Welcome to Unmissable, our weekly digest of stories we think you might have missed.
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Kristi and her colleagues speak to vulnerable people in desperate situations every day.
The Citizens Advice staff regularly help people from all over the country claim the benefits they are entitled to. When those claims are rejected, they help challenge those decisions – and in many cases, they win.
Of all the difficult conversations Kristi has had, one in particular, that took place when she was visiting a client at home, stands out.
“He sat there in front of me telling me directly, ‘I’m going to kill myself’,” Kristi recalls.
He said: ‘If you don’t get me these benefits, I’m going to kill myself’…
Welcome to Unmissable, our weekly digest of the stories we think you might have missed.
On Tuesday evening MPs will vote on the government’s flagship, and controversial, welfare bill.
Ahead of the vote we sent Jo Timan to speak to the people on the front line at Citizens Advice about how worried they are about the bill and the kind of calls they are receiving.
Call handlers told him they had seen an increase in vulnerable clients coming forward. Kristi, who supports cancer patients and their families through a Macmillan scheme, says the extreme case mentioned above is part of a growing trend.
“A lot of people will just say, ‘I’ve given up on life”, she explains. “‘I’ve got no money. I’m constantly cold. I don’t want to be here.'” Read Jo’s excellent article here.
Elsewhere this week we continued to cover the shocking impact of the chaotic DWP system with this piece recapping our coverage of recent weeks.
Damon Wilkinson investigated a horrifying online chat forum that’s been connected with a number of suicides.
Helena Vesty exclusively revealed a hush-hush plan to move emergency gynaecology services from Salford to Oldham, and George Lythgoe wrote about life on the street at the foot of Greater Manchester’s ‘Mount Everest of rubbish’.
And finally something a bit lighter. A shout-out to Dianne Bourne for her excellent piece about Emma Gregson leaving the Morley Tearooms.
Emma has been hailed the “Queen of Cakes” and has won Good Food Awards for the past two years running and has built up a real following.
As one customer put it: “We’ll follow your Victoria Sponge anywhere”. Judging by the popularity of the article she’ll have fans wherever she goes.
‘I’ve got no money. I’m constantly cold. I don’t want to be here anymore’
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
The Manchester Evening News spent a day at Citizen’s Advice to find out what impact Labour’s controversial welfare cuts could have. Read it HERE.
The sick website that no one can shut down
(L-R) Matthew O’Reilly, Kelly Walsh and Samuel Dickenson (Image: Family handouts)
An online suicide forum linked to dozens of deaths, including at least six in Greater Manchester, is still operating despite multiple warnings. Read it HERE.
The labyrinthine DWP system that can drive you to desperation – or even death
Karen McBride, a respected anti-poverty campaigner, was ‘frustrated to the point of desperation’ by the system before being found dead at her home aged 46
Trapped in the confusing maze of a benefits scheme not fit for purpose, those who survive say it is leaving them destitute – and all of their cases raise the same question. Read it HERE.
Life on the street at the foot of Greater Manchester’s ‘Mount Everest of rubbish’
Pilsworth Landfill has faced a series of complaints from residents in Bury and Rochdale (Image: J Media Group)
The landfill site caused a horrid stink last year that plagued the area for months. Read it HERE.
“They think it’s s*** jobs and s*** money”: Life in the ‘horrendous’ Manchester suburb that’s changing
In the distance are Manchester’s skyscrapers, only three miles from Yes Manchester on Briscoe Lane in Newton Heath(Image: LDRS)
As estimates for Greater Manchester’s economy show it’s worth £72bn, one suburb three miles from the city centre has ‘horrendous’ unemployment, according to one charity. Ethan Davies spoke to staff and residents on what life is like there. Read it HERE.
‘People could die’ – Miscarrying women could have to travel two hours in plans to move emergency unit
Emergency gynaecological services at Salford Royal Hospital could be closed and moved to the Royal Oldham(Image: Manchester Evening News)
EXCLUSIVE: There are hushed discussions about relocating life-saving emergency gynaecology services from one side of Greater Manchester to the other. Read it HERE.
Cake and cuddles as Coronation Street star’s wife prepares to say goodbye
Coronation Street star Simon Gregson and wife Emma who is preparing for her final weekend in charge of Morley Tearooms in Wilmslow(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“We’ll follow your Victoria Sponge anywhere.” Read it HERE.