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The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and his newly appointed Deputy Mayor for Young People, Ray Lewis, today met with young people at Dagenham Fire Station. Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were joined by Ron Dobson, Commissioner of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, where they met with young people participating in the London Fire Brigade’s Local Intervention Fire Education, or ‘LIFE’, courses.
The LIFE programme teaches young people between the ages of 13 and 17 fire-fighting skills alongside real fire-fighters. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor saw first-hand how the LIFE programme has had a positive effect, giving young people a real sense of achievement by fostering teamwork, self-discipline and participation in their local communities.
Established in 2002 the course has proved a great success and the Brigade has now run more than 260 LIFE courses, with around 3,000 young people from across 30 boroughs having completed the course.
Speaking at today’s event, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “LIFE courses are one of the London Fire Brigades most successful youth engagement programmes and it is extremely encouraging to see for myself the enthusiasm among those involved. Research has shown that the programme has made a real difference - 80 per cent of those taking part did not offend after completing the course.
“These programmes reach out to the young people in our communities and improve motivation and confidence. LIFE has built an impressive list of achievements over the last three years with positive feedback from all quarters of the community. I look forward to assisting LIFE and similar programmes to flourish in the capital”.
Deputy Mayor for Young People, Ray Lewis, said: “The success of the LIFE programme to date is evidence of how local participation and engagement with young people in our communities can deliver real and positive change. The Mayor and I are committed to build on these programmes and work with voluntary groups across the Capital, making a real difference to the lives of young people and their families in London”.
The ‘employment gap’ between black and ethnic minority (BME) workers is closing steadily, but BME poverty rates are still nearly twice as high, according to a new report released today (Friday) by the TUC.
The TUC report – Ten years after – launched at the 2008 TUC black workers conference in Eastbourne says that steadily improving BME employment rates have reduced the ‘employment gap’ between BME and white workers by 2.2 percentage points over the last decade.
The fastest area of growth in BME employment has been part-time work. The number of BME men working part-time has more than doubled in ten years. This growth has widened the part-time pay gap between BME and white workers in the private sector to 26.3%, as part-time work pays less than full-time work.
The report also identifies differences in pay between the public and private sector. Over the last ten years, the pay gap in the public sector has been virtually eliminated, with black men earning 6.7% more than white men. However, BME men working full-time in the private sector are still paid 11% less than white men. BME women earn the same as white women in both sectors.
The report says that BME employment growth has helped to reduce the number of BME people living in poverty by 11 percentage points in the last ten years. However, in spite of this progress, nearly half of black and ethnic minority children are living in poverty and are nearly twice as likely to live in poverty as white children.
In order to further boost employment rates and pay for black and ethnic minority workers, the report calls for employers to develop recruitment, retention and progression policies so that BME workers are able to move into senior positions.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The steady reduction in BME poverty rates proves that full employment is a vital cure for poverty. But with nearly half of BME children still live in poverty, these welcome trends cannot be taken for granted.
“As more BME men move into part-time work and receive the same low pay as women, the stark reality of in-work poverty is growing. Tackling the deep-rooted problem of poor part-time pay must be at the heart of the Government’s anti-poverty strategy.”
The black workers conference will also see the launch of a new joint campaign between the TUC and the Refugee Council, which aims to give asylum seekers the right to work. Both organisations want a change in policy that would allow asylum seekers who have been in the country for longer than six months, or who are unable to return home, to work and support themselves, and make a contribution to the UK economy.
Last year around 2,400 people in the UK benefited from an organ transplant, but more than 1,000 people die every year waiting for a transplant. Members of ethnic minority communities are especially hard hit by organ shortages for donations.
Glenis Willmott, Labour MEP, has raised the issue of organ shortage in the European Parliament: “A few people with rare tissue types may only be able to receive a well-matched organ from someone of the same ethnic origin, so it is important that people from all ethnic backgrounds donate organs.
Successful transplants are carried out between people from different ethnic groups wherever the matching criteria are met.” The European Parliament will vote today on a report by the Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, which identifies organ shortage as a common problem in all European countries.
However, the report highlights especially the need for ethnic minority organ donors to come forward. Glenis Willmott MEP said: “People from South Asian, African and African-Caribbean communities living in the UK have a greater chance of needing a kidney transplant than other groups in the population.
This is because they are more likely to develop diabetes or high blood pressure, both of which are major causes of kidney failure.” MEPs are also addressing a wide range of issues, including a European donor card, to tackle problems like organ shortage, transplantation safety and organ trafficking.
