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Kemptown MP urges people to call home heat helpline

 

Want to save £140 on your electricity bill?

Simon Kirby MP
Simon Kirby MP

Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, is encouraging residents in his constituency to call a free helpline to find out what help is available with their energy costs.

Home Heat Helpline (0800 336699 / 03333003366) was launched ten years ago and is a free, impartial and confidential service offering support to anyone concerned about paying their energy bills and staying warm during winter.

The help available includes grants for insulation, new boilers, discount schemes and rebate schemes; including the Warm Home Discount which provides eligible households with £140 off their electricity bill.

Mr Kirby, said: “I would urge anyone in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven who is concerned about staying warm in the run-up to winter to call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 336699 and seek advice. I would also ask people to look out for neighbours, friends or relatives who may be in difficulty and make sure that they are aware of the Home Heat Helpline and consider calling on their behalf.”

New figures show that over 450,000 people have used the services in the last decade to help them manage their energy bills and energy efficiency.

Lawrence Slade from Home Heat Helpline, added: “Winter can be an incredibly tough time for people financially, around the UK, and we are here to help. There are many out there that could benefit from our support that we haven’t yet spoken to. Even if you are not eligible yourself, you may know someone else who is. Our Home Heat Helpline number – 0800 336699 – is a direct and easy way for you, your neighbours, friends or family, to get the assistance needed to keep warm.”

Here are also some other simple steps people can take in reducing their energy:

♦        switch off the heating when you are out

♦        turn appliances like TVs and phone chargers off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby when they’re not being used

♦        replace normal light bulbs with energy-efficient ones which use up to 80% less energy

♦        move furniture away from radiators and heaters to allow heat to circulate around the room

For more information, click here:

Telephone Home Heat Helpline: 0800 336699 (0333 3003366 from a mobile)

 

Reeves & Mortimer Show at Brighton Centre cancelled

The Reeves & Mortimer Show on Friday, December 4 at the Brighton Centre has been cancelled due to ill-health of Bob Mortimer.

Bob Mortimer
Bob Mortimer

Comedian Bob Mortimer has undergone a successful triple bypass heart operation and following the operation, he will need to rest and recuperate for several weeks.

For this reason, the first leg of the upcoming UK tour 25 Years of Reeves and Mortimer – The Poignant Moments has been cancelled.

All ticket holders for performances from November 8 – December 4 2015 should contact their point of purchase for a full refund.

Promoters hope that the January and February 2016 shows will go ahead as planned.

A spokesperson for Bob Mortimer, said: “Bob would like to thank his Consultant and all the nursing staff at the hospital for looking after him so well.

“He now needs several weeks to fully recover, so unfortunately the first leg of the UK tour will be cancelled.

“Bob very much hopes to be fit and well enough to perform the second leg in January next year.”

 

15,000 sign petition protesting trans woman sent to male prison

In under 24 hours 15,000 people sign a petition protesting about the placement of Trans woman Tara Hudson in a male prison to serve out her sentence.

Tara Hudson: Photo by Artur Lesniak
Tara Hudson: Photo by Artur Lesniak

Tara was sentenced to 13 weeks in a male prison in Bristol by Bath Magistrates after pleading guilty to an assault that took place in Bath last December.

Bristol Pride Director Daryn Carter, said: “This is clearly a sensitive issue but there is guidance available from the Home Office on this matter and yet Bath Magistrates have decided to sentence Tara, a women, to a male prison.

“We believe the issue is because Tara may not have a Gender Recognition Certificate but common sense should prevail and has again highlighted the shocking inequality that exists for Trans people.

“The general public can clearly see that Tara does not belong in a male prison so we are calling on Bath Magistrates to use some common sense, regardless of the absence of a certificate.”

Ceri Caramél who organised the online petition, added: “We realise that many of you might want to give support to Tara directly, which is why we’re asking you to send her a letter of encouragement and love.

“We will be gathering all of your kind words, and passing them on to Tara as regularly as we can. This will wonderful for helping Tara not to feel as lonely and isolated as she might otherwise.

“We have been in regular contact with Jackie (Tara’s Mum), who is absolutely overwhelmed and delighted by the kindness and thoughtfulness of everyone who has taken the time to sign and share this petition, tweet their support with the #ISeeTara campaign, and contact MPs, journalists and other authority figures to spread the message as far as we can.

