YDN Network News

Natalie Campbell’s bid for London Mayor

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:07:33 GMT

Natalie Campbell’s bid for London Mayor

Social entrepreneur Natalie Campbell bid for London mayor

Social entrepreneur Natalie Campbell felt that none of the main political parties were listening to the needs of ordinary Londoners.

Mayoral candidate Natalie Campbell was interviewed at Chalkhill Community Radio to address the young people of Brent, urging them to vote and share their desires on their social channels to engage with politicians and hold them accountable.

Raised in northwest London by her Windrush Generation Jamaican grandparents, Campbell started her career as an entrepreneur early. So she decided to take action. During election seasons.

The real-world experience of running successful social enterprises is something that Natalie Campbell, standing as an independent in the forthcoming London Mayoral elections, believes she can bring to the office of Mayor if elected on May 2nd. She successfully launched her first business before she was 20. Her journey in social enterprise began when she co-founded A Very Good Company (AVGC), a global social innovation agency with the ethos of doing good and spreading good, which worked with major brands such as Virgin Media and Marks and Spencer.

From 2011 to 2018, AVGC worked with businesses and stakeholders, co-creating campaigns related to health, employment rights, and the environment. As a non-executive director, she chaired the Nominet Trust and National Council for Voluntary Youth Service and served on various boards, including UnLtd and Big Lottery Fund UK. Campbell’s social impact also extended to serving on Sadiq Khan’s London Economic Action Partnership and her work as a Civil Service Commissioner.

Now the co-CEO of sustainable drinks company Belu Water and chancellor of the University of Westminster since 2022, she believes her plan to approach the job of Mayor like a CEO who runs a major corporation will usher in an era of transparent governance, free from what she sees as the self-serving actions of career politicians. Her singular focus, as she states in her manifesto, is taking a “zero B.S. approach to rebuilding London”.

Campbell’s election campaign pledges focus on nurturing neighbourhoods, safer streets, and community cohesion. She emphasizes holistic solutions to London’s housing shortages, innovative policing schemes, and sustainable transport for the capital. She plans to establish 320 new neighbourhood centers, each housing 1,300 police officers, a policy aimed at putting officers back into local communities. She aims to reallocate parts of the Mayor’s policing budget to establish youth centers and mental health support for young people. On housing, she pledges to build 40,000 affordable homes, not just for purchase but also for rent.

Jamacianopoly new limited board game

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 14:17:33 GMT

Jamacianopoly new limited board game

Your Digital Network introduces new board game Jamaicanopoly a limited edition board game.

Your Digital Network (YDN) Introduces a Limited Edition Board Game Celebrating Jamaican Heritage.Your Digital Network has once again proven its commitment to making local connections and supporting communities, this time through the introduction of an exciting limited edition board game Jamaicanopoly.

Inspired by the vibrant and culturally rich island country of Jamaica, situated in the heart of the Caribbean Sea, Jamaicanopoly offers players a unique opportunity to engage in property trading while celebrating the essence of Jamaica.

You can immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Jamaican culture as you explore iconic landmarks like the Bob Marley Museum and Dunn’s River Falls on the custom game board. Traditional Monopoly money is replaced with Jamaican currency, adding an authentic touch to the game and providing players with a truly immersive experience.

The game is designed to educate families and children about the most popular landmarks on the island and in still a sense of Jamaican heritage in an entertaining and interactive way. As players navigate the streets of Jamaica, they have the chance to grow their empires, bit by bit, creating a thrilling experience that combines strategy and fun.

Jamaicanopoly has quickly become a sensation in the UK, bringing families together and spreading joy from country to town. Artists such as LA Gray, have even contributed their music to the promotional advertising of this exciting board game.

Stacey McIntosh, a satisfied customer, shared her enthusiasm, saying, “Super fun! Our set did come with metal character pieces that scream Jamaica. My 10-year-old loves Jamaicanopoly.”

Reviews pouring in from delighted customers further attest to the game’s success.

Rowe Lucas commended the quick delivery and friendly customer service: “Arrived quickly and provided friendly customer service, which is pretty hard to find these days.”

For more information and to read additional reviews, visit the Jamaicanopoly website or To get your hands on this limited edition board game that promises unlimited fun, contact

www.chalkhillcommunityradio.com

Blaze at 07956548781 or Isaac at 07535644850.

Don’t miss your chance to roll the dice and embark on an adventure of building your empire, all while celebrating Jamaica with Jamaicanopoly.

Community Gospel Choir and special guests to celebrate at the Royal Albert Hall

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 10:42:11 GMT

THE London Community Gospel Choir will be joined by some very special guests as they return to the Royal Albert Hall for their annual Christmas show this week.

‘Tis the season for a spectacular celebration of music, faith, and joy as The London Community Gospel Choir takes center stage at the iconic Royal Albert Hall for their annual Christmas extravaganza.

This Tuesday promises an unforgettable festive soirée, with the renowned choir joined by a constellation of musical luminaries. Brace yourself for an evening featuring the soulful Beverley Knight, the melodious singer-songwriter Dani Miché, the smooth R&B and jazz vibes of Tony Momrelle, and the dynamic energy of singer, musician, and producer JJ Rosa.

Since their formation in 1982, the London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) has been a beacon of unity, love and peace and sharing there faith for the creator through the power of music and faith. Pioneering the sounds of British gospel music, the choir skyrocketed to fame, earning a well-deserved reputation as Europe’s leading gospel brand and one of the most sought-after choirs across the global stage.

With a rich history spanning 41 years, LCGC has graced some of the UK’s most prestigious events and venues, including the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, the legendary Glastonbury Festival, the historic Live 8, and the impactful World Aids Festival. Notably, they hold a Guinness World Record for assembling the largest Mass Gospel Choir, a testament to their global influence.

Their impressive resume includes collaborations with music legends such as Tom Jones, Elton John, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Adele, Blur, The 1975, and the incomparable Mariah Carey, among a host of others.

Hosted by the delightful Smooth Radio personality, Angie Greaves, the show promises an enchanting blend of uplifting festive tunes and timeless gospel classics. Get ready to be transported into a realm where the spirit of Christmas resonates through soul-stirring melodies and harmonies, courtesy of the London Community Gospel Choir and their illustrious guests. This Christmas, let the Royal Albert Hall be the backdrop to your unforgettable musical journey.

Leonn Meade, Creative and Musical Director of London Community Gospel Choir says

“We’re very much about bringing people together, celebrating life, hope and love in such an incredible atmosphere”

Tributes pour in for Legendary dup poet Benjamin Zephaniah

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 10:31:07 GMT

Legendary dub poet and writer Benjamin Zephaniah following has passed at aged 65.

TRIBUTES have poured in for the legendary dub poet and writer Benjamin Zephaniah following his passing aged 65. Tributes are flooding in for the Legendary dub poet and writer, Benjamin Zephaniah, who passed away

The Birmingham born creative was a member of the Windrush generation with Barbadian mother and Jamaican father, and was renowned for popularising his poetic prose that challenged governments and pushed new ways of political thinking.

Benjamin grew up in Handsworth in the 60s and 70s, just a few years shy of racial uprisings from the Black community that gripped the West Midlands region and other cities around the UK.

After moving to London at the age of 22, he published his first book Pen Rhythm. Benjamin was lauded for bringing dub poetry, a Jamaican-inspired form of poetry, to the British mainstream.

bringing dub poetry, a Jamaican-inspired form blending spoken word with reggae rhythms, into the British mainstream. His sad passing was announced on social media just eight weeks ago after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Benjamin, who famously rejected an OBE from the British monarchy, received kind tributes following news of his death. A principled stance that garnered respect. Tributes flowed in from political figures, recognising his impactful contributions.

The TV world also mourns his loss, with accolades for his role as Jeremiah Jesus in “Peaky Blinders.” Co-star Cillian Murphy described him as a “truly gifted and beautiful human being,” expressing deep sorrow at the news.

Aston Villa, the football club Zephaniah passionately supported throughout his life, joined in paying homage, stating, “Everyone at Aston Villa is deeply saddened.” Lord Simon Woolley of Cambridge University acknowledged Zephaniah’s profound impact on the Black community and wider society, describing him as a “colossus” and a storyteller of hope and resilience.

Benjamin, who was a life-long Aston Villa supporter, had his team also pay tribute to him.

In a statement, the club said: “Everyone at Aston Villa is deeply saddened by news of the passing of legendary writer and poet, Benjamin Zephaniah. Named as one of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers in 2008, Benjamin was a lifelong Aston Villa fan and had served as an ambassador for the Aston Villa Foundation.

“The thoughts and condolences of all at the club are with his family and friends at this time.”

Harlesden rapper Nines charged with class B drug offences

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 12:54:57 GMT

Rapper Nines has been charged with drug offences after he was arrested at Heathrow Airport.

Rapper Nines, also known as Courtney Freckleton, is facing drug charges following his arrest at Heathrow Airport last Wednesday. The 33-year-old musician, residing in Bushey, Hertfordshire, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday in custody.

A video circulating on social media shows Nines, hands cuffed behind his back, being escorted through Heathrow by four officers. The artist’s recent album, Crop Circle 3, peaked at number two on the UK charts last month, garnering mixed reviews from fans.

Criticism on Reddit questions Nines’ hype, comparing him to M1llionz and expressing confusion about his status in the UK drill scene. Some fans argue that he talks on a beat similar to M1llionz, raising questions about Nines’ perceived overrating.

UK drill faces criticism for its alleged influence on violence, with concerns about its impact on young communities. The genre traces its roots to grime. UK drill gained traction in Lambeth, particularly Brixton, through independent YouTube uploads by artists associated with gangs like 150, Uptop, and 67.

The broader context of UK drill music is under scrutiny due to its alleged influence on violence, particularly in areas where the genre has gained popularity. The term “trap,” commonly associated with illegal drug markets and “trap houses.” These locations are fortified drug houses with only one way in and one way out, making them challenging for law enforcement to penetrate is part of drill culture.

Nines, residing in Fuller Close, Bushey, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on November 17.

He faces charges related to the supply of cannabis, possession of the Class B drug, and breaching a serious crime prevention order. The charges include not disclosing his address to the police and possessing an unregistered phone and laptop. Nines has since been bailed to appear at Kingston Crown Court

Nines could use this period to reflect on his personal and professional choices, possibly addressing the criticism and confusion surrounding his status in the UK drill scene. The outcome of the legal proceedings will undoubtedly influence the narrative surrounding his career, adding a layer of complexity to his artistic journey.

As the legal drama unfolds, fans will anticipate updates on Nines’ situation and hope for a positive resolution.

Only time will reveal the path he chooses and the impact it will have on his standing in the music industry.

Three little birds

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 09:51:43 GMT

ITV’s new drama Three Little Birds is set to broadcast soon on the channel and it is written by comedian Lenny Henry.

ITV’s highly anticipated new drama, “Three Little Birds,” is gearing up for its premiere, and it’s not just another show, it’s a captivating tale written by the comedic genius Lenny Henry himself.

Featuring a stellar cast including Rochelle Neil, Saffron Coomber, and Yazmin Belo, the series draws inspiration from the vivid narratives of Henry’s mother and aunt, recounting their journey to Britain in the 1950s.

The storyline unfolds The storyline unfolds with Leah (Neil) and her sister Chantrelle (Coomber) embarking on a compelling mission—to accompany their friend Hosanna (Belo) from Jamaica to Britain. The ultimate goal? To potentially unite her with their brother Aston in holy matrimony.

Lenny Henry the British actor, comedian, singer, television presenter, producer and writer sheds light on the essence of the show, stating, “It’s about overcoming, it’s about women and feminism. They literally came to this country, worked tirelessly, brought their families over, and the show encapsulates that. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions—joyful, poignant, and visually stunning.”

The series, produced by the dynamic duo of Henry and Russell T Davies, promises six episodes packed with drama, heart, and a touch of nostalgia. Brace yourselves for the riveting tales of “Three Little Birds” as they unfold on ITV1

“Rush: A Joyous Jamaican Journey” set to dazzle audiences at Troubadour Theatre

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 11:32:57 GMT

Rush Theatre Company is set to dazzle audiences with “Rush: A Joyous Jamaican Journey” on October 14th at the Troubadour Theatre in Wembley Park.

Transport yourself 75 years back when the Windrush pioneers arrived in England, carrying dreams and aspirations for a brighter future. Today, we stand on the shoulders of those brave souls who embarked on that transformative journey, celebrating the incredible accomplishments of the past seven and a half decades.

The heart and soul of RUSH Theatre Company’s electrifying musical mission is to to offer audiences an immersive and educational journey. Through a dynamic blend of visual arts and music from around the globe, RUSH aims to create inclusive, exhilarating, and exceptional theatrical experiences. The production also features a Windrush Exhibition, “The Picture of Us Here” and “The Audacity of Hope Exhibition.”

