Mojatu Magazine Berkshire B036

Berkshire connected

News & Sports

GENDER BASED Violence

KNIFE CRIME On The Rise SIMILAR HOLIDAYS In other Cultures

WHAT’S AN UNHEALTHY GUT? How Gut Health Affects You - Pages 24-25

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Female Genital Mutilation

FGM – FACTS , HELP & ACTIONS Facts

• FGM is any procedure that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

• FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1985.

• FGM is a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls.

• • FGM is Non-Islamic, against the teachings of Islam and brings Islam into disrepute.

• FGM is putting the health of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk.

• • Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM. • 103,000 women aged15 to 49 are living with consequences of FGM in England & Wales.

• In the UK, an estimated 20,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM each year.

• 1,230 cases have been reported in the Midlands from April 2020 to March 2021 Taking Th

Taking The City To the Fa Taking The City To the Farm

Help

Are you concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need of support?

• • Join the Community FGM Steering Group: Contact us • For emotional & peer support for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: Contact us Free • Refer survivors needing medical attention to FGM medical specialist in Nottingham: Contact us Free Sessions: Refugee • Drop in sessions at Mojatu Office Unit 7, Howitt Bldg, Lenton Blvd, Lenton, Nott`s NG7 2BY Free Refugees & Asylum Seeker Sessions: • Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous FGM helpline or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk Tuesdays Seekers Welcome Sessions: • Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct: 0115 876 4800 Tuesdays Saturdays • Ring the police on 999 if FGM has just happened or about to happen Tuesdays Saturdays ADOP Activities include: Saturdays ADOPT A TREE include:Fruit Harvesting Actions Activities Tree Management Fruit Harvesting Activities include: To help end FGM and support survivors, join one of our campaigns or projects Fruit Harvesting Tree ManagementWeeding for Pumpkin • FGM Survivors Club • Volunteer with us Feeding the animals Weeding for Pumpkins & Maize Tree Management Form • FGM Steering Group • ‘Adopt a tree’ project Feeding the animals Weeding for Pumpkins & Maize Form online @https://g • FGM Global Faith Ambassador • Donate to support our work animals to support https://goo.gl/WyH • FGM Global Young Ambassador Feeding •the Fundraise our work land 9sz

Woodgement d n a l d o Wo gement ManeassionEDIBL s E d n a S WOODLA l d 18Farm, Screv ‘ s p Woo gement MaSneassionEDIBLE e S Ecocentre, Home r Ap www.farmeco WOODLAND ana ionFoundation For more information, contactM Mojatu ‘18 Farm, Screveton, pHome s e S Ecocentre, NG13 8JL r s p s e A S e927671 https://goo.

8 Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 07759 1 ‘ Mojatu Foundatio p www.farmeco.co.uk Apr-S • Request for training

• Women Skillshare Group

T: 0115|784 | M: Ro 07 Email: info@mojatufoundation.org | Website: www.mojatufoundation.org https://goo.gl/pEK1AC Mojatu Foundation 1676666 Alfreton

T: 0115 |784 | M: 0751 366 Mojatu Foundation 1676666 Alfreton Road, NG71176 3JR | E: ang @mojatu.foundation T: 0115 784 6666 | M: 0751 366 1176 | E: angela@mojatu.com @mojatu.foundation @ mojatuf @ @mojatu.foundation

@ mojatuf

@mojatu_foundation

Editor’s Welcome The sight of our Mojatu Berkshire brings hope to many. So we have been told by our community champions all because of the beautiful welcoming smile of the woman on the cover of each edition. That alone makes them long for the next edition. Besides the welcoming smile is the inspiring and empowering story behind that woman which goes to positively impact on the lives of many today and for generations to come.

Contents News & Sports Gender Based Violence...............................................4 Effect Of Mojatu Foundation ....................................8 Knife Crime On The Rise .............................................9 Community A Law Student Who Found Her Placement In The Kickstart Scheme .............................................. 12

As we usher in the long-waited summer, our cover girl, Annie Akefio-Sowah welcomes us with a beautiful smile, beauty and glamour which every community member would want to see. Annie, as a young legal student before graduating in December 2021 joined us through the kickstart government program and brought in her legal knowledge to our dedicated work in the community.

344 Oxford Road Offers New Hope ..................... 13

The Community Wellbeing Hub - Reading, he Cit championed by ACRE and the grassroot communities armis one great product of Covid-19 - no wonder during

The Use Of Art & Creative Industry ..................... 19

adversity, innovation works - read more on how grassroot communities virtually and powerfully connected and now become a Hub for face2face connections.

In this edition too, we cover the most needed yet sensitive subject areas in the times we are in including but not limited to; Gender-based Violence, Child’s Mental Health, Knife Crime, Female Genital es &Mutilation, Asylum Spiking Epidemic, Similar Holidays In rs Welcome Other Culture, Climate Change etc.

While you get and remain inspired by the beautiful stories and learning from our communities, look out for our next edition coming out soon.

PT A TREE

Managing Editor: Mojatu Magazine Email: news@mojatu.com

Editorial

ns & Maize

Group Editor: Frank Kamau - frank@mojatu.com

m onlin Editor: Cecily Mwaniki - info@utulivu.co.uk goo.gl/ Design: Robert Borbely - robert@mojatu.com

Photos: www.freepik.com Contributors: Chloe Jones | Amber Swali Daniel Hand | Ifeanyi Ogbonna | Raveena Hargun Ecocentr Alex Balkan | Pa Modou Faal | Terry Njoki eveton,w NG13 8JL IT / Social Media: Eva Karanja o.co.uk Sales & Marketing / Community Engagement: .gl/pEK1 on | 167 Abdoulie Jah - jah@mojatu.com 751 1176 angela@moj oad,366 NG7 3JR Kevin Price| E: - kevin.price@mojatu.com gela@moj Edwin Ubah eddy@mojatu.com @ Accounts: Angela Wathoni - angela@mojatu.com @mojatu_foundation Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com

LEW AN

A Net Zero Town ........................................................ 14 Similar Holidays In Other Cultures ...................... 16 Getting Reading Growing....................................... 17 Arts & Culture Health & Food Climate Change ......................................................... 20 Child Mental Health .................................................. 23 What’s An Unhealthy Gut? ..................................... 24 Education & Career Is Cotton Safe For Our Environment? ................. 27

Cover

Annie Akofio-Sowah

Mojatu Media Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or editorial contributions.

News & Comments: news@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage Address: 555 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, RG2 8NX, T: 0115 8457 009 | 07859 063643 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UtulivuRdg Printers: Mojatu Media Youtube: https://rb.gy/hrmheu Instagram: https://rb.gy/feyzsj

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News & Sports

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN OUR TOWN - By Chloe Jones and adapting to the things that happen around us.

Misogyny and internalized misogyny has been taught to us since the day we could understand English, through forms of media especially, (tv, magazines, radio, movies) however, many girls report feelings of body shame and inequality in school, as young as 5. And although now as adults it is simple to see and feel how negative it is, we have been unfairly conditioned to this very black and white way of living forever.

Within Reading community bonds have become stronger and the sense of togetherness is growing. The work put in to make Reading a better and safer place to live is the interests of many. However our work cannot end here, gender-based violence still runs hidden on our streets, sometimes so hidden a victim cannot recognise it. It puts lives at risk and injects fear amongst our town.

The first step to change & revolution is acknowledgment of the issue. By bringing this topic to the surface, refusing to ignore it, can act as cathartic healing for Reading’s trauma, create a conversation, starting a healing journey for many and prevent it from happening again.

Of course it is not as simple as gender against gender. And although most victims of gender based violence are women being victimized by men, it is vital not to hate or discriminate against men as this counteracts our mission of equality and harmony.

We are ever-evolving human beings, continuously learning

It is easier and human nature to put someone into a box with a name we are familiar with but this pulls us further away from being able to just accept someone for who they are. A heavily divided society is weaker and individuals may feel more lonely.

Standing together & accepting differences, celebrating differences as opposed to letting them turn us against each other, may be the thing that saves us. However if you have ever felt that an experience or felt targeted because of your gender, it is important to feel validation that this is discrimination and as a town, we won’t stand for it.

