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Copy of Copy of Copy of Pride month 2023

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Let this video improve your day!

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Millions of Muslims around the world will be celebrating the start of Ramadan on 13 April.

The festival involves a month of fasting - believers taking part will not eat or drink anything during daylight hours - and prayer.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the Arabic name for the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

It is considered one of the holiest Islamic months.

It's also one of the Five Pillars of Islam. These are five principles which Muslims believe are compulsory acts ordered by God.

Muslims believe that some of the first verses of the Islamic holy book, the Qu'ran, were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. Extra emphasis is placed on reciting the Qu'ran at this time.

Fasting is considered to be an act of worship, which enables Muslims to feel closer to God and strengthen their spiritual health and self-discipline.

How does this work in practice?

Muslims have an early morning meal before dawn, known as suhoor or sehri.

They break their fast after sunset for the evening meal, called iftar or fitoor.

Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are encouraged to give to charity, strengthen their relationship with God, and show kindness and patience.

During this month, believers also head to the mosque for an additional night prayer called Taraweeh. This is only held during Ramadan.

How will Ramadan be different this year?

This is the second Ramadan to fall during the coronavirus pandemic.

For Muslims in the UK, just like fellow believers around the world, this means another year of changes to traditional practices.

The iftar meal is usually shared with family and friends. Because of the lockdown, such meetings will be restricted once more.

However, while mixing between households was banned during Ramadan in 2020, this year the festival coincides with the easing of some lockdown rules in England.

Up to six people or two households can now gather outdoors or in a private garden. Restaurants will also be able to serve meals outdoors.

For those unable to meet, many virtual iftar events and online Islamic lectures are taking place.

What else is changing?

Another change from 2020 is that mosques are once again open throughout the UK, and able to host Taraweeh prayers in the evening.

Mosques in England will ask worshippers to wear a face covering, bring their own prayer mat, and socially distance.

Many mosques are also reducing the length of prayers to minimise the time spent in congregation.

Imams say that because the vaccine goes into the muscle, rather than the bloodstream and is not nutritious, it does not amount to breaking the fast.

Muslim mental health organisations are are also encouraging people to look after themselves during these times.

When is Ramadan?

The Islamic calendar follows the lunar calendar of 12 months. Each month begins with the new crescent moon and lasts either 29 or 30 days.

The month of Ramadan begins with the first sighting of the new moon.

In the past, this was done by the naked eye, but in recent years, telescopes and technology have been used.

Muslim countries are spread across a large geographical area, from Indonesia to Morocco, meaning that some Muslims may see the new moon earlier than others.

"Traditionally, Makkah [Mecca in Saudi Arabia] was the centre of sighting the moon," says Prof Muhammad Abdel Haleem from the Centre of Islamic Studies at London's SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies).

"Sometimes even in the Middle East, neighbouring countries will say they've seen the moon on different days," he says.

Saudi Arabia has now said fasting will begin on 13 April, and many Muslim communities around the world are expected to accept this date.

The lunar calendar is about 10 days shorter than the Western calendar. which means that each year Ramadan starts about 10 days earlier.

Who can fast during Ramadan?

Fasting should only be done by people who are in good health.

Those who are sick or ill and whose health will be affected by fasting

Children - although some may begin to practise fasting from a young age

Pregnant and breastfeeding women

Menstruating women

Travellers

The end of Ramadan is marked with a celebration called Eid al-Fitr.

Many Muslims attend Eid prayers at the mosque and then enjoy a large meal with friends and family. It's also very common for believers to exchange money and gifts with each other.

Eid falls on 12 May, so celebrations will still be affected by lockdown restrictions.

Although it has become a well-known event in the UK, this is not the only Eid celebration in the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha is celebrated during the month of Dhul-Hijjah. This is the month where Muslims from across the world make the pilgrimage to Makkah known as Hajj.

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Millions of Muslims around the world will be celebrating the start of Ramadan on 13 April. The festival involves a month of fasting - believers taking part will not eat or drink anything during daylight hours - and prayer. What is Ramadan? Ramadan is the Arabic name for the ninth month in the Islamic calendar.

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Pride month 2022 - What does LGBTQ+ stand for

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Pride month 2022 - What does LGBTQ+ stand for

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Pride month 2022 - Terms associated with LGBTQ+ community

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Pride month 2022 - Terms associated with LGBTQ+ community

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Pride month 2022 - Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

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Pride month 2022 - Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

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Long Covid and illness drives 400,000 more people from the workforce

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Long Covid and illness drives 400,000 more people from the workforce

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Long Covid and illness drives 400,000 more people from the workforce | Disability Rights UK

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You are here > Home > Long Covid and illness drives 400,000 more people from the workforce

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Check out this brilliant website where you can buy Hidden Disability merchandise so you can proudly wear yours and let people know that not all disabilities are visible.

The website also includes lots of great blogs and local information.

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JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

What is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower?

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool for you to voluntarily share that you have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent - and that you may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in shops, at work, on transport, or in public spaces.

Learn more

Our global network

The Sunflower is connected to you all around the world

The Sunflower is there for you as you work, shop. travel. learn and at leisure. Businesses all around the world have joined the global Sunflower network to support you when you wear the Sunflower - anywhere you choose to be discreetly seen. Discover the locations that recognise the Sunflower using our route planner on our Sunflower locator map.

Our Business network

Contribute to a positive impact

Are you looking to create a culture in your business where everyone has the same opportunities and a voice to impact the business? Whether you are in retail, financial services, education or in healthcare, sport and leisure, join businesses around the world who use the Sunflower as a catalyst to create a disability inclusive culture for their colleagues as well as their customers.

Sunflower Partner Program

We're looking for regional and global business partners to help expand the Sunflower across the globe

Register

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The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a discreet sign that the wearer has a hidden disability and may need additional support

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'As a black woman in STEM I'm used for photo opportunities'

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'As a black woman in STEM I'm used for photo opportunities'

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‘As a black woman in STEM I’m used for photo opportunities’

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Chemist Cynthia Chapple talks about how to get more black girls from inner-cities into STEM careers.

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The teacher trying to bring 'black joy' into lessons

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The teacher trying to bring 'black joy' into lessons

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Interesting and inspiring article about the way children are taught about history and culture.

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In 2020, the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and rolled into the water at Bristol's docks.

The controversial protest came at the height of anti-racist demonstrations across the UK after the death of George Floyd in the US.

It gave an added impetus to efforts of schools in the city to address the past and its impact in the present.

A network of history teachers came together to write and publish a book about Bristol's involvement in the slave trade.

And Tanisha Hicks-Beresford is one of the teachers continuing the work of creating a more inclusive education for pupils. Some call the approach decolonisation.

"I went to school in Bristol and there was hardly any representation of people who look like me," she said.

Across the city there are more than 3,000 teachers, and Tanisha says those who are black are in a tiny minority.

She came into teaching, wanting pupils to have a very different experience from her own education.

"The emotional impact is huge when the only history you're taught is that you come from slaves, and that everybody else comes from kings and queens. So you start thinking am I less than everybody else?"

Now she teaches citizenship and English at Bristol Cathedral Choir secondary school, which draws its pupils from many different communities across the city.

Combatting negativity

Tanisha wants to redress what feels like a stream of negative stories in the news, from the death of George Floyd to the recent controversy over the strip search of a black teenage girl known as Child Q.

She describes it as bringing "black joy" into the classroom.

"It's not just about racism, there's so much more to this world. You don't want our students to come out and just feel 'I'm oppressed'. They need to see themselves in the world, and be agents of change."

In practical terms, she encourages pupils to discuss and celebrate each other's culture and family histories.

Tanisha looks for examples of black people shaping their own destinies, whether in campaigning for the abolition of slavery, to writers who bring different stories reflecting a wider cultural range of experiences.

It is an approach taken across the school, with teachers looking to add lesson content that connects with the backgrounds of more of its pupils.

So in history, the Haitian revolution and ancient African kingdoms have been added, while in English literature an anthology of short stories by writers from diverse racial backgrounds is included.

In the art department, teenagers are working on a mural inspired by the style of the AfriCobra art movement that began in Chicago in the 1960s to find creative expression for black identity.

It is a montage of contemporary role models from Barack Obama to Marcus Rashford.

In music, West African percussion instruments are among the additions.

Decolonisation

This search for references, examples and books that reflect the range of racial backgrounds in a school is part of what some describe as decolonising lessons.

Including different perspectives on some parts of British history, including colonisation and slavery, is also now commonplace in schools.

Year 7 English pupil Arthur, 11, said he felt it was important for him and his classmates to learn about the history of their families and the countries from which some had come to the UK.

"It gives us an understanding how our city became what it is now."

Respectful debate of different views is encouraged here.

Teah said: "It's really diverse our world, it's quite cool to learn about different races and religions. It really solves the puzzle of our world."

There is no agreed understanding of what decolonising learning means, and some think it is an unhelpful label for making sure lessons are relevant and relatable.

Up to the beginning of GCSE courses, schools have some leeway to look for creative ways of reflecting their pupils' backgrounds and different cultural perspectives in what they teach.

After that, what is taught in lessons is largely driven by exam boards.

Pearson exam board told us it is continually reviewing content, so from this autumn four new texts will be added to A-level English literature, including Les Blancs by Lorraine Hansberry and Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie.

It follows changes already made to its English literature GCSE curriculum, which have led to 25% of the texts specified being by authors from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Political row

Many schools are quietly getting on with reviewing what they teach, while a rather more heated and politicised row rumbles on.

In February this year, the government published the first guidelines for England's schools on how to interpret their long-standing duty of political impartiality.

The guidelines say when teaching pupils about racism, "teachers should be clear that racism has no place in our society".

But they also warn where schools want to teach about organisations with a more campaigning stance, such as Black Lives Matter, "they should be aware this may cover partisan political views".

It cites the call to defund the police as one of these partisan views which should be balanced with an opposing view.

Teachers have warned the guidelines could have a chilling effect on debating controversial subjects with older pupils in lessons, something the government denies.

At the annual meeting of the National Education Union on Monday, teachers debated what are described as government attacks on the "woke agenda" and Black Lives Matter.

Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said schools had an important role as places where children learned to be citizens.

"I do think the government's war on woke is being weaponised against the complex exploration of these issues in the classroom," she said.

Ministers have also faced calls to ensure that what is taught in schools through the national curriculum reflects a more diverse range of cultural views than has been the case.

It has promised a new model history curriculum to help teachers teach "migration, cultural change and the contribution made by different communities" by 2024.

The BBC understands the group of independent advisers for the work has not yet been appointed.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are developing a new model history curriculum that will support the teaching of high-quality, knowledge-rich content.

"It is not being designed to 'decolonise the curriculum'. Its purpose is to tell the story of how the United Kingdom came to be, and how we shaped, and were shaped by, our relationships with the rest of the world."

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The teacher trying to add 'black joy' into lessons

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In 2020, the statue of slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and rolled into the water at Bristol's docks. The controversial protest came at the height of anti-racist demonstrations across the UK after the death of George Floyd in the US.

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Amazing charity that will foster pets when people in Devon and Cornwall are escaping domestic abuse.

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Animals are often the silent victims of domestic violence and abuse, used as part of the pattern of coercion and control. Along with their families, animals are also often threatened, yelled at, beaten, kicked and, in some cases, killed.

Refuge4Pets provides a pet fostering service across Devon and Cornwall to victims/survivors of domestic violence and abuse so that they can leave with their much-loved pets. Often individuals and families escaping violent and abusive relationships are unable to take their animals with them, as the refuge or temporary accommodation does not allow pets. In many cases, this will stop people from leaving.