“Please, keep on sharing the petition with everyone and anyone that you can, and take a moment to extend your best wishes to Tara via our letter campaign.” 

Tara was assigned male at birth but has lived her adult life as a women. She has undergone several chest reconstruction surgeries and takes regular hormone injections.

To send a letter of support to Tara, click here:

To sign the petition, click here:

LGBT Safety Forum AGM tonight

The Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum are holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM) tonight at the Queens Hotel on Brighton Seafront.

Brighton LGBT Community Safety ForumGo along and hear about the important work the forum has been delivering over the last 12 months, see their work program for the coming 12 months and listen to the recommendations drawn from the 2013-14 Police Trust and Confidence Survey.

The meeting starts at 7pm.

The LGBT Community Safety Forum is an independent group of lesbian, gay, bi-Sexual and transgender volunteers whose role is to hold the police and council to account on asafety issues affecting the LGBT community in Brighton and Hove.


Event: LGBT Community Safety Forum AGM

Where: Queens Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton

When: Wednesday, October 28

Time: 7pm

For more information about the work of the LGBT Safety Forum, click here:

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‘Rainbows, Rights and Religiosity’ a talk by Gerard Phillips

Brighton Secular Humanists publish a free newsletter for members and hold regular public meetings and social events.

The King & Queen
The King & Queen

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month, except August, at 7:30pm for an 8pm start at The King & Queen, 13-17 Marlborough Place, Brighton, about ten minutes’ walk from Brighton Station.

The meetings usually take the form of a talk, followed by questions and discussion.  Admission is free and the meetings are open to everyone.

Gerard Phillips
Gerard Phillips

The next meeting Rainbows, Rights and Religiosity is on Wednesday, November 4 with guest speaker Gerard Phillips.

Gerard has been Vice President of the National Secular Society since 2010. A gay activist of sorts, Gerard came out aged 17 while working for the Ministry of Defence (that career didn’t last…) and he went on his first ‘Gay Pride’ demonstration in 1981.

He has, amongst other things, been a volunteer with London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard and the Cardiff AIDS Helpline and worked for three years as a researcher at University College Cardiff on the UK’s first ever Government-funded survey into gay and bisexual male lifestyles.

He now lives in Brighton (Hove actually…) and is a member of the Brighton Secular Humanists.


Event: Brighton Secular Humanist: Rainbows, Rights and Religiosity: Speaker Gerard Phillips

Where: The King & Queen pub, 13-17 Marlborough Place, Brighton

When: Wednesday, November 4

Time: 7.30pm

Entry: Free

For more information about Brighton Secular Humanists, click here:

PICTURE DIARY: Cabaret dinner at the Queens Hotel

Jason Lee provided the entertainment to a full house at the Sunday Cabaret dinner organised by Bob Claydon at the Queens Hotel.

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Photos by Graham Hobson

Labour councillors support Brighton Hate Crime Vigil

Politicians remember victims of nail bomb attacks in London in 1999 at Brighton, Hate Crime Vigil.

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Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Cllr Warren Morgan, Cllr for Queens Park, Adrian Morris, and Cllr for Hollingdean & Stanmer, Tracy Hill, attended the Hate Crime Vigil organised by the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum on Saturday October 17 on the Old Steine in central Brighton.

The Vigil was one of many taking place simultaneously in cities all over the country to mark the three nail bomb attacks that shook London on April 17, 24 and 30 in 1999.

The event was compered by Billie Lewis, the elected volunteer Chair of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum who organised the event.

Rev Michael Hydes welcomed everyone to the Vigil and speakers included Joanna Rowland-Stuart who spoke about bullying and how her life had been impacted by disability hate crime.

Maria Baker, the black and ethnic minorities rep on the LGBT Safety Forum spoke about racist bullying and how it affected her at school.

Sara Jones, business manager of the victim and witness services at the office of the Sussex Police Crime Commissioner explained about the new Hate Crime app, Self Evident how to download it and how to use it to report Hate Crime.

Rory Smith, the civilian LGBT Liaison and Hate Crime Co-ordinator at Sussex Police explained how to report Hate Crimes to the police and why it is important to do so no matter how insignificant you might consider the offence to be.

