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                Are women better savers?

Like driving and cooking, the debate about whether men or women are better savers has been the subject of endless debate.

There is considerable research to support the idea that girl power rules when it comes to stashing cash. According to National Savings & Investments (NS&I) women are starting to overtake men as the nation's top savers. They save a higher percentage of their earnings despite often having smaller salaries. They also save more regularly and have more focus when it comes to their savings goals.

In fact more than a fifth of female savers confess to being a "saveaholic", compared with less than a fifth of men. Women are also harder on themselves than men; nearly a third deny themselves holidays, social engagements and buying new clothes, compared to a just over a quarter of men. And unsurprisingly, 98% of women savers say they enjoy bagging a bargain and using money-off vouchers.

"Although women are affected by the double whammy of lower pay and the fact that many take career breaks or work part-time, they have impressed with both their actual savings and intentions," said Dax Harkins at NS&I.

Women to continue to dominate
This trend is set to continue. By 2020, a power shift will make women the primary decision makers when it comes to financial matters in the home, according to NS&I's new Century of Savings report, which documents the evolution of UK savings habits from 1957 to today.

Women's earning power has been gaining strength over the past 50 years, with their contributions helping to increase disposable income, and it has seen them taking more control over household income, consumption decisions, and other financial arrangements.

"Women have a stronger hand to play than in the past, and will be the key decision makers in many households within a generation," said Harkins. "NS&I's own quarterly savings survey shows that women are consistently aspiring to save more than men, so this should help drive higher savings levels in the future.

"Despite having an earnings advantage over women, men are failing to make the most of their ability to secure their financial future.

"It is perhaps because they averagely earn more and therefore feel more confident about their financial situation that they are more likely to fluctuate the amount they put away and are not showing such strong improvements as women. "

Women on top
So it seems that girls are firmly on top. This is supported by Abbey which says that its range of savings products are attracting more women than men to saving and investing, even if the balances they hold are slightly lower.

And when Britannia Building Society looked at planning ahead and saving for Christmas, it found women are better savers with 11% of women claiming they will have saved for 11-12 months for the festive period compared to just 7% of men. Despite this, modern man is far from an Ebenezer Scrooge as UK men anticipate they will spend more than women with the average cost of the festive season being £710.00 for men versus £537.20 for women.
  Related links

• Compare ISA rates
• Compare rates on savings accounts
• This week’s top-paying ISAs
• This week’s top-paying instant-access accounts
• This week’s top-paying notice accounts

By Sarah Modlock

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Failed Asylum Seekers to Get School and University Fees

Failed Asylum Seekers, who quit the UK voluntarily, will be able to get School and University fees funded by the British Taxpayer.The move comes under an updated version of the  Voluntary Assisted Returns and Reintegration Programme.All applicants will also receive £500 in cash on departure plus a grant for accommodation and childcare costs.

Daily Star 20/10/07

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Married couples set for tax breaks

Married couples could be in line for a tax boost under Labour, a Cabinet minister has signalled. Andy Burnham, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said the tax system should recognise marriage and commitment.In what will be seen as another raid by Gordon Brown on Tory policies, Mr Burnham said: "I think marriage is best for kids. It's not wrong that the tax system should recognise commitment and marriage."

Conservative leader David Cameron has made tax incentives for marriage one of the central issues of his pitch for power.

The policy has previously prompted criticism from Labour ministers that the Tories would effectively discriminate against children with separated parents.

ITN Saturday, 13th October 2007

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WE ARE HOME!

One month, on two wheels, over fifteen hundred miles, these five crazy young people, Daniel Crisp-Team Leader, Matthew Crisp, Kevin K. Kamanu, Paul Clewett and Simon Bunnett, all from the east end of London Swift Youth Club at Memorial Baptist Church, Plaistow, pit their wits against a grueling thirty eight days of Southern European summer heat, and triumphantly, returned home safely on Saturday 8th September 2007.