With domestic violence and abuse being one of the most significant public health concerns that we experience in the UK, combined with the fact that over half of all households have pets, our pet fostering service is a vital.

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Refuge4Pets | Helping people and animals escape domestic abuse

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Animals are often the silent victims of domestic violence and abuse, used as part of the pattern of coercion and control. Along with their families, animals are also often threatened, yelled at, beaten, kicked and, in some cases, killed.

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Black History Month - Mary Van Brittan Brown

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Black History Month - Mary Van Brittan Brown

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Mary Van Brittan Brown Black History month 2021

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Oprah Winfrey Black History month 2021 (1)

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Black History Month - The Windrush Years

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Black History Month - The Windrush Years

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Black History Month 2021 - Dr Harold Moody

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Black History Month 2021 - Dr Harold Moody

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Caroline Gayle-Dunne shares her thoughts and experiences of racism and embracing her identity as a black woman. 

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Caroline Gayle-Dunne shares her thoughts and experiences of racism and embracing her identity as a black woman. 

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Caroline Gayle-Dunne is an Operational Manager in Cornwall. In this brilliant interview she discusses racism and her proud identification as a "middle aged black woman". Caroline talks inspirationally about her life and the way she has grown in confidence and is now able to challenge other people's conscious and unconscious biases.

Interviewer: Sarah Baker-Martin (Advanced Practitioner)

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Katie Bainbridge shares her experiences of being a transgendered person 

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Katie Bainbridge shares her experiences of being a transgendered person 

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Katie Bainbridge is an administrator in Cornwall and here she very bravely and openly shared her experiences of her life as a transgendered person and the discrimination that she has experienced.

This is a fascinating video so please do listen and learn from Katie.

Interviewer: Sarah Baker-Martin (Advanced Practitioner)

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Hannah Richards shares her experiences of equality, diversity and discrimination 

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Hannah Richards shares her experiences of equality, diversity and discrimination 

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Hannah Richards is a Recovery Coordinator in Cornwall and in this video she shares her experiences of equality, diversity and discrimination. And what should be done to change these things.

Interviewer: Sarah Baker-Martin (Advanced Practitioner)

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Nat Gyll-Murray discusses her thoughts and learning around equality and diversity 

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Nat Gyll-Murray discusses her thoughts and learning around equality and diversity 

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Nat Gyll-Murray is a Community Engagement Coordinator in Cornwall. In this video she discusses how she has experienced sexism and prejudice, especially in the music scene that she is part of.

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Billy Horton shares his experiences and learning around equality and diversity

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Billy Horton shares his experiences and learning around equality and diversity

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Billy Horton is a Community Engagement Coordinator in Cornwall and in this video he has shared his experiences of discrimination that has affected him - and negative behaviours he has demonstrated in the past, and what made him learn and change his thought processes.

This is an excellent video and Billy has very bravely shared personal experiences and previous negative thought patterns - and how he has changed them, and has turned his life around.

Interviewer: Sarah Baker-Martin (Advanced Practitioner)

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'No problem in Cornwall' report of the anti-racism project

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'No problem in Cornwall' report of the anti-racism project

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Find the full report here: https://www.somerset.org.uk/sites/antibullying/Shared%20Documents/No%20Problem%20In%20Cornwall%20Report.pdf

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"On the bus, I had people move seats over from me. I've lived in Cornwall longer than some other people but I'm constantly reminded that I don't fit the part."

Karum Cooper, 22, has lived in Truro since he was ten.

Many times in his life he was confronted with strange stares, inappropriate comments and was even called the N-word.

He says the racism people are protesting against across the world also exists in Cornwall.

"Everyone needs to care," he said. "There is no exception with Cornwall. A lot of people are saying 'it's not relevant, leave the Americans to do it'. There is a far larger picture that people don't take into account."

Racism and racial inequality have been given a significant amount of coverage across the world since Monday, May 25, the day George Floyd died in police custody in the US. A video of the incident, taken by a bystander and posted on social media, showed the 46-year-old dad's neck being pinned to the ground by police officer Derek Chauvin, as he repeatedly said "I can't breathe".

Ex-police officer Chauvin faces a second degree murder charge after he was initially charged with the lesser offence of third degree murder.

And three more police officers who were present have been charged with aiding and abetting murder in relation to the incident.

The tragedy led to a wave of protests against racism, police violence and injustice which began in Minneapolis, where Mr Floyd died, and quickly spread across the US and the globe.

A peaceful demonstration attended by thousands took place in London's Hyde Park on Wednesday. Later in the day, thirteen people were arrested after pockets of protesters clashed with police in Westminster.

Anti-racism messages pleading with people to act and educate themselves have also been flooding social media.

In Cornwall, a Black Lives Matter protest is being organised. It was first expected to take place in Truro on Sunday afternoon (June 7), but has been postponed amid safety concerns during the coronavirus pandemic. Read about that story and an online event to take place on Sunday instead here.

Organiser Ellice Marsh said she wants to raise awareness and show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Describing the event, she wrote that similar issues are going on in the UK: "Although police brutality seems more common in the US, it is also an issue here in the UK due to the institutionalised racism within the police force and government.

"Black people face so much discrimination and I want to protest for the equality and safety of black people in every community."

Karum will be taking part in the protest.

He said people need to identify how they have added to the issue of racism, or how they have improved the situation.

"We need to use this whole situation as an opportunity to reflect on what's going on in the area we live in," he explained.

"Cornwall is a bit shut off from the rest of the UK. If something happens in London or Manchester, they think it doesn't matter to them.

"People should take the initiative to research the issue.

"A lot of racism in Cornwall stems from ignorance. There are not a lot of us to tell our stories."

Karum now works in a coffee shop and also promotes local bands and festivals.

He says that racism affected him a lot during his childhood.
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"It was a lot worse when I was younger," he explained. "Kids are far more ignorant, they open their mouths with no consequence. They use the N-word quite freely and other slurs.

"I didn't realise it was really a thing until I was 15 or 16 and I started to think, 'actually, it's not okay'."

Racism in Cornwall is different from racism in the US or in big cities in Britain, Karum says.

"Some older people assume that I'm not from down here," he said, adding that he's often asked where he really is from and if he's holidaying in Cornwall.

"A lot of it is somewhat innocent, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't have to change."

According to the 2011 census, the predominant ethnic group in Cornwall is 'white', accounting for 98.2% of the population.

The census reads: "The population that stated they were from a non-white ethnic group was 9,425, an increase of almost 4,000 on the 2001 figure of 5,490."

In 2019, Devon and Cornwall Police recorded 1,115 hate crimes, compared to 1,013 in 2018 and 914 in 2017.

In a report called ' No Problem in Cornwall', the Anti-Racism Project - which has now ended - stated: "The findings of the research we have conducted are simple: racism exists in Cornwall, and it has a very negative impact on the lives of young people from black and ethnic minorities (BME).

"That anyone should find this surprising is at the heart of the problem we face.

"The effects of racism on young people are, at present, largely ignored by many organisations, and at times the blame is put back onto BME groups by agencies stating that racism is not an issue in Cornwall as 'there are too few BME people'."

Although the report was published in 2004, some of its findings echo Karum's experiences.

"In Cornwall, I am hard to miss," he said. "I have an afro, so a lot of people stare. Sometimes for example, builders in vans would shout, 'where are you from?'.

"It is horrible. You kind of just take it on the chin, internalise a lot.

"Any problems, we're supposed to talk to our family. There is a county-wide unspoken word where you just get along with it.

"All the towns are quite small so people might worry they might outcast someone or [reporting racism] might get back at them. It's not talked about that much."

Karum says the reaction on social media to the Black Live Matter protest planned in Truro showed how privileged a lot of people are.

"How amazing is it that people can just dismiss a protest like a night out, 'No I don't fancy that today'?" he said. "People with privilege always want the focus taken away from it. This cause in particular has been going on for an awful lot of time. People of colour in the world are a bit fed up and want to be heard."

On our Cornwall Live Facebook page, many commented about the protest stating they did not understand why Cornwall was hosting it.

"This is not American, we live in a multicultural, tolerant society," a reader wrote. "This will just be used as an excuse for kids to misbehave!"

Another commented: "All lives matter! Irrespective of race. If a black cop killed a white person, would there be protests?"

Someone else added: "Let me know when it gets near Sports Direct... I'm sure there's a young chav who could nick/look me some trainers. Size 8 by the way!"

Anais Hooper, from Truro, took to Facebook to slam some of the comments.

She wrote: "Growing up in Cornwall where the population is 95.7% white, I have always noticed ignorance to people of other races. However, the comments under the Cornwall Live post actually shocked me as to how many ignorant, self-centred and racist people there are living in our community.

"I am pleading with everyone I have on here, friends and family, to please please, please educate yourself on the black history and what they have to endure on a day to day basis just because of the colour of their skin.

"I can safely say the colour of my skin has never disadvantaged me - this is white privilege, and we as white people all have it. Furthermore, to those of you who think this is just a problem in America, please read the short article posted about the police brutality that has happened over the years here in the UK. These are only a few names and there are many more. Do NOT stay silent."

She added that now, more than ever, people must be anti-racist and use their voices to help the black community.

"It's important to note that I didn't even need to search for these comments on Cornwall Live's post," she wrote. "These were the top ones, and if that doesn't highlight the racism in our community I don't know what will.

"Use your voice for good and help make a change. Now isn't the time to say all lives matter - no one is saying your life doesn't matter - however you are not in need and you are not in danger because of the colour of your skin."

The comments also shocked Charlotte Parker, who owns Charlie's Angels cleaning company in Pool.

"They are just disgusting and very dated," the 37-year-old, who lives in Truro, said.

The tragic news from the US together with overwhelming posts and comments on social media are impacting her mental health, Charlotte said.

"I am incredibly distressed," she said. "The videos that are being shared scarred me."

Racism needs to be a very big topic, she says.

"I come from Bristol, was classed as the 'naughty little black girl' in school," she explained. "I don't get called names hardly anymore but I was racially attacked last year.

"If you go into a shop and you're the only black person the security guard will always follow you.

"It makes me stay away from people."

She said her daughter, who is now 21, used to come home heartbroken after classmates made racist comments about her mum.

"Racism has been going on for hundreds and hundreds of years," Charlotte said. "We are treated like animals, like something different but we're not.

"It's exhausting."

However, she stressed that a lot of people in Cornwall are not racist and that most people she knows are very supportive.

This is what Simon Weekes, of Blisland on Bodmin Moor, has found.

The father-of-two moved to Cornwall ten years ago and says he has never been confronted to any racist behaviour in the county.

"We moved to Cornwall when George was a few months' old," he said. "My wife is Irish, she's white. I'm mixed-race, but I never experienced any racism in Cornwall.

"My sons are quite light-skinned and never experienced anything.

"It did hit a raw nerve when I read a story about a little boy who was bullied at school."

The little boy, called Ashley, spoke to Cornwall Live last year about how he dreaded going to his primary school in west Cornwall after being subjected to racist abuse in the playground.

Ashley explained how he was receiving hateful comments from other children, such as "black idiot", "slave" and the n-word.

After reading the story, Simon's son George reached out to Ashley, invited him to his ninth birthday party and asked if they could be friends.

Simon continued: "I grew up in the '70s. I experienced it in my childhood. I wouldn't want to be in that position with my wife and children.

"People have welcomed us with open arms when we moved down."

Back in Truro, Charlotte wants something positive to come out of the recent events and protests.

"We're a small community, if people start to do something that's right, others will folllow," she said. "I will put a lot of energy into it."

Charlotte created a Facebook group called Peace, love and unity in the Cornish community in the hope of creating a charity in the future.