Many of the 26% of black and minority ethnic (BME) older people who are living in poverty in England risk missing out on vital financial help and other support this year following huge cuts to advice services, Age Concern said today.
Across England, 80% of Age Concerns1 have suffered funding cuts to their trusted information, advice and advocacy services with the latest reductions beginning to bite in the last seven days. Last year alone, these services helped put £100 million of money benefits into the pockets of older people. Many Age Concerns in areas with high BME populations provide dedicated advice services to BME older people and in many cases these services are being hit by cuts.
Age Concern has today (7th April) launched both a new campaign ‘The price of no advice’ and an accompanying report ‘Transforming Lives’ to highlight the disastrous impact of these cuts and call for increased funding for these vital services. The campaign also calls for a new cross-government strategy to develop a more co-ordinated approach to providing and funding advice services.
Cuts to advice services mean that in the new financial year, about 480,0002 people who come to the charity looking for support risk either not being helped or receiving a reduced service that may not meet their needs. The cuts come at a time when older people on low fixed incomes have been hit by massive price hikes and yet continue to miss out on claiming their share of up to £4.6 billion3 in money benefits each year. The services provide a vital means of helping them claim the money they need to meet their living costs.
Ballet star Shevelle Dynott was among three high-fliers to meet Gordon Brown at the launch of an exhibition to celebrate great black Britons.
The PM shook hands with the English National Ballet performer, whose rise to fame began when a dance charity visited his primary school in Brixton, South London.
Shevelle, 21, said: "It was great to meet Gordon Brown. He was very supportive of the exhibition."
n display are photographs of the nation's top 50 black role models.
All were taken by Daily Mirror photographer John Ferguson, one of the first black photographers in Fleet Street. While launching the Black Britannia exhibition Mr Brown also met pioneering (ex) school head Gloria Hyatt MBE, from Liverpool, and Olympic hopeful Yona Knight-Wisdom, 12. The Leeds schoolboy is a member of the national diving squad. They listened proudly as Mr Brown said: "Britain wouldn't be Britain without the contribution of its black doctors, teachers, writers, business people, entertainers, artists and sportsmen and women." _________ Black Britannia is on at City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London. Open daily 8am-8pm Monday to Friday until 11 April. Admission free. This exhibition is touring nationally
For further information about the exhibition please email
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A MURDER investigation has been launched after a promising footballer was shot in a takeaway. Halton McCollin, 20, of Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, died this morning. He had been fighting for his life since Saturday night, when he was shot in the China Gardens takeaway on Chester Road, Stretford.
The former pupil of Didsbury's Parrs Wood High School, worked for Norwich Union and played semi-professional for Flixton FC.
In an emotional tribute, his parents, who asked to remain anonymous paid tribute to a `loving' son and expressed disbelief at his murder.
His father said: "I just cannot believe that this has happened to my son. He was such a thoughtful boy with a great sense of humour. He was sport mad. He was always either watching or playing football, and was totally loyal to his team and coach. I am just devastated that he's gone."
He left behind a younger brother and sister, aged eight and four.
His mother said: "Halton was a very sociable person and was totally loyal to his friends and family. I am in complete shock about this. I really want to urge you to talk to the police if you know anything about who killed my son, or why he was killed. Halton would have wanted you to come forward and get him some justice. The police need your help. Please think of my son and do what you can."
Shots
At 8.45pm on Saturday night he was shot, Halton had gone to get some food with his friends when two masked men, one carrying a gun, ran into the takeaway and fired a number of shots.
No-one else was injured.
CCTV footage from outside the takeaway, and the nearby Gorse Hill pub, clearly shows several people who could have witnessed the murder.
Superintendent John Graves, who is working closely with the team investigating Halton's murder, said: "This is the tragic loss of a promising young man who was on track to really make something of his life. "His footballing career had every chance of flourishing as Flixton was a good springboard for youngsters to get interest from bigger clubs. Now his family will have to live never knowing what he could have achieved. "My colleagues investigating this appalling crime have viewed CCTV footage from the area and there are clearly several people present who are vital witnesses to this murder. "You know who you are and I appeal directly to you to come and speak to us. I would challenge you to stay silent if you could see how heartbroken Halton's family are. "For the sake of them, and for Halton, pick up the phone and tell us what you know. Your call will be treated in the strictest of confidence."
Anyone with any information about this shooting is asked to contact the major incident room on 0161 856 4159 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Trevor Phillips, Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, returns tomorrow to the debate on migration and multiculturalism, in a lecture to be given in central London.