Musical interludes were provided by Son Son who sang three self penned numbers, Dreaming in Brighton, Outta Here and Mother Theresa and Christoffer James Baker brought the Vigil to a close singing the hauntingly beautiful Mad World and the uplifting Something Inside So Strong.

If you are the victim of a Hate Crime and want to make a third-party report which can remain anonymous if you wish, telephone 01273 855 620 pressing option 2.

The new Hate Crime App Self Evident can be downloaded on all iPhones and android handsets. For more information, click here:

In an emergency, always telephone 999 to report Hate Crime to the police.

To report a Hate Crime that is NOT an emergency dial 101

Christoffer James Baker
Christoffer James Baker

Martlets Peacehaven shop celebrates 10 years of raisings funds for the hospice

The Martlets Shop in Peacehaven has been celebrating 10 years of raising money for the Martlets during October.

Martlets Hospice Peacehaven Shop

To celebrate, the store’s managers Janice and Josie, invited all volunteers, customers and supporters to join them on Friday 23 and Saturday, October 24 for tea, coffee, cakes, tombola and a raffle between 10am and 4pm on both days.

One of the Hove based charity’s larger shops, the Peacehaven store has been raising funds to support the hospice by selling a wide range of items. As well as stocking donated furniture, household goods, curtains, bric-a-brac, TVs, DVD players, books, clothes and children’s toys, it is also a specialist mobility centre.

Here you will find electric beds, mobility scooters, new high-seat chairs in a variety of colours, electric recliner chairs, walking sticks and wheelchairs.

The Martlets has nine other shops around Brighton & Hove, Lewes, Rottingdean and Woodingdean, which are a valuable income source for the hospice.

All the profits raised through Martlets Shops helps the Martlets Hospice provide end of life care to adults who are affected by terminal and life limiting illness, as well as caring for their families and loved ones.

The Hospice receives less than a third of their funding from the government and must raise £11,000 a day to help people who are dying to do so with dignity and in as calm and peaceful a way as possible.

You can find the shop at 170 South Coast Road, Peacehaven. Telephone: 01273 588 808

New LGBT careers guide from Stonewall

New Trans inclusive guide includes sections on transitioning at work and features more employers than previous ten guides.

Starting Out

Stonewall, the LGBT equality charity has launched the eleventh edition of the Starting Out guide – Britain’s national guide of LGBT-inclusive employers for lesbian, gay, bi and trans students and jobseekers.

The 2015 guide profiles all of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions and for the first time is trans inclusive.

Starting Out profiles organisations and individuals across a range of corporate and public sectors. It also features sections on bi visibility and transitioning in the workplace, as well as a focus on inclusive global employers.

Baker & McKenzie supported the launch event, which saw LGBT students, graduates and jobseekers network with representatives from Stonewall Diversity Champions from sectors including local government, creative, construction and retail.

Stonewall’s Senior Director of Programmes Venu Dhupa, Nathan Akhavan-Moossavi from Baker & McKenzie and Jak Xenon, who features in Stonewall’s #WithJak campaign, all spoke at the event, at Baker & McKenzie’s offices in London. Jak met his future employer at the Starting Out launch last year, after attending a Stonewall School Champion school and going through its Young Leaders and Youth Volunteering programmes.

Peter HolmesPeter Holmes, Project Manager, said: “We couldn’t be happier with this year’s Starting Out guide, which has not only changed for the better in size and design, but also features a wider range of employers than ever before. Starting Out profiles people who have gone through the same steps as graduates and jobseekers to get their feet on the career ladder – and are a great representation of our diverse LGBT community.”

To read Stonewall’s Starting Out guide online, click here:

For more information about the #WithJak campaign, click here: 

Pride community groups feedback meeting

Brighton Pride will be holding a community groups feedback meeting on Tuesday, November 17.

WEB.600The meeting will take place upstairs above Charles Street Bar starting at 7pm. To gain access go through the door at the far end of the downstairs bar and up the stairs.

This is your opportunity to feedback to Pride any ideas you have to improve your Pride experience in 2016

Entry to the meeting is free but you must RSVP and register online to get an eticket to gain entry.

To RSVP, click here:

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