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Tackling Refugee Crises How To Sleep Better Windrush Generation: Interviews & Celebrations

TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Page 37

Female Genital Mutilation

FGM – FACTS, HELP & ACTIONS Facts

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

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

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

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

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

• • Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM. • 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have undergone FGM. Taking Th • In Nottingham, about 85 new cases were recorded through NHS in 2016/17.

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

Help

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

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

W gement d n a l ana ionEDIBL d o M o ment W E ss s‘18 e SeWOODLA https:// /5kc14y ag nEDIBLE nd n a l a d p M o e s o S W ment pr- Home Farm, Screv AEcocentre, ssio ‘18 SeWOODLAND For more information, contact Foundation p www.farmeco e ManeasgseioMojatu S s n 927671 pr Home Farm, Screveton, NG13 8JL AEcocentre, https://goo.g Mojatu Foundatio S e07759 Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 8 1 ‘ p www.farmeco.co.uk S r T: 0115 784 6666 | M: Ro 07 p Email: info@mojatufoundation.org |AWebsite: www.mojatufoundation.org Mojatu Foundation | 167 Alfreton https://goo.gl/pEK1AC

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Editor’s Welcome The death of George Floyd has rekindled the advocacy and fight against racism, inequality, prejudices and stereotypes targeting black and brown people. Floyd’s death has brought together people from different walks of life to stand against these ill vices affecting our societies and well-being. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has been playing a key role in this fight leading to sporting disciplines like football through FIFA and UEFA strictly urging all federations to take a knee before the start of every game with the view to kicking out racism in the game.

But with all the efforts of national federations, regional and international governing bodies, has much changed with regards to racism in sports. We have seen black English footballers being direct targets by people for their courage and tenacity in bringing glory to the country. Unfortunately, their zeal and good intentions did not come to fruition but was it worth he Cit all the racial attacks against them both in mainstream armand social media. This came at a time when Windrush Day was commemorated and if not anything, a show of respect for those hardworking men and women who were ferried from their countries to the UK to help in rebuilding this beautiful country we all call home today after the destructions of WWII.

In as much as thugs and racists continue to show their ugly faces in our societies, there is a majority of wonderful people who continue to showcase good in our communities and are willing to offer their es &values Asylum last breathe in the fight against racism and injustices. rs Welcome Those are the people we will continue to celebrate and emulate.

Hakuna Matata

PT APa TREE Modou Faal

Editorial

ns & Maize

Group Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com

m onlin Managing Editor: Pa Modou Faal - Pa@mojatu.com oo.gl/Design: Robert Borbely - robert@mojatu.com Photos: www.freepik.comJ

Ophelie Lawson | Cleopatra Hanson LEWContributors: | Kairel McLeary-Barnes | Rosie Vacciana-Browne ANw| Lynnette Wairegi | Pa Modou Faal | Anna Nagy

Ecocentr

veton, NG13 8JL

| Sarah Kaironge | Jaya Gordon-Moore | Angela

o.co.uk Wathoni | Brenda Wanjiku | Tatjana Smith | Neelaveni

.gl/pEK1 on | 167 Padayachee & Varsha Bangalee | Tiana Browne | Katie 751 1176 | E: angela@moj oad,366 NG7 3JR| Kayleigh Holmes Rawson | Katarzyna Rybarczyk | gela@moj Gurbax Kaur | Edrissa Touray @ Sales & Marketing / Community Engagement: @mojatu_foundation Abdoulie Jah - jah@mojatu.com Sunil Makh - sunil@mojatu.com

Contents News & Sports Disaster Capitalism.......................................................4 Violence Surrounding Black Women .................. 10 Notts Sheriff - Discusses Windrush Day ............. 12 Community Pastor Clive Foster & the Windrush Generation 14 Night Owl The Beginning ....................................... 16 Covid 19 Work The SK8 Debate .......................................................... 18 GrenFell Four Years On ............................................ 23 Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights............. 24 Arts and Culture Y2K Fashion.................................................................. 25 Health & Food Covid Vaccine Myths ................................................ 26 How to Sleep Better .................................................. 28 Business & Finance Accounting tips for small businesses ................. 30 Education & Career PATRA prtship to transform BAME Youths......... 34 Young Women in Music........................................... 38

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Mojatu Team

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

Rosie Vacciana-Browne - rosie@fyaonline.com Accounts: Athira Nair - accounts@mojatu.com Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com News & Comments: news@mojatu.com Social Media: Gurbax Kaur - gurbax@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage Address: Unit 7, Howitt Building, Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2BY T: 0115 8457 009 | 0751 6962 992 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumedia Printers: Mojatu Media

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DISASTER CAPITALISM,

the shock doctrine & forced migration - By Ophelie Lawson You might wonder, what on earth is disaster capitalism and the shock doctrine?

Let me explain: The “shock doctrine” is a political strategy that consists in using the public disorientation following large-scale crises and disasters - wars, natural disasters, pandemics - (in other words massive collective shocks) to push through policies that systematically deepen inequality, enrich elites and which would normally never be accepted in ordinary circumstances. It uses the public’s disorientation following a collective shock to push through radical pro-corporate measures, often called “shock therapy”.

Shock tactics follow a clear pattern: wait for a crisis, declare a moment of what is sometimes referred to as “extraordinary politics”, suspend some, or all, democratic norms – and then force the corporate wishlist throughout hastily.

The term Disaster capitalism is described by Naomi Klein in her book The Shock Doctrine (2007) as the way that private industries spring up to directly profit from large-scale crises. Capitalism uses disasters and catastrophes to privatize new sectors of society and imposes free-market reforms, creating private company profits but failing in terms of democracy, fairness, and justice. It hides behind situations that create hardship for people, profiting from the collective shock.

This concept of disaster and crisis profiteering isn’t new. In her book, Naomi argues that it really intensated under the Bush administration after 9/11.

The aftermath of 9/11 left Americans disoriented and in shock. The Bush administration seized the collective shock and fear felt by Americans after the attack and declared this sort of never-ending security crisis, privatizing security state, launching the ‘War on Terror’, and enabling the “Patriot Act” which violated many constitutional rights.

Homeland security is now a $200 billion industry.

Homeland security companies gained a lot thanks to the atmosphere of crisis and fear that was being spread through media outlets.

(The patriot Act is a Anti-terrorism law, passed by the United States Congress and signed by George W. Bush on October 26, 2001. The purpose of the USA Patriot Act is to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world It gives the government rights to look at records on an individual’s activity held by third parties, allows security services to access computer data held by individuals and businesses without prior authorization and without notifying users.)

Now you might wonder, how does that apply to the

so called ‘refugee crisis’ ?

Refugee flow is a thematic that has already gained worldwide attention. In 2015, Greece was the main entry point for over one million refugees, forced migrants and migrants who fled to Europe by sea.

1,000,573 people reached Europe across the Mediterranean, mainly to Greece and Italy that year. A further 34,000 crossed from Turkey into Bulgaria and Greece by land, according to the UNCHR The number of people displaced by war and conflict was in 2015 the highest seen in Western and Central Europe since the Balkan crises of the 1990s. (UNHCR) This period is known as the ‘European migrant crisis’, aka the so called ‘refugee crisis’.

And much like any other “disaster,” the crisis has been and is continuously exploited for political and economic purposes, it is the perfect excuse for governments to push through radical agendas, as we have seen unraveling over the past few years.

Policy makers within Europe have used the“ refugee crisis” to push for more restrictive, selective, and securitised immigration law and border control.

Then, the pandemic happened. And for governments, it was the perfect opportunity to push through even more radical agendas. Another ‘disaster’.

Earlier this year, for instance, the Eu started experimenting with new digital measure to prevent people from crossing, with the Greek border police firing bursts of deafening noise from an armored truck over the frontier into Turkey. Using “sound cannon,” to protect its borders. This was part of new experimental digital barriers that were being tested during the quiet months of the coronavirus pandemic and installed while Europe was still dealing with disorientation and shock in the middle of a pandemic.

During the pandemic, EU member states have used illegal operations to push back at least 40,000 asylum seekers from Europe’s borders. Their methods have been linked to the death of more than 2,000 people, an article from The Guardian revealed the following investigations. Using the pandemic to both push through their agendas and ‘protect’ the borders.

Meanwhile, private companies have secured and made profits through providing technology and infrastructure to help strengthen border enforcement, but also through providing services that have helped different countries to house, feed, detain and also deport arriving people, making ‘illegal’ border crossing their core business idea: Private security companies, defense contractors and others. Capitalising on crisis.

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HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE UK TO OBTAIN AN EDUCATION? By Cleo Hanson According to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 1951 Refugee Convention, education is considered a basic human right (UNHCR). However, many refugees and asylum seekers in the UK face multiple barriers to accessing education. A proper education can help people find jobs, make money to support themselves and rebuild their lives, and protects young refugees from sexual exploitation and child labour.

Financial difficulties play a major role in preventing refugees from accessing education.

Asylum seekers cannot claim benefits, nor do they have the right to work in the UK and are forced to subsist on £5.66 a day if they have no source of income (Refugee Action). This can prevent families from affording transport for their children to get to and from school.

Young asylum seekers looking to attend higher education may find that it is harder for them to study than their peers who are UK nationals. Students seeking refuge are categorised as international students and therefore must pay

higher fees and often cannot apply for student loans (UNHCR). The fact that asylum seekers do not have the right to work means they cannot get a job to afford the fees and the living costs.

Furthermore, the ability to speak English is vital for finding work, making connections, and doing basic everyday tasks in the UK. However, according to a report by Refugee Action, nearly two thirds of refugees who responded claimed that they did not receive enough ESOL teaching hours. In addition, three quarters of parents said that lack of childcare prevented their ability to attend English classes.

As a result, two out of every three respondents said their lack of English proficiency made them feel as though they were not ready to work in the UK. There is also a large gender disparity between the education of refugee men versus women. Men who seek refuge in the UK are more likely than women to know how to read and write (LSE). In addition, they were more likely to attend ESOL classes.

