Life On The Edge: Recent Episodes
ice&fire Theatre - human rights stories
A Guardian Hear Here Pick of the Week, this exciting new podcast shares with you the hidden struggles of ordinary people living #LifeOnTheEdge. Brought to you by ice&fire, the UK’s leading human rights theatre company and sponsored by Trust For London, we take you right to the heart of the issues, told by the people themselves. Bob is a real life I, Daniel Blake; Stephanie‘s a single Mum trying to make ends meet; renting in London for Rebecca means never knowing where she’ll be next and Margaret find herself at the mercy of the Home Office. Series one features eight standalone episodes, twenty-two personal stories and collaboration with experts such as Gingerbread, St Mungos, Generation Rent and UK Black Pride. This is the human story of what happens when your world crumbles around you. This is life as you know it… pushed all the way to the brink.
Have you ever thought what happens if you can’t pay for a funeral? Just how much does it cost and who do you go to for help? Teresa, Rick and Thomas share their struggles with funeral poverty and the charity Down To Earth offer help and advice on where to turn.
Main presenter: Lindesay Mace
Editing and production: Helen Clapp
Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Organisations mentioned in the podcast and helpful links:
Down to Earth: https://www.quakersocialaction.org.uk/we-can-help/helping-funerals/down-earth
News on the CMA interim report: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-proposes-major-funerals-probe-after-identifying-serious-concerns
Funeral directors signed up to the Fair Funerals pledge: http://fairfuneralscampaign.org.uk/map
Social fund funeral expenses payment: https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
Bereavement support payment: https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
Grant search: www.turn2us.org.uk
Money Advice Service on funeral plans https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/funeral-plans
Sun Life report: https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/cost-of-dying-report-2018.pdf
Royal London report referenced in podcast: https://www.royallondon.com/siteassets/site-docs/funeral-plans/royal-london-national-funeral-cost-index-2017.pdf
https://www.royallondon.com/siteassets/site-docs/media-centre/national-funeral-costs-index-2018.pdf
Funeral director comparison website (this site can give an indication of which funeral directors may be less/more expensive, but please note that prices given may not be completely accurate and it would be best to contact the funeral director for an exact quote): https://beyond.life/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
@iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
Sharon and Ruth have worked all their lives but when illness and disability strike they both turn to the benefit system for help. As the government prepares to move disabled claimants onto Universal Credit, we bring you two more stories of people struggling to get the help they need.
Main presenter: Helen Clapp
Editing and production: Helen Clapp
Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Organisations and Reports mentioned in the podcast:
Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K) http://z2k.org
Statement on Visit to the United Kingdom, by Professor Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Poverty/EOM_GB_16Nov2018.pdf
Welfare conditionality project http://www.welfareconditionality.ac.uk/
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this episode, get help and information here:
St Paul’s Money Advice Centre: http://www.sph.org/get-involved/teams/money-advice-team
Islington People’s Rights: http://www.ipradvice.org.uk/
Crosslight: https://www.crosslightadvice.org/
Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K): http://z2k.org/
Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Cardinal Hume Centre https://www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/
Advice Services Alliance http://asauk.org.uk/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
@iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
One in four families are single parent households and one in three in London. In the final episode of this series, four Mums share their stories of life as a single parent and we ask what's it really like raising a child alone?
Main presenter: Christine Bacon
Editing and production: Helen Clapp
Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Organisations mentioned in the podcast:
Gingerbread https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
ABTA Lifeline Charitable Trust http://www.abtalifeline.org.uk/
Other useful links:
Family Lives https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/your-family/single-parents/advice-on-becoming-a-single-parent/
Single Parent Action Network http://www.singleparents.org.uk/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
@iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
London is fast becoming a 24-hour city, in this episode we talk to some of its growing number of night workers. What's it like to work while most of us are asleep? Why do workers choose to be nocturnal? Is it a choice at all?