How to recognise Gender Based Violence To be able to recognise different types of gender based violence, so you are not left questioning whether your feelings of discrimination are valid; they are, and here is why - gender based violence can be distinguished in 5 interrelated types of violence; • Physical Violence • Verbal Violence • Psychological Violence

• Sexual Violence • Socio-economic Violence Domestic abuse and sexual harrassment both fall into categories of violence and often some or many can be present at once particularly in abusive relationships. All forms may be within someone’s private sphere (families and intimate relationships) or committed by strangers in public space or by organizations, institutions and states.

Who Is A Victim Gender Based Violence Even though gender based violence can be experienced by anyone, there are more cases against women and girls victimized by men. In particular asylum hard to recognise as we live in a society that silences and gas-lights women. We have come a long way, but quite frankly we cannot stop here!

Reading is seeking a revolution, change is needed, our safety must be prioritised and we must look out for each other, the hard to reach members of the community need to know what is available to them.

Many services for refugees, asylum seekers, rape/sexual assault victims, victims of verbal abuse, sexual harrassment, domestic violence and injustices within a work environment too, here are services ready to help you.

Reading Refugee Support Group: upholds the spirit of the The Refugee Convention of 1951, obligating the United Kingdom to protect and respect the rights of Refugees. Committed to reducing poverty, suffering and social isolation of people who have already faced unimaginable persecution and hardship.

Info at info@rrsg.org.uk 01189505356 Alana House: We offer a confidential, women-only, non-

Berkshire connected judgmental space and welcome all women who feel they need help, support and advice. Initially established to support women who had committed offenses but were often victims of trauma themselves, Alana House has developed over the years to support all women with multiple or complex needs who are looking for support to help make positive life changes. Parents and children together: 03004564800

heart of what they do, and seek to empower individuals to work through and beyond their experience of abuse.

Trust House: Trust House Reading is one of the new Rape Support Centres established as part of the Home Secretary’s commitment to opening up to 15 new rape support centres across the UK. It was initially funded by the Ministry of Justice, is based in Reading and serves the wider Berkshire district.

We believe that every individual has the right to be free from all forms of sexual violence and abuse.

Trust House Reading’s confidential services place survivors at the

Everyone should be able to live free from the fear and experience of domestic abuse and violence in their homes and relationships. All BWA activities are underpinned by a set of values adopted by the organization’s volunteers, staff, management and trustees:

News & Sports

Berkshire Womens Aid: To provide support, advocacy and domestic abuse services to everyone who comes to us experiencing domestic abuse. To provide safe refuge accommodation for women and their children who are affected by domestic abuse and violence.

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our services can talk freely, live safely and think about the future We do not judge – we listen and provide an environment where people using the service can recognise that some aspects of their life are not the way they want them to be Trust – you can trust us: confidentiality is paramount and people using our service can count on professional, highly skilled support Equality – we believe in providing support to anyone who needs it, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability

Welcoming and empowering – we listen, encourage and empower informed choices

Raising awareness – We encourage everyone to understand domestic abuse and violence, to seek support and report concerns.

Places of safety – we provide environments where anyone using

Helpline: 01189504003 helpdesk@ bwaid.org.uk

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News & Sports

mojatu.com

STREET ARTS VERSUS GRAFFITI

The line between street art and graffiti is fine, both forms can co-exist when artists dance on either side of the line.

Art in general is usually fueled by emotion, expression, activism, creativity and sometimes rebelliousness.

However, the thing that definitely divides the two, is permission. Whilst graffiti is mainly word based, street art being image based, they are both as meaningful and deserve to be expressed. The artist desires to be heard or seen and remembered.

The Reading council wants to do more to tackle and banish graffiti whilst protecting and encouraging street art. The uprise in art and use of urban spaces is becoming more of a motif in Reading, celebrating expression and titivating a town with colour and uniqueness. It has been stated we as a community will be protecting Banksy’s piece, although the artist didn’t gain permission beforehand and the act itself is illegal, his reputation and subsequent value means that most of his pieces are often protected. He then heroically pledged to sell the stencil to raise money for the space to be transformed into an art space. This is exactly what Reading needs.

However, this grey area could confuse street artists/ graffiti artists, as the rule does not seem to apply for everyone. If the value of it is not enough, it is condoned.

It cannot be denied that the lengths Banksy goes to share his political art and the attention it brings to an area, can be highly appreciated by anyone. In Bristol,

London, Brighton the urban culture, graffiti scene has been accepted and encouraged, where people’s artistic talents are loved. It can be puzzling to think why Reading Council are afraid to encourage, and the idea that it makes a town look unsafe and unclean.

Reading Borough Council housing, neighbourhood and leisure committee have plans to tackle graffiti whilst also introducing a Street Art Advisory Panel to ensure street art is not vandalised or removed.

Adele Barnet Ward said that ‘’it will make a real impact on how our town looks, having a cleaner, safer, greener reading with fewer scribbles on it’’. For artists to gain permission to express their art onto our town’s walls might be a long and discouraging process, and whilst the council picks and chooses which art is considered ‘’safe, green and clean’’ and what is a ‘’scribble’’, it is essentially discouraging this art form altogether.

There used to be graffiti walls where artists were permitted to do what they wanted, under bridges especially however this liberty has been taken away.

Something like this would be useful for upcoming artists to practice, to gain the chance to paint something with ‘’value’’ and be considered ‘’safe, green and clean’’ on our streets.

We hope to see the new Street Art Advisory Panel making a positive impact, art will always be used to take your mind to a safe place.

Berkshire connected

News & Sports

BLACK FRIDAY: A BLESSING AND A CURSE The day after Thanksgiving and a day to be grateful for all of life’s blessings, marks the day people are given to indulge in their greed and the opportunity to spend as little money as possible, on as many things as possible, most commonly known as Black Friday. While this sounds like an opportunistic holiday that is now celebrated internationally, not everyone reaps the benefits of cheap materialistic goods. When purchasing products during Black Friday weekend, we must consider the repercussions of our impulsive spending habits and question the ethical and moral nature of this holiday.

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- By Amber Swali

Model and author Jamie Windhurst tweeted, “Pretty Little Thing selling literal clothes for 5p and still being able to make a profit isn’t funny, it’s a reminder that the industry constantly exploits Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour through unacceptable pay and poor conditions.” The racial issues surrounding issues of workers exploitation are further exemplified when citizens buy into the cheap clothes and the love story of Black Friday.

The origin surrounding Black Friday comes from the fact that retailers and businesses would no longer be ‘in the red’ and be ‘in the black’. It allowed business owners and economists to re-evaluate the extent of consumer confidence and discretionary spending as it is said to be the peak of profit per financial year for retailers.

An alternative explanation dates back to the 1960’s in Philadelphia. The police department would complain about the overtime when the streets were packed with shoppers, tourists and fans in town for the next day Army Navy games, an environment rife with shoplifters and big crowds.

However, while the big corporations and companies celebrate being out ‘the red’, and reap financial benefits, it comes at the cost of climate impacts from excessive consumerism, aiding in the cycle of poverty and profits amassed from tax evasion.

Overconsumption of material goods has a harsh effect on the environment, as the production and creation aids in a greater extent of carbon emissions in the atmosphere and puts an abundant strain on the earth’s natural resources. According to a Green Alliance report in 2019, 80% of electronics and clothing, plus the plastic packaging they are wrapped in, end up in landfill, incineration or low-quality recycling after a short life.

Furthermore, companies like Amazon and eBay are said to be worst for likely to use Tax Avoidance strategies, outsourcing their profits to offshore accounts. Amazon published its 2020 tax figures, which showed that despite profits exceeding £128 million, it paid only £3.6 million in corporation tax.

The pressing issue of lawful working conditions and laws has also become a cause for concern and has been exposed by numerous media outlets who commented on the offers made by companies like Pretty Little Thing in 2020. The 99% off sale which saw clothes being sold for as little as 5p made many people question how this was possible all whilst Pretty Little Thing were supposedly paying their workers the correct wages.

What we can do to shop more ethically: Despite the amazing looking deals presented by Amazon, the increase in attention towards the company’s bad practice has led to a global coalition launched demanding that the company addresses the environmental, political, fiscal and workers’ abuse.

The hashtag #MakeAmazonPay has brought together an amass of unions, campaigners and organisations to cooperate in the fight against unethical practices, exploited especially on the Black Friday weekend.

Alongside Black Friday, is Buy Nothing Day, which has run since 1997 as a retaliation against Black Friday and to encourage a 24-hour detox from consumerism and to become further educated on the consequences of indulgent spending.

Buying from companies that are known for their ethical practices also aids in the movement away from immoral consumerism that has manifested into society.