"Anybody is welcome but it's for people of colour," she said. "I'm hoping to plan monthly meet-ups.

"If you are racially attacked, you can come to us and we will unite.

"I want to put positivity into it. All we want is to be heard and treated respectfully and fairly."

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People most affected in Cornwall on why racism is everyone's fight

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"On the bus, I had people move seats over from me. I've lived in Cornwall longer than some other people but I'm constantly reminded that I don't fit the part." Karum Cooper, 22, has lived in Truro since he was ten.

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We Are With You stand with the Black Lives Matter campaign. George Floyd's life mattered. Racism of any kind must never be tolerated.

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Can flexible work close the disability employment gap?

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Can flexible work close the disability employment gap?

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02 September 2020 -

At the beginning of January 2020, flexible working was something you still had to ask permission for. But overnight, it became a necessity for many, rather than personal preference
Guest Blogger, Liz Johnson
Flexible work is sometimes mistaken for being a millennial trend; demanded by those wanting ultimate freedom. But since the pandemic, free will has been taken out of the equation. But for disabled workers, this idea was nothing new. Working from home has never been about 'perks', it's often about whether or not we can work at all. Will an upside of the pandemic-induced home working revolution be an improvement in disability employment?

People with disabilities in the UK are twice as likely to be unemployed. This is not for lack of talent or skills, but because of barriers put up throughout the world of work and prejudices about what we're capable of. Traditional workplaces are built around hours, commutes, spaces and mindsets which, in the majority of cases, are simply not equipped to support or optimise the performance of workers with impairments. This, rather than disability itself, is what creates a disabled worker.

Whether it's an office building without step-free access for wheelchair users, or an employer who's inflexible towards time out for medical appointments or flexi-hours; barriers physical and mental amount. This leads to people with disabilities having to expend more time and money, and endure mental and physical stresses to work around these issues, if even possible at all within constraints of the organisation.

The simple solution for employers who want to access this untapped pool of employee talent is to make remote work and flexi-time possible. These are not luxuries, but reasonable solutions to remedy ableist work cultures and ultimately close the disability employment gap. Everybody deserves the freedom of choice to enable them to thrive in their roles.

When suddenly it was not only disabled people, but the wider population whose health and jobs were at risk, employers bent over backwards to enable completely remote working practices in a matter of weeks. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that it's more than possible for companies to adapt to different needs.

So it's time that this is translated to long term change for workers with disabilities; it's time that employers accommodate their needs, rather than the other way round. If cemented as a permanent option, the adoption of working from home is a good start. But there is always more that can be done.

Already far less likely to be employed, people with disabilities are now also twice as likely to be made redundant. This is because, despite everything, employers are continuing to see differences as problematic. The thing is, they'll be the ones who miss out in the end.

The disabled community is a wealth of overlooked talent, skills and expertise. The very fact that we have different needs and have had different experiences means that we're able to offer fresh perspectives and creative solutions to business challenges.

As companies look to recover from the crisis, they'll need to start looking at workers with disabilities for the very real talent that they represent. Then, so they and their teams can properly benefit, they'll need to be flexible and inclusive in their approach. As offices are downsized and teams restructured, staff or freelancers with disabilities will prove to be valuable assets.

It's also important that we see more diversity at a managerial level. Management which is representative of different backgrounds will naturally be guided by a greater understanding of different needs, and foster policies which reflect them.

Managers with disabilities create a trickle-down effect. But it's not their cross to bear alone. All those higher up must recognise their responsibility to create more opportunities for diversity, and actively commit to doing so if we are to close the disability employment gap.

And, not only close the gap, but create equal opportunities for career progression. Although freelancing suits the needs of many disabled people, we don't all want to have to rely on it for the rest of our lives - nor should we have to.

Workers across all backgrounds, disabled people included, should have opportunities to achieve meaningful work which meets their needs; as managers, as freelancers and as employees with full access to flexible working options.

Ultimately, it's about choice. And when we empower a truly diverse workforce, everyone benefits. It is important to note that people are disabled by the barriers which are placed on or around them by society, not by their disabilities or individual circumstances.
Liz Johnson is a Paralympic gold medallist turned disability campaigner and businesswoman. She is the founder of two organisations which aim to close the disability employment gap. The Ability People is the first disability-led employment consultancy, which works with companies to change their outlook on disability and transform their operations to be authentically inclusive. Liz has recently launched Podium, the first jobs marketplace for disabled freelancers. CMI has conducted in-depth research into the business benefits of flexible working - see our findings in full here.

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Can flexible work close the disability employment gap?

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02 September 2020 - At the beginning of January 2020, flexible working was something you still had to ask permission for. But overnight, it became a necessity for many, rather than personal preference Guest Blogger, Liz Johnson Flexible work is sometimes mistaken for being a millennial trend; demanded by those wanting ultimate freedom.

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Here's a collection of books that you might be interested in reading....

Caroline Knapp's "Drinking: A Love Story."
Steve says: The one that changed my thinking permanently was Caroline Knapp's "Drinking: A Love Story." Her account of her alcohol addiction genuinely opened my eyes as to what was happening with me...

"Wasted" by Michael Pond
Powerful (especially given he was an alcohol counsellor), and opened my eyes even further as to where this can all take you, if unchecked.

"Unexpected job of being sober" (Catherine Gray)
Have also recently read "Unexpected job of being sober" (Catherine Gray) which didn't work for me... (although I applaud the sentiment). It felt "Caroline Knapp-lite"...

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Studies have shown that, when compared with the general population, gay and bisexual men, lesbian, and transgender individuals are more likely to:

Use alcohol and drugs,

Have higher rates of substance abuse,

Not withhold from alcohol and drug use, and

Continue heavy drinking into later life.

Alcohol and drug use among some gay and bisexual men can be a reaction to homophobia, discrimination, or violence they experienced due to their sexual orientation and can contribute to other mental health and physical problems. It can disrupt relationships, employment, and threaten financial stability.

For some gay and bisexual men, alcohol and illegal drug use, especially methamphetamines (meth), amyl nitrates (poppers), and drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction (when a man has a hard time keeping an erection during sex), also contribute to a higher chance of getting HIV and other STDs. Persons using drugs or alcohol may also raise their chances of getting HIV or giving it to others by getting involved in more risky sexual practices and behaviors or through sharing needles or other injection equipment.

If you or someone you know has a problem with alcohol or drug addiction and needs help, go to Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locatorexternal icon or call 800-662-Help (4357).

Ostrow, D.G. Stall, R. (2008) Alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among gay and bisexual men. In Wolitski, R.J., Stall, R., Valdiserri, R.O., Unequal Opportunity: Health Disparities Affecting Gay and Bisexual Men in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press.

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Studies have shown that, when compared with the general population, gay and bisexual men, lesbian, and transgender individuals are more likely to: Use alcohol and drugs, Have higher rates of substance abuse, Not withhold from alcohol and drug use, and Continue heavy drinking into later life.

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Leadership training for people who have history of involvement with the criminal system

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Leadership training for people who have history of involvement with the criminal system

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https://www.cloresocialleadership.org.uk/programmes/double-lockdown-rebooting-leadership-criminal-justice

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Evaluating an Individual's Treatment Needs
Addiction Among African Americans

The health concerns of African Americans reflect the needs and issues of a diverse, heterogeneous group. Although the term African American is generally applied to individuals in the United States who can trace their ancestry to Africa, the term is often used to encompass a broad range of people of color, including individuals from Brazil or the Caribbean. Africa itself is an enormous continent, and its immigrants represent numerous nations. Yet the major government-sponsored studies of substance abuse and mental illness in African American communities do not differentiate between these recent immigrants from countries like Ethiopia or Somalia versus African Americans whose ancestors were brought to the US as slaves many generations ago.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), African Americans represent approximately 14.2 percent of the population. The majority of these individuals are descended from Africans who were brought to the US as slaves, and the repercussions of slavery, sharecropping, and racial segregation continue to exert a negative influence on their socioeconomic and political status. However, when looking at a portrait of substance abuse and mental illness among African Americans, it is important to remember that this group includes many ethnic subgroups, with varying traditions, beliefs, and practices.

In addition, many individuals do not identify with a single racial category, but with two or more groups. A black American might identify as Hispanic as well as African American, for instance. Providing effective substance abuse treatment and mental health care requires cultural awareness and sensitivity to the individual's unique origins.

An assessment of these issues in an African American individual or family should consider factors like the following:

Nationality

Ethnicity

Geographic location (urban versus rural)

Religious background

Family history

Cultural identification

Patterns of Substance Abuse

National surveys on drug and alcohol use in the US consistently show that substance abuse rates are similar among African Americans, whites, and Hispanics. SAMHSA reports that its 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed the following patterns in drug and alcohol use:

3 percent of African American respondents reported that they had used alcohol in the past 30 days, compared with 22.8 percent of population as a whole

6 percent of African Americans age 12 and older reported binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks in one sitting), compared with a US average of 23 percent

5 percent of underage African Americans reported binge drinking in the past month, compared with 13.8 percent for the population as a whole

4 percent of African Americans age 12 and older reported using illicit drugs, compared with 10.2 percent of the nation as a whole

These statistics indicate that while rates of drinking and problem drinking among African Americans are lower than the national average, illegal drug use is slightly higher. Yet an article published in the Psychological Bulletin says that while protective factors in black culture, such as a disapproval of drinking to intoxication, may reduce rates of binge drinking, African Americans tend to suffer more serious health and psychosocial problems from alcohol consumption, including:

Alcohol-related illnesses, such as liver disease, heart disease, esophageal cancer, and pancreatitis

Alcohol-related accidents and injuries

Exposure to violence

Legal repercussions

Exposure to communicable diseases, such as HIV/AIDS

In 2013, the reported rate of substance dependence and abuse was lower among African Americans (7.4 percent) than among whites (8.4 percent) or Hispanics (8.6 percent), according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Yet these statistics apparently do not reflect the full impact of alcohol use or abuse among African Americans.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) states that while rates of alcohol dependence or alcoholism among African Americans are generally lower (8.4 percent) than among Hispanics (9.5 percent) or Caucasians (13.8 percent), African Americans are more likely to have ongoing problems with alcohol dependence once it occurs. The rate of recurrent alcoholism among blacks is 35.4 percent, NIAAA notes, versus 33 percent among Hispanics and 22.8 percent among whites. The persistence of alcoholism among African Americans may be partly responsible for the higher rates of liver disease and other alcohol-related illnesses that affect those individuals.

Illegal Drug Use in the African American Community

The African American community has been plagued by problems with illegal drugs, some real and some the result of racial profiling and cultural stereotypes. Yet national statistics from 2013 show that the rates of illicit drug abuse were roughly the same among African Americans, whites, and Hispanics. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2013 reports the following statistics on current illicit drug use:

5 percent of blacks

5 percent of whites

8 percent of Hispanics

3 percent of American Indians or Alaskan Natives

0 percent of Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders

African Americans, especially in urban areas, have been associated with higher rates of cocaine use and trafficking, but these trends are changing. According to the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) Report of February 2013, the majority of African Americans admitted for treatment in 1999 reported that alcohol and cocaine were their primary drugs of abuse. In the year 2000, 55 percent of African Americans admitted for drug rehab had a cocaine problem, compared with 40 percent in 2010. While cocaine-related admissions among black Americans have gone down since the 1990s, blacks are still twice as likely as other racial groups to report having a cocaine problem on admission to treatment, notes the TEDS Report.