Main presenter: Rebecca Scroggs
Editing and production: Helen Clapp
Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Organisations and research mentioned in the episode and useful links:
Mayor unveils first ever 24-hour vision for London
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayors-24-hour-vision-for-london
National Sleep Foundation: Shift Work Disorder
https://sleepfoundation.org/shift-work/content/shift-work-disorder-–-symptoms
Rough Nights: The Growing Dangers of Working at Night - The Young Foundation
https://youngfoundation.org/publications/rough-nights-the-growing-dangers-of-working-at-night/
A Hard Days Night- TUC 2015
https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/AHardDaysNight.pdf
260,000 more people working at night in past five years, finds TUC
https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/260000-more-people-working-night-past-five-years-finds-tuc
The undercover author who discovered Amazon warehouse workers were peeing in bottles tells us the culture was like a 'prison'
http://uk.businessinsider.com/amazon-warehouse-like-prison-where-workers-used-pee-bottle-2018-4
Race report statistics | Equality and Human Rights Commission
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/latest-projects/race-report-statistics
Night shift: the dangers of working around the clock
https://www.ft.com/content/f99b316c-5e16-11e8-ad91-e01af256df68
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
@iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
What does is mean to be LGBT+ in the capital? Does Pride in London speak to you? We visit Galop and the Outside Project and share stories from members of London’s LGBT+ community, exploring attitudes to Pride in London and how a seaside excursion gave rise to UK Black Pride.
Main presenter: Seb Aguirre
Editing and production: Helen Clapp
Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Organisations mentioned in the episode:
The Albert Kennedy Trust: A service for homeless LGBT youth Twitter
Galop: If you’ve experienced hate crime, sexual violence abuse, we’re here for you. We also support lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people who have had problems with the police or have questions about the criminal justice system. Twitter
Gendered Intelligence: Gendered Intelligence is a Community Interest Company whose object is to deliver arts programmers and creative workshops to trans youth from across the UK in order to increase the quality of young trans peoples life experiences. Twitter
The Outside Project: The Outside Project is a homeless/crisis shelter & community centre in response to those within the LGBTIQ+ community who feel endangered, who are homeless, ‘hidden’ homeless & feel that they are on the outside of services due to historical & present prejudice in society & in their homes. Twitter
Pride In London: The Pride in London Parade provides a platform for every part of London’s LGBT+ community to raise awareness of LGBT+ issues and campaign for the freedoms that will allow us to live our lives on a genuinely equal footing. Twitter
Stonewall: Stonewall campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people across Britain. Twitter
Trust for London - Still Out There: Despite significant progress in LGBT rights, issues of prejudice remain. Research published today presents a worrying picture for many LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) individuals accessing both specialist and mainstream services, despite great strides in LGBT rights. Twitter
UK Black Pride: UK Black Pride promotes unity and co-operation among all Black people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent, as well as their friends and families, who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender. Twitter
Do the privileged have the monopoly on the top universities? Would you be prepared to work for free? We talk to students, teachers and actor George Costigan to bring you stories of people striving to level the playing field.
Main presenter: Waleed Akhtar
Editing and production: Helen Clapp
Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Sara’s words voiced by Rebecca Scroggs
Organisations and research mentioned in the episode and useful links:
Newham Collegiate Sixth Form http://www.thencs.co.uk/
Trust For London report ‘The Inbetweeners’ https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/publications/inbetweeners-new-role-internships-graduate-labour-market/
ONS report into graduates in the labour market https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/articles/graduatesintheuklabourmarket/2017
‘The Party’s Over’ Paula Cocozza https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/jul/11/the-partys-over-how-tuition-fees-ruined-university-life
‘I went to Oxford. As a black female student, I found it alienating and elitist’ - Afua Hirsch https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/15/oxford-black-female-student-elitist-ignorant-minority-universities
NCS article about Newham Collegiate Sixth Form https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/lawyer-headteacher-95-per-cent-pupils-top-universities-gave-up-six-figure-salary-mouhssin-ismail-a7896121.html
Diane Reay - Miseducation: Inequality, education and the working classes https://policypress.co.uk/miseducation
The Acting Class – Deirdre O’Neill, Mike Wayne https://theactingclass.info/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
@iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
From the smallest strike the UK’s ever seen to nationwide action, we head to the picket line to bring you 3 stories of London’s most inspiring Living Wage campaigns. How far would you go for a fair day’s pay?
Main presenter: Christine Bacon
Editing and production: Helen Clapp
Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Freddy and Angelica's words voiced by Sebastian Aguirre and Lisa Caruccio Came
To support the Picturehouse Strikers, check out
http://www.picturehouselivingwage.com/
Follow your most local strikers on Facebook and Twitter (find links via website above) and join them on the picket line the next time they announce strike action
Sign their collective petition here
https://www.change.org/p/picturehouse-pay-proper
Donate to the campaign here
https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/campaigns/250/picturehousestrike
And buy a T-shirt here
http://livingstafflivingwage.tictail.com/
To support the McDonalds strikers:
Buy a T-shirt here https://fastfoodrights.wordpress.com/
Donate directly here https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/fast-food-rights-uk?source=direct_link&
Follow Shen Batmaz https://twitter.com/shenbatmaz
And fast Food Rights https://twitter.com/FastfoodRights
Add your support and stay in touch: http://www.mcstrike.co.uk/
Freddy and Angelica have thankfully had their low pay issue resolved.
