Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
Latest editorial
More needs to be done to improve workplace mental health
NASUWT’s latest teachers’ survey shows shockingly high levels of work-related stress, anxiety and even self-harm. Dr PATRICK ROACH calls for greater protections for educators’ wellbeing
ANGUS REID explains the significance of Cuba’s egalitarian in letter and spirit Family Code and the pertinent lessons it holds for democracies anywhere in the world
Special report by PEOPLE’S WORLD
NICK WRIGHT considers how the isolation of Israel and a new film on the controversial Italian communist leader are creating new reference points for Italy’s left
CARLOS MARTINEZ says Cuba’s achievements in the face of a criminal blockade are startling, but the island’s future if the United States succeeds in crushing it looks bleak
AMNON BROWNFIELD STEIN reports that far-right MPs who mobbed the event organised by Hadash may have helped raise awareness of the brutality of the Israeli right
AT THE TUC Congress this week the mental health of the working population will deservedly come under the spotlight, with calls for greater awareness of the issue of suicide and how to prevent it.
Alarmingly there are a rising number of suicides and suicide attempts among public-sector workers and the occupations at the highest risk include education and healthcare staff.
But, while suicides are now one of the biggest causes of work-related deaths each year, under the last government, funding for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been slashed.
Similar stories
Since 2010, one in five firefighter jobs has disappeared alongside 30% funding cuts — all while climate breakdown brings record blazes and flooding. It’s time to fund our fire service properly, writes FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
MATT WRACK issues a clarion call for a rejuvenation of public services for the sake of our communities and our young people
With 170,000 children living in poverty in north-east England and teachers leaving in droves over 20 per cent real-terms pay cuts since 2010, all while private companies siphon off billions, it is time to unite and fight for education, writes MATT WRACK