LeftLion Magazine - December/January 2020/1 - Issue 132

#132 Dec/Jan

KEEP ME!

If you pick up this magazine in a public venue please take it home with you afterwards

Credits

Supporters These people #SupportLeftLion

Alan Gilby Home Al-one alan.gilby@leftlion.co.uk

Ashley Carter Editor ashley.carter@leftlion.co.uk

Emily Thursfield Assistant Editor emily.thursfield@leftlion.co.uk

Adam Pickering Sales and Marketing Manager adam.pickering@leftlion.co.uk

Curtis Powell Creative Digital Assistant curtis.powell@leftlion.co.uk

Natalie Owen Designer natalie.owen@leftlion.co.uk

Eve Smallman Events and Food Editor eve.smallman@leftlion.co.uk

Tom Errington Web Developer tom.errington@leftlion.co.uk

Eileen Pegg Music Co-Editor eileen.pegg@leftlion.co.uk

Jamie Morris Screen Co-Editor jamie.morris@leftlion.co.uk

Jared Wilson Editor-in-Chief jared.wilson@leftlion.co.uk

Hamza Hussain Web Developer hamza.hussain@leftlion.co.uk

Becky Timmins Music Co-Editor becky.timmins@leftlion.co.uk

George White Screen Co-Editor george.white@leftlion.co.uk

Kate Hewett Literature Editor kate.hewett@leftlion.co.uk

Al Draper, Alan Phelan, Alan Walker, Alison Gove-Humphries, Alison Harviek, Alison Hedley, Alison Knox, Alison Wale, Andrew Cooper, Angela Brown, Ankunda, Ant Haywood, Anthony Blane, Anthony Gariff, Ashley Cooper, Barbara Morgan, Barrie the Lurcher, Ben Lester, Ben Lucas, Betty Rose Bakes, Bob Allison Âû, Bridgette Shilton, Carla Prestwich, Caroline Le Sueur, Chloe Langley, Chris Rogers, Claire Henson, Clare Foyle, D Lawson, Dan Lyons, David Knight, Dawn Pritchard, Donna Rowe-Merriman, Dr Lesley Prince, Eddie, Eden PR, EightBitTony, Ellen O’Hara, Erika Diaz Petersen, Frances & Garry Bryan, Friday Club Presents, Heather Hodkinson, Heather Oliver, Helen Hemstock, Helena Tyce, House of Pain Wrestling Academy, In memory of Anna Novak (Bradford and Scoraig), In memory of Jenny Smith, Ivy House Environmental, James Medd, James Wright, Jason Jenkins, Jason Rozkalns, Jayne Holmes, Jayne McCormack, Jed Southgate, John Haslam, Jon Blyth, Jordan Bright, Julian Bower, Kath Pyer, Katherine Sanders, Kay Gilby, Kaye Brennan, Kiki Dee the Cat, Livi & Jacob Nieri, Lizzy and Margot, Luke and Flo, Mark, Mark Rippey, Martin, Mathew Riches, Matt Turpin, Matthew Riches, Mighty Lightweights, MinorOak Coworking, Nick G (real living wage rocks), Nicola Baumber, Nigel Cooke, Nigel King, Nigel Tamplin, Nikki Williams, Norman the Dog, NottingJam Orchestra, Pat Morton, Porchester Press, Rachel Ayrton, Rachel Hancorn, Rachel Morton, Reg & Lynette, Richard Goodwin, roastinghouse.co.uk, Rob Arthur, Ron Mure, Roy Manterfield, Sam Nahirny, Sarah Manton, Sarah Moore, Sarah Roach, Siobhán Cannon-Brownlie, Spicer, Steve Stickley Storyteller, Steve Wallace, Stuart Jones, Sue Barsby, Sue Reader, The Sultan, Tracey Newton, Tracy Lowe, Wolfgang Buttress

Fancy seeing your name (or the name of your band, small business, loved one, pet etc) in this mag every month? It only costs a fiver and the money supports this magazine. Plus you get all kinds of other treats too.

patreon.com/leftlion Rebecca Buck Stage Co-Editor rebecca.buck@leftlion.co.uk

Laura-Jade Vaughan Art Co-Editor laura-jade.vaughan@leftlion.co.uk

Rachel Willcocks Art Co-Editor rachel.willcocks@leftlion.co.uk

Fabrice Gagos Photography Co-Editor fabrice.gagos@leftlion.co.uk Nick Strang Nadia Whittome

Sub-Editor Lauren Carter-Cooke

Photographers Sue Geary Tom Hetherington Matthew Hoyland Gavin Joynt Peter McConnochie Chris Middleton Tom Patterson Max Peace Pamela Raith Justin Roe

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Anna Murphy Fashion Editor anna.murphy@leftlion.co.uk

Tom Quigley Photography Co-Editor tom.quigley@leftlion.co.uk

Cover Rob White

Writers Bassey Paul Drury Jenny Joss Jayne Muir Sam Nahirny Lucy Parker Georgianna Scurfield

4

Dom Henry Stage Co-Editor dom.henry@leftlion.co.uk

Jarrad Thomas Steve Wallace Iwona Zyskowska Illustrators Raphael Achache Liv Auckland Emily Catherine K Kamminga Kasia Kozakiewicz Leosaysays Kate Sharp Katie Smallwood Carmel Ward

Featured Contributor A Notts lass through and through, Jayne was born in Nottingham, raised in Hucknall and currently lives a couple of miles outside the city. She didn’t particularly like history at school, but now she can’t get enough of it. After numerous personal projects, and many hours delving into archives around the country, she decided to get serious and has recently embarked on a History MA at the University of Nottingham. She enjoys a good walk – especially by the sea – a good book, a spot of gardening and a nice cup of tea, as well as the occasional bit of creative writing.

You can read Jayne’s article on the life of Doreen Simmons on page 41

illustrations: Emily Catherine

/leftlion

@leftlion

@leftlionmagazine

Contents 15

22

30

Shop Local this Christmas

Shop Local this Christmas

Our extensive, five-page sure Christmas is going to be an odd one thisguide year – you mayto not bemaking able to see friends or family, and going around the shops won't be quite like normal. Our local sellers havestockings had an odd time this year too, andfilled need us to help them now your Christmas are with gifts and more than ever. goodies from local, independent retailers This year we’ve teamed up with It’s in Nottingham to showcase the wonderful gifts our independents are offering, so you can support them while sitting on your sofa and get beautiful, thoughtful gifts for your loved ones at the same time.

Silent Disco

As Rock City celebrates turning forty, we chat to owner George Akins to find out what it’s like to run Notts’ most iconic music venue

Framework at Twenty

On the event of their twentieth birthday, we’ve teamed up with the folks at Framework for an extensive look at homelessness in Nottingham

leftlion.co.uk/issue131 15

The Curious Life of Doreen Simmons

9

Nadia On… Homelessness in Nottingham

40

13

A Big Issue Vendor in Notts

43

Gimme Shelter

21

Household Dame

44

Food

The Nottingham Culture Review of 2020

46

We’re All Black Down Here

29

(Not) Driving Home for Christmas

51

Skinder Hundal

38

City of Shots

54

Out of Time

26

Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, explores the issue of homelessness in Nottingham, and the role of Framework in combating it

We’ve all seen them standing in town, wearing a red vest and selling magazines. But what is it actually like to be a Big Issue seller?

Nottingham Playhouse’s annual pantomime is back, but in very different circumstances. We talk to Adam Penford to find out more about Cinderella...

Our Editor-in-Chief Jared Wilson tries to find the highlights amidst twelve months of absolute misery in his annual rundown of the year

We chat to some of the honorary Nottingham folks who, thanks to COVID-related travel restrictions, will be spending the Christmas period away from their families

We chat to Scottish-born photographer Peter McConnochie - aka Urban Scott - about his debut book of Notts street portraits: Faces of Nottingham

Editorial

Sumo wrestling commentator, philanthropist, teacher, Mastermind contestant. Notts-born Doreen Simmons had a pretty wild life

Paul Drury talks to Sheltered Spaces owner, architect Marcus Rowlands, about his design philosophy, the character of wood and the joys of cabin porn...

BOHNS burgers, Absurd Vird and Lucy Parker sharing some helpful tips on how to make the most of your Christmas meal without breaking the budget Milly James and Sophia Ramcharan talk We’re All Black Down Here, their new short film about an African Caribbean miner in the East Midlands...

As he takes up a new position as Director of Arts at the British Council, Skinder Hundal looks back on twelve years as Director of New Art Exchange

Our regular history feature takes a look at the life of philanthropist, abolitionist Quaker and founder of the Nottingham Building Society, Samuel Fox

As 2020 limps towards its conclusion like some stumbling, mangy old elephant looking for a place to die, it’s fair to say that the past year has been a true stinker. I’m just about as sick of writing about COVID as you are of reading about it, so hopefully by the next time we’re talking, that elusive vaccine will be within touching distance, and we can all start to put this mess behind us for good.

Owing to lockdown measures, we made the decision to combine our December and January issues into one bumper-sized magazine. Some of you old-school readers might remember when we were bi-monthly, so just think of it as a throwback, and don’t judge us too harshly for taking an extra couple of weeks off this Christmas.

Running through the spine of the issue is our collaboration with Framework, who are celebrating twenty years of providing help, advice and support for Nottingham’s homeless. Working closely with them to create a series of articles on various issues currently facing Nottingham’s homeless community has been eye-opening, and it’s impossible not to be impressed by their level of dedication and relentless work ethic. I was fortunate enough to be invited for one early-morning session with a Street Outreach Team where I saw just a fragment of the vital work they do around the city and surrounding areas.

We’ve also got a festive dose of Christmassy bits and bobs to get you all excited for Santa coming. Our extensive guide to shopping independent this Christmas will give you more than enough present-buying inspiration, and we’ve even got some tasty, inexpensive festive recipe ideas for you on page 44.

Before I enter hibernation for the winter, I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all of the incredible contributors who have helped keep LeftLion going during the past year. Like many businesses, we’ve had to deal with our fair share of problems, but it’s been a joy to witness the amount of graft, support and creativity they’ve all put in. I don’t know what 2021 has in store, but I’m incredibly proud and grateful for how you’ve all helped us through 2020.

Have a bloody wonderful Christmas and take care of yourselves

Ashley Carter, Editor ashley.carter@leftlion.co.uk

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 5

Notts Goss Nottingham’s most opinionated grocers on...

Christmas We’ll be spending time with our sisters and their children, although it will probably involve waving at them through a window with a glass of champagne in our hand. And, of course, we’re very much looking forward to hearing the Queen’s speech. We’d like Santa to bring us a Jaguar F-Type and a four-door Aston Martin Rapide. We’ve been asking him for dream cars like this for several years, but he hasn’t delivered as yet, so we’re stuck with the delivery van for now. But you never know, this might be our lucky year.

with Jenny Joss Want the scoop?

I’m not one for wicked whispers, but I just watched a man smash up the door of a Hockley eatery with a wooden bat. No kidding. But can this doll let you in on a little secret? I hardly blame the poor fella. It’s been a shocker of a year, and while I don’t condone violent outbursts or taking frustrations out on the infrastructure of our innocent independents, I can’t argue that taking a swing looked like a right jolly.

Until the coppers ran after him, that is.

It seems he’s not the only one making questionable decisions lately, either. Frankly, this starlet finds the council’s decision to open a pared-down Christmas market in the square rather puzzling, and mine can’t be the only eyebrows to raise. While you’re speaking to the expert of pouting until I get my own way, their feeble pleas of ‘But Essex is allowed to do it!’ makes them seem less like heroes, and more like a relentlessly competitive sibling blind to their parents’ exasperations.

However, the prize for the most absurd COVID-life crisis goes to that of the 400 Rabbits team who, feeling miffed at their inability to open the doors, have registered the bar to become a religion,

thereby technically allowing punters back in the form of a congregation. Whether you’re ‘a bunny believer’ or ‘a reverend of the righteous rabbits’, you can pledge your allegiance via their website, which I’ll be the first to do once this quill has finally stopped. Santa hats off to you, kids – mine’s a Mezcal Mangarita.

US Presidential Elections Well, Biden won pretty easily in the end didn’t he? Although Mr Trump is a little bit controversial. He’s refused to concede the election still, hasn’t he? Didn’t Gordon Brown do that when Cameron won? He was waiting around in Downing Street trying to form a coalition with Nick Clegg that never happened. Although that was for three days, whereas this has been over three weeks now. It’s a pity the rest of the world doesn’t get to vote in the US Elections as it always affects us a lot too.

And finally, while reading reports that the culprit of the first Wagatha Christie novel has come to town for her Dancing on Ice training, I stumbled across a rather interesting investigation into some of the other oddballs who have laid their head at Notts’ Travelodges this year, armed with some rather bizarre requests. From blow-drying a Persian cat to Bramley Apple fancy dress, we haven’t half attracted some fruitcakes. Still, I’ll take comfort in the confirmation that the rest of the country can be as bizarre to me as my Editor’s three-shirt wardrobe.

Vaccine It’s very good news. We are very much up for having a needle stuck in us as soon as possible. Although we probably won’t get it for ages as we’re old, but not that old.

The common man in the street, like us, will probably be left right until the end. We’re very glad to hear that care homes will be getting it first though. Hopefully we’ll start to see an end to all this and have a happier 2021.

Anyways, I’m off to whizz around town spreading Christmas cheer on one of those snazzy new yellow scooters. Happy holidays to one and all, and, as we enter 2021, remember – keep your lips loose, your ears to the ground and your eyes on the goss.

JJ x

illustration: Carmel Ward

“Nex tt your im e you le ph on a ve ea give u s a rin t h om e we'll sor t it g and out ”

lis m e to gerro radio” a t t o g he “I've ence on t il th e s

“I th o u going ght this w as t of th e o be a nic e bit s to r y we’ve ... now ju lizard st got de at h s! ”

o te n t

“ You w free c ant a covid u p pa te a d u c k?

t h ese don’t af!” , l l e dy h u de “Bloo make yo s k s a m

”

id you , why d “Daddy m my? Sh e's u marr y M nnoying ta s o m th e ever” person

“Why you breathing in my ear like a pervert? ”

ns . e b ea ini “I lov re like m a y e h T to e s” p ot a

“ I 'm e n o n ot g a u gh n fo r g s t a k im ch i”

s k h e run ou th in ter? ” y 't n o “D rac ims cha like a S e, b u t ly per s “Not ug an Elephant ly definite e quality ” qu Man -es

“... Practise?”

“Th ere is n o way I am givin g my do ga colonos copy – th ere is N O way ” “W hat's th e bendy th ing? ” “Gym na stics”

t if t h a t te l l o o o r ’ n d l p “I cou was dog l sm el san” e Par m

“What’s that Dracula’s first nam e?”

“In th e life, 2 supermar ket o 020 h f a midd le ais s been th e l e at Lidl”

“Daddy, da just wan ddy... I t to lick yo u like a ca t”

“ Ha n d h o n e o n h ea r t , stly t I h oug burrit ht o g o o d s w e re a idea”

t th ey ge “I th ink to th row up e som eon nd that's to a on th em er th ey can eth h w t s te out” stick it

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 7

‘

words and photo: Georgianna Scurfield You think you’ve had a crappy year? Oh, please!

My housemates have barely left the house since March. To say I feel claustrophobic is an understatement. Normally I’d have the place to myself for the whole day and that was my ‘me time’, you know? I’d sit for hours on the living room window sill and stare at the tree, I’d starfish on the bed in the afternoon sun and sharpen my claws on the new sofa. Those days are long behind me. Now, for some reason I have to share the space all day everyday with two whole humans, TWO WHOLE HUMANS. My patience is wearing thin. It’s like, babes, just get your own lives you know, do your own thing, you don’t need me to cuddle you all the time, you can be your own people. If that wasn’t stifling enough, four days ago they put this monstrosity on my head and blocked up my cat flap. Like, why? The only thing keeping me going through this nightmare was catching up with my girls in the crescent, and they’ve taken that away from me too.

Screw Britney Spears, #FreeLolaTheCat Lola

Pick Six

This month, we’ve tasked newly appointed Chairwoman of Framework Rebecca Rance with choosing a few of her favourite things...

8

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Book - The Century Trilogy After following the tumultuous experiences of five families in Ken Follett’s epic The Century Trilogy, it’s impossible to think of the twentieth century in the same way again.

Gripping and thought-provoking – from WWI right through to the Cold War.

Song - Stop That Train As students, my now husband Jonathan and I spent a lot of time travelling to see each other. The mellow catchiness and great lyrics of Clint Eastwood and General Saint’s Stop That Train sums up our musical tastes and recalls that urgent travelling.

Film - Mangrove Mangrove, the first of five films by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen celebrating black British culture, is a frightening and worrying reminder of the level of police racism in the relatively recent past and the scale of the struggle for justice among black people.

Holiday - The Three Valleys Encouraged by Jonathan, I learned to ski and for the past twenty years we have regularly visited the Three Valleys in France. Though it’s busy, the spectacular mountain scenery and the variety of skiing keep drawing us back.

Meal - Curry The homemade curry has killed off takeaways in our house. I’m a big fan – the curry chef who loves her dabba spice tin. They are generally meat-based but always with plenty of the holy trinity: garlic, ginger and chilli.

Notts spot - The Kean’s Head I’m from Burton on Trent so beer is in the blood and access to a good pint is vital. The Kean’s Head in the Lace Market is a proper pub with lots of great beers and a traditional feel. A good place for a natter.

Nadia on...

Homelessness in Nottingham

words: Nadia Whittome photos: Fabrice Gagos

Since 2010, the number of rough sleepers in the UK increased by 165%, with around 4,677 people sleeping in the streets on any given night before the start of the pandemic. However, rough sleeping is only the most visible form of homelessness. For every person who ends up in the streets, there are many more people without a stable home: in temporary accommodation, hostels or night shelters; squatting or crashing on friends’ sofas.

Homeless charity Shelter estimates that around 280,000 people in the UK were homeless at the end of last year.

To better understand the problem in our city, I recently met with Framework, a specialist charity based in Nottingham supporting homeless people and those at risk of homelessness across the East Midlands. In this month’s column, I’d like to talk about what I found out.

Despite the evictions ban being in place until September this year, an average of two new rough sleepers were reported in Nottingham every week.

The Everyone In policy, which saw thousands of street homeless people housed in temporary accommodation at the start of the pandemic, didn’t help those who lost the roof over their heads since the first lockdown started. Rising unemployment, especially among low-paid young people, domestic violence and family breakdown, and renters being unaware of their rights have all contributed to this situation.

On a national level, 90,063 people have been threatened with homelessness since April – and more than half of them have already lost their accommodation. In Nottingham, Framework’s City Outreach Team has worked with a total of 634 rough sleepers since the first lockdown started – half of them people who found themselves on the streets for the first time.

Framework, which will soon be celebrating its 20th anniversary, helps around 18,000 people every year, including street homeless people and vulnerable people at risk of losing their homes. While primarily based in Nottingham, the charity also covers Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and Sheffield. Homeless people rarely stay in one place, explains its CEO Andrew Redfern.

Charities like Framework are a lifeline for the hundreds of people in Nottingham, and thousands of people around the country, who don’t have secure accommodation Homelessness can’t be seen or addressed separately from its underlying causes. It always has a context to it: whether that’s addiction and mental ill health, domestic violence, or poverty and unemployment.

That’s why Framework not only helps people find a home but also supports them in other areas of life.

On top of providing accommodation for nearly 3000 people each year, the charity also offers specialist physical and mental health services and a care home for people with complex needs; it helps people gain skills and find work, and prevents homelessness for example by supporting prison leavers or by mediating between tenants and landlords.

While all homelessness is political, some cases in particular are a direct result of government policy. For example, a proportion of the homeless population are people with No Recourse to Public Funds – migrants who have a condition attached to their visas preventing them from accessing benefits or housing support. Some arrived in the UK as

asylum seekers, others moved here for work but then lost their jobs and found themselves destitute, with nowhere to go. Because local authorities can’t fund programmes to help them off the streets, Framework has had to rely on fundraising to support this vulnerable group.

Charities like Framework are a lifeline for the hundreds of people in Nottingham, and thousands of people around the country, who don’t have secure accommodation. “Unlike many companies, we couldn’t just suspend our work during lockdown,” explains Redfern. The people they work with need support every day.

However, to end homelessness, individual solutions will never be enough. We need to address its root causes: such as spiralling rents and the lack of social housing, the severe underfunding of mental health and other support services, and a benefits system that lets people fall through the cracks. Austerity measures have contributed to growing numbers of rough sleepers over the past decade, and a fresh round of cuts would risk even more people losing their homes. The hostile environment also makes people homeless, which is why I have been campaigning to abolish No Recourse to Public Funds.

