Labour election leaflet in Queens Park calls for ‘virile representation’

Following the resignations of the ‘Leicester Two’ from Brighton and Hove City Council, there are by-elections coming up in the Queens Park and the Kemptown wards.

I was reading a Labour leaflet from Queens Park, most of which I agree with. There was talk of lower rents, improving education, and the lot of people experiencing a cost-of-living crisis (“the lot of the poorer inhabitants” the leaflet said). There was a focus on unemployment, housing schemes, empty homes, and transport.

What struck me most was, according to the leaflet, the need for “representation of a virile type”, not something you read every day in election material.

In case you were wondering, this wasn’t a contemporary election leaflet from Labour’s Camilla Gauge, but one from 1935 when the Labour candidate was Richard Polling. I don’t know whether he was elected on that occasion but he did become a councillor, as did his son-in-law, Stan Fitch, and Stan’s son, the late Brian Fitch. It was Stan who gave me a copy of this leaflet.

Times have changed but the issues raised by Richard Polling – education, housing, rents, nursery education, etc. – remain as relevant today as they were in 1935. But as for ‘virile’ representation and leadership, I doubt it will be a concept that will loom large in Labour’s general election campaign!

Glyphosate: nobody said being a councillor would be easy!

Councillors have many demands on their time and judgement but, on the whole, they themselves are judged on relatively few issues. Some of them are:

• the state of the streets
• the collection of rubbish and recycling
• public toilets
• parking and traffic.

These issues affect just about everyone.  There are other issues that are important for various people when they directly affect them, for example

• Schools
• Social services
• Libraries

Over the last few years in Brighton and Hove, few issues have raised hackles more that weeds on the pavement. They are unsightly, a trip hazard, pose other difficulties for those with mobility issues, and risk to dogs (and you alienate us dog-owners at your peril).

The decision of Brighton and Hove City Council to end the use of glyphosate to control weeds on pavements was a very worthy ambition, and one that I hope the Council will find a sustainable solution to achieve.  But having a good idea does not equate to having a good plan. 

When banning glyphosate, the Council had not thought it through. Its approach was worse than abysmal and it was a major factor in the trouncing of the Greens last May. No viable alternative was in place, there were not the staff to manually remove the weeds, and all protest fell on deaf ears.

I can’t think of many other initiatives that were implemented so incompetently. It was a massive failure of leadership, communication and politics. It was if the Green administration had subcontracted Chris Graying to implement this decision!

When councillors reconsider this matter this coming week, there will be three options before them:

• to continue to remove weeds manually until a cost-effective and viable non-glyphosate option is available
• to support the use of traditional glyphosate techniques
• to support the use of a controlled-droplet application of glyphosate.

The first option is not viable and would be ruinous for the Labour administration, just as it was for their predecessor Green administration. Option 2, to reinstate the use of traditional glyphosate would go totally against Labour’s manifesto and would provoke outrage. Option 3 is the least worst option as long as it is a temporary measure to allow the Council to come up with a workable, effective and sustainable alternative.

Of course there are concerns about the reintroduction of glyphosate, and the Greens are up in arms, but they still haven’t come up with a viable and sustainable alternative. One opponent, who goes by the name ‘Veronica atalanta’ on Twitter, wrote: “The chemical is a liquid, it is not instantly taken up by plants, so most of it will drain away from the site of adminstration, a process speeded up by rain.”  The chair of the committee considering the options, Cllr Tim Rowkins, has said that “that is the case with conventional application, but not with the method we are proposing. The controlled droplet application is suspended in an oil that adheres to the target plant and is rain fast within an hour (application would only take place in appropriate weather).”

For those who have to make this decision, I hope nobody told you being a councillor would be easy!

Postscript 28th January 2024: following comments from a former Green councillor, I have written an apology for aspects of this post, specifically comparing them to Chris Grayling, which was unfair and below the belt, and for not mentioning that Green councillor had warned that a ban without a plan would cause problems. You can read my apology here.

