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Day: October 27, 2013

Storm warning!

Posted on by Besi
Brighton storm damage
Brighton overnight storm damage

The Met Office is currently forecasting that high winds will reach Brighton & Hove in the early hours of Monday morning. Persistent and heavy rain is also expected which may cause some surface flooding.

60 to 70mph winds are predicted, with gusts of up to 80mph in exposed areas. There is a risk of falling trees as well as damage to buildings and other structures, bringing disruption to transport.

Residents are being advised not to travel unless they have to and to stay indoors if possible. The seafront should be avoided during the storm due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind blown shingle.

The council are asking residents with a Monday collection not to put out refuse or recycling until midday (Monday October 2). After this only put your bin or box out if it can be firmly secured in a position where the contents will not be blown around.

The council will be reviewing refuse and recycling collections again in the morning and will continue to monitor the situation with local emergency services and will pick up any missed collections as quickly as possible.

Tom Scanlon
Tom Scanlon

Tom Scanlon, Director of Public Health, said:

“We’re asking residents not to put out their refuse and recycling until midday on Monday to keep residents and staff as safe as possible during the storm and to minimise the impact of the high winds on the city. We are expecting the storm to pass through on Monday so we hope to get collections back to normal as soon as possible.”

Bizarre Bazaar fetishwear sale today at Subline

Posted on by Besi

Bizarre BazaarThe popular Bizarre Bazaar fetishwear sale takes place this year today, Sunday, October 27 from 2-5pm at Subline, 129 St James Street, Brighton.

The event now in its 11th year is a well-attended leather and fetish wear sale run by staff and volunteers of The Sussex Beacon shops with the support of Subline who donate the use of their venue.  

Subline will be filled to the brim with an array of books, DVDs, underwear (new!), leather, toys, stocks, maybe a cage, gas masks… basically all fetishes catered for. There will be designer underwear and haircuts available on the day.

Donations for the event can be brought to The Sussex Beacon shops or collections can be arranged by calling 01273 680264.

The event if a fundraiser for The Sussex Beacon.

The Sussex Beacon offers specialist care and support for men, women and families affected by HIV.  They help people manage the everyday realities of living with this life-long condition.  Their 10 bed Inpatient Unit helps people recovering from serious HIV related illnesses, initiating new drug therapies or struggling with some of the extreme side effects of anti-retroviral drug regimes.  They provide emotional, mental and health support along with physiotherapy and occupational therapy.  They also offer end of life care.  Their Outpatient Unit for health management offers psychological support such as anxiety and sleep management and treatment and they run services for women and families and a regular day service for socially isolated people with complex medical conditions associated with HIV.

EVENT: Bizarre Bazaar

WHAT: Subline, 129 St James Street Brighton BN2 1TH

WHEN: Sunday October 27

TIME: 2 – 5pm

 

 

Hove MP Weatherley joins paralympians in Parliament

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Mike Weatherley MP
Paralympians Hannah Cockroft and Sam Ruddock with Mike Weatherley

At a recent event in the House of Commons, Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, met with two Paralympians to raise awareness of social care for disabled people and discuss the impact of the new Care Bill that is going through Parliament. The event, organised by disability charity Scope, was part of its ‘Britain Cares’ Campaign.

While the debate on social care has focussed on the demands of an ageing population, one third of social care users are working-age disabled people. The campaign calls on the Government to ensure that disabled people do not lose out on vital social care support which enables them to live independent, fulfilling lives.

Mike said:

“It was an honour to meet with Paralympians Hannah Cockroft and Sam Ruddock to discuss the importance of quality social care. I am proud that the Government’s Care Bill will introduce a new, modern law for a care system built around people’s wellbeing. As the Bill passes through the House of Commons, it is important that all MPs remember that one third of care users are working age disabled people and that social care must support them to live fulfilling, independent lives.”

New guidance for LGBT people wanting to be parents

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Equality NetworkIn a ground-breaking new book released today by the Equality Network, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people share their personal experiences of becoming parents.

65 people told their stories in interviews and surveys, including their experiences of donor insemination (whether through a clinic or at home), co-parenting, adoption and surrogacy.

The book meets a need for case-studies to help other LGBT people who would like to become parents.

‘LGBT Pathways to Parenthood’ was compiled by Heather Walker for the Equality Network, in partnership with LGBT Youth Scotland and LGBT Health and Wellbeing.

Tim HopkinsTim Hopkins, Director of the Equality Network, said:

“The need to become a parent can be overwhelming.  It’s challenging enough if you simply can’t find the right partner, worse if you have fertility problems. Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender raises a whole raft of extra practical and emotional issues. This book tells a range of very human stories about the hope and despair, the struggles and successes of trying to have a child.  It also says a lot about love and the complexities of relationships. I’d like to thank all the LGBT people who contributed, some very bravely, in order to help others who are thinking of embarking on the same journey.”

