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Cases of animal cruelty falling in East Sussex

Recent statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) reveal that cases of animal cruelty are falling in East Sussex.

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Latest statistics reveal that the number of owners offered and accepting animal welfare advice is showing an increase, with 81,475 people nationally accepting advice in 2015 compared to 78,000 in 2007.

RSPCA maintain they would always rather improve animal welfare through education and advice, with legal action saved for the most extreme cases.

However, despite the positive news, the analysis highlights that there are still unfortunate instances of animal cruelty finding that dogs are the most abused pet in the UK totalling almost 57% of the RSPCA’s complaints, compared to just 24% for cats.

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven who owns dogs and a cat has welcomed the news.

He said: “Whilst there are still many instances of animal cruelty, these latest statistics are encouraging and testament to the work the inspectors carry out across England and Wales.

“I am always pleased to raise awareness of the important work that the RSPCA do to help improve standards of animal welfare in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven and across the UK.”

A positive view on Europe and the EU

Michael Inkpin-Leissner, a Labour Councillor for Brighton and Hove is still a German National. In his view recent contributions to the discussions about the EU referendum hit rock bottom with Boris Johnson comparing EU policies to Hitler’s way of conquering Europe. Here are his thoughts:

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With Boris Johnson’s comparison of EU policies to Hitler’s a new low point in the discussion about whether the UK should leave the EU or not is reached. In general I find it rather painful to observe how negative and very often immature the discussion about the EU membership of the UK has become. As I am in general a very positive character I would like to contribute positive thoughts to this ongoing discussion. I am proud to be an elected Councillor of our city, which resembles a little melting pot of Europe and the EU, in fact of the world.

In my arguments I shall focus on communities and European ideals that we all share, I believe. It is not all about economy, free movement and fear of foreigners.

You might say, I am a bit biased, as I am a German national. Possibly there is some truth in it as European law gave me the opportunity to stand as Council candidate for this city and gave me the chance of honouring the positive welcome and being included in my chosen home of Coldean Village and giving something back.

This discussion should be about European ideals and not about misguided arguments just to achieve a political point: let us think more about European ideals, humanism and values.

People outside the EU do not have a problem defining what Europe is. People in the MAIDAN in the Ukraine were dying with the word Europe on their lips. Europe – their dream!

The philosopher Voltaire described Europe in 1751 as follows:

“… a kind of great republic, divided into several states, some monarchial, the others mixed, but all corresponding with one another. They all have the same religious foundation, even if divided into several confessions. The have all the same principles of public law and policies,…”.

This is quite accurate even by nowadays standards.

But there was also a lot of war. Let us remember that just over 50 years ago and in a way that our European forefathers and advocates of a united Europe like Charlemagne, Voltaire, William Penn and William Gladstone could only dream of, a united Europe became reality and this despite many wars: civil wars, French against Germans, British against Italians, Czechs against Poles, Serbs against Austrians, Spaniards against Spaniards, not to forget the two world wars.

Many of the older Generations wondered in 1945 if they would ever see Europe again in any state of grace or glory, much less unified. The great Winston Churchill stated clearly – despite BREXIT supporters deforming his statements – only the United States of Europe would prevent further destruction of Europe. He was not alone in his beliefs, as we know.

This commitment together with values developed out of Christianity, humanity and the European enlightenment made it possible to build a stable Europe within only 40 years. Even the USA needed 90 years to achieve this.

These values led to a market with social responsibility and a united, but diverse community of states, working in solidarity with each other and supporting each other not only economically but also morally when things go wrong.

For me the EU stands for hope, for peace, for a safe future for our children, as a guarantor of Human Rights. How deep this feeling runs in most EU citizens was shown by a Belgian woman who said right after the terror attacks in Brussels: “Life goes on. We will not have our ideals and way of life being destroyed by terrorists. We will keep on living as we choose in Europe.” And that is what Europe and the EU is about! That is how a huge majority think in our City of Brighton and Hove.