Having wowed audiences at renowned venues such as The Lowry Theatre in Manchester, Ulverston’s The Coro, Liverpool Playhouse, Derby Playhouse, Leeds Playhouse, The Hawth, York Theatre, Wolverhampton Grand, Hackney Empire, The Grove Theatre Dunstable, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Oxford Playhouse, Watford Palace, Doncaster CAST, and Croydon Fairfield Halls, RUSH is now ready to mesmerize at The Troubadour Theatre.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary journey. Grab your tickets now and immerse yourself in to “Rush: A Joyous Jamaican Journey” at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on October 14th.

RUSH and get your tickets before they’re gone! www.windrushlegacy.com or www.troubadourtheatres.com .

UK UNSIGNED celebrates 25 years

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:33:31 GMT

UK UNSIGNED celebrates 25 years by giving away £2500 at its launch.

Get ready for the party of the year as UK UNSIGNED , powered by the dynamic force of SABA, a UK registered performing arts charity, gears up for a sensational 25th-anniversary celebration that promises to be the event of the year!

Over the past two decades, UK UNSIGNED has soared to become the unrivalled champion of showcasing and nurturing talent in the UK. Our mission? To catapult unsigned, homegrown talents into the spotlight, providing them with a dazzling stage to dazzle the industry.

From humble beginnings, UK UNSIGNED has evolved, delivering over 100 electrifying shows annually, transcending venues ranging from quaint pubs and local theatres to colossal concert arenas. Our talent competition segment has ascended to become the UK’s premier talent quest, nurturing a legacy of stars.

UK UNSIGNED has left its mark at iconic venues including the London Astoria, Hackney Empire, and Shepherds Bush Empire. We’ve also been part of major events like the London Mayor’s Respect Festival, Luton Carnival, and the Bloodstock Metal Festival. Our support has extended to arenas like the Millennium Dome, Earls Court, and Alexander Palace.

Through UKUNSIGNED, we’ve seen incredible talents soar to stardom, like Leona Lewis , known for global music success and mesmerizing performances like the Beijing Olympics. The Flawless Dancers, who conquered national dance tours and starred in “Street Dance – The Movie, ” and Katie Melua , a multi-platinum-selling sensation with successful worldwide tours.

This is just a glimpse of the multitude of artists who’ve graced the UK UNSIGNED stages across the nation over the years.

Now, as UK UNSIGNED marks its silver jubilee, we’re cranking up the excitement!

Join us on Saturday, September 9th, at the magnificent Troubadour Theatre in Wembley Park, HA9 0SP , as we launch our 25th-anniversary celebrations in grand style. Special guest Big Zeeks will be there to elevate the energy!

But that’s not all! In the spirit of celebration, UK UNSIGNED is giving away a staggering £2500 in cash prizes. That’s £100 for each of our glorious years. Get ready for an epic night of competition, as we award £500 Battle Prizes in multiple categories, including Dance Group Seniors (16 plus), Dance Group Juniors (15 & Under), MCs (Male), MCs (Female), and Singers Battle (Covers & Singer Songwriters).

And if you remember ‘King of The Track’ Dennis Alcapone from 1974, Singer-Songwriter Paul Dawkins, International Soul Singer-Songwriter Zalon (the main vocalist for the late Amy Winehouse), THE FRESH PRINCE OF HARLESDEN Big Zeeks, UK Female Rapper Sim Simma, the UK’s first female reggae band – Akabu, Reggae Star Factor winner L.A. Gray, Mr. Churps, Tinez aka Marley, and Gospel singer Teejah, then you’re in for a treat! They will all be gracing our stage for a night of unforgettable live music.

If you know about any of these artists and you fancy an evening of being entertained with live music from all of the above alongside a LIVE competition of MCs, Dancers, Singers, and much more, then don’t miss out!

Book your ticket NOW at https://ticketing.kxtickets.com/…/uk-unsigned-745497

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this historic event. Register for FREE now at

www.ukunsigned.co.uk. Remember, registration fees will apply after September 9th.

Join UKUNSIGNED as we embark on this electrifying journey into our 25th year, celebrating the UK’s most exceptional talents and setting the stage for the next generation of stars. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

Twelve-year-old boy plays DJ set after sign plea

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 12:20:45 GMT

Young DJ Hypester’s Dream Come True: From Sign Holder to Festival Headliner.

A 12-year-old boy, Harry Frost, hailing from Woolton Hill, recently lived out a remarkable dream when he transformed from a sign holder into a festival headliner. Harry, who has been passionately DJing for five years under the moniker DJ Hypester, graced the stage with his drum and bass set at CarFest, in Overton, Hampshire, on a memorable Sunday night.

Accompanied by his supportive parents, Harry’s family brought along a USB stick containing some of his music, just in case the opportunity to perform presented itself. This golden chance materialized when festival organizers noticed the placard Harry held aloft, bearing the simple but heartfelt message, “Let me DJ.”

Even prominent figures in the UK’s drum and bass scene, Chase and Status, took notice of Harry’s talent. They hailed him as a “legend in the making” after catching glimpses of his performance on social media. The duo went further, extending their well wishes for a promising DJ career ahead.

Speaking to the BBC, Harry revealed, “I was pretty nervous, but I was saying to myself ‘nerves are good,’ because that’s what gives me the adrenaline rush, and I like the adrenaline on stage.” It’s clear that Harry thrives in the spotlight.

Remarkably, Harry faces unique challenges as he lives with autism and ADHD. His mother, Barbra, views these conditions as assets rather than hindrances to his musical prowess, noting that they contribute to his “fantastic memory.”

Notably, Harry’s connection to CarFest runs deep, having attended the festival since he was a mere two years old. His experience came full circle when he had the opportunity to meet CarFest founder and former Radio 1 DJ, Chris Evans.

Looking ahead, Harry aspires to return to the festival next year and showcase his talents with an even more extended set. The young DJ’s journey from holding a sign to headlining a festival stage is not only an inspiring testament to his dedication but also a heartwarming example of the power of dreams coming true. Harry Frost, DJ Hypester, is undoubtedly a name to watch as he continues his meteoric rise in the music world.

Musical Evolution: Blanco’s Journey through Grief, Prison, and Angolan Roots in London Drill”

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:23:19 GMT

Born in London in 1999 to Angolan refugees who fled civil war, Joshua, known as Blanco, has metamorphosed from a prominent subcultural figure into a transformative musical artist. His journey, marked by resilience and introspection, reflects the evolution of UK drill music and the challenges it faces.

Blanco’s roots trace back to South London, settling in Kennington after moving around. Schooled near the Oval cricket ground, his life took an unexpected turn with imprisonment. Behind bars, the loss of loved ones, including his father, ignited profound self-discovery. The funeral of his father, where he was cuffed to a prison officer, underscored the significance of family and heritage, revealing the stark contrast between his life and his parents’ refugee struggles. Blanco says, “I didn’t know my parents were refugees until I was grown, One day my dad just started telling us stories about his life. I was in shock, because his life was so different to mine. It was so much harder. Prison was a mistake. I didn’t want to go back.”.

Inspired by these revelations, Blanco distanced himself from the gritty UK drill scene, which had defined his artistry. The murder of a fellow Harlem Spartans member deepened his introspection. The group, marked by youthful energy, incorporated homegrown beats fusing sub-bass from garage and grime’s patois-laden language. This departure from US drill’s aggression resonated widely.

Yet, as drill gained notoriety, it attracted media scrutiny and police intervention. The Met’s requests led to the removal of videos deemed provocative. In 2020 alone, YouTube, complying with the London Metropolitan Police’s appeals, removed 319 drill music videos. This, coupled with drill’s global growth, set the stage for change.

Blanco’s narrative is a microcosm of drill’s evolution, navigating societal challenges while reshaping its identity. As UK drill continues its transformation, artists like Blanco drive a nuanced exploration of the crossroads between culture, art, and adversity.

Former PM in talks for I’m A Celebrity 2023

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 12:43:52 GMT

Boris Johnson, the former prime minister is in talks to enter the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!

The shamed former Prime Minister is expected to turn down the invitation to jet Down Under due to making a lucrative amount already at after-dinner speeches.

If Johnson joins the ITV show this wouldn’t be the first time he seems to to appear to be mirroring his father actions or even his fathers ideas. As his father Stanley Johnson released a book Initially published in 1982 as The Marburg Virus, Johnson’s The Virus reveals uncanny parallels with the corona virus the outbreak as well. The book is about a mysterious and deadly disease, the origins of which are traced to a medical student infected by a green monkey. It features an epidemiologist as its hero and a desperate search for a vaccine.

Now if Boris Johnson was to appear on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! He would be following in the footsteps of his father and also two former close colleagues in his own cabinet. Six years ago, his dad, Stanley Johnson, also appeared on the hit ITV show.

Johnson stood down as the Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in June.

An investigation into the Partygate scandal found he had misled parliament and recommended a lengthy suspension from the House of Commons.

He declared he was “very sad to be leaving parliament – at least for now.”

His enforced departure from politics came nine months after he resigned as PM after a police fine for breaking his own set Covid rules.

SABA Charity Newsletter

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 11:17:59 GMT

On 24th June, Your Digital Network (YDN) held the annual MiniFestival at the Grange in Neasden, this year with a greater focus on celebrating the Windrush generation for the 75th anniversary of their first arrival in Britain. Click the button below read more about the event.

Dee Digital Music at Croydon Queens Garden Mural reveal event

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 14:43:05 GMT

Dee Digital Music at Croydon Queens Garden Mural reveal event

Dee Digital Music/ Child minded project young participants meets Mayor at Croydon Queens Garden Mural reveal.

Dee Digital Music created Childminded Project which is in partnership with YDN and SABA Network; had been approved by the National Lottery fund. Danielle Smith, the founder and Director of this projects aim is to take on Croydon young adults from 18- 25 who are not currently in employment, education or training. This is to develop their talent and enhance their employability. The organisation helps young adults by promoting positive music through many connections including YDN Radio and podcasts Including through our very own Dee Digital radio podcast station. This project was designed to encourage Croydon-based young adults to be more mindful of the content and the influence their artistry has on children and young adults. To become great role models to future generations by being childminded and childminders of our future generations with what they do and the content they create. To bring awareness to the implications of negative music such as drill has on the young and society.

By providing music production, media production, and filming opportunities to get young adults to focus on positive music representations.

The young creatives from the Dee Digital Project have completed this project successfully, they created a song which they choose to be about overcoming heart break, they created this song in a short amount of time and then created their music video representing Croydon which included the Croydon Queens Garden Mural by Mat https://www.instagram.com/atmastudio/

They also created a podcast talk show where they delve into the realm of drill music, exploring its adverse impact on society and personal well being in current times.

His Mural was an Artist time line of musical history in Croydon that featured artist such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Avril Coleridge-Taylor, Captain Sensible, Stormzy, Nadia Rose and more.

Nathan, one of the young participants from the Dee Digital Project gave this statement on his experience"

“ I enjoyed the experience and was happy to have support from Danielle and Anne Michelle from the start to finish on the project”

Thanks to the approval from the National Lottery fund and the brilliant partnership with YDN this project made great success in the Croydon area including support from the Croydon Mayor who they met at the Queens Garden Mural

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR4FPsX9hp4

Listen on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/track/3h2WDNhbi8FdFEE55BR9TL?si=5836e09ce7014c5d

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/deedigitalmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deedigitalmusiccm/

The Young participants from the Dee Digital Music Child minded project released their Music video on the 1st July 2023 that features the Croydon Mural you can support this project by liking there Social media.

Help them achieve there goals by Watching and Subscribing there music video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR4FPsX9hp4

Listen on Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/track/3h2WDNhbi8FdFEE55BR9TL?si=5836e09ce7014c5d

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/deedigitalmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deedigitalmusiccm/

Neasden Grange Open Mic Competition

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 10:39:48 GMT

The UK Unsigned open Mic Competition in Neasden this Saturday.

The first event YDN mini festival will be holding Uk Unsigned open mic Competition on Saturday 24th of June, at The Grange, Neasden Roundabout, NW10 1QB from 2pm – 8pm.

Charity, SABA (Society for the Advancement of Black Arts), leads a community network that includes a partnership with community groups YDN, Ultra Education and Aleto Foundation. This partnership has created the WINDRUSH ARENA LEGACY 2098 project (see www.windrusharena.com ). This will include projects running throughout this summer ad culminates with a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Windrush on Saturday 28th, October at Wembley Arena.

Amongst the special guests will be Dennis Alcapone, the only surviving MC from the start of MC culture that was brought to the UK through the Windrush pioneers, 75 years ago.

The UK Unsigned open Mic Competition will be offering the winner A chance to perform at Wembley Arena

£7,500 worth of prizes including

£5000 for overall winner

Mini festival

and will be held on the 24th June, Neasden Grange NW101QB

https://www.ukunsigned.org.uk/

Email: artists@windrusharena.com

Plymouth STREET FACTORY

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:06:24 GMT

Plymouth STREET FACTORY

The Plymouth Street Factory Performance Project

For over 15 years, Street Factory has used Hip-Hop to transform lives.

The co-founders, Toby G and Joanna Gorniak established the organisation on seeing how many young people were affected by the challenges they faced and were struggling with low aspirations.