The snapshot of substance abuse created by statistics on drug use in African American communities contradicts many of the predominant stereotypes about blacks and drug addiction. According to these stereotypes, the rates of drug abuse and drug-related crime are much higher among blacks than among whites or Asians. However, the National Institute on Drug Abuse proposes that these impressions are based on outdated administrative practices and racial profiling that led to an overrepresentation of blacks in the criminal justice system. The negative stereotyping of African Americans as criminal offenders and drug dealers has been one of the greatest barriers to culturally competent substance abuse treatment.

Issues of Mental Health

Despite many years of fighting against racism and discrimination, African Americans are still faced with these obstacles in all areas of their lives, including the search for mental healthcare. Finding culturally sensitive rehab programs remains a challenge, especially in a society where the fields of psychiatry and addiction treatment are dominated by the needs of white Americans. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), African Americans are about half as likely to use mental health services as Caucasian Americans. The National Healthcare Disparities Report states that in 2008, only 50.6 percent of blacks who had a major depressive episode sought treatment, compared with 57.4 percent of Hispanics and 70.4 percent of whites. NAMI confirms that African Americans are 20 percent more likely than the rest of the US population to experience severe forms of mental illness, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as higher rates of suicide among African American men.

When faced with a mental illness like depression or anxiety, African Americans may be more likely to turn to family members or spiritual leaders for support, rather than seeking mental healthcare from white practitioners. The relatively low number of black mental health practitioners, combined with a lack of cultural training among the predominantly white practitioners, contributes to distrust and a reluctance to seek care. Instead of getting help in the early stages of a mental illness, African Americans may wait until symptoms become more severe, requiring more aggressive treatment.

African American individuals also have higher rates of exposure to life events or conditions that can worsen mental illness or discourage treatment, such as the following:

Homelessness

Violence

Racial discrimination

Poverty

Lack of healthcare coverage

Office of the Surgeon General, lack of insurance is one of the greatest barriers to mental health treatment, with nearly one-fourth of African Americans uninsured or underinsured. This barrier may be reduced by the Affordable Care Act, which makes mental health coverage and substance abuse treatment mandatory among most programs and increases the availability of care.

When mental illness is combined with substance abuse, the search for treatment may become even more challenging. SAMHSA estimates that in 2014, 3.8 percent of African Americans had some form of mental illness combined with drug or alcohol addiction, compared with the US average of 3.3 percent. Substance abuse can worsen the symptoms of mental illness and may make it more difficult for clinicians to diagnose serious psychiatric conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Mental illness combined with substance abuse, a condition known as a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders, must be addressed through an integrated treatment program that combines recovery services with intensive mental health treatment.

Treatment Needs among Black Clients

While rates of illegal drug use may be higher among African Americans, statistics show that more members of this group receive treatment at specialized facilities than Hispanics or whites. In 2013, the NSDUH reports that among those Americans who needed treatment for illicit drug use, 21.3 percent of blacks received treatment at a specialty facility, such as a clinic or rehab center, compared with 17.3 percent of the rest of the population. Similarly, more African Americans received treatment for alcohol abuse at a specialty facility than other groups (13.5 percent versus 7.6 percent).

Contrary to cultural assumptions about high rates of drug abuse among poor African Americans, the NSDUH indicates that African Americans with an income 100 percent below the Federal Poverty Level were actually less likely than other racial groups to need treatment for substance abuse. While African Americans with health insurance were less likely to need substance abuse treatment, 15.4 percent of those who did need treatment sought help, compared with 8.7 percent of other racial groups. However, a study of retention rates published in Psychiatric Services indicates that while admission rates for cocaine and alcohol abuse treatment are relatively high among African Americans, dropout rates and lack of compliance are also high.

In order to provide more effective, personalized substance abuse treatment and psychiatric care to African Americans, practitioners in this field must learn to address each client as an individual, considering all of the variables that affect his or her mental health. An article published in Minority Nurse points out that many clinicians do not consider the multiple sociocultural factors that can influence substance use or mental illness in African Americans when they assess and treat these patients. These variables include:

Gender

Age

Income level

Education

Cultural background

Spiritual orientation

Spirituality, in particular, should be emphasized as a coping mechanism for African Americans, who have traditionally used their spiritual beliefs and religious practices as sources of strength and support in the face of adversity. Practitioners should also take into account the importance of the family and community in recovery, and the need to engage family members in the treatment process for African American clients.

A motivational approach to treatment may improve retention rates and encourage compliance with treatment among African Americans. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology proposes that Motivational Interviewing (MI) may be an effective way to keep African American clients engaged in treatment and encourage them to adhere to their recovery program. MI is a client-centered clinical approach based on the principles of empathy and therapeutic collaboration.

The goals of this modality include:

Helping the client overcome resistance to treatment

Working with the client to identify personal motives for change

Aiding the client in rebuilding self-esteem

Helping the client develop self-efficacy, or the ability to cope with challenges effectively

Although research studies on the effectiveness of MI among African Americans in substance abuse treatment have not been conclusive, the preliminary results are promising. There is an urgent need in the fields of mental health and recovery services for an approach that reflects African American experiences and perspectives. Providing a supportive, culturally sensitive environment is the key to engaging these clients in treatment and helping them overcome the barriers to recovery.

Resources

Black Girls Smile: This organization is dedicated to empowering young African American women to take charge of their mental and emotional health, and to make healthy decisions about their lives. Its website includes descriptions of the group's programs, access to national helplines, and referrals to advocacy and support groups.

Emory University: Suicide Prevention for African American Students: Emory University offers this website as a support service for its student body, but anyone interested in suicide prevention, signs of suicidal behavior, or the relationship between suicide and depression can benefit from this site. The site also includes links to a national suicide hotline and other support resources.

Addressing Mental Health in African American Communities: This government-operated website discusses the specific challenges of African Americans seeking mental health treatment and also offers more general support services for individuals in need of help with mental illness.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): African American Mental Health: An overview of the major mental health concerns, challenges, and barriers to treatment among African Americans, including advice on how to find culturally competent mental health practitioners who understand the needs and issues of this community.

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Drug Use Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities (Revised): A comprehensive government report that compiles statistics on substance abuse among the major racial groups in the United States.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Behavioral Health Equity: Black or African American: SAMHSA, the federal agency that oversees mental health and substance abuse services in the US, provides this collection of behavioral health resources, survey reports, and news on federal initiatives that affect African Americans.

Addiction within Demographics

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Addiction Among African Americans | Sunrise House

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Evaluating an Individual's Treatment Needs Addiction Among African Americans The health concerns of African Americans reflect the needs and issues of a diverse, heterogeneous group. Although the term African American is generally applied to individuals in the United States who can trace their ancestry to Africa, the term is often used to encompass a broad range of people of color, including individuals from Brazil or the Caribbean.

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A video explaining the impact and symptoms of menopause

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Business in the Community (BITC) runs a campaign called Ban the Box which is supported by Nacro and other organisations. It encourages employers to consider applicants’ skills and abilities before asking for a criminal record declaration. Employers who sign up to the campaign are committed to offering fair opportunities to ex-offenders who apply for their jobs.

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Do not take a tick box approach to finding your next new recruit. Remove the criminal record tick box from application forms; ask about candidates' criminal convictions later. Read Business in the Community's (BITC) factsheet to discover the reasons why your company should Ban the Box.

BITC's Ban the Box campaign calls on UK employers to give ex-offenders a fair chance to compete for jobs by removing the tick box from application forms and instead asking about criminal convictions later in the recruitment process

Employers often ask candidates about criminal convictions at the initial stage of a job application. If so, people with criminal convictions are excluded from roles for which they may be qualified and capable of doing. Read the Why Ban The Box? factsheet, to find out more about the business benefits of a more inclusive recruitment process.
LEARN MORE
Business in the Community is creating a
skilled and inclusive workforce for today and tomorrow.

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Why Ban The Box? - Business in the Community

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Do not take a tick box approach to finding your next new recruit. Remove the criminal record tick box from application forms; ask about candidates' criminal convictions later. Read Business in the Community's (BITC) factsheet to discover the reasons why your company should Ban the Box.

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BLACK AND WHITE:THE ROLE OF COLOR BIASIN IMPLICIT RACE BIAS

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BLACK AND WHITE:THE ROLE OF COLOR BIASIN IMPLICIT RACE BIAS

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Accenture Inclusion & The Power of Diversity | Accenture

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The Harmful Effects of Ageism | Listen To America

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Four awkward things to avoid saying when you meet a disabled person - End the Awkward

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Four awkward things to avoid saying when you meet a disabled person - End the Awkward

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Four awkward things to avoid saying when you meet a disabled person - End the Awkward

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Oxford University was found to have acted unlawfully when they dismissed 69-year old Professor Paul Ewart, an employment tribunal has found.

In a bid to bring younger and more diverse staff into the university, Professor Paul Ewart was dismissed in September 2017. Mr Ewart was head of atomic and laser physics at the university. When the university introduced its Employer Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) policy the retirement age changed from 67 to 68 years and he was dismissed.

Mr Ewart is not the only professor to have challenged the university over the retirement policy. He explained that his research was far to important for him to retire.

In May 2019 an employment tribunal ruled against Professor John Pitcher who claimed that his retirement was unlawful. The judge found the university policy to be justified because it served a purpose. This was to provide a route up the career ladder for younger academics who came from more diverse backgrounds.

Professor Pitcher accepted that there was a case for equality and diversity. He was from a working-class background and appreciated the policy although he felt he had been discriminated against.

Professor Ewart had worked for the university for 38 years until September 2017 when he was dismissed. He explained to the tribunal that his research had 'blossomed' in the final years of his employment. During that time, he published 15 papers. He also took on leading roles in the design of ultra-efficient engines.

Professor Ewart's projects included work on three-way catalytic convertors and diesel particulate filters which made exhaust gases harmless. He stated that his work made a great contribution to climate change and environmental pollution due to engine emission combustion.

In some cases, the EJRA allows people to work beyond 69 years of age, although these are exceptional and only normally happen when it is important to finish a project.

Professor Ewart, although no longer an employee at the university, still maintains visitor status and has office facilities at the laboratory.

This is the fourth case regarding retirement and Oxford University which has been brought to a tribunal since the Pension Act 2011. Mr Denis Galligan, in 2014 successfully challenged the retirement age when he was 67. Likewise, Professor Peter Edwards was also allowed to stay on at his job when he was 69.

Oxford University declined to comment because the case is still ongoing.
Go Back to Previous Page

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Unfair Dismissal - Oxford University Professor Wins Case

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Oxford University was found to have acted unlawfully when they dismissed 69-year old Professor Paul Ewart, an employment tribunal has found. In a bid to bring younger and more diverse staff into the university, Professor Paul Ewart was dismissed in September 2017. Mr Ewart was head of atomic and laser physics at the university.

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Article discussing the importance of learning the history of the N-word, and the continued, and often complex, impact of it

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"It's the filthiest, dirtiest, nastiest word in the English language."

That was the view of prosecutor Christopher Darden when the issue of saying the N-word came up in the 1995 murder trial of US football star OJ Simpson.

And it's a view that many people still share today.

It now says there must be "exceptional editorial reasons to use the strongest racist terms" - and this must be personally approved by the corporation's divisional directors.

When I hear the word I shudder. I think of my dad hearing the words, "Get the [N-word]!" while being chased through the streets of Liverpool by racist football fans as he went to watch Man City.

The word can be traced back in history to slavery.

It was in the summer of 1619 when a ship arrived in a port in Virginia carrying around 20 Africans who were chained up to be sold as slaves.

"It's really tied into the idea that African people aren't really human beings," says Kehinde Andrews, professor of black studies at Birmingham City University.

"They were more like an animal than a human being, a beast of burden, could be bought and sold, could be thrown overboard ships and literally had no rights.

