GMB Magazine GMB24 The Pulse Spring 2016 | Page 29

Visit GMB online at www.gmb.org.uk BANK ON IT Batley Food Bank can count on GMB members for support. & Politics CURRY GMB members give Batley Food Bank their full support G MB hosted a special social evening at the Aakash Restaurant in Cleckheaton in aid of Batley Food Bank. The Politics & Curry Night raised awareness and support for food banks and highlighted the reason why demand for food banks has gone up by 1,000 per cent under the Tories. Scandalous as it may be that people need food banks, GMB recognises the lifeline that they offer to families who find themselves in dire straits and struggling to feed their kids. At the event, food donations were taken and GMB members certainly stepped up to the plate when they delivered a mountain of food for the bank. Keynote speakers included Sandra Major, GMB member and co-founder of Batley Food Bank; Tim Roache, our General Secretary; David Sheard, leader of Kirklees Council; and Jawad Khan, GMB Young Member. It was a fantastic evening, with inspirational speeches, a great curry – and over £400 was raised for the food bank. FOSTER CARERS GMB – THE UNION FOR Foster carers need a trade union more than most people because of the nature of their work. They open up their homes to care for vulnerable children – but don’t have access to the same basic employment rights and protections that a lot of us take for granted. For several years, GMB has been representing foster carers in Leeds and recently we have expanded out into other parts of the Region. Our foster carer members can get independent legal advice and representation at investigations, reviews and panel hearings; criminal representation in the event of an allegation; and access to a wide range of fully funded learning and educational opportunities. If you know a foster carer who would benefit from the protection and service that GMB can offer them, please ask them to contact: Rachel Harrison, GMB organiser for foster carers, on [email protected] or 0345 337 7777. Thanks go to all the GMB members who supported this event and to Brighouse General branch, BASF branch, Robert McBride branch, Batley Bulldogs, Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers, Jo Cox MP, Aakash Restaurant and Tesco for their support. In the photo you can see, left to right: Darran Travis, Cath Pinder, Jawad Khan, Tim Roache, Vince Piper, Sandra Major, Andy Irving and Ken Lowe with just some of the food collected. CE FREE BENEFITS ADVI Do you need welfare benefits advice? Have you recently finished work? Or have you had your benefits reduced or stopped altogether? If so, you can get help as a GMB member. There are a number of ways GMB members can access advice and assistance in relation to welfare benefits. Firstly, you can call UNIONLINE. It’s GMB’s own law firm and it will provide you with advice on a range of welfare benefits and entitlements. Simply call 0300 333 0303 and someone will be ready to help you. GMB can also provide assistance and, in some cases, representation on appeals if your entitlement to any of the following benefits changes: • Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) • Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment (DLA/PIP) • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) If you need advice, contact Lesley O’Mara on 0345 337 7777 or email lesley.o’[email protected] www.gmb.org.uk 29 INS24.yor_28_29.CW7.indd 29 17/02/2016 11:24