The Plymouth dance crew called Street Factory led by Toby G and his wife Jo Gorniak appeared in a five part series on BBC iPlayer last year. The series featured dancers across several different genres and the performances were filmed at five different locations predominantly throughout all four nations of the United Kingdom.

There company aims to unite and empower the local community through dance and educational projects for young people and adults.

The elements of Hip-Hop that they incorporate through their work are Respect, Peace, Love, Unity and Fun. They are now established in Plymouth to help people in the community to exceed their potential and fall in love with their purpose.

The programme is supported by the National Community Fund, and following local community research, they established an initiative to help youths move towards the best versions of themselves.

These groups include:

· UK UNSIGNED: providing event management opportunities across their many genres. In the lead up to the project, they had been active in locally in the categories of Singer Songwriters and Spoken Word. Both of which are strongly connected to Mc’ing performances.

· Plymouth Music Collective: where community events can be planned and performers accessed. As they provide rehearsal and recording facilities for local musicians and artists, they are a next stage point for those coming through this project

· SoulFooD Community Group: delivering community broadcast centres across Plymouth. The broadcast centres provide further opportunities for youths to share their experiences. Within these centres will be other people who will benefit from hearing about the experiences of those on this project.

· YDN Radio Tresegeal: just one of the newly formed broadcast centres. Their programming specialises in local poets and Spoken Word performers being given an outlet to reach even more communities across Plymouth.

Contact

Email: streetfactorystudios@hotmail.com

Tel: 07527 887 893

Stormzy the rapper transformed #Merky into a music label

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:11:56 GMT

Stormzy the rapper transformed #Merky into a music label

The UK grime rapper transformed #Merky into a music label, a book imprint, and advocacy campaigns—something that could become impossible in the new Twitter era.

Stormzy, 29, has been using #Merky on Twitter and other platforms since he was an underground phenom back in the mid-2010s. He has built on his network around the hashtag as his popularity has grown.

When Stormzy began building his #Merky network, he grew it the traditional way by tagging tweets or Instagram photos, drawing in followers in the process. It was a steady rise that built a stable fan base. For some, social media success can come much faster.

#Merky label, now affiliated with Def Jam. His #Merky Foundation funds scholarships for Black students at the University of Cambridge. #Merky Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, is dedicated to publishing underrepresented voices and also released Stormzy’s own Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far.

To get more Black people hired in prominent positions throughout professional soccer. He launched, #Merky FC, a partnership with Adidas to launch a soccer-based initiative aimed at helping young Black people secure roles off the pitch. (The word itself, if you’re wondering, generally connotes quality and strength. “I get merky / they get worried,” he raps on 2017′s “Shut Up.”)

#Merky long ago moved beyond its origins, and these days the rapper uses social media only fleetingly, but still, Stormzy’s hashtag campaign stands as a singular use of online platforms. As Twitter enters its ever-evolving, Elon Musk phase, and as TikTok is growing in popularity, it’s worth wondering: Will future enterprising musicians be able to follow Stormzy’s lead and find ways to bend social media to their will.

Sky’s the Limit

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:30:31 GMT

Sky’s the Limit

Creative inclusion and the BBMC presents Sky’s the Limit open day in London.

BBMC open day is calling all young creatives 16-30 to their open day on Friday 16th of December 2022. This event will be held at the BBMC all in one Learning centre, 365 High Road Wilsden, London, NW10 2JR

This workshop is for all SUPER CREATIVE young people to learn new skills and sample taster workshops in:

Scriptwriting
Radio production
Music Production
Live instruments
Workshops
Event Management
Editing & film production
Editing & film production

Go to Eventbrite.co.uk or call 07956398530 to attend the event and find out more

www.creativeinclusion.org.uk

Britain’s Economic Woes

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:35:05 GMT

Britain’s Economic Woes

Britain like much of the Western world is in the midst of an economic and political crisis. We have had 3 Prime Ministers in the last 2 months, one of which has the shortest premiership of any previous PM, and we are facing a recession and fuel shortages in the winter. Much of the media blames these crises on the sanctions that Europe and North America have placed on Russia in response to their invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s decision to cut off oil and gas supplies to Europe as a result. This has caused a fuel shortage throughout the continent and contributed to a steep rise in fuel costs which spurred inflation. However, this was not the sole cause of our economic troubles.

During Covid governments around the world chose to spend hundreds billions supplementing the income of the working class as they were unable to actually work. This money inevitably went to the richest people in our societies as while regular people stopped working and largely stopped spending, they still had to pay their rents and their mortgages. As a result, all of the money the government put into the hands of ordinary people ended up in the hands of the rich who own the houses that people rent and the banks that they pay their mortgages to. Once all of those rich people got their hands on that money they did what rich people tend to do with money and bought more property, more assets, more items that they expect will only increase in value. This caused the stark rise in house prices and mortgage rates that we see now and initiated the inflation crisis that is being experienced the world over. The average rich person increased their wealth by 22% in the first year of Covid and the average billionaire increased their wealth by £620million. £600 billion went from the government to the rich in the UK over the 2 years that the pandemic had a tight grip on the world. Inequality has grown at an alarming rate which has fuelled this economic crisis and is the cause of the incoming recession.

This economic situation is the result of choices made by the British government. The choice to sanction Russia along with the rest of Western Europe was short-sighted as Russia is able to sell gas to the entire world whereas Europe has no real alternative to Russia fuel as we can see. Additionally if instead of prolonging the war we chose to negotiate an end to the conflict with Russia we wouldn’t have to continue these sanctions and could resume buying Russian gas. Furthermore, our government has refused to tax the increasing profits of companies that have benefitted from these price hikes. Instead the government under Truss proposed tax cuts to the rich as if that had a chance of growing the economy. This inevitably failed as the market did not accept tax cuts as they knew that the money the government wanted to borrow would not be paid back. Tories then chose a leader who will commit to government spending cuts instead, cuts to the vital and already underfunded social services that much of the country lives off, cuts that will only affect the working class.

Additionally, in the face of rising inflation many companies have sought to maximise their profits by arbitrarily raising their prices. Regardless of whether or not they were being impacted by the rising costs of fuel and even if they were the price increase does not reflect the new cost of business. This has seen prices rise across the board meanwhile wages have stagnated with CEOs refusing to increase their workers pay in line with inflation in many key areas of the economy. We’ve seen thousands of public and private workers strike over the summer across the nation and will likely see many more. The refusal to raise wages in line with inflation has also seen the rich get even richer as they make more in profit by raising the prices of their goods and not lowering the cost of business i.e. wages, as inflation means that those workers who don’t secure a pay rise are in fact seeing a pay cut. Companies such as Shell and BT have seen record profits this year by implementing these practices.

The change that we need is impossible in the current political climate. Corporations have too strong a hold on power and as such any political alternative that would see them lose out on profit is stopped from coming to fruition. Even now in the face of rising inflation and low growth the only option portrayed in the media is more spending cuts as taxing the money making assets of the rich is not seen as an option. These cuts will dismantle the basic services that allow the country to function, police, schools, hospitals etc won’t be able to operate fully. There will be job losses for those who work in public services as more people are forced to compete for the same jobs. This will make wages fall as desperate workers agree to lower salaries that will make them less able to deal with the rising costs brought about by inflation. This means less money in the pockets of ordinary people and less growth in our economy which is exactly what happened under austerity last decade. The UK had the longest and deepest recession compared to other countries in the Western world precisely because our government chose to make cuts instead of putting money into the hands of ordinary people.

We need to follow the example of more successful countries that aren’t failing so miserably to improve the lives of their citizens. Many Scandinavian countries have bettered their quality of life by investing profits from publicly owned companies that harvest natural resources into the state apparatus, for example Norway with the state run company Equinor. In the Far East we see China having massively improved the quality of life of its people by seizing the profits of the private sector and reinvesting them into their society, doing much to reduce the rural urban divide in wealth even going so far as to end extreme poverty in the country lifting 800 million people out poverty across the nation in 40 years. If the government actually wants to better our economy it needs to set about investing in our society. We should be investing in green energy projects, better healthcare and education systems and housing. We need an investment strategy that puts money into the hands of working people and a tax system that prevents inequality from growing. There are alternatives to the current system and we shouldn’t be held hostage by outdated politics.

London Vets Ballerz, Black History FINAL Cup 2022

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 12:33:50 GMT

Sunday 30th October 2022 will be the Final of the Black History FINAL Cup 2022.

Introducing you to Conway Blake who has set up his own football league in the face of several obstacles from industry representatives who should really be supporting him.

London Vets Ballerz is affiliated with the F. A , they run our football league and league cup

also an annual World Cup Football Tournament and Family Day for the community.

They have started a Black History Football Cup this year with football clubs from west & south London.

Conway is getting good support from various top footballers (both present and retired) and media personalities for his league. He has set up a special Black History Month tournament that will feature clubs from across London. The Final of this competition is October 30th and will be held in Coliers Wood. Conway is based in Ealing and is very familiar with Brent.

Sunday 30th October 2022 will be the Final.

We would to invite you and friends & family

To our event, if you’re available

London Vets Ballerz

Presents

In Partnership with SEAKAID

& AMATEUR FOOTBALLER

Black History FINAL Cup 2022

Spectators FREE ENTRY

SUNDAY 30TH October 2022

WEST LONDON RAMS

LONDON SOUTH UNITED

LIVINGSTONE

2.00 PM KO

COLLIERS WOOD F.C

KINGSTON UPON THAMES

SW20 AA

Conway, Flex is the station manager of www.chalkhillcommunityradio.com

This is part of our national network of community broadcast centres www.yourdigitalnetwork.org.uk

Sky News faces Ofcom investigation after Chris Kaba protest mistaken for royal mourners

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 14:55:57 GMT

598 viewers had complained after the presenter identified the crowd moving through central London as royal mourners.

The event paying tribute to Chris Kaba has caused upset leading to Ofcom’s involvement and has launched an investigation after Sky News incorrectly described protests against the death of Chris Kaba as crowds paying tribute to the Queen.

The broadcasting watchdog said 598 viewers had complained after presenter Sarah-Jane Mee identified the crowd moving through central London as royal mourners.

A spokeswoman for Ofcom said: “We are investigating whether this programme broke our rules requiring news to be reported with due accuracy.”

The event on Saturday, September 10 saw hundreds turn out to support the family of Mr Kaba, from Wembley, who was shot dead by armed Metropolitan Police officers in south London.

Mr Kaba, 24, was killed on September 5 following a police pursuit of his car which ended in Streatham Hill, south London. The Audi he was driving was hemmed in by two police vehicles in Kirkstall Gardens, a narrow residential street, and one round was fired from a police weapon.

The Metropolitan Police officer involved has been suspended by the force and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating.

Rapper Stormzy and Hackney Labour MP Diane Abbott were at the protest event for Chris Kaba in the capital, which saw supporters carrying signs saying “Justice for Chris Kaba” and “Black Lives Matter”.

A statement issued by Sky News on the day of the broadcast said: “We apologise for a mistake made earlier today which accidentally misidentified aerial pictures of a protest march for Chris Kaba as a large gathering paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. We have also issued a correction on air to clarify the footage previously shown.”

SABA Network launching YDN TV

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:00:42 GMT

The SABA Charity Network will officially be launching YDN TV.

In the heart of London at the West End, the SABA Charity Network will officially be launching YDN TV at the Green Dress Ball, Pall Mall on Saturday 8th October.

The SABA Charity Network builds and develops our communities, the charity helps give people industry experiences that can set them on their way to be all that their talent can make them.

Now, Saba has launched YDN TV a new opportunity and amazing concept for new presenters or programme producers joining our network.

The program will help turn your broadcast idea into a brand, then into a micro-business following our bespoke training course.

With the support of the European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency, this is a FREE initiative, especially for the unemployed.

UK Heat Wave

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 16:27:25 GMT

Fires spread across the country in rural and urban areas alike last week as Britain reached its highest ever recorded temperature of 40.3oC, which beat the previous record by 1.6oC.

The London fire brigade declared a major incident in response to a huge surge in fires across the capital last week. It received more than 1600 calls for assistance on Tuesday compared to 300-350 on a typical day. This extreme heat showed that the risk to record breaking temperatures around the world may be even greater than scientists first considered, as most climate predictions didn’t expect temperatures to get so high so soon. The NHS struggled to cope with the impact of this extreme heat which led to hundreds if not thousands of excess deaths. There was widespread disruption to travel, health care and schools as roads were warped, Luton airport had a damaged runway and the lack of air conditioning in the vast majority of buildings meant staying inside them was almost intolerable. Trains even had to run at low speeds to ensure that the lines would not buckle. In Spain and Portugal around 1,900 died due to the heat wave. These high temperatures would be impossible without manmade climate change.

Much of the media joked about the hot weather and spoke of it as if it were something to look forward to. Especially the right wing press which notoriously prefers to ignore the impact of the world’s global warming. Many British conservatives still speak of sun spots and other potential causes for the rising average temperature of the planet, despite the scientific consensus and undeniable evidence of manmade climate change that now exists. In the US many people still deny climate change, Donald Trump famously said that it was “fake” during his presidency and climate denial is a huge part of the American right’s strategy to prevent action being taken to stop climate breakdown. In the UK instead of climate denial we have climate deflection where those who don’t want us to move away from fossil fuels change the focus to irrelevant issues instead of the action that must take place. The British media rarely focuses on our changing climate and don’t answer the questions of how we rearrange our economy and society to protect ourselves from it. We have fewer than 10 years to prevent the most harmful effects of climate change from coming to fruition and the media spends more time questioning protestors who try to force the government into action, than the oil execs who pushed us into this position.