Patagonia is a prime example of a well-known business trying to change the narrative surrounding this holiday, as in 2016 they donated 100% of their sales to grassroot environmental organisations. On that day, $10 million of sales were made and donated. If more companies took this approach, we would gradually be able to eliminate the social, environmental and immoral fiscal consequences triggered from this single weekend.

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News & Sports

mojatu.com

EFFECT OF MOJATU FOUNDATION IN THE COMMUNITY - By Chloe Jones As a charitable organization that works with Black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups (BAME), Mojatu Foundation tackles discrimination and racial inequalities by giving people access to opportunities and skills that enable them to participate in the wider community. Mojatu foundation has a range of media to help spread awareness and empower people and communities, including Mojatu Magazine, and FMB Radio.

Mojatu Foundation is not only limited to FGM and sexual health, but also provides support for victims of domestic abuse. The foundation works with The Topaz Centre and Juno’s Women’s Aid to provide support for women going through unsafe and sexually abused environments, as some lack the courage to report such forms of abuses because of oppression from partners/ relatives (more information at https://mojatufoundation.org/ women-girls/ ).

Training is also offered across Europe and Africa for free to those who meet the requirements. Four training programmes are available and tailored towards the specific needs of those communities. These courses are designed for women and girls affected by FGM and other forms of gender-based violence and racial inequalities. The training package also helps in building self-confidence and self-esteem with a view to creating greater understanding and improving their lives.

Mojatu Foundation works people from BAME community, especially women and girls, with a view to tackling Female Genital Mutilati on (FGM), inaccurate and unhelpful sexual and health education, domestic abuse, gender-based violence among other negative effects perpetuated against women and girls; through sensitisation, training, and community participation.

The foundation focuses on fighting systemic sexism and supporting victims of FGM by raising awareness both within and outside the UK, as well as providing support through confidence building workshops and one-onone counselling. Mojatu also provides assistance and support in accessing both health and social care, legal services, and signposting other forms of support for such victims.

“On 12th September 2016. Mojatu Foundation led Nottingham to becoming the first City In the UK to declare a “Zero-tolerance” stance on Female Genital Mutilation” Sexual health classes are also offered by Mojatu to provide women with a sex education curriculum created by women for women, that focuses on women’s sexual pleasure and health. The sessions’ coverage include teaching signs and symptoms of (early) menopause, how to tell when to seek medical help for pain, discomfort, or irregularities on or in a woman’s body, as well as a more in-depth understanding and teaching of the female anatomy.

One course option is “skills, language, and employment programmes” which focuses on helping build employability skills in four main areas: childcare, health and social care, hospitality and retail, and teacher training. The foundation also runs a course on “family and community development training” which is designed to help migrants, and new and emerging communities easily settle in the UK. This settlement training package, however, covers driving license theory, - with English translations, if necessary, English conversation for beginners and/or advanced speakers, mental health awareness as well as parenting courses to strengthen family and community bonds.

Mojatu Foundation is also known for providing training for victims/survivors of FGM to better understand its effects, where to receive support and how to help and signpost support. In order to participate in community engagements and help in dissemination of information, the foundation provides training on community leadership and, journalism and media covering digital storytelling, news gathering and writing” which centres around teaching community leaders how to create and conduct community conversations, both virtual and face-to-face.

Berkshire connected

News & Sports

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KNIFE CRIME ON THE RISE IN READING

By Daniel Hand

Knife crime in Reading is on the rise once again. On 31st October a man was stabbed to death on Romany Lane in Tilehurst and, just days after this fatal stabbing of Reece Heffernan, another stabbing was reported in Whitley thought not to be linked to Heffernan’s death. After a spate of stabbings earlier this year the knife crime problem in the town needs to be addressed more than ever.

On Friday 12th November a community event was hosted by The MAP Partnership and ACRE held at The MAPP Centre to tackle knife crime in the Greater Reading area. The event was attended by people who have been directly affected by it and other volunteers who are working towards reducing Knife crime manace.

The harrowing sculpture The Knife Angel, completed in 2018 by artist Alfie Bradley and made from 100,000 knives taken from over 200 knife banks that were provided by the British Ironworks Centre for people to anonymously hand in their weapons, is a stark reminder

that knife crime tears apart communities and families.

The Knife Angel has been touring around the UK since 2018 and is certainly a powerfully imposing structure.

But with knife crime still rife, it is questionable whether the sculpture is having much impact.

Last year, Reading celebrated Black History Month with a wide array of events that took place all over the town.

The packed programme included talks on Knife Crime, theatre productions and art and cinema.

The artists Aundre Goddard and Richard Bentley recorded a sound walk through the community and history of the London Street area, where the listener is invited to take an immersive stroll around Reading whilst listening to route instructions interspersed with local people’s tales of the diverse cultural hub of Reading. All theses activities were used to increase the sensitisation and awareness of Knife Crime in Reading and beyond.

mojatu.com

10 News & Sports

SPIKING EPIDEMIC WARNING: THE ARTICLES MAY MENTION SEXUAL ASSAULT/RAPE AND COULD BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME.

I think that at the moment it made me feel like they were acknowledging the problem although I would like it if they did more. In terms of the atmosphere I got the vibe that the Reports of injection spiking and drink spiking are rapidly students were more aware and ready to look out for each increasing. Spiking somebody with drugs or alcohol can have other which was nice. severe health impacts. Leaving victims vulnerable to sexual assault, rape or theft.

But unfortunately I’ve heard some negative things about union and security going into the women`s toilet but I don’t Most cases take place in nightclubs where spikers seek know anyone who’s experienced that so I’m unsure about opportunities to contaminate drinks with drugs, often GHB or the details.” Thames valley police uploaded within the crime rohypnol. Victims’ cases of course vary, differing experiences prevention advice- protect yourself from crime page on their however all reports are equally frightening and disorientating. website the following. Never lose sight of your drink, the main It is a growingly hostile place for women. Women report of not side effect is memory loss, if your drink tastes funny or has feeling safe in daylight, crowded areas, on public transport, been left alone for even a moment do not finish it. Stay with in cabs, from police and still it seems women’s safety is not your friends. prioritized. Continuously being told to ‘’be safe’’ ‘’stay vigilant’’, the burden placed on women to stay safe is heavy. Anybody Be a drink buddy, if a friend seems overly drunk or dizzy, stay could be a victim of this traumatic crime, even someone who with them until they are home and keep them safe. This being is considered ‘’safe’’ on a night out. Questions like ‘’why were advice from police, it is a goal for the students from Reading you wearing that’’‘’why did you leave your drink unattended?’’ University to have laws passed to ensure women’s safety is no can be problematic responses and imply the victim has failed longer overlooked. to prevent their own victimhood.

It is most frustrating to feel matters growing more urgent and Students up and down the country have responded in protest fear mongering amongst women/girls however not to be by boycotting their universities’ student night out. In Reading believed, this is a running theme within sexual assault victims. the movement was instrumental, demanding more rigorous It is important to question why it is in this nature of crime, we searching and safety protocols. Following further reports of are so meticulously questioned and asked for evidence. When injection spiking, it is believed Reading University’s Student it is our bodies and minds that are broken into and stolen from Union are working on refined safety and welfare measures to us, we are then drilled for evidence however when its theft of keep students safe on site. a material item it is hardly questioned. This alone can take a toll on how we perceive our bodies, who they belong to and Clubs, bars, universities and authorities are aware of the the inestimable value. It is not a woman’s responsibility to genuine concerns and anxieties people may be experiencing learn self defense or to learn how to not ‘mislead’ a guy in a and hope that with all the community effort and preventive club or how to dress appropriately to avoid being ‘vulnerable’, measures going ahead, nights out will be a safer and positive and by telling the women what they can do to avoid it, quickly experience again. Please continue to look out for each other, shifting the blame onto the victim. familiarise yourself with actions you can take, tell staff straight away if you feel or see anything suspicious happening. All Teaching both men and women the laws of consent, how security and staff are in the know and encourage anyone to to respect the human body, how to pleasure and that sex come forward with concerns. does not end at the male orgasm. It all begins with extensive education, open conversations and making education In Reading, it is believed MP Matt Rhodda is liaising with both accessible for everyone. An increase in conversations at school Thames Valley Police and Reading Student Union clubs on this from an early age would be beneficial. issue. The Student Union are believed to be increasing safety measures, including bag and random searches upon entry The opening times for the Florey Clinic, 21A Craven Rd, in clubs and bars within the student union. On the 22nd of Reading RG1 5LE for sexual health and contraceptive services: October, 2021, it was stated in the staff portal that action is being Monday - Friday 9:15am – 4:30pm taken after reports of puncture wounds and girls reporting being spiked with drugs; linked with venues on campus and off. It is an entirely confidential service with a mix of male and They went on to state they have informed Thames Valley Police women doctors/nurses. Conscious of your preference, they will offer support for victims of rape and assault as well as and offer full cooperation to find those responsible. supply free contraception pills or medication. The Trust House, Student welfare teams are there to support any victims of is a rape support centre established as part of the home this crime. Alexander Veal, a Reading University student was Secretary’s commitment to opening up to 15 more rape asked, ‘’how did it feel different to you? In regards to security support centres across the UK. The centre offers a safe place and protection measures within the student union clubs’’ for those affected by rape and sexual assault.

