits, which leave families relying on friends and charity (see this report on Sheffield food banks, or Church Action on Poverty's Walking the Breadline). This is likely to get even worse as the government targets welfare recipients for the worst of its next tranche of cuts.

This doesn't give people incentives to improve their lives. It's the institutionalised kicking of people when they're down, and my friends' comments show just how successful our political and media culture has been in perpetuating the lie that if your life is in a mess, it's almost certainly your own fault.

What the purveyors of blame fail to recognise is how utterly counterproductive this punitive mentality is. Depriving people of the little they get doesn't make them more able to cope: it only makes them more desperate. They may vanish from the unemployment figures and the claimant count, but they're still with us.

This is why we need to rethink welfare in a way that treats people as adults who can and should make their own choices about their lives. To do that we need to guarantee everyone the basics of life and to centre our policies on human needs, as I argued in this report last year.

Instead of taking away the little people have, a far more positive approach would be to guarantee them a sufficient minimum income to cover all the basics of life. We can then dismantle much of the costly and vindictive apparatus of Jobcentre Plus and the Department of Work and Pensions and redirect those funds to provide real help to those who don't have the skills to manage or who are in crisis.

A basic minimum income isn't a utopian dream. As Frances Coppola has argued, it's an alternative that needs to be considered seriously; and as Matt Leach posted the other week, it's an approach that could take housing in particular out of the ideological battleground and enable landlords to think more creatively about their role in improving their tenants' lives and life chances.

A minimum income could free people to do work that is life-enhancing and builds community, rather than the drudgery of the despairing. It could defuse the culture of blame and finger-pointing that has contaminated political debate and strangled serious thinking about how to built a better society.

What Britain lacks is the political imagination to shift the terms of debate. Until more of us discover and articulate that imagination, we'll be stuck with the worst of solutions: kettle boxes, cold food parcels, and an uncomprehending culture of blame that changes nothing
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Boro taxis refuses to pick up disabled people .  Or is that the whole truth ?

1/12/2014

6 Comments

 
INCIDENTS ON TEESIDE lies
So once again half truths are abounding on social media about this new story that is doing the rounds .
Boro cabs refuses to pick up disabled fares .
WELL, is that the actual truth ?
Yes and no .
Its true that they wont pick up disabled people in minibuses (NOT normal taxis) but its to do with the fact Boro cabs are forced to charge the price of a normal taxi-car when they are made to send a mini-bus which costs more .  Simple economics . 
"
Mohammed Bashir, of Boro Taxis, said the decision had been taken on economic grounds....Mr Bashir said his company cannot afford to send an eight-seater minibus to pick up customers if it can only charge them the same price as it would an able-bodied person using a four-seater car.".
READ more BLOG  about Stockton on Tees Social Media misrepresentations HERE

READ the official  BBC TEES interview HERE

Mr Bashir told BBC Tees the decision was "morally totally wrong" but added it was "uneconomic" to continue carrying disabled passengers in minibuses. The main culprit that is being economic with the truth is the same old same old tired FB page Incidents on Teesside and its sprawling mass of little "affiliated" FB pages . They`ve disparaged  Boro cabs before with unsubstantiated allegations about sexual misconduct and when confronted by the general public with the fact NO police action was being taken they removed the post without even an apology .

Once again BEFORE you believe something that is posted or written on FB and social media by illiterate , biased or just plain stupid people please take five minutes to think and wonder if they have an agenda or an axe to grind .  Perhaps they are just wannabe journos that are gaining attention and easy website traffic by posting these misleading posts .
As of 13 Jan 2014 Boro cabs have changed their mind about their policy .