The fact that women are usually

the primary caregivers of children may affect their attendance of ESOL lessons.

A lack of financial stability can dramatically reduce a person’s ability to receive a good education, and due to UK government policy, asylum seekers often struggle to support themselves and their families.

Allowing asylum seekers the right to work and giving them better financial support could mean improved access to education for themselves and their children.

Moreover, not enough is being done to ensure that refugees are learning English, which is essential for living, working, and studying in this country. A quality education can help improve life chances for both children and adults alike and more needs to be done to make it accessible.

For more information: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Education www.unhcr.org/uk/ education.html, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, STAR is Still Fighting For Refugee Access to UK Higher Education www. unhcr.org/uk/refugeeweek/ star-is-still-fighting-for-refugeeaccess-to-uk-higher-education/, Refugee Action, Facts About Refugees www.refugee-action. org.uk/about/facts-aboutrefugees/, London School of Economics, Refugees and Integration in the UK: the Role of Gender blogs. lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/ refugees-and-integration-in-theuk-the-role-of-gender/

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WHY REFERRING TO ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES AS MIGRANTS CAN BE HARMFUL By Ophelie Lawson Moria camp 2.0 In the mainstream media, often, when the issue of refugee flows is brought up the word ‘migrant’ easily follows. The world is often used to refer to refugees, or/ and asylum seekers. Media outlets often choose to refer to groups of asylum seekers and refugees as migrants.

But a migrant is not a refugee neither an asylum seeker.

The common mistake of referring to asylum seekers and refugees as ‘migrants’ can be way more harmful than it seems.

The definition of a ‘refugee’: It wasn’t until 1951 that an internationally recognized definition of ‘refugee’ was given. In 1951, countries convened in Geneva to sign the Geneva convention, aka the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, which was updated in 1967. The Convention defined who a refugee is and outlines the rights of the displaced, as well as the legal obligations of nations and states to protect them.

The U.S. government first declined to ratify this convention but did approve the Standards and procedures for enacting the convention, that was agreed to in the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, in 1968. Following the Vietnam War and the U.S. experience resettling Indochinese refugees, Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980, which incorporated the Convention’s definition into U.S. law and provides the legal basis for today’s U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

As of January 2020, 145 State parties approved it.

The convention defines a refugee as someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. There is however a protection gap and no clear definition regarding climate refugees. They are not covered by the convention.

According to statistics published by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, every year since 2008, an average of 26.4 million persons around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods, windstorms, earthquakes or droughts. This is equivalent to one person being displaced every second.

The definition of an ‘asylum seeker ’: An asylum seeker is an individual who is seeking international protection (refugee status). An asylum seeker is someone whose claim has not yet been finally decided on by the country in which he or she has submitted it. Not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognised as a refugee, but every refugee is initially an asylum seeker. (Amnesty International) According to UNHCR figures at the end of 2019, there were at least 79.5 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are nearly 26 million refugees, and 4.2 million asylum seekers.

The definition of a ‘migrant’ The definition of a migrant might vary since, at an international level, there is no universally accepted legal definition of the term like is the case with a refugee.

Nottingham connected Migrants choose to move not because of a direct threat of persecution or death, but mainly to ‘improve’ their lives by finding work, or in some cases for education, family reunion, or other reasons.

Economic migrants choose to leave their countries and move in order to find a better life and they do not flee because of persecution but rather for economic reasons. Therefore they do not fall within the criteria for refugee status and are not entitled to receive international protection.

Migration involves the voluntary decision to move to another city/country for better economic opportunities. Refugees are forced to flee in order to escape violence a​ nd insecurity.

Each country has its own immigration laws and processes regarding migrants. For refugees, they must comply with norms of refugee protection and asylum that are defined in both national legislation and international law.

If it is a term used for people of color, economic migrants are often perceived as ‘stealing opportunities’, while referring to white people, economic migrants are simply called expats.

Forced Migration is “a general term that refers to the movements of refugees and internally displaced people (those displaced by conflicts within their country of origin) as well as people displaced by natural or environmental disasters, chemical or nuclear disasters, famine, or development projects.”

It’s crucial in today’s environment to understand the difference between an asylum seeker, a migrant, and a refugee because of all the misconceptions and misunderstandings around those terms. Each term has distinct meanings, although people often assume they mean the same thing.

The term asylum seeker, which is often used, has, at a global level, no technical legal significance. The term is a way of referring to a person who’s seeking refugee status but whose refugee status has not yet been determined by the host government.

Referring to asylum seekers and refugees as migrants

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can influence importantly the way that these people are going to be treated. A refugee by law is given international protection and the state in which they ask for asylum must protect them and give them the necessary support for them to survive and be safe. A migrant however is not required by law to be protected and is often seen in Europe’s politics as coming to have ‘better’ opportunities.

The use of the term migrant by the media to describe people arriving in Europe because of fleeing their country is painting a picture of high numbers of people not coming to seek safety but for better lives, hence it does not steer compassion and empathy in the eyes of the public justifies their suffering, and marginalisation, and the non-respect of their human’s rights. Using the term “migrants” might also take away the focus on the circumstances leading to the people’s forced migration and place it instead on the desirability of their presence in the host state. Because Migrants are not forced to move, they still have the protection of their own country.

Calling refugees and asylum seekers “migrants” implies that their home countries are safe places, where people are not risking their lives and could still have some kind of protection. Conservative governments often take that approach because they do not want to accept people from other countries.

Hostility or openness of these populations is often influenced by the news material the host population consumes.

The world “refugees” attracts the general public (compassion and empathy) more than “migrants” does. The desire to direct the public towards not sympathizing with these refugees and not helping them, especially in financial terms, might also be a reason why people/governments would rather classify them as migrants.

Many media outlets also seem to not be aware of the complex and challenging process of claiming asylum in Europe. https://mojatu.com/why-referring-to-asylum-seekersand-refugees-as-migrants-can-be-harmful/

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LIFE IN A REFUGEE CAMP, AN INTERVIEW WITH FABRICE, RESIDENT OF MORIA 2.0 IN LESVOS, GREECE By Ophelie Lawson On September last year, after fire ravaged the old refugee camp Moria, Europe’s largest refugee camp, located on the Greek island of Lesvos, a new temporary camp was built: the temporary reception and identification centre known as Mavrovouni, or Moria 2.0.

It has been 7 months now since the opening of that camp, and what was supposed to be a temporary solution is slowly becoming a permanent one.

I spoke with Fabrice, who I met on the island of Lesvos back in 2019, and who’s been living in the new camp since it was built, and also a former resident of the old Moria camp.

Fabrice came to Europe asking for asylum in February 2019, fleeing persecution in his country of origin, hoping for safety. Instead, he has had two rejections to his asylum claim and has been trapped on the island, living in the worst conditions of a refugee camp, for over 2 years now.

Fabrice, you have been in Lesvos for almost two years now and you have been living in the new Moria camp since September of last year, have the conditions of the camp improved since September or since the European commissioner, Ylva Johansson went to Lesvos and promised better conditions?

Yes, it’s been two years now that I have been on the island, the old camp was harder than living in hell, the life of every person could end in any seconds there. There was crime, violence, rape, theft, fire, no decent sanitary or hygienic conditions, static situations on administrative procedures. It was like in a jungle, everyone made his own laws as they heard it. All of this was happening right in front of the eyes of the Greek authorities who were incompetent and incapable of solving our problems.

Because there was a constant flow of new people, I don’t know if when they see us piling up and dying it did them good, until the camp was set on fire.

For the new camp, things started better. Now things seem to be a bit more neglected. When she [The European commissioner] came to visit us, we didn’t even have time to approach her. The locals of the island did, they had opportunities to yell at her and ask her how much longer asylum seekers would be kept on the island until they are assessed and evacuated to the continent.

For us asylum seekers who were supposed to have a chance to talk to her, unfortunately, we were not given such an opportunity. She was only shown the important places of the camp through a guided tour. She did not even have time to talk with women, young people and community leaders for them to explain some of our daily difficulties.

Her visit did not improve anything for us, the administrative procedures continued in the same slow pace, complicated accommodation conditions, hygienic and sanitary situation always the same.

In fact, after this, single women and families who were housed in containers with few conditions to cope with, for instance, bad weather, were relocated in tents made of weak fabric.

The money that the EU had spent is much more for the infrastructure of their country, asylum seekers are not beneficiaries, our situation continues just the same and is getting worst. Convoys and transfers to take people out of the camp and to the mainland are not happening as often.

Now if you are done with the asylum procedures you have to organise your departure from the island by your own means, you have to buy a plane ticket or a boat ticket to go elsewhere, that’s the reality.

How is life in the new camp? Is there a lot of change in daily life and routine from the beginning?

Life in the new camp is still as always: stressful, everything can change overnight, the security situation is still starting to worry us little by little, there is insecurity that is starting to gain ground, there have already been a few cases of rape, thefts and assaults, people stealing phones. Electricity in the camp is still very unstable, the food is not well cooked. Women and children exposed to very unsanitary conditions and likely to contract all kinds of germs and infections. Continuous negative decisions, wave of rejections to asylum claims in all communities.

NGOs have reported the presence of lead exposure in the area, which is expected to impact and put in danger several people but no one is talking about it, so the situation is deteriorating slowly, in silence. No one is paying attention.

Read more: rb.gy/yqjd2t

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WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GREECE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS? AND WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT IT? By Ophelie Lawson At the border of Europe are refugee camps that are not being talked about enough. Refugee flow is a thematic that has gained worldwide attention, as it should. It is sometimes hard to believe, especially out of context, that human beings amid the 21st century are still forced to leave their countries because of war, crime, violence, persecution, colonisation, and climate change. Displacement has been happening for as long as we can remember. And the fact that refugees are being neglected and their human rights constantly grossly violated in crowded camps is something we have heard so often that we have come to think of it as normal.