I want a future where homeless charities become obsolete and no one has to fear spending Christmas in the streets. Until then, I’m thankful for the people in our city who dedicate their lives to helping those who find themselves without a place to call home.

People like Framework, but also Emmanuel House which provides shelter and support for vulnerable adults in Nottingham, or Host Nottingham who help house destitute asylum seekers – these are the quiet heroes working every day to save and transform lives. Thank you for all you do. nadiawhittome.org

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 9

Notts Shots

And then I remember to relax...

Steve Wallace - @jamesgraceart Robot wars Matthew Hoyland - @imaginedcountry

Want to have your work featured? Send your high-res photos from around the city, including your full name and best web link, to photography@leftlion.co.uk

The year is really dragon Tom Hetherington - @shotbytomh The Scurfield Wall Max Peace - @thegospelmaker

Night fishing Iwona Zyskowska - @ivonita_photography

10

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Count ‘em Justin Roe - @justinroe99

Buoys will be buoys Sue Geary - @eppstagram

Board meeting Tom Quigley - tomquigley.co.uk

Happy herdsmen Tom Patterson - @tapatto

One is the loneliest number Jarrad Thomas - @jarradtphotography leftlion.co.uk/issue132 11

A Big Issue Vendor in Notts I’ve been selling the Big Issue on and off for a good few years now. I’ve been all over the place, me. I’m the sort that never likes to get too attached to a single location – I guess it makes me feel a bit trapped when I’m stuck in one place for too long. I’ve got to keep moving, keep things fresh. My old man was in the Air Force, so we lived all over the shop when I was little. No one house was ever home, so I guess I just kept that going into my adult life. If you don’t have a regular place that you call home, everywhere can be your home.

As far back as I can remember I was never one for staying indoors. I don’t see the point. Why be stuck inside looking at four walls and people you’ll never meet on TV when you can be out there, meeting new people, hearing new stories and seeing real life? I’d say that’s the best thing about being a Big Issue vendor – a lot of the time people like to stop and have a chat, ask how your day is going, and maybe tell me what they’ve been up to. I was homeless for quite a long time, and you get used to being ignored by people who’d rather pretend you don’t exist. I think humans can get used to being cold, hungry or scared a lot quicker than they can to feeling like they don’t exist.

It’s nice to have that sense of identity back again, feeling like you matter and people are interested in you.

If you stopped to talk to people on the streets a bit more, you’d realise that they’re just the same as everyone else. I know that sounds daft, but people really don’t realise how easy it is to end up homeless.

Obviously some people make bad decisions – I know I certainly did – but a lot of it is just down to terrible luck, or wanting to get away from horrible situations.

Can you imagine how bad life must be for people to actually prefer sleeping on the street?

I was originally homeless at quite a young age, before I ended up in a hostel and life started to get back on track. Then I relapsed and ended up homeless again, but this time in London. That’s a completely different world, I can tell you that much. You see people who have been homeless for twenty-plus years and the effect that has had on their minds and bodies. As long as I live I’ll never see anything like that. I still think about it every day – it’s one of the main things I use to motivate me to stay on the right path.

When it’s warm, people are smiling and everyone is feeling good, it feels like the mags sell themselves. It’s just like boom - have a mag! Boom – have a mag! Boom – have a mag!

There was one guy who used to buy magazines from me who I guess I became quite close to. I say close – we didn’t hang out with each other or anything – but we’d have long chats. He was a Geography teacher, and he always used to buy a magazine from me, then go sit in a café, read it cover to cover, then give it back to me so I could sell it again. His wife died at a really young age, and it was just one of those things that gave him comfort I guess. I wonder how he is, if he’s ok, and whether he got married again. I’m not on social media or anything like that, but I hope he’s happy, whatever he’s doing.

The weather makes a big difference to how my day goes. When it’s sunny, people are just that little bit happier. I like to get a bit of a patter going, and I can be quite loud. When it’s warm, people are smiling and everyone is feeling good, it feels like the mags sell themselves. It’s just like boom - have a mag! Boom – have a mag! Boom – have a mag! That feeling of being good at something is just… it’s hard to describe. It just feels like nothing else matters. All of the noise and the shit just melts away, and you can focus on this one thing that you’re doing well. For me, that’s as good as it gets.

When it’s raining, which it usually is, you can try heading out to your patch, but you’re not likely to sell any mags. People are usually just trying to get from A to B, and don’t have time to dilly-dally. You’ve got to be a positive person in this job; at least, I think you do. You want people to buy mags from you because they want to, not because they feel guilty, and that’s easier when you’re feeling positive and confident. And that’s hard when you’re soaking wet and know that, if anyone stops to chat to you, they’re going to get soaked too.

I honestly don’t know what the future is going to hold for me. I guess I used to believe in God, at least when I was younger, but I just believe in me and the kindness in other people now. That’s all you can rely on. If you get comfort from the thought that God, or Allah, or Thor or whatever, is looking over you, then good for you.

But he doesn’t exist on the street, I can tell you that much. The sooner you get used to relying on the here and now, and on the people who care about you, the sooner you’ll be happy. That’s how I see it, anyway.

illustration: Kasia Kozakiewicz leftlion.co.uk/issue132 13

Shop Local this Christmas

Christmas is going to be an odd one this year – you may not be able to see friends or family, and going around the shops won't be quite like normal. Our local sellers have had an odd time this year too, and need us to help them now more than ever.

This year we’ve teamed up with It’s in Nottingham to showcase the wonderful gifts our independents are offering, so you can support them while sitting on your sofa and get beautiful, thoughtful gifts for your loved ones at the same time.

leftlion.co.uk/issue131 15

3 Beer Gift Set Brew Cavern If you’re not able to meet your mate down the pub for a pint, make sure they still get a beer (or three) on you with this set. Simply tell the crew at Brew Cavern what your friend likes, and they’ll put together a selection of cans and bottles from the best craft beer produced in Notts and beyond.

£12-£20 Flying Horse Walk, NG1 2HN brewcavern.co.uk

Soap Dish + Bar Olivia Aspinall This nifty soap dish has a playful design that also cleverly helps drain and dry the soap, which is made with botanical ingredients and packed with nourishing ingredients. The dish and soap come in a range of different styles, but whichever ones you choose are sure to boujee up any bathroom.

£30 Sneinton Market, NG1 1DT olivia-aspinall.com

Chalk Tasha Reindeer Top Stick and Ribbon Christmas attire doesn’t have to be gaudy — in fact, it can actually be classy while bringing festive cheer.

The reindeers have just a touch of sparkle for extra flair, but the black colour is versatile enough to go with any outfit. It’s perfect for lounging at home with a touch of extra glamour.

£37 Cobden Chambers, NG1 2ED stickandribbon.com

Festive Mix Pack Weavers Wine While we can’t go around the world at the moment, this selection of gorgeous wines will do that for you instead. With Spanish Rioja, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Gascony Plaimont, Sicillian Rupe Secca, Argentinian Malbec and Victoria Chardonnay, there’s a bottle to please every party guest.

£49.95 Castle Gate, NG1 7AQ weaverswines.com

Prym Love Starter Set Coles Sewing Centre Sew up that friendship tightly by gifting them this sweet starter sewing set. It includes a thread picker, scissors, clips and plenty more, so they have all the tools they need to enjoy the fun of sewing straight away. The pretty pattern will also look proper cute atop their crafting table.

£41.50 Lower Parliament Street, NG1 1EH colessewingcentre.co.uk

16

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Gift Voucher Doughnotts Mmm, doughnuts. We’re blessed to have such a drool-worthy bakery, and a box of baked goods from them is the finest in doughnut decadence. With a handy gift voucher, your chosen pal can select all their favourite flavours themselves. Whatever their jam is, Doughnotts is guaranteed to please.

£6-£12 King Street, NG2 2AS doughnottsofficial.com

Jewellery Making Kit The Bead Shop For that person in your life that’s been meaning to get crafty during lockdown, but hasn’t quite got round to it. This gem of a kit has everything they need to start their jewellery journey, including beads, wires, and pliers, as well as a handy inspiration sheet to get their imagination whirring.

£10-£30 Market Street, NG1 6HY mailorder-beads.co.uk

Glass Painting for Two Debbie Bryan Getting into the creative zone can be really relaxing, and what better way to do it than in a cosy, inspiring shop in the Lace Market?

Treat someone to an afternoon of switching off with wine glass decorating, which they can do while sipping on a cocktail or munching on tea and cake.

£26 Mary's Gate, NG1 1PF debbiebryan.co.uk

Afternoon Tea For Two Hart’s Hotel Get raising those pinky fingers – this afternoon tea is serious luxury business. This tasty treat will have plenty of seasonal goodies, including scones, sandwiches, and scrumptious cakes. It’s the perfect indulgence for that special someone who has plenty to chat about and deserves to do it in style.

£44 Park Row, NG1 6GN hartsnottingham.co.uk

Sloe Gin Redsmith Distillery There’s nothing like a sip of a festively fruity drink to get you in the Christmas mood. This gorgeous Sloe Gin from Redsmith does just that, with its flavours of plum and blackberry jam paired with a brandy finish. It’s a terrific treat for that loved one who has definitely earned a posh tipple.

£22-£39 Sneinton Market, NG1 1DW redsmithdistillery.com

Reusable Safety Razor Shop Zero We all want to make the world better, and this sleek-looking, high-quality safety razor will help to do just that. Not only is it reusable and made with ethicallysourced materials, but a tree is planted for each one purchased.

AKA, buy one for all your mates and you’ll have done your bit for the planet.

£25 St James’s Street, NG1 6FG shopzero.co.uk

Leather Guitar Strap Nottingham City Guitars Have you got a guitar player in your life who has been strumming your heartstrings? Or maybe you know someone who needs an upgrade? This fashionable guitar strap is Canadian and is made with quality leather, so is sure to be durable for everything from jamming sessions to open mic nights.

£42 Woolpack Lane, NG1 1GA nottinghamcityguitars.com

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 17

Vegan Chocolate Wreath Luisa’s Vegan Chocolate For luxury artisan, vegan and ethical chocolate, this Christmas wreath fits the bill. Made with award-winning 75% Solomon Islands Chocolate, it's both beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. Each one is presented in a gift box and individually wrapped, making it a truly exquisite gift.

£9.50 Sneinton Market, NG1 1DT luisasveganchocolates.co.uk

Velvet Cowl and Wrist Warmers

Megan Crook Textiles

Getting cosy doesn’t mean you can’t keep things fancy.

These matching cowls and wrist warmers are the ultimate winter accessories, with their rich tones and luxurious textures. They come in ten different colours, so you can nab the best shade to match your friend’s wardrobe colour palette.

£45 Sneinton Market, NG1 1DW megancrook.com

Gift Voucher Peggy’s Skylight

Grace Jones Print Nottingham Contemporary Bring the art gallery to the living room with this stunning print that celebrates the iconic model Grace Jones, who the gallery is showcasing in their latest exhibition. Designed by KimThompsonArt, this striking picture would look stunning hung up in a collection of home art, or even just by itself.

£27.50 Weekday Cross, NG1 2GB nottinghamcontemporary.shop

Christmas Coffee Pack Stewarts Some people can’t function in the day without a proper cup of coffee, and for a delicious cup of good stuff, Stewart’s have got it in the bag. Two bags to be precise.

This festive pack provides a great introduction to micro-lot coffees and is sure to impress that coffee aficionado in your life.

£18 Sneinton Market, NG1 1DW stewartscoffee.co.uk

18

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Get into the swing of gift shopping with this handy voucher from the city’s finest jazz bar. Buy one for your friend so you can pay for smooth tune gig tickets, their next tab, or even scrumptious afternoon tea with Middle Eastern inspired cakes, pastries and ice cream. Sounds groovy.

£10 upwards George Street, NG1 3BH peggysskylight.co.uk

Panettone Tough Mary’s Bakehouse This baked good is truly festive and is sure to keep well too. It’s available in regular and large, which is handy if you’re posting.

You can also buy either the traditional flavour with candied peel or raisins, or the dark and milk chocolate one. Whatever you choose, deliciousness is guaranteed.

£12.50 or £16.50 Derby Road, NG1 5FT toughmarysbakehouse.co.uk

Gift Card NKD Waxing

Himalayan Salt Lamp Little London Herbal Store

The perfect pampering present for that friend who is itching to glam up for all Christmas events, Zoombased or otherwise. You choose how much cash to put on and they choose whatever service they like, whether that be silky-smooth legs, Insta-worthy brows or mistletoe fluttering lashes.

There’s nothing more zen-like than having the flickering flame of a salt lamp lighting up the room.

Apparently they’re proper good for you, helping with mood-boosting as well as with getting a good night’s sleep. As a bonus they also look mega pretty, with their soft pink colour and crystally texture.

£5-£50 Pelham Street, NG1 2ED nkd.zenoti.com

£10.39 - £39.99 Trinity Walk, NG1 2AN littlelondonherbalstore.co.uk

Gift Voucher Kitty Cafe

Wine and Chocolate Taster No. Twelve Did you know a lot of wines aren’t vegan? Don’t be caught out when shopping for your plant-munching mate by gifting them this luxurious, indulgent set. Choose a bottle from four varieties of wine, which will come in a wooden gift box alongside handmade Studio Chocolate chocs.

£40 Eldon Chambers, NG1 2NS no12nottingham.co.uk

Mixed Tasting Set Casa Agave (400 Rabbits)

This paw-some voucher is purrfect for your feline-loving friend.

With the voucher they can head to the cafe and have a coffee and cake, buy themselves some sweet Kitty Cafe merch, such as hoodies or mugs, or even buy treats for their own furry friends such as Christmas catnip fuzzies. D’aw.

£20 upwards Friary Lane, NG1 6DD kittycafeshops.co.uk

Nutcracker Cakes Sugarberry Cake Studio

This boozy set from the sister business of 400 Rabbits showcases fine samples of Mezcal, Bacanora, and Sotol, so you can get into the Mexican Christmas spirit. If you or your gift-receiver can’t host a party but want a party in your mouths where only the best booze is invited, this is magnifico.

Nottingham’s premier independent cakery knows how to make sponge and cream taste like a dream, and these Nutcracker Cakes are no exception. You can customise the flavours and artistic decoration so they can create your ultimate showstopping centrepiece. Bake Off, eat your heart out.

£33.50 Hurts Yard, NG1 6JD casa-agave.com

£35 upwards Sneinton Market, NG1 1DU cakes@sugarberrystudio.co.uk

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 19

Household Dame

Cinderella will go to the ball! The Nottingham Playhouse panto will be going ahead this Christmas, despite the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown. It will look a little different – and, for the first time in years, there is a new writer/director at the helm: Artistic Director, Adam Penford. Our Stage Editor Rebecca Buck caught up with him for a chat...

Adam Penfofd, Nottingham Playhouse’s Artistic Director, is upbeat and optimistic, despite a very difficult year for the theatre venue. When we spoke, Nottingham was just about to slip from Tier 3 into the new national lockdown, but things look much better than they did back at the start of the first lockdown. Nottingham Playhouse is a charity, reliant on ticket sales, but it has also proven itself adaptable and tenacious in the face of the pandemic. Now, with the relief of a substantial grant of Culture Recovery Fund emergency help from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, future planning is beginning in earnest. And the pantomime is a key part of this.

Why is the panto so important? Adam says it’s part of the “cultural calendar” of the city after thirty years and the Playhouse team “always knew” they would find any way to do it, and to include the “joy of live theatre” in the offer, alongside the online streamed performances we’re all so familiar with.

Some of the first performances since the theatre reopened, with reduced capacity, have shown audiences to be “excited, generous, respectful and aware of having to wear masks and maintain social distancing.”

The panto will not just bring Christmas hope to audiences but to those both on stage and behind the scene So what’s different about this year’s panto?

It’s a change from the originally planned Beauty and the Beast by panto legend Kenneth Alan Taylor, which will now take place in 2021. This year, Adam is both writing and directing the show. This cuts down on costs to the charity, but also allows a very specific new script, tailor-made for the restrictions that come with social distancing. Cinderella will be one act (to avoid queues at the toilets and bar), there will be no young people’s chorus, and a cast of just seven people.

There won’t be any sing-a-long, or shouting at the stage. Instead, there will be new creative ways for the audience to interact.

But Adam – who is Nottingham born and bred – grew up on Kenneth Alan Taylor’s pantos, so audiences can expect some nods to his writing. And of course, there will still be a joke about Beeston.

Adam is keen not to produce an imitation panto though. He speaks of feeling the pressure of “following on from the master” at the same time as trying to work with the COVID-secure measures which will also see those on stage remain socially-distanced: how do you get Cinders to try on a glass slipper at 2m distance? In the end, Adam says, it was “fun to write” and to put a slightly more modern take on the traditional

offer. There might even be some political jokes this time around. He chose Cinderella as it’s the most popular of all pantos, but also because of the joyous “magic” of the midshow transformation, where the pumpkin becomes a carriage and Cinderella goes to the ball. Magic is a powerful thing in 2020.

The pantomime is, however, a financial gamble with the uncertainty of ongoing lockdown and doubts over audience confidence. Adam says that one of the key reasons to be positive is that the Playhouse panto will be one of the few actually going ahead this year. An additional online audience might even mean that it has a reach beyond the city – with international audiences tuning in for other streamed shows over the recent months.

With capacity in the auditorium reduced from nearly 800 to just under 300, live attendance alone is not sustainable for long.

He’s also aware that the pantomime is important for the performers involved: “casting it was amazing, especially with so many actors currently out of work.” Cast members include Playhouse panto favourite John Elkington, and Nottingham-born actor (and West End star) Sara Poyzer. In a sector where many are freelancers, and fell through the cracks of government support, the panto will not just bring Christmas hope to audiences, but to those both on stage and behind the scenes.

The greater hope is that the pantomime will kick off a renewed 2021 season, which, from March onwards, sees the shows originally planned for 2020 rescheduled, including Private Peaceful and Piaf. Although the Culture Recovery Fund grant secures the Playhouse’s immediate future, audiences will need to return for the theatre to look beyond this. The Curtain Up Appeal, which has received generous donations, will also be an important part of the recovery, as will ongoing online activity and reducedcapacity performances – such as the recent Unlocked Festival.

Adam’s excitement about the panto is compelling, and planning for live performances to bring the magic of Christmas to audiences is at once so normal and so extraordinary in 2020 that it feels like something really special is happening at the Playhouse this season, despite all the odds.

Cinderella will be at Nottingham Playhouse and available online from Thursday 16 December to Saturday 16 January Visit the Nottingham Playhouse website for upto-date information regarding the impact of Tier 3 restrictions on live performances, which are subject to change nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/ playhouse-panto

words: Rebecca Buck photos: Pamela Raith

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 21

Silent Disco Nottingham’s legendary nightclub and live music venue Rock City turns forty this month, but celebrations will be quieter than usual due to the pandemic. We couldn’t let the occasion pass without a chat with owner George Akins of DHP Family about the history of Nottingham’s most famous music venue...

If COVID had never happened, how would we be celebrating Rock City’s birthday right now?

We would have had loads of gigs featuring some of our favourite acts from over the years and a few new ones. We had some really major shows and great parties lined up, but unfortunately we had to postpone and cancel it all. Instead, the club is closed. We’re doing a push on our social media asking people to share their memories and we’ve put out a range of fortieth birthday merchandise that people have bought. But obviously none of this is what we had in mind when we started planning our celebrations this time last year. I have to admit it all feels a bit flat.

What was the first gig you watched at Rock City?

It was Grace Jones in March 1990. I saw a few bands that year like Tigertailz and The Soup Dragons. But Grace was first and is the one who stands out as I watched it from the side of the stage. When I went up the stairs from backstage I walked into her undressing in the middle of a costume change. I would have only been fourteen and it was an interesting and awkward moment.

As a young lad I turned around and fled. That was my first Rock City gig, but it wouldn’t have been my first time in the venue. My oldest brother Alex was part of the management team and I came in with him for the Saturday daytime breakdancing jams in the early eighties to watch people spinning around on their heads and give it a go myself. It wasn’t my biggest talent to be honest.

DHP Family is a big operation these days with clubs in London and Bristol, as well as festivals.

But Rock City is still the jewel in the crown, right?

Yeah, definitely. It's still the biggest part of our company and because of the size and the reputation it has it’s likely to remain so.

Financially there are years where other aspects of the company will get near it, but Rock City is central to what we do. It’s also special because it’s maintained its own identity in changing times when a lot of other venues like Brixton Academy became Carling or O2 Arenas. The only old and big venues still doing it like us from when we started out in 1980 are The Leadmill in Sheffield and Barrowlands in Glasgow.