South Portslade by-election 2024

Councillor Josh Guilmant

The result in the South Portslade by-election announced this lunchtime (12th January 2024), which saw Labour’ s Josh Guilmant hold this ultra safe seat, was akin to the newspaper headline: ‘Small earthquake, not much damage’. There was some damage to Labour’s pride but that won’t worry them. The party saw its majority halved, from over 1,200 to a little over 600. Its share of the vote reduced marginally from over 60% to 54% but the number of votes it received was down by almost 900. Nevertheless, congratulations to Cllr Guilmant on his election.

But this was just a by-election. Labour had the advantage of a stonking lead in the national opinion polls, but this was offset by the annoyance factor of a recently elected councillor resigning, as well as a big local issue, the proposed closure of a local school.

The Greens made a big noise about the proposed closure of St Peter’s school. For them the result, which saw them remain fourth behind the Conservatives in second and the Lib Dems in third place, demonstrates just how far they need to go to rebuild their lost credibility. This was never going to be the totemic result which they need in order to show that they are on the way back. Even in a more fertile ward for them, they would have struggled.

The Conservatives will be relieved that they clung on to second place, but still a country mile behind Labour. It does not bode well for them in the run up to the general election. With results like this, should the general election be held in the summer, all Peter Kyle needs to do is sit in a deckchair on the Hove lawns while his vote is weighed and he sees a significant increase in his majority.

The votes for the South Portslade by-election were: 

• 874 Labour 874
• Conservative 246
• Lib Dem 186
• Green 149
• TUSC   53
• Democratic Liberation 49
• Independent   44 

Turnout was just 21.6%.

Update 1.26pm 12/01/24: There is an error in the above post. The Greens actually went from third last May to fourth in this by-election. They did not “remain fourth” as I said. Apologies.

Violence Against Women and Children at Christmas

(This item first appeared in the Brighton Argus on 20th December 2023)

Have you ever thought about how many songs make light of and even justify violence against women and their murder. An obvious one is Delilah by Tom Jones which contains the lines: “She stood there laughing, I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more”, killing her because she laughed at him.

Paul McCartney’s song Maxwell’s Silver Hammer is a dainty ditty about a student, Maxwell Edison, who kills his girlfriend and female teacher before killing a police officer. The other Beatles hated the song and, according to Ringo Starr: “The worst session ever was Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. It was the worst track we ever had to record.”

In the song Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town, performed by Kenny Rogers, the paralysed war veteran, out of jealousy, says “And if I could move I’d get my gun and put her in the ground” because Ruby was, supposedly, being unfaithful.

I began thinking about these songs after listening to My Home Town, a song by the popular American satirist from the 1960s, Tom Lehrer. He sang about one of the “plain folks” in his home town: “The guy that took a knife, And monogrammed his wife, Then dropped her in the pond and watched her drown”. He felt able to satirise femicide, yet he self-censored himself regarding “kindly Parson Brown” with the words: “We’re recording tonight so I have to leave this line out” to avoid reference to the equally appalling abuse of children. 

Christmas is just five days away so, why on earth, am I focusing on such a depressing theme? For many of us, Christmas is a time spent with family and friends, for love, and a time for celebration. But this isn’t the case for everyone. For those experiencing domestic abuse, Christmas can be a time filled with dread, uncertainty and danger, often exacerbated by alcohol and drugs. Each year there is a reported spike in domestic violence with an estimated 15,000 children exposed to domestic abuse over the  festive season.

There is evidence that domestic abuse becomes more frequent, more severe and more dangerous during the Christmas period. For victims and survivors, Christmas can be a very difficult and stressful time of year, particularly this year as people struggle with the financial stress caused by the cost-of-living crisis.

Fortunately in Brighton and Hove we have RISE, a service dedicated to protecting women and children. RISE stands for Refuge, Information, Support and Education. It is a Sussex-based feminist, women-led and centred domestic violence and abuse charity that supports people affected by domestic abuse and violence.  Its vision is: ‘Freedom from Abuse and Violence’ and has been working for almost 30 years to end all forms of violence and abuse against women and their families.