Because of the Eastern Mediterranean migration route between Turkey and Greece, Greece is currently hosting the largest refugee camps in Europe, as it is a point of entry. In 2015, it was the main entry point for over one million refugees and migrants who fled to Europe by sea, seeking safety dangerously in inadequate vessels run by people smugglers. (UNHCR) Moria Camp 2.0 is currently known as being the largest one. It is located on a Greek Island in the Aegean sea called Lesvos, about 11 hours from Athens by boat. Officially, the camp is called Mavrovouni Temporary Reception and identification centre, but is formally being referred to as Moria 2.0. It was built to replace the original camp Moria which burst into fires in early September 2020.

20000 people were trapped in the old camp and displaced after the fire. Many people were deported to other countries, moved to villages and cities on the island and or to Athens.

The new camp hosts 6,780 people. But over 9000 refugees and asylum seekers still reside on the island of Lesvos.

The majority of the refugee population on the island (the expression “refugee population” includes both refugees and asylum seekers) comes from Afghanistan (70%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (10%) Syria (7%), Somalia (6%) and Iraq (1%).

Women account for 23% of the population and children 35% according to the UNHCR. Asylum seekers generally have to wait for a protracted period of time in the reception and identification centre (refugee camp) before they are granted refugee status. Some people have been waiting for months or years. However, only a small number of asylum seekers are provided with a solution to their situation, whether through having a refugee status or being able to go back to their country. Many are stuck inside refugee camps and facing the worst living conditions for an extended period of time.

What is heartbreaking is that the conditions of those camps are not safe especially for single women. And people who are stuck within those camps have come to Europe for no other reason than to seek safety. Safety is not only the comfort of having a stable home or a roof over your head, food on your plate every day, or an income, which all of them are deprived of, it is also

freedom from harm or danger, the state of being safe: a safe place. The state of safety also depends on how welcomed in a community you are. How safe are you within that community, how accepted, how integrated?

Europe is failing refugees and refugee camps are a symbol of Europe’s failed migration policies. Many ngos and human rights activists are constantly denouncing the living conditions within those camps.

The reason why asylum seekers are accommodated in camps for an extended period of time seems to stem from the understanding of European governments that the situatiıon of refugee camps should be temporary. This state of impermanence is what the host country wants the situation to be. However, the reality is different. Inside Moria camp, in Lesvos, I have met and interviewed people that were there for years. Asylum seekers are not reaching safety while they enter Europe. On the contrary.

Greek refugee camps at the borders allow the authorities and Europe to ‘maintain’ more control over refugees as they are all in one place and over the flow of refugees entering Europe through that route. But it is denying them of their humanity, keeping them in terrible inhuman conditions in the name of national and international security.

The nature of refugee migration is forced, as they cannot go back to their countries as governments themself are declaring war, persecuting them, and are not ready and willing to protect them or accommodate their identities.

I believe the international community should pay close attention to the political decisions that are being made in Europe about refugee camps, and also the way that people seeking safety are forced to live. That neglect which the refugee population is facing is occurring because of political unwillingness, global indifference, and the personal interests of European governments. And it is justifying the daily gross violation of the human rights of thousands of people seeking safety.

Read more: tinyurl.com/5d7k5j8m

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VIOLENCE SURROUNDING BLACK WOMEN & THE TRAUMA WE FACE.

By Kairel McLeary-Barnes

Domestic Abuse- Violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or a partner.

Each year nearly 1.3 million women suffer at the hands of their loved ones in the home. During the pandemic this number increased….

Domestic abuse is such a sad phenomenon far too many Women experience, Black Women’s cries for help in the UK, go continuously unheard. We are misrepresented.

And it’s a problem. Why? You may ask, well it all goes back to institutionalized racism and intra-racial relationships involving the Black Community. When it comes to Black Women the problems and mistreatment we face, is always dismissed. We are always gaslighted. 45.1 % of Black Women have experienced intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence and or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes.

Even though there isn’t enough evidence in stating Black Women are abused more than their white Counterparts, we are more likely to go unreported or have our pleas for help go unreceived. Black Women are more than likely to suffer more severe, more complex forms of abuse for longer.

38.1 % of Black Women have experienced one or more of the following: intimate partner violence- related impacts: Being fearful, concerned for safety, any post traumatic stress disorder, symptoms of injury, need for medical care housing services, victim advocate services, and for or legal services missed out at least one day of work or schooling and contacting crisis hotline. 53.8% of Black Women have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.

Intersectionality- The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

This Term was coined by Kimberele Willaims, a Lawyer who continues to challenge and change Intersectionality and what it means for Black Women especially. I.E, A Black Gay Man, has a completely different experience to a White Gay Women. Black Women have a totally different experience than Black Men and Non Black Women all together.

Black Women additionally experience sexism and misogyny, and Racial discrimination (And the Backlash they will recieve if they do get a ‘Brother’ Locked up) which may result in them not asking for help. Also, take into consideration the

fact we are rarely ever seen, defended or heard when it comes to anything pertaining to us.

‘An intersectional analysis has been fundamental in the works to end violence against Black and ‘minority ethnic’ women and girls. Intersectionality has provided the most useful framework for ‘capturing’ and understanding our individual and collective experiences. It has also been important as a mechanism to ensure that our activities are always located in a broader struggle for social justice.

For example, our commitment to ‘by and for’ dedicated, specialist Black and ‘minority ethnic’ women’s organisations is rooted in an understanding that as minoritised women and girls experiencing multiple, intersecting inequalities, we have the right to organise and resist in ways that are defined by us, for us and with us.’ (The Combahee River Collective, 1977) When White Women were fighting for their right to be heard, to be equal to men as much as they could, to be able to vote, to work. Black Women were in support- given our issues with the feminist movement were overlooked aswell, we stood by and defended and fought that cause. When Black Men are thrown a way to rot in a cell- given years upon years for crimes they didn’t even commit, for crimes their White Male counterparts would’ve gotten lesser years for. We as Black Women continue to fight. When Black Men were and still are being continuously hunted, their lives taken by authority figures, and gang violence, we as Black Women continue to fight, for justice for all the Black Men being slain.

Why when it comes to Black Women, and our pleas, our cries and our right to want to be heard, in wanting to live.

No one seems to care? How many Black Women does it have to take for the World to take us seriously? We cry, cut and bleed just as much as anyone else does, yet when we’re being abused, it seems our pain doesn’t matter. How many BME organisations does it take? How many lectures do we need to attend for people to realise Black Women’s Lives Matter. And domestic abuse is a serious case that continues to take the lives of Women every day.

As a Black Woman I’ll continue to continue to fight for Black Women to be seen, for us to take up space as much as possible, so they know we will not be ignored. For us to continue shining , for us to continue Living. As we deserve that right.

For Black Women in the UK who are in need of help: SistahSpace: 0207 846 350. Refugee’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 free, independent and confidential 24/7 Supportline: 08 08 16 89 111.

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WINDRUSH DAY: INTERVIEW WITH MERLITA BRYAN, SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM

By Pa Modou Faal

Merlita: Of course, it plays a part. We commemorate it because if it was not for the scandal, we would not be aware of what took place and why these people have not got documents that would have them enjoy the same privileges as a British citizen as they were promised.

Mojatu: Has anything changed positively as a result of the scandal?

Merlita: Not really, it has only changed the fact that people are now aware of the atrocities committed at that time, but it had no positive impact on those who suffered because there was a man who went to Jamaica to visit his parent and was refused entry back to the United Kingdom. What I would call real positive change is the UK is accepting its wrong, and changing for the better Mojatu: In late 2019, secret deportation took place.

What’s your take on that?

Merlita Bryan was born in Jamaica in 1951 and moved to Nottingham at the age of 11. Merlita has been a Councillor since 2007 and had been Sheriff and Lord Mayor of Nottingham in 2012-13 and 201314 respectively and she is currently the Sheriff of Nottingham since April 2021.

In a conversation she had with Mojatu magazine marking celebrations of Windrush day, Councillor Bryan admitted she had not heard or known about the Windrush before the scandal broke and she had no idea what it was until people started talking about it in seminars organized to enlighten the people about the Windrush. Jamaica being a Commonwealth member state, Melita’s father among other Jamaicans came to England in 1960 with a British passport to help in the development of England. As years went by and British legislation changed targeting immigrants, one would now need a British passport or a legal residence and work permit to be able to work in England.

Members of the Windrush generation who were brought from the West Indies with legal documentation, lost their jobs and freedoms as they were no more regarded as British citizens. Most of them Jamaicans and others from the Caribbean Islands were sent back to their countries on grounds of illegal migrants. For the few ones who could afford financial and legal tussles like Merlita fought for their papers and their families’ which saved her from being deported. Unfortunately, so many people fell prey to this unexplainable circumstance.

Our editor asked the Sheriff of Nottingham if it is because of the scandal that Windrush is commemorated?

Merlita: This has happened, and the worst part of it was having to deport children or even grandchildren of the people who were brought here in the 60s during the Windrush era. Worst of all, sending to a place where they have never been, knew no one or have nothing in.

Mojatu: As a result of exposure of the scandal through social media, are people coming out to join the initiative.

Merlita: Of course, there was no social media back then to share ordeals of the hardships they went through or even enlighten other people of their rights.

Rather they would sit in their little rooms crying about their situation. Contrary to the younger social media generation of today, they are more aware of their rights and are eager to enlighten people about it. Having said that it does not mean that the Windrush victim were not educated, they came to the United Kingdom as professionals with various skills like doctors, nurses and experts in other areas.

Mojatu: What is government’s participation in ensuring a stop to this horrible situation Merlita: If the government wanted to end this horror it could easily have been done and it would cost them nothing more than the stroke of a pen, with that stroke of a pen the government could say ‘’Successive governments have made mistakes with regards to Windrush, and we want to right those wrongs’’ and that can be done by acknowledging what people of other nations have positively done for your country (UK). And also, to publicly thank the efforts of the great men and women who helped rebuild the United Kingdom.

Government should make sure they put things right and the subsequent governments to follow the

w

w v

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same steps. That’s what I call putting it right because you cannot undo what has been done already but acknowledge it, put it right and make sure you follow it throughout. People are still waiting to be compensated but over sixty-five percent of thousands are being told that they do not have the right document or are not in the system.