The media’s awful attitude toward climate change is the result of years of campaigning by those who benefit from producing greenhouse gases. 30 years ago the fossil fuel industry decided to spread doubt about the coming climate change crisis to prevent the world from beginning its transition to green energy. In June 1992 the international community produced a framework for climate change action and the environmentalist Al Gore became vice-president to Bill Clinton. This new administration was clearly going to try to regulate fossil fuels. The Global Climate Coalition (GCC), an organisation which represented various industries reliant on fossil fuels such as steel, coal, oil and others, was conceived to help these industries work together to lobby politicians against limiting fossil fuel emissions. At the time the GCC was in search of a communications partner to alter how the world sees climate change. A meeting took place between industry leaders and E Bruce Harrison, a decorated PR consultant known as the ‘father of environmental PR’. He had worked for several of the United States’s largest polluters in campaigns to tidy up their image, including discrediting research on the toxicity of pesticides and a campaign against tougher emissions for the big car makers.

Harrison had fought reforms for the auto industry by reframing the issue around their pollution and would do the same to beat fossil fuel regulation. They would persuade people that the scientific facts weren’t conclusive and that politicians had to consider how action on climate change would negatively affect the economy. This was done using a media campaign full of opinion pieces, or ‘op-eds’ as they are called, and sometimes direct contacts with journalists. They later moved on to target experts who could garner more credibility such as scientists and academics. Climate sceptics were paid to give speeches and write op-eds, around $1500 per article. Those preaching the truth lost ground to these sceptics and the urgency of climate change was slowly lost on the population. The GCC successfully opposed an international attempt to negotiate emissions reductions at Kyoto in Japan, December 1997 as the US never implemented the Kyoto agreement. 44% of the US in that year believed scientists were divided on climate change when scientists had reached a consensus that global warming was human-caused. These methods for undermining the impact of climate change persist to this day.

Former Vice President Al Gore considers the action of climate denial to be the ‘most serious crime of the post-World War Two era’. And it should be treated this way. The consequences of climate breakdown will likely take hundreds of millions if not billions of lives over the course of the coming centuries and have already taken millions. Many in the media refused to listen to climate advocates as they demanded government intervention to stop Britain’s fossil fuel production. They downplayed the severity of the crisis so that action wasn’t taken as too many in the Western world don’t expect climate change to affect them but we’re seeing that it will affect everyone everywhere. The media must learn to speak out on issues like climate change that need and deserve our attention instead of simply talking about these extreme events in the moment when they occur. We have to understand how our current economic and political systems led us to this and how we can change them to save ourselves.

Strikes Across the Country

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:40:18 GMT

Strike action is spreading across the country as the working class fights back against the rising cost of living due to the current historic inflation rate.

Those who have been continuously ignored and dismissed by the political class are demanding action to improve their lives. Last month workers at BT, the UK’s largest telecom company, voted in favour of their first nationwide strike in 35 years. This is the first time that a group of call centre workers in multiple sites across the UK have voted in favour of strike action. Engineers at BT’s subsidiary Open Reach, who are vital to maintain the UK’s internet infrastructure, also voted to strike with both groups voting at over 90% in favour of strike action. BT posted profits of £1.3billion and paid £700million to shareholders over the last year. The CEO of BT imposed a pay increase of £1500 for each of the company’s employees, while his earnings increased by over 32% to more than £3.5million. This flat pay rise represents an average increase of 5% far below the current inflation rate of 9.1%. The offer from BT of a 5% pay increase is really a 4% pay cut on what the workers had previously the year before. This inflation rate is only set to rise as the West struggles to maintain the sanctions it is imposing on Russia.

Similar to the situation faced by BT workers, rail workers represented by the RMT Union have been striking for an increase to their wages. Rail bosses made £500million in profit subsidised by the state last year and are putting up ticket prices in line with inflation while cutting real wages which will only increase their revenue. The RMT is asking for a small decrease to their real wages in light of inflation but the government is interfering to prevent this from taking place, as they don’t want this to be an example to workers across the country. The UK injected £16 billion into the rail industry when the pandemic hit. The privately run companies that control this industry said they would go bust without this money which was used to maximise their profits and sent to sit in tax haven bank accounts in Luxembourg and the Cayman islands. Now the Conservatives are trying to strip £2 billion out of the railway industry by taking it from the hands of workers instead of the companies that don’t need it.

The body content of your postEven barristers are striking. Currently barristers are overworked and underpaid, forced to oversee more cases than they can realistically handle at once as over the last decade the Tories attacked the British legal system and slashed lawyer’s fees. This gives more power to the rich to fight legal cases as they can afford premium representation while the legal defence of average people is severely limited. Many lawyers are simply leaving the profession altogether in search of better pay with 300 having left last year after decades of underfunding. Junior criminal barristers can only expect £12,000 in their first year of work and will have to build a practice after that. This is not enough for anyone to live off especially the majority of barristers who don’t have a wealthy family to rely on. It generally takes around five years or so for a lawyer to build up a practice after that first year as such having a salary high enough to survive on until then is crucial. If there isn’t money put into the hands of barristers the court system will continue to crumble ensuring that only the rich are able to get decent legal representation.

Interestingly despite the effect on people’s lives most people are not against the ongoing strike action. 45% of the public now support the rail strikes as opposed to 37%. Nevertheless Keir Starmer’s Labour Party refuses to back these strikes even though they are supposedly the party of the working class. They are essentially saying that workers shouldn’t be given a pay rise in these harsh times. Many in the Labour Party suggest that it’s not possible to increase workers’ wages in line with the highest inflation in 40 years. Shadow Secretary of State and Labour MP David Lammy didn’t support the railway strikes in recent television appearances. Instead he spoke of the impact that these strikes will have on those trying to get to work and suggested that they weren’t worth the disruption. There are no establishment voices willing to support the working class in either party, despite many of these Labour politicians having said that they supported unions when they were asking for Labour members to support them in election campaigns.

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Strikes are needed for the working class to reduce the rising inequality in our country. Even the Labour party is protecting the ruling class and suggesting that workers should accept a pay cut while prices continue to rise. Only unions are left to represent the working class. The last time the country was in this position the rich won and we got 5 decades of growing inequality. The government has repeatedly bailed out the owner class in times of economic hardship while leaving the poor to suffer. Across British society we are seeing the rich use their power to ensure that they don’t have to pay the price of inflation. Those selling goods and services are allowed to raise the prices on their assets, as rents in London are going up around 15%, but workers are not allowed to bring up their wages and prevent themselves from falling into poverty. Ordinary people are expected to burden the brunt of our failing economy. These strikes are the last remaining source of power for the working class to fight back against their worsening conditions and pursue a fairer economy.

Harlesden actor’s BBC documentary explores representation in entertainment industry

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 13:36:10 GMT

An actor from Harlesden investigates what it means to be Black in the arts and entertainment industries in a new BBC documentary.

Ricardo P Lloyd, the author of a radio documentary called ‘My Name is Ricardo P Lloyd’ In this BBC documentary, Ricardo explores race and representation in UK theatre, television, and film.

Ricardo an up-and-coming actor examines his own journey, inspirations, and aspirations, as well as the accompanying struggles and structural barriers for Black people in the UK’s industry. He interviews prominent thinkers and figures in media including Dr Clive Nwonka, lecturer at UCL’s Institute of Advanced Studies; actor Tobi Bakare (Death in Paradise, Kingsman: The Golden Circle); Clint Dyer, deputy artistic director of The Royal National Theatre; and actor Aml Ameen (Yardie, I May Destroy You).

A common theme that emerges throughout the documentary is the well-trodden path from the UK to the US for Black actors that are seeking greater opportunities in their careers.

Ricardo, who has himself considered the transition, and his guests discuss the UK’s position in the global media ecosystem and how it can foster a better environment to retain Black talent.

“I have been very bold in speaking up on the issues of race and representation in the industry in the UK because I felt I had no choice but to address them,” he said. “Rather than wait until I am older and more established to speak out, I am risking my own career in the hope that it will inspire and empower future generations. There are many barriers I have personally faced, some known and some unknown.”

My Name is Ricardo P Lloyd is released on July 18 on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Chalkhill Community radio station’s fifth anniversary

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:55:57 GMT

Chalkhill Community Radio is celebrating its fifth anniversary, a charity fundraising event on Saturday, July 30th

For the Chalkhill community Radio fifth anniversary event, Chalkhill Radio is raising money for the Richard Okorogheye Foundation.

Chalkhill community radio station was founded by residents in Brent and covers new, local news on the community, culture, music, talk shows and educational shows.

The charity was set up by Richard’s mother, Evidence Joel, after the 19-year-old Ladbrook Grove teen was found dead in Epping Forest last April.

Richard had sickle cell anemia and with the charity Evidence, Joel hopes to help people affected by sickle cell disease, which is an umbrella term for inherited health conditions that affect the red blood cells.

The event will start at 2pm and is free before 5pm and then £5 until 8pm. It will be held at The Grange Business Hub, NW10 1QB.

there will be a bouncy castle, face painting, raffle prizes, food and drink.

Furious Adele fans call her out for failing to reschedule her Las Vegas residency FOUR MONTHS after cancelling

Tue, 31 May 2022 15:01:42 GMT

Adele has apologised to fans after having to postpone the dates of her Las Vegas residency.

Adele fans who wanted to attend the Las vegas residency in 2022 needed to be double vaccinated to attend.

A notice on the Ticketmaster website stated that the event organiser is requiring all attendees to be fully vaccinated (14 days past their final vaccination shot) and also have received a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of the event.

Due to Covid 19 havoc her string of Las Vegas shows cancelled just days before her residency was due to begin on Friday 21 January.

The star told fans in a tearful update on Instagram. “ Half my team have Covid and it’s been impossible to finish the show ,” she said, adding that “delivery delays”.

The last-minute cancellation left many fans double vaccinated and out of pocket after spending thousands on tickets and plane fares to see her onstage.

four months later, Adele and her team have yet to provide ticket-holders with an update on the postponed shows, despite the singer vowing to reschedule the dates for some time this year.

With frustrations mounting, fans are using social media to call out Adele for seemingly leaving them in the dark, with many calling the months-long delay ‘bogus’ and ‘diva-like.’

Documentary on THE "Strictest" Headteacher

Fri, 20 May 2022 09:45:25 GMT

Documentary on THE "Strictest" Headteacher

Opposite Wembley Park Station, in the heart of North West London, Michaela Community School. Michaela Community School is overshadowed by Wembley Stadium’s imposing arch and is run by Katharine Birbalsingh, who is known as the strictest headmistress in the whole country.

With her strict approach to teaching and discipline, she has built up a reputation as someone who demands the highest standards.

There have been reports of youngsters undergoing a boot camp to prepare them for life at Michaela community school, where they are taught to keep their shirts tucked in and pick up crumbs after they’ve eaten.

Ms Birbalsingh, who also chairs the Department for Education’s social mobility commission, is the subject of a new documentary.

In ‘Britain’s Strictest Headmistress’, pupils are punished for not making eye contact, pulling funny faces or forgetting to bring a second pencil. Ms. Birbalsingh is a firm advocate of detention, suggesting this shows the school “loves its children”. Obedience is at the heart of her mantra.

Ms. Birbalsingh has also proposed fostering the concept of allegiance to the nation, and children at her school regularly sing God Save the Queen, Jerusalem and I Vow to Thee My Country.

Teachers at Michaela say this is just as important in Brent, the most diverse region in Britain as it is anywhere else in the country.

In the documentary, pupils are seen sitting up straight with their arms folded, in complete silence and giving their undivided attention to their teachers.

This documentary will be available on ITV from Sunday night.

Macron Wins Again

Tue, 10 May 2022 18:15:50 GMT

The French President Emmanuel Macron was re-elected recently, the first French president to serve two successive terms since 2002. French politics can be split into three blocks the left, the more centrist right and the far right with Macron representing the centre right. Sunday’s results showed a lack of support among the French populace for the returning President and his right-wing politics as 40% of those who voted for Macron did so just to prevent the far right candidate Le Pen from getting elected. The gap between Macron and Le Pen halved from the previous election in 2017 from 66% for Macron and 34% for Le Pen to 58% for Macron and 42% for Le Pen this time around. Many didn’t vote at all in this election with the country seeing its lowest turnout since 1969 of only 72%, and 9% of those who did vote cast blank or spoiled ballots. Thousands of protestors even took to the streets after the election to voice their displeasure at France’s current political situation.