Read it here at the Gazette Online

Disclaimer :

StocktonTeesside.co.uk
has NO connections with
Boro Taxis whatsoever .
We use SkyLine taxis
01642 676737 / 900900

Author : Stu Walker
6 Comments

Ashley Banjos and Diversitys `Big Town Dance` is upon us . Sky 1 TV , 8 Jan 2014

1/2/2014

1 Comment

 
So after all the excitement and hype that was around the town through out the summer of 2013 , the SKY TV show is now here in January ready to air !
Ashley Banjos Big Town Dance will be aired on Wednesday 8th January 2014 at 8pm .
From recent  TV appearances that Ashley has done I get the impression that the town will be portrayed in a good light despite the hard times Stockton , Teesside and the North East in general has gone through .  I hope so as Stockton deserves some good publicity .
Lets hope that Sky and the production company Shine TV dont let Stockton on Tees down . !
Ashley Banjos `Big Town Dance ` and Diversity Links and information     Click to follow !
Meet Stockton's Dancers : Watch the VIDEO . Catch up with the locals getting their groove on as they prepare to dance with Diversity.

Ashley: "I Want To Inspire People"  Watch Ashley in this video reveal all about his masterplan to get Stockton on Tees dancing again.

Author : Stu Walker

Copyright 2013 | About | Contact | Privacy | Advertise | Site Map
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Teesside Incidents Facebook page to close due to constant abuse by "Another " Teesside Facebook News page

12/30/2013

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....And so due to the constant and repetitive childish actions of a Teesside "news" Incident page the newer and more adult minded and professional Teesside Incidents (TI) has decided to close and move its efforts to its main news page .
The admin of TI has told me of how they have had fake accounts , messages , even going as far as to stalking to intimidate  said admin and staff to bad mouth /slander and force closure of what is seen as a rival page . 

How petty.
TI Admin quoted  "We attempted to speak to person in question to prevent it from escalating to which we were informed 'do you want a blue peter badge' 'grow up don't waste our time' among many other things, there admin team have been constantly sending us abuse for 12 - 6 months from the ownership of our main page, which has become worse and constant since the opening of this page, which does not even cover the same content or anything similar."
Read More Blog: Facebook page removes or prevents commenting

Many Stocktonians who have been members of the other Teesside "news" Incident page have been banned , blocked from commenting (myself included) just for having differing opinions or not agreeing with the staff .   They protest to being a professional outfit but behave as would a petulant teenager .

"The page has also been responsible for banning murder victims family’s from pages for publishing photos of dead relatives blood, the cars they were killed within and everyone else who disagrees with their page " it has been alleged.
If you are on this other Teesside "news" Incident page I urge you to unlike it . 


AND YOU ALL KNOW WHICH PAGE WE ARE ON ABOUT !!!!!

OFFICIAL POST by Breaking News North [view]
OFFICIAL POST by Breaking News North [view]
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Thank You Breaking News North and Teesside Incidents for the testimonial

12/3/2013

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Picture
Out of the blue there was a testimonial from the ever expanding Breaking News North and Teesside Incidents. 
We here at About Stockton | StocktonTeesside.co.uk appreciate this and continue daily to update our website with news , features,blogs and `humorous bits and bobs` .  With all the staff having normal jobs an families this can be a bit of an effort but we try so recognition is always welcomed .
We think BNNorth and Teesside Incidents are doing an amazing job and they've done it quickly and professionally . They've gone quickly from a small FB page to an array of professional websites with links to official Police organisations and many other media outlets . 
We wish them good luck in the future though I have no doubt it wont be needed as they will be a raging success .

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Mike McGrothers open letter to the Daily Mail . Regarding Stockton on Tees High Street "Britains worst christmas tree "

12/3/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
With the Dail Mails one sided piece of pseudo journalism doing the rounds at the moment one of Stocktons Voices has decided to use via the way of his website / blog write an open letter to try to refute their article .  Here it is reproduced .
On the other hand , playing devils advocate , they only reported AFTER people from Stockton on Tees using that same old dreary tool of Facebook vilified the tree.
This is a trend about Stocktonians on Facebook continually battering the town during its regeneration with childish comments .  I wonder what they would say if a time machine hit Stockton and sent it back in time 5 years ?  Watch them whinge then !