How could have one been to school, signed up to a doctor, got a mobile phone, paying water rates and gas bills and is not found in the system, yet those same people can be found in any system to pay bills and if the government wants to find them in any other way or if they had done something wrong, they would find them. This is a clear indication that government is still

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following the footprints of Windrush era governments.

Mojatu: In your personal view, what do you think is holding government back from?

Merlita: I think is simply just not wanting to admit their wrongs, probably frightened that if they admit people will ask for something else but the people are not that greedy, they just want to be apologised, regularise their statuses and given a decent amount of money in compensation for what they lost.

Please visit our website for more details of the interview www.mojatu.com

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Pastor Clive Forster and the Windrush Generation

By Pa Modou Faal

Pastor Clive Forster is a senior minister of the Pilgrim Church based in the Meadows, Nottingham where he does community action work and social justice participation as well as offering support to people affected by the Windrush scandal. In an interview with Mojatu Magazine on the occasion marking Windrush Day, Pastor Forster revealed that the story behind the Windrush Empire ship is not new to him since his parents were part of the migrants from Jamaica as later referred to the Windrush generation. He noted that the church he attends is predominantly made up of worshippers from different Caribbean Islands and that they have observed the Windrush generation many years before the 2018 scandal broke.

Our editor began by asking him how popular is the Windrush history around Nottingham?

Pastor Forster: I am proud to say that Nottingham has a history of recognising the Windrush generation, it may be low-key and does not attract much publicity because it is community-based commemoration, but it is observed annually. It took prominence following the scandal and government’s recognition of what it entails hence the national Windrush Day commemorated every 22 June marking the arrival of the Windrush Empire Ship in England.

Mojatu: It seems that the elderly generation of Black Caribbeans are more aware of Windrush.

Pastor Forster: It is very sad that the people of this country and even for people from the second and third generations and the wider society, had no idea about the Windrush Generation. The truth is that the Windrush scandal gave some prominence to the story and history. We have the responsibility in our communities to tell our own stories and history and an important way of doing that is, recognising national days and having moments where it is embedded in society through schools and communities coming together and say for example, this was a group of people who came and helped build the country which I am now benefitting from. Unfortunately, it is a sad thing that we have not given enough prominence to this, and it took a dreadful and awful injustice for us to get the recognition that we rightfully deserve. There is accountability amongst us that we have to teach the future generations and the wider community of ongoing contribution of the Windrush generation.

Mojatu: What is the level of commitment and awareness from the millennial generation?

Pastor Forster: This is the challenge before us with regards to the inter-generational understanding of learning about our history and legacy because of what

that first generation did. It is about making it relevant so that the benefits and the gains that were made by them at factories and other places be recognised and despite the racism and discrimination they withstood, they integrated and brought up their families. It is about sharing those stories of resilience, hardship, struggle, wins and gains. It does not happen just by chance or unrelated, you are not just here by yourself, you have a history that you are coming from…from Africa to the Caribbean, to where you are now. Sadly, when I was at school, the only history I knew of black people is that they were slaves, that was the only history I heard.

So, you can understand sometime the younger generation in the sense that they will say I do not want to be associated with the history because every thing I hear about it is negative and that story is being told by the oppressors. So, it is important that we share the importance of the Windrush generation, and that younger people recognise that, and I am inspired by some of them who have risen up as a result of this history. I think the Black Lives Matter (BLM) is playing a significant role here because I have heard so much about it during the protests against George Floyd’s death. Sometimes it takes tragedies to value our history as it were, and I am pleased to see that there are pockets of energies to it by connecting the dots of history. We have seen some black footballers playing for England being racially targeted for missing penalties and not celebrated for their heroism and contributions. It is very sad that these are Windrush generation descendants, and that racism is still around and the more we learn from it and become more resilient, the better.

Mojatu: Is it not about time we educate and equip ourselves with knowledge and information against misconceptions and fallacies?

Pastor Forster: One of the beautiful things we have now in this generation and our lifetime is access to information. Right at your fingertips, you could find out about the history of life, communities of nations and it is really about our motivation to get the required knowledge. Knowing that my grandparents helped build the NHS, roads, railways, industries etc, adds value and recognition to the individual and we need to get better at capturing and telling that history. We need to have our history taught in the curriculum like the Windrush and others in a better, responsible and more positive way. It is the duty of schools themselves to come on board and take up the responsibility of teaching our history in a better way. I am working with Nottingham Trent University and there was the observance on the Windrush Day while the university is also busy in decolonising the curriculum. The campaign is on and there is one in Nottingham for getting books

Nottingham connected about the history of black people, the Caribbean and Africa in schools for them to engage and integrate our history in the curriculum. We have many black people in the UK and around the world who are telling our stories in a positive way. Our presence must be felt not just in sports and music but in business, art and every sector of society and it is important that the schools get a hand in it as well.

Mojatu: Would community engagements like conversations and seminars help in our enlightenment?

Pastor Forster: I think it is very important as we can see how quickly time moves on. For example, I spoke to some teenagers if they ever heard of Steven Lawrence,

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the young black who was murdered and how his murder affected legislation with regards to policing, institutional racism. It was his murder that changed the law with regards to how people are tried, and they were young black people who did not know anything about it and this was just 1993. For that reason, it is so important as a community of black people that we talk about those issues and our developments on how far we have come and where we want to go and the more recent things that have changed. If we do not do it, who is going to do it for us and this is the more reason why I get myself involved in the Windrush scandal. We should take ownership of our own history.

You can watch/listen to the rest on the interview from our online version at www.mojatu.com

Celebrating Windrush Day By Pa Modou Faal After World War II, the United Kingdom’s economy needed to be repaired and further rebuild to meet the much-desired demands of industrialisation and economic developments. In that regard, the British government stormed the Caribbean islands and recruited Afro-Caribbean migrants and offered them jobs. These jobs included the production of steel, coal, iron, and food, and also jobs in the service sectors, such as running public transport and staffing the new National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. June 22 of 1948, the Empire Windrush ship docked on the harbour of Tilbury in Essex bringing in a labour force we now called the Windrush Generation. They were all documented and profiled to take part in the development of the United Kingdom as former colonies

of the British Empire.

for the younger generation.

These people ended up experiencing great deal of prejudice and hardship on the account of their colour and heritage. It is a moment we celebrate now not because of the dark side of the history it writes but in appreciation of their efforts, strides and resilience that avails us many privileges we enjoy today not just as black people but as children of humanity such as the NHS, reliable transport system and industrial developments. It is against this backdrop that June 22 is set aside to commemorate the Windrush history now called Windrush Day. We also celebrate this day to strengthen the enlightenment of the generation and to celebrate how far we have come and forge a brighter future

The city of Nottingham plays host to many influential people of the Windrush generation heritage, and they continue to occupy pivotal roles in the development of the city.

Among them include the current CEO of Nottingham City Council Melbourne Barrett, former Mayor and current Sheriff of Nottingham Merlita Bryan, Viv Anderson MBE and a Nottingham Forest legend who is notable for being the first black football player to represent England in a full international match as well as many other significant personalities. This year’s commemoration of Windrush Day marks the 4th anniversary since its inception and the theme for this year’s celebration is “Celebrating our legacy and building future generations”.

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16 Community

NIGHT OWL: THE BEGINNING By Lynette Wairegi THE BEGINNING On a planet we call earth is another planet, thousands of miles away. For us it is a tiny, grey speck. But for them, it is their home. If you look down from the planet you will see it. Here is the place we are looking at. On a small, abandoned island, there was a town. The town was called Luka Luka. This is an island with a hood of nature. The trees stood tall and proud guarding the island. Their small, cottagelike huts were sitting on the ground. Small children were running like headless chickens around the town while the grown-ups worked hard to keep the town running. They had no king, no queen but they had a mayor. The jolliest mayor on the island.

You will meet him later but let me introduce you to Coral.

Coral Kaki is the daughter of Mrs Kaki and Mr Kaki.

Currently, Mrs Kaki (Delphine) is in the house washing up. She cannot go to work because she is pregnant.

She is the only person in the house for now. Coral is now in Luka primary school. We cannot bother her.

Mr Kaki (vai) is working on the beach making boats. So, everyone on the island has a role.

Men: They build houses, boats, tools, and all the everyday tools we need.

Woman: They do the cooking, collect food, knitting or making clothes.

Mayor: He runs the island making sure everything is in order, so the island does not have arguments.

Children: The children go to school every single day and come back home at 3:30.

Chapter 2: The Competition When Coral got home, she told her parents about her day.

When she and her friend were walking back home from school, they saw a letter. It was as colourful as a rainbow.

In bold, it said “Art Competition!”. Coral absolutely loves art. Painting, drawing, silhouette, sketching anything about art she loves. At the back it had some information about the art competition. It said The Art Competition takes place at Luka’s church hall at June the 7th. If you want to compete, the sign-up sheet is around the whole town. The judges are Professor

quiltatch, David Monerossor and professional artist of Luka Luka Town, Rose sandriser. When you arrive, follow the arrows saying, “Art Competition this way”.

When you follow all the arrows, you should arrive in a big hall. The way the competition works, is that you have 10 minutes to create a piece of art against the other artists. When the 10 minutes are over, you must explain your masterpiece and why you drew it.

The winner takes home a big trophy. Good Luck and I cannot wait to see you at the competition.

Coral gave her Mum the leaflet. Her mum looked at her dad and her dad looked back. Coral knew she had to convince them to let her go to the art competition tomorrow. So, she said (in a pleasing voice). “I really, really, really want to go mum, this is my chance to show everyone in Luka Luka that I am a really good artist.”

“Please let me go, all my friends are going.”

Her Mum said in a soft voice: “Sorry honey, the baby is due tomorrow, and you know we can’t afford a babysitter. I am so sorry honey. Maybe another opportunity of doing art in front of your friends will come but tomorrow no.”