Donate directly United Voices of the World, the small union that helped them win here:
https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/supporter/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
@iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
Yousif’s struggled with homelessness, Caroline’s cooked with cockroaches and Rebecca’s called some unusual places home. 3 stories of renting in the capital and some thoughts on what needs to change.
Main presenter: Lindesay Mace
Music by: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Find out more about Yousif’s story here: http://www.thepavement.org.uk/stories.php?story=1981
Organisations mentioned in the episode:
Generation Rent: http://www.generationrent.org/
St Mungo’s: https://www.mungos.org/
Homeless Diamonds: http://homelessdiamonds.org.uk/
Outside In: http://www.outsidein.org.uk/
Trust For London study on PRS: https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/issues/housing/private-rented-sector/
London Assembly report: https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/london-assembly/london-assembly-publications/rent-reform-making-londons-private-rented
For help and information on the issues raised in this episode:
Streetlink: https://www.streetlink.org.uk/
Self-referral hostels: http://www.sih.org/our-services/short-term-accommodation/
http://www.northumberlandparkhouse.co.uk/
https://www.homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/service/missionaries-of-charity-gift-of-love
Homeless Link: https://www.homeless.org.uk/search-homelessness-services
The Connection: https://www.connection-at-stmartins.org.uk/
NHS Alcohol Support: https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholsupport.aspx
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
@iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
Tita and Margaret were both forced to flee their native countries (Chile and Uganda) almost forty years apart and ended up in London. We look at the refugee experience then and now. We also talk to activists at a ‘Shut Yarls Wood’ demonstration and ask them why they decided to join the growing movement.
Main presenter: Seb Aguirre
Music by: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
More about Margaret and Lydia's story here https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/27/back-home-we-cant-kiss-the-gay-badminton-star-forced-to-flee-uganda
More about ice&fire's script 'This is Who I Am' - http://iceandfire.co.uk/project/this-is-who-i-am/
Organisations mentioned in the podcast
Movement for Justice https://www.facebook.com/movementforjustice/
Lesbians and Gays support the Migrants https://www.facebook.com/lgsmigrants/
World University Service https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/research/projects/chileanexileinuk/wusprogramme/
Time for a time Limit http://detentionaction.org.uk/campaigns/indefinite-detention-in-detail
First Wednesday group at the LGBT Foundation https://twitter.com/1st_Wednesday
Sponsor Refugees http://www.sponsorrefugees.org/
Other London-based organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees include:
Hackney Migrant Centre http://www.hackneymigrantcentre.org.uk/
Migrants Organise http://www.migrantsorganise.org/
UK Lesbian and gay Immigration Group https://uklgig.org.uk/
Right to Remain https://righttoremain.org.uk/
Women for Refugee Women http://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London
Please rate us and leave a review!
Jayne, Bob and Mary’s working lives came to a halt due to illness and disability. They share their experiences of the benefit system and the uncertainty and anxiety they face.
Organisations mentioned in the podcast:
Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K) http://z2k.org
Read more about Jayne's experience here:
http://inanything.com/disability-jaynes-turning-point/
More about Bob's story here:
http://archive.camdennewjournal.com/heart-attack-back-to-work
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this episode, get help and information here:
St Paul’s Money Advice Centre: http://www.sph.org/get-involved/teams/money-advice-team
Islington People’s Rights: http://www.ipradvice.org.uk/
Crosslight: https://www.crosslightadvice.org/
Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K): http://z2k.org/
Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Cardinal Hume Centre https://www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/
Advice Services Alliance http://asauk.org.uk/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
iceandfire.co.uk
podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London
Have you ever thought what happens if you can’t pay for a funeral? Just how much does it cost and who do you go to for help? Teresa, Rick and Thomas share their struggles with funeral poverty and the charity Down To Earth offer help and advice on where to turn.
