Shafted

Warning, this blip is going to contain political ranting so if you're not interested don't read it and then get cross with my slightly left-leaning views.

Ok, I walk through this shopping centre in the North East of England everyday. Shortly after Poundland opened on the right, I overheard a 7 year old ask her mum why there were two pound shops right next to each other. Good question, why are there two pound shops next to each other? Don't get me wrong. Pound shops are great for bargain buys and for struggling families they can be a lifeline, but what this reflects is the low aspirations society has for communities like this. I'm not a big McDonald's fan, but nevertheless it was a place for young people to meet in the town centre and it always seemed to do good business. It has now closed and there are rumours of it being replaced by a Cash Converters. Newcastle United are sponsored by Wonga. In the meantime, there is nowhere in this town where children and young people can buy books, music, games, arts and crafts, all those creative things we used to love doing when we were little. The people of this town are being shafted and deserve much better and everyday there is a whole workforce of Probation Officers out there trying to raise the aspirations of the people we work with in communities like these, and today they too are being shafted. Please get out there, show your support, beep your horn, and sign the online petition against the privatisation of the Probation Service.