As BBC Radio 4 puts it, ‘The House of Commons library is an indispensable part of life at Westminter conducting research for MPs and providing impartial briefs on everything from the environment and schools to Brexit’. They have given enormous support to w4mp over the years – and this lovely piece by reporter John Beesley is an excellent tribute as they celebrate 200 years.
Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.
https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/
The Independent Complaints and Grievance Policy (ICGP) Programme was established to help ensure that Westminster, constituency offices and related locations are safe environments in which everyone can feel valued and respected.
Following the 19 July Commons vote on the proposals outlined in the ICGP delivery report, two new independent helpline services are now live. These services offer support and advice those who have experienced bullying and harassment and sexual harassment whilst on the Parliamentary Estate, in constituency offices or whilst undertaking parliamentary work.
These services are available to MPs and MPs’ staff and interns, as well as staff employed by or working for the House of Commons, Parliamentary Digital Service, and other paid or unpaid staff, including those employed by external organisations who hold a parliamentary pass.
For full details see https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/harassment-involving-mps-and-staff/ or the Parliamentary Intranet pages.
IPSA is reminding people that, for Members of Parliament, or MPs’ staff, who are members of a trade union, membership fees can usually be paid by salary deductions.
For those who would like to set up a salary deduction for union fees, please contact IPSA’s payroll team either by email payroll@theipsa.org.uk or by calling 020 7811 6400 and pressing option 2.
Not in a Trade Union? Why not have a look here: https://w4mp.org/library/researchguides/your-employment-status/staff-rights-and-representation/tgwuunite-parliamentary-branch/
Parliament is a serious place, and the Palace of Westminster and constituency offices are filled with hard-working, dedicated professionals engaged in the important business of running the country. Yet even the most committed need time for rest and recuperation, space to kick back and unwind, and opportunities to take a sideways look at their workplace, employers and even their political masters.
For many years we’ve published a range of material for staff who are looking for something less serious and rather more entertaining than the average guide to best practice.
Now they have their own home, along with an archive of our much-loved Hoby cartoons – over at http://alt.w4mp.org/
We hope you enjoy these guides as much as we do.
Just a note (via Politico’s Westminster Playbook) that you should get out the iron today if you work in Westminster — parliamentary photographer Mark Duffy will be capturing today’s happenings to update the official library images of Commons proceedings.
Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.
https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/
Details of the Portcullis House Hub are on Parlinet.
A new Customer Services Hub will open in the Members’ Centre in Portcullis House at 09:00 on Tuesday 4 September 2018.
It will include the Procedural Hub, the Library, the Parliamentary Digital Service, a General House Services enquiry and help desk, as well as charging lockers.
As the Derby Gate Library will be closing at 5pm on Monday 3 September to allow works to take place, some Library services will be made available in the Customer Services Hub.
Please see the intranet
DeHavilland, the UK political monitoring service, is seeking freelance writers to attend the Labour, Conservative and SNP conferences this autumn.
They want people to work alongside DeHavilland’s Content team to provide clear and concise written reports of fringe events – typically two to three events per day, subject to scheduling and demand, and will pay £50 per event covered.
You will need:
Ideally, you will already be planning to attend the relevant conference(s), and will have a pass arranged, although fringe events situated outside the ‘secure zone’ will not require this. However, a pass is essential for SNP Conference.
If you’re interested, send a brief CV outlining relevant experience (max 1 page) and a short covering letter (max 1 page), to: mike.indian@dehavilland.co.uk. Please indicate which conference(s) you would like to be considered for in the subject of your email (for example, ‘Party Conference Reporter – Labour Conference’).
You need to tell them whether you have applied for a pass for the relevant conference(s).
Please note: you will need to make all of your own travel, accommodation and conference pass arrangements. DeHavilland is unable to meet the cost of these.
Photograph courtesty of #WOCinTech Chat
The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust has begun to enrol for its free journalism traineeship – SLIK (Stephen Lawrence Installs Knowledge).
SLIK will be starting on the 17th September. They have partnered with London South East Colleges to fund this 12 week traineeship.
The students completing the programme will receive a traineeship qualification on completion of the course. Because of this qualification the students must be 16 – 24 years old and without a level 3 qualification (A level / BTEC equivalent).
This traineeship will improve the chances of a career in journalism through: Offering workshops and training from industry experts and professionals on specific aspects of journalism such as: creative writing, graphic design, investigative journalism and how to use social media effectively.
The workshops will be practical on-the-job training and will improve key employability skills such as: communication, confidence, literacy and producing quality content for our online SLIK.BLOG.
Half of the week will be spent in college completing English and Maths GCSE (if needed). The rest of the week will be spent at our newly reinvented Stephen Lawrence Centre.
For further information or to apply, please email heidi@stephenlawrence.org.uk
Leonard Cheshire Disability supports individuals to live, learn and work as independently as they choose, whatever their ability.
They are looking for 8 – 10 people who are either disabled, or have experience living with disability, to form a new Campaign Steering Group.
The Campaign Steering group will advise their Campaigns Team and ensure all campaigns are rooted in the real experiences of disabled people.
If you are interested in applying for this role please email campaigning@leonardcheshire.org for further details and an application form. They are happy to accommodate access requirements to enable your application and participation.
The full role description can be found on their website at: https://careers.leonardcheshire.org/jobs/vacancy/campaign-steering-group-advisor–02339-head-office—london/2359/description/
Interviews will be held on weeks commencing 6 August and 13 August.
The first meeting of the Campaign Steering Group will be held on 11 September.
