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As I sit here it's snowing in parts of the UK and in spite of it being winter here, I’ve got factor 50 sun cream on. Right now, Aileen, myself, Nicola, Karen and Magalie are in the United Arab Emirates - travelling as part of a 180 strong delegation representing Great Britain. We are supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities (learning disabilities) or as they're referred to here, People of Determination, to compete in The Special Olympics World Summer Games. The lesser-known and non-government funded Special Olympics differs from the Olympics or Paralympics in so much as all athletes

November is the TUC’s young workers month, an opportunity to give special attention to the young workforce and young trade unionists. Next year the TUC and affiliated unions are stepping things up and running campaigning, organising and recruitment activity throughout the year. It’s a response to the stark numbers: less than eight percent of workers aged 16-24 are in a union. Not because the jobs that young workers do are well-paid, with fantastic conditions. To the contrary, for many young workers, it’s the opposite. And many are not aware of their rights at work. The issues facing young

A recent WHO report estimated that more than a quarter of people worldwide - 1.4 billion - are not doing enough physical exercise. In the UK, inactivity levels in 2016 were 36 per cent overall – 32 per cent of men and 40 per cent of women. We know that inactivity raises the risk of a raft of health problems, such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes and some cancers. So why is it that the amount of people not doing enough has barely risen since 2001? Our own polling echoes the WHO’s findings, revealing 30 per cent of people with long term conditions are completely inactive each week. Whether it’s

As people receive their July pay packets, I am acutely aware of the complexity of the deal now beginning to be implemented for the England NHS and I know there has also been some recent confusion about what people can expect to receive and when. As a result, I thought it would be helpful to summarise the overall deal but in particular to highlight some useful new resources that should assist. The most complicated part of the agreement has always been the reform element, as 1 million NHS staff move from the old to the new pay and banding system, with a three-year transition period between the

The CSP motto translates roughly as ‘pursue worthy aims’ and for me encapsulates perfectly what it means to be both a physiotherapist and a trade unionist. While working as a junior physiotherapist, I started out as a CSP steward 32 years ago and pursuing worthy aims was very much my goal. I wanted to help my patients, my colleagues and the NHS hospital in which I worked. NHS staff have kept the lights on during the toughest of times Fast forward to six months ago, when I joined other health trade unions to begin negotiating a new pay deal for NHS staff in England, that same feeling drove us

I had no idea how interesting it would be, being a physiotherapist, watching my own body slide away. No, not weight loss, just a steady trickle of small things disappearing as age moves on. At 82 it is becoming more obvious and I have found it intriguing to realise that much of the loss is quietly and subtly neurological. Wish I had understood that when I was working years ago! (and a further ‘No’ - I don't think I have a neurological condition per se). So this is a report on my findings from the 'Far Side' of retirement. Maybe I should add that I am increasingly convinced that you cannot

From time to time, my job is extraordinary - today was one of those times. A call from the CSP press team, and then the BBC and I was on my way to Broadcasting house to sit in a pod and talk to ten regional radio stations about the likely recovery and rehab for Prince Philip, following his hip surgery. Questions ranged from the risks of surgery at his age, to what would be included in a rehab programme to his likely attendance at Prince Harry’s wedding. The experience took me back in time to November 1995, when I was interviewed for ITN news, that time about the Queen Mother’s recent hip

Having just completed a fantastic two years as a council member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy I wanted to reflect on my relationship with the professional body and how we can engage more with the broader membership. Over the last four years, I have had a close relationship with CSP. However, following the recent election, where only 11 per cent of the membership voted, I have not been chosen to lead the profession in the new council. Although I am disappointed I feel strongly that it is now time for me to pass the baton to others. I am writing this blog whilst travelling home from

It would be great if I could write that receiving this letter from the HCPC, a week after successfully renewing on-line, filled me with pleasure that I could display all the knowledge and learning I had gained and put into practice over the last two years. It’s fair to say that would not quite be accurate. Having started a new job five days previously, and continuing as Chair of Council until mid-April my main thought was that they obviously had no idea how much I had to do! And, of course, everyone I told seemed to collapse into giggles, which was not really the sympathetic response I was