Coral’s heart broke in half. She stormed out of the room. This was her only chance and there will be no other chance again. She always thought to herself she is an amazing artist that when she paints it is like magic. But maybe her mum does not want her to go because she might make a fool of herself. She also thinks why my mum not let me go to different events. Is she scared for her? No…. Well, she had a plan, to go to the art competition by herself. She checked the time of the art competition. Luckily, you can go there at dawn to practise (5:00). But the Luka Luka church is very far.

So, the only option is walking because her mum has not got the money for a taxi or a bus.

Chapter 3: The Special Place?

At dawn, she set of to the art competition. She wore a blue straight drees and cute sandals. She also wore a summer hat with a ribbon (pink). Her hair was down; she curled it by herself. She carried a white backpack which had: Food | Water | Colouring book | Drawing book | Pencil case | First aid kit (just in case) | Magic Memory (her favourite book) | A coat/ jumper | Her camera (not in backpack, just around her neck) | And her phone.

The winter white bag had a white wolf on it. Coral felt confident. She looked at her watch and it was 05:10.

She thought since she had enough time, she would the more scenic route. She went on the grey solid footpath. The Fazed footpath had beautiful flowers on the side. Coral took some photos. Everything was going well so far.

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BLACK PEOPLE DIDN’T LOSE THE EUROS, ENGLAND DID

By Rosie Vacciana-Browne

For the first time in 55 years, England’s football team had made it to a major tournament final. The energy across the nation was electric. The England squad was young, diverse, and talented it felt like a true representation of the country. A team we could all get behind; until we lost.

For many people of colour, the George cross is a symbolism of hate. Extremist right-wing groups have long appropriated the flag, supposed to represent us all, to represent racism and white supremacy.

From knee-high, we are made aware that areas and pubs flying the flag are not for us. That we should be on guard, hypervigilant, and ready to leave at any moment should we be confronted. I had believed that maybe, just maybe, that was all about to change with the Euro 2020s.

“A team we could all get behind; until we lost.”

Raheem Sterling, who has spent most of his career at the mercy of the right-wing press and racist abuse, carried the England team throughout the start of the tournament scoring the first three goals and seeing us off to the quarter-finals. It seemed like the tides were changing; the country was proud of Sterling. Saka quickly became a fan favourite, labelled man of the match in his first appearance. People were getting behind an England team that had black players as its stars.

The unity was empowering, it was hopeful, it was joyous.

For the first time, many people of colour embraced the George cross; we wrapped it around ourselves in pride.

It didn’t represent racists. It represented Sterling, Saka, Kane, Maguire, Walker, Grealish, and the diverse face of the country. Many of the England teams players are first and second-generation migrants from Ireland, the Caribbean, and beyond. After the divisions of last year, it finally appeared that England could come together under the same flag and rejoice in its diversity. But the waters of racism doth run so deep through the heart of England, it took just one penalty shoot out for the poison to resurface.

“the waters of racism doth run so deep through the heart of England” It was 1-1 between Italy and England after extra time.

The dreaded penalties were next. We were facing a team that had won 33 consecutive games. The odds were not in our favour, but that didn’t matter. For some England fans, the only thing they saw was the race of the three England players, Rashford, Sancho, and Saka, who missed their goals. Before anyone could react, people of colour up and down the country already knew the response. We’d been here before. For Black people in Britain, we are only as good as what we can offer. We aren’t individuals, we are commodities. The second the goals were missed it wasn’t England who had lost, it was the three black lads.

Social media became instantly ablaze with foul racist rhetoric and memes. The FA, England, the Prime Minister, the press, and many former players had to come to the defence of Rashford, Sancho, and Saka. In an attempt to educate and calm the vitriol spewing from the mouths of adults who were unable to process a football game.

It shouldn’t be this way. But the stage has already been set for racists to flourish in England. One politician who ironically came forward to defend the team was Priti Patel.

Patel has been at the forefront of strict anti-immigration legislation and persistently targeted black and brown people here in the UK. At the start of the games, she emboldened English hooligans who wanted to boo the players for taking the knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. It was those same hooligans she then condemned in her own “gesture politics”. “black people will always be one penalty miss away from racist abuse and degradation.”

The events of the last 24-hrs have been heartbreaking for all across the country. But it has been earth-shattering for none more than minorities who have once again been reminded that we are not part of this team. Until England can dismantle racism from the heart of its institutions and ideologies, black people will always be one penalty miss away from racist abuse and degradation.

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THE SK8 DEBATE : WHY ROLLER SKATING HAS BECOME SO POPULAR IN 2021 By Tiana Browne Roller skating was born in the US around the 60s and 70s, it also paved the way for roller disco that began in the mid70s. As major platforms such as Tiktok have gained in popularity, especially during the pandemic, black creators noticed that white content creators were receiving much more love and support from their followers than they were even though they are doing the same things if not better.

Social media apps rely upon algorithms to better their interactions with us. If you have watched ‘The Social Dilemma’ on Netflix you’ll understand what I mean; for example, the videos we like and leave comments on Tiktok tell those apps what kind of content we like the most since we interacted with them more.

That means that deliberately, Tiktok will push similar videos to our screens because they know we’ll engage more, which means more unproductive screen time for us but more business for them because they make money from us wasting our time on those apps.

Because of this, people are a lot more likely to see posts from

people with similar interests as them, or people who look like them and even people that live in their area perhaps. My for you page on Tiktok will probably look completely different to yours because we probably don’t have the same interests but algorithms can be random and more complex than just how people react to content so it may not always be the case.

The most important thing about skating culture is for non-black skaters to understand the roots of it, where it came from and where it all began. The problem black people were having is that the white content creators had come up with a new skate style that they believed to be a lot more basic compared to the type of skating they are used to.

I can imagine it was hard for them to see much simpler moves being taught by people who weren’t as skilled as them so I see why it could be disheartening to see someone reaping the benefits of something you should also be gaining from.

Black Culture made roller skating popular because it started to include new styles of skating such as jam skating. Jam Skating started

off as an underground movement began by teenagers and skaters, jam events were created and these allowed them to meet, perform, trade moves, and battle.

I also think it helped rap music and hip-hop because it was black music that was being played in the skate rinks and that allowed for the black community to unite and be together in one place. It was a key social activity that gave black people the freedom and expression they wanted and needed that they couldn’t have due to racial discrimination at the time. During the 1970s there was obviously a lot of racism and segregation so many pro-black protests occurred because of the oppression black people faced daily back then even though black people are still having to deal with discrimination in today’s society.

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FMB RADIO SCHEDULE By Anna Nagy FMB Radio is a community-oriented organisation that is built around community media and digital storytelling.

Based in Nottingham, FMB Radio offers individuals and communities an opportunity to capture and tell their stories in authentic voices and to effectively amplify what they have to say thereby addressing issues affecting them. FMB aims to provide opportunitiesfor locals by offering trainings for young people in digital storytelling, creative writing, audio production and many more and by creating educational podcasts.

Currently, our audience can learn more about self-confidence, worship, sports, community members, mental health and FMB radio presenters. The organisation is motivated to give voice to everyone who wants to share their story or wants the world to know about their music, podcasts or videos. They are always happy to answer questions or give information about their programs and trainings, and so feel free to email them on info@fmbradio.com

NEW SCHEDULE AUGUST 2ND FLOOR, 151/153 ALFRETON ROAD, NOTTINGHAM NG7 3JR 0115 784 6670 0751 366 1176

https://fumbu.org/m0f

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THE SIMPLY GOSPEL SHOW By Sarah Kaironge God willing. I am also a volunteer at Mojatu Foundation in the Human Resource department. Above all, I am a born-again believer.

Am the last born in a family of six siblings. I was privileged to grow up listening to different genres of music such as country, R&B, blues and reggae, and this informs my love for and ability to enjoy the different genres music.

About the show.

The Simply Gospel Show is a prerecorded gospel show which first aired on FMB Radio on Monday 3rd of May 2021. The show plays a mix of different gospel music genres such as hymns, praise & worship, gospel rock, gospel reggae, blue grass/ country gospel, African gospel music and more, with a goal of sharing and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through the word of God and the music.

About the host of the show Hello! Am your host, Sarah Love.

Currently am a stay-at-home mum of one beautiful, super-energetic, talkative, and curious munchkin, her name is Sasha Blessing Amor.

She’ll be turning 3 in September,

At school, the extra-curricular club activities I enjoyed the most and took part in without hesitation were in public speaking, debate, and drama (play acting). While watching or listening to the presenters of the kids shows I loved, I would really desire to be like them. Unfortunately, because I did not know how to go about it or anyone who could guide me, this never came to pass. But this desire was always deep in my heart even into my adulthood.

As mentioned earlier, I volunteer at Mojatu Foundation, and it was at one of the online staff meetings that it was mentioned that FMB radio was looking for people to do radio jingles or have ideas of what new shows that can be incorporated.

I jumped at the opportunity and said I had an idea for a gospel show,

even though I have no qualification or experience.

After an online interview with the FMB radio station director, Ms. Anna N, I presented my idea and concept. She was reassuring and has been instrumental in helping me shaping the show’s format.

Looking back to look forward Looking back, the first show was on the theme of the holiness of God and so I made a playlist of songs that spoke to this. I can honestly say that I was a nervous wreck! The voice recording was poor because I had the microphone far from me while recording and the script was short because I was unsure of what to say. I did not know the best way on how to introduce a song.

Over time, I have learned how to hold the microphone close, so the voice recordings are clearer and loud enough and also how to write the script the best I know how. It is a learning process every single time really.

In future, the show will host different Christian faith leaders who will both teach on the word of God and discuss topical issues that a believer faces in their day-to-day life.

SUMMARY OF MENTAL HEALTH DISCUSSIONS WITH MY FRIEND By Anna Nagy This limited podcast series at FMB Radio was created specifically for Mental Health Awareness week back in May. Anna, one of our radio presenters gathered some of her friends to discuss how they are coping with life and how their mental state is. In the first episode Marina, Anna’s current university friend talked about her coping routine of listening to ocean’s sounds and how that can help her go through difficult days.