The Bike Europe Team, from left, Matthew Crisp, Daniel Crisp-the Team Leader, Paul Clewett, Kevin K. Kamanu and Simon Bunnett cutting a 'Victory Cake' on arrival at Swift Centre-Memorial Baptist Church, from the bike-cycle tour.

                    (L-R), Simon Bunnett, Kevin K. Kamanu, Paul Clewett, Matthew Crisp and Daniel Crisp-Team Leader.

.                                                                                                                                                                                           

The team, known as 'The Bike Europe Team', was flagged off from Swift Centre at Memorial Baptist Church in East London on 2nd August 2007 and have cycled from London through France to Barcelona and then skirted the foothills of the Pyrenees and cycled on to Bilbao, returning to London via Portsmouth on 8th September 2007. They did all this to raise £10,000 for the youth club, and in particular for the youth expedition to Dominica in 2008.

On arrival at the Club, where they were welcomed back home by many people including their parents and the Church Minister, Rev' d. Mark Janes,  the Team said, "The Swift Youth Group has played a big part in all our lives and we want to help it continue it's positive work".

The Bike Europe team have so far raised £5096.00 for their causes and the cost of this project: MORE http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/news/http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/why/     http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/news/blog/2007/09/day-18-ouveillon-to-st-cyprien.html

  The Bike Europe Team

                                           Paul Clewett                          Daniel Crisp - Team Leader                         

                                   Kevin K. Kamanu                                     Matthew Crisp

                                                                            Simon Bunnett

ACTION PICS

       .     

 MORE                                                                            

http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/news/
http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/news/blog/2007/08/new-photo.html  

http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/news/

http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/why/

http://www.bikeeurope.org.uk/news/blog/2007/09/day-18-ouveillon-to-st-cyprien.html

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ACK CONSECRATES TWO SUFFRAGAN BISHOPS
     

                                 
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi consecrating Bill Atwood and William Murdoch as Suffragan Bishops of All Saint cathedral Diocese, Nairobi.

"The West used to send Missionaries to Africa and the third world, but now the third world is sending missionaries to the West".        This wa said by the Kenyan Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi as he consecrated Bill Atwood and William Murdoch as Suffragan Bishops od All Saints Cathedral Diocese, Nairobi to serve her international interest in USA where the Church has more than 30

congregations.

The two Bishops will collaborate with others in the  common cause network chaired by the Rt. Rev. Duncan (Pittsburg) to provide Episcopal care and oversight strategically uniting a broad conservative coalition that share historic Anglican faith and practices.

The consecration of the two Bishops was presided over by the ACK Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi and attended by among others 10 Anglican Primates from around the Anglican Communion, a clear testimony that the consecrations are an appropriate response to the challenges of mission in the complex environment in the world today, and the consecration sermon was given by the Primate of West Indies, the Most Rev. Drexel Gomez.

Addressing a Pre-Consecration International Conference, Archbishop Nzimbi said the fabric of the Anglican Communion has been torn by the actions of the Episcopal Church over the issue of same sex unions.

“It is evident that the conflicts in the communion affect us all and we have a responsibility to address the areas that we are able to impact” he said.

He said that the decision to consecrate the two Bishops was after extensive consultation in the Global South with unanimous consent of the Provincial Synod and the ACK House of Bishops.

Archbishop Nzimbi, also, defended the consecrations, telling Reuters news agency on Monday, “We are not invading other people’s territory as such but preaching the gospel, the way it was brought to us, the way it is written.”

Kenyans Attend

The Logo of Protestant Kirchentag

31st German Protestant Kirchentag 2007

(Der Deutscher Evangelische Kirchentag)

(The German Protestant Kirchentag sign of a ‘Fish’).

OVER 150 Kenyan Christian Protestants from Kenya, Canada, USA and UK  traveled to Germany to join their Christian Protestants Brothers and Sisters during the 31st International German Protestant Kirchentag 2007 in Cologne, Germany. This was the  largest, ever, Kenyan Christian group  to attend such an occasion overseas. The Kirchentag, which literally means 'Church Congress', is primarily a free movement of people who have been brought by Christian faith and commitment to the future of the community of the Church and the whole wide-world.