Veal responded with, ​“the biggest difference was the body searches, and I believe they were for everyone, not just men.

Support line: 0119584033 Email: office@trusthousereading.org For more information: https://stoptopps.com/victim-of-drink-spiking/

Berkshire connected

News & Sports HEALTHCARE - HOSPITA 11

SEXUAL VIOLENCE - THE CASE OF MASON GREENWOOD - By Ifeanyi Ogbonna April 22

–S

HEALTHCARE HOSPITALITY CHILDCAR HEALTHCARE - HOSPITALITY CHILDCAR April 22 – Sep 22 Mason Greenwood, a twenty-year-old footballer for Manchester United was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault, and threats to kill after his former girlfriend, Harriet Robson, leaked videos and pictures of him on social media supposedly perpetuating these acts.

is too late to begin these conversations.

Not only is this because it would make women and men more aware what constitutes these actions, but research shows that the more we talk about this before adulthood, the less likely it is that abusive dynamics will occur. Two places are crucial for these discussions to happen: the home and school.

April 22 – Sep 22

This is not completely unusual in the professional football community, as there are numerous other examples of players being accused, arrested, and even convicted of different forms of sexual violence. These all highlight the persistent problem that remains in our society – domestic violence against women.

It is crucial especially for young women to understand what counts as sexual assault|abuse. In England and Wales, the legal definition of sexual assault is when someone intentionally touches another person in a sexual manner without that person’s consent, and the touching can be with any part of the body or anything else.Sexual assault and sexual violence, in general, is not something that is spoken about enough in our late childhood|teenage years, and adulthood

If we have these uncomfortable conversations in places where they are not normally held, this will go a long way to beginning to tackle this large problem.

The reason why it is important to highlight Mason Greenwood and other footballers is because perhaps when these acts are perpetuated by people of great influence or fame women may feel pressured to keep quiet or intimidated.

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Career - Support with job application - Support with job application - Volunteering, apprenticeship, or further trainin Storytelling: Creativity, Content, History, Experience, - Volunteering, apprenticeship, or further trainin Whilst looking at tackling the causes, we also must address the punishment one receives for these acts. The current maximum sentence for sexual assault is 10 years, with the offence range being 0-7 years. This does not go far enough, but education whilst in custody about sexual violence could be compulsory.

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12 Community

A LAW STUDENT WHO FOUND HER PLACEMENT IN THE KICKSTART SCHEME

By Raveena Hargun

Annie Akofio-Sowah wason the Kickstarter scheme and she found out about Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (Acre) through her work coach at the Jobcentre. She was a Community engagement assistant and worked closely with the Equality Coordinator (GeorgeMathew) to reduce hate in Reading. Annie’s placement was for 6months; she started on the1st of November 2021 and her last day with Acre wason 30th April 2022.

What did you do between finishing the course andgraduating?

After I completed my Bachelor of Laws degree atthe U niversity of Kent I started my postgraduate degree (LLM in legal Practice with LPC) at the University of Law in Reading.I worked alongside this.

What made you choose a law degree?

I chose to study law because I knew doing so wouldprovide me with the opportunity to follow my passion, which is to standin the gap for those individuals who are not aware of their legal rights.

How did you find the kickstart scheme?

I thoroughly enjoyed the Kickstart Scheme. I was given the opportunity to interview a few clients and refer them to organisations such as Citizens Advice and Launchpad. I enjoyed this because it allowed me to develop the interviewing skills that I acquired from my Master’s. Moreover, it helped me perfect my client care skills. I loved coordinating “Tea and Coffee morning” with my colleagues. This is because we played gamessuch as bingo and hangman and interactedwith people from all walks of life. I also enjoyed art therapy (thanks Chloe) and learning grounding techniques from our therapist James Momoh.

What’snext?

Firstly, I am looking forward to my master’sgraduation.

I aspire to be a solicitor-advocate who is specialised in employment law. I am currently looking for a training contract so that I continue to climb the legal ladder.

Anylastwords?

Finally, Iwould like to thank all my managers and Raveena, Kasia, Paul, Seif and the rest of my colleagues.

What a fantastic time it has been! It is not goodbye but see you later!

Berkshire connected

Community

13

ACRE establishes a Community Hub to provide services to local communities

344 OXFORD ROAD OFFERS NEW HOPE

By Chloe Jones Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality (ACRE), in partnership with Mojatu and Utulivu, a Reading, Berkshire based organization that works closely with women, children and the elderly, have established a Health & Wellbeing Community Hub. This is aimed at improving the support to our local communities. Located at the Oxford Road Community Centre 344 Oxford Road, RG30 1AF, the hub will be addressing issues concerning health, family, relationships, career progression, knife crime, drugs and alcohol.

Covid-19 pandemic has led to multiple deaths and difficulties among communities globally. However, the Black and Ethnic minorities (BAME) in the UK have experienced three times higher mortality, morbidity, job losses, unemployment and overall social economic and health and other negative effects. The young people were not spared either, with 43% of Black young people being unemployed compared to 12% of the White population.

ACRE in partnership with Utulivu Women’s Group and Mojatu Foundation have joined hands in refining the operations of the Oxford Road Community Centre.

The partners, using their position of trust, will provide support to local people at this time when they were needed most. These services will include: • Health and wellbeing such as medical checks and awareness raising for healthy living, lifestyle and on countering diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, prostate cancer among others. The hub will also run programmes to support and maintain mental health and wellbeing.

• Chances for individuals to join monthly discussions on current topics that affect the wellbeing of the community.

• The hub will also house quarterly Mojatu magazine and online FMB Radio, relevant discussions/topics can be followed up with here • Training and support for individuals interested in developing community leadership. A list of training and leadership programmes will be provided soon.

• Employability and skills development especially among younger Black people. This will be through programmes such as Kickstart Scheme, job and volunteering placements, training programmes such as ESOL, English conversations, driving theory with English language support, digital media, community leadership, community journalism and broadcasting among others.

• Other advice, guidance and signposting including legal and immigration support.

These programmes will be offered either directly by the hub partners mainly ACRE, Utulivu Women’s Group and Mojatu or through partnerships with organisations such as National Career Services, DWP among others.

Other services will be offered through signposting to local organisations specialising in the services required by the local communities.

For support and to learn more about our programmes, please visit www.acrereading.org/hub Contact us on: Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Equality, 344 Oxford Road, RG30 1AF.

OXFORD ROAD COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENS FOR CREATIVE WORKS

Oxford Road Community Centre will be hosting life drawing sessions, a healthy and safe space for people to come together. The ​​ last few years in Reading we have experienced so much trauma and grieving, losing such close vibrant members of the community.

Painting portraits of friends that I lost, as a small tribute to these two very important people was cathartic for me and I want to keep creating art for this therapeutic reason. My goal is to start an online space for people where they can upload any form of art, stories, fond memories, poems, photos, videos or music and hopefully comfort one another and allow space to grieve healthily.

With the lowering of Covid restrictions, the centre will be hosting live drawing sessions where Reading residents can join and be together to create art. Anyone can join but it is especially for individuals and families experiencing different forms of grief, loneliness,

thoughts of suicide or isolation.

Although restrictions have been relaxed, observance of some form of social distancing is encouraged. It is important to feel a part of a community and to exhibit artistic skills and process emotions through art. The community centre will open up and at the broad street mall there will be more information about these sessions and where you can find out about services that will help with grief, thoughts of suicide and suffering with depression.