RISE has put on a Christmas party for 40 families (100 mothers and children).  This Christmas they are focusing on their housing advocacy service that can be accessed through their website (www.rise.org.uk) or when making a homelessness application at Brighton and Hove City Council.

RISE needs financial support to keep its services going, not just at Christmas but throughout the year. RISE doesn’t receive funding for many of their basic services such as its helpline (01273 622822). While its own helpline will be closed over Christmas, as a member of the Women’s Aid Federation, it is part of a national phone line, 0808 2000 247, or go to their Online Live Chat at womensaid.org.uk 

RISE has had to close  its helpline for professionals, and has also just closed its waiting list for its therapy services for children and adults. The waiting list for these services had reached two years and the focus will now be on clearing this.

On a more positive note, RISE has secured funding from central government through the City Council for its Sanctuary Scheme which it had been funding itself for the past five years. This allows RISE to support women who want to remain in their homes by providing safety items such as video doorbells, cameras, and arson blockers on letterboxes.

Most importantly, if you or someone you know might be in danger, call the police immediately on 999.

Without donations from people like you RISE would not be able to continue its vital crisis support, practical guidance and the emotional care so that women and children affected by domestic abuse can rebuild their lives.  You can find out more about the work of RISE and make a donation through their website.

Huge public opposition to extending the Pride weekend in Preston Park over two weekends

Councillors in Brighton and Hove are to consider whether Preston Park can be given over to Brighton Pride for two weekends from 2025. This would mean that the public would be denied access to the park for around 18 days (allowing for the setting up and clearing up the site). The purpose is to make the Pride weekend itself more financially viable.

I asked on various social media platforms whether commercial considerations should outweigh people’s access to the Park? 

Many people from throughout the city responded with comments like “No’ and “Too long”.  Others have called for consultation with the local community. Here is a selection of other comments:

I’m not anti Pride, just think it’s got so big now it needs a bigger space. Plus the park is used by hundreds of people on the weekend for sports and dog walking – PB Preston Village

It is not just access to park that is lost. Residents could not go out or get home. Carers could not access the people they were to offer care to in the 15 min time slots carers have if having to park at Bowls club and walk. And it took an hour for a pride worker to come to guide cars in and out. – GH Preston Village

Having one of our city’s largest parks essentially privatised for three weeks  is a terrible idea.  Surely if the event has become this big a more suitable venue should be found that can accommodate it. – DC Hove Station

Consulting the local residents and park users really needs to happen here. … Also needs a bigger space than Preston Park so they do not shut the whole park just half a park. GH Preston Village

I thought Pride was about diversity and inclusiveness. A two-weekend gig will cause us locals to have to change our lifestyle and cause a big strain on our amenities and already dysfunctional public transport. Waterhall with dedicated travel solutions makes more sense to me. – AG Old Patcham

The park is for the use of the public which is maintained through local taxes so no this as a commercial venture should not be allowed – SM Whitehawk

… Why allow more? Also, damage to the park will increase. There is already damage to the grass – but if items are set up and not moved for another week (which is the aim to share set up costs) then the grass will be further damaged. Yes, it can be repaired but this increases the time that the park isn’t available to everyone – NH Hollingdean 

I think one weekend for Pride is ok but two is excessive the park is used year round by lots of local society events tbh it’s only really the Saturday that’s a great success Sunday is never well attended ,it also makes it hard for residents to get in or out of Preston Park avenue. – JD Preston Park

As a local and long-time regular attendee at Pride, I have to say I agree this would be an unreasonable addititional burden on both the Park itself and on the area’s residents if this is indeed being considered. Frankly, you can have too much of even the greatest things. It’s important gay people give the same respect to others as we hope to receive ourselves. I know of several friends that have stopped attending because the hotels etc. charge premium prices over Pride, they’re not going to want to pay even more for a second weekend. – PB Hollingdean