Le Pen was able to reach this position in large part because of the widespread coverage that far right candidates receive across Western media, disproportionate to their left wing counterparts. Their ideas are used to distract from the falling living standards in the West. Immigration is used to take attention away from the rising cost of living, falling healthcare standards, the climate crisis and other important political and economic issues that have a far greater effect on everyone’s lives. Instead the media will talk about far right candidates like Le Pen as if they represent the working class despite having extremely right wing and pro business policies. During the election Le Pen would often use left wing rhetoric, for example, speaking out against Macron trying to raise the French age of retirement and talking about building strong social security systems. She constantly tries to appeal to the left however most of those who supported left wing candidates in the first round of elections either chose to vote for Macron or chose not to vote in the second round.

Macron’s right-wing policies gave credence to Le Pen’s far right ideas. During his presidency Macron legitimised the far right by introducing a law against Islamic separatism and making it easier to deport undocumented immigrants. These are very right-wing policies that make discrimination against minorities mainstream. His economic policies were also very right wing and very unpopular, he repealed a wealth tax in his first budget which was applied to those with over €1.3million in assets, he put in labour reforms to make it easier to fire workers and he tried to make it harder for the unemployed to obtain unemployment benefits, to name a few.

In this election Le Pen put a cleaner image to her party’s fascism although she clearly has the same racist ideology as any of her far right supporters. She proposed extremely cruel policies such as to cut off social housing for foreigners, ban the hijab, deport undocumented immigrants and legalise discrimination against foreigners when applying for jobs in France. However, even more right wing candidates such as Eric Zemmour made her look moderate compared to his obscene racism, he was even convicted of inciting racial hatred in France this year.

What we have just seen in France is taking place across many liberal democracies the world over. The countries with these systems see very low levels of support for any reigning government. Significant portions of the population simply refuse to vote every election because they know whoever wins they will see little material benefit. In response to this situation those on the political left push for measures that would improve the lives of ordinary people such as a higher minimum wage, better funding for social programs etc. On the other hand those on the right support measures that whip up hatred against minority groups splitting the working class along racial lines and distracting from the problems in our society. The right does this because in our democracies they are funded and supported by the richest people in our society and they all vehemently oppose any measure that would tax them more to improve society.

The Tories in the UK are currently running into this problem after promising better living conditions after Brexit and in the 2019 campaign. Now we see that those promises were empty and as a result their support is falling as the cost of living continues to rise and they do nothing to alleviate the financial burden on the British people. Instead they push anti-immigrant policies designed simply to hurt migrants and frame this as defending the country and protecting these people from traffickers. The real goal is to play into the racism in our society to motivate enough supporters to keep voting for them so that they can stay in power. Liberals will also often copy this tactic to avoid supporting actual pro working class policies. President Biden did this with his anti-immigrant policies on the US-Mexico border coupled with the dropping of many of his left-wing economic policies like student debt relief and the UK’s Labour party used a similar tactic under Ed Milliband in the build up to the 2015 election.

As younger generations seek to move away from racist thinking and strive for equality there’s a real chance to see actual progress based on class solidarity. The racist proposals of centrist and right wing candidates receive less support as time goes on and voters seek real solutions to the problems they face. The relative success of the campaigns of left-wing politicians such as Bernie Sanders in the US and Corbyn in the UK, who although they didn’t win their elections got further than any of their historic counterparts have for decades, shows a growing appetite for left-wing politics. Melanchon, the left wing French presidential candidate, received 22% of the first round of voting compared to Le Pen’s 23% and Macron’s 28%, which is closer than his previous result in 2017. However, it’s not impossible for younger generations to slip back into the racist worldview of their elders and there is still a lot of work left to do to get left-wing leaders into power.

Why did Russia invade the Ukraine?

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 13:56:29 GMT

Why did Russia invade the Ukraine?

A few weeks ago on 24 February President Putin ordered Russian forces to attack airports and military headquarters in Ukraine. Tanks and armed forces then marched into the country from its Russian and Belarusian borders.

Russia has been invaded several times through the Ukraine. 27 million Soviets including 15 million Russians died when the Nazis invaded. Even before that there was WWI and the French invasions of Russia under Napoleon. When tensions rise in Europe Russia is attacked through this region as a result the country has two red lines that it does not want crossed which are allowing Ukraine to become part of NATO and allowing Ukraine to be a staging ground for the placement of foreign troops or advanced weapons.

Putin had been threatening this invasion but many were surprised to see Russia actually march into Ukraine including advisors to the Putin regime. This is not the cold calculated approach that Putin has typically had. The invasion has served to unite the West against him and pushed any possible European allies into American hands. Countries like Sweden and Finland are even considering NATO membership and the West’s sanctions placed on Russia are wreaking havoc on their economy. Although Russia is still likely to win this war their progress has not been to plan as they have been met with strong resistance by a country that they assumed would quickly crumble. There has been little if any benefit to Russia since this invasion began and this is very unlikely to change.

Even in Russia the war has been met with widespread disapproval including several protests that were immediately suppressed, in cities like Moscow. Countries such as China, an important ally to Russia on the world stage have not shown support for the invasion although they have not followed the West with sanctions and open condemnation. A likely theory to explain Putin’s decision is that seeing the eastward encroachment of NATO saw war as inevitable an so moved to strike first, securing the most well trodden path into Russia by taking Ukraine by force. Nevertheless the decision to invade shows the lack of care for the lives of Ukrainian citizens and Russians, many of whom have family in the region. Putin’s attack screams of desperation and a desire for Russia and its demands to be taken seriously by the West.

Many in the West suggest that Putin simply wants to expand Russian territory and is willing to destroy Ukraine to do it. This ignores the serious threat of NATO forces which continue to accumulate on Russia’s border and ignores the aggression from countries like the US sending weapons halfway around the world to threaten Russia. America wants to put a wedge between Russia and Europe so that the US has control over the continent and to do that they must establish a culture of hostility towards Russia. Under the Trump administration they tried to sabotage the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would see Russia supply Germany with large quantities of natural gas, as the US would prefer the Germans be reliant on natural gas supplied by them. This would maintain the country’s dependence on America at the cost of more expensive natural gas for Germany. Additionally the US has been pushing for NATO members to increase their defence spending against the wishes of their own governments and for countries near Russia to host more NATO weapons. It was the push to put weapons in Ukraine that encouraged Russia’s original escalation. However, Ukraine was never close to joining NATO. President Biden said as much recently before the invasion. Putin’s actions here only bring death and destruction onto millions of innocent people with little benefit to Russia’s national interests.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is wrong but the right reaction is to pursue peace not encourage more hostility between the West and the rest of the world. While Ukraine is a sovereign nation and should be free to choose its allies who it allies itself with is significant to Russia as they share a border. Allying with NATO and putting missiles so close to Russia, NATO’s biggest enemy, is an obvious threat to the country. Putin compared the actions of the US to Russia hypothetically installing missiles in Canada or Mexico on their American borders, an act that the United States would never tolerate. In the 1990s NATO said ‘not an inch to the East’ but the organisation continued to enlist former Soviet states and move further eastward. The policies of NATO encourage a constant arms race between Russia and Western Europe with each side trying to ensure that should war break out they won’t be overwhelmed. This is the same constant heightening of tensions that has previously led to worlds wars and could still should Western powers decide to send in forces to shoot down Russian planes over Ukraine. Many of Russia’s neighbours are already in NATO, and any clash on a border with one of these nations would trigger mutual defence obligations that would force all other countries in NATO to intervene. This constant aggression only makes war more likely.

Ukraine is a former republic of the Soviet Union and as such has close historic ties with Russia. Before the war started there was a big split in the country between those who wanted to strengthen ties to Russia and those wanting to move more in line with Western Europe. Ukraine’s future may not be with the East or the West instead it may look more like Finland and Austria when the Cold War began, who weren’t a part of the Soviet Union or NATO after WWII. This may be the only way to keep peace in the country and end the suffering of the Ukrainian people as Russia clearly will not accept a Ukraine that is hostile to it.

The West must continue to put pressure on Russia to end the war and support the country’s antiwar movement. This war will only end with peaceful negotiations like every other war. Putin must be given a way out of the mess he created to stop the continued destruction of Ukraine. Returning to the Minsk agreement signed in 2015 and making Ukraine neutral between the two superpowers would do this. Russia has made a huge mistake in this war but it has acted in its own interests choosing to destroy a neighbouring country to protect itself, this means that there is good chance the war can be stopped by making assurances to Russia to withdraw weapons from Ukraine and keep the country out of NATO, as Putin had demanded in negotiations before the war.

No Covid Restrictions in the UK

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 00:11:39 GMT

IS Covi d over?

On 24th February 2022 the government decided to end to the legal requirement to self isolate if anyone should test positive for COVID-19. The Tories also chose to end self isolation support payments but Covid provisions for statutory sick pay can still be claimed for another month. After a positive Covid test is registered, the government will no longer conduct routine contact tracing and will not continue asking for close contacts of the fully vaccinated and those under 18 to test daily for seven days. Additionally, there is now no legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self isolate. Until 1st April the government will advise those who test positive to stay home and after that date, they will be advised to ‘exercise personal responsibility like we would do for the flu. There will no longer by any guidance for staff and students in education and child care settings to undertake asymptomatic testing twice a week. Essentially the government is putting an emphasis on personal responsibility and ending all remaining domestic restrictions in the law.

More worryingly from 1st April symptomatic and asymptomatic testing will no longer be free for the public, however, the oldest age groups and those most vulnerable will still receive free testing. This ignores the fact that the greatest risk to these groups is from other people who aren’t vulnerable unknowingly giving them Covid. They need to know if their friends and family have the disease but if only the vulnerable have access to free testing then they won’t know until it’s too late. The government says they are working with retailers to ensure that everyone will have access to a test but this forces people to choose between ignorance and paying to find out if they have Covid. Free testing for diseases is not new in this country as testing for many ordinary diseases such as STIs is permitted by the NHS free of charge and there’s no reason Covid shouldn’t be treated the same way.

The government’s new approach to Covid lacks the financial support needed by those who self isolate. After April you essentially have to go to work when you’re sick and you can’t afford to stay home because the government won’t help you, if you want to be responsible and self isolate anyway the government will provide no assistance. The self isolation support payments allow many people to isolate who otherwise cannot afford to do so and it’s precisely these people who have been most at risk throughout the pandemic, with those in low income groups more likely to be exposed to Covid, suffer serious disease and die. These people will find it more difficult to afford testing that isn’t free. Essentially Johnson is telling every worker that unless you’re really sick you have to go into work because that’s the only way to keep getting paid.

About half a million people potentially won’t respond well to vaccines for a myriad of reasons, they may be on drugs for medical purposes that weaken them or have immunosuppressive conditions. All of these people have been ignored. Furthermore, there is still the question of long Covid which continues to represent a significant portion of those who contract the disease. Many thousands of people have seen permanent disabilities appear after contracting Covid so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for the government to keep some basic measures that help lower its spread. Nevertheless, there was no announcement of spending on ventilation or other measures that would help limit the spread of Covid and the government has done nothing to prepare us for any possible new variant.

It’s clear that Johnson is only enacting these changes to please his backbenchers and distract from the ongoing investigation into parties at Downing Street. The more right wing sections of the Conservative party have been against Covid regulations from the beginning of the pandemic and by lifting all restrictions Johnson is giving them what they want in the hopes of keeping their support. It has always been clear that the Prime Minister is reluctant to take action to stop the spread of Covid so it’s not surprising that now it seems we’re past the worst of the pandemic Johnson is doing nothing to protect the vulnerable.

There is a need to take steps to keep the pandemic under control and these steps will need to be taken on a national and international scale. The Western world must ensure that the rest of the world is vaccinated to help prevent new variants from appearing again and we must still have some level of caution when handling the pandemic.

Part of going back to normal means taking steps to make sure everyone can live without fearing Covid. Many of the most vulnerable people in Britain have been forced into a perpetual lockdown for the entirety of the pandemic as they cannot safely leave their homes because the risk of catching the disease is too great. We have the opportunity to change society for the better instead the Tories are pushing more burdens onto the most vulnerable like they did with austerity policies after the 2008 financial crash. Good sick pay, ventilation in all public buildings, and free testing would help to keep people safe from Covid and other respiratory diseases. The cholera epidemics in the 1800s encouraged the government to supply clean water to the entire country and similarly, Covid should encourage our government to enact changes that will protect us from future pandemics instead of doing nothing.

UK UNSIGNED winner Lil Simz accepts Brit award as Best New Artist

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:04:19 GMT

Congratulations to Lil Simz on her Brit Award as Best New Artist. Lil Simz is certainly no overnight success.

Kill the Bill Protests

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:36:28 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Several ‘Kill the Bill’ protests took place around the country recently as an important vote was held in the House of Lords on the police crime sentencing and courts bill. Activists demanded that additional measures to the new policing bill which would crackdown heavily on protests be struck down. Demonstrations took place in London, Bristol, Coventry, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Plymouth. Hundreds joined the ‘Kill the Bill’ protest in London marching from Holborn towards Parliament Square in Westminster. The protests were notable for uniting groups who typically organise for different causes, such as racism, gay rights or protecting the environment, showing the widespread disdain for the proposed new measures.