It was originally posted on MikeMcgrother.com on 2 December 2013 by Mike

Sponsored links
Dear trainee journalist,

I have read your article about the tree in Stockton High Street with interest and bewilderment at what now passes as news in your, lets face it, dying industry. I have never held your newspaper in particularly high regard because, well quite frankly your writers make things up and rarely report anything that makes the world a better, more cohesive place. On this occasion, you have declared yourselves experts in the field of Christmas trees. I’m not entirely sure how you are able to position yourself in this way, but there again – you are generally excellent at playing judge, executioner and champion of negative news reporting – so why should we be surprised. I’m just sorry you failed to see ANYTHING else while you were in town!


More Blog : MP Alex Cunningham calls for
superfast broadband
Personally I am not a big fan of  this Christmas structure either, I LIKE real trees – so I am delighted to walk to the Christmas Market – around 400 meters from where you took your photograph and see the dozens of trees, festive cabins full of local independent traders, illuminated churchyard oh, and just along from there, another massive tree overlooking our illuminated riverside. Could it be that your photographer and reporter are only able to look at things from one angle? SURELY NOT! For your information, the works going on around the end of the high street where you kindly visited and decided to focus on meant that the positioning of a tree or lighting a pointless and cost-ineffective waste. Your regular readership would love such strategic ‘efficiency’ surely. I believe the structure you call a tree is part of a much bigger lighting scheme for next year. Sadly that, I presume is the year you will be concentrating on slating someone else’s efforts within our recession torn country.

So, next time you come to my town Daily Mail… I would personally like to meet you. I would like to tell you of our heritage; of our regeneration and of our vision. I would love you to meet some of the 2000 participants of last week’s community event; or the massive numbers of small, specialist shops who are bucking the trend and successfully setting up shop in the high street; I could take you for a coffee in one of a number of cafes and tea rooms; perhaps you could enjoy a gig, a comedy night, or theatre show in our thriving arts centre. We could pop to the world class watersports centre or visit Durham University Queens Campus And then, once you have visited, I will wait – and enjoy your complete lack of coverage and silent ignorance of a community that is real, dynamic and regenerating.

I look forward to meeting you.

Best Wishes

A Man You Don’t Meet Everyday
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Stockton Sparkles and the Christmas Lights switch on .  Stockton on Tees High Street

11/28/2013

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The launch of Stockton Sparkles this year won’t be your usual Christmas lights switch on. Hosted by BBC Tees’ Ali Brownlee, this festive evening will feature a choir of over 1,500 children, a brass band, and Joe Hamill, lead singer from Cattle & Cane, who will bring the Christmas spirit to life with an enchanting and memorable community performance.

The event will also include a small children’s fairground, late night shopping, the annual Sparkles Christmas market and of course Santa.

Come and enjoy this magical evening and see Stockton Sparkle!

The Stockton Sparkles Launch Event (Christmas lights switch-on) will involve a closure of much of Stockton High Street between
1550 and 1900 on Thursday 28 November 2013. Most bus services will be diverted within Stockton Town Centre (including Bridge Road) and use alternative stops as detailed below (Stagecoach services will not enter the High Street at all):
Stockton Sparkles 12 day Christmas Market opens Thursday 28th November in Stockton Parish Gardens. More than 30 cabins with lots of festive goods! 10am-4pm.

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MP Alex Cunningham calls for superfast broadband in Hardwick

11/16/2013

5 Comments

 
Picture
Originally posted by Alex Cunningham MP website Nov 15 2013
Frustrated that no-one will take the necessary action to install superfast broadband for his constituents in the centre of a major new housing development, Alex Cunningham, Labour Member of Parliament for Stockton North, decided on direct action in the hope of shaming the developer and service provider into action.

Homes in Brunel Walk in Hardwick developed by Keepmoat do not currently have access to superfast broadband internet, as the necessary cables were not laid as part of the construction process.  To the frustration of residents in Brunel Walk, however, superfast broadband is available to houses in each of the surrounding streets in the area, and the cables connecting neighbouring houses lie just feet from their homes.