This year's Kirchentag  was held in Cologne German from 6th to 10th June 2007 under the biblical slogan “living and active, and sharper” (Hebrews 4:12).

The Kirchentag has its origins in 1949 at the end of an Evangelical Week in Hanover. It was begun by Reinhold von Thadden-Trieglaf as a lay movement following the isolation of the church from the state during the Nazi era. The purpose was to "draw together the Protestant Germans in order to strengthen their belief; to prepare them for responsibility in their churches; to encourage their witness in the world; and to remain within the community of world-wide Christianity." It is a biannual event which commands the respect of international leaders in churches and politics, and the world-class speakers, on every subject, are found in the programme of the events.

The format hardly changes, although recent Kirchentags have included an Ecumenical Village, reflecting the growing sense of unity and co-operation amongst the churches. The Kirchentag, nowadays, begins on a Wednesday evening at the beginning of the month of June, in the "odd" years, and continues until after the Sunday morning communion service.  The Kirchentag registered 1.1 million visitors and 105,000 permanent participants, who came together, from all over the world, in order to pray, sing and discuss important issues, and for the five days, "living and active and sharper" was the motto to live by in the city of Cologne. Everyone was invited to join in, not just Christians with a Protestant background.

Send-off Prayer Services for the Kenyans who were travelling to Germany from London were held at St. Mathew’s Church, Stratford on 3rd June 2007 and on 4th June 2007 at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi Kenya for those who who were travelling from Kenya. The Germany Ambassador, in Kenya, was one of the honourable guests in Nairobi Prayers. The Anglican Church of Kenya Bishop Timothy Ranji, who was by then in UK, assisted by  Archdeacon Kenneth Kahare - who was the Service Organizer,  Memorial Baptist Church Plaistow, Minister, Rev’d Mark Janes, Pastors John Kimari, Waweru Giteru, Deacon Lawson Kamau  and Ann Wanjiru Kiruthi-Mama Kiruthi, prayed for the UK Kenyans Group. The Kenya High Commission in UK was represented by Mr M. Barno.

These Rwandese Christian Traditional dancers were at hand to entain the Kirchentag Conference participants.

A Group Photograph of some of the Kenyans and the 31st Germany Protestant Kirchentag 2007 organizers from Germany

Mr Kamanu, 2nd left, and two other members of the Kenyan  Group posing for a photograph with the Mayor of Cologne, Lord Mayor Fritz Schramma (centre).	Listening attentively, is Taby of Nottingham UK (2nd left) with other members of the Kenyans Group in one of the many meetings.

Mr. Duncan Ngari-Baba Kanyungu, left, Mr Duncan K. Kamanu and Johana Kambo lighting visitors' candles in the Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

(From left), Taby of Nottingham UK, Mr James Mwangi-Chief Executive Officer Equity Bank, Kenya, Prof. Muhammad Yunus-a Noble Peace Price Winner, Mr Duncan Ngari of Shearforce Security Services UK and a friend during the Germany Protestant Kirchentag 2007 in Cologne Germany.

The Kirchentag Conference, which had 3000 events in 400 locations in Cologne City, registered 1.1 million visitors and 105.000 permanent participants,  who had come together from all over the world in order to pray, sing and discuss important issues. For the five days, "living and active and sharper" was the motto to live by in the city of Cologne.  Everyone was invited to join in, not just Christians with a Protestant background.

Story & Pics by: D.K.Kamanu-Freelance Photo Journalist  

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Four Plaistow Churches Hold A Joint Special Service

FOUR Plaistow Churches, Memorial Baptist Church Plaistow with St Andrews Church (Church in Progress), Plaistow Christian Church, Latimer Church and Plaistow Christian Fellowship, held a Special Joint Sunday Service on 17th September 2006 at Memorial Baptist Church.

The service, whose theme was, 'Unity - Working Together',  was an All Age Service and was led by members of all the churches.

To affirm, their unity as churches, their common purposes and their desire to work together for the sake of the Kingdom, the four Church Leaders declared the following;

''We, together, are part of the Body of Christ, the Family of God, the Church of Christ, Brothers and Sisters, Salt and Light in the world.