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14 Community w v A NET ZERO TOWN ReadingCAN has a plan to achieve a net zero town by 2030! They plea for reading communities, residents, businesses, and any other organisations to take action and mobilise this vision. An increase in more efficient buildings are being constructed and the planning requirements are driving higher standards.

ReadingCAN says that we are ever exposed to the effects of climate change and in the next few decades we can expect; • Disruption of power networks • Flood risks • Heavy rain/high winds • Failed air conditioning Positively an increase in temperature can mean less heating requirements and reduce carbon emissions. To achieve a net zero town by 2030 Reading will require: • reductions in heat loss from buildings through a major retrofitting programme for Reading • electrification of transport and heat as opposed to fossil fuels.

• an order of magnitude increase in renewable heat and electricity generation.

• use of smart technologies such as rechargeable batteries.

ReadingCAN highlights ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint as individuals as follows: Ecosia search engine Ecosia, a German search engine that donates 80% of their advertisement revenue to non-profit organisations that support the campaign against deforestation. It works like this; when you search the web using ecosia, ad search adverts generate income for ecosia, then ecosia uses the income to plant trees all over the world. Deforestation destroys animals’ natural habitats, for example there are about 5000 chimpanzees left now and their habitat is shrinking due to a higher demand of charcoal and firewood.

However, with ecosia, they have been planting tree corridors in Uganda for chimpanzees to move freely through their forest home. Ecosia also grows bamboo for local communities to have sustainable alternatives to charcoal and firewood. To use ecosia you simply get the free browser extension at this link, and you can begin planting trees all over - https://www.ecosia.org/.

Switching to a green energy provider could be the most effective way of reducing your carbon footprint.

By buying energy on a green tariff, you can contribute to the creation of renewable energy capacity. There are a multitude of services online that will compare green energy tariffs in your area, finding the best deal and helping you save money on energy bills and one of them is Big Clean Switch - Big Clean Switch www. bigcleanswitch.org

“How Green Is Your Energy Tariff?” Which.co.uk Changing our eating habits can have a major impact on our carbon footprint.

Half the world’s habitable land is used for agriculture and food accounts for 26% of global emissions and it’s estimated that 2 thirds of food produced is wasted. The following points are great steps towards improving our ecosystem: • Cutting down on our meat and dairy intake • Eating locally sourced food • Buying fruit and vegetables from markets with paper bags as opposed to wrapped in plastic.

• Global Refills in Reading allows you to refill your oats, nuts, spices, pastas and rice, for a very reasonable price. Not only food but here you can refill your laundry detergent and soaps, shampoos and body washes. The prices are no more than what you would pay in a supermarket.

• Too Good To Go, ready to fight food waste? Every day delicious food goes to waste just because it does not sell on time. The Too Good To Go app lets you buy and collect this food at a great price. You won’t know exactly what you’re getting until you get your order, all part of the surprise however you can specify if you want vegan or vegetarian food.

• Olio connects neighbors and local businesses so surplus food can be shared. This could be food near its sell-by date in store, spare home vegetables, bread from your baker or groceries in your fridge when you go away. Simply open the app, upload a photo, give a description, time and where they can pick the item up.

• Browse listings near you and arrange a private meeting to pick them up. Small actions can make a big change!

We can build a more sustainable future and share our most precious resources, instead of throwing them away. Join a food waste community today.

Berkshire connected

Community

15

PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS

The public body Historic England, concerned with preserving and protecting listed buildings around the country, have awarded Reading with an £85,000 grant to help inject the town with a new lease of cultural life.

The scheme, running over a four-year period, aims to restore and reinstate a new sense of purpose for some of the derelict Victorian buildings around the St Mary’s Butts and Castle Street areas.

Historic England, in association with Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will back this project, resulting in art installations and a number of community-led creative endeavours that will showcase Reading’s rich and illustrious history.

With Reading being one of 68 areas in England to receive this funding, the project will finally give these largely dilapidated spaces the facelift that they dream of. As most high streets across the town are full of chain shops, Historic England’s initiative will surely provide Reading with artistic character. With high streets having been on their knees since the COVID-19 pandemic due to the rise of internet shopping and people’s changing habits, creative spaces and an added vibrancy to towns and cities are more important than ever.

Ahead of the Historic England project, Reading was given another pilot grant of £9,231 to run the HSHAZ (High Street Heritage Action Zone) which deals with

championing the diversity and community of the Oxford Road area. A mural appeared over the summer as part of the ‘Reimagining the High Street Through Your Stories’ project. The painting is a visually rich ode to the people and the culture of Reading.

Another mural, created by artist Gemma Anusa and part of the same enterprise, has been painted on the railings of the Battle Street car-park. The picture is of the face of a girl and quotes and significant dates in the history of the Oxford Road have been embedded into the mural itself.

With all these creative outlets cropping up around Reading the town seems to be awakening from the cultural dearth it has unfortunately suffered from over the last few years. Historic England and the Arts Council are not the only organisations helping to shake up the town either. A new cinema and arts space opened its doors in July on the former site of Argos in the Broad Street Mall. The Biscuit Factory, its namesake derived from the famous Huntley & Palmers factory, shows foreign language and independent films and is a muchneeded antidote to the nearby Vue. In short it is vital that Historic England has the means to restore and protect these places. The organisation has just said that there are now many buildings and important natural landscapes across the country that are under threat from neglect or decay.

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16 Community

SIMILAR HOLIDAYS IN OTHER CULTURE

By Alex Balkan

The winter months host many celebrations for many cultures and countries around the world, from Kwanzaa to Three Kings Day, and Hanukkah to St. Lucia Day. Each celebration is unique but also in some ways linked and similar to each other. Some celebrations are rooted in ancient traditions while others stem from religious texts, and some even from more modern social ideas for inclusivity.

The Winter Solstice is the most varied of the winter celebrations, it is celebrated in many forms across many countries. A few of the names for the winter solstice celebrations include Yule, Jól, and Saturnalia, each of these celebrations have the same main celebration, the shortest day of the year and the welcoming of longer and warmer days to come. While Saturnalia has the same core celebration as other winter solstice holidays it also celebrates the hope of a good harvest to come by honoring the Roman God Saturn.

Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is a well-known Jewish holiday celebrated either in November or December, depending on what date the 25th of Kislev (from the Hebrew Calendar) falls on. While Hanukkah itself is pretty widely known, the story behind it is not. The story goes that after a rebellion against their oppressors, a group of Jewish people took back their synagogue and went to light its menorah where they found what was thought to be only one day’s worth of oil left. They lit the menorah with the last bit of oil but instead of just burning for one day like expected, the menorah burned for 8 days giving the group enough time to find more oil to keep the menorah burning. To honor this, Jewish elders founded Hanukkah, the 8-day festival, also called The Festival Of Light, to represent the miracle. Jewish people light a single candle on the menorah each night of Hanukkah for all 8 nights to celebrate as well as having traditional fried foods and spinning dreidels to win prizes.

Three Kings Day is celebrated on The Twelfth Night, the 12th day after Christmas day (January 6th), to celebrate the day the three wise men first saw the baby Jesus and gave him the three gifts. Three Kings Day is not as wellknown of a holiday as Christmas; however, it is celebrated in Spain, France, and some other Latin American countries like Puerto Rico. Three Kings Day is often celebrated with a special cake with something hidden inside, as well as children leaving shoes or boxes out the night before for The Three Kings to leave presents in.

St Lucia Day is mostly a Scandinavian holiday to celebrate St Lucia and mark the start of the Christmas season. On St Lucia day children take part in a procession, girls dress as Lucia brides in white dresses with red sashes and a wreath of lights or candles on their head and boys follow behind in white pajama like outfits singing traditional songs.

St Nicholas day is December 6th, held on the anniversary of the Saint’s death. St. Nicholas was the inspiration for the legend of Santa Claus with his charitable and kind actions, he would give all his money away to those in

need and show great compassion to children.

Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University. Dr Karenga, after the Watts Riot of 1965, decided to create a holiday of unity and family for African American people. Kwanzaa was formed from multiple African harvest festivals which has led to some Kwanzaa decorations being fruit and vegetable based.

