The Government is now consulting on its plans described in the Welfare Reform Green Paper. You can tell the Department for Work and Pensions what you think about their plans, including Work for your Benefit at their online consultation before the 22nd October.
If you think that the Community Allowance is a good idea and would bring real benefits to people who are long-term unemployed and disadvantaged communities around the country, why not tell your MP about it?
You can contact your MP through the website They Work for You. All you need to do to find your MP is to input your postcode and then you can write to your MP about the Community Allowance. Stuck for time? Here's an idea of what you could write (if you copy and paste this please edit it to make it your own as They Work for You block identical emails):
I am writing to draw your attention to the Community Allowance, a proposal to change the benefits regulations so that community organisations can pay people to do work that strengthens their community without it affecting their benefits. Please take a look at the website www.communityallowance.org watch the film and get in touch with James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for DWP to ask the Government to pilot the Community Allowance as one of the pilots that will be undertaken through the Welfare Reform Green Paper.
While you're at it, why not write directly to James Purnell, Secretary of State for the Departnment for Work and Pensions as well? You can write to him at this address:
James Purnell MP, Secretary of State
Department for Work and Pensions
Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9DA