Europe and the EU are not first and foremost a political concept or a financial convenience as many campaigners state their arguments. It is an ideal. Thus it will never be complete. We will work at it all our lives as will future generations. And this was definitely not what Hitler intended with Europe. Boris Johnson and, to be frank, Conservative Councillor Robert Nemeth who defended Mr. Johnson’s statement on twitter should apologise to all European nations.

I invite you to see Europe and the European Union as the gentle wing abiding where “all people become brothers”, the central message of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

I urge all who have the right to vote in the referendum to vote that the British stay as brothers in the EU and not as very distant cousins like the USA outside or become a Little Britain, to quote former Prime Minister John Major.

Worthing LGBTQ Carers Support Group

New group for LGBT carers meets monthly in Worthing.

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Carers Support West Sussex (CSWS) supports family and friends carers living in West Sussex who look after a family member, relative or friend, who can not manage without them.

WEB.400Their services to carers include over 50 support groups across the county, including the new LGBTQ Carers Support Group which started in March and is held on the second Thursday of each month from 2pm until 3.30pm at Carers Support West Sussex Offices, Pavilions Room, 19 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, BN11 1RY.

Carers often put the needs of others before their own resulting in a carers’ own physical and mental wellbeing being compromised. Carers often become isolated, stressed, tired, having less time to themselves and rarely having the opportunity to have a break from caring. Attending a support group is one way carers can talk about and share their experiences while accessing support and advice.

It is widely acknowledge that LGBTQ carers are more likely to attend a group, openly share their experiences and ask for support when it is offered in a safe, non-judgmental environment, amongst peers who share similar experiences.

The LGBTQ Carers Support Group is run by both LGBTQ and non LGBTQ facilitators.

There’s no need to call or book in advance. If you’re free, just go along and join in. The group is open to carers who either live in West Sussex or the person they care for lives in West Sussex and are part of the LGBTQ community.

If you’d like to find out more about the group first or all of the services they offer carers, then do not hesitate to get in touch.

Carers can contact the group directly by:

Telephone: Call the support and information line on 0300 028 8888
Available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm (until 7pm on Wednesdays)

If all support workers are taking calls, leave a message on the 24hr answer phone. CSWS aim to return your message within 48 hours.

All of the telephone support workers will be happy to help you. However, if you would like to speak to an LGBTQ specialist worker, then ask for Amanda Evans or Bee Harradine-Miles to call you back.

To reach a specialist worker email: LGBTQ@carerssupport.org.uk 

CSWS aim to respond to emails within 5 working days.

Message CSWS via Facebook at Carers Support West Sussex

Direct Message CSWS via Twitter @CarersWSussex 

How to refer to the service:

If you are working with a carer who may want support, referring is easy.
Just telephone or email using the contact details above with the carers name and contact details. You must have the carers consent to make the referral.

To find out more about all services on offer to LGBTQ carers, click here:

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Lunch Positive volunteers trained in substance misuse awareness

In April, eighteen volunteers from Lunch Positive, the weekly lunch club for people with HIV, received training in understanding substance misuse.

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The training was provided by Pavilions, the organisation providing drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services for people in Brighton & Hove.

Lunch Positive has developed a close link with Pavilions through regular outreach from the LGBT Brief Intervention worker, Gary Smith. The training has helped volunteers better understand the reasons and impact of substance misuse.

Lunch Positive volunteers provide a ‘listening ear’ to people who come to the HIV lunch club, and aim to support people to help themselves, and to find specialist services if needed in times of difficulty.

Gary Pargeter
Gary Pargeter

Gary Pargeter, Lunch Positive Service Manager, said: “This was an incredibly useful piece of training and has also strengthened our links with Pavilions. We know from our ongoing contact with the LGBT Brief Intervention service that people with HIV who also have substance misuse issues really benefit from greater understanding and empathy. This learning will help us continually improve and provide that.”

“HIV remains a complex challenge for many people, and other issues and life challenges can greatly affect how well HIV is managed. We’re hugely grateful to have such a diverse group of people who use the lunch club, and hope this will make it even more useful for them. Thanks also need to go to our fantastic volunteers for their interest and commitment. It was a great training session and we have been talking about what was learned and how to best use this ever since.”

The training was planned and undertaken with the support of Awards for All funding awarded to Lunch Positive.