"So when the N-word is used that's essentially what it's used for. So I would hope most people would understand why that is deeply offensive and problematic because it still is used in that context now."

You only have to watch films like 12 Years a Slave to see how the word was used to make black people feel inferior and unworthy.

The full word was a nickname British scientist Charles Darwin and his wife Emma used in their letters to each other in the 1840s.

"Part of the thing about the N-word and why it was used for the dog and why it's used in that kind of affectionate way is because we were seen to be like animals," Prof Andrews tells me.

"There's different versions of it where, on the one hand, the good [N-word] is a slave, they're subservient, they do what they're told, they're good to their master.

"And then the other side of that is that a bad [N-word] is somebody who's really violent, masculine and dangerous. But it's all rooted in the same basic premise that we're not really humans."

After World War Two, the racism directed at black and Asian people who had emigrated to the UK from Commonwealth countries saw the word come to be used as a racial slur in everyday life - and politics.

This is something I didn't know about until now, and I did GCSE history at school. It does makes me wonder if teaching these difficult moments in our past in school would help more people to understand the horrible legacy of the word and why it's so offensive.

That election was more than 50 years ago - but the word is still used in that derogatory way today.

But not everyone sees the word as being problematic.

In July this year, the name of the Dambusters' dog was removed from its gravestone as RAF Scampton "did not want to give prominence to an offensive term".

Caller Mark said discussions around the use of it had become "over-sensitised.".

Caller Shaun said the word has been "demonised", adding: "If you walked up and slapped me in the face I'd be offended, if you call me any name under the sun I'd just rise above it and walk on. It's just a word, it doesn't hurt."

Questions that always get asked when the word comes up are "Why do some black people still use it?" and "Why can't white people sing it if it's in a rap song?"

It makes me think back to one of my favourite comedy films, Rush Hour, and Chris Tucker's character - who is black - uses it to greet his black friend saying, "What's up my [N-word]?"

Then a few minutes later, Jackie Chan's character copies him and says it to a black person and it starts a huge fight.

You'll also hear the word in songs by black US rappers and in UK grime music.

She said historically black enslaved people created a language for themselves, "often using the framework and actual words of their enslavers".

"Black people have successfully divested the N-word of its original offence and in our struggle to survive the devastation it occasions, gave it new meaning, made it approachable, survivable," she wrote.

I spoke to Dr Stanford about this further and she said the word was a "complex term" and she "doesn't necessarily reject it". During our chat she used the full word and every time I heard it I could just feel my body tensing up.

"The word is being policed because black folks did not have a choice in the matter at a certain time when it was used to their disadvantage, to abuse and to inscribe and reinforce the sense of black people as inferior by white people," she said.

"That the word survives is an act of redemption by black folk. The word survives on the conditions that black folks have inscribed for it and nobody else can take that. And it becomes violent when other people try to take it and use it."

"So if I say this is my word, let me have this one word, please let me have that word."

Dr Stanford says white people cannot use the word because its origin in slavery hasn't been lost.

"These are people who have created the word in the first place, but who have now lost power in relation to it, they have lost the power to use it with impunity, they have lost the power to reclaim it."

Prof Andrews adds: "If you understand the history of the word and how it's been used, it's not for white people to use, it's not for anybody else to use.

"If you look at the way that we use the word, which would be more acceptable - and I'm not saying I'm pro using it - it's about endearment, it's about family, it's about connections, it's about recognising the situation that we're in.

"So if you're not black you can't do that. You actually can't use the word in the way that we use it. It's not possible, because you're not in that space. So any other usage of it is completely wrong."

But there are some people who feel the word shouldn't be used by anyone - whatever their race.

He said he understands the history of reclaiming and owning the term of abuse, but added: "I say the time has come to do away with it. If black lives matter, don't own it, reject it."

Illustration by Gerard Groves

Cherry Wilson is a proud northerner who recently moved back to Stockport, Greater Manchester, where she grew up.

She studied journalism in Sheffield and was the first in her family to go to university. Her passion is telling the stories of the people and communities behind the headlines, exploring issues that matter to them.

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N-word: The troubled history of the racial slur

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"It's the filthiest, dirtiest, nastiest word in the English language." That was the view of prosecutor Christopher Darden when the issue of saying the N-word came up in the 1995 murder trial of US football star OJ Simpson. And it's a view that many people still share today.

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NHS funded Termination of Pregnancy services for women in Cornwall

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NHS funded Termination of Pregnancy services for women in Cornwall

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Marie Stopes UK
Find your local clinic here: https://www.mariestopes.org.uk/find-us/#

Confidential helpline One Call (0345 300 8090) which is free to call, day & night 7 days a week, offering women appointments, advice and unlimited counselling with independent counsellors registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

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We have been helping women and men with their reproductive health options for over 40 years. We provide NHS-funded and self-funded abortion and vasectomy treatment through our network of local clinics across England.

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Call 101 for non-emergency
Call 999 for emergency
Or report it online at https://services.devon-cornwall.police.uk/crimereporting/

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Coventry dads write children's book to educate about Sikhism

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Coventry dads write children's book to educate about Sikhism

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A group of fathers in Coventry have created a new children's book so young people can learn about the Sikh religion and its customs.

On becoming new dads they felt there was a lack of diversity in books after seeing very few characters of Sikh faith.

They hope the new book will combat racism and educate people about the faith and culture.
Video journalist: Marian McNamee

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Dads write children's book to educate about Sikhism

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A group of fathers in Coventry have created a new children's book so young people can learn about the Sikh religion and its customs. On becoming new dads they felt there was a lack of diversity in books after seeing very few characters of Sikh faith.

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A hidden disability is a disability that may not be immediately obvious

Hidden disabilities don't have physical signs and include learning difficulties, mental health as well as mobility, speech, visual or hearing impairments. They can also include asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions as well as chronic illnesses such as renal failure, diabetes, and sleep disorders when those diseases significantly impact day-to-day life.

Living with these conditions can make daily life more demanding for many people. They affect each person in different ways and can be painful, exhausting, and isolating. Without visible evidence of the hidden disability, it is frequently difficult for others to acknowledge the challenges faced and as a consequence, sympathy and understanding can often be in short supply.

Do I qualify to wear the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower?

There is no qualifying list of hidden disabilities. If you have a hidden disability and feel that you would benefit from wearing a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower product, please do. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower does not entitle you to anything other than that you have a hidden disability and that you may need some assistance, help, or a little more time. It is NOT a pass to be fast-tracked nor for any other benefit.

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JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. A hidden disability is a disability that may not be immediately obvious Hidden disabilities don't have physical signs and include learning difficulties, mental health as well as mobility, speech, visual or hearing impairments.

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BAME over-50s likely to be among poorest 20% in England

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BAME over-50s likely to be among poorest 20% in England

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Ethnic inequalities are "deeply entrenched" among the over-50s in England, with older black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people falling behind white peers on income and home ownership, new research has shown.

BAME people are more likely to retire later than white peers, have a lower weekly income, and are far less likely to own their own home, analysis by the Centre for Ageing Better, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and University College London (UCL) revealed.

People from ethnic minority backgrounds aged 50-70 are more likely to be in the poorest 20% of the population in England compared with white people, the study found. It showed that black men and women are living on an average of £100 less per week compared to white men and women in the same age group.

However, black people in their 50s and 60s are more likely to be working, with white people in the age group three times more likely to have retired, suggesting a disparity in the access to other sources of income, such as pension savings and assets.

Anna Dixon, chief executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, said: "Our new research shows that ethnic inequalities are deeply entrenched among the generation approaching later life, with those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds facing disadvantages across many areas of life.

"As older generations become increasingly diverse, it's vital that these inequalities are tackled so that no one misses out on a good later life.

"This means better-paid work, more affordable and better housing, and targeted measures to reduce ill health for people approaching later life from BAME backgrounds."

The research discovered that nearly half of white people in their 50s and 60s own their home outright, compared with just 13% of their black peers. Nearly a third of black and a quarter of Asian people live in the most deprived areas, as against just 16% of the white population.

Anna Round, senior research fellow at IPPR, said: "All too often, we hear lazy stereotypes applied to everyone in middle or later life. But these findings show stark differences within this age group - for example, in health and in financial wellbeing.

"We need a better understanding of what lies behind these and many other differences, including the inequalities associated with ethnicity that emerge from this research. And we need to collect and analyse the data to build our understanding. That's essential if we are to work out how everyone can have the best chance of a decent quality of life as we get older."

Paola Zaninotto, of the institute of epidemiology and healthcare at UCL, said: "An increasing number of black, Asian and minority ethnic people are now approaching later life, and our results show that compared with white people, they are facing challenges across a large number of areas in their life, putting them at risk of missing out on a good later life."

The data comes from a research project looking into the factors that define a "good" later life, including financial security, strong health, social connections, and meaning and purpose.

On Tuesday, a group of 80 leading City fund managers committed to hiring at least 100 black interns a year, starting in 2021, to make up for the lack of black staff in the industry. Legal & General, Goldman Sachs, Standard Life Aberdeen and Schroders are among the firms that have signed up to the #100BlackInterns initiative, aimed at helping young, university-educated black people break into the sector by placing them in frontline roles.

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BAME over-50s likely to be among poorest 20% in England

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Ethnic inequalities are "deeply entrenched" among the over-50s in England, with older black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people falling behind white peers on income and home ownership, new research has shown.

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Quotes taken from Katie Bainbridge's phenomenal book Flowers and Tightropes which portrays her true story of survival and determination through her journey as a transgender person

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Quotes taken from Katie Bainbridge's phenomenal book Flowers and Tightropes which portrays her true story of survival and determination through her journey as a transgender person

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"People are harder to control if they are connected by a common bond."

"If I had not made the decision to be myself, I would have held much back from the world."

"Those who do not care about whether they are male or female are much stronger people because they do not have the internal struggle and conflict that others have."

"Conflict rages on the back of fear."

"No one should be taught body shame but it has become part of our culture to teach each other that our bodies are bad unless they are a certain shape or we will be abused."

Flowers and Tightropes is available on amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flowers-Tightropes-being-transgender-high-wire-ebook/dp/B015BSNDBS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1596031107&refinements=p_27%3AKatie+Bainbridge&s=books&sr=1-1

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While an opioid epidemic is poisoning communities and neighborhoods across the country in staggering numbers, it's easy to forget how damaging such drugs can be to just one person. Heroin has long been at the center of America's drug woes, and its short-term and long-term mental health effects on users explain how and why the narcotic can ruin lives and devastate everything it touches.

Heroin and the Opioid System

To better understand what heroin does in, and to, the brain, it is necessary to first look at the drug itself. Heroin is synthesized from a combination of the opium poppy and morphine. This makes heroin an opiate; like any opiate, it targets the naturally occurring opioid receptors in the brain.

The opioid system in the human body is responsible for regulating pain, as well as controlling how a person experiences the sensation and anticipation of being rewarded. This makes opioids a double-edged sword; whether found in nature (like the opium poppy) or isolated and derived in a lab (like heroin, or prescription medication based on the chemical compounds of the opium poppy), opiates are very effective painkillers, but they can also be very addictive.

All opioids work the same way in the brain, but the chemistry behind heroin makes it act much faster than most kinds of similar drugs. If heroin is injected into a vein, it takes only 10 seconds for the bloodstream to carry heroin to the brain. When the opioid hits the receptors, the drug binds to specific molecules in the receptors, which are linked to how the brain processes the sensations of pain and pleasure.

The immediate effect of a powerful drug like heroin binding to those molecules is a surge of euphoria and pleasure, giving way to a feeling of supreme tranquility that can last for hours. Healthline describes it as "a warm blanket on the brain." Pain, meanwhile, is dulled or completely forgotten.

