Blog Posts

What London needs to hear- Christopher Burns

London will be told Cornwall is lovely and blue. It won’t be told that the Minor Injury unit is closed today and forcing a pensioner to rely on his family relative to supposedly gain healthcare in Bodmin. London will be told that Cornwall has no problems, it’s a fairytale for everyone and suffering doesn’t exist. Once again, the marketplace is benefiting from my misfortune, unfortunately. People who describe life in Cornwall as being in a Read more…

By aplecollective, ago
loudspeaker on top of wooden stool

The Politics of Taking Action on Poverty- Katy Goldstraw writes for #IDEP2023.

The views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of APLE as a collective. The 17th of October is United Nations International Day to End Poverty. It is a globally recognised day to commemorate the impact that the lived experience of poverty has on the life chances and livelihoods of those who live on a low income. There will be events across the world Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Culture Wars- Brian Scott writes for #IDEP2023

The views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of APLE as a collective. (I’ve Got a Bad Feeling About This) It is a period of fear and unrest.  In Westminster the feared Empire is preparing for another attack on those with limited power, say and democratic means to represent themselves in the ‘British’ parliament.  These attacks have happened sporadically over the last 13 years, Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

#LearningDisabilityWeek2023 Chris Burns

Last year I did a blog for Aple to mark learning disability week and I spoke about the achievements the community had made in my time of being involved in it. This one is more unplanned. This week I had a job interview, I also was forced to do a safeguarding alert for myself as the health issues I’m currently going through are impacting my life too much. But as I left the job interview Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

It costs money to be poor. Brian Scott writes for #APLEMonth2023.

For APLE month (June 2023) I’ve been asked to do a blog on health inequalities experienced by those living in poverty.  I will, hopefully, outline my experiences of living with a disability and recent health scare, as well as experiencing financial hardship and also cover the research that the APLE Collective conducted jointly with The Ada Lovelace Foundation on people’s experiences with NHS Primary Care Health Services both before and after the Covid Pandemic. As those Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Developing Partnerships and understanding the impact of data driven systems that deliver medical care and public health interventions: An APLE perspective.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK’s health and social care system has increasingly relied on data-driven systems to deliver medical care and public health intervention to tens of millions of UK residents.  After developing a reputation as campaigners on Digital Exclusion, The APLE Collective were approached by Ada Lovelace Foundation and the Health Foundation to fully understand the impact relating to the rapid move towards data-driven systems and begin exploring to what extent the increasing Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

How does volunteering shape my life? Brian Scott writes for #APLEMonth2023

I’ve been asked to write this blog giving a few thoughts on why I became a volunteer and how it benefits and shapes my life.  First of should fill you in a little bit about my background.  Ever since leaving school/college at 18, I’ve always worked.  I had hoped to be able to go to university at 18 but due to family circumstances, I felt obligated to get a job and bring money into the family household.  I worked Read more…

By aplecollective, ago
man holding a sign saying volunteers needed

Volunteering, a gateway for making a difference for others.

So, I’ve been volunteering for around five years now, in various formats, across different places and various organisations, some with payment for involvement, some just because I felt strongly about it… What do I get from this?… I get purpose, connection, friendship and validity.  I’m at a point where I have a bit of time to offer, which I know not everyone can have, so I am always interested in ways to learn new things, Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

What is APLE Month? #APLEMonth2023

APLE Month takes place every June and is a platform to showcase lived experience voices and promote member organisations and other groups that address poverty. It celebrates the collective fruits of our and others’ work, unifying, amplifying, and celebrating small wins in tackling poverty and inequality. APLE Month raises awareness, tackles stigma, and showcases the importance of lived experience voices. Just as tiny seeds grow into mighty trees, APLE’s voice for people grows, through lobbying Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Care Crisis- Chris Burns

Is the care crisis being cemented by hostility towards those who need care and support? Unfortunately, the quotes were directed for real towards a vulnerable adult in Cornwall. This is not just an issue for Cornwall but for Plymouth and elsewhere too. When society sees people as not people then they simply become figures in the landscape. Social care may not be a deciding factor for Cornwall getting a Mayor. Would a Mayor make any Read more…

By aplecollective, ago