Put simply: NO.  It’s a public park managed by the City Council. -JM Hove Station … I would ask if the council had changed its designation from a public park to a ‘to hire commercial space’. The park is well used by many people for many reasons that in itself should outweigh a commercial venture which charges for entry. I have no problem with pride but as it’s grown out of all early imagination in size and logistics … – JM Hove Station

According to the Friends of Preston Park, the original bye-laws in 1884 prohibited, among other things, “selling alcohol, preaching, setting up a stall or playing games except in the designated spaces” https://www.friendsofprestonpark.org/history/.  Make of that what you will. – TL London Road

I do feel for the residents that live by PP in my opinion it’s gone from being really a great weekend to dirty n horrible and for two weeks ouch – L-AK Hove Station

As a 40 year + resident of Preston Park I have seen Pride develop from a small well mannered event to a “monster” that disrupts residents lives makes our use of available “Green” space severely restricted and now is complaining it can’t balance its books.

If they are going to demand effectively a 20 day no go zone for Preston Park residents, what compensation are they going to offer ?20 day refund of community charge ? 20 day refund of Parking permit fees ? Compensate for disruption and inconvenience to residents lives  !. You can bet your life that the won’t compensate one iota… – DP Preston Village

No! It’s a nightmare to get in or out of the city during Pride. It’s no longer a diverse celebration but a massive rubbish tip afterwards and vile homophobic drunkeness.  Frankly, if the clowncil intend to go ahead with this money spinner there should be a visible public campaign to canvass those of us who live here and have to put up with it all. Before the zealots jump on my comments I’m labelled as part of the LGBTQ etc community although frankly, I don’t need a club or community to understand myself! – ST Coombe Road

No Thank You. Pride is all about spicy straights and furries now. Lesbians, Bisexuals and Gay men made to feel unwelcome if we don’t subscribe to the Gender Ideology promoted by Stonewall. AMcB Montpelier/Clifton Hill

It appears that our spaces are being taken over by events which is a shame particularly if this event is over such a long period – JJ Kemp Town

I live just a few hundred yards from St James’ Street and, although not really interested myself, always hope that the two or three days of the Pride street party go well, which, of course, they, by and large, do. Pride ‘weekend’ is an irritation to me in only one way: I am expected to pay to pass through or use the main shopping thoroughfare nearest my home, to visit a chemist for medicines, or to use a supermarket or shop (all of which which, in turn, seem to exist for those three days solely to supply snacks and alcohol to party participants?). I can, thankfully, live with that for a few days However, Preston Park? For eighteen days (or, in one scenario, twenty-one days)? That is a very different matter. The largest park in the city? A beautiful key, a welcoming entrance? Closed to the public for the best part of three weeks – a twentieth of the year? Purely to “ensure” a profit to a profit making enterprise? That is several steps too far. Our parks were gifted to the city as areas that provide attractive, healthy, open spaces to the city’s residents, green spaces for recreation, for calm in a busy, noisy, environment, for the good physical and mental health of all residents and visitors. Please note, gifted “for the city’s residents”, not just a select element of those residents, even if it is only for (a large) part of the year! – M F MacR-W

Will Labour get its house in order and end the Council’s hypocrisy over tagging and graffiti?

(This item first appeared in the Brighton Argus on 22nd November 2023)

For many a long year Brighton and Hove City Council has had a hypocritical attitude towards tagging and graffiti. There have been claims that tagging was the responsibility of just a few individuals when that was patently untrue.  Then sanctions were threatened against business owners who didn’t clean up tagging on their property while the council exempted itself from such penalties on its properties.

Skateboard Park on The Level

Earlier this year I highlighted the shocking state of graffiti and tagging on The Level, specifically the children’s playground and skateboard park.  Within a week of me raising questions with the City Council, much of the tagging in the children’s area had been painted out.  Before I could become self-satisfied that this column had achieved one small victory, it was reported that the council had cleaned the area because of a planned visit by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman!  Since then no further action has been taken, not least in cleaning up the graffiti and tagging in the skateboard park.