For more information about Lunch Positive, click here:

Samaritans: Volunteer and make a difference

National Volunteering fortnight will take place from June 1-12.

Samaritans

Samaritans in Brighton and Hove are using the occasion to encourage people to become volunteers, whilst at the same time dispelling the myth that you have to be a listener to volunteer with the organisation.

Daniel Cheesman
Daniel Cheesman

Brighton and Hove Branch Director Daniel Cheesman, said: “Whilst we rely on volunteers to keep our telephone lines open at all times we recognise that listening is not for everyone. At Samaritans we have a range of roles to suit people with different skills and we are particularly looking to fill two roles at the moment.  We need a special someone to work with us to put together a publicity strategy so that we can promote Samaritans across the City; and we also want to hear from someone who might be able to lead our fundraising efforts.”

Brighton, Hove and District Samaritans is one of the biggest Samaritan branches in the UK and currently has just over 200 volunteers who respond to more than 46,000 calls for every year.

Daniel added: “Our volunteers reflect the demographics of our City, and we have a number of volunteers who identify as LGBT. It is really important to us that we continue to work with community to raise the profile of Samaritans, as a gay man myself this is something that I feel particularly passionate about.”

If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with Samaritans contact them on 03705 627282 or email them at volunteering@samaritans.org

Samaritans is available round the clock, every single day of the year providing a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them.

If you need to speak to Samaritans, remember, you can call for free any time, from any phone, on 116 123 (this number will not appear on your bill), or 01273 772277 (local call charges apply).

For more information about Samaritans, click here:

New Trustee at Lunch Positive

Rosemary Faulkner Mitchener has joined the Board of Trustees at Lunch Positive the weekly HIV club.

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Rosemary brings a wealth of wide-ranging skills, knowledge and experience, which include working in the Adult Social Care team at the Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals Trust, supporting people with HIV, the Learning Disability Service, the Civil Service, as a school governor and a member of a church council.

In addition to the usual responsibilities and duties of a trustee, Rosemary has taken on the role of secretary of the charity. This role has particular importance, at a time when Lunch Positive continues to develop as an organisation, supporting growing numbers of people with HIV, and looking to the future to develop its services.

Rosemary Faulkner Mitchener
Rosemary Faulkner Mitchener

Rosemary says: “I am delighted to have taken on this new role. I have always had a strong passion for supporting my local community, and I look forward to applying my skills to Lunch Positive and the important work that it does.”  

For more information, click here:

For information on Lunch Positive governance, click here:

Lunch Positive – Emergency food pantry for people with HIV

Lunch Positive has started a new initiative, building on its previous emergency food parcels given to people with HIV in financial crisis.

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The Friday Pantry will offer a weekends worth of healthy food stocks for people until they are able to access more specialist support during the week ahead.

The charity will also offer advice on where to find financial and welfare advice and debt support, budgeting support, and referrals to food banks.

People can access the pantry service by contacting Lunch Positive, or if supported by other HIV organisations contacting them and be signposted or referred.

The service is being led by one of Lunch Positive’s volunteers Phil, who says: “At Lunch Positive we’ve met increasing numbers of people who find themselves in financial crisis, we really want to help and ensure no one should ever be deprived of food that they need. I’m really looking forward to getting The Friday Pantry off the ground and supporting our community.”

Gary Pargeter
Gary Pargeter

Gary Pargeter, Service Manager, added: “Even in our seemingly affluent city, food poverty still exists, and impacts hard on people with HIV and chronic illness. No one should be embarrassed about asking for support where it is provided and we hope people with HIV who are going hungry and in financial crisis will come to us if needed.

“The Pantry will help address these periods of crisis, and support people to find longer term help and solutions. We’d like to thank our many supporters who have helped stock the pantry including FareShare Sussex for ongoing food donations, BLAGSS, and Coop Funeral Care who raised a much-needed £210 to start-up the service.

For more information about Lunch Positive, click here:  

Or email: info@lunchpositive.org

Brighton Bear Weekend

Just in case you have not noticed, Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) takes place from June 16 to 19.

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BBW organisers will be welcoming bears and their friends from near and far who are coming to Brighton and Hove’s annual Bear Celebration.

