to think benefits should be capped at minimum wage

[moogster1a]

A little idea that all benefits should be capped at a weeks worth of minimum wage; so 37 and half hours times whatever minimum wage is now ( £6 pounds odd ).
That way no one gets paid more for sitting at home than they would for going out to work.
Out of this, all rent prescriptions etc. should be paid, the same as most people in low paid jobs have to pay for everything.
it might also provide an incentive to go out to work to up your wages if you progress in a company.
Just think it would be a lot fairer.

Hade? Jade of course

NOT DISABILITY ALLOWANCE Sorry, I thought I'd made it clear I wasn't talking about DLA

Ok, round here, kids. Football in the park, a walk, playing in the wood, messing in the stream, reading a book, watching tv (ok not free but let be honest most have them) visiting a free museum, window shopping, geocaching etc etc etc

Oh, you mean catching up on the ironing then

We have it pretty good in this country for free entertainment.

Geocaching.... Nope, can't afford a garmin!

if you have younger children, Surestart centres, feeding the ducks, reading to them, playing on swings, having a "nature trail" round the streets.
TBH, I struggle to think of a huge number of leisure activities which I do pay for.

Fantasy timetable, what if unemployed and well funded? That would be the ultimate fantasy, lol!

Ironing? I rarely have time. Only shirts and only for important occasions.

don't need a garmin sara, some phones can do it now, i was given a second hand one that does. Or can locate site on internet.

lol jade,

my life is a fantasy? :D

awesome =)

it's not really, as anyone else whose been a carer knows

Moogster, that sounds the kind of thing I thought. I don't think all kids get to do that sort of stuff though, sadly.

That's reading to the DC, not the ducks. Although that would also be a nice way to pass an hour.
Anyway, why bemoan the lack of free things to fill leisure hours when previous posters have told us that being on JSA is a full time job where every waking moment is spent training, at meetings, going to interviews etc.

Did ya read it mama? I said free time AND cash is the fantasy!

Surestart centres....nope, closed

Sure start centres are fantastic
free if you live near one, or almost free if you live on a bus route,

otherwise £15 taxi each way, orrrr necessary to have a car to attend.

I'm glad you don't mean DLA

sara they're closed? or closing??
I believe my local one is open, havent been able to attend though because of broken car :(

Window shopping is very depressing and only shows your children what they could have that all their friends do have.

We have no woods within walking distance of our house. Without working we wouldn't be able to afford the bus. Or the picnic for the woods. Tins of value beans are not nice when they're cold, but far cheaper than picnic food.

We have a stream, but I live in a deprived area, it's full of old buggies and nappy bags. It would not be safe for my children to mess in.

There is a park, yes, but there's only so many days you can play in the park before it becomes boring. Plus again, I live in a deprived area, our park is vandalised often and full of smashed beer bottles. The nice park is bus ride away. If I'm not working I can't afford to take the bus to the park daily.

Sure Start in our area has been cut right back. Free swimming has been scrapped. Playgoups etc. all cost money, not much money, but a loaf of breads worth at least.

I have no idea what geocaching is, but they probably don't have it around here.

oh, free time? like a single person.

I agree that's a fantasy!

I'd never class window shopping or real shopping as leisure. Especially not with children. How depressing to have them think shopping is a pasttime

124 surestart centres have closed since Condems got in.

See this ''Geocaching.... Nope, can't afford a garmin!'' is a good example of what I mean. You just assume you're hard done by, when in actual fact the is nothing to stop you doing geocaching, except you haven't looked into it. In this country there is so much available for free or cheap. We really are lucky to have such a wealth of opportunities.

Dooin, you do paint a sad picture of where you live. Have you considered upping sticks? It's obviously hard to say without knowing you, but that sounds a depressing place to live. I feel sorry for the next generation growing up there. Of course it could be that you're picking out the negatives to illustrate your point, what are the positives of where you live?

Why does one always need a customised 'activity' for it to be leisure? I don't get that at all. DCs appreciate time to just be children, running around the garden, walking to the shops - or anywhere - helping with stuff at home, being read to, baking, emptying the dishwasher, playing 'shops'.... all free. Just because these are chores to most adults, doesn't mean that they are to children.

To be quite honest, there are WOHM who would die of happiness to do those things with their DC every day.

I'm completely unconcerned about Government-supported 'leisure' activities. Anybody with a bit of imagination and the will to can amuse themselves and their DC, and get plenty of exercise too.

Moogster, it's not my idea of fun either, but added it to the list as some people like that kind of stuff. I tend to avoid shopping where poss, personal choice!

I am not for a minute saying that I think this is a complete solution, but if people are stuck in the middle of nowhere with little to take them out the daily grind, what is to stop them getting together with others in the same position, working out some possibilities, and kicking ass locally until a bit of a usable park and the odd sponsored minibus becomes a reality? There are a lot of small grants of a few hundred quid here and a few hundred quid there that can make a big difference if people collectivise.

Just a thought.

''I'm completely unconcerned about Government-supported 'leisure' activities. Anybody with a bit of imagination and the will to can amuse themselves and their DC, and get plenty of exercise too.''

Yes, this.

Although granted it might be harder in a high rise flat in a sink estate where there is no nature of any form.