The Argus reported that Ms Braverman met Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner and Inspector James Ward to discuss success in tackling antisocial behaviour and violence in Brighton, and that the Home Secretary was seen at The Level where Sussex Police have used targeted, evidence-led policing to reduce crime in so-called “hotspot areas”. She was also told about how a partnership approach at The Level had reduced antisocial behaviour in the park by 55 per cent.

Those of us who live in the area and who do our shopping on nearby London Road might beg to disagree.  In the thirty years that I have lived and worked in this area I can honestly say that crime and anti-social behaviour is now at an all-time high.  I can accept that reported crime might have reduced but what is the point of reporting crime when the police do not respond.  There is open shoplifting and drug dealing, including on The Level, notwithstanding periodic initiatives by the police.

Last week the council agreed new tougher measures against taggers and fly tippers. Vandals caught tagging will by fined up to £500, an increase from £150, while fines for fly tipping will go from £400 to £1,000, littering from £150 to £300 and fly posting from £150 to £500.  Councillor Tim Rowkins, who chairs the the Environment, South Downs and Sea Committee, said: “Graffiti is a blight on the city and we need to get on top of the problem.”  He said that increasing fines was only as good as enforcement and that, in the past six months, three times as many graffiti perpetrators had been caught as in the same period last year.

There is some suggestion that taggers will be required to clean up their vandalism.  I won’t hold my breath.  Yes, there will be some high-profile examples of this happening, but I am unconvinced by this style of ‘muscular politics’. We’ve seen it before with Trump, that he would build the wall and “the best part is that Mexico will pay for it.”  A lot of people believed him.  Similarly Sunak pledged to “stop the boats” yet they still come. Braverman’s dream of seeing flights of illegal immigrants taking off for Rwanda remains just that, a dream and a very costly one at that.

I’ve written before that I hate graffiti, especially mindless, destructive tagging. I wrote: “Some shallow individual with obviously no artistic talent, in a pathetic attempt to be noticed, creeps around town at night spraying tags that are neither artful nor edifying. Some of the aerosol paints used are bad for the environment, and damage the brickwork. It puts private individuals, the council, charities and businesses to unnecessary expense.  While middle class Brighton might decry tagging, it has a contradictory and permissive attitude to so-called street art. I see very little difference between this and nighttime tagging. Both deface buildings and public places. While the artistic merit of street art might be one notch up from tagging, it does nothing for me.”

I wish the new Labour administration well with its initiative.  It already has had some success with clearing the weeds from our pavements, and for that they should be applauded.  I will continue to watch the state of graffiti and tagging in the city, starting with the appalling state of the skateboard park on The Level. The City Council previously clarified that the “only piece of graffiti that is acceptable would be commissioned murals” and “any other graffiti is classed as ‘problem graffiti’.”  Hopefully the Labour administration will demonstrate that, unlike its predecessor, it is not hypocritical and will get its own house in order on The Level.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year …? Not for everyone

(This item first appeared in my ‘Brighton and Beyond’ column in the Brighton Argus on 21st December 2022)

My dear old mum died at Christmas sixteen years ago, and I miss her more with every passing year. This year, for the first time in 30 years, our daughter, Clare, won’t be with us on the day itself as she will be spending it with her boyfriend’s family in Manchester. I also miss my brother, Simon, and his family who live in South Africa.

But I am lucky. I will spend Christmas with others who I love and, thanks to FaceTime, will share some of the festivities with Clare and Simon. Our house will be decorated, presents will be exchanged, and we will still over-indulge on good food and, my favourite, a specially made diabetic trifle. I will even watch ‘The King’, a term that still feels strange as ‘The Queen’ has been ever-present for most of our lives.

But not everyone is as lucky as I am.  Christmas is a particularly difficult time for homeless people. They are reminded of all that they have lost, not least home and family. And if they are street homeless, there won’t be decorations, presents under a tree, or festive cheer. There won’t be warmth, comfort and security.

For them, Christmas won’t be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ as Andy Williams sang. It can be the worst of all times.