Celebrating the New Year is a big thing all over the world whether people celebrate using the Gregorian calendar or their own traditional calendars. In most parts of the world the Gregorian Calendar is what is used to celebrate the New year with festivities starting on December 31st, New Year’s Eve, and lasting till January 1st, New Year’s Day. Most festivities for this New Year celebration include parties, countdown to midnight and firework displays to ring in the New Year. Resolutions are often also made in an attempt to start fresh, learn, and grown with the start of something new. An example of a place using a traditional calendar would be China. There, the New Year’s celebration is always on the second new moon after the winter solstice, meaning Chinese New Year could fall anywhere between January 21st and February 20th every year. Chinese New Year is celebrated with new clothes, red envelopes from family and a parade with a dragon as the lead. The dragon is used in the parade because of its symbolism of strength.

Boxing day is a UK based holiday which stems from the Victorian era. Tradesmen and servants of wealthy Victorian families often had to work through Christmas day and would receive their “Christmas box” tip the day after, on December 26th. Boxing day has since become a bank holiday in the UK and is now also associated with shopping as well as a day of rest after the Christmas festivities.

Pancha Ganapati is another more modern holiday having been created in 1985 by elders, scholars, and religious leaders. Pancha Ganapatis is celebrated from December 21st to December 25th, is a Hindu holiday to celebrate Ganesa, worship, friends and family, and arts and culture.

Each day the shrine in each family’s home gets redecorated with the day’s corresponding colour and a different sadhana is done to match the colour of the shrine, like a blue shrine has a sadhana for family, close friends, and neighbours and green for arts and cultures.

Berkshire connected

Community

17

GETTING READING GROWING reduced incomes and other negative effects from the Coronavirus crisis.

Food4Families are expanding growing areas and gaining dozens of volunteers. Allotment holders who continue to donate fresh produce to community organizations, deliver food parcels for locals and families in need. They do not only grow sustainable fruit, vegetables or plants but also grow strong bonds between local residents.

Food4Families is an educational and development project, a network of community gardens/allotments that runs regular drop-in sessions. The gardens are run by local people, supported by a Food4Families tutor. The project is sponsored by Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC), who are considered experts in delivering educational programmes and materials in the formal Here is a list of cultivating garden space in: sector.

• Coley Park Community Allotment • Erleigh Road Community Garden The vision is to provide homegrown meals for families • Gosbrook Growers Community Garden in need and enable locals to manage land of their own, • Katesgrove Community Allotment grow local sustainable sources of food. Not only is this • Lavender Place Community Gardens healthy and rewarding for our bodies and minds but • Southcote Grow Allot for the air we breathe. Our community gardens can • The Weller Centre Community Garden play a huge role in minimizing air miles and pollution • Whitley Grow Allot whilst helping those who have struggled with

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18 Arts & Culture

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BEWARE OF FRAUDSTER THROUGH THE PHONE

By Chloe Jones

Courier scam alert, there has unfortunately been a continuation of reports received, of scammers contacting individuals via the telephone. The scammers pretend to be either police officers/ scotland yard or bank staff.

It’s important to note that no genuine organization will send someone to your door to collect cash or take payments. You can verify someone’s authority by asking for their police collar number, hanging up, waiting a few minutes and calling 101 to ask for that officer. Never redial the number that called you.

These scammers use a spoofed dialing tone to keep the line open. This means when you think you have hung up, you are still on the line to them, making you vulnerable to passing private information on to them.

Call 101 on a different phone if you can.

• Your bank, the police or anyone legitimate will never send

a courier to your home to collect your bank cards or your money and they will never ask for your PIN number. Close the door, lock it and call 101 to speak to the police.

• Keep a mobile phone next to your landline, and if you want to make a phone call immediately after hanging up the landline, always use the other phone.

• If you do hand over your bank details or card, don’t

panic. Call your bank immediately using another phone, such as a mobile phone, explain what’s happened and cancel your cards.

If someone claims to be your bank over the phone, do not share any personal information and hang up again.

Wait a few minutes and call the number on the back of your bank card, remember to use a different phone.

Banks keep records so they will be able to verify if they have genuinely rang you. Any genuine organization will encourage you to ring and check!

• Legitimate callers will never try to rush you, scare

Letting your friends, neighbors and relatives aware of this scam is productive and important. Scammers and Fraudsters purposely target vulnerable people over the telephone and threaten them not to tell anyone of the situation as well as giving a story to tell bank staff if they are asked for a reason for the withdrawal.

• A fraudster will cold call the victim on a landline,

Police will never contact you for assistance with an investigation or undercover operation. Hang up on these calls and report to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 or online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk Eldery and Vulnerable people in Reading have been especially targeted by courier fraudsters.

Thames Valley Police is calling on friends and family to help tackle the problem by talking to elderly or vulnerable friends and relatives. The talk should cover:

• Never deal with cold callers on the phone or in

person, no matter how polite or friendly they are.

Saying ‘No thank you’ and shutting the door or hanging up the phone is not rude.

you, or force you into anything. If you feel scared or pressured at any point, hang up or shut the door and tell someone you trust what’s happened.

There are many variations of the courier scam, but it usually follows this method: often claiming to be from the victim’s bank, the police, or to be a fraud investigator.

• The fraudster states their systems have spotted

a fraudulent payment in the victim’s account, or that they need the victim’s help in investigating fraudulent activity at the bank.

• In order to reassure the victim that they are genuine they

suggest that the victim hangs up and rings the bank/ police back straight away. However, they don’t hang up at their end to disconnect the call from the landline so even when the genuine bank/police number is dialed the victim is still talking to the fraudster.

• Finally, the fraudsters will send a courier to collect the card and PIN, cash or in some cases take the victim to a bank to withdraw cash.

Thames Valley Police are aware of this problem so please do not hesitate to contact them if you have any concerns or questions.

Berkshire connected

Arts & Culture

19

THE USE OF ART & CREATIVE INDUSTRY Banksy’s Influence in Reading

To the delight of social media and Reading Town, a painting of a man escaping out of the prison has been left on the tall prison walls. Immediately suspected and later confirmed, it was the works of Banksy. Notoriously undercover in the depths of night, for us all to discover the next morning, the word spread quickly when Banksy had touched the town.

Reading Council, MP Matt Rhodda and many residents and artists are already campaigning to transform the site into a cultural art space. ‘We are thrilled that Banksy appears to have thrown his support behind the council’s desire to transform the vacant Reading Gaol into a beacon of arts, heritage and culture’, a local authority spokesperson enthused.

Banksy pledges to sell the stencil he used to paint the grade II listed building, to match the jail’s £10M asking price. Campaigners hope this move will prevent it being

sold to housing developers. Banksy quoted that “the patron saint of smashing two contrasting ideas together to create magic,” adding: “Converting the place that destroyed him into a refuge for art feels so perfect we have to do it.

The piece is oozing with history and politics, a passion and statement that the youth of Reading long for.

There is literary history whilst it also represents LGBT community. For so many reasons it is vital this building is preserved and used in a constructive way. Banksy is offering a phenomenal deal and for the Ministry of Justice to turn it down would be considered a criminal act! There are open top bus tours taking people to see Banksy’s piece at the reading prison as well as stops at Caversham Bridge and the Oracle, celebrating the ongoing re-opening as Coronavirus restrictions ease.

These tours are free and run by Reading buses.

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20 Health & Food

CLIMATE CHANGE Everybody seems to realise that climate change is something that needs to be taken seriously and the town of Reading joined the rest of the world to participate in the campaign against Climate Change.

More than 100 countries have pledged to plant trees and cut back on deforestation, curb methane emissions and put a stop to investment in coal power. COP26 - the climate summit held in Glasgow in October/November

2021; aims to keep warming below 1.5oC. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of 1,300 independent scientific experts from countries all over the world under the auspices of the United Nations, concluded that there is more than 95 percent probability that ballooning human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet.

Berkshire connected

Health & Food

21

BAME Mental Health Covid has caused many issues not just in the UK but globally, shutting down things like small businesses all the way up to countries to try to prevent the spread of the virus. Going through many lockdowns and tighter restrictions, many other effects have come into play for people such as less access to support networks, less time with friends, and it’s harder to see a doctor for medical assistance. All these things negatively affect a person’s mental health. The general consensus with the pandemic is that overall, everyone has struggled more with their mental health.

BAME men have shown a drastic increase in mental health issues compared to their white counterparts, with GHQ-12 scores being on average two points higher than pre covid times while white men GHQ-12 scores only go up an average of less than one point, a very noticeable difference.

Both BAME and white women have shown a similar increase in mental health issues during the pandemic.

Both groups’ scores jumped up by nearly two points.

Both BAME and white women seem to be at similar risks of developing mental health issues, with BAME women just that little bit more at risk than white women.