A similar effect can be achieved by the simple act of exercising. WebMD explains that during rhythmic physical activity, the body naturally releases chemicals called endorphins, which bind to the opioid receptors to produce similar sensations of pleasure and nullify the feeling of pain.

For this reason, heroin is abused as a recreational drug. Then, it is consistently abused because there is no other experience that can compare to the blast of bliss and subsequent contentment that come with shooting up.

Take Our Substance Abuse Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. The evaluation consists of 10 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.

Tolerating Heroin

Among the many problems of using heroin to get high is that the effect diminishes with every exposure to the drug. The more a person takes, the more the body gets used to it - a process known as tolerance. The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that as the brain adapts to what the heroin is doing to it, it responds less and less if the same amount of heroin is used. This usually compels users to increase their doses, desperate to experience the same sensation that got them hooked in the first place. It may take a number of hits of a higher dose to feel that; but by that point, the tolerance level has already increased, so users simply take more heroin. In the process, they become increasingly dependent on heroin for pleasure and even for the anticipation of pleasure. Nothing else in life matches up to what the heroin does, even as more and more heroin is needed to recapture the feeling of that first dose.

Over time, users withdraw from social activities and obligations, partly because the tranquilizing effects of the heroin preclude activity and involvement in anything, and also because life begins to revolve around seeking out and being in the narcotic haze of a heroin high.

Rewriting Brain Circuitry

Damage to thinking, decision-making, and behavior are the short-term mental effects of heroin abuse, but from the early days of the habit, the seeds are planted for what can happen in the long-term. One of the mechanics behind the rising tolerance for heroin in chronic users is that the brain is forced to create additional opiate receptors to accommodate the continuous flood of the drug. This is primarily why repeated blasts of heroin can't duplicate the initial, novel experience of the drug; there is no way for the user's brain to go back to the standard amount of opiate receptors. It is the process by which the user is compelled to take more and more heroin because there are always more new opiate receptors than there is heroin available.

As the brain scrambles to handle the never-ending (and always-rising) influx of heroin, dopamine production also suffers. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is normally released as a response to experiences of pleasure and reward, priming the brain to seek out those experiences again. Like endorphins, however, dopamine production is supplanted by heroin because nothing in nature can compare to how powerfully heroin hijacks the brain's reward and pleasure pathways. Heroin erases the brain's ability to produce its own dopamine and instead takes over how the user perceives pleasure and satisfaction.

The Risk of Relapse

The long-term mental health effects of heroin can persist for years. A counselor speaking to the Minnesota Post notes of how some recovering addicts say that they never feel entirely normal, even as their lives undergo a completely positive transformation in treatment. The Journal of Neuroscience Research writes of how "brain dysfunction associated with heroin addiction is sustained even after at least three years of abstinence." MRI analyses on recovering addicts, compared with control study participants who had never used heroin, found that the addicts retained an intense desire for heroin regardless of the fact that they had completed treatment and therapy, and had remained clean for as long as three years since their last dose. The results of the study of 30 former addicts suggested that certain stressors or cues in their respective environments could trigger the craving for heroin again. The study's authors wrote of how "the risk of relapse to drug-seeking behavior may be long-lasting and difficult to eliminate in heroin abusers."

Heroin abuse damages the brain permanently even after a user discontinues the habit and goes through treatment, and treatment takes this into account. This is why, for their long-term mental health, addicts have to be very aware and careful of their stressors, especially since a heroin addiction impedes proper and normal responses to stressful environments and situations.

Long-Term Prospects

Different forms of therapy, such as mindfulness therapy or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, work to educate and train the user on how to control responses and regulate emotions (functions of the brain that have been rewritten by heroin use). This is because, as the Journal of Neuroscience Research pointed out, a brain affected by heroin will still bear the scars, and the threat of falling back into using is a real danger.

To that point, a recovering addict has to take a lot of precautions to avoid relapse. Some steps might be easier than others. Cutting off ties with dealers and old drug friends is a natural step, but so lingering is the damage of a heroin addiction that recovering users are often advised to avoid intimate relationships for the first year of their sobriety. Even if the romantic or sexual partner is not a drug user, the rush of emotions and hormones can be so overpowering that the desire to push the envelope even further and get high again can be very tempting for a recovering individual. So risky is the rollercoaster of love and dating to a recovering addict that Psych Central listed "sex and relationships" as the first of their "5 Didn't-See-It-Coming Relapse Triggers."

Even if a user has kicked the habit and completed therapy, the brain is primed for addiction. Decision-making, emotional regulation and stress management will be better than they were before and during heroin abuse; but any stressors in the environment, such as a family history of abuse, a mental health problem, a bad job, a fight with a spouse, or even simple boredom and loneliness, can upset the delicate balance of sobriety after a devastating heroin addiction.

Nonetheless, happiness and health in recovery are possible, and many addicts have turned their backs on heroin for good and turned their lives around. But they didn't do it alone; recovery is a process that involves dozens of people, like doctors and medical staff at a treatment facility, friends and family to offer support and love, and sober friends and sponsors from a peer group, like Narcotics Anonymous. Whether in the short-term or the long-term, the mental effects of heroin are devastating; but with time and care, the future can be much better.

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The Mental Effects of Heroin: Short-Term and Long-Term

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To better understand what heroin does in, and to, the brain, it is necessary to first look at the drug itself. Heroin is synthesized from a combination

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(TW: Topic is regarding issues of rape and sexual assault.)
Powerful short film about Chanel Miller, the victim of Brock Turner, convicted sex offender, and the trolling she experienced about her perceived involvement in the crime and victim blaming. There is also an article on The Guardian which further explains her experiences.
Very hard reading but powerful and important. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/25/stanford-sexual-assault-victim-chanel-miller-interview

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We highly recommend that you watch this stunning film about a father's determination to support his son while he goes through his addiction journey.
Let us know in the comments what you think of it...

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The above statement is one of the biggest lies that addicted people tell themselves and others.

I watched an absolutely heartbreaking in the news earlier this week about 16-year-old boy who now helps others by sharing his story of surviving his parents' drug addiction. The oldest of three children, Zaine lost both of his parents to heroin overdoses and is now left with his grandmother, caring for his two younger sisters.

"It's been hell," the 16-year-old told reporters. "You can try to imagine what it's like, but it's even worse than you imagine."

Unfortunately, when there is an addicted person or people in the family - it has a profound effect on in the family. And for that person or people who are using - they are too sick with addiction to see how their drug or alcohol use is hurting everyone else.

Casualties of the Disease of Addiction.

While the addicted person may seem like the only person who is sick, it's not the case. Gradually, addiction can affect the thought process and behavior of each family member to the point that they become different people as well. Family members may enable the behavior of their loved one by giving into their demands, ignoring the chaos, blaming themselves, or obsessing over their loved one's behaviors, actions or whereabouts. They can become so preoccupied with their loved one's drinking or drug use, they'll obsess about ways to control it. Family members may experience emotions that leave them "intoxicated" in a sense: Shame, guilt, resentment, self-pity, worry and anger. They may even try to numb themselves with substances, as well.

When family members may hear the excuse that, "It's my choice and it doesn't hurt anyone else," they may feel bad that they are hurt, too. They may try to "cover" for their addicted loved one or keep secrets to protect their addiction.

When these types of behaviors occur, it limits each family member's ability to be mentally and emotionally present to other people, children or loved ones in their lives - making them casualties of addiction, too.

The Four Phases of the Addicted Family.

Because of the above factors, family members can often times follow the same type of downward spiral as the person using substances - even if they're completely sober. There are four distinct phases that family members of addicted people tend to go through in this spiral:

1. Addiction to drugs or alcohol don't typically happen overnight. It usually involves small changes, and gradually builds. At first, family members may notice these small changes in their loved one and realize there may be a problem. In phase one, family members react to the addiction out of genuine concern for their loved one. Unfortunately, at this point, most family members are only just beginning to experience the effects of their loved one's drug and alcohol use. Often times in this phase, family members don't understand the extent to which addiction will impact their lives.Concern.

2. In phase two, family members not only tolerate their addicted loved one's behavior and actions, they feel increasingly responsible for the problems that begin to arise. While the person using the substance may experience blackouts from drinking or drug use, family members experience their own "blackouts" - by forgetting or denying negative actions or behavior of their loved one, and trying to minimize the consequences.Defense.Think about the five stages of loss and grief: One of the first reactions to learning of the terminal illness or death of a loved one is to deny the reality of the situation. Because reality can bring such a sense of overwhelming emotions, our defense mechanism is to buffer the shock, grief and fear. Families with an addicted loved one enter a similar phase by blocking out the reality of the situation. Family members become so enthralled with their addicted loved one's behavior, the "protect" them by lying to friends, other family members, spouses and employers.

3. Adaptation.After repeatedly denying and defending their loved one's behaviors, family members tend to enter into a phase of adaptation, meaning they change their own behaviors in order to adapt to the addicted person's behavior. We often say that family members "lose themselves" in their loved one's addiction - and this is the phase in which it happens. A parent, grandparent, partner or spouse may try to become the "perfect person" for their loved one; hoping that the way that they behave will make their addicted one happy. Unfortunately, this is the phase that many family members begin to feel as though they are failures - and they end up needing medical or mental health care of their own. By this point, family members may give so much of themselves to their loved one that they have nothing left to take care of themselves. This can mean physically, emotionally, mentally or financially.

4. Exhaustion.By phase four, addiction has completely overtaken the family - and family members defend their shame, guilt, fear, resentment, anger and self-pity. There is a good chance that family members will begin to experience severe anxiety and depression, and completely lose their self-confidence and self-worth. Fear rules their lives. Exhaustion is the bottom for family members.

Much like with the addicted person, family members shouldn't wait until they reach their bottom to get help. Whether you are in phase 1 or phase 4 - there is help and there is hope for both addiction - and the family impacted by it. Don't wait to hit the bottom: You risk losing your sanity, your health and potentially even your life.

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Addiction Doesn't Just Affect The Person Using

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The above statement is one of the biggest lies that addicted people tell themselves and others. I watched an absolutely heartbreaking in the news earlier this week about 16-year-old boy who now helps others by sharing his story of surviving his parents' drug addiction.

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https://menopauseintheworkplace.co.uk/

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What To Do If Someone Has A Seizure - First Aid Training - St John Ambulance

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The urgency of intersectionality - Kimberlé Crenshaw TED Talk 

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The urgency of intersectionality - Kimberlé Crenshaw TED Talk 

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The urgency of intersectionality | Kimberlé Crenshaw

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1:1 support, calculators about spent convictions and much more

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VIEW ALL - Looking back over the last couple of months, we've written up a few examples of the people we've helped. We hope they give a good idea of how we help people. However, more importantly than our role, we think that these examples show how people with convictions are able to overcome some of the barriers...

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The last time I thought about taking heroin was yesterday. I had received "an inconvenient truth" from a beautiful woman. It wasn't about climate change - I'm not that ecologically switched on - she told me she was pregnant and it wasn't mine.

I had to take immediate action. I put Morrissey on in my car as an external conduit for the surging melancholy, and as I wound my way through the neurotic Hollywood hills, the narrow lanes and tight bends were a material echo of the synaptic tangle where my thoughts stalled and jammed.

Morrissey, as ever, conducted a symphony, within and without and the tidal misery burgeoned. I am becoming possessed. The part of me that experienced the negative data, the self, is becoming overwhelmed, I can no longer see where I end and the pain begins. So now I have a choice.

I cannot accurately convey to you the efficiency of heroin in neutralising pain. It transforms a tight, white fist into a gentle, brown wave. From my first inhalation 15 years ago, it fumigated my private hell and lay me down in its hazy pastures and a bathroom floor in Hackney embraced me like a womb.

