Charlie Radclyffe

@charlierad

Advocates for those injured in military + disabled folk, founder , trustee Disability Together, spinal cord injury, not a lawyer, manage land & forestry @ Dartmoor

1.845 Folgt3.668 Follower6.460 Posts

Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir charlierad.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 24d

Response from DWP Minister, via my MP. Some interesting points.

Dear Sir Mel,

Thank you for your email of 9 July on behalf of Mr Charlie Radclyffe of
Sowton Mill, Dunsford, Exeter, about the Motability Scheme. I am grateful
you have taken the trouble to get in touch about this.

Thank you for writing about the changes to the Motability Scheme. I
understand the concern these changes have caused to Mr Radclyffe and
recognise the vital role the Motability Scheme plays in supporting disabled
people to meet essential travel needs and maintain independence.

Motability Operations is committed to amending the generous service
package so that the Scheme focuses on its core aim and is more in line
with the retail leasing offer. The changes to the leasing package were
announced on 26 March and include reducing the generous mileage
allowance from 20,000 per year to 10,000 per year, the removal of
overseas breakdown cover and a reduction in the number of replacement
tyres.

Motability Foundation has advised that approximately 75 percent of
customers on the Scheme average below 10,000 miles. For many
customers, the standard mileage allowance should provide enough
flexibility for everyday journeys.

However, Motability has acknowledged that every customer's
circumstances are different. On 8 July Motability announced an exceptions process for those who exceed the new mileage limit for
journeys made for healthcare, education and employment. The customer
will need to evidence this extra mileage. This exception process is in line
with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) expectations, and any customer
can request an exception at any point of the lease lifecycle.

More information and how Mr Radclyffe can apply can be found on the
Motability website: www.motability.co.uk/changes/mileage/additional-
support.

Motability Foundation is an independent charitable organisation with
oversight of the Motability Scheme. The Department for Work and
Pensions is responsible for the main disability benefits that provide a
passport to the Motability Scheme...

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 24d

I suspect this map shows the areas of England and Wales that are both rural and more than 30 minutes from a major town or city I find the colours difficult to identify, so I started by looking at Exeter and Plymouth (near me), and the colours changing moving out from the cities

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 24d

@privateeyenews.bsky.social will enjoy this totally neutral question in a Liberal Democrat questionnaire I just answered “Which would you prefer: a hardworking Liberal Democrat Councillor or a Reform Party Councillor?”

Which would you prefer: a hardworking Liberal Democrat Councillor or a Reform Party Councillor?

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 25d

Complaint letter (No.1) going in the post and to be emailed to my Mel Stride, former DWP Minister (so I always enjoy grumbling to him about DWP stuff!)

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding DWP Complaints Procedure – Restriction on
Written Submissions
Dear DWP Complaints Team,
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the current administration of the
DWP complaints procedure, specifically the restriction placed on submitting
complaints about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) decisions via written
channels.
I have reviewed the DWP complaints procedure published at
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-workpensions/about/complaints-procedure
The Problem
Currently, the procedure appears to mandate that complaints regarding specific
services, such as PIP, must be initiated via telephone. The guidance suggests that
written correspondence is reserved only for "a complaint about DWP which is not
related to the service you have received."
This requirement forces me to register a formal complaint about a PIP decision solely by
phone. I find this approach fundamentally flawed for the following reasons:
1. Accuracy of Record: I want to accurately express my complaint to you. I also
want to know that the DWP has accurately recorded the details of my complaint.
Having to submit a complaint about a Personal Independence Payment letter by
phone introduces uncertainties into the accuracy of my representing the
complaint and the accuracy of the DWP agent recording the complaint’s details.
2. Inefficiency: Compelling individuals to call increases the likelihood of error and
could delay complaint processing and resultant action.

Requested Actions:
1. Policy Revision: Allow complaints regarding any DWP service, including PIP
decisions, to be submitted in a written format.
2. Online complaint form: Develop and publish an online complaints form
3. Clarification: Confirm in writing that the postal address provided for general
complaints is valid for all types of grievances, regardless of whether they relate
to a specific service interaction.
4. Acknowledgment: Acknowledge that a "one-size-fits-all" approach to complaint
registration fails to accommodate the needs of individuals who cannot
effectively present their case verbally. Forcing a telephone-only route creates
unnecessary barriers and procedural inefficiencies.

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 27d

Love this sign at Buckfast Abbey!

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 28d

Rush harvesting in a coracle 6yo helping harvest rushes in the Somerset levels with her friend (who made the coracle)

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 28d

Early morning slow worm in the garden (up early because of the heat🤷🏻‍♂️). Always lovely to see. Missing a bit of its tail.

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 28d

So proud of this felt artwork made by my 6yo and two pals to thank a volunteer who teaches them singing each week #proud #dad

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· 29d

I was proud to find my first brown hairstreak butterfly egg in our fields in February this year

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jul 11

Oh we gotta nurture the 10yo in us I struggle to do so and felt soooo proud of buying myself this ice cream the other day!

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jul 10

A story helped by an image. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_...

Age of criminal responsibility. Most of the UK stands out, along with Switzerland and Ireland, as significantly lower than other European countries.

(Scotland’s age is higher than England, Wales or Northern Ireland).

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jul 9

Just had a big win that's a kick to the gut Following my action, the Office for Statistical Regulation #OSR investigated and found the #MOD War Pension Scheme statistical procedures "no longer comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics" osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/wp-content/u...