What’s been the secret of your success?

We changed and evolved alongside styles of music and crowds. Rather than just resting on our laurels, we always mix it up. In the early eighties we were known for hip-hop. Then we turned into being a rock club, which really stuck for a while, obviously, helped by the name. In the nineties we embraced Britpop and electronic music. If a club night starts to drop below a certain number of people it’s usually because the audience isn’t young enough. Once most people get to the age of 35 they don’t go out dancing on a Wednesday night anymore so our core crowd are always aged between 18-25. Obviously it’s a bit different for the gigs though, which see all ages coming.

How have clubbing audiences changed over the years?

There was a period where we attracted an alternative audience from all over the country and big coaches would bring people here and take them home after. People regularly travelled here from places as far away as Cardiff, Brighton and Exeter — I can even remember coaches coming here from Germany. But alternative places are now in every town or city, so people can go to a rock night or an alternative night at their local club instead. We've had to be clever about how we keep our essence musically, but still get a good crowd in for four or five nights a week.

You took over Rock City from your father in 1994, when you were just eighteen. What was it

22

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

like being in charge of a venue like this at such a young age?

The venue had already gone through its first cycle. It had been really cool in the eighties, but the shine had gone a little and it all needed a bit of a refresh. We had three main club nights then: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, but none of them were doing mega business. It was an interesting time to take over the reins and obviously I was quite young. But my dad had dragged me into meetings about the venue from the age of sixteen anyway, and I knew everyone who worked there already as I'd grown up around it all.

Over the next decade live music started to explode and lots more people started to want to go to gigs. Back then we used to do concerts and they’d never finish before midnight. Nowadays most of them are finished before 10pm. That’s partly due to the rise in people who work during the week wanting to come along and get home easily after. It’s also because there are a lot of all-age shows which cater for under-18s. Licensing laws have changed, as well as audiences, and we’ve changed over the years to accommodate them.

We changed and evolved alongside styles of music and crowds. Rather than just resting on our laurels, we always mix it up You mentioned your father, how is George Akins senior these days?

Yeah, he’s good. He’s 92 years old now. So he’s not exactly fit as a fiddle, but he’s kicking along and still takes an interest in the family business.

It’s probably fair to say he’s not quite grasped the dangers of this pandemic and why we should all be worried about it, but we’re always on at him to stay safe and thankfully he is doing that. The DHP offices nowadays are the site of his old Catholic school; he studied there at the age of six or seven, which is about the only time he went to school.

My brother and I had it converted a few years back and it’s a nice space to work from.

Let’s talk about the pandemic. As an events company I guess the last eight or nine months have been horrendous?

Yeah, it's been pretty devastating for various aspects of what we're about. When it first happened, we wondered how long it could last for and whether we could still put on Splendour in July. We saw China pretty much re-open after twelve weeks and that gave us false confidence we would return quicker than we have been able to. However, we took a lot of steps early on to lower our costs and I suppose we went into this in a good situation after three or four record years of business.

The amount of change has probably been the hardest thing to manage. The Government has repeatedly changed the rules and we’ve had to sit together and work out how we can still operate some of our business within those confines and retain as many jobs as possible. We’ve had to move certain concerts three times now. But then the two things that have really helped us get through it are the Government’s furlough payments and the Culture Recovery Fund.

You’ve done a few outdoor events, like the Arboretum gigs and also the events in Rock City car park...

The Arboretum gigs were brilliant! It wasn’t a particularly financially successful experience, but we delivered something that could be an annual

thing and it was also nice for our team to just be able to do something again. If nothing else it was just good for our mental state and great to get Frank Turner — who is a good friend of the venue — to finish them off. We’ve also booked Lionel Richie to play at the Embankment next year, which follows a long line of outdoor promotions we’ve done across the country in recent years with people like Catfish and the Bottlemen and Massive Attack.

Let's talk about Beat The Streets, the festival you run to help homeless charities in Nottingham. What made you first start that up?

I was in a taxi in London talking to the driver about homelessness and he turned around and asked me what I was going to do about it. It’s obvious that the problem has been getting worse in Nottingham over a number of years and it’s mainly down to the austerity measures that have really hit our area. So I met with Framework and went out with the Street Outreach Team to see what it was all about and how they supported people.

After that I decided I wanted to do something to help, which was where Beat The Streets was born. Each year for the last three years we’ve put on the festival and managed to raise somewhere between £75-100k for Framework and it’s helped to do things like keep their night shelter open all-year-round. But even that is just a drop in the ocean really.

The festival can’t go ahead this year. What are you doing instead?

We realise that a lot of people are financially struggling at the moment due to the pandemic, but we’ve still got to do something to help those hit hardest. So firstly we’re doing a big raffle online where you can win loads of different gig tickets, as well as things gifted by our partners.

Lots of our staff, including me, did a sponsored walk together of 141 miles, which is the distance between Rock City and The Thekla, our club in Bristol. If nothing else, it was a good way of getting people thinking about what it’s like on the streets. It’s cold out there right now.

What have been your highlights from the last few years of Beat The Streets festivals?

In terms of the music, there are the incredible headline performances we’ve had from people like Sleaford Mods, Jake Bugg, Ferocious Dogs and Evil Scarecrow. These are all people who could fill Rock City for a regular gig, so getting them to donate their time to this has really helped grow the festival audience and raise money for Framework.

This year we saw an abundance of great new talent coming through too, like Tori Sheard, Jerub and Alfie Sharp. This felt to me like a new wave after we had the likes of Jake, Indiana, Dog Is Dead, etc. all come through a decade or so ago.

Probably one of the worst things the lockdown has done is mean that great new Nottingham acts like those have basically had to press pause for a year. It was good that we were able to put some of those on at the Arboretum.

Is there anything else you want to say?

Forty years of a live music venue is a big achievement and I can’t wait until we can open up our doors properly and invite everyone back in to celebrate with us. The amazing support we’ve had from the people of Nottingham has always been incredible and not least in lockdown with people buying our t-shirts and bits of our dancefloor. One silver lining of all this is that we’ve had a chance to refurbish the Rock City toilets. This isn’t something we’d normally have much of a window to do with it being so busy so regularly, but they’ll all be nice and shiny when we welcome everyone back. rock-city.co.uk

interview: Jared Wilson photo: Curtis Powell

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 23

Rock City: 40 Years of Gigs Since that first ever gig (The Undertones on Thursday 11 December 1980), Rock City has had most of the planet’s best rock, hip-hop, pop, metal and indie bands grace their stage. We’ve picked out five gigs for each year.

Which year and decade of Rock City gigs were your favourites?

24

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

The Kinks The Undertones Shakin Stevens Echo and the Bunnymen XTC

U2 Kraftwerk Duran Duran New Order Depeche Mode

BB King Haircut 100 Joan Jett Squeeze Gary Moore

Public Image Ltd Def Leppard Fun Boy Three Level 42 Musical Youth

The Smiths Nick Cave Elvis Costello Afrika Bambaataa Sisters of Mercy

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

REM Roy Ayers The Pogues The Fall Jesus and Mary Chain

The Ramones INXS Kurtis Blow Fine Young Cannibals Billy Bragg

Guns N Roses Motorhead New Model Army Erasure LL Cool J

Ozzy Osbourne The Pixies Public Enemy Deacon Blue Marc Almond

Debbie Harry The Sugarcubes The Beautiful South Bad Manners Big Audio Dynamite

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

Red Hot Chilli Peppers Faith No More James, Sonic Youth PWEI

Nirvana Jane’s Addiction Paul Weller De La Soul Bay City Rollers

Pearl Jam The Cure Soundgarden Levellers Bjorn Again

Rage Against The Machine Alice In Chains PJ Harvey Iggy Pop Smashing Pumpkins

Blur Oasis Primal Scream Tool Chaka Demus and Pliers

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Radiohead Pulp Warren G Bruce Dickinson Black Grape

Iron Maiden Supergrass Leftfield Offspring Gary Numan

David Bowie Foo Fighters Marilyn Manson Placebo Daft Punk

Green Day Massive Attack NOFX Run DMC Deftones

Joe Strummer Travis Megadeth Skunk Anansie Flaming Lips

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Slipknot Queens of the Stone Age Leftfield Slayer David Gray

Muse Motorhead Wheatus Divine Comedy The Melvins

The Streets Rollins Band Ian Brown DJ Shadow Richard Ashcroft

Linkin Park The Darkness Grandmaster Flash Ice T Kings of Leon

Amy Winehouse Franz Ferdinand Kasabian The Charlatans Razorlight

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

The Killers Kaiser Chiefs Thin Lizzy KRS-One Human League

Arctic Monkeys Mr Scruff Elbow Bullet For My Valentine Whitesnake

Manic Street Preachers Bloc Party Happy Mondays Ash Cradle of Filth

Pendulum Mark Ronson Roots Manuva Foals MGMT

Florence and the Machine Basement Jaxx Jarvis Cocker Dizzee Rascal La Roux

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Fatboy Slim Plan B The Black Keys The Klaxons Madness

Ed Sheeran Professor Green Feeder Tinie Tempah Chase and Status

Miles Kane Ellie Goulding Rancid Frank Turner Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Jake Bugg Django Django Eels Dillinger Escape Plan Johnny Marr

London Grammar Catfish and the Bottlemen Metronomy Courtney Love Example

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

The Libertines Royal Blood The Vaccines The 1975 Reverend and the Makers

Rudimental Sleaford Mods Wolf Alice UB40 Toots and the Maytals

Stormzy Busted Anthrax Fat Freddy’s Drop Machine Gun Kelly

Garbage Idles All Saints Belle & Sebastian George Clinton & Parliament

Suede Hanson Loyle Carner Ferocious Dog The Wailers

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

The Nottingham Culture Review of 2020 words: Jared Wilson illustration: Raphael Achache

Let’s face it: 2020 has been the crappest year since we dropped the ‘S’ from the beginning of Nottingham. Here’s our rundown of what’s happened in our local culture scene over the last twelve months...

26

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

January

The Queens New Years Honours List includes Confetti founder Craig Chettle (services to entrepreneurship), Sheku Kanneh-Mason (services to music) and R.E.A.L Education founder Brian Smith (services to young people with special educational needs and disabilities).

At LeftLion we resurrect the long-lost Overall Magazine, a publication a bit like us for Nottingham in the nineties. With help from the Heritage Lottery Fund we digitally archive their back catalogue (which you can read online at overallmag.com), put out a one-off celebration issue and have a knees-up at The Angel.

Beat The Streets takes place for the third year with Jake Bugg, Bamalamasingsong and Circle of Light helping to raise £75,000 for local homeless charities.

Sneinton gig venue JT Soar turned ten years old and the owners bought the building – yay! Local disco punks Do Nothing release the song LeBron James and seem to be played absolutely everywhere. Notts actress Lauren Carse joins the cast of ITV’s Grantchester and charms Eamonn Holmes on This Morning by calling him her ‘TV Dad’. Britain officially leaves the EU and we all believe it’s going to be the biggest news story of the year, if not our lifetime. How wrong we are.

February

Light Night takes place across the city centre featuring the excellent Paint to Pixel projections on the Council House – making it look like it’s been graffitied, without anyone having to clean it after. The Festival of Science and Curiosity takes place across the city with events including a plane crash simulator at Lakeside Arts.

Grime and bassline emcee Bru-C plays a sell-out gig at the Rescue Rooms. The UK sees news reports about a place called Wuhan in China where someone has done something untoward with a bat and a pangolin.

However, we all remain blissfully ignorant of what is to come. We don’t even know what a pangolin is and have to Google it.

March

Local acting talent hotbed The Television Workshop launch their new play season (including Emilia and The Witches). This is hot on the heels of their new radio drama Roots on BBC Radio 4, starring Workshop alumni and Notts queen Vicky McClure. Lakeside Arts launches an exhibition of new art by Notts-born Damian Hirst collaborator Mat Collishaw. Another local Mat (Woodham - who goes by the pseudonym Multimodal) launches Sensing Systems, a body of audio visual interactive artwork at Bonington, Broadway and Metronome. The team from Nottingham Craft Beer Week head to Liverpool for the annual SIBA conference and come back crowned as the UK’s best craft beer promotion. Then halfway through the month we all start to get a sense that bat and pangolin thing might be important after all. Professional Honey Monster impersonator Boris Johnson addresses the nation on 23 March and tells us that pubs, schools, shops and everything else has to shut as the country is in lockdown. Following this is a short era where every man and his dog takes to online broadcasting (via Twitch, Youtube or Facebook live). Here at LeftLion we start LeftLion Sofa Sessions an hour before Boris’ address and over the next twelve weeks we put on 71 gigs by local artists. Other notable people broadcasting online include Unknown Era, the Navigation Brewery Quiz and best of all Bradley from Jamcafe doing some lovely chill 10am DJ and dance sessions.

April

The nation remains in lockdown and our lifestyles change to accommodate this. Everyone is full of wartime-blitz spirit and we all become experts at home exercise, bread-baking, zoom and illicit meetings in local parks. New Orwellian terms enter the national lexicon like ‘coronavirus’ ‘social-distancing’, ‘furlough’ and ‘covidiot’. Every Thursday at 8pm we stand on our doorsteps Clapping for Key Workers. Everyone is frantically trying to get their hands on masks and toilet rolls. Locally a few nice things happen. The Open Kitchens project is launched and local pubs and restaurants offer free meals to 10,000 key workers and vulnerable people. The Robin Hood Fund is launched by the team who will go on to become The Nottingham Project (more about them later) and raises over £50k in public donations towards funding foodbanks, homeless charities and other vulnerable groups. The people behind Hockley Hustle and Circle of Light collaborate to bring us Light Hustle, a local online telethon that keeps us all entertained. Television Workshop’s Shaneigha-Monik Greyson stars in the Sarah Gavron

directed Rocks on Netflix. Loads of local businesses start offering delivery and click and collect services for the first time which means that you can get great local beers, donuts, cheese and pretty much everything else you could ever want delivered to your door. This magazine goes online-only for the first time in sixteen years.

May

Everyone is still in lockdown and people are trying to keep their spirits up, but it’s fair to say that a month in people are less bothered about jogging and baking their own bread (which is handy because there is now a national shortage of flour). The first real signs of the damage all this will do to our city centre and local economy start to show with the first closure announcements of local venues like Propaganda nightclub and Alberts bar. Some of our favourite events like Em-Con, Wigflex Festival and Nottingham Craft Beer Festival attempt to reschedule to new dates later in the year, but will all ultimately have a year off. On the plus side is Nottstopping Festival, an online festival a bit like the previous month’s Light Hustle and from the same people, but on a bigger scale. Then there’s the Clough Challenge where people celebrated forty years since Forest’s second European Cup win by doing impressions of Old Big ‘Ead on social media. Finally there is Soul Boy, a charming BBC One documentary by filmmakers Luke Radford and Toby Curson about Nottingham teenager Anthony Flavin, who gets his kicks from dancing to Northern Soul music.

June

As we enter the third month of lockdown, patience is wearing extremely thin. More city businesses go to the wall including The Overdraught, Belgo and Nottscentric gift shop Dukki (although they will thankfully continue to trade online). Following the horrific death of George Floyd in the USA, Black Lives Matter rivals Coronavirus as the biggest cultural event of the year worldwide. Nottingham gets involved with a demonstration on the Forest Recreation ground where over a thousand people turn up. I was one of them and commend both the organisers Next Gen Movement and everyone who came for creating a safe and peaceful environment. Vicky McClure stars as Mrs Jones on Amazon Prime’s Alex Rider.

July

The first steps back to normality begin as pubs, restaurants and hairdressers are allowed to re-open starting on 4 July – albeit with lots of new safety measures and restrictions in place. Local festival staples Nottingham Pride and Splendour go online.

Pride is filmed from the Council House ballroom and features Rob Green and Concrete Rose. Splendour features Harleighblu, Nina Smith and Georgie as well as lots of old footage from previous years. The Nottingham Project officially launches. It’s basically a board of Notts-based volunteers run by Greg Nugent (former director of Marketing for the 2012 Olympics) with a few famous local people like Vicky McClure, Shane Meadows, Richard Whitehead and representatives from key local institutions – including me. The idea is to communicate, work together and make the most of what we have when things get more back to normal.The football season resumes with all games played behind closed doors. Nottingham Forest snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, with an end of season capitulation after looking certain of a play-off place.

August

Notts County lose the National League play-off final to footballing giants Harrogate Town. The former ‘World’s Oldest League Club’ will play non-league football for at least another season. The Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme launches across hundreds of Nottingham eateries offering people half price meals from Mon-Weds each week in an effort to get the hospitality trade back on its feet. Live gigs and events start up again – but not as we know it. DHP Family put on a series of live music events at the Arboretum, Just The Tonic put on big name comedians in a field in Bottesford and Rock City invite people to spend Friday nights drinking in their car park. Wigflex and Multimodal combine to put out Fleximodal, a mindmelting AV techno all-nighter. LeftLion returns to print after four months of online-only publishing. The Nottingham Young Creative Awards TV show airs on Notts TV fronted by Mansfield-born Corro actress Cassie Bradley, celebrating the creative work of dozens of the city's best young creative talents. Notts soul singer Yazmin Lacey contributes a track to Blue Note:

Reimagined, a celebration of the iconic US jazz label from emerging UK artists.

September

Live events begin to restart in a new sociallydistanced world. Just The Tonic comedy returns to Metronome, Peggy’s Skylight start back with jazz and the cinemas are showing films again. Except the major film studios have now helpfully stopped releasing them. Eventually after the new Bond film is postponed for a third time Cineworld throws in the towel and closes its Nottingham cinema until 2021. As a follow-up to Eat Out To Help Out, Nottingham Craft Beer Week and the Art of Beer launch Art Out To Help Out where you can collect free art postcards in pubs.

The Government then follow that up with Drink Up and Bugger Off, announcing that pubs now have to close at 10pm. Hockley Hustle puts out Green Hustle, an online festival celebrating all things green and environmentally friendly. The youngest MP in the country Nadia Whittome joins LeftLion as a columnist and we’re very happy to have her on board. Television Workshop talent Katy Byrne stars as the daughter of Katherine Ryan in The Duchess on Netflix. Nottinghamborn BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ Mista Jam steps back from the BBC after 15 years of prime-time broadcasting.

October

The month begins with a rare local sporting achievement as Notts Outlaws become the nation’s new T20 Cricket Champions, beating Surrey in the final. Seventeen of the cities cultural organisations share £4.5million in lifelines from from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund; the biggest of which are DHP Family (£908k), The Royal Centre (£851k) and Nottingham Playhouse (£789k). Nottingham BID are re-elected by their members to continue their work in the city for another five years. BBC Nottingham’s local music champion Dean Jackson celebrates thirty years of his show The Beat. That’s enough positivity for one month though. Goose Fair is cancelled for only the eleventh time in 729 years because of Coronavirus.

Then DiY Soundsystem and free party legend Pete Woosh Birch passes away after a long battle with cancer. Students arrive back in Nottingham (and to other big student cities nationwide) and this becomes a catalyst for a second surge in UK coronavirus cases.

Nottingham briefly becomes the UK’s coronavirus capital and our politicians enter elongated discussions with the government about what ‘Tier 3’ status means.

Graffiti artist Banksy pays a visit to Nottingham painting a girl hula-hooping a tyre next to an abandoned bicycle in Lenton. Our local media lap it up and look for any angle to cover the story, despite showing no interest in our local street artists for decades. I’m Not From London celebrate fifteen years of live music in Nottingham by releasing a book and a beer. Nottingham Playhouse launch the Unlocked Festival online featuring performances from the likes of Mark Gattis and Daniel Kitson.

November

The government negotiations for Nottingham’s Tier 3 status lockdown end as instead the entire nation is plunged back into national lockdown until at least early December (and potentially longer). It’s like April and May all over again, but with really crap weather outside. Two much-loved Nottingham acts Bent and Sleaford Mods announce new releases on Rough Trade Records. Sleaford Mods will return with Spare Ribs in early 2021 and Bent release Up In The Air, their first new album in fourteen years. Young Nottingham actor Daniel Frogson continues his role as Tony Costa in BBC One’s His Dark Materials.

December

Rock City celebrates its 40th birthday in the most low-key way it has for many years: expect some serious revelry amongst the regulars next year instead.

Nottingham comes out of the second national lockdown into Tier 3 status, which basically means you can’t smile at anyone you don’t share a bank account with. The Christmas Market in the Square closes after just one day, because too many people turn up. Local pantomimes at both Nottingham Playhouse and The Royal Centre go ahead, with online streams. The Playhouse panto is written and directed by head honcho Adam Penford, the TRCH one stars a Chuckle Brother and a bloke who looks the spit of Elon Musk.