We stand together to proclaim 'Jesus is Lord' in our lives and commit to serve Him together in this Borough. We affirm our lives and commitment to each other and will work together as partners in the Gospel. We, the redeemed, shall be strong in purpose and unity, declaring aloud, PRAISE AND GLORY, WISDOM AND THANKS, HONOUR AND POWER AND STRENGTH BE TO OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER", Amen.

'And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in  which God lives by his Spirit.'

Ephesians 2:22

The Cords band Choir was in attendance to entertain the congregation		The Four Churches' Leaders affirming their declaration on full unity
They were all there, young and old to show that Unity has no age barrier		'Yes, it was good', Connie (centre), of Memorial Baptist Church, Plaistow, seems to be telling the other two ladies

Story & Pics by: D.K.Kamanu-Freelance Photo Journalist

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West Ham Central Mission (WHCM) Celebrates 100 years of Foundation and  60 years since 2nd World War

WEST Ham Central Mission (WHCM), on Saturday 4th June 2005, celebrated its 100 years since it was founded, 60 years since the end of Second World War and 25 years  since the opening of Rowntree Clifford Close. The Centenary Celebrations occasion, which was officially opened by the East Ham Member of Parliament, Hon. Stephen Timms, was held at Memorial Baptist Church, Plaistow ground on 4th June 2005, and was attended by many people of all walks. Among them were the the Newham Civil Ambassador Maureen Jones, Rev'd Mark Janes, the Minister in-charge of MBC Plaistow, WHCM Chief Executive Trudy and Rev'd. Dr. Pat Took, the Regional Minister for the London Baptist Association, among the others. The day, which was, also, the WHCM Open Day, was full of all sorts of entertainments. 

The East Ham Air Cades entertained the guests by performing a drill demonstration while the Theatre Train Group presented a War Time Drama and a song. Also, in attendance to entertain the guests was the Memorial Baptist Church Plaistow's Young Peoples' Dance Group. There were stalls selling different kinds of items, Games, Exhibitions, Face Painting and Bouncy castle for the children. The Celebrations were closed by a Service of Thanksgiving in the Church sanctuary led by Rev'd Dr. Pat Took.

A Security Officer was at hand to assist in security and directions/information.	The East ham Air Cadets performing a Drill Demonstration during the Celebrations.	The WHCM Chief Executive Trudy welcoming the guests during the official opening of the Centenary Celebrations in the Church sanctuary.
Mrs Elsie Lewis, 2nd left, the MBC Plaistow Registrar/Elder, explaining a point to some members of the church.	Open stalls were selling all sorts of goods, fancy items, replicas, toys etc.	The West Ham 12th Scouts had a 'Scouts Reunion Lunch' at the Forrest House Garden. 1st on right is  Ronnie.

 

East Ham Member of Parliament, Hon. Stephen Timms, left, Newham Civic Ambassador, Maureen Jones and her Consort Peter Spackman during the closing Thanksgiving Service in the Church Sanctuary.	The Memorial Baptist Church Plaistow's Young Peoples Dance Group entertaining the guests.	Rev. Sylvia Owens, left, WHCM Chief Executive Trudy and a guest during the Thanksgiving Service.
The Memorial Baptist Church Plaistow's Young Peoples Dance Group poses for a group photograph with the East Ham Member of Parliament, Stephen Timms (left), Jill - the dance group leader (behind the children), Consort Peter Spackman and the Newham Civic Ambassador Maureen Jones.	A section of guests who were on attendance during the closing Thanksgiving Service.	The Newham Civil Ambassador, Maureen Jones, third left, poses for group photograph with, (from left), the Memorial Baptist Church, Plaistow, Minister Rev. Mark Janes, the WHCM Chief Executive Trudy, Consort Peter Spackman and the Regional Minister for the London Baptist Association Rev. Dr. Pat Took.

Story & Pics by: D.K.Kamanu-Freelance Photo Journalist

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