This shadow is darkly cast on the retina of my soul and whenever I am dislodged from comfort my focus falls there.

It is 10 years since I used drugs or drank alcohol and my life has improved immeasurably. I have a job, a house, a cat, good friendships and generally a bright outlook.

The price of this is constant vigilance because the disease of addiction is not rational. Recently for the purposes of a documentary on this subject I reviewed some footage of myself smoking heroin that my friend had shot as part of a typically exhibitionist attempt of mine to get clean.

I sit wasted and slumped with an unacceptable haircut against a wall in another Hackney flat (Hackney is starting to seem like part of the problem) inhaling fizzy, black snakes of smack off a scrap of crumpled foil. When I saw the tape a month or so ago, what is surprising is that my reaction is not one of gratitude for the positive changes I've experienced but envy at witnessing an earlier version of myself unencumbered by the burden of abstinence. I sat in a suite at the Savoy hotel, in privilege, resenting the woeful ratbag I once was, who, for all his problems, had drugs. That is obviously irrational.

The mentality and behaviour of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction and unless they have structured help they have no hope.

This is the reason I have started a fund within Comic Relief, Give It Up. I want to raise awareness of, and money for, abstinence-based recovery. It was Kevin Cahill's idea, he is the bloke who runs Comic Relief. He called me when he read an article I wrote after Amy Winehouse died. Her death had a powerful impact on me I suppose because it was such an obvious shock, like watching someone for hours through a telescope, seeing them advance towards you, fist extended with the intention of punching you in the face. Even though I saw it coming, it still hurt when it eventually hit me.

What was so painful about Amy's death is that I know that there is something I could have done. I could have passed on to her the solution that was freely given to me. Don't pick up a drink or drug, one day at a time. It sounds so simple. It actually is simple but it isn't easy: it requires incredible support and fastidious structuring. Not to mention that the whole infrastructure of abstinence based recovery is shrouded in necessary secrecy. There are support fellowships that are easy to find and open to anyone who needs them but they eschew promotion of any kind in order to preserve the purity of their purpose, which is for people with alcoholism and addiction to help one another stay clean and sober.

Without these fellowships I would take drugs. Because, even now, the condition persists. Drugs and alcohol are not my problem, reality is my problem, drugs and alcohol are my solution.

If this seems odd to you it is because you are not an alcoholic or a drug addict. You are likely one of the 90% of people who can drink and use drugs safely. I have friends who can smoke weed, swill gin, even do crack and then merrily get on with their lives. For me, this is not an option. I will relinquish all else to ride that buzz to oblivion. Even if it began as a timid glass of chardonnay on a ponce's yacht, it would end with me necking the bottle, swimming to shore and sprinting to Bethnal Green in search of a crack house. I look to drugs and booze to fill up a hole in me; unchecked, the call of the wild is too strong. I still survey streets for signs of the subterranean escapes that used to provide my sanctuary. I still eye the shuffling subclass of junkies and dealers, invisibly gliding between doorways through the gutters. I see that dereliction can survive in opulence; the abundantly wealthy with destitution in their stare.

Spurred by Amy's death, I've tried to salvage unwilling victims from the mayhem of the internal storm and I am always, always, just pulled inside myself. I have a friend so beautiful, so haunted by talent that you can barely look away from her, whose smile is such a treasure that I have often squandered my sanity for a moment in its glow. Her story is so galling that no one would condemn her for her dependency on illegal anesthesia, but now, even though her life is trying to turn around despite her, even though she has genuine opportunities for a new start, the gutter will not release its prey. The gutter is within. It is frustrating to watch. It is frustrating to love someone with this disease.

A friend of mine's brother cannot stop drinking. He gets a few months of sobriety and his inner beauty, with the obstacles of his horrible drunken behaviour pushed aside by the presence of a programme, begins to radiate. His family bask relieved, in the joy of their returned loved one, his life gathers momentum but then he somehow forgets the price of this freedom, returns to his old way of thinking, picks up a drink and Mr Hyde is back in the saddle. Once more his brother's face is gaunt and hopeless. His family blame themselves and wonder what they could have done differently, racking their minds for a perfect sentiment; wrapped up in the perfect sentence, a magic bullet to sear right through the toxic fortress that has incarcerated the person they love and restore them to sanity. The fact is, though, that they can't, the sufferer must, of course, be a willing participant in their own recovery. They must not pick up a drink or drug, one day at a time. Just don't pick up, that's all.

It is difficult to feel sympathy for these people. It is difficult to regard some bawdy drunk and see them as sick and powerless. It is difficult to suffer the selfishness of a drug addict who will lie to you and steal from you and forgive them and offer them help. Can there be any other disease that renders its victims so unappealing? Would Great Ormond Street be so attractive a cause if its beds were riddled with obnoxious little criminals that had "brought it on themselves"?

Peter Hitchens is a vocal adversary of mine on this matter. He sees this condition as a matter of choice and the culprits as criminals who should go to prison. I know how he feels. I bet I have to deal with a lot more drug addicts than he does, let's face it. I share my brain with one, and I can tell you firsthand, they are total fucking wankers. Where I differ from Peter is in my belief that if you regard alcoholics and drug addicts not as bad people but as sick people then we can help them to get better. By we, I mean other people who have the same problem but have found a way to live drug-and-alcohol-free lives. Guided by principles and traditions a programme has been founded that has worked miracles in millions of lives. Not just the alcoholics and addicts themselves but their families, their friends and of course society as a whole.

What we want to do with Give It Up is popularise a compassionate perception of drunks and addicts, and provide funding for places at treatment centres where they can get clean using these principles. Then, once they are drug-and-alcohol-free, to make sure they retain contact with the support that is available to keep them clean. I know that as you read this you either identify with it yourself or are reminded of someone who you love who cannot exercise control over substances. I want you to know that the help that was available to me, the help upon which my recovery still depends is available.

I wound down the hill in an alien land, Morrissey chanted lonely mantras, the pain quickly accumulated incalculably, and I began to weave the familiar tapestry that tells an old, old story. I think of places I could score. Off Santa Monica there's a homeless man who I know uses gear. I could find him, buy him a bag if he takes me to score.

I leave him on the corner, a couple of rocks, a couple of $20 bags pressed into my sweaty palm. I get home, I pull out the foil, neatly torn. I break the bottom off a Martell miniature. I have cigarettes, using makes me need fags. I make a pipe for the rocks with the bottle. I lay a strip of foil on the counter to chase the brown. I pause to reflect and regret that I don't know how to fix, only smoke, feeling inferior even in the manner of my using. I see the foil scorch. I hear the crackle from which crack gets it's name. I feel the plastic fog hit the back of my yawning throat. Eyes up. Back relaxing, the bottle drops and the greedy bliss eats my pain. There is no girl, there is no tomorrow, there is nothing but the bilious kiss of the greedy bliss.

Even as I spin this beautifully dreaded web, I am reaching for my phone. I call someone: not a doctor or a sage, not a mystic or a physician, just a bloke like me, another alcoholic, who I know knows how I feel. The phone rings and I half hope he'll just let it ring out. It's 4am in London. He's asleep, he can't hear the phone, he won't pick up. I indicate left, heading to Santa Monica. The ringing stops, then the dry mouthed nocturnal mumble: "Hello. You all right mate?"

He picks up.

And for another day, thank God, I don't have to.
* Red Nose Day is on Friday 15 March. Join the Fun Raisers at rednoseday.com Topics

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Russell Brand has not used drugs for 10 years. He has a job, a house, a cat, good friends. But temptation is never far away. He wants to help other addicts, but first he wants us to feel compassion for those affected

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We believe that everyone deserves a good education, a safe and secure place to live, a chance to be heard, and the chance to start again.

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Epilepsy in schools: what does a focal seizure look like?

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How do you define yourself? | Lizzie Velasquez | TEDxAustinWomen

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DISABILITY AWARENESS FILM | Basingstoke & District Disability Forum

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Bisexual vs. Pansexual: What's The Difference? [CC]

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Really interesting article about the history of the representation of LBGTQ+ characters in stories and folklore

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It's long been presumed by many folklorists that heroic LGBTQ characters didn't exist-because when they were told from generation to generation, being queer was a taboo.

But one newly released gay fairytale, that can be traced back to at least the 19th century has been discovered by Pete Jordi Wood, the Cornish writer and illustrator.

His research suggests that not only did gay fairytale "The Dog And The Sailor" exist but that a "whole chunk of LGBTQ folklore" was "deleted" by one homophobic man, as recently as the 1950s.

"We know that queer characters and stories were prevalent in mythology," Pete tells me.

"There is some fascinating stuff about the origin of Mulan and how it's actually a trans narrative. So why, particularly in European fairy tales, did queer characters suddenly, seemingly, disappear?"

The reason we don't have much to point to is not that LGBTQ folklore didn't exist, but because during a relatively short period of history-one of the most important folklore academics put his own morals into play when editing the most internationally renowned folklore collections.

"Before books, people told stories to one another, often around the fire. These stories would travel this way down generations and around the world," Pete says.

One classic example is you can track early variants of Cinderella to China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE.)

But this kind of storytelling came to an abrupt halt with the invention of the printing press. People stopped telling tales, in part because they became more literate and read books instead.

Gay fairytales have always existed, but some have been edited out of history

It is challenging to trace stories further back than the 19th century because it wasn't until the 1800's that "Folklorists" became a fully-fledged academic discipline.

Around the Industrial revolution, and the invention of the printing press, some of the earliest Folklorists began to create collections of folklores.

Capitalising on listening to storytellers, they began writing down and publishing their stories as collections. This sparked a considerable push to catalogue stories, from about 1850-1900, before they were lost forever, as people began to read instead of pass stories from generation to generation.

And this is where Pete says the filtering of LGBTQ characters began to occur.

"Over one hundred years, very few people edited a catalogue of the world's folklore with a system which logs different variations of tales across borders around the world," Pete says.

They used the Aarne Thompson Uther Tale Type Index, to catalogue certain folktales by their structure and assigns them AT (Arne Thompson) numbers.

Stith Thompson, an American Scholar and Folklorist, one half of the duo who created this system then got to work on cataloguing, which is where of monumentally erased much of LGBTQ folklore.

"Unfortunately by his own accounts, Stith Thompson brought with him to the editing his own sense of right and wrong.

"In the accompanying Motif Index of Folklore he compiled in the 1920s, and revised in the 1950s, he lists 'Homosexuality' and 'Lesbianism' in a section called "Unnatural Perversions" with bestiality and incest. Open about his views he admits he omitted many stories in the catalogue because they were 'perverse' or 'unnatural,'" Pete says.

"One dude. One guy got to choose what stories did or didn't make the cut in what is now the core resource and system for documenting folklore in an order still used today.

Did Stith Thompson press "Delete" on vast chunks of LGBTQ history?

In a matter of speaking yes, but not entirely. His folklore collections remain rife with maligned evil LGBTQ characters who, rape, pillage and murder.

"Unfortunately, Stith Thompson was all too happy to put LGBTQ folk tales into his catalogues if the queers got bashed up, imprisoned, sent to hell or murdered. Or worse, that they were predatory and evil."

But there is light at the end of this historical tale - one story about a Prince and a sailor who fall in love has survived.

Studying for a Masters degree in Illustration at Falmouth University, and sick and tired of the 'Hero's Journey' Pete re-read Stith Thompson's folk tale catalogues.

And he found something Thompson had missed, something inherently queer.

The Dog And The Sailor is the gay fairytale where the male sailor, gets to kiss Prince Charming

Stith Thompson's six-volume Motif-Index of Folk-Literature is considered the international key to traditional material.