The bill could potentially criminalise all protest in the UK. It allows stop and search of protestors or anyone in the area of a protest, without cause, and would prevent protestors from interfering in the construction of any major infrastructure. Named people could be banned from even discussing protests on the internet even if you’ve committed no crime and the bill would have reinstated the common law offence of public nuisance which civil rights organisations warn is “incredibly broad”. The wording would make ‘any conduct which endangers the life, health, property or comfort of a section of the public’ or ‘that obstructs them in the exercise of rights belonging to the public’ a punishable offence. The whole point of protest is to obstruct the public to raise awareness for a cause and this change would essentially make that illegal.

Once the bill easily passed the House of Commons with its huge majority the government added on more legislation in the House of Lords that was even more worrying. These additions would see peaceful protestors treated as terrorists instead of criminals, actions like ‘Locking on’ i.e. attaching yourself to people, land or property would be a criminal offence, even locking arms with fellow protestors would suffice, or going equipped to lock on by having a bike lock in your bag. Obstructing the highway will be punished to an even greater degree and the police will be able to stop protestors from going to protests for many months or even years, whether or not they have been convicted of a crime. Furthermore, they would give the Home Secretary the ability to ban someone from protest for up to 5 years if they have been convicted of a protest related offence. It also allows the Home Secretary to decide where protests can take place and would stop demonstrations from being carried out in areas like Parliament Square, which has traditionally been a rallying ground for many protest movements, including the recent demonstrations in response to the brutal murder of Sarah Everard.

As the bill would rule out protests that are considered ‘too noisy’ or that might make members of the public feel uneasy we can imagine the impact it would have had on protests from the past. Were this legislation in place decades ago it likely would have prevented early gay pride marches and demonstrations against the apartheid regime in South Africa in the 70s and 80s, two important movements that led to real change. At the time many protestors were arrested but none were penalised, this bill would see hundreds thrown in jail just for marching for their rights and the rights of others. The measures have been compared to anti protest laws in undemocratic countries like Russia and Belarus by Amnesty International, and move the country towards becoming a police state. These laws clearly breech the right to freedom of expression and assembly.

The government has a habit of introducing authoritarian far right bills for example the nationality and borders bill which allows the government take away the citizenship of any British citizen so long as they could in theory obtain another country’s citizenship. A bill that essentially allows them to remove any citizen they don’t like who has sufficient foreign connections. They are using the public disdain for recent protests such as ‘insulate Britain’, who blocked highways during rush hour, to justify clamping down on any future protests against them. It is clear that the rights of individual citizens are of little importance. These changes mirror Hungary’s recent political path which saw the country being led by a far right party that used culture wars and racism to get voted into power like the Tories did with Brexit, and then once in power clamped down on the freedoms that are vital for any democracy.

These new restrictions are based on ASBOs (anti-social behaviour orders) and terrorism prevention orders. We are seeing the culmination of the invasive and laws used for years against marginalised communities. Stop and search and ASBOs (anti-social behaviour order) were used against the poor and working class, and especially working class communities of colour, for a long time and now their reach is being expanded. If the government goes unchecked their reach will be expanded further still. The same Tory MPs who are so against Covid restrictions are in favour of these restrictions on free speech simply because they don’t believe that these laws will ever affect them. Luckily a broad coalition of peers in the House of Lords including Lib Dems and less authoritarian Conservatives struck down the additions to the bill, thanks to the kill the bill movement. Hopefully with enough protest a future more liberal government may be forced to repeal the whole thing.

Boris Johnson becomes online spoof of Would I Lie to You as his claims he was not warned about holding No10 parties

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:11:11 GMT

Would I Lie to You

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been under fire as some have been caught lying. Johnson claimed that he wasn’t aware that a “bring your own booze” party held in the garden of his residence at the height of a national lockdown was a potential breach of Covid-19 restrictions.

The prime minister announced that Plan B measures to stop and face mask rules in classrooms will be scrapped and will no longer be mandatory in shops and on public transport.

Now, Boris Johnson become a joke in a panelist spoof video of Would I Lie To You as social media and memes mocking the PM’s denial.

Boris broke his own lockdown laws by attending a series of parties during the lockdown.

When Asked whether he broke the rules, Mr. Johnson said: ‘No. Nobody told me that what we were doing was against the rules, that the event in question was something that… was not a work event, and as I said in the House of Commons when I went out into that garden I thought that I was attending a work event.’

A clip of Mr Johnson saying he had ‘followed the rules throughout’ was edited into an episode of Would I Lie To You to receive laughter from a panel.

Now, Boris is trying to save his job.

2022 Awards for Brent and Kilburn community

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 12:46:52 GMT

Jennifer Ogole will receive an OBE for her services.

Jennifer Ogole, a woman who fled the civil war in Uganda to form a charity is among several Brent and Kilburn based recipients of a New Year Honour.

On January 1, Jennifer Ogole, formed BANG Edutainment, has been awarded an OBE for services to young people.

Ian Livingstone, Jason Swettenham, Stephen Chamberlain, and Rajesh Makwana joined her on the roll of honour.

Born in Uganda, Jennifer and her family arrived as asylum seekers in the mid 1980s and moved to the Stonebridge Estate in Brent. This experience would pave the way for her to start looking for a charity to help people with disadvantaged backgrounds.

BANG is now widely recognised and respected as a youth-led organisation that values young people, stands for them and works with them becoming community leaders who will build sustainable communities. They divert, develops, and delivers engaging programmes for young vulnerable people at risk away from crime and negative influences by providing support programmes that build their personal and professional skills.

Willesden Green’s Baroness Valerie Amos, 67, a Labour member of the House of Lords, is the first Black person appointed to the Order of the Garter.

Also on the list is Stephen Chamberlain who founded St Laurence’s Larder and Open Kitchen – a service that helps people in need in Willesden Lane. Stephen will get a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Brent.

The Rise Partnership Trust’s CEO and executive headteacher, Jayne Jardine, has been made an MBE for services to education and SEND (special education needs and disability).

Jennifer said: “I am thrilled and deeply honoured to have been awarded this prestigious accolade. It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all those who have helped me make BANG what it is today: one of the UK’s leading youth charities.”

https://wearebang.com/

Government Corruption

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 14:20:19 GMT

Last week the then MP Owen Paterson was accused of breaking lobbying rules for MPs and subsequently investigated by the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards.

The commissioner found that Paterson had indeed approached and met with officials in the government on behalf of companies that he had not declared his interest in. This amounted to a serious breach of parliamentary rules but in a desperate bid to prevent action being taken against Paterson the Conservatives tried to destroy the standards system. Patterson has since stood down as an MP.

A cabinet minister Steve Barclay, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, spoke of his regret at the move and acknowledged that it was a mistake to try to rip up the standards system, although Barclay did not directly apologise. The move has since faced a huge backlash from MPs on all sides including the Conservative back-benches and the public. Opposition parties have since vowed to boycott the new committee chaired by a Tory MP created to review the standards processes. The Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said, “If the house wishes to review the system it must do so on a cross-party basis”. The Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain said the government had “attempted to rig the system to cover their own backs” and that the prime minister “thinks the rules don’t apply to him”. Barclay did not commit to the government withdrawing the plans it had to reform the standards system and endorsing the standards committee’s report into Paterson before the Commons broke up for recess on Wednesday.

The Liberal Democrats called an emergency debate to discuss the prime minister’s attempt to protect Owen Paterson, in which Barclay admitted that it was wrong to try to change the standards process. He said “while sincerely held concerns clearly warrant further attention, the manner in which the government approached last week conflated them with the response to an individual case”. Boris Johnson however missed the debate angering many MPs who felt that he was avoiding their scrutiny after pressuring them to back an amendment to Paterson’s suspension that many thought was wrong but nevertheless still passed by 18 votes. The government committed to rescinding the amendment the next day after public outcry. However many also want to see the original motion to endorse the report on Paterson brought back into the House of Commons. The Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle said that Johnson’s bid to spare Paterson showed parliament “at its worst”.

After he was replaced as environment secretary Owen Paterson formed a company in 2014 which he described as a Conservative think-tank funded by donations from private entities. This company

donated thousands to Paterson who was its sole director, totalling almost £40,000 between 2014 and 2019. Patterson was paid at least £500,000 for lobbying on behalf of two companies. Documents released after freedom of information requests showed that the MP had demanded access to ministers and regulators, as requested by his paying clients, on many occasions. Parliamentary rules are meant to prevent MPs from advocating for causes in return for money. The parliamentary standards commissioner produced a report from the cross-party Commons committee on standards in the House that highlighted Paterson’s “egregious” 14 approaches to ministers and public officials and stated that he had brought parliament into disrepute. MPs must declare the identities of their political donors in the register of members’ financial interests.

An example of Paterson’s corruption would be his interactions with the company Randox Laboratories. Randox were one of the donor’s to Patterson’s company and they were able to arrange a meeting between their own and Priti Patel’s representatives through Paterson. The former MP talked and wrote to Priti Patel, the then secretary of state for international development and arranged a meeting involving himself, a Randox representative and Patel’s junior minister Rory Stewart, so that the company could pitch its technologies and products to the government. Paterson also attended a meeting more recently between a health minister in charge of Covid procurement and Randox in April 2020 and Randox were one of the companies awarded government contracts during the pandemic.

This is an incredible level of corruption. A government MP was due to be suspended from the commons for 30 days having clearly broken the rules and in response the government intended to overhaul the entire standards process and allow Owen Paterson to get away with his ill deeds. This is not surprising action from a Conservative party led by Boris Johnson who broke parliamentary rules more than any other MP in recent years and is happy to take down anyone willing to hold him to account. Even many Tory MPs were confused as to why they were whipped to vote to save Paterson. It’s clear that Johnson is only looking to protect himself as he knows he will likely be in the same situation some day. Since Johnson came to power, many people in roles responsible for setting the standards that government ministers must follow have left and have been replaced by essentially lackeys who will do as they are told. We are slowly becoming a more authoritarian country with a ruling class that is growing out of control.

Open Democracy revealed that Conservative party treasurers who donate £3m are almost always offered peerages. A seat in the House of Lords effectively costs £3million. For this price, that only the very richest in the country can afford, you are given the opportunity to vote on the nation’s legislation. Every senior Tory treasurer for the last 11 years except the latest one has been offered a peerage having hit £3m in donations at the time when were they offered the role. This has been described as a tradition in the Conservative party, which just highlights the extent of the corruption endemic in that organisation.

In response to the action taken by the government opposition leader Kier Starmer said “When the prime minister gives the green light to corruption, he corrodes that trust,”. Starmer has stated that he is open to working cross-party to reform the standards system but insisted that Labour would not be “willing to work with the government on their plan to weaken standards”. Labour has called for MPs to be banned from taking paid directorships and consultancy roles for years now and the Labour leader has noted his intentions to carry this out. Labour want to ban shadow ministers from having second jobs and many want MPs to be banned from second jobs apart from those that benefit the community such as teaching and nursing. However more changes in the way parliament operates will be necessary to curve the amount of corruption rampant in our political parties. An important step in this would be state funding of all political parties to prevent the super rich from using their donations to influence public policy. It is important that we don’t have a political system that relies on mega rich donors to keep itself running

The UK economy in trouble.

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:17:43 GMT

The British meat industry is currently facing around 14,000 job vacancies due to the UK’s new immigration laws and Covid.

This represents around 15% of the industry’s workforce. In response, there have been calls to expand prison programmes to enable prisoners to fill these vacancies. Businesses would be able to link up with prisons containing prisoners on the Release On Temporary Licence (ROTL) programme. This lets inmates in open prisons gain work experience with the aim of giving them a smoother transition back into society at the end of their sentence.

Issues like these have led to various shortages among restaurants across the country. UK poultry producers warn that serious staff shortages due to Brexit could mean there won’t be enough turkeys to meet the Christmas demand. The poultry industry employs over 40,000 people and currently has around 7,000 vacancies. Some chicken producers are not selling the same range of products and are cutting weekly output by as much as 10%. Producers won’t risk rearing enough birds to meet the shortage if they cannot secure enough staff to prepare the meat for delivery.

McDonald’s is also feeling suffering from shortages as the fast-food chain has run out of milkshakes, and some bottled drinks, across the country due to supply chain issues. This is a consequence of the shortage of lorry drivers and Covid restrictions. Another restaurant chain Nando’s was forced to close around 50 restaurants last week because of staff and chicken shortages from suppliers. Similarly, KFC has been suffering through supply chain issues recently and was unable to stock certain menu items. These issues are expected to continue for several months without government intervention. Many manufacturers have reported a sharp increase in the price of raw materials.

Companies have reported facing problems with hiring workers and shortages of materials at an unprecedented rate that is 14 times higher than usual. British manufacturers are currently suffering from serious problems with stocks of components and job vacancies across the country have risen to record levels in recent months. Some companies have had to close temporarily or reduce production after staff were pinged by the NHS Covid app. At least in some cases, firms have raised wages to help them find new recruits.