‘LGBT Pathways to Parenthood’ is available free as a pdf, from the Equality Network’s website.

To download, CLICK HERE: 

It is also available as a 215 page A4 printed book, price £11,16 from Amazon.

To purchase, CLICK HERE:

 

 

Stonewall launches Global Diversity Champions Programme

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Stonewall the LGBT equality charity have launched its Global Diversity Champions Programme, a best practice forum for organisations that employ people around the world. The programme will work with international companies to ensure that their lesbian, gay and bisexual staff, regardless of which country they operate in, can perform.

It is currently illegal to be gay in 78 countries and only 59 countries protect gay people from discrimination in employment based upon their sexual orientation. This presents a unique challenge for global organisations committed to treating their gay staff fairly and building a workplace where all staff feel able to perform at their best.

The programme will allow members to share ‘in country’ best practice as well as offering an array of benefits including an exclusive seminar programme and dedicated resources on global workplace topics.

Supported by diversity software specialists Gender Gap, the new programme brings together the expertise of ten major founding partners: Barclays, BP, Citi, Freshfields, Google, IBM, P&G, RBS, Simmons & Simmons and Thomson Reuters and will build on the tried and tested model of good practice sharing and benchmarking to accelerate improvements.

Laura DoughtyStonewall Deputy Chief Executive Laura Doughty said:

“We know that people perform better when they can be themselves.

“For gay staff in countries where they don’t enjoy equality this can be incredibly difficult and brings a unique set of challenges.

“Stonewall’s Global Diversity Champions Programme will help international organisations respond effectively to these challenges and help them create workplaces where everyone can perform to their full potential – regardless of their sexual orientation or where they are in the world – as well as supporting gay people ‘in country’.”

For more information on Stonewall’s Global Diversity Champions programme CLICK HERE:

 

Bus stops go digital

Posted on by Besi

Digital Bus StopThe system which tells passengers when the next bus will arrive is to be upgraded across Brighton & Hove and upgraded and expanded in East Sussex.

Brighton & Hove City Council in partnership with East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company have awarded Trapeze ITS (UK) Ltd a five year contract to supply and install the real time passenger information system.

The state of the art system will use the latest GPRS technology to improve the accuracy and signal reception for the Real Time Passenger Information, and upgrades the existing award winning system which has been operating in Brighton and Hove, Newhaven and Seaford since 2001 and Eastbourne since 2006.

The upgrade will ensure that more accurate information about services is relayed to bus passengers. Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company will be paying for an improved fleet management system for their buses across the city.

Other bus companies will have the opportunity to display their services on the real time system across the city and East Sussex too, including major operators such as Compass Travel, Metrobus and Stagecoach.

Improvements to the existing system are being funded by money awarded to Brighton & Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund, which enables local authorities to deliver sustainable travel solutions to boost economic growth and reduce carbon emissions.

Both authorities have also ordered additional bus stop displays for Brighton & Hove and East Sussex. Real time information about bus services will still be available on the internet, smartphones and via text messaging in the city and will also be introduced for bus services in East Sussex.

Ian Davey, Lead Member for Transport at Brighton & Hove City Council, said:

“This is great news for anyone who uses a bus and will encourage more people onto buses. It will mean that you can see exactly what time your bus should arrive and will make journeys much smoother. I am particularly pleased that for the first time all the city’s bus operators will have the opportunity to display their services on the Real Time displays”

The upgrade across Brighton & Hove will be complete before the end of 2014, Other bus operators will also have the opportunity to display their services on the bus stop displays as the project proceeds, which is not possible with the existing system.

The expansion of the system across East Sussex will initially be tested on the Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company routes 28 and 29 between Brighton-Lewes-Ringmer-Uckfield-Crowborough-Tunbridge Wells. Following this, additional bus operators and routes will be added to the system in the Lewes, Newhaven and Eastbourne areas in late 2014. Further expansion across East Sussex to include bus services in the Bexhill and Hastings areas and services to and from Kent and West Sussex is planned in 2015.

 

 

 

Hove MP gets jab in Parliament

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WEB.300Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has received his annual flu jab in Parliament and  is urging at-risk groups to get vaccinated against the flu virus as soon as possible.

The Department of Health provides free seasonal flu vaccinations for at-risk groups, which include those aged 65 or over; people with chronic respiratory, heart, renal, liver and neurological diseases; diabetes sufferers;  and those with low immune systems. People living in long-stay facilities, such as nursing and residential homes, as well as carers of elderly or disabled people, are also entitled to a flu vaccination.

