Disability activists fight back and win

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2011/04/20/birmingham-city-council-social-care-cuts-ruled-unlawful-by-high-court-65233-28557053/?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4db29afca56ca2c1%2C0

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2011/04/21/116716/judge-overturns-council-plan-to-raise-eligibility-to-critical.htm

Clearly this is great news and of significance for those who, like SWAN, are resisting cuts to social care services and welfare.

In this spirit, SWAN has been building links with disability activists. Bob Williams-Findlay from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), spoke at the recent SWAN national conference entitled ‘Building Alliances, Defending Services’. West Midlands SWAN has been invited to co-sponsor a meeting with DPAC and Right to Work in Birmingham during the week of action against Atos Origin and welfare cuts in May.

Atos Origin are the private sector organisation who have recently won a £300 million contract by the Coalition Government to carry out ‘work capability assessments’ on all of those claiming Incapacity Benefit; their job is to remove welfare from as many people as possible. The week of action starts on Monday 9th May with a picnic and party in Triton Square (near Warren Street tube), home of Atos’ head office, at 2pm. Please find further details of the plans for the week below:

http://www.dpac.uk.net/2011/04/national-week-of-action-against-atos-origin-monday-may-9-may-15/

SWAN encourages all service users, social workers, educators and students to join in with this week of action.

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We want to develop a network of service users, practicitioners, academics and students to support radical and progressive social work. We need a social work that is ready to challenge oppressive practice, that means working collectively across the country and internationally to advance Social Work.