Video: Poets at the launch of Asylum, Spring 2023
Asylum’s poetry editor Janine Booth introduces three of the poetic contributors to the new issue of the radical mental health magazine: Gail Something Else, Fred the Ninja, and Holly Bars.
Issues and campaigns: Defending public services
Battles against privatisation and cuts
Hush on the Bus
You can’t say that on the 333 Believe you me The inspector will check and kick you off the upper deck I heard some dude once said it and he had his card well marked for all to see He … Read more
NeurodiVERSE in Preston Park
Janine contributes poetry on the theme of neurodiversity at Preston Park wellbeing hub, Brighton’s only mental health self-referral-based hub for adults.
Who’s the Refuser?
Rebecca is a school refuser The lessons confuse her Miss knows her sister is a substance misuser It doesn’t excuse her She’s labelled a shirker, assigned to an overworked social worker, a conflict defuser But Becky’s still a school refuser Mason … Read more
Schools For All? Conference
Janine will be leading workshops on Neurodiversity at this online conference on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities organised by the Socialist Educational Association. Details and registration here.
Neurodiversity training, PCS NatureScot
Online training for PCS members at NatureScot.
Poetry in Asylum magazine
Janine has recently taken over as Poetry Editor of Asylum magazine. Asylum wants your poetry for our radical mental health magazine. Asylum has been running for nearly forty years, providing a platform for all perspectives on mental health. Asylum is influenced and … Read more
Villanelle: A Step or Two
Autumn falls and storm clouds brew The post each day brings season’s chill The queue moves on a step or two The last demand is overdue It stands unopened on the sill As autumn falls and storm clouds brew They … Read more
End of the Line
Walk down locked and empty streets alone, arrive for start of shift, it’s bear-the-brunt time to serve some others’ families not your own Going from the home front to the frontline Frozen pay, now tiny, ice-cold ‘offers’, red-bordered bills alert … Read more
PCS Wales Neurodiversity training, day 2
Registration for this training is closed.
Unison North West: Neurodiversity training
A one-day course in Manchester. Details to follow.
Autistic Pride
Woolwich Common Youth Club, 144 Nightingale Place, Woolwich SE18 4HE Autistic speakers, poets and singers. Come and buy from the stalls with art, clothing, books and jewellery, all autistic made. 1.15pm Welcome opening by Emma Dalmayne 1.15 – 1.35pm – … Read more
PCS Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Stage 1 course
Open to all PCS members. Please contact your branch secretary or training officer for details.
Please, No!
There was I, a few minutes ago, minding my own business, awaiting the announcement of my platform at King’s Cross, when over the PA came the voice of Michael Portillo wishing the station a happy birthday. So, might I just … Read more
Clerihew: Andrew Haines
Andrew Haines carefully explains That his £593,000 pay is not a perk – He really is worth twenty of the people who do the actual work — *Chief Executive Officer of Network Rail
Clerihew: Jeremy Westlake
Jeremy Westlake has the second best take He’s in charge of the cash and makes sure he gets a big stash
NeurodiVERSE in Brighton
Brighton launch of NeurodiVERSE, an anthology of poetry by neurodivergent writers Three of the contributors to (and two of the co-editors of) NeurodiVERSE provide the entertainment as we launch this anthology of poetry by neurodivergent writers. Henry Normal is an award-winning … Read more
Poetry & Opposition
Pompous & Opulent Prosperous & Ostentatious Profiteering & On-the-take Parsimonious & Obstinate Penny-pinching & ‘Orrible Private & Obscene Perfidious & Odious Poisonous & Objectionable Punishing & Oppressive Petition & Organise Protest & Outrage Picket & Occupy Public & Ownership.
TUC Disabled Workers Condemn P&O Sackings
The TUC’s Disabled Members’ Committee has made this statement: Accessible public transport is essential for disabled people to participate in society on an equal and independent basis. To be genuinely accessible, public transport must be adequately staffed by workers with … Read more
Poplar: the Borough that Fought Back and Won
… and why it matters today By Janine Booth, published in RMT News. The two biggest employers in the east London borough of Poplar one hundred years were the railways and the docks. Our forerunner unions had plenty of members … Read more