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