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To celebrate social work month, we are offering a 25% discount on our Avenue Media Solutions books throughout March. Information about the books is available at: https://neilthompson.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Avenue-publications-leaflet.pdf They can be purchased at: https://neilthompson.info/product-category/b-books-training-resources/avenue-media-solutions-publications/ Put the code swm23 into the discount voucher box and it will reduce the price by 25%. Applies in the UK only and will expire on 31st March.

This is one of Stephen Covey’s seven secrets of highly effective people. It means that, at all times, we need to be clear about what we are trying to achieve or where it is we are trying to get to. Without that clarity we can drift and become unfocused. This is likely to hamper progress and can also prove stressful at times, as the lack of a sense of direction can create anxiety and uncertainty. It can also reduce our credibility (and thus our ability to influence other people) as we will come across in ways that do not inspire confidence if we are unfocused and unclear about what we are trying to achieve. Beginning with the end in mind…

Who is protected from discrimination? The Equality Act affords protection to a wide range of individuals, including employees (both current and former), contract workers, agency workers and vocational trainers. The protection also extends to job applicants and prospective job applicants who will be able to bring a claim against employers for discrimination without the need for two years’ service, unlike claims for unfair dismissal. What are they protected from? The legislation prohibits any discrimination owing to, or as a result of, a protected characteristic. What are the protected characteristics? Age Disability Gender reassignment Marriage and civil partnership Pregnancy and maternity Race Religion Sex Sexual harassment Sexual orientation A parliamentary committee recently made recommendations to include ‘menopause’ as a protected characteristic.…

Learning to garden has proved a powerful source of health and wellbeing for a group of horticulture students in a UK prison. A gardening social enterprise called The Glasshouse, based in East Sutton Park women’s prison in Kent, has not only provided them with skills for life through horticultural training and employment, but has proved to be invaluable in providing a positive sense of wellness. Co-founder, Kali Hamerton-Stove, has witnessed first-hand the amazing power that horticulture has given the women to develop new skills inside prison that can lead to employment opportunities on the outside. Kali’s work is also crucial in rehabilitating prison leavers to prevent reoffending – something that costs taxpayers up to £18 billion each year. Click here…

We are UK Men’s Sheds Association, the support body for Men’s Sheds across the UK. We work hard to inspire and support the development of as many Men’s Sheds as possible, for the benefit of men’s health and wellbeing. We are a member organisation, representing UK-based Men’s Sheds. We raise awareness of the Men’s Sheds movement and the many benefits of Shedding and we support Men’s Sheds in getting off the ground and thriving as community-driven, member-led entities. We don’t own or manage Men’s Sheds, but we champion them for miles around. Our mission is to enable access to a Men’s Shed for every man that would benefit from one and we won’t stop until we’ve achieved it. Click here…

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