Main presenter: Lindesay Mace Editing and production: Helen Clapp Music and sound design: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Organisations mentioned in the podcast and helpful links: Down to Earth: https://www.quakersocialaction.org.uk/we-can-help/helping-funerals/down-earth News on the CMA interim report: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-proposes-major-funerals-probe-after-identifying-serious-concerns Funeral directors signed up to the Fair Funerals pledge: http://fairfuneralscampaign.org.uk/map Social fund funeral expenses payment: https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments Bereavement support payment: https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment Grant search: www.turn2us.org.uk Money Advice Service on funeral plans https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/funeral-plans Sun Life report: https://www.sunlife.co.uk/siteassets/documents/cost-of-dying/cost-of-dying-report-2018.pdf Royal London report referenced in podcast: https://www.royallondon.com/siteassets/site-docs/funeral-plans/royal-london-national-funeral-cost-index-2017.pdf https://www.royallondon.com/siteassets/site-docs/media-centre/national-funeral-costs-index-2018.pdf Funeral director comparison website (this site can give an indication of which funeral directors may be less/more expensive, but please note that prices given may not be completely accurate and it would be best to contact the funeral director for an exact quote): https://beyond.life/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram @iceandfireuk
iceandfire.co.uk podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/
Please rate us and leave a review!
Yousif’s struggled with homelessness, Caroline’s cooked with cockroaches and Rebecca’s called some unusual places home. Three stories of renting in the capital and some thoughts on what needs to change with Generation Rent.
Main presenter: Lindesay Mace Music by: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/ Find out more about Yousif’s story here: http://www.thepavement.org.uk/stories.php?story=1981
Organisations mentioned in the episode: Generation Rent: http://www.generationrent.org/ St Mungo’s: https://www.mungos.org/ Homeless Diamonds: http://homelessdiamonds.org.uk/ Shelter: http://www.shelter.org.uk/ Trust For London study on PRS: https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/issues/housing/private-rented-sector/ London Assembly report: https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/london-assembly/london-assembly-publications/rent-reform-making-londons-private-rented Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ The Law Centres: http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/
For help and information on the issues raised in this episode: Streetlink: https://www.streetlink.org.uk/ Self-referral hostels: http://www.sih.org/our-services/short-term-accommodation/ http://www.northumberlandparkhouse.co.uk/ https://www.homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/service/missionaries-of-charity-gift-of-love Homeless Link: https://www.homeless.org.uk/search-homelessness-services The Connection: https://www.connection-at-stmartins.org.uk/ NHS Alcohol Support: https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholsupport.aspx
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram @iceandfireuk iceandfire.co.uk podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London: www.trustforlondon.org.uk
Please rate us and leave a review!
Tita and Margaret were both forced to flee their native countries (Chile and Uganda) almost forty years apart and ended up in London. We look at the refugee experience then and now. We also talk to activists at a ‘Shut Yarls Wood’ demonstration and ask them why they decided to join the growing movement.
Main presenter: Seb Aguirre Music by: Michael Edwards http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
More about Margaret and Lydia's story here https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/27/back-home-we-cant-kiss-the-gay-badminton-star-forced-to-flee-uganda More about ice&fire's script 'This is Who I Am' - http://iceandfire.co.uk/project/this-is-who-i-am/
Organisations mentioned in the podcast: Lesbians and Gays support the Migrants https://www.facebook.com/lgsmigrants/ World University Service https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/research/projects/chileanexileinuk/wusprogramme/ Time for a time Limit http://detentionaction.org.uk/campaigns/indefinite-detention-in-detail First Wednesday group at the LGBT Foundation https://twitter.com/1st_Wednesday Sponsor Refugees http://www.sponsorrefugees.org/
Other London-besed organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees include: Hackney Migrant Centre http://www.hackneymigrantcentre.org.uk/ Migrants Organise http://www.migrantsorganise.org/ UK Lesbian and gay Immigration Group https://uklgig.org.uk/ Right to Remain https://righttoremain.org.uk/ Women for Refugee Women http://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
iceandfire.co.uk podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London
Please take a moment to rate us and leave a review!
Jayne, Bob and Mary’s working lives came to a halt due to illness and disability. They share their experiences of the benefit system and the uncertainty and anxiety they face.
Organisations mentioned in the podcast: Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K) http://z2k.org
Read more about Jayne's experience here: http://inanything.com/disability-jaynes-turning-point/
More about Bob's story here: http://archive.camdennewjournal.com/heart-attack-back-to-work
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this episode, get help and information here: St Paul’s Money Advice Centre: http://www.sph.org/get-involved/teams/money-advice-team Islington People’s Rights: http://www.ipradvice.org.uk/ Crosslight: https://www.crosslightadvice.org/ Zacchaeus 2000 (Z2K): http://z2k.org/ Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ Cardinal Hume Centre: https://www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/ Advice Services Alliance: http://asauk.org.uk/
Music and sound editing by Michael Edwards: composer, film scores, television http://www.michaeledwards.tv/
Follow ice&fire on Twitter / FB / Instagram
iceandfire.co.uk podcast@iceandfire.co.uk
Sponsored by Trust For London