A great concern for dealing with this shortage is the lack of about 90,000 HGV drivers who are desperately needed to ferry goods across the country. Dealing with this issue may require government intervention to ensure stocks do not run too low. Freight companies have lost 15,000 European truck drivers from the UK over the last year and Britain is short of close to 60,000 lorry drivers. Big supermarket chains are now paying close to double the normal rate forcing smaller businesses to match their prices, although the costs are offloaded onto the customers who end up having to pay ever-rising prices for the same goods. HGV drivers are not among the list of eligible skilled occupations for the new immigration system, which prioritises high-skilled roles, and as such, they can’t get a work visa. Furthermore, many European drivers left due to Covid after being furloughed so that they could be with their families and now aren’t able to return because of the new immigration laws. The Home Office has said employers should “focus on investing in our domestic workforce, rather than relying on labour from abroad”.

The current economic issues are not limited to food producers and sellers. Growth in private sector output slowed to a six-month low in August. UK goods export orders grew at a significantly slower pace than in the eurozone for the eighth consecutive month suggesting that Brexit has impeded the British economy’s recovery. Furthermore, Brexit has hurt trade and supply chains. The additional customs and safety checks after crossing the English Channel caused trade to fall and put pressure on many supply chains vital for sectors such as food and electronics. Moreover, we have seen examples of businesses leaving the country due to Brexit. For example, over the summer a Honda factory closed in Swindon which represented a loss of 1800 jobs that had been guaranteed for 35 years. The factory had produced over a 3.7million cars peaking at around 680 per day, the vast majority of which were exported across Europe. This closure was linked to the introduction of export tariffs on EU sales which made the factory unnecessary.

If they are to fill the vacancies in their sectors companies will be forced to pay more for their workers as much as they don’t want to. The Unite union has stated that the issue of job vacancies is often the result of terrible pay and poor working conditions. For instance, the meat factories have on-site or nearby accommodation where several employees will sleep in the same dormitory. Many of the workers are not entitled to full sick pay and work on insecure contracts with low pay. Clearly, a sharp shift towards improving worker pay, conditions and immigration law will be needed to restore these issues.

The Problem with Parliament

anthony@ffhd.co.uk (anthony mederick) — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 07:49:03 GMT

The Problem with Parliament

What did Dawn Butler do and why

Labour MP Dawn Butler was ejected from the House of Commons on Friday after calling out some of the many lies Boris Johnson has told the public. She commented that the prime minister had “lied to the house and the country over and over again” including when he had told the house that the Covid vaccination programme had “severed” the link between infections and serious illness or death. Butler called this a “dangerous” lie and she said she was “disappointed” that the prime minister had not come to the house to correct the record.

She later tweeted “I get in more trouble for calling out lies than Johnson does for telling lies” with regard to the punishment she had been dealt and commented that “it cannot be one rule for them, and one rule for us”.

“Poor people in this country have paid with their lives because the prime minister spent the last 18 months misleading this house and the country.”

Labour leader Kier Starmer agreed with Butler’s actions saying that it was the correct thing to do calling Boris Johnson the “master of untruth and half-truths”. Nevertheless, he also felt that the stand-in deputy speaker Judith Cummins was right to suspend Butler for the day as the Speaker has to obey parliamentary procedure and this is what it demands. Many have said that these rules are archaic and in need of change.

This includes former Speaker of the House John Bercow who criticised the system for protecting an MP who chooses to lie to the country and punishing any member of parliament “with the guts to tell the truth”. He has since argued for a change to the Commons rules that bar MPs from calling each other liars, arguing that these rules were meant for a time when MPs “sought conscientiously to tell the truth and would quickly apologise and correct the record if they inadvertently misled the house”, something this current government refuses to do.

This rule is among a variety of strange regulations still in place in the House of Commons. For example, MPs must refer to each other as the “honourable member”, applause is forbidden and members cannot call each other a coward, hypocrite, guttersnipe or pipsqueak and many other strange names from a bygone era. Archaic rules like these are a consequence of our long unchanged democracy. We still have an entirely unelected second chamber of Parliament, a rarity around the world, many of whose members inherited their position in the House of Lords. Furthermore, membership of this House is often doled out in return for political favours. This is not surprising in a country that still has an unelected head of state. Even the democratically elected House of Commons has its own issues. The ‘first past the post’ system used to allocate seats, continuously leads to a disproportionate number of Labour and Conservative MPs, allowing the Conservative party to make up 56% of the house despite getting only 43% of the nation’s votes. Results like these are why many in British politics are seeking proportional representation to decide how our elections are won.

Dawn Butler’s actions highlight the urgent need for reform in British democracy.

It is vital that politicians are able to call each other out on any lies and correct the record for the public. The fact that the Labour MP was punished for this only accentuates the problem and reveals another flaw in our problematic democracy. The government has relied on being able to lie to and mislead the public on a regular basis, without facing any consequences, throughout this pandemic and as a result, we have had one of the worst pandemic responses in the world.

Raheem Sterling Media Treatment

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 09:15:54 GMT

Raheem Sterling Media Treatment

Images of Harry Kane and England fans dominated the front pages of England’s tabloid press after the nation’s historic 2-0 win over Germany at the 2020 Euros.

However, only one paper the Sun showed an image of England’s top goal scorer Raheem Sterling, who scored the opener in that game. The Metro, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, the Times, the Independent, Daily Mail, and all featured images of Harry Kane celebrating his goal.

The Jamaican born footballer has been England’s best player throughout the tournament, being the only England team member to score for the three lions until Kane’s goal. Before the tournament started many among the British press were calling for Sterling to be dropped and the likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden to take his place. However, Southgate stuck with the Manchester City forward and has been rewarded with key performances from the player.

Sterling has consistently had to push past criticism from the press ever since his Premier League career began. In 2015 he was called “greedy” by the Mirror during his contract negotiations, the Sun also called him a “troubled youth” and a “footie idiot” in tweets in 2016, he’s been mocked for eating pasties from Greggs, shopping in Poundland and using EasyJet and for having a £50k Merceded and Bentleys worth £100,000s. Whether he spends the money he earns or behaves like any other young man from North London the press has ridiculed him.

More personally, the Sun called him the “prem rat of the Caribbean” in 2017 after he was photographed on holiday with a female friend. This same paper contacted anti-gun groups to see if the player should be banned from playing in the World Cup due to a gun tattoo he got on his leg, the tattoo serving as a tribute to his father who was shot dead in Jamaica when Sterling was two years old. After racist suffering racist at a Chelsea game in 2018 Sterling spoke out and called out the media for years of vitriol directed at him. He pointed out the disparity between the media’s treatment of black and white players, noting how a young Phil Foden was praised for buying his mum a multi-million-pound house while he and another young black player were chastised for doing the same thing.

He wrote that this difference “helps fuel racism” and called for the press to “give all players an equal chance.”

Yet it seems the press still isn’t willing to give him the treatment he deserves. All he can do is continue to perform at his best, scoring goals and flying down the wing and hope his consistent performances and upstanding behaviour will make some in the press change their minds.

Major Funder of Children & Young People Announces £22M Lifeline to Tackle the Impact of Covid-19

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:03:58 GMT

Major Funder of Children & Young People Announces £22M Lifeline to Tackle the Impact of Covid-19 with initial focus on support for the Arts in Schools.

Grant-giving funder John Lyon’s Charity has ring-fenced £22 million from its endowment, to be spent over the next six years, to support the children and young people’s (CYP) sector in its Beneficial Area. With the generous support of its Trustees, this funding will be in addition to the Charity’s regular grant giving of c£12 million every year. John Lyon’s Charity has worked tirelessly throughout lockdown to support multiple organisations from crumbling due to the pandemic. As a result, it has created a strategic plan to protect the CYP sector in the long term, with the core focus on Home – School – Community ; the three main points of reference in any child’s life.

Since 1991, John Lyon’s Charity has awarded over £156million in grants to a range of organisations that seek to promote the life-chances of children and young people through education. Covid-19 has had a devastating impact upon children and young people and this has been further exacerbated by the funding cuts to the voluntary sector over the past decade.

CEO Dr Lynne Guyton says: “While we have been part of the collaborative emergency response coordinated by London Funders since last March, granting over £1m in immediate grants, we have taken time to reflect and believe we now need to act strategically and definitively for the sector for the long-term. Our aim is to fund not just for the recovery but for the sustainability of the CYP sector. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic we have pledged to walk alongside our JLC Community and provide help and assistance in any way we can. We strongly believe that we need to take positive action now to safeguard our previous investment in the sector for future generations. Now is the proverbial rainy day”.

Cathryn Pender, the Charity’s Grants Director adds, “The Charity has spent the last 30 years contributing to the maintenance and effectiveness of a varied and vibrant CYP sector in London. The impact of Covid-19 threatens to sweep away even the strongest of organisations; once they are gone, they will not come back.“

The Charity’s Home – School – Community strategy is designed to boost support to the sector by funding the services that the Charity knows are crucial for a child’s life. Most young people spend their time either at school, at home or in the community (such as at a youth club). It is already part of the Charity’s ethos to work collaboratively across these three environments and support organisations, which work in these areas. The additional £22million of funding is in place to tackle the impact of Covid-19 to ensure that organisations survive a post-Covid world. Each vertex of the funding triangle (Home-School-Community) is strategically designed to ensure a holistic approach to supporting children and young people.

Over the next 12 months, John Lyon’s Charity will start the recovery process by beginning to invest the additional £22million into its Beneficial Area. Using its 30 years of experience and expertise, the Charity will specifically look to support organisations by initiating collaborations, replicating successful initiatives, and rehabilitating organisations, using this funding as a lifeline for many who are at risk of permanent closure.

One of the first areas the Charity will address is the dramatic fall in the offer of creative opportunities in schools by launching a new Cultural Capital Fund. Even before Covid-19 and the closure of schools, there was already a worrying trend away from Arts subjects in schools to focus on the more ‘academic’ core subjects; there is a real risk that an appreciation and enjoyment of the Arts will become the preserve of those who can afford it. This innovative new Fund is designed to bring Arts organisations and schools together to ensure there is a varied and accessible offer available to all children, regardless of their background. We will invite applications from both schools and Arts institutions in London for projects that utilise the skills of the most experienced and high-quality practitioners, many of whom have been unable to work during the pandemic. As a result of this approach within Home – School – Community, doors will be opened for young people from all backgrounds to access and enjoy the Arts and the value it brings, as well as ensuring that the Arts sector is able to retain the highly skilled practitioners, upon whose talent and skills the educational outreach offering of these cultural institutions is based.

Voluntary organisations that deliver vital services for children, young people and their families are already stretched and are now having to think very differently about the problems caused by Covid-19 and lockdown scenarios. As a relational, responsive and responsible funder, John Lyon’s Charity has the knowledge, the reputation and the tenacity to make a difference for children and young people for the long term in its Beneficial Area, and beyond. The Charity predicts that this additional funding on top of the £12million granted each year will help protect the many vulnerable children and young people it supports within its community. John Lyon’s Charity urges other Funders across the UK to follow this strategic approach to ensure the survival of the CYP sector.

To find out more about J ohn Lyon’s Charity and its many funding opportunities, please visit https://www.jlc.london/

Museum in memory of TJae Ellis

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:49:39 GMT

BBMC Museum of Black Entertainment in Memory of TJae Ellis

10 years ago, TJae Ellis, one of the Brent Black Music Co-operative’s (BBMC) founding members, had a vision of creating a Museum of Black Entertainment. This was based on the BBMC’s long track record of attracting international and local singers, musicians and performers since its inception in 1985. As the BBMC is now about to complete its refurbishment, we would like to honour the memory of TJae, with the setting up of the BBMC Museum of Black Entertainment within the building.

Since the Windrush era, our community has made a tremendous contribution to the UK’s music, culture and creative heritage. Therefore, we want to establish a place where people can learn and appreciate the legacies our artists have laid down for us over the decades. This will just be the beginning of this concept, and will set the foundations of where we can continue to honour our icons and encourage new generations of entertainers to continue giving back to the community.

To make this happen we are asking for your support by supplying items to be exhibited in the BBMC museum. If you have been a part of the BBMC in any way as a performer or musician, to rehearse, record, or even to pass through to “hold a vibe”, we want you to contribute the minimum of a single item and a picture that represents your contribution to our culture. The item could be a piece of clothing, an album, an instrument or anything you think will remind us of your creative input to our history.

With the years rolling on, it appears that each week, we witness the passing of our icons from different genres of our culture. Over the last 12 months, international icons such as Daddy U Roy, Bunny Wailer, and Toots have transitioned and locally we lost Delroy Washington, Webby Jay, and fellow BBMC founder member Stefan Lumsden. We also know we cannot wait for the mainstream to recognise our contributions, and we are in real danger of our heritage being misrepresented by others telling our story with no direct experience of what our own experiences are really all about.

We are planning to re-open the BBMC at the end of May in line with the easing of lockdown restrictions, we are hoping that throughout April we will be able to collect as many items as possible to prepare ourselves for the telling of our own stories in our own words and images.

If you are able to contribute to the BBMC Museum of Black Entertainment please contact Diane, BBMC Director, at 385 High Rd, NW10 2JR or call 020 8451 4545 or the SABA Network on 020 8776 6776 OR ellie.bbmc@gmail.com / 07811 372 029.

