HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN RUSTIC HANGING RAIL W
TEACHERS are being expected to “live like students” in halls of residence because of a housing crisis, it has been suggested. School staff, especially young teachers, are being forced to live in unsuitable accommodation, with little chance of getting on the housing ladder, according to the NUT section of the National Education Union (NEU).
Delegates at the union’s annual conference in Brighton also warned that a lack of decent housing can affect young people’s performance in the classroom.
Lucy Coleman, a union member from Oxfordshire, said: “Single people are being forced to live in shared housing. I know of one colleague in her mid-30s who rents a single room in a family home and can only dream of getting on the property ladder.
“I’m told of another who in return for a promise that her rent would not increase has accepted that no repairs will be made to her living accommodation.
“Teachers are also in Oxford being encouraged to live in what is essentially halls of residence. Why are teachers, who are professionals, expected to live like students?
“The current housing situation is unacceptable for many people.”
Ms Coleman, who moved back to Oxford four years ago and is living in private rented accommodation, also told delegates: “Oxfordshire is now the most unaffordable place to live in the UK. It’s increasingly difficult for schools to retain young teachers who are moving to London because it’s more affordable.
“Very few of our students in Oxfordshire will be able to live where they grew up, and I have seen how hard it is for teachers and support staff to find homes which are close to their places of work.
“House prices and rents have continued to rise and there is a lack of affordable housing.”
The union passed a resolution which warned that there is a “national housing crisis with house prices now averaging 6.5 times average annual wages” and that in many cities, the ratio is higher.
“Many teachers - especially young teachers have therefore been forced into private rented accommodation and are unable to afford or even aspire to a family home,” it says.
The motion also argued: “In parts of the country the housing crisis is exacerbating an already serious situation with regard to teacher shortages.” HEN was the last time you worked with wood? For many of us, it was back at school, but don’t let that put you off. Working on a relatively simple and crafty home project can be massively rewarding.
Not only will you learn new skills, enjoy being hands-on and busy creating something brand new, but you’ll also have an amazing new piece of homeware to showcase - and it’s guaranteed to earn you compliments.
Andrea Brugi and Samina Langholz, authors of new book Woodworking, have been restoring a 17th century home and were asked to design a built-in wardrobe in the bedroom. But after working so hard on this home, they couldn’t bear to hide the ancient and beautiful walls.
So, what they came up with instead is this stylish, alternative clothing rail. Comb your nearest beach for a suitable piece of driftwood, then leave your chosen wood to dry out in the sun. Use the sandpaper to clean and polish the rough edges. Run the sandpaper along the stick to make sure there are no splinters or small, rough knots. Using the saw, cut the stick to your desired length. The maximum length should be 150cm, to ensure the stick is strong enough. Loop the leather straps around each end of your chosen branch.
The branch could literally be hung using any material; rope, rough twine, coarse fabric, even an old, fine, silk scarf. You can hang it next to a wall, but it also works beautifully as a room divider.
And while it’s perfect for holding your clothes in the bedroom, you could also use it as an installation for pots and pans over your kitchen sink, swapping the clothes hangers with some beautiful, vintage meat hooks from a butcher.
Woodworking by Andrea Brugi and Samina Langholz is published by Jacqui Small, an imprint of The Quarto Group (£20). Available now.