There does not seem to be much research available on the effects Covid-19 has on young people but the little I could find states that of all age groups, young people were the most affected by mental illnesses and other mental health issues during the lockdowns.

To help people deal with mental health issues during and after the lockdown, GAIN (Global African Integration Network) worked with other organisations to provide a training course and an awareness course.

The awareness course offered was a half day course to bring awareness to mental health issues, fight the stigma of mental health and provide resources for people to use if they need help.

The training course is a two day, more in depth option, that covers how to help people with the most common mental health issues as well and where to recommend them for help if needed. The trainings helped in fighting the stigma around mental health and helping open conversations otherwise ignored or buried by communities. Both courses were held online and promoted health conversations and offered a lot of support to those attending.

22 Community

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Berkshire connected

Health & Food

23

CHILD MENTAL HEALTH Children’s mental health is more important now than ever, I think it is safe to say the society we live-in have countlessly overlooked the importance of it. There should be more awareness coupled with community programmes and forums where parents can have the opportunities to gain the basic knowledge on how to identify these issues within families. Mental health challenges are very difficult for any group of age to identify with or accept and I believe this is mainly to do with the stigma that is attached with it for years. A lot of the time people do not even know that they are suffering with it.

Growing up as Black African child was one the most difficult things for me. I suffered in silence throughout my childhood –adulthood and knowing that as black people, we really struggle to come to terms with issues like this. When growing up with jokes like “you’re depressed? Don’t go say that to your doctor so they don’t drown you with too many medications”, humans do not really understand the power of words and how they can stop oneself from seeking for help.

The fact there was absolutely no one who could see through the fake smiles, the over reservedness and the excessive aggressive anger burst outs, was beyond me.

There were signs that were ignored, I was failed, I was let down, but I believe we can do better. Authorities can do so much better and as individuals and parents, we can really do better as a nation and people.

As adult now I can express myself better but as child I could not find the words hence why I strongly believe it is about time we start having these discussions.

A lot of children suffer in silence! It is our duty to help and protect children, and while we do this, it is important to keep in mind that mental ill health is not madness, failure or something to be ashamed of. We all surfer some sort of mental health issues at some stage/ point in our lives.

From my personal experience, it is also right to say that the system needs reviewing on its approach towards mental health, putting into consideration cultural differences, language barriers and environmental upbring as these do play a huge role.

NHS INJECTS £975M P/A TO MENTAL HEALTH The NHS long term plan to transform community mental health, putting an extra 975 million pounds per year into this plan by 2024. The aim is to help 37000 people/patients who suffer severely with mental health, (psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, eating disorder, severe depression, rehabilitation needs) by making primary and community health care available, designed to improve patients experiences and outcomes on their journey to better mental health.

It is not always just a diagnosis people want or need, mental health services that go beyond their diagnosis are crucial for many. To feel seen and heard as a person rather than an illness/diagnosis. This promising integration will bring togetherness to work towards helping someone’s overall well being.

It is societal pressure and expectation to be labeled with an understood diagnosis, but the complexities of being human go so much further than a label and an individual’s well-being should be tailored to their issue, not dismissed and treated with a one-size fits all approach.

Each illness has its own eligibility criteria, processes and data systems meaning people severely suffering do not always get the support they need or that makes a difference. This NHS long term plan is also acknowledgement, validating many people’s anxieties surrounding community and professional services. It is clear that the long waiting times and long winded admin can create a risk of people giving up on the system as it feels out of their hands.

It can be expected from the integrated model that holistic and people centered care is a priority.

Integration of physical and mental health, the integration of primary and secondary care and the integration of social and health care for people with long term needs or specific concerns will receive fast access to high quality care. It marks a significant culture shift. A holistic and community based offer with personalised and trauma informed care. It also aims to meet people’s social needs which are known to significantly impact somebody’s difficulties. The new model is inclusive and proactively ensures people’s individual needs are met.

24 Health & Food

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WHAT’S AN UNHEALTHY GUT? HOW GUT HEALTH AFFECTS YOU 1. Upset stomach Stomach disturbances like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn can all be signs of an unhealthy gut. A balanced gut will have less difficulty processing food and eliminating waste.

2. A high-sugar diet A diet high in processed foods and added sugars can decrease the amount of good bacteria in your gut. This imbalance can cause increased sugar cravings, which can damage your gut still further.

High amounts of refined sugars, particularly highfructose corn syrup, have been linked to increased inflammation in the body. Inflammation can be the precursor to a number of diseases and even cancers.

Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.D., MPH — Written by Megan Dix, RN, BSN The gut microbiome The incredible complexity of the gut and its importance to our overall health is a topic of increasing research in the medical community. Numerous studies in the past two decades have demonstrated links between gut health and the immune system, mood, mental health, autoimmune diseases, endocrine disorders, skin conditions, and cancer.

At one time, our digestive system was considered a relatively “simple” body system, comprised essentially of one long tube for our food to pass through, be absorbed, and then excreted. The term “gut microbiome” refers specifically to the microorganisms living in your intestines. A person has about 300 to 500 different species of bacteria in their digestive tract.

While some microorganisms are harmful to our health, many are incredibly beneficial and even necessary to a healthy body. According to Dr. E. M. Quigley in his study Trusted Source on gut bacteria in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, having a wide variety of these good bacteria in your gut can enhance your immune system function, improve symptoms of depression, help combat obesity, and provide numerous other benefits.

7 Signs of an unhealthy gut Many facets of modern life such as high stress levels, too little sleep, eating processed and high-sugar foods, and taking antibiotics can all damage our gut microbiome.

This in turn may affect other aspects of our health, such as the brain, heart, immune system, skin, weight, hormone levels, ability to absorb nutrients, and even the development of cancer.

There are a number of ways an unhealthy gut might manifest itself. Here are seven of the most common signs:

3. Unintentional weight changes Gaining or losing weight without making changes to your diet or exercise habits may be a sign of an unhealthy gut.

An imbalanced gut can impair your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar, and store fat.

Weight loss may be caused by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), while weight gain may be caused by insulin resistance or the urge to overeat due to decreased nutrient absorption.

4. Sleep disturbances or constant fatigue An unhealthy gut may contribute to sleep disturbances such as insomnia or poor sleep, and therefore lead to chronic fatigue. The majority of the body’s serotonin, a hormone that affects mood and sleep, is produced in the gut. So gut damage can impair your ability to sleep well. Some sleep disturbances have also been linked to risk for fibromyalgia.

5. Skin irritation Skin conditions like eczema may be related to a damaged gut. Inflammation in the gut caused by a poor diet or food allergies may cause increased “leaking” of certain proteins out into the body, which can in turn irritate the skin and cause conditions such as eczema.

6. Autoimmune conditions Medical researchers are continually finding new evidence of the impact of the gut on the immune system Trusted Source. It’s thought that an unhealthy gut may increase systemic inflammation and alter the proper functioning of the immune system. This can lead to autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks itself rather than harmful invaders.

7. Food intolerances Food intolerances are the result of difficulty digesting certain foods (this is different than a food allergy, which is caused by an immune system reaction to certain foods). It’s thought that food intolerances may be caused by poor quality of bacteria in the gut. This can lead to difficulty digesting the trigger foods and unpleasant symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. There is some evidence that food allergies may also be related to gut health.

Berkshire connected 7 Things you can do for your gut health 1. Lower your stress levels Chronic high levels of stress are hard on your whole body, including your gut. Some ways to lower stress may include meditation, walking, getting a massage, spending time with friends or family, diffusing essential oils, decreasing caffeine intake, laughing, yoga, or having a pet. Here are 10 ways to reduce feeling stressed.

2. Get enough sleep Not getting enough or sufficient quality of sleep can have serious impacts on your gut health, which can in turn contribute to more sleep issues. Try to prioritize getting at least 7–8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night. Your doctor may be able to help if you have trouble sleeping.

3. Eat slowly Chewing your food thoroughly and eating your meals more slowly can help promote full digestion and absorption of nutrients. This may help you reduce digestive discomfort and maintain a healthy gut.

4. Stay hydrated Drinking plenty of water has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the mucosal lining of the intestines, as well as on the balance of good bacteria in the gut. Staying hydrated is a simple way to promote a healthy gut.