Blessings – BBMC Family

Mum launches educational show on Chalkhill Community Radio

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 13:40:02 GMT

Kingsbury Mum launches an educational show on Chalkhill Community Radio.

The founder of Upreach Community, Ariane Mercurius-Taylor has launched a show on Chalkhill Community Radio.

Ariane is a Kingsbury mum who has launched an educational show influenced by young people to be aired on local radio. The show is called Edu -Scope and will be aired on the first Saturday of each month on Chalkhill Community radio. The Show launches March 6th on Saturday.

The show will also be available for playback on SoundCloud on the same day and as a podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts from March 13.

The 38-year-old has a three-year-old son and was inspired to create an organisation aimed at helping students maximise their potential. By providing free and subsidized subject tuition services for those most in need helping them reach their academic goals.

The Edu-Scope Show name and brand were created by the participants and volunteers of UpReach’s inaugural UpSkill Yourself programme in 2020.

Ariane the founder of community interest company (CIC) UpReach in the Community, said: “The intention is to bring the discussion around UK education and the issues that affect a child’s educational attainment into the household so that the family becomes the primary focal point in helping our children succeed at school and beyond.”

Edu-Scope Show will give students a chance to have their questions answered on topics that they are finding challenging at school. The show will feature Issues students are currently facing during the lockdown and socially conscious topics and the school closures.

The series will cover mental health challenges to studying with learning difficulties, identifying, exploring, and discussing the many factors that influence children and young people’s educational progress.

Ariane founded UpReach in the Community in 2018 after reading data suggesting that the UK education system was failing Black children.

” I wanted to create something for our young people during the lockdown period to help combat their insecurities and anxieties about what happens next,” she said.

She added, “So we provided a digital environment here at UpReach in the Community for young people to learn a new skill, to use their time at home more productively and to add some interesting work experience to their CV.”

Jamaican musician U-Roy has died

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 13:28:38 GMT

Jamaican Reggae DJ Pioneer U-Roy has died, Jamaican media sources report.

U-Roy with John Downie Founder of HiCrEc Awarding U Roy giving respect to legends.

Daddy U Roy, God rest his soul! When you talk about a Legend in music, very rarely can you get any greater than this Godfather. The culture of sound systems was first made popular in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1940s. Up until the 1950′s, it was the DJ Count Machuki who set the pace. However, by the 1960s, U Roy came on the dancehall scene and changed everything forever. His phrasing, lyrical content, and “riddim” riding flows set the standard in Reggae music for decades to come.

It was his phenomenal feat of having Numbers 1,2 & 3 on the Jamaican music charts in 1970 was that really put the commercial possibilities of Reggae DJs (MCs/Toasters) to another level.

U Roy first made his name on Jamaican sound systems like Sir Coxsone, King Tubbys and King Attorney (later known as Socialist Roots). This brought him to the attention of Duke Reid, owner of Treasure Isle, who was the one who produced him on the track “Wear You To The Ball” which featured U Roy and The Paragons, led by John Holt. This track became the most influential mix of a singer and DJ and opened the doors to this style of recording that still resonates and sells and streams millions to this day.

In 1975, U Roy became the first DJ/MC to be signed to a major label when his album, Dread in a Babylon, was produced and distributed by Virgin Records. Now when you consider that the mainstream credits “Rapper’s Delight”, released in 1979 as the first breakthrough record Rap record, the culture of D-jaying/rapping over popular rhythm tracks was influenced by U Roy’s contribution 10 years prior. Now in 2021, getting MCs to “spit” on a remix is taken for granted across many music genres.

It was this Reggae dancehall/sound system culture that led to Jamaican immigrant, Kool Herc setting up his sound system in the Bronx, New York in 1973, that spawned Hip-Hop culture in America.

U Roy’s world significance cannot be underrated:

- Hip-Hop culture is well intertwined into mainstream culture. It has produced literal billionaires like Puff Daddy, Jay Z and Dr Dre.

-Sound systems can be found across the world in places like Australia (e.g. Heartical Hi Powa), India (e.g. Reggae Rajah) and Italy (e.g.Sud Sound System), let alone across Africa, the US and here in the UK

- Each one of these sound systems has an DJ/MC who will introduce a track and “spit” on the non-vocal side, i.e. the “riddim”, just like how U Roy would. Even today they may use certain phrases that the Godfather originated and they would not even know it.

- The popularity of U Roy’s recordings encouraged Reggae music producers to focus as much on the version of their releases as they did on the original vocal material. This led to the creation and development of 12″ vinyl releases (aka Disco mixes – remember them). More recently this went on to create the sub-genres of Dub Step, Reggaeton, Garage and even Grime where rhythm tracks are made to suit the styles of the MCs

- The whole culture of music remixes, dub music, and sound effects all came from the culture of giving the DJ/MC a chance to put his own content on the tracks and for people to enjoy the recordings even more.

U-Roy, or Daddy U-Roy, was known for pioneering the vocal style of “toasting,” performing conversational, rhythmic speech over a reggae or dancehall beat. Throughout his career, U-Roy released some 20 records and contributed to Toots and Maytals’ Grammy-winning album True Love. He was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his influence on the country’s music scene.

John Downie said ” U Roy is a pillar and foundation stone in the history of music FULL STOP, POINT BLANK & PERIOD!!! His influence needs to be internationally recognized with a posthumous Reggae Grammy at the very least. All the Grammy-winning Reggae DJs can trace back their lineage to him.”

He said “Even Koffee told me in an interview that she was influenced by Super Cat who always paid his respects to the Godfather, Daddy U Roy.”

… Much Love to you Daddy U Roy… One Love Y’All

Wembley Stadium & The FA supporting Chalkhill Community Radio

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 20:46:28 GMT

Chalkhill Community Radio confirms their community training projects will be supported by Wembley Stadium & The FA. This will be in line with Wembley Stadium’s efforts to see where they can diversify in what they do.

Chalkhill Community Radio has fast become Brent’s leading community radio station. It is a member of the UK’s fastest-growing network of community radio stations, known as Your Digital Network (YDN) and part of the SABA Charity Network. Patricia Wharton their lead presenter, popularly known as Blaze from the “Let’s Talk Show”, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for excluded communities to engage with local iconic, national institutions, whilst developing skill sets to enhance their futures.”

The Wembley Stadium Community & Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Anthony Angol, said, “We want to make sure the community benefits from our existence”. Working with Chalkhill Radio has become part of Wembley Stadium’s social responsibility strategy as they look “To understand how we can support and add value to the work Chalkhill Radio does”.

The planned projects meet the demands of the “new digital normal” that society faces from the COVID pandemic, as follows. Digital Media Skills Training: Our digital training project will deliver skillsets for people to join the growing media sector at varying levels.

Blaze said “Great moments are born from great opportunities,” he said “Our access to Wembley Stadium, an iconic building in our local area has long felt out of our reach. We are very excited by the future prospect of this joint project.”

This includes skills covering media presenting and production from solo podcasts through to mainstream broadcasting environments.

Community Sports Journalism: Wembley Stadium, The FA and Chalkhill Radio will be working together to achieve greater diversity in the digital media and sporting world. We will work towards this with our Community Sports Journalism project. This will provide excluded communities into sports journalism and provide a platform for minority sports to be given deserved attention.

Computer Games Competition: The joint delivery project of Wembley Stadium, the FA and Chalkhill Radio will be launched with a major computer games competition. This will be announced at the end of February. Such as the FIFA Gaming competion which you can register to join.

Who is YDN Network

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:25:47 GMT

Your Digital Network is a new concept in internet broadcasting. Our ethos is to bring 3 sections of the community together

1) Commercial

2) Voluntary sector

3) Local people

We feel the benefits centre around both the commercial and the voluntary sectors of society coming together to find ways to increase access to wealth. The beneficiaries will be local people who both purchase and enjoy the goods and services of the 2 main sectors, but who also work within them. i.e. a win/win result for everyone.

Our strategy is based around the fact that 96% of UK businesses are classed as either small or micro-businesses. In most cases, they may only have the capacity to service a limited number of clients or customers. With several of the larger companies moving away from out-of-town styled retail parks to more localised shopping experiences, there appears to be a growth towards reaching local people directly within their local markets.

Within our commercial ethos we can help local businesses reach their local communities through our borough based networks.

For local voluntary groups we can enable them to raise their profile amongst local people. Thereby helping them to gain local community support in terms of volunteers, materials and of course local cash donation

For local people, we will be letting them know about both commercial and voluntary organisations, from which they can decide how they may make their purchases or donations

In developing opportunities for local people, we can assist in their training and development to either become more effective employees, or to totally take their life in their own hands as entrepreneurs.

Join us for regional broadcasts that connect local communities into the new normal.

Desperate fundraiser as 15 families face eviction

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:25:47 GMT

A mother creates a fundraiser for families facing eviction in Stonebridge.

A “desperate” NHS worker Claudia Hayles has launched a mortgage fundraiser as she and 15 neighbours face mass eviction from their homes in Stonebridge.

Nurse Claudia is one of 15 households facing eviction from Prospect House in May after receiving notice in November. Eighteen adults and 18 children and babies currently live in the block and have no idea where they are going next.

The flats are let to homeless families on a five-year lease arrangement, according to council documents and managed by Shepherd’s Bush Housing Association.

Claudia has a 15-year-old daughter and a son aged nine, said it is a “desperate situation”: “Brent Council told us to look for private accommodation and they will pay the deposit but I work for the NHS full time and I just don’t earn enough to meet the criteria for renting a private property.”

Brent Council approved a planning application in 2019 to build four additional floors containing a further 28 self-contained flats.

However, they face eviction because the buildings’ owner is now redeveloping the site. SBHA said all tenants had been referred back to Brent Council.

Claudia said, “we were all taken off the bidding system the day we accepted the property”. She currently pays £1,308 a month for her two-bed flat and receives a benefit ‘top-up’ as she says many of the other families do.

She has had no luck with estate agents; those she has spoken to say she needs a guarantor: “I was shocked when I initially started looking [to buy a property]. They asked me what my annual income was and said I don’t qualify unless I have savings of £20,000 or £30,000 to buy a property and I will need two guarantors and I don’t know anybody.”

She has launched a GoFundMe page to try and raise the deposit needed, having been on Brent’s housing register since 2013 and moved twice in that time. She said. ”A lot of people are going through this and are not brave enough to come forward. It’s a mother’s cry for help.”

https://www.gofundme.com/f/nhs-nurse-in-desperate-need

Darren said “We know this is worrying and, as a social landlord, we never want people to be worried about where they live.

“We lease Prospect House from a private landlord who, after five years, does not want to renew the lease.

“This, unfortunately, means we needed to start a legal process to hand back their building.

“Even after the six-month notice expires in May, there will be further legal steps which could take many months to complete so there is no risk of imminent eviction.”

SBHA says they contacted Ms. Hayles about key worker accommodation which she may be eligible for.

The research, conducted by the LSE for the Trust for London charitable foundation, says the areas could affect as many as 700,000 tenants and their landlords. The current number of private tenants in rent arrears in England in the next 12 months.

These arrears could be expected to lead to at least three times the number of formal evictions as before the crisis, resulting in around 50,000 over the coming year.

Support Claudia

https://www.gofundme.com/f/nhs-nurse-in-desperate-need

Food poverty worsening

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:25:47 GMT

British politician Tulip Siddiq has slammed the government’s attitude to food poverty during the pandemic.

Tulip said “I think it’s very sad that the impact of this has pushed more people into needing to use food banks,”

The Hampstead and Kilburn MP, who is also a shadow cabinet member said that though food poverty is an issue that predates the pandemic, it has been exacerbated over the past year.

Citing projects like the food bank at the JW3 community center in Finchley Road, she added: “There is an amazing community in Hampstead and Kilburn and it’s really come together. I’m really proud of them and the work they are doing.

“We shouldn’t be in need of food banks like this though. I think it’s a really shameful moment for our country.”

On the 11th of January, the nation went into a collective outrage at the free school meal parcels the government provided for some families across England during the lockdown.

Parents and onlookers including Marcus Rashford protested the “shameful” lunch parcels which were meant to cover a five days’ worth of lunch but some deliveries had tuna, money bags, half a pepper, and only portions of a cucumber.

#FreeSchoolMeals bag for 10 days: food Issued instead of £30 vouchers.

The MP also criticised the “shocking” food parcels and said: “Parents should be given £15 a week in support. We should trust parents and give them the money. It’s insulting to say they’d spend it on booze or similar.

The MP said “I find it hard to believe they’ve said there’ll not be support for free school meals over half term,” she said. ”Surely the PM doesn’t need Marcus Rashford to point this out again.” She is concerned that specific support is not set to be in place over half term

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“The centrally-funded national voucher scheme gives schools another option in providing that support – but they can of course continue providing locally-arranged solutions or high-quality lunch parcels where this is most convenient for their families. half term, councils would be able to use funding from the £170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme to finance food provision.”

Tulip said this could create a “postcode lottery” for food vouchers, with councils forced to juggle competing priorities.

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