Families are allowed to gather in bubbles of three households for Christmas, which makes it sound like we’re all going to have seasonal foam parties. Not that I want to give our local students ideas...

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 27

(Not) Driving Home for Christmas words: Caroline Barry illustration: Kate Sharp

The never-ending merry-go-round of Government lockdowns, tiers and regulation changes mean that, for many of us, it’s beginning to look like Christmas 2020 will be very different. Continuing travel restrictions and limits on the numbers of people who can gather have ensured that, for some Notts residents, Christmas will be spent away from their loved ones for the very first time…

One of the things I’ve always said about Nottingham is that it's my home away from my actual home of West Cork. Since I’ve been here, I’ve met people from around the world who have made the city their home, too. Some come for relationships, others for work and there are some, like myself, who came to study and never left.

When the pandemic hit I, like a lot of foreign folk away from home, panicked about how I would see my family. As summer came and went, it crossed my mind that this could mean a Christmas on my own.

The thought of picking up COVID mid-travel and passing to a family member is unthinkable, so I’m facing the prospect of a solo Yuletide on the couch with my cat. Although Ireland’s numbers are going down, Nottingham’s numbers are still high.

But I know I’m not alone in this predicament, as a scroll through Twitter will show you heart-breaking tweets, posts and stories from other home-away-from-home folks. Just how many people were spending Christmas in Nottingham, away from their families, in this new normal?

Sarina Iwabuchi is from Auckland in New Zealand, and originally came to Nottingham for work. “Until last year I was a neuroscientist at the University of Nottingham. I interviewed and was offered the job before making the move. I'm still here almost eight years later, and had made a complete career change just before the pandemic so now I run Osakana Jewellery. Nottingham definitely feels like home.”

Sarina adds that, owing to the required two-week quarantine, she won’t be travelling back to New Zealand this Christmas, “The trip itself takes it out of me, and I end up spending the first week back feeling totally dazed and confused. It would have been nice to go home again this year, but the mandatory quarantine in a hotel on arrival would set me back another £1,500.”

It will, however, mean a complete change in the weather for her: “Christmas is in the summer over

there, so it's all about going to the beach and having BBQs with family and friends. I have two nephews now too so I'll really miss seeing them. I'm envious of friends going on summer road trips and long weekends at a beach house.”

As news of vaccines for 2021 spread joy as I write, I’m already quietly confident that next year we will all be driving home for Christmas once more Filipa Santos is from Viseu in Portugal, she also worries the trip home could potentially risk the health of her loved ones. “The main reason for not going is that I am worried about it not being safe to visit my family with all the health risks of a long trip, including multiple forms of public transport,” she explains, “This will only be the second time in my life that I haven’t gone home for Christmas. I miss everyone dearly, but the thought of catching COVID on my way there and infecting them is scary enough to stop me.”

As with any move to a new country, cultures blend together. Many I spoke to are determined to take the opportunity to make this Christmas unique.

Filipa and her partner are already planning theirs.

“We will probably try to recreate some of our own traditions here. He is from Austria, so we've got quite a lot of ideas to choose from. Some of our traditional Christmas dishes will definitely feature on the menu.

And then we will try to organise some kind of virtual get-together with family and friends.”

Aleksandera Malecka won’t be returning to her native Poland this Christmas, and as a result will not experience the usual festive traditions: “I will miss the food. Polish people love their Christmas meal!

We have pierogi with cabbage, mushroom soup, fish

and our traditional salad with mayo. We do have one tradition of keeping a carp alive in a bath for the day then the oldest person from the family kills and prepares it. When I was a kid, I loved to see the carp swimming in my grandmother’s bath.” She adds that, “I’ll be spending Christmas under lock and key like most other people around here I suppose. I am sure I will make some traditional Polish food and call my parents to wish them Merry Christmas. I will also watch Home Alone which TV stations in Poland stream every year on Christmas Eve.” Jess Demarchi from Brazil moved to Nottingham to be with her partner who was studying for a PhD: “Besides being with him, I saw the move as an opportunity to improve my English while expanding my screenwriting skills in a second language.” She is also considering mixing the new normal with the old traditions: “Every December 23, my dad brings a natural pine tree home so my family can decorate it with ornaments. We add angels, bows, balls, flowers and cotton balls to imitate snow, so by the end of the day we have a monstrous tree with carnival colours in the living room. This year, we have some new card and board games which look promising, so we will possibly be battling some Lovecraftian adventure over pizza.”

As for myself? While I love nothing more than opening a glass (*ahem, okay, two) of Prosecco to celebrate ‘na Nollag’ this year, I’m making my Yuletide even gayer with my first ever rainbow Christmas tree. Ireland has strong traditions of its own, like the Christmas Day swim where hundreds of locals swim in the sea for charity. While I don’t fancy taking a dip at Colwick Park on the big day, I will definitely be attempting to set up Zoom over Christmas dinner and for opening presents.

As news of vaccines for 2021 spread joy as I write, I’m already quietly confident that next year we will all be driving home for Christmas once more. If not driving, then I’ll see you all in the East Midlands Airport departure lounge.

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 29

20 Years of Framework For twenty years, Framework Housing Association has helped tens of thousands of vulnerable people in Nottingham overcome issues of homelessness, addiction and mental ill-health to once again achieve social inclusion, financial stability and independence – changing the direction of their lives for the better. We look back on the history of the organisation, and learn the value they bring to our city, and the lives of the people who need them most…

Framework Housing Association are widely known around Nottingham for the work of their Street Outreach Team, a group of dedicated support workers who venture out nightly, walking up to ten miles to make contact and offer support to rough sleepers. However, last year the charity’s teams across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Sheffield helped just shy of 19,000 people with all manner of issues which caused them to fall on hard times, including providing accommodation each night for more than 1,200 people. Alongside rough sleepers, the charity extends their support to include individuals and families with substance abuse or mental health problems, as well as those who are unemployed or classed as socially excluded.

But then came 2020, and a global pandemic which wreaked havoc on the way in which the organisation could offer support to their existing service users.

Plus, with rates of rough sleeping, domestic violence, unemployment and all manner of mental health issues on the rise, their work has never been needed – or appreciated – more.

Stronger Together Framework’s story begins in the late nineties, with the merger of two local organisations: Nottingham Help the Homeless Association (NHHA) and Macedon shared the same goal – reducing the number of rough sleepers on the city’s streets, and providing help with substance abuse. NHHA ran the innovative Handel Street Day Shelter, which allowed for the supervised consumption of alcohol with a view of delivering signposting and support to its users, and Macedon grew to become the largest provider of services for homeless people in Nottingham, achieving Housing Association status which enabled them to build property. With a view to being stronger together, the two joined forces in 2001.

“The merger was less about what we couldn’t do apart and more about what we could do together,” says Dave Newmarch, Framework’s Director of Corporate Services. Dave began his career with volunteering at the NHHA night shelter in 1992, and has worked for the organization for over twenty years. “It meant we wouldn’t be in competition with each other for funding sources,

and together we could make the best use of any funding we did receive. There were slightly different skill sets in each group too, so when you brought those together we had a better, stronger team.”

“Before the merger, we had limited staffing and were just doing our best with limited resources to help people experiencing real difficulties,” says Claire Eden, who is currently Head of Fundraising and Communications at Framework. “We were dealing with housing, mental health and substance issues – the same sort of problems that we still deal with today.” Having celebrated her 26th anniversary at Macedon and Framework just last month, Claire was responsible for setting up accommodation and support services in the early 2000s which have formed the backbone of the organisation ever since.

If you want people to change their behaviour, then you need to work with them to address it, and hopefully integrate them back into society as a much better and happier person Starting out as a project worker at the 24-hour Forest Road West hostel, Claire assisted people with a high level of support needs, and quickly rose up the ranks to become manager of the service. As the two organisations merged, the newly-formed Framework began to expand their services outside of Nottingham city centre, and were looking for their first Operations Manager to take control of Nottinghamshire county. It was a challenge Claire was ready for.

“At the time we had a Labour government, and they introduced something called ‘Supporting People’, which meant homelessness services would be funded directly through grants from local authorities rather than through housing benefit. Because local authorities had never commissioned services like this before, there was a period of time while they set up their internal structure that I was literally running around the county setting up services left, right and centre,” remembers Claire. “Any services you could develop before the cut-off point in March 2003, they would be guaranteed funding. If you can imagine the gold rush, I reckon it was a bit like that.”

Setting off from Nottingham to Sutton-in-Ashfield and Worksop for the first time, Claire implemented approximately fifteen services, including accommodation, mental health support, a women’s rehab centre in Newark, and a service for young people in Mansfield. For a charity known mostly for their work assisting rough sleepers, the extent of their services comes as a shock to many. Claire cites this as the biggest misconception the charity faces. “People don’t really understand the complexity of the work we do,” she admits. “For twelve years now we’ve also run a huge amount of work on employment, which works out to around £6 million worth of delivery each year. Plus we provide treatment, universal services, psychiatrists, and end of life care. We work from pre-birth to death. ” Lasting Change Framework’s support schemes are laid out on their website using what they call the four pillars: housing, health, employment, and support and care. Their work isn’t about cleaning up the streets, it’s about providing a platform for real and lasting change to the people who need it most. “Most people that we see have become homeless because of multiple needs,” says Karen Mayes, Service Manager at Elizabeth House, which provides housing needs for homeless people in Gedling, Rushcliffe and Broxtowe. “It could be that they were living at home and their relationship broke down with their parents because their mental health needs weren’t being addressed. People also come to us from prison and have stopped taking drugs only because they lost access to them, not because they made the choice to stop taking them. Our job is to get in there quickly and link people up with other support networks or agencies.” To be taken

in by Elizabeth House, individuals must be referred by their local Council, having demonstrated that they have multiple or complex needs which need addressing.

Homelessness can be a potentially life-threatening situation, one that doesn’t have one single cause or solution. The breakdown of a relationship, the loss of a job, disability, illness or the death of a loved one – a combination of these factors is often what tips people over the edge. After working with homeless people on the streets of New York at the age of eighteen, Karen ignited a passion for helping those who society had been determined to shut out. Throughout her time with NHHA and Framework, she has assisted people with alcohol issues and managed multiple night shelters.

At Elizabeth House, Karen and her staff implement Support Plans for all new residents – a package which helps connect people to agencies and self-supported accommodation services, provide psychiatrists and doctors, or just help them reenter the world by attending cooking classes and other social events with their residents.

“When people think about hostels, it’s easy to think of them as being really rough, but what I think people don’t understand is that our services at Framework are quite inspirational,” adds Karen. “We don’t sit around allowing people to continue those lifestyles, we want to help them change for the better. Homeless people are the same as everybody else – they have their ups and downs, they don’t always respond appropriately or make the greatest decisions. But at the end of the day, everyone deserves to have somewhere to live, and that’s all it comes down to for me.”

Take one scroll through Framework’s website and you’ll see the impact they can make on the trajectory of somebody’s life. Testimonials from ex-service users recount how their support workers encouraged them to turn bad situations around, and you’ll find a large majority of those beaming faces have since trained to be support workers themselves. From humble beginnings of around fifty staff at the time of the merger, Framework now employs just over 1,000 fulltime staff, and pre-pandemic had a 200-strong team of volunteers.

Claire reflects on the biggest changes she’s seen Framework undergo during its time: “When I joined Macedon, we were occupying old Victorian houses and churches for hostels, and we had no money really. If you’d have gone down to the Albion shelter back when it first started, it was just a door with curtains between people and two toilets. But we didn’t have any money to develop.” While the charity has since solved this particular issue, changing governments and budget cuts are now the biggest problem they have to contend with.

As most of their work is commissioned, often by local authorities, and depends on them successfully winning bids for contracts, they unfortunately must now provide more work for less money. Claire continues: “In the beginning, we did a lot of prevention work, ensuring people at risk didn’t lose their homes. Prevention work was one of the first things to be decommissioned because the government didn’t think that it was working with the highest needs. That’s a false economy really, because if people do lose their homes then they become the people in the highest need.” “Something people miss is that if you cut the police force, or reduce funding for mental health services, all of those things – while maybe not immediately – result in people ending up in a spiral of homelessness,” adds Dave. “You might not necessarily associate all those, but it’s these third sector services which really make a difference.”

Shared Principles “For me personally, I couldn’t be further away from where I started out. I was literally collecting blankets and stopping people fighting,” laughs Dave, thinking back on his time with the organisation. “One misconception about Framework that sometimes pops up on social media is that, from the outside, we probably look like a bigger, more professional, more corporate entity. In some ways, it has to be – we need to put structures and systems in place to keep our service users and staff safe. But the charitable aims, the way in which our staff work and feel about what they do hasn’t

changed one bit from how it was when there were just thirty of us working at night shelters.”

This steadfast ethos is what makes Framework’s staff so proud to work for the organisation, and why so many workers have chosen to stay for the long haul – upwards of 100 staff members have been working at the charity for over fifteen years. “The reason why I’ve stayed at Framework for so long is because they’ve always been an organisation that’s willing to take risks and say ‘this is how things should be, but this is the reality’,” says Karen. “Some organisations would avoid doing things if they thought it was risky, but Framework takes those risks to support people who are the most vulnerable and marginalised in society.”

prepared to go the extra mile. That’s something that has always impressed me about Framework. No matter how many times people fall off the ladder, they will pick them up and try to help them again. They don't give up on anybody readily. ”

Dave’s journey hasn’t been so linear. After 21 years, he left the charity for a role at a council-owned housing management company, but after six years away he returned to Framework in summer 2020. “Someone said to me when I came back ‘It’s like Hotel California here – you can check out but you can never leave!’” he chuckles. “I’ve always been very committed to the work that Framework does, even when I left I was still very proud of it. Working for an organisation like Framework, they tend to attract like-minded people. We don’t do it for the money, but we have common goals. If you’re lucky enough to work somewhere where you’re surrounded by people that have a degree of shared principles, it’s quite powerful.”

Creative Solutions The pandemic has no doubt had a significant impact on Framework, both in the ability for volunteers to act on behalf of the organisation, and the level of help they have been able to offer their service users. Access to vital support agencies has been reduced, and with many unable to watch news reports or read news bulletins, it can be hard for service users to understand why. But there is one silver lining: “I thought we’d have hostels and services full to the brim of people testing positive for Coronavirus, but actually we’ve not had any in my service,” says Karen. “The way it’s affected our service users is people who are in serious crises with drug, alcohol or mental health issues have not been able to get access to the agencies who would normally offer support or come out and see them. Most of our clients don’t have things like iPads or Zoom or credit on their phone.” Framework’s Volunteer Response Team aimed to combat this issue by sourcing 300 burner phones, which were distributed to a group of vulnerable people or those self-isolating, so they could continue to contact people. This is in addition to providing around 20,000 ready meals over a five month period.

People don’t really understand the complexity of the work we do... we provide treatment, universal services, psychiatrists, and end of life care. We work from pre-birth to death But it’s not just full-time staff who will sing Framework’s praises; their devoted volunteer team is equally as committed to the work that the charity do. Madge Marshall first came across NHHA while a voluntary Board Member for the Guinness Trust, who assisted an NHHA development in Hyson Green, and has been a stalwart supporter of their work ever since. Having acted as Chairman of Nottingham YWCA (now known as Y-Notts) and as a voluntary Board Member for TunTum Housing Association, Madge admires the effort Framework puts into integrating their service users back into the community, especially in her hometown.

“Here in Sutton-in-Ashfield we have a coffee shop, Barista, which was a great opportunity for the service users from Mansfield and Sutton to volunteer,” Madge says. “It’s wonderful to see what those individuals have gone through, and then watch them come out the other side of it all and move on. That’s what it’s all about – people getting back into society, doing what they should be doing, and enjoying their lives again. I know a lot of them miss it at the moment, because they enjoyed meeting people. My husband and I see them in town now, and they’ll stop and chat to us.”

From her experience of working for housing associations, Madge is aware of the unfortunate truth that homelessness is not going anywhere, and conveys caution that it can hit anybody at any time.

“The number of people you speak to that say ‘There’s no need for homelessness’... well I’m afraid that’s just not true. Even people with a mortgage are only three months away from a life on the streets, and that’s not publicised enough,” she warns. “There are so many broken homes out there, too. If we don't do something now with helping young people, we're going to breed a whole underclass of people who aren't going to stand a chance. They are our future generation and they are an important focus.”

On her admiration for Framework, she concludes: “I think they’re fundamentally important to every aspect of the life that we lead. To be there, to care for one another and give that helping hand when it’s needed – even if it’s just to talk to somebody, or being

Due to safety concerns, they were also unable to open the winter night shelter that many homeless people have depended on in previous years, and had to find other creative solutions which came at a cost to both funds and resources. Their winter fundraising appeal, Homeless to Home, launched in October, aims to reduce homelessness by tackling rough sleeping. While in the past the money raised would have been spent on keeping the shelter open, this year it will be put towards the work in Framework’s three-pronged system – prevention, support and resettlement. You can make a one-off or monthly donation via Framework’s website, or take part in various associated fundraisers.

With the support of organisations such as Nottingham Building Society, DHP, local clothing scheme Sharewear and Nottingham Forest, who regularly participate in fundraising efforts for the charity, it’s thanks to Framework – alongside charities such as Emmanuel House and the recently announced Street Support Nottingham initiative – that issues relating to homelessness are gaining the attention they deserve in Nottingham and the wider community.

It’s for this reason that Framework deserves every bit of success they’ve achieved over the past twenty years, and why they’ve earnt the respect and support from some of the city’s biggest powers. “It’s a strange one when you start talking about what you do,” Dave admits. “One of my old managers described it to me as ‘I just do stuff’, but what he didn’t realise is the difference that ‘stuff’ made to people’s lives.”

Karen, who made the decision to become a foster mother herself after seeing the disproportionate number of care leavers who ended up homeless, believes the compassion found at Framework is its biggest asset. “You have to be able to look above punishment, and remember that people make mistakes,” she shares. “If you want people to change their behaviour, then you need to work with them to address it, and hopefully integrate them back into society as a much better and happier person.

Framework is unique because they work with people that are left behind, overlooked, or people who would rather just hide away. Framework are willing to step up to the mark and say that everybody deserves a home, and everybody deserves support.” frameworkha.org

words: Emily Thursfield illustration: Natalie Owen leftlion.co.uk/issue132 31 leftlion.co.uk/issue131 27

Street Soldier It’s long been the case that ex-military personnel find themselves experiencing homelessness at highly disproportionate rates. The lack of support for transitioning back into civilian life, substance abuse issues and PTSD all play contributing factors and, while steps are being taken to address the issue, it remains problematic. Ex-serviceman Tony was in the Royal Navy for three years and the Royal Marines for another nine, before a serious injury ended his military life. Here, he talks about the experience of going from being a decorated veteran to living on the streets...

“I had to break my own foot to get it free,” Tony tells me, voice shaking slightly, “It was stuck under the accelerator pedal and if I hadn’t I would have burnt to death.” With a face etched in lines of painful reflection, skin canvassed with tattoos and shoulder-length greying hair, Tony has the appearance of someone much older than his years.

He’s talking from a room within a Framework care home in Nottingham, where he is currently residing after a period of homelessness. The event he’s describing came when the military vehicle in which he was travelling hit a landmine, killing several men on board. Having freed himself, Tony saved the life of an intelligence officer and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his conduct. As he relays the episode, Tony rolls up the legs of his tracksuit bottoms to reveal two heavily scarred, discoloured legs that bear the marks of having been pebble-dashed with shrapnel. “Even now I get small pieces of metal coming to the surface,” he explains, “I should have died then, but for some reason I didn’t.

Someone clearly wants me alive.”

created to serve a specific purpose that, once served, often sees them treated as societal inconvenience.

“There was no real support for us once we were out,” Tony recalls. “The transition back to civilian life was hard, and I didn’t fit in. I ended up working as a HGV driver just so I could be on my own. I couldn’t mix with other people, even my own family.” While life in the military carries natural dangers, it also brings with it a sense of camaraderie, stability and discipline that doesn’t exist anywhere else. There’s functionality to it, where everyone has their own specific place and role, and is accountable for it being carried out correctly.

That accountability brings with it order and purpose, something which is extremely difficult to replace in civilian life. “I felt so out of it, like I was a freak. It’s like I was different to everyone else,” Tony remembers, “I just wanted to disappear because I couldn’t relate or socialize with anyone. I felt like I’d lost the only job I was able to do.”