Christmas morning for a person sleeping rough will be the same as every other morning – cold, wet, lonely. There aren’t gifts and, like every other day, there isn’t a toilet, shower, clean and dry clothes, kettle, or breakfast in the cupboard. The heating can’t be turned up a notch, and there won’t be the smell of a roast in the oven.

Fortunately, in Brighton there are additional facilities being put in place by the City Council to support homeless people over the winter in addition to services that are run year-round by several charities. The council has opened a winter shelter providing accommodation for 25 people which will remain open until the end of March. When the weather is particularly severe, additional shelter is provided by the council in order to preserve life, and we at BHT Sussex are pleased to provide support in the severe weather shelter.

There are other services that will be open over the Christmas period. First Base Day Centre, run by BHT Sussex, is one of them and will provide hot food and some Christmas cheer. People can take a shower, put on clean and dry clothes, be warm and comfortable, and for a few hours forget the daily indignity of living on the streets.

I am always haunted at this time of the year by the story of the Little Match Girl, by Hans Christian Andersen. She tries to sell matches on a freezing night, but no one stops to buy any. To keep warm she strikes a match and, in the flame, sees a series of visions that provides her with some comfort, including a warm stove, a roast goose and a large Christmas tree. The visions disappear when the match burns out. 

She sees a shooting star which her now dead grandmother had told her symbolised someone on their way to heaven. In the flame of the next match she sees her grandmother, the one person who had always treated her with love. To keep this vision alive for as long as possible, she lights the entire bundle of matches.

When the matches are all gone, she freezes to death and her grandmother carries her soul to heaven. In the morning her frozen, lifeless body is found in the snow.

Please remember that services such as First Base don’t just open over Christmas. We work throughout the year, offering all the facilities that homeless people rely on to sustain life and basic dignity.

Every week we help people to move off the streets and into accommodation, so that they don’t have to face another night, let alone Christmas, without somewhere safe to call home. 

First Base is not alone in Brighton working over the Christmas period. So too are other fantastic organisations including the Clock Tower Sanctuary, Off the Fence, and Sussex Homeless Support. In Worthing there is Turning Tides, in Chichester Stone Pillow, and in Hastings the Seaview Project. None of the better-known national charities do this face-to-face work locally.

You may have already bought all the presents you intend to give, but can I ask that you consider giving one more – a donation to one of those local charities working at Christmas. You can find details on the internet by searching their names.

Christmas is a particularly important time for many homelessness charities. We receive a significant proportion of our annual fundraising at this time of the year. If you can, please be generous. Your support makes all the difference. Happy Christmas.

The law of unintended and unconsidered consequences

Politicians have a terrible habit of implementing a policy but ignoring warnings regarding the predictable consequences or, as bad, failing to think through the unintended consequences.

Take, for example, universal credit. In a press release from the Department for Works and pensions published on 23 February 2012, the minister, Lord Freud, said that universal credit would reduce fraud and error in the benefits system. Lord Freud said:

“… universal credit will dramatically reduce the chances of fraud entering the system. It will cut down on errors as it will be much easier to understand and administer. It will simplify and automate the benefit system to reduce taxpayers money to ensure taxpayers money is going to those who need it most.

“Universal credit will also reduce the incentive for fraud by making sure people are better off in work then on benefits.“

Last week statistics produced by the Department revealed that universal credit fraud is it record high of 13% of all spending on the benefit, costing the taxpayer £5.6 billion.

So that’s going well. And let’s not forget that Iain Duncan-Smith, when the Secretary of State, said that universal credit would be “delivered on time and within budget”. It was massively overspent, the implementation was a model of incompetence, and ran (runs) years late.

At a local level, councillors at Brighton and Hove City Council decided to stop using toxic chemicals for the control of weeds growing on pavements and in the street. All this is a worthy aspiration, but the failure to be properly prepared is another shocking illustration of inept policy implementation.

