The Commons Library has produced a Universal Credit reading list covering the new benefit from its development more than a decade ago through to April 2020.
You can find it here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9211/
News
News
Virtual Events for Mental Health Awareness Week – 10th – 14th May
Standard
Please join us for a series of fascinating events to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
We are also launching the WWG’s very own SharePoint site which includes information on:
- Spending the IPSA wellbeing funds
- Group supervision – what is it and how might it help staff?
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Courses run by the House on mental health
- Templates and exercises for you and your team to use to promote wellbeing.
Please email [email protected] in order to receive the links to each meeting.
Monday 10th May
3pm – 4pm –
Ceri Finnegan, Mind
‘Coping in Tough Times’
________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday 11th May
11am – 12pm
Hein Ten Cate, NHS Consultant Clinical Psychologist on Trauma
‘Understanding trauma, types of trauma, supporting others and looking after oneself.’
________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 12th May
3pm – 4pm
MP’s Staff Wellness Working Group
‘Join us to see our new Sharepoint site’
________________________________________________________________________________
Thursday 13th May
3pm – 4pm
Dr Robbie Anderson, Managing Director, Chimp Paradox
‘Optimising the performance of the human mind’
________________________________________________________________________________
Friday 14th May
11am – 12pm
Rachel Edwards, Life and Career Coach
‘Who are you and where are you going?’
________________________________________________________________________________
Take care
Chloe, Steph, Estelle & Tom
Wellness Working Group
Follow the Speaker on Twitter
StandardFollow the new official @CommonsSpeaker Twitter account!
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, launched his new official Speaker Twitter account on Wednesday 21 April 2021.
Follow @CommonsSpeaker to stay up to date with his work as Speaker of the UK House of Commons, both inside and beyond the Chamber.
Wellness Working Group Virtual meeting: Kooth, Mental Health Support for Children and Young People
StandardWellness Working Group Online Event
Kooth.com, Mental Health Support for Children and Young People
Time: 11am – 12pm
Date: Friday 16 April 2021
Dr. Lynne Green, Consultant Psychologist and Chief Clinical Officer and Gareth Evans, Director of Accounts and Engagement for Kooth will cover what Kooth is for children and young people, how to talk to parents about Kooth, how to access their services and discuss some case studies on the work they do with children and young people.
1 in 5 children and young people suffer from mental health illness in any given year. Kooth.com is commissioned by the NHS and Local Authorities to provide anonymous and personalised mental health support for children and young people, providing end to end support whatever the need.
To join this meeting, please email [email protected]
As always, please feel free to share this event with your colleagues and encourage them to join the Group.
6-week Mindfulness Course for MPs’ staff
StandardThe world we live in is fast paced and dynamic – while this can feel exciting it can also become overwhelming, so how do we navigate our lives skilfully? Mindfulness supports resilience and well-being. It is particularly valuable at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, equipping you with tools to relate to challenging situations, and to form helpful daily habits.
The Working Mind mindfulness programme – new to Parliament this year – is designed specifically for the workplace and is suitable for beginners as well as those who have some familiarity with mindfulness.
This 6-week online mindfulness programme will be interactive and experiential. Between classes you will be invited to practice guided meditations using an app, and to explore ‘mindfulness in action’.
Please note that this programme is only open to Members’ Staff of the House of Commons
For further details and to sign up, please go to this ACT page: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?f=1899
New rates for National Living Wage/ National Minimum Wage come into effect April 1
StandardThese rates are for the National Living Wage (for those aged 23 and over) and the National Minimum Wage (for those of at least school leaving age). The rates change on 1 April every year.
| 23 and over | 21 to 22 | 18 to 20 | Under 18 | Apprentice | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2021 | £8.91 | £8.36 | £6.56 | £4.62 | £4.30 |
Apprentices
Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:
- aged under 19
- aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship
Easter Recess Dates
StandardThe House will rise on Thursday 25 March 2021 and will return on Tuesday 13 April 2021.
You can see further information here: https://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/business-faq-page/recess-dates/
IPSA – new staff salary ranges published
StandardIPSA has published the 2021-2022 staff salary ranges on the website here:
Re-launch of the Women’s Parliamentary Cricket Team
StandardTwo years ago today, Meg Williams organised the successful inaugural event which took place at Lord’s Cricket Ground, and later that summer a small team took part in their first soft ball cricket tournament. Needless to say, the last two years have been particularly busy, but with the light at the end of the tunnel in sight, this month will see the re-launch of the team.
With this in mind, the WPCT would be delighted if you are able to attend the first event on Monday 12 April, at 15h00 with Clare Connor, incoming President of the MCC, Managing Director Women’s Cricket, ECB and Former England captain for our virtual Cricket and Coffee event.
The team is for all abilities, whether you are new to the game, a professional or just have a passion for the sport and would like to get involved and learn more – open to MPs, Peers and staff of both.
The aim of this event is recruit members of the Women’s Parliamentary Cricket Team, with the aim of setting up a regular training schedule, ready for some fixtures, as well as social events throughout the year.
To RSVP to the event, or if you would like to get involved with the team please email [email protected].
Workshops from the Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests
StandardThe Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests runs workshops for Members and their staff on the following subjects together with the next available dates. The workshops will be run remotely via MS Teams.
A. Openness and Registering Members’ Financial Interests, covering:
- How to help your Member register and declare interests
- The rules on paid lobbying by MPs
- How and when to register your own interests
Dates:
- Thursday 18 March at 14.00
B. How to Support an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), covering
- Register entries
- APPG Secretariats (volunteers, Members’ staff, outside organisations)
- Members and Officers
- Meetings (including AGMs, inaugurals and other formal meetings)
- Transparency and records, including APPG websites
- Income and expenditure statements
Dates:
- Thursday 18 March at 11.00
Booking required. Please contact [email protected] to book a place.