Sir - I am writing as one of the 78 extra people who have signed on to job seekers allowance in the last month.
I am fresh out of university with a first degree in youth and community development. I was made redundant from my job with a small local social enterprise – the impact of recession meant that it would be better for the company to stop now rather than go bankrupt.
My experience of going on to benefits has been unnecessarily stressful as I have found myself stuck in the middle of bad communication between the main Watford office and Bedford, which means since early July I have received nothing despite been entitled and doing everything required of me.
I would much rather work, which is why I have accepted a part-time position which will leave me financially strapped, but at least fulfilled. My only other option was to relocate.
The thing that I will not forget from this experience though is that every time I visit the job centre it is filled with young people. At any one time I would bet money on there being a significantly higher proportion of young people sitting, waiting.
It’s a huge concern and I am worried that as more experienced workers are made redundant and come back on the job market, this will make it even harder for people fresh out of education to be successful in finding jobs.
Bedford needs to think seriously about how we can ensure young people are able to have a fair go at entering into meaningful and long-term employment.
Young people are known for being consumers, big spenders - who are key to a thriving town centre.
Youth unemployment leaves psychological scars but it will also scar the local economy and local business.
Could you make it up?
I’m glad I don’t live there but I dare say there are similar stunts taking place at the Town Hall in Bedford.
I can’t imagine the staff at Central HQ being enamoured by the presence of this expert who’s come to save the day.
One thing that has dawned on me of late is how many of those wellpaid consultants and senior officers at Bedford and Central Bedfordshire don’t actually live in Bedfordshire so all that lovely lolly simply pours out of the local economy particularly in the Borough Council Environment Team where an increasing number of staff traipse in from Peterborough and Northamptonshire to help us breathe easy.
Steve Watson Chapel Lane, Willington Facing facts of life Sir - I refer to the story in Bedfordshire on Sunday last week ‘Missing gnashers can cost you a new job’. There has always been a saying in the world of work ‘If the face fits… ’ At a time when applicants outnumber jobs by a wide margin, this applies more than ever.
I have seen job advertisements where the company or agency recruit a portrait photo along with the CV and application form.
This means that regardless of ability (or in spite of it) an applicant falls before reaching the first hurdle because the face does not fit, nor the name or background.
No wonder it’s tough out there.
And I have read in the local press how much this scheme will cost and the word ‘profit’ was mentioned once this scheme is up and running.
So I assume that the Mayor and the council have analysed factual evidence to come up with these figures.
I believe that empowering and supporting these community organisations is vital to shaping our society, as does the national Government.
Over the past year I am pleased to have provided financial assistance to a variety of projects for all ages through the use of my Ward Fund ranging from purchasing the Bedford Boys’ Brigade’s new sports equipment and the Not Forgotten Association’s trip for its members to refurbishing the Goldington Reading and Recreation Rooms giving groups the all important place to meet.
So far I have been able to commit funding to 21 different projects in Newnham and although I am not allowed to pay for repairs to pavements and roads, I hope to assist many other groups in Newnham over this municipal year.
Groups in other wards should contact their local councillor for assistance and I continue to encourage any group in need of financial assistance in Newnham Ward to contact me.
The BMI equation is mass in kg divided by height in metres squared. This causes problems in calculating the ‘correct’ weight for growing children as it should use height cubed not height squared.
This would result in a well-nourished child who is tall for their age having a higher BMI than average - height children of the same age.
I suspect that the WHO is more concerned with malnourished (and usually shorter) third-world children than well-nourished (and hence taller) western children.
The same principle applies to adult BMI measurements.
Due to better nutrition over the decades each subsequent generation is taller than previous generations and therefore unjustly accused of being overweight (of course, some are justly accused).
The BMI equation needs to be corrected.
BMI is calculated as follows on World Health Organisation methods.
Nathan’s height is 1.18 metres.
This is squared to give 1.30. The weight is calculated in kilograms and Nathan’s is 21.36kg.
BMI is worked out by dividing the weight by the squared height.
Nathan’s BMI is 15.3. I estimate that on this basis if Nathan’s BMI was 97 he’d weigh around 21 stone! He doesn’t look like it.
The NHS Bedfordshire is a public body and we have a right to expect correct answers and full explanations when these are disputed.
As for mobile speed cameras, where and when were they last in Brickhill? I’ve lived here for years and never seen one.
Also, if the Rev Charles Royden is serious about protecting kids from inconsiderate drivers outside our schools then he should invest in some tins of paint and make sue the road markings are visible.
Therefore, I was disappointed to read your article on the Britannia Wharf development which gave the impression the council was being unhelpful about this.
This is certainly not the case. The council is having regular contact with the developer and is working with him to assist the delivery of the scheme.
There are details that need to be agreed between the developer and the Environment Agency and we are proactively involved with both parties to try to help and facilitate agreement to enable the bridge to be constructed.
I would also like to clarify that providing the bridge is a separate issue, and not linked, to the next planned phase E of the Britannia Wharf development as the bridge’s delivery has already been secured by agreement between the developer and the council.
After just a few moments I was in an ambulance, on a cardiac monitor, and on my way to South Wing, where I was admitted to the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU).
During Saturday night I was constantly attended by nurses and doctors from AAU.
On Sunday morning I was transferred to the Chest Care Unit.
While on a cardiac monitor there, my heart stopped for beating for 15 seconds, and a team under Dr John Cooper was summoned to insert a temporary pacing wire. The entire team was fantastic, and the care when I was returned to the CCU was quite outstanding.
On Monday, a permanent pacemaker was inserted by a team under Dr Mahmoud, and again, every member of his team was reassuring and caring.
At 8am on Tuesday morning Dr Mahmoud checked my condition.
At 10am I had a chest X-ray. At 5pm the pacemaker itself was checked.
As all the checks showed everything was OK, I was able to be discharged, and I was home again by 7pm.
I do not believe that a better, or more caring, service would have been available anywhere in the world, or at any price.
Yet when I thanked the individuals, the response to a man (or woman) was the same – ‘I was just doing my job’.
Colin Russell Zardin Bedford Road, Wootton
