54° North Studio

Universal Credit Social Housing Without Social Safety Net

Many social housing blocks were sold off to private landlords with covenants attached. But the covenants are riddled with loopholes. The upshot is places like Stanley Tower, where a private landlord owns the entity and collects the rent and seeks to maximise profit even though the building is still the only thing between a large group of vulnerable tenants and homelessness. Read more →

Job Centre Universal Credit Sanctions

When I go to the job centre, I'm warned, like everyone else is, that if I don't make my appointment within ten minutes of the arranged time, I get sanctioned. Sanctioned means my rent and my food is cut off for six weeks. I'm effectively potentially evicted and starving, My letter always arrives two days late. Read more →

Universal Credit The British Social Underclass By Gary Knapton A Manchester Writer

Here is a Manchester writer advocating positive action to address the Kafkaesque deep state machinations against the sick, poor, disabled, single parents, the unemployed, and their children. The narrative captures the Zeitgeist in reflecting the findings of authoritative reports. Read more →

Universal Credit Mental Health Report

And they've advanced me through from basic psychotherapy services for mild depression through to specialist services, saying I need stronger treatment. My condition's getting worse. But when I go to the job centre, they overrule this and say, we're just going to ignore it. You've got to look for work. Read more →

Gary Knapton

When they send you letters insisting that you turn up at their job centers within 10 minutes of a time or you'll lose your rent and your food money, which really means eviction and starvation, then the letter that comes telling you when to go to that appointment is two days late every single month and it's stamped later than it's written-- so I would argue that this might be a strategic intention from the authorities to cleanse the underclass and put them onto the streets. And this has been happening for quite a long time now. Read more →

Universal Credit Payment Advice

If you ever wonder why people who have been long-term unemployed appear a little scruffy around the edges - perhaps unshaven and with holes in their shoes and lacking social confidence because they haven't been out even to a coffee shop let alone a pub or restaurant - for months or years nor ever travelled on a bus or train or been able to buy anyone they care for as much as a birthday card - ever - I hope I'm solving the mystery for you. Read more →

Universal Credit Benefits System Gary Knapton Social Media Book

A clean living writer and life-coach with a keen streak of longing for social justice and the requisite political engagement. Deep within the system yet refusing to be eaten by the system. Just biding their time. Watching. Learning. Recording. Not smoking weed. Not drinking alcohol. Not sleeping until midday. Not letting personal health and positive outlook slide. Read more →

Universal Credit A free social media book about the new British social underclass Gary Knapton Manchester Author

It strikes me that media effortlessly promote their version of the type of people we are and what universal credit does for us. But no one knows how it feels and tastes and smells, and what the sense of hope and shame and despair, and how it really is to be on this benefit. But people like me do.’ Gary Knapton Read more →

British Legion Remembrance Day Sgt Will Bough Royal Scots Tribute

Here is his personal tribute and experience of war. A plea for peace and understanding amongst nations and people is made. 2018 is the one hundredth anniversary of the worlds most deadly war. November 11 is the annual tradition with two minutes silence at eleven o’clock for remembering the ending of World War 1 in 1918. King George V oversaw the first ceronemy in 1919. The Royal Family, the British Armed Forces, and Government continue the tradition by parading at The Cenotaph in Whitehall every year. In the UK, Remembrance Sunday is on the second Sunday in November. Red poppies are sold to raise money for H M Armed Forces veterans needing help. Read more →

Zen Buddhism Awakening Primers Gary Knapton

Hi. I'm Gary Knapton, and I'm a Whole Life Design Consultant from Manchester. I've put together a collection of my own insights in a book, which comes out this Christmas on iBooks, and it's called Modern Love. I've taken quite a provocative, incendiary, but good fun stance here. In the global frenetic world where everything's automated and we are one of billions, we can feel very insignificant and really that we don't have any power. To disassemble these assumptions and leave a hole in the reader's perspective, hopefully that they will fill themselves with their own insight. So this is called Modern Love, and it's a set of awakening primers. Read more →