"So I looked at over 600 tales in the archive, reading from a queer perspective. And finally, like any good fairy tale, my wish to find my Prince Charming came true.

"I found this weird-ass tale type called "The Dog and the Sea" which existed in multiple languages, but not in English."

So after translating variations of the story from Danish, German, Frisian, and others; and checking Thompson's synopsis was correct, containing the same elements or motifs - Pete found an "unbelievably and fabulously gay" plot.

"You've got this guy who wants to be a sailor who goes on this great adventure, wining the hand in marriage of a handsome prince.

"The witch in it is fabulous, and ridiculously beautiful-a nice twist on the ugly old hag routine. The sailor's mother is overprotective and funny. There's a bunch of sexual innuendos. Plus the prince is a total dreamboat.

"Ultimately it's an ancient tale with a positive portrayal, of a guy who can be read as gay or asexual, but certainly queer, who is the only person who can defeat the evil because he can resist her beauty.

"I mean hello, Disney, please make this movie!"

This hidden gem has been available in collections all across Europe, for over a hundred years, in print. But Pete got 'gay goosebumps' when he realised what he'd found.

"When I started to recount it to my gay friends, they got goosebumps too. I'm pretty sure goosebumps is an accurate measure of the fact a story is kind of special.

"We don't know when The Dog and the Sea were first told, but it would likely be far older than the 1800's when it was first written down in words.

"What I draw from it is how much it resonates with today's world. Not just the queer aspects, but a story about male mental health, austerity, and even climate change. If it was groundbreaking, then, whenever it first surfaced in history, in many ways, it still is.

And does Prince Charming get his kiss at the end?

It depends on whether you read Pete's adult or child variation of this lost queer fairytale re-born. But both come as an ever more non-binary generation are hungry to know more about their long lost queer history.
"The Dog and the Sailor" is available now with an accompanying online, 3D interactive exhibition of the artwork, narrated by Years and Years actor Dino Fetscher.
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Why This Charming Gay Fairytale Has Been Lost For 200 Years

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It's long been presumed by many folklorists that heroic LGBTQ characters didn't exist-because when they were told from generation to generation, being queer was a taboo. But one newly released gay fairytale, that can be traced back to at least the 19th century has been discovered by Pete Jordi Wood, the Cornish writer and illustrator.

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Everyday sexism: Laura Bates at TEDxCoventGardenWomen

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Pentreath Ltd, based in Newquay, have community development workers who offer support to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities – including migrant workers and gypsies and travellers.

They work with people across Cornwall experiencing mental health difficulties, including stress, anxiety, isolation and low mood.

Pentreath is one of five third party reporting centres for hate crime across Cornwall.

You can contact the community development workers via cdw@pentreath.co.uk and report hate crimes via hatecrime@pentreath.co.uk.

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Please note: Due to Covid-19, Pentreath are currently not making any face to face visits. However, we are now open for referrals for people who want to access remote support. Click here for some tips on how to look after your mental health during the Cornonavirus crisis. Pentreath: Response to Black Lives Matter: We believe Black Lives Matter and black mental health matters. Click to read whole statement
Pentreath Ltd. exists for people living with mental health and emotional difficulties. We offer support to help people believe in their own potential and achieve their vocational goals, whatever challenges they face.

Get in touch and download a referral form.
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Find out about our current projects. Individualised 1:1 outreach support for anyone aged 10 upwards living in Cornwall or IOS. We can support you to move forward with your life and overcome mental ill health towards a brighter future. You do not need to know which project to refer to, we will choose the best one...

When I first started I was very scared and my anxiety was high. Since working with Sue she has shown me different techniques on how to deal with a situation. Sue has also given me lots of information which was helpful. The task sheets that Sue brought along for me to complete was rather helpful. By breaking everything down and making me look at it in more detail, really made me think. Brilliant advisor, good understanding nature. Very friendly.

My outlook advisor suggested that I contact Pentreath for help and guidance.

Meeting my advisor, Olivia, for the first time, I was initially quite nervous as I didn't know what help Pentreath could be. Olivia immediately put me at my ease, allowing me to explain my issues and problems. Over the course of several weeks she kept in regular contact, assessing my needs and offering well researched advice on job applications, training, further education and how to approach the DWP.

She introduced me to a wide number of job sites and enabled me, by giving me a soundboard for discussion and reflection and most importantly helped me to begin to review my progress positively. I was also able to attend a Mental Health Awareness course run by Emma which helped me understand about my condition.

Ultimately after working together I was successful in finding and beginning a new career, with interesting work and most importantly people who are able to empathise with me and support me.

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Please note: Due to Covid-19, Pentreath are currently not making any face to face visits. However, we are now open for referrals for people who want to access remote support. Click here for some tips on how to look after your mental health during the Cornonavirus crisis.

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The South West lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community group. Information and confidential help, training, advocacy and campaigns to combat homophobic school bullying.

Helpline: 0845 6020818

Tel: 01392 201015

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.intercomtrust.org.uk

Central point for information on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans groups and projects across the South West peninsula.

Website: www.lgbtcollective.org.uk

Based in Devon but working across the country, Proud 2 B offer social groups, projects, weekends, Totnes' first Pride event as well as campaigning and lobbying mentoring, radio shows and much more! Encouraging and supporting all LGBT people to be proud of who they are.

Tel: 0777 347 5485

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.proud2beproject.org/

Counselling for LGBT Communities in Devon.

Counselors across the Devon area. Confidential and professional. Free half hour session.

Tel: 07500 015 574

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.itsallaboutyoucounselling.co.uk

Supporting the trans communities across Gloucestershire and beyond....>p />

Web: http://www.gloscats.org.uk/

The Gloucestershire Gay and Lesbian Community

Tel: 07050 627273

E-Mail: [email protected]

Website: http://gglc.co.uk/

Stonewall is a national gay, lesbian and bisexual campaigning and lobbying charity.

Tel: 0800 0502020

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.stonewall.org.uk

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard

London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard (LLGS) provides information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual, trans people and anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.

Tel: 03003 300630

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.llgs.org.uk

Tel: 01173 534621

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://lgbtbristol.org.uk/

Advice, Support and Information for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender community in Bournemouth.

Tel: 01202 257478

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.rainbowbournemouth.co.uk

Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gay Men (FFLAG)

FFLAG is a national organisation of supportive parents who have lesbian daughters or gay sons. The parents run local helplines for other parents and for young people.

Tel: 0845 6520311

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.fflag.org.uk

REGARD is a national, volunteer run organisation of disabled lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.regard.org.uk

Youth groups & young people's help

A friendly group of LGBTQ young people aged 13-25 in the Plymouth area.

Tel: 07774 336616

Email: [email protected]

Providing a safe space for LGBTQ young people in Devon. We currently run one group in Exeter (Thursdays) and one in Bideford (Mondays) 6.30 - 8.30pm.
Website: www.lgbtqyouthdevon.org.uk

Phone: 0800 612 3010 for more information

Email: [email protected]

Group for young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

Tel: 01803 208117 and speak to a worker

Youth support service and groups for LGBTQ+ young people in Somerset.

Tel: 07799 136552

Website: www.2bu-somerset.co.uk

Supporting LGBT people, their friends and family across Gloucestershire

Tel: 01452 306800

Website: http://www.gay-glos.org/

The UK's National LGBT Youth Organisation.

Tel: 02081236958

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.queeryouth.org.uk/community

It is an organisation that supports young transgender people and other young people experiencing issues with their gender identity.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.mermaidsuk.org.uk

It is a free helpline for children and young people in the UK.

Education Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH)

EACH has information for young people affected by homophobia or transphobia.

Tel: 0808 1000 143

Website: http://eachaction.org.uk/

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Trans groups & links

This is a National society and Paula is the South West regional officer. Contact by phone or email. Meets at regular venues around the South West. Beaumont Society supports trans people and their families throughout the UK.

Tel: 01392438674

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/

A not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers which allows members of the transgender & non-binary communities to find a support group local to them. As well as organisations that meet up in person Trans Unite list many online groups with Discord Servers, Telegram and Facebook groups. New groups are being verified and added on an ongoing basis to provide the most up to date resource for the UK.

Web: www.transunite.co.uk

Trans social on the second Sunday of each month, 4-9pm. The event is based around a tea and coffee evening in a safe place in the center of Exeter. If you would like to change there are facilities available (but please bring your own mirror). A donation of £1 minimum is suggested and a donation towards the tea/coffee as well please. You are more than welcome to bring cakes to make it a great evening.

Email:[email protected]

A group offering guidance and support for all female to male (FTM) identified people. The group is for those at any stage of transition from those still considering their gender identity to people who have completed their transition. You don't have to be living in the area - if you're just visiting you're still welcome to come along. We meet on the third Saturday of each month (except in June and December) from 6.00 - 9.00pm. Contact us to find out more. Meeting days may change when they clash with public holidays and occasionally meetings will be in other parts of the region

Email: [email protected]

The Eddystone Trust is a charity providing HIV and sexual health services across Devon. This includes free condoms; one to one support information and advice around sex and relationships as well as supporting people living with HIV.

Freephone (from landlines): 0800 328 3508

Tel (for all sites) : 01752 254406

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.eddystone.org.uk

It is the UK's leading charity dedicated to gay men's health.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.gmfa.org.uk

Sexual orientation & belief

Metropolitan Community Church, Torbay

Part of a worldwide fellowship of Christian churches with a special outreach to the world's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities.

Tel: 01803 520713

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.lgcm.org.uk/ylgc/ylgc.htm

Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement

Website: www.lgcm.org.uk

Evangelical Fellowship for Lesbian and Gay Christians

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.eflgc.org.uk

Information on issues relating to lesbian, bisexual and transgender women who identify themselves as Muslim.

Email: [email protected]

For Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, or questioning.

Tel: 07849 170793 or 07951 770735

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.imaan.org.uk

Galha LGBT Humanists campaigns for equality and diversity, particularly relating to sexual orientation and identity - both in the UK and internationally. Since 2012 it is proud to be the LGBT section of the British Humanist Association. It is volunteer-led and funded by supporter donations.

Website: www.galha.org

Is a non-profit community organisation that brings people and groups together to celebrate and promote the diversity that exist within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans communities in Plymouth. The information, advice and support made available through our events and the pride in Plymouth network with our website as the hub allows us to advance community education so we can work together to eliminate discrimination in relation to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) people in Plymouth, the surrounding area and further afield.

Tel: 07935 306029

Email: [email protected]

Web: blog.prideinplymouth.org.uk

Gloucestershire Pride, The Dick Whittington, 100 Westgate Street, Gloucester

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.glospride.org.uk

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The South West lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community group. Information and confidential help, training, advocacy and campaigns to combat homophobic school bullying. Helpline: 0845 6020818 Tel: 01392 201015 Email: [email protected] Website: www.intercomtrust.org.uk Central point for information on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans groups and projects across the South West peninsula.

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The Veterans' Gateway app helps veterans find local support organisations in their area using their smartphone or tablet.

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Advice and support for veterans & ex-forces | Veterans' Gateway

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The Veterans' Gateway app helps veterans find local support organisations in their area using their smartphone or tablet. Use our Self Help resources to find information and advice or contact our advisors for support by phone or email. Pam's daughter was an explosive search dog-handler.

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Parents in prison record a bedtime story and message for their child on CD or ... We help prisoners to make other educational and fun gifts such as memory books ... Our sixteen prisoner editors are trained to use industry standard audio / video.

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Please see link below to a series of free webinars designed to support ex-offenders into work, self-employment and transition into life in the community, post release which may interest you.

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