The injuries Tony sustained during the attack ended a military career that had seen him serve in the Royal Navy for three years and the Royal Marines for a further nine.

As is the case for many veterans, the lack of support for his transition to civilian life proved too challenging and, after a series of driving and laboring jobs, Tony found himself homeless.

I still have terrible nightmares now where I wake up screaming and throwing my arms around

There has long been an association between homelessness and ex-service personnel. Although accurate studies are difficult to come by, and many are London-centric, it’s widely accepted that a disproportionate number of ex-military end up experiencing homelessness at some point. During the nineties a Royal British Legion survey reported that as many as 20% of the homeless in London at the time were ex-services.

Sadly, the practice of soldiers, sailors and airmen being shunned by the countries they dutifully served is as old as the military itself. Stories of veterans from World War One being ostracized on their return were commonplace, and even the sailors who fought with Nelson at The Battle of Trafalgar – arguably Britain’s most famous military victory – found themselves unwanted, unsupported and desolate on their return to Britain. It’s a tragically common theme that has echoed down the centuries, with Nelson himself writing in 1797: “We are a neglected set, and, when peace comes, are shamefully treated.” Soldiers are taken at a very young age and

Like with many ex-military personnel, Tony’s situation was exacerbated by post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from an incident in which he refused an order to shoot an unarmed enemy combatant. “We found one kid hiding in a corner, shaking. I was ordered to shoot him, but I couldn't do it. He was only seventeen or so, and had wet himself.” After refusing the order, Tony’s commanding officer shot the boy instead, “He told me that if I ever disobeyed another order, he’d shoot me himself.” That event, as well as the incidents in which he suffered his career-ending injuries, left a lasting mark on Tony’s psychological state: “I still have terrible nightmares now where I wake up screaming and throwing my arms around. It got to the stage that my (now ex) wife had to sleep in another room because it was too dangerous to be next to me.”

The failure of his marriage and inability to maintain steady work, as well as an increasing dependency on alcohol saw Tony end up homeless, where his situation became much worse: “One night I woke up with blokes

urinating on me, another time I got a bottle kicked into my face while I was asleep. I had broken glass in my face and eye and had to spend the night at QMC. I can still only see out of one eye.” Subsequent health problems continued to plague Tony while he was homeless, including pneumonia, endocarditis and a collapsed lung: “I’ve had four big things that were all killers, and no-one thought I was going to make it.”

While our societal understanding of mental health, alcoholism, and post-traumatic stress disorder have improved significantly: the change came too late for Tony, who still finds it difficult to talk about his past. But circumstances are improving for ex-service men and women. Local organisations, like Framework, as well as national groups who focus specifically on ex-service personnel, like The Royal British Legion, Veterans’ Foundation, Help for Heroes and Combat Stress have made great strides in providing a support network for those who are suffering from PTSD, substance abuse issues, homelessness or the difficult transition back into civilian life. A more recent study from the Royal British Legion shows that the numbers of homeless ex-veterans in London has now been reduced to around 6%. While still too many, it’s evidence of the slow progress being made.

As our conversation draws to its conclusion, Tony shakes my hand, the strength in his grip betraying how weak his frame appears. Beneath the unspeakable tragedy he has endured there’s still a glimpse of the humour he once had. He tells me of the table he is currently making from the Framework care home in which he now lives, and his voice sounds excited and frustrated at how long it’s taking to complete. Though clearly still haunted by his past, he has, for the meantime, found some semblance of peace. But as troubled as Tony’s life has been, he might just be one of the lucky ones, as there are countless others that are not alive to share their stories.

Rates of homelessness amongst ex-veterans are still disproportionately high and almost 200 ex-military have committed suicide since 2018 alone. As I thank him for sharing his story, I think of the opening lines of a poem that, though written in 1817, feels as grimly relevant today: “Who is it knocks so gently at my door?

That looks so way-worn, desolate, and poor; A paid-off sailor, once his country’s pride But now a wanderer on the highway’s side.”

interview: Ashley Carter illustration: Leosaysays

Is Giving Always Goo d?

words: Ashley Carter illustration: Katie Smallwood

Whether you live or work in the city, or are just heading into town to grab your last few presents, the likelihood is that someone asking for money will approach you at some point. It’s a sad reality at any stage of the year, but at a time where many of us are preparing for the joys of Christmas and the weather is reaching dangerously cold levels, there’s an even deeper level of pathos.

While for many of us, the natural human instinct is to offer money or food, Framework’s Service Director Dave Smith and Ronnie Tucker, Service Manager for Framework's Street Outreach Teams suggest a more long-term way of helping…

Cast your mind back to 2016, when Nottingham was receiving worldwide attention for all the wrong reasons.

The Council had just launched a disastrous anti-begging poster campaign that saw them roundly castigated for demeaning some of society’s most vulnerable people.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe this wasn’t an idea for Brass Eye that ended up on the cutting room floor, as black and white images of vicious looking ‘beggars’, accompanied by messaging like “Watch your money go to a fraud”, were plastered all over the city. The subsequent outrage was ferocious, and the posters were soon banned for promoting a negative stereotype of beggars in Nottingham.

But while the approach and execution was at best cruelly misguided, and at worst cruelly demonizing, the calamitous campaign added to a conversation that had been growing for years: is giving money directly to beggars the right thing to do?

As the Service Director at Framework, Dave Smith believes that, although the motivation to do so comes from a good place, the reality is that giving money to people who beg could well have an overall negative impact on their situation. “We all recognize the moral dilemma that seeing people who are quite obviously in extremely poor circumstances places us under as individuals. Giving money to people is a natural display of human compassion which I would never want to paint as a mistake or a problem,” Smith says, “But at the same time, we deal with a lot of people whose health and well-being is suffering badly, and one of the reasons for that is that they are being sustained in some really damaging circumstances and behaviours by begging on the streets of Nottingham.”

Ronnie Tucker is the Service Manager for Framework’s Street Outreach Team, who actively engage with rough sleepers in the area, and assess the long-term needs of them as individuals. “Someone who is begging outside Greggs, for example, can get several meals bought for them over a day, and make enough money to go and score as well,” she explains, “That leaves no real incentive for them to engage meaningfully in sorting things like their health, housing or benefits.”

Framework, like many homeless charities, are keen to inspire more long-term thinking when it comes to helping those in need: “We want to try and encourage them to get into recovery and treatment,” Tucker says, “if, rather than giving them money directly, you contact the Street Outreach Team, it allows us to step in and help them meaningfully engage in the services they need.”

But the fact remains that, when faced with the immediate, tangible opportunity to help someone, it’s an inherent human trait to want to do so. “It’s always been a difficult message to get across, and will continue to be, because of that emotional reaction,” Smith continues, “When someone is appealing to you personally it’s a very difficult thing to say no. Even with my experience, and I think I’m quite hardened to it, I do feel morally questionable when I walk away from someone who has asked me for money. It will always be hard.”

The general pattern isn’t helping the general picture. We’re not progressing things by doing it in this way For Tucker and Smith, the results can be seen from years of experience working with Nottingham’s homeless. “This isn’t a moral judgement at all, but giving money directly to beggars can perpetuate this downward spiral that, unless there is a real alternative presented to them, will just keep going downwards,” Smith observes. And that downward spiral of substance abuse can be devastating, as Tucker describes, “It can be hospitalization and amputation or, as has been the case with several prolific Nottingham beggars, death. We operate a care home that is mainly full of people who have ended up needing care in their fifties because of the lives they’ve pursued.”

The situation also raises problems with misleading members of the public who do choose to give money. “Not everyone that begs is a rough sleeper,” Tucker explains, “I also manage a hostel in Sneinton that houses ten rough sleepers. We know that some of them go out with a sleeping bag to try and make some money.”

So what of the Council’s infamous poster campaign? “I was here at the time and my reaction was that it was pretty crude. It was too black and white, and there was a moral tone that felt over-the-top,” Smith recalls, “There would have been better ways of educating people about what could and should be done. It has to be done more positively rather than negatively.”

This non-judgmental message of positivity is at the heart of everything both Smith and Tucker say about the issue: “Everyone I talk to about it accepts that it makes sense, and usually say that they hadn’t thought about it like that. It’s

a conversation I have often.” Tucker says, “But that doesn’t stop that tug at the heartstrings when someone approaches you individually. You can’t make that go away, no matter how many times you try and give a rational reason.” Smith adds, “The message isn’t ‘just walk on by’ or ‘people are begging under false pretenses all the time’. The message is: if you think someone needs help, then point that person toward where help is best provided. If someone needs something, whether it’s money, food, shelter or practical help, there is somewhere they can go where those needs can be met.”

Since their disastrous poster campaign, the Council has sought out the help and advice of organisations like Framework to make sure they’re more effectively getting the message out. “They’ve approached us a few times in recent years, usually in the run up to Christmas, to see if Framework would sign off on the messaging, “ Smith explains, “There have been a few occasions where we’ve said no, and suggested they make changes. To the Council’s credit, they’ve listened to us, and to other organisations working with the homeless in the City, to try and clarify that message and to make it a bit more subtle.”

Fundamentally, the decision to give money directly to beggars is an individual one, and those who decide to do so shouldn’t be chastised. “We certainly don’t want to belittle that in any way, and I don’t want to be critical of those who are doing something so fundamentally humane,” Smith clarifies, “But there’s some responsibility on us, as an organisation, to pick up the pieces and say ‘this really isn’t helping’. You might feel like it is helping, and in some cases maybe it is, but responding in this way isn’t helping to tackle the real issues. You’re not really progressing things by giving in this way.”

While many will continue to give money to beggars, Tucker is keen to emphasise that Framework’s Street Outreach Team are on hand to provide more long-term, lasting help, and getting in touch with them to start the process is easy: “We have an 0800 number that is free to phone – we are really easily accessible as an organisation,” she says, “We know where the soup kitchens are, and what’s running on which day. We can work, with all of our partners, towards getting that person accommodated. It’s about providing wrap-around support for the individual.”

If you want to get in touch with the Street Outreach Team regarding someone who is rough sleeping or begging, contact: streetoutreach@frameworkha.org 0800 066 5356

illustration: K Kamminga

Framework’s Street Outreach Team directly engage with and help rough sleepers, assessing their individual needs and either providing help or referring them to other relevant services. Former Police Community Support Officer, Zoe Wade has been in the homelessness sector for thirteen years and, having worked as a member of the Street Outreach Team for the past two months, takes us through what an average day entails, and what inspired her to choose this career...

0830 Went out to locate a male who was rough sleeping in the city. He has a priority need and I needed to inform him that he may have accommodation this evening, and also that he has an interview with Nacro which would be a more permanent housing option for him. Located him on St James Street, and learned that he needed to charge his phone. Advised him to do this at Emmanuel House, where he will also get a shower.

I’ve worked with the homeless community for thirteen years now. Before that I was a PCSO in Nottinghamshire Police. My first beat was here in the Lace Market where my main focus was to engage with the community. I noticed that there were a lot of people who were homeless or begging in that area, and tried to support them by forwarding their information to the Street Outreach Team. I decided that I liked the community side of policing, so after I joined Framework to help those affected by homelessness. I worked at the London Road hostel for three years before getting the opportunity to join the Street Outreach Team.

0930 Morning briefing at the office with the Street Outreach Team (SOT). Tasked with doing a phone assessment with a male who was found rough sleeping outside the Council House. During the call, I assess that he is homeless due to having to leave his shared house because of other tenants harassing him. After completing an SOT assessment, I directed him to The Friary for some warm clothes,

food and a sleeping bag, as he had no warm provisions.

Winter is a key time in trying to get people rehoused. The conditions can be terrible – it’s cold, wet and the temperatures drop, which can be the difference between life and death for people on the street. We’ve currently got the Winter Night Shelter to try and get people indoors as much as possible during the colder months.

1045 Arrived at Emmanuel House to meet with male from St James Street.

He did not show, and his mobile went straight to voicemail so I left a message. Spoke to Kevin, a support worker at Emmanuel House, who passed on some information about a new possible rough sleeper who was evicted from his hostel due to assaulting a member of staff. I will need to update this on the SOT database on my return, and have advised Kevin to ask the male to make contact with us.

An important part of this role involves building up a level of trust. You have to establish a good initial relationship but showing respect and listening to the person.

A lot of homeless people have told me that one of the hardest things is that people simply don’t acknowledge or listen to them.

Everybody is an individual, and has specific needs that we have to consider.

1200 Approached by an ex-resident from London Road. He wants me to

contact Opportunity Nottingham on his behalf to be re-referred.

He is accommodated, but needs some support with his benefits and medication. Returned to the office to triage the male I had assessed earlier to Housing Aid and arrange for a Personal Housing Plan to be completed over the phone. I will support him with this tomorrow afternoon, as he does not have access to a mobile phone.

to understand that can be really difficult.

Especially now, when there’s a COVID pandemic and it’s getting dangerously cold. However, it’s important to understand that some people are so entrenched in that lifestyle that, when they do get given a room, they feel more able to sleep on the floor rather than the bed because they were so used to it, which, for me, is heart-breaking.

But it’s about giving people options, and that’s what we do. We’re not here to force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do.

People need to understand that anybody can become homeless, and it’s often really simple things that they need when it comes to support. Things like getting a bank account, or an ID. It’s all about making little steps. It’s about engaging with people and trying to get them the help they need, whether that’s with drug or alcohol issues, or accommodation, or anything else that will help them get to where they want to be.

1530 Still in the city trying to locate a male to let him know that he has accommodation from that evening at Sneinton Hermitage. We’re unable to locate him, but fortunately he has already arrived and is being booked in.

1415 After lunch I cover the phones in the SOT office and update my notes on the database. I referred the male I assessed earlier to the Winter Night Shelter and Alma Inn. Then I head out with my colleague Grace to locate a Russian male who is rough sleeping on Goldsmith Street. He requires some support with accommodation but has no local connection to Nottingham. He was not at the location, so I left a card at his tent so he could contact us.

Not everybody who is rough sleeping wants to be accommodated, and trying

It sounds like a bit of a cliché, but I do feel like I make a difference to people’s lives, and that’s very rewarding. I really enjoy working in the Street Outreach Team with a positive group of people. We’re only a small team, but you can tell that they’re all doing this job for a reason: to support and help people. We’re all working together for that common goal.

1615 Return to the office to update my notes and have a team discussion about referrals to the Winter Night Shelter. Team go out and locates the rough sleepers who have accommodation starting from that night. When my shift finishes at 1715, I’m definitely ready for a cuppa.

frameworkha.org/homelesstohome

34

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Breaking the Cycle Sofas are cosy home comforts for most people. But for many homeless women, who have fled from their homes to the comparable safety of the streets, a sofa is simply a makeshift bed for the night. But what they get in that mild comfort can come with a dark price, and can mean they struggle to escape a never-ending cycle of abuse. We speak to Framework’s Operations Manager for women’s and families’ services Claire Windebank about the physical and mental difficulties homeless women face, and how Framework helps them get control of their lives…

When walking around Nottingham city centre, it’s not often that you see homeless women on the streets. A study by Women’s Aid in 2019 said that 41% of homeless women sofa surf, and just 7% sleep rough. For many of them, homelessness is a better option than returning home, with 40% of homeless women being victims of domestic abuse. Claire Windebank, Framework’s Operations Manager responsible for women’s and families’ services, says, “People lose their homes to flee all of it, which is really disruptive for women. We started delivering a Homeless Families Service a couple of years ago, and more often than not it’s families with single mothers and children.”

As well as directly leading to women leaving their homes, domestic abuse can also play a part in other factors which lead to women becoming homeless. “Homeless women often come from a background where they've been abused in childhood, which leads to multiple deprivations such as poverty, drugs and alcohol,” Claire tells me. “It's just this whole cycle where they end up being abused throughout their lives.”

When the harsh reality of these situations lead to women ending up on the streets, they face a number of physical and mental challenges that homeless men don’t. “Not only do they have the issues of trying to stay warm, but women also have periods each month, probably without proper sanitary protection,” Claire explains. “Mentally, just being not safe and secure is really challenging for women on the streets, which can lead to further drug and alcohol issues, even if they didn't have them before.”

There are also more immediate dangers facing them, such as sexual assault, rape and violence perpetrated by other homeless people and members of the public. “They might hook up with men on the streets, thinking they will protect them, only to find that they go on to abuse them further – that might be physical abuse, coercive control or controlling drug and alcohol supplies,” Claire says.

“Women will try and avoid being on the streets – women and many young people will sofa surf instead. This could mean that they engage in sex work and go around to people's houses, or that men let them stay in their

houses. But that usually comes with some kind of sexual exploitation.”

Mentally, just being not safe and secure is really challenging for women on the streets, which can lead to further drug and alcohol issues, even if they didn’t have them before Not having a stable home to live in can also make it really difficult for women who have children. “You've got to have an address and have the right skills to be able to parent a baby,” Claire continues. “We do help with that, as some of our homeless clients have children removed through child protection. That's simply because they're just not in a place where they are able to look after children owing to the lifestyle they find themselves, but this can feel like a bereavement and further impact women’s mental health.”

With many homeless women sofa surfing, it can make it difficult for Framework’s team to reach them, and often they either find out about them through word of mouth or from the women coming through other services. But when they do find them, they have a range of systems to help women get back control of their lives, such as their Women’s Complex Needs service.

“Our support staff will work with people to try and get them to a point of stability, perhaps where we can offer accommodation, and then we can start to work with drug and alcohol interventions or mental health, as well as developing life skills,” Claire tells me. “But it is very, very difficult with some of the women that are entrenched, as you've got a whole life of abuse to unpick. That often prevents women from wanting to stop using drugs and alcohol because they have to face up to all this other stuff.”

Some of the basic services Framework provides includes helping them book drug and alcohol recovery appointments and keeping them up-to-date with their GP. But for those who are on the road to recovery, they’ll also teach them cooking, budgeting and socialising with neighbours, among other things. “The long term aim is to equip people with the skills to live independently and to help resettle them, but a lot of the time, it is that very front stage kind of stuff about meeting basic needs,” Claire says.

By using Framework’s services, it is possible for homeless women to break their spiralling cycles, get control of their lives, and even be reunited with their children. “I met a woman who helped us at a conference that had come through the Complex Needs service,” Clare recalls. “She’d had her children removed, but was able to get them back after stabilising and is now working as a support worker in the sector. It can happen.”

So what can the people of Nottingham do to support homeless women? You can donate to Framework, to help them continue to provide fantastic services. Claire also stresses the importance of helping young women, particularly care leavers, go on to training and employment.

Claire finishes by urging members of the public to have a greater understanding of homeless women. “People shouldn’t judge them by how they see them on the street – they should actually think about how complicated these women's lives are and how that leads to this cycle of deprivation.” Abuse shows its forms in and out of the shadows, and it’s easy to ignore it when you’re heading home for a relax on the settee. But when you are curled up, and your mind wanders back to that woman you glanced at… Think about how a seat on the sofa is both a comfort and a danger for them. And think about the wonderful people and services in the city, at Framework and elsewhere, that help provide them with a chance for change. frameworkha.org/service/womens-complex-needs

words: Eve Smallman illustration: Kasia Kozakiewicz

The Beat Goes On 2020 began on a high for charity music festival Beat the Streets when Jake Bugg took to the Rock City stage to headline the one-day, multi-venue festival, which raised £75,000 for Framework. But with the physical festival on hold, and the number of rough sleepers increasing, DHP Family have reimagined 2021’s festival for a post-COVID world…

Launched in 2018, the annual Beat the Streets festival has raised close to £250,000 for Framework Housing Association, funding vital services and allowing the charity to expand their team. Proceeds from the previous events – made via ticket sales, merchandise, collection buckets and the coveted tombola – enabled the charity to keep their Sneinton Hermitage shelter open all year round, and saw them employ two mental health workers as part of a new initiative to provide help to rough sleepers who may struggle to access mainstream services.

The music industry was dealt a devastating blow by the pandemic, but with new lockdown restrictions having a profound effect on communities across the country, the sad truth is that fundraisers like Beat the Streets are needed now more than ever – due to the economic distress that many individuals and families are experiencing, Framework has seen a rise in the number of new groups arriving on the streets.

But the festival’s team are determined not to let COVID stop them. Last month, Beat The Streets announced the launch of their ambitious Winter Fundraiser, an online campaign which will replace the physical festival for 2021. First up, members of the DHP Family embarked on a sponsored fundraising challenge, with teams aiming to collectively walk or run the distance between Rock City and DHP’s Bristol venue, Thekla, spanning 140 miles. After smashing their initial goal in just over ten days, the team have travelled 842 miles and, at the time or writing, had nearly reached their target of £10,000.