Marina further explained her current situation at the university and the podcasts that she listens to in order to learn more about selfawareness, vulnerability and selfcare. They go on to discuss what

being introverted really means and the importance of figuring out what works the best for you in regards to your individual mental health journey. In the next episode, Nina joined Anna to share what happened to her in the last months and how she could manage to succeed in both academic and professional life while maintaining a health amount of socializing.

She shares that what truly helped her overcoming every obstacle is daily mediation and taking some minutes to be in peace with the moment.

Learning from these two episodes, the creator hopes that people will see how natural it can be to talk about mental health and highlights the importance

of reaching out to your loved ones.

You can listen to these podcasts on FMB’s Anchor page: anchor.fm/ fmb-radio

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TAPPING INTO YOUR GREATNESS SUMMARY

By Tatjana Smith

Tatjana, the creator and host In the recent episodes, however, Tatjana’s show is to inspire people of Tapping into your greatness live listeners could learn more about and to help them realize their own wellbeing, value and consequently, every show, empowers her listeners by entrepreneurship, bringing in inspiring guests to tell education and advocacy through episode is widely available online their stories. Tatjana started her the conversations with Deborah, on FMB’s Anchor profile to be creative career at the beginning Aysha, Paige Smith, Luzia and listened and re-listened. of lockdown in 2020, with Augustav. the FairyQueen talks podcast with 8/26/2021 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm#search/m042/KtbxLwGkMDDwkMwptrSCMxWGlcclVVjxNq the aim that “Life is not a fairy-tale, but we all deserve a happy ending.

A Fairyqueen is in service of her Queendom, and with this podcast I want to help you tap into your own greatness and be the best version of yourself.”

With her new live show however, she took on a bigger role by bringing guests on to share their authentic voice and celebrate their greatness with the world.

In the very first episode Tatjana invited Shilpa Arya, to talk about her passion about fighting inequality and injustice, to discuss the circumstance of how they met, what skills Shilpa excels in, setting up goals and keeping to them.

In the following episodes Tatjana talked with Devontay Okure about his experience in leadership, commercial sales, and negotiations, and later on with her own brother, Adim, they talked about his work as a music producer, photographer and creative person.

22 Covid-19 Support Work

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YOUNG BRITS TAKING ON THE OLYMPICS By Rosie Vacciana-Browne The year 2020 was full of adversity, polarisation and isolation. But, in Tokyo 2020, diversity, unity and community reign supreme.

Team GB have been breaking records, holding titles and amassing medals since the games began just 11days ago. As back home, we’ve watched on in anticipation and excitement our athletes have been braving the world stage in the teams custom Adidas kit.

The new fits design represents the unity in diversity, a nod to the UK’s separatism in years past from Brexit to BLM, in hopes these games can once again unite our fractured nation. And, unite they have.

Countrywide our team is being celebrated and flying the flag at the forefront of some of our most memorable wins so far are young black Brits.

Nottingham native Emily Campbell has become the first British woman ever to win a weightlifting medal at the Olympics and brings home the first Olympic weightlifting medal since 1984! Before scoring a silver medal, Campbell had previously been working with young people in care something she hopes to return to at some point.

Dubbed the Prince of Peckham BMX biker Kye Whyte, 21, soared across the finish line in 2nd place at the Men’s BMX racing finals just 0.114 seconds behind Netherlands winner Niek Kimman.

Whyte’s silver medal is history-making as it marks Great Britain’s first medal in the sport! Kye’s win has changed the global face of BMX’ing but, his dad, Nigel Whyte, has been making an impact at home for years.

The co-founder of Peckham BMX Club, Nigel aims to help young people off the streets and away from crime into sports.

Chelsie Giles won Team GB their first medal at the games scoring bronze in the women’s -52kg Judo.

Tokyo 2020 is Giles’ first Olympics but, the 24-yearold from Coventry has been doing Judo since she was 8-years-old making her senior international debut in 2017.

Nottingham connected

Covid-19 Support Work

23

GRENFELL, FOUR YEARS ON By Rosie Vacciana-Browne It is one of the biggest tragedies of our time. A social injustice birthed from the very heart of Britain’s institutions. There have been public inquiries and protests but no arrests. Why four years on are we still left asking, where is the justice for Grenfell?

On June 14th 2017, the nation woke up to the shocking news that the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block in West London was ablaze. The fire started around 1 am on the fourth floor, but as daylight broke, thick smoke was billowing up into the sky, and flames were visible from windows up to the top floor. The harrowing images etched into our memories likened to that of 9/11. It was clear that anyone who remained within the building would not have survived. But, the first reports were murky, the cause of the fire was unknown, and the death toll widely underreported. In the weeks and months that followed, what uncovered was an amalgamation of government failures at the local and national level.

The Grenfell Tower block stood in The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, looking over the wealthiest area in the UK where the average yearly salary is £65,000. It is home to the country’s rich and famous; it was also home to refugees, migrants and low-income households publically housed in Grenfell under the care of a Conservative-led council. The building had recently had a refurbishment just two years prior by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. In a bid to save £300,000, they swapped the planned zinc cladding with cheaper aluminium, a decision that cost 72 lives and destroyed hundreds more. A public inquiry has since found the cladding was the primary cause of the fire spreading. The council apologised for putting profits before people. But profits before people is what the Conservative party do.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the disparities became clear. More than just a tragic accident, Grenfell was a result of xenophobia and classism that seeps through Britain’s infrastructure. Within 24hrs of the news breaking, the local community, charities, religious groups and leader of the Labour opposition, Jeremy

Corbyn, all flocked to the scene to support residents on the ground. While, in a picture all too familiar, the former Prime Minister Theresa May spent her first visit having private meetings with emergency service workers. She met no residents. It was yet another example of out of touch politics by the Conservative party, who since 2010 have implemented harsh austerity cuts that have disproportionately hit the working classes and minorities. The genetic makeup of Grenfell.

You could wonder if a private housing block with wealthy, white residents would have safety corners cut to save money. The local government was working off a script crafted by our national Tory government, who have shown us time & again that black, brown and poor lives do not matter. Residents had tried to raise safety concerns around Grenfell. Just 7-months before the fire, a post posted on a community blog suggested the company running the building and the local council covered up residents’ concerns. It went on to state, “a serious fire in a tower block or similar high-density residential property is the most likely reason that those who wield power at the KCTMO will be found out and brought to justice.” Unfortunately, not even that was enough. Four years on, it seems there have been no tangible lessons learned; and no justice gained. There have been no convictions, 700,000 buildings still have cladding similar to Grenfell’s, and as of February 2021, 7 families were still not rehoused in permanent housing.

These are government failings.

One general election and a new Prime Minister later, the Tory’s are still regurgitating policies that oppress marginalised communities. They treated the Black Lives Matter protests with contempt, labelling protesters “thugs” and the protests “dreadful”. They have purposefully created a hostile environment for immigrants and wrongly deported elderly citizens during the Windrush scandal (something they have since apologised for). The divisions in this country are being exasperated by the Tory’s. Hate crimes have surged, with the number of incidences rising by 4000 from 2019-2020. This year we have seen the introduction of the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that’ll crackdown on protests in direct response to BLM. It has been accused of institutional racism as it targets the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities, and its new policies will disproportionately affect black and brown people.

Grenfell shows us the horrific results of disregarding the lives of the working classes and minorities. And in the four years that have followed, the Conservative government has continued to show us their lack of care.

If you want to support the victims of Grenfell head to www.grenfellunited.org.uk.

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24 Covid-19 Support Work

WHY SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS ARE CRUCIAL TO EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN KENYA

By Katarzyna Rybarczyk Even though the right to sexual and reproductive health represents a basic human right, in many areas of the world people, especially women and girls, are denied it.

Kenya is an example of a country where many women cannot freely decide on matters regarding pregnancies, do not have access to information about family planning, and are not able to receive good quality sexual and reproductive healthcare.

I have recently spent a month volunteering in Africa’s largest urban slum, Kibera, where I shadowed United Cultural Empowerment & Social Community Organization. UCESCO is a Nairobi-based charity working with underprivileged communities. Its primary goal is to empower women and girls living in slums.

The scale of the problem in Kenya It is estimated that one-fifth of women in Kenya do not know if abortions are legal and who to turn to if they need one. Similarly, they are not aware of the risks of unsafe abortions and do not know where to seek help if any complications occur.

As a result, women who unintentionally get pregnant turn to unlawful abortions, which often are performed in unsanitary conditions by individuals who lack adequate training and qualifications. Consequently, maternal mortality in Kenya is very high with around 6,000 deaths each year, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) reported. Almost twenty per cent of these deaths are caused by complications after having an unsafe abortion.

Furthermore, in Kenya, around four million women and girls have been subject to female genital mutilation (FGM). When asked about FGM in Kenya, Kingsley Nyandika Kipros, the founder of UCESCO, explained to me that ‘FGM has no health benefits to girls and women.

On the contrary, it puts their physical and psychological well-being at risk.’

In theory, the ritual was outlawed in Kenya in 2011.

In practice, however, female genital mutilation is still prevalent in rural areas, especially in the North-Eastern region of the country. There, the procedure is considered to be a tradition.

Charities help women and girls realise their full rights UCESCO’s approach is not to merely counsel women and girls about sexually transmitted infections and risks of unsafe abortions. The organisation uses talking about reproductive and sexual health to help women and girls become more aware of their rights and make them realise that they are capable of achieving great things in life.

Thanks to the help of UCESCO and other organisations operating in Nairobi’s slums and rural areas around the city, the rates of teenage pregnancies can be reduced and customs such as FGM can be eradicated. Most importantly, however, Kenya is getting closer to achieving gender equality and women and girls no longer agree to

be discriminated against by men.

Empowered by NGOs, women in Kibera are now organising themselves into groups where they support each other, talk about issues such as managing periods, contraception, and female empowerment. They also collectively demand fair treatment and the same rights for men and women. Supported by charities, women have been playing a crucial part in transforming the slum.

There are several barriers to promoting sexual and reproductive health in Kenya Women and girls in Kibera are extremely motivated and willing to work hard to get out of poverty. Sadly, however, due to environmental constraints, they cannot fully realise their potential.