5. Take a prebiotic or probiotic Adding a prebiotic or probiotic supplement to your diet may be a great

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way to improve your gut health. Prebiotics provide “food” meant to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, while probiotics are live good bacteria. People with bacterial overgrowth, such as SIBO, should not take probiotics. Not all probiotic supplements are high quality or will actually provide benefit. It’s best to consult your healthcare provider when choosing a probiotic or prebiotic supplement to ensure the best health benefit.

6. Check for food intolerances If you have symptoms such as cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rashes, nausea, fatigue, and acid reflux, you may be suffering from a food intolerance. You can try eliminating common trigger foods to see if your symptoms improve. If you are able to identify a food or foods that are contributing to your symptoms, you may see a positive change in your digestive health by changing your eating habits.

7. Change your diet Reducing the amount of processed, high-sugar, and high-fat foods that you eat can contribute to better gut health. Additionally, eating plenty of plant-based foods and lean protein can positively impact your gut. A diet high in fibre has been shown to contribute tremendously to a healthy gut microbiome.

CYCLING AND ITS IMPORTANCE Wokingham Borough Council is doing a two-cycle lane in Woodley which is going to include eight new pedestrians crossing on Church Road and Woodlands Avenue.

However, the cycle lane will run through Woodlands Avenue which will go through Woodley Town Centre and Church Road. This will also go through Howth Drive and Lytham Road. The project which started in January, is expected to end in spring 2022.

The attention of drivers may also decrease and plenty of planning is required. This means, while cyclists need the lanes for their own safety, drivers may get angry and annoyed being in front of a cyclist. Cyclists need the lane to increase their safety and there are a lot more cyclists now that cycling has increased in popularity.

A lot of people love cycling because they can cut through the traffic. It is also cheaper to cycle; you don’t Drivers will be expected to leave a distance of the last have to pay car insurance. It’s also good exercise for 1.5 metres when overtaking a cyclist. The rule of 186 people, while also helping with climate change by says “give them plenty of room and the benefits of the reducing the carbon emissions from cars. new cycle lane do not attempt to overtake within the lane. Allow them to move across your path as they travel around the roundabout”. It is reasonable to say that they are given plenty of room because they might feel unstable or uncomfortable if the car is too close to them.

Why would this cycle lane benefit cyclists? Here is how.

Safety improvement for bikes. This will increase safety for cyclists, and it will encourage people to use bikes more. There will be less incidents with cyclists and of course fewer injuries. Cycle friend environment also contributes in the fight against and slow of global warming as well as attracts tourists who want to explore the Town.

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JOURNALING BENEFITS - Edited by Chloe Jones One of the ways to deal with any overwhelming emotion is to find a healthy way to express yourself.

This makes a journal a helpful tool in managing your mental health.

Journaling helps control your symptoms and improve your mood by: • Helping you prioritize problems, fears, and concerns • Tracking any symptoms day-today so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them • Providing an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts and behaviors Journaling is an accessible way of figuring out the parts of yourself that need nurturing. It can help purge any emotions and frustrations. The positives of journaling in times where you are not seeing a therapist are: • You are completely honest with yourself • There are no feelings of embarrassment • You can write endlessly without worrying about it making sense to someone else • By writing your thoughts and feelings regularly, it can give you introspective.

It’s important to work through your emotions and feelings as they impact your behavior and your behavior impacts people around you, creating these strong foundations can set you up for healthier relationships and choice making.

Writing down passing thoughts that you may not acknowledge usually, may give you insight on how you view the world. Help

deconstruct your ego and the things you consider bad about yourself and viewing people around you as equals rather than putting some on pedestals.

Steps to journaling • Expressing gratitude, this may seem difficult on particularly low days, or feel repetitive, however noticing things you feel grateful for can help turn what initially seems a negative, into a positive (rainy days, cold weather, alone time) • Address how you are feeling • What made you feel that way?

• Taking pride in what you create and achieve, even small things!

Shadow work: Shadow work is a practice to help us become whole again.

Looking at negative parts of our psyche’s that we don’t notice usually. Our emotional reactions to things, the primitive negative emotions that work on impulse like envy, greed, selfishness, power.

By working on these deep parts of ourselves also creates room to notice the things that make us feel confident and fulfilled. Every bit of shadow work is personal experience and internal experiences could not be compared to someone else’s.

PROMPTS to guide you with shadow work journaling.

• How can I be kinder to myself in what ways do I punish myself?

• What is my definition of failure?

What is something I have failed at before? What emotions did I feel and how did I move forward?

• Do I hold any grudges that I could let go, what is my motive for holding on?

• Think of a time someone broke my heart, in what ways could I have been responsible?

• In what ways am I privileged, what do I take for granted?

• Write a letter to your teenage self.

• How do I handle external criticism? Do I get defensive?

What feels like a personal attack?

• Do i offer kindness without attachment or the narrative of being taken advantage of • Describe a person I have a strong negative reaction to and their negative qualities?

Replace their name with mine, why am I feeling this?

• What don’t I like about myself and feel insecure about?

• Analyze a bad habit I have and how it negatively impacts my life, how did I develop it and why?

• Who do I idolize and place on a pedestal? What about them makes them special?

• When I feel jealous of someone else, what is my jealousy usually tied to? What does the person have that I feel lack of?

Personally, journaling and shadow work is still a practice I dedicate myself to daily, and my journey is continuing.

However, over the last 4 months I have been using this tool. I have found myself more in control of my emotional reactions. Acting less on impulse creates less risk of upsetting people around me.

My relationships are stronger and healthier now I have acknowledged any unhealthy dependencies and insecurities I used to project onto someone close to me.

Berkshire connected

Education & Career

IS COTTON SAFE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT?

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By Raveena Hargun The production of cotton fibre begins with the friendly manner? Cotton is sustainable, renewable and “ginning” of the harvested crop. The crop is from the biodegradable. This makes it an excellent choice for fields by stripping into a machine also the modules are our environment because cotton only uses 35% of fed through a big machine which is known as gin. Once water which is not a lot especially when you use it for the cottonseed is fed through, it cleans off the dirt, the fashion industry. stems and leaves. The circular saw in the gin machine actually separates the fibre seed; this process is called Cotton is very important today because it has a large lint and is compressed into bales which weigh 500 natural fibre supply which means high global demand pounds each. The bales will be taken to a textile mill, for textile products. “In 2005, the world’s demand for where they will be converted into fabrics. textile fibres was £130billion. In 2006 and beyond, world income and population growth will stimulate a There is a further process that cleans the cotton fibres, £4.5 billion increase in global fibre demand each year. and the machine is known as carding. The fibre cotton That means enough fibre will be needed for nearly 9 is combed and straightened into an untwisted rope billion T-shirts or 2.3 billion pairs of denim jeans while known as slivers. There is a spinning machine which is the main alternatives to cotton are non-renewable then twisted into the slivers machine, which converted chemical fibres. However, this show sustainable cotton into a yarn meaning the cotton is ready to use and can is needed for the fashion industry in order to get rid of polyester for t-shirt, jeans, coats and other clothes that be dyed as well. everyone wears by 2025. More brands should be using Organic cotton crop does not use harmful chemicals either recycled products or more cotton to sell to their like synthetic fertilizers or pesticides which means it customers and audience. doesn’t poison the water, soil or air but it is a benefit to the environment. However, cotton organic farms can cause health problems caused by chemicals in cotton farming, but non-organic cotton can be a very hazardous chemical that can cause cancer hormone and birth defects in animals and humans.

This is how cotton affects the environmental and social impact? Cotton organic does require a huge amount of water and energy to grow and harvest. Action farming has been led over one of the world lands which means is now being completely unusable. Did you know there was once a vast water reserve, that cotton farms which left a lot of toxic barren wasteland, which also has affected the local habits.

Water gets polluted because of the use of chemicals in the production and dyeing process this is because there is pressure to produce clothing more cheaply which often leads to contamination in the river system. Did you know that in China “It’s estimated that 70% of the river and lake are contaminated by 2.5 billion gallons of wastewater produced by the fashion industry.” This shows that cotton uses a lot of water. The water used in cotton production provides 85% of the country which is estimated at 100 litres of water every day for a year for 1.24 billion people. This shows cotton needs a lot of water to make the clothes as well but is cheaper too.

There are some brands like Adidas, ASOS, H&M and Burberry that pledge to use 100% sustainable cotton by 2025. The aim by 2025 is to make more brands use sustainable cotton because there is a lot of cotton around and it is easy to produce. But the question is, can cotton be supplied to the market in an environmentally-

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