The yearly sell-out tombola has also inspired an online raffle, which will offer a substantial selection of prizes from venues, restaurants and organisations from around the city. With tickets starting at just £5, you could be in with the chance of winning gig tickets and vouchers for Rough Trade, Rescue Rooms and the Bodega, meals at Annie's Burger Shack and the Pudding Pantry, a piece of the Rock City Floor

or even a goodybag of treats from yours truly. A further set of premium rewards will also be on offer via a Crowdfunder, where givers can pledge set amounts to win exclusive prizes, such as Splendour Festival VIP Treatment, free gigs for a year, a custom commissioned portrait and more.

With the campaign set to run until the end of January, DHP Family are encouraging their partner organisations – which in the past have included local music organisations Rough Trade, I’m Not From London and Hockley Hustle – and the local artists who should have been taking to one of their many stages to get involved in the fundraising efforts too, so keep your eyes peeled for more ways you can help ensure Framework continue to benefit from Nottingham music-minded communities.

beatthestreetsuk.com/winterfundraiser

Sleep Out to Help Out Over the years, the Big Sleep Out fundraiser has become synonymous with the effort that Framework puts into ensuring we all understand the reality that Nottingham’s homeless community faces. With this year’s event cancelled, the charity is relying on support for their Winter Appeal to continue its legacy…

Each November, hundreds of people spend one night battling the elements and sleeping in makeshift shelters to experience the reality of Nottingham’s homeless community, making Framework’s Big Sleep Out a cornerstone of Nottingham’s calendar. The experience has been so successful that it’s gone on to become Framework’s biggest annual fundraising event – in 2018 alone, the Big Sleep Out raised an estimated £40,000.

In 2019, more than 200 groups and individuals raised money through sponsorship from friends, family and colleagues, and then descended on the City Ground for the annual fundraiser, with only cardboard shelters to protect them from the cold. The number of people sleeping rough in Nottingham is only increasing, with individuals using alleyways, doorways, abandoned buildings

and tents as their solace. In a safe, secure location, participants of the Big Sleep Out can experience just a glimpse of what the most vulnerable homeless people go through every single night.

All the money raised by the Big Sleep Out goes towards tackling rough sleeping locally by helping fund Framework’s Street Outreach Team, with past years raising enough to increase the capacity of existing teams and expand into other parts of the county. As the pandemic put a stop to the 2020 event, supporters are encouraged to donate to Framework’s Winter Appeal to assist the team in giving more people a warm bed to lay their head. By getting people off the street and supporting them into accommodation, it can empower them to live more stable, independent lives.

City of Shots Peter McConnochie – a.k.a UrbanScott – has been photographing the people of Nottingham for more than a decade, and has dedicated the last two years to his latest project, Faces of Nottingham. We caught up with the Scottish-born photographer to find out more about his latest project, as well as his ongoing obsession with shooting the people who work, live and travel in the city.

Where did your interest in photography start?

I grew up with photography in my family. My father bought me my first camera when I was a teenager, and it has been something I’ve always enjoyed. I love any chance to discover and photograph things of interest wherever I am. I initially started my portraits of strangers when on holiday in France, where I photographed a wine merchant.

When I moved to Nottingham in 2000, I picked up my first digital camera and struggled to figure out what to photograph. Then I realised that there was an endless array of wonderful subjects right outside my front door. I started to head out onto the streets of Nottingham every weekend after work to see who I could meet. The more people I approached, the more confident I became and the more I learned about making images, using light and creating interesting compositions. I started to venture further afield, making street portraits in London, Paris, New York and anywhere I was able to travel to. It became my way of connecting with a place I was in and a way to meet local people.

What is it about an individual that makes you think they’re worth photographing?

I tend to stop people that capture my interest and just ask if I can take a portrait. I never quite know what will interest me on any given day. Sometimes I head out for a few hours and make several portraits, other times I can spend an entire Sunday walking the streets, or several hours standing on Bridlesmith Gate, and shoot one person if I’m lucky. My attention is always grabbed by something different, whether

that’s a sense of style in the clothes a person is wearing, the way they’re carrying themselves, or a specific colour, glasses or facial hair. I believe everyone is special, unique and interesting, and for me that instinct changes with each day that I am out on the streets with my camera.

When I moved to Nottingham in 2000 I picked up my first digital camera and struggled to figure out what to photograph. Then I realised that there was an endless array of wonderful subjects rights outside my front door How did you approach the work differently in the knowledge that you were working toward Faces of Nottingham, your first published book?

When I first started working towards the publication, I knew I wanted to take inspiration from my previous street portraits, but also to stay current and almost start afresh for the book. I really took the time to talk to the people I was photographing, finding out about them and their stories, and learning what their relationship with Nottingham was.

I hope that comes across in the book. I included a short caption from my discussion with each person that provides a

glimpse into their life, or the impact the city has had on them.

I had so many interesting encounters during this project, from hanging out with the coffee roasters and baristas in the city to photographing Instagram influencers, creatives and street performers. The one thing everyone had in common was how wonderful and friendly they all were. It reaffirmed my sense of belonging to Nottingham and the love of the city that has become my home since leaving Scotland many years ago.

How have you kept yourself busy during the past year?

I recently took a short break from street portraits, and during lockdown I photographed the village of Ruddington for a personal project, which you can see on my website.

COVID has been really difficult for me as a photographer. I didn’t feel comfortable heading out to meet people on the streets, so I stepped back to focus on personal projects and spend some more time with my family. But I’m desperate to get back on the streets soon – I can’t wait to start making portraits and capturing stories of the people of Nottingham again.

Faces of Nottingham is available at Amazon, Waterstones and Five Leaves Bookshop now

@urbanscot urbanscot.co.uk amberley-books.com/faces-of-nottingham.html

photos: Peter McConnochie

Yemi I’ve lived in Nottingham longer than I have lived anywhere else in my life. Work in retail fashion brought me here. My style is unique.

It’s basically just me, it’s just unique and a mixture.

Adam (Robin Hood) My most surreal experience was the time I went to Hamlin to spend some time with the Pied Piper. William Tell came along and so did Tim, another local Robin Hood. The whole city was filled with fairytale characters and other peculiar people. It was quite intriguing!

38

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Claire Nottingham is a melting pot, and you don’t have to be one thing or another – you can be anywhere and anyone you want.

Dave I would love the Freedom of the City. There is a petition for it but nobody has done anything yet. They gave it to Carl Froch and he’s packed up, and they gave it to the Xylophone man when he was dead. I mean, I’m still out every night of the week and I want it before I’m dead.

Eloise In Hockley, everyone kind of knows everyone; there is a lot of support. When I was younger I had my own T-shirt brand, I came here to MiMM and was supported.

Curtis We started a page called NottsMan on Facebook and it’s got over twenty thousand likes – a lot of people from Nottingham love it, obviously because of the name. We try to make everything Notts-oriented. We like to take labels that are from Nottingham and mash it up in our own way.

David There is something about the music, there is something about the fact that I am sitting with my back to them in a non-confrontational position and there is something magical that happens when people walk into that space.

Satnam Just call me Mr Singh!

Siobhan My company, Major Labia, is about recognising women. I think being angry about things and wanting to change them and finding a way of doing that positively is what motivates me.

Vince My dad worked at the Raleigh factory on the production line for years, my mum was a dinner lady and yet I am swanning around Soho and Mayfair and dealing with the wealthiest people you’ll ever find in the world. But Nottingham is like an anchor for me, plus I love the city. I love everything about it. I love the culture, the history, the writers, and the literature. I adore the town and it is nice to come home from the cut-and-thrust.

Ellie I never had any ambitions really. It’s only by eventually believing in what I can do and in what I am capable of doing that I have managed to do it. leftlion.co.uk/issue132 39

The Curious Life of Doreen Simmons

Sumo wrestling commentator, teacher, author, singer, philanthropist, Mastermind contestant, recipient of Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun… Nottingham-born Doreen Simmons lived a life filled with adventure.

Having recently, with friend Jane Russell, co-written a play about her life, history enthusiast Jayne Muir explains why Doreen’s is a story well-worth telling…

On the night of 8 May 1941, the air raid sirens sounded across Nottingham as men, women, children, and no doubt a few pets, made their way to the shelters. Among them was an eight-yearold girl named Doreen Clarke who, more-thanlikely, had a library book or atlas tucked under her arm, giving herself something useful to occupy what would be another sleepless night. As the all-clear sounded the next morning, the shelters emptied, with hundreds of anxious Nottingham residents spilled back into their city to see what damage the 400 bombs dropped during the raid had caused. Fortunately for Doreen, her family members were all safe, and she still had a home to return to. Living close to the city centre, she must have appreciated just how fortunate she was, although with a father away from home serving in the army she must have worried. Like everyone else, she was expected to carry on as normal and, like all children, go to school and continue learning. And she did, with a mixture of relief and enthusiasm, as she eagerly awaited her ninth birthday.

Later that year, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, and the United States joined the war. Two months after that, in February 1942, British forces surrendered Singapore to Japan.

Did these events register with young Doreen? Did she hear about them on the radio, or read about them in the newspaper? Did her family talk about them at the tea table? Maybe, but no-one could have predicted that all of these places would feature in her life at some point in the future.

As the war progressed, Doreen’s focus was on her studies. In 1943 she became a pupil at Nottingham’s Mundella Grammar School. She loved learning and had a particular flair for languages, winning prizes in Latin and French.

She sang in the school choir and she became Girls’ School Captain (the equivalent of Head Girl). Contemporaries remember Doreen as an extremely bright and able pupil, her teachers clearly agreed, and probably with the involvement of her Latin master, she decided to apply for a place at Cambridge to study Classics.

The only problem was that she needed Greek and it was not a subject normally taught in state schools. Undaunted, Doreen started teaching herself. She got permission to take some time out of other lessons and spent many hours in the school library poring over Greek text books. Her efforts paid off and, in the Autumn of 1950, she went up to Girton College, graduating three years later in Classics and Theology. She followed this with a year at Hughes Hall, Cambridge, gaining a Post Graduate Teaching Certificate and took up her first post as a teacher of Latin at the Herbert Strutt School in Belper shortly afterwards.

Teaching could have defined her for the rest of her life. She may well have worked her way up the ladder, becoming Head of a large school, retiring with a suitable pension when the time came.

That would have been a notable achievement, something worth celebrating. But Doreen was different.

Getting a job in Singapore must have been very exciting and a perfect fit for Doreen. Teaching the children of forces personnel meant working in the familiar environment of the British classroom, but in a much more exotic setting. She made new friends, socialised, joined a choir and acted in

amateur productions, getting a mention in the English language newspaper The Straits Times for her role in She Stoops to Conquer. She also met a man called Bob Simmons and they married in Singapore in 1967. When their work contracts ended a couple of years later, they travelled.

In 2017 she was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Japan’s highest civilian honour, for her services to the promotion of Japanese culture Hong Kong and Cambodia again offered new experiences. Three months in Japan allowed Doreen to indulge her fascination with the culture, and she was particularly taken with the sumo wrestling she saw on TV. Hawaii offered yet another contrast, then across the USA by Greyhound bus and on to Canada. Quite a trip.

But the need to work brought the couple back to the UK and Doreen taught Classics at a girls’ school in London for the next five years. One of her former students remembers Doreen during an overseas school trip. She took to the stage in the amphitheatre at Delphi, reciting boldly from a Greek play. In the early seventies the BBC had an idea for a new style of TV quiz programme which they called Mastermind. Doreen took part in the pilot episode and was a contender on the first broadcast series. Unfortunately the recording no longer exists, but for her specialist subject, Doreen chose Greek mythology – no surprise there! Although she didn’t win, she performed well. She also got to know Magnus Magnusson and learned a smattering of Icelandic along the way.

When her marriage ended a few years later, Doreen needed a fresh start. Off she went to Japan. Of course there wasn’t much call for Latin or Greek in Japan, so Doreen taught English to Japanese students, later becoming Director of Studies at the International Language Centre in Tokyo. During her school years she had been a keen cricket fan, enjoying her visits to Trent Bridge and keeping track of the games on her homemade scorecards. In Tokyo, her attention turned to all things sumo. She watched the new recruits as they trained at the stables (as the training centres are called) and got to know them. She went to live sumo events and read as much as she could about the sport. She was particularly fascinated by the links to the Shinto religion and the rituals involved: the costumes, the hair preparation, the throwing of the salt. Of course, most of the reference information was in Japanese, but this was no barrier to Doreen. She was keen to learn the language and succeeded, to the extent that she was eventually proficient enough to work as an editor and translator for the Japanese government. She was always interested in educating others about Japanese culture and wrote a series of booklets on various Japanese crafts and traditions - among them were Kinzo the Potter, Bon Odori Summer Dancing and Fine Feathers in Sumo. They are a delight to read, too.

As Doreen’s sumo knowledge and expertise continued to grow, she was asked to write a column on the sport for an English language magazine. In 1992 she was approached by the Japanese broadcaster NHK. Would she be interested in doing some sumo commentary on their new English language service? Always up for a challenge, Doreen agreed, took to it well and never looked back. A middle-aged English woman commentating on sumo wrestling in Japan was something of a novelty and Doreen did face a degree of scepticism from some of her male colleagues. Undaunted and probably by virtue of her personality, vast knowledge and ability to communicate, she eventually won them over and continued her broadcasting work for many years.

Doreen’s ability to hold an audience extended beyond the world of sumo. Since moving to Japan, she had continued her singing and was a member of the British Embassy Choir. She was a frequent soloist with a strong soprano voice and a love of classical music. But she was equally at home on the karaoke microphone in a bar or playing the Irish bodhran drum with a jug band.

She was also a member of the Tokyo International Players, and earned a positive review in a local newspaper when she took on the role of Madame Arcati in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit and “stole the show”.

Doreen’s faith was an important aspect of her life.

She was an active member of the Anglican church in Tokyo and had many friends there. She also found time for voluntary work. The organisation Habitat for Humanity is a Christian charity that works in the UK and abroad to help people access safe and decent homes. This was a cause close to Doreen’s heart and she signed up for a trip to Mongolia where she helped build houses. Quite a contrast from her normal day-to-day activities in Japan, but she enjoyed it so much that she did two further stints, returning from one visit complete with Mongolian tattoo.

There is much more that could be said about Doreen Simmons. She said that she never intended to get so busy, it just happened. But she enjoyed being busy, loved the variety of work that she undertook and loved meeting people. She was inquisitive throughout her life and never lost her love of learning. She must have been great company and a fascinating conversationalist.

When Doreen died in 2018 at the age of 85, her death was reported in newspapers and on websites around the world. The main focus was on her sumo wrestling commentary and she was described as the “sumo granny” and “godmother of sumo”. There are striking images online showing her (tiny) standing between two sumo wrestlers (huge). She understood the appeal of such images to the press and public but said of her sumo work “it’s just one of the things I do”.

True; it is clear that her interests were wide and varied and she was many things to many different people. But the sumo work meant that she was in the public eye. In 2017 she was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Japan’s highest civilian honour, for her services to the promotion of Japanese culture. She was surprised and delighted and accepted the award with gratitude. What an amazing achievement for a girl who started her travels with an atlas in the air raid shelters

words: Jayne Muir illustration: Liv Auckland

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 41

interview: Paul Drury photos: Gavin Joynt

Gimme Shelter Since 2014, Marcus Rowlands has been creating beautiful, bespoke structures for clients in and around Nottinghamshire.

Born in Arnold and now based in Carlton, he studied Textile Design at the Glasgow School of Art and worked for many years in education, as a lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, at various FE colleges and running community art workshops, before launching his design and build company, Sheltered Spaces. He tells us about his design philosophy, the character of wood and the joys of cabin porn...

How did you get into this ‘bespoke architectural design’ lark?

Right before starting Sheltered Spaces, I was working in education doing art workshops – particularly with lads who were troubled – teaching them how to build things outdoors, like shelters. That could be pretty tough. I was also bringing up my kids as a stay-at-home dad, and I got to the point of thinking I just wanted to be a labourer because then I wouldn’t have to think and could just do what I was told. So I did. I worked with someone who was very generous and kind to allow me into that world, because I had no experience whatsoever and, after a while, I realised I could do it myself.

You have a background in Textile Design. Has that been useful in this venture?

Massively – everything I was taught about seeing things differently and emergent thinking. When I was producing work for exhibitions, I was making big fabric sculptures that people could bounce on and climb in and lie on.

Do you view your projects now like art installations?

Very much so. I come from that mindset, in terms of aesthetics and the spirit of the place, the way you might enter a space and the quality of the light.

Light seems something you view as especially important in your projects...

Well, I suppose life is about dark and light. Growing up, I spent a lot of time exploring the dark and as I get older I spend more time in the light. Metaphorically and emotionally. That’s what I’m drawn to – the illumination of something. But then the light wouldn’t work if there wasn’t the dark. Some of the buildings I make or the corners of structures, I’m aware that the shadows which are made are just as important as the light. One of the best things is being invited back to a project by a client and them telling me how light moves about the space and how the shadows change over the day.

Working with, as opposed to for, your clients, seems key to your approach...

I’m very aware that people don’t always have positive

experiences with builders. We all have horror stories.

Going into someone’s home and building in their space is an intimate thing. I want it to be a partnership right from the beginning. I’m not interested in telling people ‘I’ve got five options you can pick from’. I want it to be different each time and I want the whole process to be positive.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time exploring the dark and as I get older, I spend more time in the light. Metaphorically and emotionally. That’s what I’m drawn to - the illumination of something So how does the process start with a client?

Some people will draw what they want, if they feel comfortable with that. Some will show me a mood board of things they’ve seen on the Internet or show me a beautiful image on Instagram and say, “I’d like that.” I say, “Okay, I can do that, but that’s oak and will cost you £50,000.” Then they say, “I don’t want that,” and we go from there.

You say on your website you use ‘natural materials’, but isn’t all wood natural?

A natural material which has been injected with something or treated with an arsenic product doesn’t end up very natural, does it? A lot of materials used in the building trade are pretty poor and there’s a lot of waste.

Sorry to be ignorant, but are woods really that different?

Oh, yes. They have different grains and colour and different properties and it affects the way you can

cut and carve them and put them together. Accoya is currently the most sustainable timber and larch is a fantastic British wood. In the UK, we tend to associate building with bricks, cement and steel, but go into Scandinavia and North America and it’s all wood.

Looking through past projects on your website, we especially liked the Vinyl Cabin...

That was the client’s main theme – now we’ve got kids, where can we put all our music? The cladding is based on vinyl records being stacked on a shelf.

Do you do all the work on projects yourself?

It’s mainly me, though I will bring in specialist craftspeople if I need to. Recently I’ve started working with my daughters, which has been an absolute joy. I couldn’t work with anybody during lockdown and my youngest daughter in particular has been involved with building two cabins… and she now knows the difference between a good and bad electrician!

That is a useful life skill! The building trade is still male-dominated – do you feel you’re challenging a few gender stereotypes?

Well, if I was on a big construction site, maybe, but we are working on our own – though a client recently said he saw me and my daughter having a break after a hard morning’s work, laughing together, and he thought it was beautiful. It’s a treat for me – seeing my daughter doing ten-hour days.

What are your plans for Sheltered Spaces?

I’ve been having a conversation with a friend in Canada about impermanent spaces. We’re interested in the notion of buildings that decay and that show signs of impermanence. The word ‘folly’ comes to mind.

Structures that warp in the sun or channel the wind to make a sound or things growing on a building… the idea of a green roof but exploding it to something bigger. I’d also like to build spaces that are not just ground-based.

Something that’s hovering in the air, on stilts or wires, or something underground. Indulgent, but beautiful. shelteredspaces.co.uk @sheltered.spaces

leftlion.co.uk/issue132 43

Bohn Appetit

words: Eve Smallman

Picture this: a juicy burger, brimming with cheese, sauce and spice. Wrapping your smackers around it. Sinking your teeth into all that bun and meat. Licking your lips in relish. Mmmm. That’s the BOHNS Burgers experience for you. They know how to pack in the flavour and the textures in their mouth-watering burgers. Our Food Editor Eve Smallman chats to owner Tom Bohn about how they make them so damn good, and why you should get your chops around one ASAP… It’s Saturday night in the city centre, and Broad Street is ominously empty. But as we walk down the street to BOHNS, the atmosphere feels ever so slightly more vibrant. “Mmm, I can smell food.” Good job we’re heading in the direction of it. We descend down the BOHNS staircase, where we are hit with the rich scent of sizzling meat. Friendly and efficient, we’re given a bag fulla burgers and fries. Night in, sorted.

food for thought

BOHNS wasn’t always nestled under Brewdog on the edge of one of the city centre’s (usually) busiest streets. In fact, the inspiration for it came from Tom Bohn living somewhere also pretty sweet. “I used to work in a barbecue restaurant in Canada and, as you can imagine, they’re big on their low and slow-cooked meat and their smoke and spices,” he says. “I came back with eleven or so spice recipes that I was trialling with friends and family, and my future father-in-law Jeff [who gives me a friendly wave in the background of our Zoom] suggested putting the recipes in retail packs and selling them to wholesalers and retailers.”

