News articles - Real home archive

Disability Poverty Campaign Group Response to Spring Budget

As a coalition led by Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), the Disability Poverty Campaign Group (DPCG), which includes Real, is left deeply concerned and angered by the spring Budget. There was no mention of the lives of Disabled people, the known financial hardships, the increasing levels of poverty, and the horrific impact years of austerity and […]

Real’s Response to the Disability Action Plan

Last week, the Government published its Disability Action Plan outlining immediate goals for 2024. Regrettably, the actions set out in the plan are weak, vague, and inadequate, falling far short of addressing the concerns of Disabled people, particularly amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crises. Moreover, many of the proposed “short-term” actions extend beyond 2024, introducing reviews […]

Real responds to Government’s consultation on punative Work Capability Assessment Reform

Yesterday, Real submitted a response to the Government’s consultation on its Work Capability Assessment reform detailing our view that the proposed actions are punitive in effect and appear to seek to push Disabled people into unsustainable employment options, through the use of sanctions. Benefit sanctions and reductions do not enhance the likelihood of people moving […]

Real’s Response to Government’s Disability Action Plan Consultation 

We are pleased to present our response to the HM Government Disability Action Plan Consultation, submitted on 6 October 2023.   As a user-led charity of Disabled people, we have drawn upon our own and our members’ extensive experience and expertise in advocating for the rights of Disabled people.   In this response, we address key topics […]

Real’s response to proposed Work Capability Assessment reforms

This week, the government proposed changes to Work Capability Assessments (WCA), which currently decide whether a person is well enough to work for the purpose of their Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit (UC) eligibility. We’re concerned that lowering the threshold for someone to be deemed “fit to work” could push Disabled people into […]

Real Appoints new Chief Executive

  We are pleased to announce that Jack Gilbert has been appointed as Real’s Chief Executive, taking over from Mike Smith. Jack brings a great deal of experience in community and charity organisations, both within Tower Hamlets and further afield — especially in causes promoting social change, diversity, equity and inclusion.  He has co-designed award-winning […]

Statement on abolishing social care charging in Tower Hamlets

At Real we are delighted that Tower Hamlets Council have said they will abolish social care charges going forward as part of their 2023-24 budget plans, which were approved 1 March 2023. Instead the council will levy a 2% Adult Social Care precept. This progressive decision ensures the cost of essential support is spread evenly […]

Change in Leadership

We want to share that our CEO Mike Smith has decided to leave Real to pursue another career opportunity.     For over twelve years, Mike has contributed significantly to Real’s growth and development. Under his leadership, we have flourished into Tower Hamlet’s foremost pan-disability organisation. We have succeeded in achieving remarkable outcomes for Disabled People in […]

Real hosts House of Lords’ Adult Social Care Committee

September 2022 We hosted Lords and Baronesses for an in-depth discussion of the social care system with Disabled residence. The House of Lords’ Adult Social Care Committee visited Real for an event on the social care system and its impact on Disabled people. The visit was part of the newly established Committee’s inquiry “’Lifting the […]

Real Weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (14th October) Key points Local update in Tower Hamlets: 213,459 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose 188,279 residents ​have had their second dose administered   Vaccination programme for 12-15 year olds: The vaccination programme for all children aged 12 to 15 is continuing through schools. Children will be given one dose of […]

Real weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (16th September) Key points   Local update in Tower Hamlets: 208,698 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose 177,500 residents ​have had their second dose administered   Healthy 12-15 year olds to be offered vaccine: All children aged 12 to 15 across the UK will be offered one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid […]

Real weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (10th September) Key points Local update in Tower Hamlets: 207,547 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 173,061 residents ​have had their second dose administered.   New vaccination site: From Monday 13th September a new vaccination site is opening at Queen Mary University of London Campus on Mile End Road. This walk-in centre […]

Real weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (2nd September)   Key points Local update in Tower Hamlets: 204,092 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 157,471 residents ​have had their second dose administered.   Vaccination and Testing sites are moving:  The PCR testing site (for people with symptoms/needing a PCR test) at the Ecology Pavilion closed this week. The new […]

Real weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (26th August) Key points   Local update in Tower Hamlets: 204,092 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 157,471 residents ​have had their second dose administered.   Be alert to scams: Unfortunately, scammers continue to take advantage during the pandemic. Recently scam emails and texts have been sent to people that appear to […]

Real weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (19th August) Key points Local update in Tower Hamlets: 202,404 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 147,299 residents ​have had their second dose administered. Covid-19 weekly incidence rate has increased again:The rate of people testing positive for Covid-19 in Tower Hamlets has unfortunately increased again so we are still rated as MAROON RED. […]

Real weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (13th August) Key points Local update in Tower Hamlets: 200,658 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 137,368 residents ​have had their second dose administered. Covid-19 weekly incidence rate is declining: Whilst the rates of people in Tower Hamlets testing positive for Covid-19 remain higher than London and England, this rate is starting to decline – which is […]

Real Weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (29th July) Key points   Local update in Tower Hamlets: 195,855 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 118,194 residents ​have had their second dose administered. Langdon Park Summer festival: This weekend Tower Hamlets Council has organised a summer festival in Langdon Park offering free food vouchers to everyone who gets a vaccine […]

Real Weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (25th July) Key points Local update in Tower Hamlets: 193,291 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 107,362 residents ​have had their second dose administered. Guidance for people who were shielding: Following the announcement on the 12th July to remove most social distancing measures, the government are advising people  who were shielding […]

Real Weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (8th July) Key points   Local update in Tower Hamlets: 184,902 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 91,568 residents ​have had their second dose administered   2. Covid-19 cases continue to increase in Borough: The number of new people testing positive for Covid-19 is continuing to increase in Tower Hamlets. The […]

Real weekly Covid-19 Bulletin

Priority Covid-19 Information (1st July) Key points   Local update in Tower Hamlets: 175,918 residents have now been vaccinated with their first dose. 85,504 residents ​have had their second dose administered. Covid-19 cases increase in Borough: The number of new people testing positive for Covid-19 is continuing to increase in Tower Hamlets. Positivity rates are now at 3.6% – the highest in […]

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