Highlights of the weekend will include:

Thursday, June 16 from 7:00pm: Pub Quiz at the Camelford Arms. Great prizes and a bonus raffle! Arrive early to be sure of a table. A wonderful relaxed way to kick off the weekend.

Friday, June 17 from 7:00-11:00pm: Welcome Night and Cabaret at A Bar. Fun, games and music with the delectable Mysterry. Collect your clothing and wristband orders from the BBW team. Free entry.

Friday, June 17 from 11:00pm-late: Uproar at Envy. Dance the night away with DJ Bozzy Bear and DJ Rob C on the decks. £4 entry with wristband, £6 without. £2 pints with wristband.

Saturday, June 18 10:00am-noon: Breakfast at the Camelford Arms. Get your Full English and socialise with the bears! £8.50 all in with wristband, £10.50 without.

Saturday, June 18 from 1:00-5:00pm: Bear-B-Que Picnic in Dorset Gardens. Delicious barbecue prepared by Lunch Positive the weekly lunch club and treat yourself to a drink from Gin & Bear It while you’re there? Free entry with food and drinks available at reasonable prices.

Saturday, June 18 from 8:00pm-2:00am: Woofer at Latest Music Bar. DJs Rob C and Josh the Barber on two floors. £4 entry with wristband, £6 without. Additional £1 discount for entry before 10:00pm.

Saturday, June 18 from 11:00pm-late: SubWoofer at Subline. Booze, cruise and explore dark corners in the subterranean cavern. In association with Leathermen South (but there’s no dress code). £4 entry with wristband, £6 without.

Sunday June 19 from noon: Sunday Roast at the Camelford Arms. Replenish yourself with one of the pub’s famously massive roast lunches and a beer or three.

Sunday June 19 from 12:00-4:00pm: Alternative Sunday Roast at Brighton Sauna. Get your energy back with a good soak and steam.

Sunday June 19 from 3:00-6:00pm: Ca-bear-et at Legends with Lizzy Drip. Sea Serpents rugby players appearing on the front cover of Gscene will be auctioned for charity by Miss Jason! Free entry.

Sunday June 19 from 6:00-9:00pm: Bear Bash and Raffle Draw at the Camelford Arms. Free entry.

Sunday June 19 from 9:00pm-late: Underbears at Subline. Boxers or briefs? Get your kit off at Subline’s legendary Sunday night underwear party. (No dress code, but it’s warm down there so you’ll probably want to whip ’em off!) £4 entry with wristband, £6 without.

Events like Brighton Bear Weekend cost money to stage. You can support them and their fundraising activities for the Rainbow Fund by buying a wrist band which gives you discounts all over the weekend or buy some merchandise including T-shirts from Prowler in St James Street or click here: to buy online.

Graham Munday
Graham Munday

Graham Munday, Chair of Brighton Bear Weekend said: “We want to thank in advance all the participating venues, the people who kindly donated raffle prizes, and all our supporters in the community. Without them, this party would not happen.

“Most of all we want to thank everyone that comes to Brighton and Hove, to have a good time and most importantly help us raise money for the Rainbow Fund.

“The whole of the Brighton Bear Weekend team wish you the most brilliant, fantastic, fun time, stay safe, look after each other and have a wonderful and memorable few days in Brighton.”

Popular comedy night moves to Dr Brighton’s

The Doctor prescribes laughter.

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Smiley Sunday the hugely successful stand up comedy night is moving to Dr Brighton’s to bring nights of laughter to the award winning seafront venue.

The first one will be on Sunday, June 19 starting at 7.30pm when 6/7 acts will get up on stage and get your Sunday night smiling.

Entrance is £3 per person which all goes to the Rainbow Fund, there will be a charity raffle supported by local businesses and of course happy hour prices extend all night long including Buy One Get One Free (BOGOF) cocktails.

Go along and see the Doctor, make yourself smile and support the Rainbow Fund who give grants to local LGBT/HIV organisations providing effective front line services to LGBT people in the city. This is what Sunday nights are made for.

For more information about Dr Brighton’s, click here:

Or like Doctor Brightons on Facebook.

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