Sheffield Centre For Independent Living

Since our previous news item on the Fairness Commission we have received more information about the call for evidence. The Fairness Commission is being established by Sheffield City Council to make a non-partisan strategic assessment of the nature, extent, causes and impact of inequalities in the City and to make recommendations for tackling them. Please find attached a letter from Professor Alan Walker inviting submissions to the Sheffield Fairness Commission and a Call for Evidence document. The deadline for submissions is 4^th April and we would encourage you to take part and submit evidence.

Fairness Commission

Carers Week is a partnership of eight national charities, including the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Age UK, who come together to fund and organise the largest national awareness week in the UK. Carers Week 2012 takes places from 18^th to 24^th June and the theme is ‘In Sickness and in Health’ .Carers Week is hoping that as many carers as possible will complete their survey, the results of which will inform the partners’ campaigning work. The survey asks:•How does caring impact on your health and wellbeing?•How much have the cuts to local services impacted on your health and wellbeing?•What could really make a difference to your life as a carer?

Carers Week Survey

Many disabled people and others on low incomes who can’t afford lawyers are supported by legal aid advisers. Last year, thousands of disabled people were helped by legal aid advisers to overturn inaccurate benefits decisions that had left them struggling without the means to live. Changes to Legal Aid are currently being debated in Parliament and the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, is expected to go to report stage in the Lords in early March. This is the last chance for the Lords to give close scrutiny to the Bill and suggest any changes to it. It’s also the  last chance to ensure the Lords back calls to keep support for welfare benefit cases at the heart of Legal Aid. So far over 2,000 people have shown their support online. You can take your seat in SCOPE’s virtual House of Lords to protect Legal Aid . For more information and to show you support go to Lords Help Us

The government is consulting on the future of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. If you would like to know more about and wish to respond to the consultation “Fairer Britain: Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission please follow this link to the Equality and Human Rights Commission website