The poverty these women and girls live in is so extreme that their opportunities and tools to promote gender equality are limited. Not only do these women and girls not have access to quality education but, as very few sexual and reproductive healthcare centres operate in impoverished areas of Kenya, they have no one to turn to for guidance and medical treatment.

On top of that, in recent months international donors have been cutting financial aid to family planning programmes in low and middle-income countries. In April, for example, the UK announced that it was going to cut family planning aid to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) by 85 per cent.

Protecting and promoting girls’ reproductive health and rights can increase their participation in all aspects of life and give them the chance to live a happy life, free from discrimination and gender-based violence. Without sufficient funds and the support of the international community, however, none of that can be achieved.

About the author: Katarzyna Rybarczyk is a Political Correspondent for Immigration Advice Service, an immigration law firm based in the UK but operating globally. Through her articles, she aims to raise awareness about security threats worldwide and the challenges facing communities, especially women and girls, living in developing countries. She has recently spent a month volunteering in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

Photo: Katarzyna Rybarczyk

Nottingham connected

Arts & Culture

25

Y2K FASHION: THE COMEBACK OF THE 2000S

By Tiana Browne

y2k fashion describes the trends of the late 90s and early 2000s. Fashion styles from certain eras never stay in the past as fashion is cyclical and rotates over the years. However, only specific trends seem to make a comeback while others are fortunately overlooked with time. With that said, these y2k trends have made a massive comeback while also being a bit controversial in the fashion industry.

Pop culture of the 2000s started what we now know as “y2k” fashion. It can be seen worn on people such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliot, Paris Hilton, Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, and Regina George of Mean Girls. People used to wear things like big sunglasses and baguette bags and the popular velour tracksuits and Kangol hats.

Tiktok, Instagram, Gen Z and the global pandemic all played a part in bringing back y2k fashion. The pandemic caused people to be bored and stuck at home resulting in a lot more time spent using social media more than we usually have time for.

Tiktok is a brilliant app for sharing your creativity and it can be really good for exposure especially with good hashtag use and a specific niche for the type of content you create. y2k fashion became a Tiktok trend that inspired many teens as it made quite the fashion statement and people wanted something new and cool but also something familiar. Teens in particular are more likely to get fashion inspiration from sites such as Tiktok, Instagram, and Pinterest. Online shopping sites such as Asos, Pretty Little Thing, Boohoo, Fashion Nova etc are now incorporating a lot of the vintage styles into their new and mass-produced fashion lines; it takes away from actual second-hand clothes and makes it seem more eco friendly than what it is which deludes people because they then believe they’re doing their part for the environment when they aren’t.

I hate fast fashion it’s so bad for the environment and you can really buy Balenciagas from a ‘luxury streetwear plug’ on Depop bro it’s actually not that deep I don’t think fashion is real I think it’s just a huge cycle of pre-existing fashion that suddenly comes along again and becomes a trend. Your favourite rapper/ influencer starts wearing it and because we’re easily influenced by things we see on social media and we tend to do things our friends are doing, we resurrect past clothes and style inspirations perhaps with a new twist as well and claim it to be something else than what it originally was which I disagree with. I feel like

it takes away from the first original niche and the reasons why and how people started to get into it.

I personally use Depop for cool and vintage clothes I can’t get from anywhere else. I often go to London when I want to go thrifting because there are a lot more stores with far more variety. I’ve queued outside pop up shops that are usually open for a short while or sometimes I have to buy a ticket beforehand to get in and go at an allocated slot as they can be quite busy, it’s fun.

Fashion accounts for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity Public Service Announcement: You should really consider buying from thrift stores/charity shops and use Depop or other equivalent places to get clothes. I hate fast fashion it’s so bad for the environment and you can really buy Balenciagas from a ‘luxury streetwear plug’ on Depop bro it’s actually not that deep. Fast fashion is mass-produced for what’s trendy right now, that trending fashion style quickly gets boring and people find something else; that just isn’t sustainable, people also don’t donate enough to charity or resell, a lot of those clothes get thrown away which is the problem. At least support someone’s small shop on Depop instead of going to Selfridges, they already make enough money! Fashion accounts for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.

Clothing in general has complex supply chains that make it difficult to account for all of the emissions that come from producing a pair of trousers.

I do actually think y2k is cool but I now see it as a more basic kind of style because it’s trending now.

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26 Health & Food

COVID VACCINE MYTHS

By Neelaveni Padayachee and Varsha Bangalee Despite this uptake, many people especially those of perceptions of vaccine issues. Most of the side effects Caribbean/African heritage are still hesitant to take the of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild. They include low COVID-19 vaccine. The circulation of misinformation grade fever, sore arm and fatigue, and these usually about it poses the danger of hampering efforts to control subside after one to three days. Rare side effects such the pandemic. In this article, we aim to dispel some of the as blood clots have been reported from the Johnson myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines. Social media and Johnson vaccine. The chances of experiencing this plays a huge role in propagating myths and conspiracy side effect are low. The risks of blood clots as a result theories. Before you share any information, you should of COVID-19 infection are 8-10 times higher than risks associated with the vaccine. Doctors are aware of ensure that it is from a scientific and reputable source. this concern and are trained to identify and treat the Myth 1: The COVID-19 vaccine will affect a woman’s condition quickly. fertility A recent article by Healthline – a medically reviewed, and fact checked website – compared the benefits and risks of being vaccinated with those of contracting COVID-19. Lung damage is a complication of COVID-19 while muscle fatigue can be a side effect of the vaccine.

This risk-benefit decision is left to the individual to make, but vaccinations have been proven to be safe.

Myth 4: Vaccines have a microchip that will track and control an individual

This myth was sparked when a social media post was shared in December 2020 by Dr Wolfgang Wodarg, a physician and former chief scientist for allergy and respiratory therapy at Pfizer, and Dr Michael Yeadon, a pulmonologist. They claimed that the spike protein on the coronavirus was the same as the spike protein that is responsible for the growth and attachment of the placenta during pregnancy. The fear was that, as a result of the vaccine, the immune system would not be able to differentiate between the two spike proteins and would attack the placental protein.

This is untrue. The overall makeup of the placental protein is very different from the coronavirus spike protein. Additionally, during the Pfizer vaccine tests, 23 women volunteers became pregnant after taking the vaccine. Furthermore, the benefits of being vaccinated outweigh the risks of infection for pregnant women.

Myth 2: I’ve had COVID-19, so I don’t need a vaccine Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can occur even in individuals who have previously contracted the virus. But receiving the vaccine can provide protection against severe COVID-19 complications. The level of protection that is achieved from natural immunity after being infected by the virus is unknown. But scientists believe that the vaccine provides better protection than natural infection.

This conspiracy theory has been propagated by antivaxxers who believe that the American business magnate, investor and philanthropist Bill Gates will implant microchips to track people’s movement, using the vaccine as the method of delivery. This is untrue and has been clarified by Gates in the media.

This myth gained traction when a video was shared on Facebook making false claims about the optional microchip on the syringe’s label of the COVID-19 vaccine. This microchip’s purpose is to confirm that the injectable and the vaccine are not counterfeit and haven’t expired. It will also confirm if the injection has been used. People commenting on the video appeared to have misinterpreted the technology as an injectable.

But the microchip is part of the syringe label and not the injectable substance itself.

Myth 3: COVID-19 vaccine side-effects are dangerous

Myth 5: The COVID-19 vaccine development was rushed, so it may not be effective

Several studies have been conducted since the start of the pandemic that have measured people’s

The vaccine was developed very quickly. This was possible because the vaccine technology had been

Nottingham connected in development for many years. When the genetic information of SARS-CoV-2 was identified, the process could begin quickly. There were sufficient resources to fund the research and social media made it easier to recruit participants for the clinical trials.

Because SARS-CoV-2 is contagious, it was easy to tell whether the vaccine worked or not.

Health & Food Myth 6: The COVID-19 vaccine can alter my DNA

The messenger RNA vaccine (Pfizer) and the viral vector vaccine (Johnson and Johnson) cause your body to develop protection, so that when you are infected by SARS-CoV-2, your body is prepared to fight the virus. DNA is located in the nucleus of your cells and the vaccine material does not enter the nucleus. So, it does not alter the DNA.

COVID19 VACCINATION DRIVE https://rb.gy/vonzyx

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https://rb.gy/rxqhgr

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28 Health & Food

HOW TO SLEEP BETTER: 25 TIPS FROM 25 PEOPLE

By Katie Holmes

Recently we put out this query: What’s your #1 tip for getting better sleep, that’s worked for you personally?

In response, there were loads of great tips from different sleep experts, as well as a wide range of people who have tried something that’s helped them get significantly better sleep. I’ve listed the best responses below (25 in total) and will continue to list new submissions as they come in. If you’re having trouble sleeping, I strongly recommend having a read through these! Here’s what’s been suggested so far:

• Wear blue light blocking glasses • Pay attention to the temperature of your bedroom

(“it is essential the room temperature stays on the cooler spectrum”) • Consider sleep hypnosis • Make your bedroom a sleep-only space • Sleep in as close to darkness as possible • Reflect about your day before you go to bed to clear all the ‘junk’ from your brain • Otherwise, consider planning your day out when you first wake up so you have a greater sense of control over your day, and it’s easier to sleep at night • You can also schedule “worry time” so you only worry about things at a specified time • Consider breathing exercises or yoga • Consider visualization exercises • Try meditation and mindfulness apps • Stop using your phone for at least an hour before bed • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day • Exercise is important for sleep, but it’s best to exercise in the morning or the day rather than at night • Fatigue your eyelids • Practice gratitude each night • Try a weighted blanket • Sleep naked • Consider sleeping on your back • Pay attention to your diet • Consider using lavender oil • Watch the sunset If you have anything to add that’s worked for you and hasn’t been mentioned below, you’re welcome to make a submission. See also our piece on the dangers of sleep deprivation.

