The reason for the silence

It’s a while since I last blogged. It’s a while since I last blogged. I’m not egotistical enough to imagine that there are people waiting with baited breath for my next post, but I thought I would offer a short explanation for my absence. The first...

Benefit sanctions – overused, harmful and unjustified

David Clapson died with no food in his stomach, three weeks after his Jobseekers Allowance was David Clapson died with no food in his stomach, three weeks after his Jobseekers Allowance was stopped due to a benefit sanction. David, a 59 year old diabetic who had...

Holidays, the uses of travel and the challenge of re-creation

The great holiday get-away weekend has come and gone. Two million holidaymakers thronged the roads and airports. The great holiday get-away weekend has come and gone. Two million holidaymakers thronged the roads and airports. Gridlock was predicted on many major...

A Magna Carta for people with learning disabilities

In 1984 I left home and went to live in a L’Arche community in South London. In 1984 I left home and went to live in a L’Arche community in South London. L’Arche is an international organisation that supports people with learning disabilities to live...