Mike said:

“Getting a seasonal flu jab is really important in order to protect individuals and help to relieve strain on the NHS over the winter period. I would encourage all those that are over the age of 65 or are in one of the at-risk groups to visit their surgeries and get vaccinated – the sooner the better.”

 

Good news for LGBT people in Devon

Posted on by Besi

Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning GroupNorthern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been successful in a bid to take part in national equality charity Stonewall’s Health Champion programme.

It is the only CCG in the south west to be accepted onto the programme this year and one of just five CCGs in England.

Involvement in the programme means the CCG becomes a health champion for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people, who should expect to benefit from improved health services.

Participation in the programme comes at no cost to the CCG and Stonewall provide free consultancy time.

It means the CCG gets free support for a year to develop health services for LGB people. The support will be based on research by Stonewall and public health experts in Devon and Plymouth.

Jenny Winslade
Jenny Winslade

Jenny Winslade, chief nurse for Northern, Eastern and Western Devon, said:

“We are delighted and proud to have been chosen by Stonewall to become a health champion for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

“Over three million people in England are either lesbian, gay and bisexual and we know from extensive research that they often have significant differences in their health needs compared with those of heterosexual people.

“The vision of our CCG is healthy people, living healthy lives, in healthy communities and we believe this should be the case for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or protected characteristic.

“One of our main objectives is to commission, or buy, services with our partners to reduce the inequalities that exist, while improving people’s lives.

“As part of our pledge to involve people in healthcare developments we are committed to gathering views from lesbian, gay and bisexual people in our local communities so we can learn what is important to them.

“We want to make sure our healthcare providers are sufficiently meeting the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual patients, leading to identification of the underlying causes of their health problems sooner rather than wasting time and money on misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.”

The CCG will display a rainbow tick on its website and printed materials so people know it is a LGB-friendly organisation.

National research by Stonewall shows that LGB people face significant health inequalities, as well as discrimination, when accessing health services.

A gay member of staff at the CCG welcomed the organisation’s involvement in the programme and said he found the CCG allowed lesbian, gay and bisexual staff to be themselves without the worry of discrimination.

He said:

“In Devon I know of people who have experienced how difficult it can be for gay, lesbian and bisexual people to get access to the treatment they need.”

“They have told me that sometimes they feel they have no one to speak to about the problems they are experiencing so it is fantastic to see that the CCG is working with Stonewall to improve awareness of their needs.

“Having experienced levels of homophobia in some of the previous organisations I have worked for, I feel that as a gay member of staff, the CCG allows me to be myself.

“There is always work to do in terms of connecting with lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but the fact that the CCG has become a health champion shows its commitment, not only to the patients and public that it serves, but also to its staff.”

James Taylor
James Taylor

James Taylor, Stonewall’s senior health officer at Stonewall, said:

“By being part of the Health Champions programme Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG will receive free support from Stonewall to achieve real improvements in the care provided to lesbian, gay and bisexual people and their families.”

Albion’s plan to grow moves a step closer

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WEB.600

Proposals by Brighton & Hove Albion to build a hotel, student accommodation and a new home for community organisation The Bridge near the AMEX Community Stadium moved a step closer after agreement last week (October 17).

The Green administration proposed that the council, as part land-owner, enter into negotiations with the club with a view to developing the land. It is proposed that the development across two sites will include a new hotel serving the stadium, much-needed dedicated student accommodation for the city and a permanent new home for community organisation The Bridge. The proposal received cross-party support.

Cllr Jason Kitcat
Cllr Jason Kitcat

Councillor Jason Kitcat, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council said:

“This is the next step in the continued growth of our successful football club. A hotel will help those who travel to the city for match days, especially if it’s finished in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2015. And dedicated student housing is a real bonus, especially in a city where many family homes are being lost to student accommodation.

“We’re really pleased to have received assurances that The Bridge will be incorporated into any future plans. It’s crucial that they have a secure permanent home from which they can continue to provide their vital services to the local community.

 “We look forward to continuing our work with the club to help make their vision become a reality.”

 

Brighton main line to be upgraded over Christmas period

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Network Rail have announced they will be upgrading the Brighton main line over the festive period.

The upgrades will see a new platform and associated track and signalling work built at Gatwick Airport as well as new signalling between London Victoria and Battersea. Additionally, a major junction will be replaced between Redhill and Purley, increasing the line’s reliability and removing the need for speed restrictions.

Over the festive period train services will be altered and information about these changes will be shared in stations, on websites and via twitter in the coming weeks.

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has welcomed the move.

Simon Kirby MPHe said:

“I welcome these upgrades to the Brighton main line which will help to improve the reliability of the services between Brighton and London.

“However, I would like to stress that all measures should be taken to reduce the impact and inconvenience that they may cause to passengers during this period.”

“These works are a positive step in improving the Brighton main line and I will continue to campaign for a better train service for Brighton.”

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