After months of being shifted from developer to service provider, from service provider to local council and back around, Alex was told they needed to measure the distance involved to determine the cost.  Nothing has happened so Alex joined resident, Chris Andrew, and measured the distance themselves.
They found that around 100 metres of cable is needed and the nearest property is just one metre from a service point.

Alex said:  “This is a very frustrating situation for residents in Brunel Walk who, through no fault of their own, are unable to access a service which is increasingly vital for everyday living in the modern world.  I would like to see Keepmoat, Virgin Media and Stockton Council get together to rectify this bizarre situation – especially as cable boxes are located so close by.”

Keepmoat Homes, who are currently responsible for Brunel Walk, have insisted that Virgin Media should bear the costs for fully relaying the footpaths which would have to be dug up in order for Virgin’s cables to be laid.  This is intended to satisfy an agreement with Stockton Borough Council, under Section 38 of the 1980 Highways Act, that the Council will not adopt land from a private developer until work is completed to a necessary standard, which includes the reinstatement of whole footpaths, as opposed to the refilling of trenches only.  However, Virgin Media have declined to commit to full reinstatement of footpaths on cost grounds, leaving residents of Brunel Walk without access to broadband.

Resident Chris Andrew, who lives in Brunel Walk with his wife and young son, said:   “It is ridiculous that we cannot access superfast broadband internet services in a newly built estate like this.  The irony is that we still receive general mail outs from Virgin Media boasting that Virgin broadband is in our area.”

Read More Blog :    
Incidents on Teesside | Facebook page removes or prevents commenting
5 Comments

The new Blackberry BBM app for IPhone and Android

11/2/2013

0 Comments

 
bbm app for iphone and android htc samsung
Iphones and Android:
As I sat there last night messing with the phone I decided to install BBM (Blackberry Messenger app) on my iphone . The setup was very easy so the wife installed it for her HTC (android) Once again , very easy . She used her old BBM account which imported her old BBM contacts . I just used a new, fresh account . It was FREE for both of us .
My question is : why is it free for iphone and Android users when people that OWN a Blackberry are still paying per month for the right to use BBM ????? That doesnt make sense .
Drop your Blackberry and get an android phone . Now BBM is available for other users the main selling point of having a Blackberry is gone . Blackberry was recently sold to an investment firm , axed 4500 jobs . It wont last another year and will go the way of Nokia.
Dump it !
Free Blackberry Unlock codes . Unlocking your Blackberry
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Incidents on Teesside | Facebook page removes or prevents commenting

11/2/2013

3 Comments

 
Originally posted by StocktonTeesside on Facebook 02Nov13

So yesterday a certain media group with 75000+ FB likes posted something about supporting our firemen whilst they was striking at probably one of their busiest times of the year (firework season) . Well, as an ex-member of the armed forces for and having gone through the last firemans strike I DO NOT support the firemen . Try harder at negotiation I say .
Anyways, I just responded with "NO , I wont support them" on this media page (using my personal account) and lo and behold , my right to comment has now been removed . This tends to happen across all their pages. Its a very childish action by people that that cannot take criticism or an opposing view. Its very dictatorial in style and amateurish ( then again , they are amateurs ) .

Read More Blog on this subject :
Teesside Incidents Facebook page to close due to constant abuse by "Another " Teesside Facebook News page


You May Say I am A Dreamer....by Mike McGrother


Big plans for Stockton Council land and buildings
One of their pages Stockton Central News recently stated that any negative comments about Stockton on Tees High Street would be removed and the commentor banned .  Within a couple of weeks on of the same pages admins publicly slated a new cafe in town based on anything or nothing , who knows .  The post has since been removed yet follow up comments still wouldnt apologize (they are never wrong ) 
Hypocrisy people !!
All I can say is support Teesside Incidents.co.uk and associated pages who come across with a much more professional and adult attitude .
teesside incidents stockton
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