A policy change that took a matter of seconds for George Osborne to announce in the post-election budget raises so many social questions, the most damning of which is “So a woman […]
3rd Child Tax Credit : From a means test to a rape test.
JET: Did we need to spend £20,000 for another fly-tipping plan in Derby?
Fly-tipping in Normanton is a major nuisance, but it is not a complex problem – it needs one simple plan. Solving it is the responsibility of Derby City Council’s Streetpride department, and […]
JET ( Jobs, Education & Training) : Derby’s 3rd Tourist Attraction – Apparently?
If you missed the segment on East Midlands Today broadcast on 11 August 2015, here it is in full. The reporter proudly announces that it is “Derby’s 3rd Tourist attraction”. […]
The Rape Delusion: The Voices of the Victims
If there is one thing that tells us something perverse and disturbing about our society it is the fact that we even countenance the notion that a woman might be responsible for […]
Direct Help and Advice (DHA): A lifeline for the potentially homeless
When you are teetering on the precipice of homelessness, you are vulnerable. You are not there because you are in control of events, organised, and clear about the future – you are […]
Remembering the reality of the need for Roma Genocide Day
“Vermin – deport” was the response to an article I posted (July 25th 2015) on the Roma Community Fun Day in the Arboretum and Normanton Neighbourhood Group Facebook Page last week. […]
Independent Living Fund (ILF) is history; Now deliver the Care Act for all Disabled People
“The cuts in (ILF) support that are being handed out to individuals will leave us without dignity, sitting in our own faeces for hours at a time, dependent on the kindness of […]
Roma Community Fun day in Arboretum Park
Roma Community Care ( led from the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby), in conjunction with Reverend Elizabeth Pinder-Ashenden of Pear Tree Baptist Church, put on a Fun Day in Arboretum […]
The STOP-TTIP “Pencil” comes to Derby
With over 2.3 million signatures on the Stop-TTIP petition, the giant “blow-up pencil” came to St Peter’s cross in the centre of Derby. Accompanied by an NHS ambulance it brought to the […]
Project Touchdown celebrates Eid with an evening meal for the Homeless
I have written before on the great work that Zishan Fazal and the many volunteers of Project Touchdown do for the homeless and rough sleepers of Derby. When I spoke to Zishan […]
Derby City Council’s “Big Conversation” is a charade and limp party politicking
Last week, Ranjit Banwait, the leader of Derby City Council re-invigorated the “Big Conversation”. Despite the recent consultation in 2014, the Council sees the need to ask the public again, essentially the […]
40th Anniversary Derby Caribbean Carnival
This is a special year for the West Indian community in Derby ; the 60th Anniversary of the formation of the West Indian Community Association and the 40th year of the colourful […]
Charities – Volunteer more clarity on your finances please
Charities in the UK have a long tradition, based on selfless giving and care for the sick, needy, vulnerable and poor. The scope of what a charity can become involved in has […]
Living with a ‘House Devil – Street Angel’: Recovering from Domestic violence
“ A couple of my friends died because of domestic violence from their husband, and a lot of them ended up on drugs and drink because, you know what, if you get […]
Disabled Access Card – Why is Derby City Council not interested?
“I have limited mobility but do not use a wheelchair. Sometimes my disability is not immediately obvious and I often have to experience embarrassing situations where I have to explain my health […]
Derby City Council – no commitment to transparency on Castle Nursery closure
On June 8, I published an article called “Derby City Council wantonly axe ‘Outstanding’ Castle Nursery”; this included the response from the Derby City Council press office. The article was sent to […]
Project Touchdown : Experiencing the pain of rough sleeping
Spend a night sleeping where I do, See what I see, Hear what I hear, Feel what I feel, Then maybe you’ll understand, What life is like for me To paraphrase a […]
60 years of the West Indian Community Association – unfinished business?
In 2015, we would like to think that the West Indian Community is an established, and integral part of Derby society. It is certainly different to the town, as it was then, […]
Patrick Satchwell: Caring for the environment in Normanton
Although Patrick Satchwell originates from Jamaica his surname has a legacy dating back to the Norman Conquest when his namesakes settled in Derbyshire. There were Satchwell landed gentry associated with the area […]
Disability Karate: Inspiring the Disabled at St James’ Centre.
At first glance, Karate and Disability don’t seem like natural bedfellows. However within that counter-intuitive contradiction there is a gem of a concept which is proving to be an inspiration for disabled […]
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