44

vibrant city and the food scene in Nottingham being bigger and better.” After scouting out a few venues, they eventually settled on their current location and opened up shop in October 2018.

One of the biggest things that gives me motivation is having people tell us it’s the best burger in Nottingham

They were soon at trade shows with their spice combos, sold along with tasters, which then led them to go into catering and doing pop-ups in pubs and other places. “We were given an opportunity to take over a small unit at The Post House in Derby, which was a bit like Notts Street Food Club,” Tom continues.

After being there for a year, they knew they wanted to open their own restaurant. “We wanted to get away from Derby, with Nottingham being a more

Flipping the Notts burger scene on its head, they’ve gained a steady army of loyal followers and even nabbed themselves a spot on StagWeb’s list of the country’s most badass burgers. But what makes BOHNS burgers stand out? “Our high-quality, locallysourced ingredients – our meat is organic beef and our brioches are made by a local bakery,” Tom explains.

“But our main USP is our homemade spice blends, which we use in rubs and incorporate into our sauces and which you can also buy from us.” When I pry on what spices they particularly love, Tom coyly says that they play around with lots of different ones. “Jeff is a big fan of smoked paprika – he always opens up the tub if we’re mixing different rubs.” At this point, I lose my professionalism and confess my unwavering love for smoked paprika too.

New Restaurant – Fat Hippo

Must-Try – Death Valley Burrito

From the North-East, these guys are now bringing their juicy buns to the Midlands with their new restaurant in Hockley. Try a classic cheeseburger or even their quirky PB&J burger. @FatHippoFood

You could genuienly weight-lift with their jam-packed burritos, and their fresh, vibrant, tasty food has got us wrapped around their fingers. Add a brownie to your order for extra deliciousness. @DeathValleyBurritos

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Of course, as with any interview conducted at the moment, our conversation strays to the current global pandemic. “January was our best-performing month ever and February was phenomenal too, but then a couple of weeks later we had to close because of COVID,” Tom tells me. “At the moment we’re having to constantly adapt and change our business strategy every few weeks, while still trying to get people through the door and pay our staff.” They quite literally moved walls to adapt, knocking down one of theirs to maintain capacity while also maintaining social distancing.

While you can’t sit in and enjoy at the moment, you can grab their burgers by collection from Wednesday – Saturday, as well as on delivery apps Just Eat and Uber Eats. When I start to wrap up by asking for a personal highlight, Tom says, “One of the biggest things that gives me motivation is having people tell us it’s the best burger in Nottingham, or even seeing people take a big bite of their burger, then nodding and smiling.”

Although Tom can’t see me at home, when I tuck into mine I do just that. The flavours jump out and spice up my night, and I’m left feeling beyond satisfied. And as for the best burger in Nottingham part? Well, you’ll have to go down Broad Street and try one for yourself.

bohnsbestburgers.co.uk @bohns_official

Good to Know – Vegetarian Chips at The Cod’s Scallops In a controversial move, the undisputed local kings of fish and chips have switched from beef dripping chips to using vegetable oil. We can verify they still taste utterly yummy. @TheCodsScallops

food Review: ViDa by Lorentes

food review: Absurd vird

I know I’m not the only person who was dying to escape Nottingham in 2020. I was desperate for a glimpse of the soirees around Europe I’d enjoyed last summer, and a quest for authentic Spanish tapas led me to the basement of a Lace Market building to ViDa by Lorentes.

Winner winner, chicken dinner. I’ve heard that phrase a lot, but being vegetarian since the age of seven, I’ve never been able to say it myself. That is until I spotted a new takeaway while scrolling through food delivery apps (aka one of my favourite past times) called Absurd Vird. A spin-off of Absurd Bird, they specialise in plant-based fried chicken, promising serious greasy goodness. I decided to give it a whack, and went for the Korean BBQ burger (£9.95) with a side of sweet potato fries (£4.00).

The interior, with exposed brick walls and warm lights shining down on dark wooden tables creates a relaxed, cosy atmosphere, like you’ve bagged a table at a joint in the backstreets of Valencia. Once seated, we picked a glass from the extensive wine list and turned our attention to the menu. As well as sharing portions of paella and cured meat boards, their tapas menu was full of classics. We asked the chef how many plates he recommended for the two of us – he smiled, shrugged his shoulders and gave the advice he would follow at home in Spain: “try one, and if you’re not too fussed, move yourself on to the next restaurant along.”

The picture on the website promised a huge stack of onion rings to sit pretty inside the burger, but I was a bit concerned about how this would stay intact in transit. Thankfully the rings were in a separate bag, which meant that I could choose how many I could practically chomp into while grasping the burger. They were extra crispy, exactly how I like them.

Penny for your thoughts words and photos: Lucy Parker

Food is such a big part of the festive season, providing so many tasty memories and cause for merriment. Things might be feeling a bit tighter on the wallet following this year’s troubles, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still chow down on some tasty nosh this Christmas time. We’ve enlisted Notts recipe creator and photographer Lucy Parker to share some tips on how to make your food extra tasty on a budget, and make sure nothing goes to waste...

Leftover Ideas Making the most of those leftovers will help get the most out of your pennies...

This honesty is what made the experience of eating at ViDa by Lorentes so memorable. Not only was the food faultless – we ate every single bite of our patatas bravas, spicy chorizo with cider, beef meatballs and beer battered cod bites with aioli – but the smiles on the faces of the staff when they collected our empty plates were undoubtedly genuine, and a true testament to the hard work they put in to ensuring their customers enjoy the very best.

For dessert we had a light, cheesecake-style berry pot they’d been trialling that day on the recommendation of our server. As I sipped on the final drops of my Rioja, I’d completely forgotten I was just a stone's throw away from the rowdy queue for Lloyds No.1. I never wanted to leave.

Emily Thursfield Stoney Street, NG1 1LX lorentes.co.uk

I’ve had vegan fried chicken before, but it has always been a weird experience in terms of the texture of the burger, as it’s often made to replicate chicken exactly. I don’t particularly enjoy this, so I was happy that the Absurd Vird one was more Quorn nugget-like in texture. The spiciness of the crunchy kimchi and the stickiness of the sweet BBQ sauce really helped liven up the burger, adding the perfect pizzazz that plant-based meats often need. The sweet potato fries were a generous portion too, and were crunchy and tasty, with not a hint of sogginess in sight.

Bubble & Squeak Sausage Rolls. Just buy a sheet of puff pastry and pop all those delicious leftovers inside. If you’ve got any chutney leftover even better - just layer it in them!

For a delicious treat when nothing but a burger will do, Absurd Vird are the words. If you’re fancying one, make sure to order when they open at 5pm though – they sell out quick time, and for a very good reason. Eve Smallman

Flavour for Less

Mansfield Road, NG5 2EF @absurdvird

Kimchi & Cheese Toastie. By Christmas you’ve usually got 1kg of cheese waiting to be eaten in the fridge. Swap out chutney or cranberry sauce for kimchi and pesto to give a different twist on that leftover good stuff.

Boxing Day Leftover Veg Rostis. Mash those veggies such as leftover peas, carrots, broccoli and spuds along with roasted squash, make into a patty shape, then fry in a generous glug of olive oil.

Perfect for curing those festive hangovers.

Swapping a few ingredients to get maximum flavour for minimum cost Vegetable stock. Instead of forking out for a pricey bag of premade stock, just use a simple stock cube with boiling water. Kallo and Knorr are good brands with lower salt too. Add a spoonful of cranberry sauce or chutney for a serious pop of flavour.

Swap fresh herbs for dried. Using dried herbs will take that flavour a little further than fresh. A pot of dried rosemary, thyme and sage will go a long way over the Christmas period, especially as they’re such classic flavours.

Perfect gravy. For a simple, divine gravy recipe that doesn’t call for expensive cuts or ingredients, use a simple base of mushrooms, a spoonful of marmite, a stock cube and cornflour mixed with water. Don’t forget those dried herbs for that extra wow-factor!

To Follow – Pizza By Post Our mates at Oscar and Rosie’s have launched a cook-at-home delivery service.

Follow them for regular giveaways, chuckleworthy captions and satisfying dough-rolling. @PizzaByPost

Want your Nottingham foodie business featured in the mag?

Fancy writing for us?

Email our Food Editor at eve.smallman@leftlion.co.uk

Make it yourself. It may sound really obvious, but buying raw veg such as parsnips, carrots and potatoes will always be cheaper than premade dishes from the supermarket. A tray of premade dauphinoise potatoes that serves six costs £8, whereas homemade can cost as little as £3.

For more festive food ideas and recipes, follow Lucy on Instagram or check out her website @lucyandlentils lucyandlentils.co.uk leftlion.co.uk/issue132 45

Film

We’re All Black Down Here

interview: George White

George White talks to writer Milly James and producer Sophia Ramcharan about We’re All Black Down Here, a short film exploring the story of an African-Caribbean miner in the East Midlands...

The extensive influence of the mining industry on Nottingham’s rich, layered culture is well-documented. Yet there is one area of the region’s deep mining history that has often been overlooked – the vital role of migrants. This is something that We’re All Black Down Here, a short drama telling the story of an African-Caribbean miner in the East Midlands, is hoping to address.

“The film is important as it places black men, African-Caribbean men, in an industry where little has been recorded about the part they played,” says writer Milly James. “I think one of the reasons their role has been overlooked is that there’s a lack of specific documentation.

We see so many historical accounts of British mining where there is so little mention of the contribution made by immigrants.”

Based on the life of her own father, Milly admits this is a story that feels particularly important to tell. “I have tried to imbue an essence of his experience into the main character, Morris,” she says. “The whole process has been quite exciting for me. I couldn’t wait to get my teeth into it.”

When we look deeper and examine the issues of racial intolerance and hatred that our parents faced in England, it is still the same as those experienced by us and younger generations “The most pertinent theme of the film is race. It was staggering to witness the killing of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests all over the planet, including the UK. This all came shortly after the Windrush Scandal. For us as black people it felt like nothing had changed,” she admits. “When we look deeper and examine the issues of racial intolerance and hatred that our parents faced in England, it is still the same as those experienced by us and younger generations.”

Filming at local locations including Mansfield’s Pleasley Pit Mining Museum, We’re All Black Down Here is making the most of Nottingham’s impressive filmmaking potential to tell its powerful story. Milly herself is from the area, as is producer Sophia Ramcharan and several other members of the crew.

For Sophia, the success of the movie depends on its authenticity. “It’s really important to the production to have local representation on screen with Nottingham locations and crew,” she explains. “We’re not cheating here, we will be filming the story underground in a real mining location, providing an immersive and genuine experience for the audience.”

Expected to start shooting in January, after the second lockdown, We’re All Black Down Here will premiere with a special online screening for cast, crew and supporters. If that goes well, Milly is hoping to take her project even further.

“There are so many aspects that I really wanted to cover, but we couldn’t do that in a short film. We’d love to develop this into a feature so we can explore them more thoroughly.”

Find out more about the film at facebook.com/ weareallblackdownhereshortfilm

Short Reels

Recent events in the UK and abroad only strengthened Milly’s determination to make the movie. The issues faced

by migrants such as her father are still alarmingly present today, making public conversations about racism as crucial as ever.

To Watch - Streaming at Broadway

To Remember - Hawk the Slayer

We’re all missing the excitement of dipping lights, the flicker of the projector and the sweet, sweet smell of popcorn, but Broadway Cinema have been keeping you cinephiles entertained while their doors have been closed for lockdown. The cinema hub’s specially curated selection of films to stream from the comfort of your own home have produced some crackers, including Maya Newell’s In My Blood it Runs and Rene van Pennevis’ Looted. The prices are reasonable, and you can feel content in knowing that a portion of the money goes directly to Broadway.

Starring Jack Palance and John Terry (not that one), Hawk the Slayer follows Hawk and his companions as they try to take out his evil brother and rescue the nun he’s taken hostage.

broadway.org.uk

This adventure-fantasy is every bit as crazy as it sounds, causing one film critic to claim that “it is so bad, it circumnavigates the scale and comes back to good again”. Director Terry Marcel, who is also responsible for absolute classics like Jane and the Lost City and Prisoners of the Lost Universe, filmed on location in Mansfield for this one – although it might not be the town’s greatest claim to fame.

To Follow - Guy Jenkins (@guyjenkins_) Versatile Notts filmmaker Guy Jenkins has worked on projects ranging from music videos for Do Nothing to campus tours for the University of Nottingham. Guy’s Instagram is the place to be for awesome behind-thescenes shots and an in-depth look at the filmmaking process.

Want your film featured in LeftLion?

Email our Screen Editors at screen@leftlion.co.uk

The announcement of another national lockdown last month was undoubtedly a blow for cinemas across the country. Like many sectors in the UK, the screen industry has been massively affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, causing issues from a lack of new releases to the complete shutdown of movie theatres.

But if there’s one thing I know about cinemas, it’s that they’ll bounce back.

Every time.

After the Government shifted its message from “Stay at Home” to “Stay Alert” earlier this year, and sectors of the economy were finally allowed to reopen, cinemas showed a versatility and commitment to safety that saw them attract plenty of customers back to the big screen – despite many studios refusing to distribute their latest big releases.

By properly enforcing social distancing measures including reduced seating capacity and restricted opening times, the vast majority of cinemas kept people safe during screenings Lacking the appeal of the latest Marvel title, theatres brought back old classics like Alien and Rocky IV, giving many people the chance to experience some of the greatest movies in history (yes, that includes the Rocky franchise) on the big screen for the first time. Venues such as Broadway held exciting events like Mayhem Film Festival, offering a reduced programme to ensure that Nottingham film fans got their horror fix in time for Halloween. And places like the Savoy once again brought the city’s screen community together, hosting The Loft Movie Theatre’s showing of Evil Dead II. What’s most impressive, though, is that cinemas did all this while providing some of the safest settings for customers post-lockdown. A report from The Telegraph found that next to no cases of COVID were traced back to the silver screen. By properly enforcing social distancing measures including reduced seating capacity and restricted opening times, the vast majority of cinemas kept people safe during screenings, and it is this determination that will ensure the industry survives.

There will be plenty more challenges for movie theatres in Nottingham and beyond going forward, but don’t bet against them yet. They’ll be back.

words: George White

Music Reviews Practical Lovers Post-Mortem (EP) I’m Not From London It was half a decade ago we last heard from Practical Lovers. They sounded melancholy back then, but in the years since we’ve had Brexit, Boris, Trump and Coronavirus. Hello darkness, my old friend. This three-track EP is actually remastered offcuts from their 2015 LP Agony, all of which deserve revisiting. Last Chance To Forget features action-packed eighties synths and vocalist Jack Wiles in sinister mode. Changing Seasons sounds halfway between a fifties blues and a computer crashing. The Lie features Wiles in a more upbeat mode harmonising to a piano. For fans of Future Islands and eighties revival generally. Jared Wilson

Asa Look On Your Face (Single)

Gambino Akuboy Hold It (Single)

Criminally underrated musical centre of gravity, Asa, trades his guitar for 303s and drum machines, stirring up a pot of acid as caustic as hydrochloric and as trippy as lysergic. You might clock Asa’s robotised voice cutting through the mix, as well as samples of hip-hop royalty, Del the Funkee Homosapien, for probably his first ever feature on a bangin’ jack track. As always, ever-creative, experimental music for anyone with an open mind. Dope ideas. Nick Strang

Gambian-born Gambino Akuboy has taken on many roles in his life including actor, member of the British Army and now, songwriter based in Nottingham. Following previous local appearances such as Nottingham Global Roots festival, he’s back with his latest single. Hold It is an Afrobeats/Afropop/electronica fusion that promises to get you moving. Percussion and bass dominate this track, produced by Ghanian artist Kasapa. Not even lockdown will stop you from dancing to the energetic creations. Hold It will make you let go. Bassey

J.Influence Still On It (EP)

Local Healers and Louis Cypher Paintings on the Wall (EP)

Previously recording pop as Jodie Deanne, J.Influence sees the Midlands-based artist truly step up into her soulful sound of recent years.

Collaborating with producers including 30 Hertz Beats and Aston McCreight, the nostalgic RnB melodies of Hasty and Here’s Mine showcase her iconic vocal style and dynamic range, switching from strong truth-telling lyrics to celestial harmonies in an instant. The title track made with Nottingham’s own TONYSPARK finishes things up with a lesson in neo-soul funk, offering the perfect ending to a strong body of work.

Eileen Pegg

The third release from Local Healers sees Nay Loco and Ty Healy team up with Louis Cypher and producer Faux Sala in a united front to support the arts sector – specifically the localised scenes. The full EP comes out in January, but first single Renaissance offers a taste of what’s to come in December; a multi-layered, warm, melodic EP, using jazz instrumentals that hark back to the creatives the work aims to big up, with clear-crafted lyrical flows to make their point clearly.

Eileen Pegg

If you’re from Nottingham and want to get added to our music writers list, or get your tunes reviewed, hit us up at music@leftlion.co.uk

NUSIC BOX

Your new Notts music tip sheet, as compiled by Nusic’s Sam Nahirny. Want more? Check out the fortnightly podcasts and live sessions on the Nusic website.

EMBE Two singles in and already loved by national platforms like BBC Radio 1Xtra and Mixtape Madness, EMBE is smashing 2020. Despite only being eighteen, he already sounds like he’s been in the game for a decade. He’s making a kind of wavey, kind of RnB-y, kind of pop-y sound, but one that feels very, very British. We don't think it will be long before those one-off plays become daytime playlists for Embe. And for that, Notts should be mad excited. instagram.com/embe_notts

Orton You may recognise this fella as the frontman of Brown Lion Zoo, who used to belt out big-boy indie bangers back at those things we used to call ‘gigs’. Now, like a lot of us in 2020, Orton (human name Will) has got a lot more comfortable with the whole solo vibe. And he brings those new found soundwaves to your ears in this new project. Lo-fi indie which manages to be haunting and optimistic at the same time, it feels like an apt soundtrack to 2020. facebook.com/ortonuk leftlion.co.uk/issue132 49

Art

words: Laura-Jade Vaughan

Images clockwise from top left: © Alison Katz, 2020; The Annotated Reader; Reactor, The Gold Ones, 2020 © Reactor; Phoebe Boswell, Transit Terminal 2014. Images by Hendrik Zeitler. Image courtesy of the artist and Göteborgs Konsthall

looking ahead: 2021 Exhibitions at a Glance 2020 may have been a bit of a letdown, but once restrictions allow it, we can’t wait to visit a range of art exhibitions. Here are a few new shows you can look forward to. All dates are subject to change, so be sure to check before visiting...

Reactor: Here the Gold Ones Meet Bonington Gallery Welcome to the Cosmic Care Home. Bonington Gallery will be showing a performance-fiction work by Reactor, a Nottingham-based art collective, exploring an imagined present-future-past inhabited by characters collectively known as the Gold Ones. With an evolving narrative, the show comprises video, performance, games and installation. Runs Sat 6 Feb 2021 - Sat 13 Mar 2021.

boningtongallery.co.uk Phoebe Boswell: Here New Art Exchange What does it mean to belong and to be free? This question is at the heart of Phoebe Boswell’s exhibition, and draws on a personal history rooted in colonial traces and contradictory legacies. Combining drawing with digital technology, she creates immersive installations and works that layer drawing, animation, sound, video, and interactivity. Boswell’s art aims to find a language to articulate and celebrate the nuance and complexity of communities, voices, hearts, and histories which, like her own, are often marginalised, simplified or sidelined as 'other'. The show is currently postponed, so look out for an opening date. nae.org.uk Viviana Troya One Thoresby Street For the past year and a half, Viviana Troya has been One Thoresby Street’s New Contemporaries Studio Bursary Holder. Marking the end of her residency, Troya will exhibit new work, exploring notions of displacement of time and absence, and the question of who and where we are in time via technology.

Runs 27 Feb 2021 - 27 Mar 2021. onethoresbystreet.org The Annotated Reader Bonington Gallery “Imagine you’ve missed the last train. Is there one piece of writing that you would want with you for company in the small hours?” In a project by artist Ryan Gander and critic and writer Jonathan P. Watts, this question was posed to nearly 300 leading artists, academics, writers, musicians and designers working today, inviting them to submit a piece of writing with their personal annotations. In addition, you’ll find a vending machine where you can purchase a USB stick containing the entire catalogue of texts.

