WHAT IS SWAN?

SWAN is an group of disabled and non-disabled people. It is a Sheffield based, non-party political campaign. Sheffield is one of the first areas to be implementing the New Deal, which aims to get thousands of incapacity benefit claimants into work. This New Deal includes the recently proposed reforms to Incapacity Benefit as set out in the Welfare Reform Act. We oppose any cuts in disabled people’s benefits and any attempts to force people into work when they themselves know that they are not ready. SWAN aims to do this by informing the general public and lobbying those in power.

SWAN supports the principle of offering good quality support to claimants who feel ready to accept it. To us, the central issue is one of control. The proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill will mean that the state, and not the individual, will decide whether a person is ready to think about a return to work. We cannot emphasise strongly enough the importance that many, many claimants attach to having pressure-free time in which to make a recovery, and the extreme stress and anxiety which they experience when this is threatened.

SWAN believes that disabled people themselves are the best-placed people to decide on suitable programmes and work-related activities, to be undertaken at their own pace and at the right time. SWAN would like assurances that there will be no sanctions against those who do not take part in such programmes, and that there will be no compulsion to take part in healthcare treatments.

We would prefer a humane benefits system where the current mistrust and fear of the DWP is replaced by a genuine feeling of being supported. This will require some considerable work on the DWP’s part, and will certainly not be helped by the threat of sanctions. We believe that claimants will gladly accept good-quality support to return to work if they feel ready, and if this support is offered by agencies that they have no need to fear, and that this will entirely negate the “need” for sanctions.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

SWAN members have run several stalls in town, collecting petitions and informing people of the changes and incapacity benefit in general...

SWAN members have organised a conference on disability benefits...

SWAN members have organised two demonstrations in Sheffield opposing the Welfare Reform Bill and helped organise the national lobby of the Labour Conference...

SWAN members are working with groups, locally and nationally, to make sure the voices of claimants are heard...

SWAN members have submitted a petition of 201 signatures to Sheffield City Council and drew up a motion which was submitted to Council in October 2006...

SWAN members have written to numerous MP's, have submitted a response to the green paper, have lobbied groups across the political spectrum - everyone and anyone who will listen (and those who won't!).

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

We are only as strong as our members - even the smallest contribution can really make a difference

There is plenty going on and many ways that you can support SWAN. Email us to find out more.