The shock figures, from research by leading charities, are the latest blow to the credibility of employment tests
I have a policy, readers. I never, ever, refuse anyone use of a toilet in my home. Toilet use is a human right. Every living thing needs somewhere to use a toilet.
Severely disabled mum of two Lorraine Fraser suffers from scoliosis (curvature of the spine), arthritis and is a wheelchair user. Lorraine and her children now face impending homelessness due to just £248 of Bedroom Tax arrears. Campaigners will be holding a Mass Sleep Out this Saturday in more than 60 towns and cities in solidarity with Lorraine, and so many others paying the penalty of ideological austerity.
When 11-year-old Emma Thornton starts secondary school soon, her mother Theresa says it will be a fresh start for her because no-one will know what she has been through over the past five years. Problems with Emma's left hip joint have left her with difficulty walking and a painful, stiff hip which could lead to an early hip replacement when she is older. For an active, sporty child, Theresa knows it has been tough for her daughter to come to terms with her lack of mobility.
Organisers of Barnsley Gay Pride have dedicated this year's event to a teenager who was set on fire and killed during his 18th birthday party. Steven Simpson, from Cudworth, died after sustaining "significant burns" last June. Jordan Sheard, 20, of Darfield Road, Cudworth, was jailed for three-and-a-half years for manslaughter.
The UK faces a "lose-lose situation" unless workers who care for elderly parents are offered flexible working hours, the health secretary has said. Jeremy Hunt said an ageing population and a "dementia time bomb" meant helping carers stay in work was an "economic necessity" for the country. But he said too few employers currently offer carers flexible work options. Meanwhile, a report has warned England is facing a shortfall in the number of people able to give vital unpaid care.