Runs Sat 27 Mar 2021 - Sat 15 May 2021. boningtongallery.co.uk Allison Katz: Artery Nottingham Contemporary London-based Canadian artist, Allison Katz, draws on puns and language games, exploring the gap between language and visual representation. It includes a number of new and recent works created in London during lockdown, and explores questions of intimacy without touching, circulation and slowness.

Katz’s paintings will be playfully hung among and behind a series of angled walls, apertures and peepholes. Runs 15 May 2021 – 31 Oct 2021. nottinghamcontemporary.org Nottingham Castle Collection Nottingham Castle This spring, you can see highlights from the Castle's world-class art collections ‘back home’ in four newly-refurbished galleries. Artworks include firm favourites by Richard Parkes Bonington, Dame Laura Knight, Magdalene Odundo, Ben and Winifred Nicholson, Dame Lucie Rie, JMW Turner and more - joined by exciting new additions from artists including Goshka Macuga, Zanele Muholi and Edmund de Waal.

Nottingham’s nationally-important medieval alabaster sculptures will also share the stage, along with a new Nottingham Lace Gallery. nottinghamcastle.org.uk

50

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

UNDER COVER ARTIST

Multidisciplinary artist Rob White takes us inside his sixth LeftLion cover, an ode to putting 2020 behind us for good...

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My earliest memories are drawing and making things – being engrossed in putting something together, be it with mud, Lego, pens or paint, and completely focused, almost lost in the creative process. I have travelled extensively around Asia and done several stints in London and now live in rural mid-Wales with my partner (artist Billie Ireland) and our three young children, surrounded by rolling hills, forests and lots of sheep. Most of our nearest and dearest live in Nottingham, I have a fond connection with my home town and make regular trips back.

What was the inspiration behind the cover?

For all of us, 2020 has been a very strange and surreal year. As we steadily approach the end of this year, I felt that the cover needed to shout out with bright psychedelic optimism, combined with a dose of macabre satire. What else instils a sense of wonder and optimism more than the sight of the rising sun combined with a majestic snowcapped mountain peak with cake and fine wine? The style of the artwork is part-inspired by Persian Miniatures along with Buddhist Art from Nepal and Tibet. I highly appreciate the power that these works impose on the viewer and how they can spiritually inspire. I hope that this cover makes people smile or laugh, it would be nice to think it merely achieves that.

How does it compare with some other projects you’ve worked on?

I am fortunate in that most projects I have worked on have provided me the freedom for some cheeky fun, such as putting Donald Trump’s head on a plate and shoving it under the party table while the viewer looks on towards higher places and the upcoming new year.

Tell us about some projects you’ve worked on in the past…

I’ve been lucky to work on numerous covers for LeftLion over the past fourteen years and this cover is my sixth. The first one was back in March 2006 (feels like 1906) for Issue #10. I think of myself as being a multidisciplinary artist and I simply like to make things. My experience spans abstract painting, illustration and graphics through to digital animation and web design. In the late nineties and early 2000s I was commissioned to create the cover artwork for Bent’s debut album Programmed To Love. Developing the artwork was an exciting creative challenge and what really helped was that I loved their music too.

What have you got planned for the future?

I am currently halfway through a Masters Degree in Fine Art. In the short-term I am focused on generating a body of paintings for the two final exhibitions which shall take place in May and September of 2021. My long term plans are mixed, but I would like to take my children to see some of India. I plan to complete the renovation of our home and insulate what shall be our studio at the back of the house.

The latter currently being the most important on the list as a fully functioning studio work space shall enable all of my other plans to come to fruition. There is much to do.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?

Be kind to one another, life is short and precious. Have a great Christmas, but in these crazy times please stay safe! thearthole.co.uk @thearthole facebook.com/IllustrationByRobWhite

Skinder Hundal

interview: Laura-Jade Vaughan

Skinder Hundal has been Director at New Art Exchange (NAE) since 2008, from the moment their iconic black box building in Hyson Green first opened its doors. Now, as he takes up a new position as Director of Arts, British Council, Skinder reflects on NAE’s journey from a small community-led organisation to a leading international arts space, and the important role it has played in championing art from diverse culture.

What was NAE like in 2008 when the venue first opened?

The early years were interesting, because it was quite unsettled when I arrived. New Art Exchange had been set up in 2003, but for the past five years they didn't really have an arts director. NAE grew out of two key organisations formed in the 80s: APNA Arts (for South Asian arts) and EMACA Visual Arts (East Midlands African Caribbean Arts). APNA had a kind of revolutionary spirit about social change, and EMACA who were really focused on visual culture and were part of black radical politics, art and culture. Both born out of second generation immigrant communities finding and sharing a new voice.

NAE’s new venue launched in September 2008, to the most extraordinary weekend. It was a real moment in history, that the neighborhood had produced this architectural gem - in a way, out of struggle. I think it’s one of Nottingham's biggest achievements. It's one of the most historic moments in the UK art scene, when it comes to contemporary expressionism - that a neighborhood that was doing community roots, art, visual and multiple art forms, would establish a venue of such significance that has a national and international profile these days.

I’m aware that you used to volunteer with APNA Arts.

Could you talk a bit about this experience?

I was at Nottingham Trent University studying manufacturing and industrial management in engineering, and I finished the degree, very much not wanting to do this as a job, let alone a career. So one day I ventured up a hill and down a hill into the valley of Hyson Green and came across a red building with this door open and the team from APNA Arts were there.

So I started volunteering on Nottingham Mela (a South Asian arts festival), back in 1992, and little did I know that I'd be the executive producer and arts programmer one day for the festival.

Volunteering at APNA, there were just so many wonderful energies, so when I came back in 2008 it was a great honor. I was born in Moseley, Birmingham, but made in Hyson Green. I was indebted to this place. It was such an incredible journey that laid the foundations for me, which would then inform what we were to do in the future.

How has New Art Exchange changed in the past twelve years?

When I first started, I used to travel around but nobody really knew us. I always remember Zineb Sedira’s 2009 exhibition, Floating Coffins, and the significance of the work and how contemporary and edgy it was for the neighborhood; it started to change the momentum for the organisation. This work we commissioned was bought by the Tate Collection.

So I think the profile of the organisation shifted when things started to get collected by different institutions,

and when we started changing our programming base.

Some of the work is hitting millions of audiences, such as John Akomfrah’s video installation, The Unfinished Conversation, which tours to biennials and has a presence at Tate. Also, reaching millions of viewers, when TEDGlobal presented Hetain Patel’s Who Am I inspired

by Be Like Water, an NAE investment co-commission.

So, the impact of shifting gear at NAE was a significant decision.

What we've done with our uplift investment from ACE has been incredible, especially developing a schools’ and community programmes, connecting with some of the beautiful diverse voices of our city and neighborhood. Those kids, on the learning programmes, are going to be the people who run our space one day.

Thinking about the success of NAE, history is its driver, but it's also the team. The team has always been outstanding: it's been open, it's been forward driving, and we’ve had a lot of characters - nobody seemed to be a conformist.

At New Art Exchange, we never forced an agenda, never tried to say, ‘Oh, you’re not doing enough of this’. We say we’re not represented enough authentically What are some of your highlights from your time at NAE? So many initiatives come to mind. I always love our youth programme, YARD, which gave a platform for young people to become conscious, creative, collaborative citizens with authentic confidence.

Projects like Real Creative Futures, a creative business support programme, started out as a one million pound project and ended up becoming a five million pound partnership across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Then there were projects like Here, There and Everywhere, which cemented relationships across the UK and Africa, South Asia, South Korea, Middle East and Europe, offering opportunities for artists from the UK to connect.

Our exhibitions programme has been fantastically curated and installed. There was our Hurvin Anderson show - he was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2017.

The fact that we got to work with great artists like Akram Zataari, Rashid Rana from Pakistan or Zarina Bhimji. These are incredible milestones for our organisation.

In 2015, the East Midlands were represented at Venice Biennale with Doug Fishbone’s Leisure Land Golf, a mini golf course designed by contemporary artists. We led and worked with peer venues who embraced diversity in their own way, around gender, disability, race, sexuality, working class communities. When we actually spoke to the local people in Venice, they said they hated the biennale as they felt excluded, so we invited every single person in this neighborhood pavilion and group show and they came.

If I think about exhibitions and critical projects, Culture Cloud, our digital open show, comes to mind. I was amazed by the incredible talent in Britain. There were artists like Mahtab Hussain, Sarah Maple, Karl Ohiri, Sayed Hasan, Faiza Butt - all of them had solo-shows at NAE afterwards and strong careers evolved. It was a pioneering moment. On that night we were celebrating, my son was racially attacked in Birmingham. It reminded me that we actually started because we wanted to create anti-racist practice, and how we've got to carry on regardless of the pain, or suffering abuse, whether physical, psychological or systemic - we must never ignore, nor should we let it break our spirit.

In the past few years, more galleries are making a commitment to exhibiting culturally diverse art, and it is part of Arts Council England’s funding criteria.

What impact has this had on New Art Exchange?

I believe we were key pioneers in informing Arts Council policy - making diversity a very mainstream agenda, not something that's bolted on, but integral. At New Art Exchange, we never forced an agenda, never tried to say, ‘Oh, you're not doing enough of this’. We say we're not represented enough authentically. It’s the art of being who we are, by expressing something very naturally, with a subjective and lived truth of sorts.

So it's not enforcing a stereotype, it's expressing a particular way of being. It's a cultural expression. That then is very real.

Congratulations for your new role as Director of Arts at British Council. Could you talk a bit about what the role entails?

The role is about creating worldwide exchange, by connecting artists and art ecologies, and providing opportunities for not only social change across the world, but also economic opportunity for creativity to happen. It’s allowing creative industries to flourish, and creating opportunities for British art to be seen worldwide, while also creating opportunities with the world sites. British Council with its 12,000 workforce across 126 countries, is a very exciting venture for somebody like me, who has a huge appetite for risk, connection and collaboration. So, I think it's going to be an exciting next episode and the start of a new era for me, NAE and also British Council.

@skinderhundal leftlion.co.uk/issue132 51

Back in the Day

We delve through the archives of LeftLion and Overall There is a Smell of Fried Onions to let you know what was happening in Nottingham on this month many years ago…

Twenty-Nine years ago...

words: Jared Wilson

From the pages of Overall…

Old Art Exchange Three decades ago, over on Gregory Boulevard (on the site of what is now the New Art Exchange) there was a building known as the Nottingham Community Arts Centre. Among the many positive cultural things that benefited by using this building around that time were the Rock and Reggae Festival, DiY, the Asian Arts Festival, DJ Pablo, CIA Comic and indeed Overall magazine. Thus they were happy to shout about the place as “The Unsung Hero of Creativity”.

Nottingham Funk What’s the natural progression from the late eighties rave scene? Live funk, of course! As Overall reported, a lot of people seemed to be swapping Disco Biscuits for Slap Bass around this time: “A vibrant funk-based sound was being purveyed by a number of Nottingham’s clubbers in a collection of outrageously good bands.”

Bands in that scene included: Crunchbird, Stak It Up, Dr Egg & The Love Specialists, Solomon, Vibes and Weirdbeard. Just when you thought live music was dead...

Bigger Picture In December 1991 former Nottingham Girls High School pupil Stella Rimmington was installed as the first female ever director general of MI5. Media mogul and former Derby County director Robert Maxwell stole £350million from his employees’ pension funds and then fell off his £15million yacht and died. Sixteen years after its first release Bohemian Rhapsody was back at number one, with the proceeds being donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust to honour the recently deceased Freddie Mercury.

Jason Lee It’s a rare breed of footballer that is thought of affectionately by both Forest and County fans, but this London-born man-mountain of a striker fits the bill. We interviewed him a few months after he had signed for the Magpies and spoke to him about playing alongside Stan Collymore, living in the city and, of course, that questionable Baddiel and Skinner Fantasy Football League sketch that made him nationally famous for his hairstyle, rather than his performances.

Bigger Picture Avatar was in cinemas and ended up being the smash hit of the year as we all started to get used to 3D. Take That spent most of the month at number one with Patience, although they gave way to X Factor’s Leona Lewis’ When You Believe at Christmas. This was the second of four consecutive years the TV show would dominate the seasonal top slot, before Rage Against The Machine finally took it off them in 2009.

I’m Not From London It wouldn’t have been a local music special without speaking to local music mogul Will Robinson, who had a stable of three bands at this time: Captain Dangerous, Baby Godzilla and Hot Japanese Girl. The conversation covered riots, cagefighting, Hollywood actresses, ghost buses, Mexican wrestling and contracts signed in blood. Nine years on they are celebrating their fifteenth birthday and happily haven’t changed.

Bigger Picture Prime Minister David Cameron was in the news for vetoing a European Union treaty concerning the Eurozone crisis. It was a month for sequels in the cinema with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, the second Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes and Hostel 3.

Albums released that month included the El Camino album from The Black Keys, Undun by The Roots and The Path of Totality

by Korn. The Military Wives Choir beat X Factor’s Little Mix to the Christmas number one slot with Wherever You Are.

Fourteen years ago...

From the pages of LeftLion #14..

Noel Fielding The seasonally-named half of The Mighty Boosh was in town to play a set at the Theatre Royal for Just The Tonic Christmas Special. On the bill alongside him were Ed Byrne, Daniel Kitson and David O’Doherty.

We interviewed the current Bake-Off host and spoke to him about monkey suits and Chris Morris. One bit of that particular interview that hasn’t dated well is when we asked him about his comedy inspirations and he repped Bill Cosby.

NIne years ago...

From the pages of LeftLion #44...

That Cover Photo We devoted the entire issue to our local music scene including a cover where we asked as many local musicians as possible (300+) to pile into Rock City for a ‘Class of 2011’ photo. It was taken by NME Music Photographer of the Year David Baird and featured Dog Is Dead, Harleighblu, Liam Bailey, Nina Smith and many, many more.

Somewhere at the back were Sleaford Mods, who ended up writing the song Showboat shortly after. We are proud to be immortalised as their ‘trendy fanzine’.

To read these issues and more from our archives visit overallmag.com and leftlion.co.uk/magazine.

book review Chicken Town J. A. Pollo Independent On the surface, Chicken Town is a pretty straightforward storyline of a 22-yearold lad who works in his local brewery, has a wife and two-year-old son, and plays guitar in the Nottingham punk band Some Chicken in the seventies.

It's a fictionalised biography that is mostly truthful, but certain names, characters and events have been changed to protect privacy, and the overall volume has probably been turned up a little to enhance the story.

Chicken Town is a really enjoyable piece of writing that is, at times, both comfortable and challenging. Easy in style, but difficult as being around during the times being described,

Pollo excels when writing about the minutiae of an event that invites the reader into his experiences I can personally recall the events surrounding the punk explosion. Some Chicken were desperately trying to get noticed, and the only answer seemed to be playing more and more gigs until, eventually, they gave up, disillusioned, exhausted and ripped off by their management.

Pollo excels when writing about the minutiae of an event that invites the reader into his experiences: the soggy feel of a beermat, the smell of a room, or his feelings of self-doubt and pre gig nerves.

This really helps to create an expectation that the end will not go well, and I particularly loved the description of Nottingham's music scene in the late seventies, along with Pollo's critique of every pint of beer he sups along the way.

In beer ratings terminology I give it 4.65/5. Bassey Chicken Town is available on Amazon now leftlion.co.uk/issue132 53

We take a look at the life of philanthropist, educator, anti-slavery campaigner and founder of the Nottingham Building Society, Samuel Fox...

How do you measure the achievements of a man’s life? In an increasingly secular world, where the here and now seemingly matters more and more, by what yardstick do we quantify whether a life is well lived, or whether a legacy is worth remembering? Kingdoms fall, buildings crumble and money goes to waste, so the only true measure of a man’s life, as John Galsworthy wrote, “is the sum of his actions, of what he has done, of what he can do. Nothing else.”

When Samuel Fox passed away aged 87 in 1868, a reporter from The Nottinghamshire Guardian, who had witnessed his funeral, wrote the following: “During the last half century no name has been better known in Nottingham, or its possessor more generally respected, than that of Samuel Fox. His active benevolence, high principle, unswerving integrity, and honesty of purpose, caused him to be respected by men of all shades of religion and politics.”

Samuel Fox, known affectionately as ‘Sammy’, was born in 1781 to a devout Quaker family. His mother, Mary, was a flax dresser, while his father William had opened a grocer’s store in 1775, a business which Samuel would eventually take over.

His religion heavily influenced the manner by which he ran his shop – queues were split into men’s and women’s, while all assistants were ‘tee-totallers and serious minded people’ who wore traditional Quaker dress consisting of a lavender gown, white shawl, low shoes and lavender silk bonnet. It was the Quakers who were the first to introduce the idea of fixed prices in their shops, where everyone paid the same, and Fox always insisted that customers should be served in order of arrival, regardless of their class or wealth.

In 1798, Fox is credited with establishing the first ‘adult school’ on East Street in partnership with a Methodist named William Singleton. The impact of his actions cannot be overstated, as in the late 18th century, reading and writing comprehension among the labouring classes was incredibly rare. The only real opportunity a working-class adult had to learn to read or write came at the charity of such schools, and the host of dedicated voluntary teachers who manned them. Fox’s own

passion for education saw him teach arithmetic three mornings a week, and all younger assistants from his store were encouraged to attend.

If the value of a life is measured in altruism, philanthropy and bettering the condition of those around you, Nottingham never had a finer son than Samuel Fox The cholera outbreak of 1832 saw Fox align himself with The Nottingham Board of Health, an unofficial body that had assembled to help fight the deadly disease.

That year alone there were over 800 cases out of a population of 50,000, of which 330 would be fatal. At a time of great civil unrest, just a year after the Reform Bill riots saw Nottingham Castle burned down, the city was home to some of the worst slums in Europe, including the Narrow Marsh and Broad Marsh areas, where many of the deaths occurred. If any proof were needed that history repeats itself, the powers that be were woefully ill prepared to handle the pandemic, and the city was soon out of places to bury the dead.

It was Fox who purchased and provided land for a new cemetery, establishing the plot now known as St. Mary’s Rest Garden.

Eight years later, Fox attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention at Exeter Hall in London. Coming six years after the British Government passed the Slavery Abolishment Act in 1834, the convention’s mission was: “The universal extinction of slavery and the slave trade and the protection of the rights and interests of the enfranchised population in the British possessions and of all persons captured as slaves.” The cause inspired Fox to such an extent that, upon his return to Nottingham, he became one of the Secretaries of the Nottingham Anti-Slavery Society.

1847 saw Nottingham hit by an economic slump, causing huge levels of unemployment as up to fifty shops in the town centre closed. Death rates rose sharply, due to under-nourishment and starvation, and the Mayor of Nottingham was distressed by a report in a national newspaper that “25,000 people in Nottingham were reduced to eating putrid horseflesh.” While that particular headline may have proven hyperbolic, the fact remained that Nottingham was facing a serious famine.

Through the contacts he had made with his grocery business, Fox was able to obtain great stocks of maize flour, the cheap substitute for other cereals which, at the time, had never been seen in the city before. Deciding to sell the maize for less than he had bought it for, Fox sacrificed his own finances in order to save countless lives. Even during three years of famine, he steadfastly stuck to his rules of serving customers in the order they arrived. One story from the famine tells of a street merchant who, while passing by Fox’s store, stumbled and tipped his cart full of wares into the mud. With his only source of income spoiled, the desolate man was approached by Fox who, having witnessed the incident, immediately purchased the ruined stock.

In 1849, Fox created perhaps the most lasting contribution to his legacy, leading a group to create the Nottingham Building Society. The purpose of the society was to promote the construction of a better class of dwellings, suitable for the working and middle classes.

He’d been running a savings scheme since the 1830s for students in the Adult School, and this presented the opportunity to provide a reputable, secure place for small savings. The Nottingham Building Society now has 48 branches across eleven counties.

How do you measure the achievements of a man’s life?

There are people from Nottingham who acquired more wealth, status and glory than Fox, but there are few that left a more lasting positive impact on those who needed help the most. He fed the starving, improved the conditions for the most desolate, provided a free education for the disenfranchised and, when his city needed him, answered the call with his own money. If the value of a life is measured in altruism, philanthropy and bettering the condition of those around you, Nottingham never had a finer son than Samuel Fox.

words: Ashley Carter ilustration: Natalie Owen

now and then photo: Chris Middleton

Milton Street 1930

54

leftlion.co.uk/issue132

Milton Street 2020