Our judgement
MOD has considered user needs and communicated when changes to the source system
have occurred for the War Pensions Scheme statistics. However, we have concerns about
some aspects of the approach taken to quality assurance, as well as the impact of system
changes on data quality and the lack of transparency with users about this issue. These
factors mean that, on balance, the statistics no longer comply with the Code of Practice for
Statistics. We therefore support MOD’s request to cancel the accreditation for these
statistics.
Based on the findings of our review, we identified three requirements that MOD must fulfil
before we could reconfirm accreditation of these statistics:
Requirement 1: To anticipate and manage impacts on statistical outputs in a more
proactive and informed way, MOD should build a clearer understanding of the impact of
system workflows, system use, and change management on reporting.
Requirement 2: To enhance transparency and trust in the statistics, MOD should inform
users of the nature and scale of the system change’s impact on the statistics.
Requirement 3: To improve data quality, MOD should introduce steps into the quality
assurance process to check for and correct known errors. In addition, MOD should
explain, in more detail, its current approach to quality-assuring data on clearance times for
claims and appeals.

In addition to our requirements, we have identified two recommendations from our review
that MOD should address. Fulfilling these recommendations is not essential for
accreditation, but would further enhance the statistics’ Trustworthiness, Quality and Value:
Recommendation 1: To reduce the risk of errors and improve the overall accuracy of the
statistics, MOD should seek further opportunities for the analysis team to work with the
data input team to correct data at source and understand how planned changes in
recording practices may impact the statistics.
Recommendation 2: To demonstrate statistical leadership and enhance transparency,
MOD should continue its work to progress production of organisational policy documents
in line with the Code’s Standards for Official Statistics.

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jul 4

Off to my local village show… Love a village show!

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jul 3

With how rarely I leave home in Devon, and the importance of Gloucester Services for my little children surviving car journeys… …my map looks like this at present 🤦🏻‍♂️

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jul 2

The graph on page 15 is helpful too: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a44e9...

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jul 1

6 tonne digger booked from Friday this week If you don’t hear from me by the end of next week, I’n prob stuck under a pile of Devon hillside (I imagine, excitedly so!) #lovediggers

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jun 30

Species-rich permanent grassland

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jun 30

Improved permanent grassland:

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jun 15

I’m grateful to the profile of @jenhenders.bsky.social for introducing me to the Cape Wraith Trail That’s a hell of a walk! Great work Jen for completing it. Maybe one day… maybe…

Map of cape wraith trail across Scotland

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jun 14

@florarenz.bsky.social hey Flora, so chuffed to win MVP at yesterday’s GWBR wheelchair rugby league 1 tournament in Stoke Mandeville A great day and delighted with how our much our team is improving - West Country Hawks. 👍🏻

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Jun 9

Love this Hafiz line that a local restaurant had on the wall at its entrance Well done Rafikis in Ashburton, Devon (amazing cafe/restaurant btw) 🙏🏻

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· May 14

Free emergency info seatbelt covers available to collect in Exeter Police are offering drivers and passengers with additional needs free seatbelt covers to help make communication easier after incidents including road traffic collisions. #disability #Devon #driving

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· May 9

Tomorrow I will be constructing my own 20 metre wide version of the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth. In a field in Bedfordshire. The trick will be turning not only its use but its creation into a meditative practice… and if I pull the latter off, that will be a massive win!

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· May 9

Surname alphabetical order still matters (incovnientally to myself and Mr Rayner) “In 82% of cases the party candidate whose surname appeared highest on the ballot outperformed their party colleague whose surname appeared lowest.” I have to ask why surname order isn’t randomised? 🤷🏻‍♂️

Does surname alphabetical order matter? Yes. P.2

Does surname alphabetical positioning matter? Yes. P.1

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· May 8

Ministry of Defence, Defence Business Services: - Corporate Plan 2025 – 2030 - Annual Delivery Plan 2025 – 2026 This dept pays out £30+ billion a year but never proactively publishes its plans :( Thank you @whatdotheyknow.bsky.social for addressing that #FOI www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mod_...

Defence Business Services annual figures

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· May 8

While I’m gutted about some of my local election results… I’m more upset about some charts coming out today #dataviz #UK #elections This Plymouth one, while not terrible, is still a shoddy representation of Labour’s held majority in Plymouth (admittedly a much reduced hold)

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· May 6

How long does it usually take for a newly passed Act to appear legislation.gov.uk ? Tough to consider the new rules until the final amendments are incorporated and made publicly viewable. I’m specifically looking at the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026: bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909

Your title search for Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 in the English language of Primary and Secondary Legislation has returned no results.

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· May 6

Is the UK weird in having national local elections but not in all the country? 🤷🏻‍♂️

There are no upcoming elections in your area

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Apr 27

Indeed. With the rather wonderful, “how can we design a pistol that meets non-NI pistol firearms legislation?” solution… Enter the long-barrelled .22lr with non-removable arm support, allowing it to classify as a Section 1 firearm.

Charlie Radclyffe@charlierad· Apr 24

What a day for pushing a few miles along the centralExeter river and canal, with friends Ice cream at Lutzy’s on the Quay Nature: herons, cormorants/shags, swans nesting And learnt that wheelchair rugby chairs aren’t well designed for skate parks; but loved giving it a go! Glorious!