There is one major thing that people tend to neglect when discussing sleep improvement: temperature regulation, or temperature of your sleeping

environment. The thermal environment in your bedroom is one of the most important factors for a night of high-quality, relaxing sleep.

As someone who has spent a lot of time exploring sleep and sleep improvement techniques, but not being able to sleep myself, I have to say that thermal regulation has rarely crossed my mind. But, once I’ve taken notice on this subject myself, I can say that I am sleeping excellently now. Let’s start by saying that room temperature is important for several things; sleep onset and the amount of time in which it occurs, sleep duration, ability to enter deep sleep, and the overall quality of sleep. Your body naturally lowers its temperature before bedtime, and acts as a signal to the brain that it is time to go to sleep. However, if you’re sleeping in a warm bedroom, you will become irritable, agitated, stressed, restless, etc. Your adrenaline levels will skyrocket, you will start to sweat and of course, you won’t get any sleep. Now, since the temperature of the body decreases as you’re falling asleep, it also increases as you enter REM sleep. That is why it is essential the room temperature stays on the cooler spectrum. This way, you won’t wake up from deep sleep and you will get the quality sleep you deserve.

It is recommended that the room temperature should be around 20°C or 68 °F. Now, how can you regulate room temperature? There are a few ways; you can try the air conditioning method, but I recommend a more natural approach. First of all, try to leave the windows open for an hour or two before bedtime. Allow the fresh and crisp night air to enter the bedroom and freshen it.

If it’s the summer season, you can try placing wet towels around the room, ensuring the towels were dipped in cold water. As the water evaporates from the towels, it will cool down the room. Try to prevent heating of the room during the day; use curtains or shutters to keep the room dark and away from the heat and light.

Also, make sure to sleep in loose-fitting, cotton pajamas; make them either sleeveless or short-sleeved.

You can also use cooling mattress and pillow toppers, or you can cool your sheets by placing some ice packs on them before sleep (some people even place their sheets in the freezer for few minutes). Try to sleep in a spread-eagled position, and make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Read more: https://rb.gy/tfpmda

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Health & Food

29

PINTEREST PINS DOWN WEIGHT-LOSS ADS

By Rosie Vacciana-Browne

If you’ve logged in to a social media account anytime in the last 10-years, then it’s almost a given that at some point, you’ve had your timeline flooded by weight-loss ads. From Kardashian backed appetitesuppressing lollipops to reality star’s workout videos, suffocating waist trainers, crash diets, pills and just about every liquid (how could we forget weight-loss teas aka laxatives). Yes, the patriarchy is alive and well on the world wide web.

But in a landmark move for body positivity, social media site Pinterest has become the first major platform to ban weight loss adverts. Like Instagram, Pinterest is picture-based, making it easier for users to absorb negative body expectations and imagery.

This change follows years of activism from many who have called for social media platforms to stop the pushing of weight loss posts and ads by celebrities and companies for their damaging effects on women and young people (their primary target).

“Yes, the patriarchy is alive and well on the world wide web.”

In a blog post, Pinterest wrote that the move came as an expansion of its ad policies; “that have long prohibited body shaming and dangerous weight loss products or claims.” The updated policy includes the prohibition of any weight loss language or imagery, language or imagery that idealises or puts down certain body types, reference to Body Mass Index (BMI) and any products that claim weight loss through something worn or applied to the skin. These changes come in addition to Pinterest’s previous policy that barred weight loss or appetite suppressant pills/supplements, before-and-after weightloss imagery, weight loss procedures, body shaming and claims regarding unrealistic cosmetic results.

Hopefully, yesterday will mark the first of many moves by big tech companies and social media platforms to push body positivity and create a more positive online space for young people.

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30 Business & Finance

ACCOUNTING TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

By Kayleigh Rawson

Bookkeeping and accounting can be an overwhelming task even for experienced business owners; however there are a couple of straightforward strategies that can keep your finances in working order. Here is a list of some of the most helpful accounting tips for your small business.

Keeping all your Records and Receipts in order

Start early and keep on top of your records

If you don’t keep your records and receipts you could miss out on valuable tax deductions on expenses or you could end up understating your income which could lead to potential fines and penalties.

Forms and Deadlines

A solution to help with this is to make use of one of the number of cloud accounting packages that allow you to track and submit your expenses on the go from your mobile or tablet. Another benefit of cloud accounting packages is that you can store all your receipts and bills online so there is no risk of losing them. Or you can still record your records on excel or use a desktop accounting package to help track your transactions.

HMRC requires you to keep them for 6 years. Once all of all of your transactions are on a cloud accounting package they can be reconciled and categorized.

By keeping good records of your business you can ensure you get paid by all of your customers which is very important for small businesses with limited cash reserves.

If you start early and keep on top of your records you will save a lot of time and stress. As mentioned above, cloud accounting software can help with this but you have to keep updating your records in order to stay ahead.

Most small businesses have at least two deadlines, One for filling out tax returns; the other for paying the associated tax bill. If your business turn over exceeds £85,000 your business will most likely have VAT returns to file as well.

However the payment of liability can be set up as a direct debit straight from your business bank account.

Furthermore, if you have a limited company your company will have to file its annual accounts with companies’ house and HMRC. Should you miss any of these deadlines, Penalties can build up quickly. On top of that, if you are an employer you also have to file payroll RTI (Real time information) returns each time you pay your staff.

An accountant can help ensure you meet those deadlines and perhaps help your business to save tax and grow its turnover on profits.

Nottingham connected

Business & Finance

31

HOW TO KEEP GOOD ACCOUNTING RECORDS AND IMPROVE YOUR BOOKKEEPING

By Kayleigh Rawson

Bookkeeping and accounting can be an overwhelming task even for the most experienced business owners; however, there are a couple of straightforward strategies that can keep you on top of your financial records.

• Keep backups of your computer records so all of

It can take a lot of time to prepare your accounts, especially if all your bookkeeping is unorganised. Here are some top tips for keeping your bookkeeping organised:

place, perhaps a file or even a box. That way when it is time to do your accounts they will all be in one spot and not scattered in various places.

What should I have in my accounting records?

Your accounting records should be built up of:

• Bank statements • Supplier invoices • Customer invoices • Business credit card statements and receipts • Business expenses • Mileage How can I keep all of my records more organised?

• Make sure to file all your invoices in a safe place,

preferably in alphabetical and date order so they are easy to find at a later date.

• Use a separate business banking account for all of

your business transactions. This way when it is time to do your accounts it will be a lot more organised and less time-consuming.

• Keep and file all of your cash, credit card and bank transactions

your important data isn’t lost if something were to happen to your computer.

• Keep all of your receipts for cash payments in one

• Keep good records of all income received and track any debts.

• Get into the habit of setting time aside once a week or once a month to do your bookkeeping

It is a good idea to digitise paperwork where possible.

Now with the new making tax digital scheme, there are more and more software’s available to help with your bookkeeping. Cloud bases software like QuickBooks, Sage one and Xero are very helpful in keeping all your bookkeeping organised. They are an easy way to keep your books up to date and secured securely.

You can even connect your bank account to most cloud-based software’s so it updates your transactions automatically. You can input any expenses and income easily with a few clicks.

By keeping your bookkeeping and accounts in order you will free up valuable time and reduce stress when your accounts are due. If you need help or advice with your bookkeeping and accounts please do not hesitate to contact us here. - https://rb.gy/jt3ili

32 Health & Food

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Health & Food

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34 Education & Career

PATRA PARTNERSHIP TO TRANSFORM OUTCOMES FOR BAME YOUTHS By Edrissa Touray PATRA Inc ACDA has committed to take proactive action in countering the impact of Covid-19 in Nottingham by getting at least 40 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into employment within the next 12 months.

Having supported Black and Minority youths into training and employment for over 30 years, Nottingham based PATRA incorporating ACDA is reputed for its effectiveness and success in transforming individuals and communities. They provide opportunities to people of BAME heritage by enhancing their labour market competitiveness through training, skills development and work placements.

PATRA has joined forces with Youth Futures Foundation (YFF) to broaden their reach of BAME youth and digitalise their operations and service provision. The project will support at least 40 young people into employment by enhancing their access to work and skills through training and support with digital and soft skills. The project also partners with over 30 employers in offering paid employment positions. It reinforces PATRA’s positive action of combating the underrepresentation of Black and other ethnic minority groups, countering the impact of racism currently, and historic racial discrimination and disadvantages.

This partnership is timely given the report published by Resolution Foundation that highlighted the worrying statistic that ‘around one-in-five young people, and over one-in-five Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) workers, who have been furloughed during the lockdown have since lost their jobs’.

The young people will go through a 13-week traineeship programme to enhance their skills in, Business, Digital, Health, and Social Care skills. In addition, they will have unfettered access to one-to-one work training and mentoring support by employability professionals to ensure they not only gain work experience but also benefit from on-the-job training to help them improve their networks and connections. As well as gaining the confidence necessary to get into meaningful employment.

This programme is in line with both PATRA and YFF’s shared objective to support young people from marginalised backgrounds into financially competitive jobs. It further aligns with PATRA’s determination to remove all forms of disadvantage that impedes the BAME community from competing on an equal basis in the labour market. And, serves as a tool for challenging the current under-representation of the BAME population in skilled and senior positions in the labour market.

PATRA’s philosophy of Positive Action, “a means of combating the under-representation of Black and other ethnic minority groups and countering the impact of racism, racial discrimination and racial disadvantage” underpins this YFF partnership programme.

The programme serves as a vehicle for social mobility by encouraging young BAME people to take advantage of opportunities across a range of skilled job sectors through access to employment, training, upskilling, and support opportunities.

The programme partners are predominantly BAME led organisations who have also experienced difficulties in recruiting and accessing higher quality staff due to financial and other operational disadvantages.

They are especially suitable for supporting the young people given their cultural understanding and can offer them appropriate support while improving their organisational operations and sustainability through tailored in-service training delivery for both the employers and the young people.

This transformative partnership between PATRA and YFF aligns with the UK government’s Plan for Jobs initiative which aims to support young people into employment by building the skills they need through on-the-job coaching and training.

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