I have been in the city for over 43 years and, other than during the 1979 so-called ‘Winter of Discontent’ and periodic strikes by refuse collectors, I have never seen the streets of Brighton and Hove looks so untidy. Weeds are overgrown everywhere (see pictures below) and are now posing a trip hazard. Cycle lanes are blocked by the uncontrolled growth of plants and we look like a city that is not cared for by our local council.

While I have no doubt that the administration had the best intentions, like Lord Freud and Iain Duncan Smith, they hadn’t properly thought through the consequences of their policy. What a shame. We deserve better in both the administration of the benefits system, and the cleanliness and safety of our streets.

This growth and the silting up of the gutter results in flooding of the pavement when it rains

The recycling in the background is a result of no collection for almost a month

 

How BHT and our partners saved the lives of rough sleepers over the winter months

What wonderful weather we are enjoying at the moment.  Even my white legs have made an appearance.  The forecast is for another hot, sunny Bank Holiday weekend which means, inevitably, that it will rain!

It is hard to think back to the freezing cold of the winter months but here are a few statistics I would like to share with you regarding the Severe Weather Shelter which BHT operates when there is a risk to life from the weather.

The Severe Weather Shelter opened on 43 occasions over the winter, provided shelter for 244 different men and women who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets that night.  A total of 1,401 nights accommodation were provided.  33 members of staff volunteered to work on these nights, in addition to their normal day jobs.

BHT is able to run this shelter on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council because we have First Base Day Centre that we can use for the shelter, and because BHT and several other partner organisations have the skilled, trained and dedicated staff who are willing to drop everything to run the shelter.  I am extremely grateful to all these colleagues for their selfless dedication.

So while we enjoy the wonderful weather, please spare a moment to think about how BHT is able to run First Base.  It takes fundraising activities throughout the year, our biggest being the Greater Brighton Cycle Challenge which is now less than six weeks away.

Please sign up to cycle or to help on the day.  You can find out more information here.

And if you want to support First Base and make me very happy, you can sponsor me as I am planning to cycle 100 km as part of the challenge.  Last year I raised just over £1,000, it would be wonderful to top that.  Many thanks.

Good news as BHT-led partnership is given the go-ahead to bid for £9.2 million Big Lottery funding

We have had some very good news this week which is attracting some media interest.  A consortium, being led by BHT, is in the running for funding from the Big Lottery of up to £10 million over 8 years.  The initiative is designed to improve services for men and women with complex needs (a combination of mental ill health, homelessness, offending behaviour and substance misuse problems) in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. Between now and September, a full bid and business plan needs to be prepared.  A decision will then be made by the Big Lottery and the new services will begin from April 2014.

The purpose of this funding is to bring about lasting change in how services work with people with multiple and complex needs; this funding is a vehicle to help bring about that change. The legacy of the 8 year programme will be that systems and services in all 3 geographical areas will better meet the needs of this group.

At this stage we have been awarded funding to develop the bid on behalf of our partnership which includes partners in local government and in the third / charity sectors.  Should the partnership be successful, it won’t just be BHT staff (contrary to what the Argus reported this morning) who will provide services.

My colleagues, Nikki Homewood and Jo Berry, are leading on this initiative for BHT. Nikki said: “As the lead partner for the Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Hastings area, BHT is thrilled to receive funding to develop our partnership bid to ensure better service provision for people with the most complex needs.

“Using the wealth of knowledge and expertise within our local Core Group, comprising seven voluntary sector organisations and five statutory partners including commissioners, along with the 60+ organisations in our Partnership Group, we will develop a programme that will truly bring about change for the clients the programme work with, and local communities.

“Our vision is to bring about long-term systemic change by putting service users at the heart of services, fully understanding what they need in order to move forward with their lives: thorough monitoring and evaluation will result in well-evidenced findings, which will then be used to influence future commissioning.”

BHT’s partners in this initiative, and who are represented on the local Core Group, include: Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton Women’s Centre, CRI, East Sussex County Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Hastings Borough Council, Homeless Link, Sanctuary Supported Living, Southdown Housing Association, Sussex Oakleaf, Sussex Probation Service