Phillips will present his keynote speech, ‘People on the Move: More Different, More Unequal?’ on Tuesday 15th January at 6pm, at the Royal Commonwealth Society, 25 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5AP.
After the row about Bishop Nazir-Ali’s allegations of ‘no-go’ Islamic areas, Phillips will explore key migration questions affecting the UK: How should the UK government engage with migration? Is Britain ‘sleepwalking into segregation’ and ghettoisation? How can we ensure we continue to celebrate difference, while protecting and fostering a well-integrated society? The role of the Commonwealth in international migration will also be a key focus of Phillips’s lecture. Conflict, natural disaster and poverty in Commonwealth countries continue to generate rising levels of emigration, usually away from the global South to more ‘developed’ states in the North. Tomorrow’s lecture sees Phillips exploring how the Commonwealth can play a positive role in helping developed and developing countries embrace migration’s challenges. Instead of merely observing growing resentment over perceived migration-induced social flux, overcrowding and ‘brain-drain’ issues, can the Commonwealth help its members ensure that migration is a social phenomenon from which all reap rewards?
The Sickle Cell Society is delighted to announce that Diane Louise Jordan will be presenting one of this month’s BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeals on our behalf.
Dr Lorna Bennett, Chairperson of the Sickle Cell Society explains: “It’s fantastic to see the case of sickle cell care and research reaching such a mainstream audience. The aim of the appeal is to both raise awareness of sickle cell disorder and gain financial assistance for The Society’s Regional Care Advisors Programme which provides practical support and assistance to individuals and families affected by sickle cell disorder.”
Diane Louise Jordan is one of the most popular presenters of BBC ONE’s Songs of Praise and was a presenter on the long-running BBC ONE children’s programme Blue Peter. She has previously worked with us and was very keen to support The Society once again through a broadcast appeal.
Date of Broadcast: Sunday 13th January 2008 at 0755 and 2126 Repeated on Thursday 17th January 2008 at 1527
Radio Frequency: FM 92.4 – 94.6, LW 198
Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/appeal
Please give whatever you can by calling 0800 404 8144, or you can write a cheque to Sickle Cell Society and send it to Freepost BBC Radio 4 Appeal. Please mark the back of your envelope ‘Sickle Cell’.
Statement The Evening Standard from 5 December to 15 December published a series of grave allegations that were either presented without proof, or investigation of which has now proved to be false. In the light of this the Greater London Authority has now demanded. 1. Full and unequivocal retraction of these allegations by the Evening Standard and the printing of a public apology. 2. The dismissal of the journalist, Andrew Gilligan, responsible for not one but a series of these false allegations.
Specifically: • On 5 December Andrew Gilligan alleged that decisions of the London Development Agency may have been influenced by threats of black gang violence into giving grants to black organisations. No evidence was presented for this allegation.
• On 5 December Andrew Gilligan alleged that a project funded by the LDA was a vibrant hub for 'criminals'. No evidence was presented for this accusation.
• On 5 December Andrew Gilligan alleged a contract to procure a website was corruptly awarded due to a company because it was run by a 'friend' of Lee Jasper. No evidence was presented for this. Andrew Gilligan has since attempted to retreat from this allegation but it was clearly made and has not been withdrawn.
• Andrew Gilligan alleged on 5 December that a GLA investigation was taking place into Lee Jasper. The statement made on the same day by the GLA chief executive made clear this was false. 'Richard Barnes in April 2007 raised issues in regard to Lee Jasper. I formally investigated these and exonerated Lee Jasper in July 2007. Richard Barnes wrote to me again on 25 October querying the results of my investigation and I naturally agreed to look into the issues he raised. This however does not constitute an investigation into Lee Jasper and I wish to make clear that no formal investigation of Lee Jasper by the Greater London Authority is taking place.'
• On 13 December Andrew Gilligan alleged corruption in the LDA - and indeed quoted Richard Barnes as stating 'this looks like a real tide of corruption'. This was despite the fact that search of LDA records showed, and Andrew Gilligan admitted, that no payment of the £250,000 concerned in this allegation had ever been made either to those named by Andrew Gilligan or anyone else. This charge of corruption was therefore absurd.
• On 13 December Gilligan claimed that the LDA was pressured to make a payment of £250,000 to a "friend" of Lee Jasper and that the payment was not made only because the liquidator of the company concerned, Diversity International Limited (DIL), "vetoed it". Emails show that the LDA itself refused payment after it concluded that any possible intellectual property rights held by the company could be obtained from the liquidator. The statements in Gilligan's article were therefore false.
• In the same article on 13 December Gilligan quoted one paragraph out of eleven and one sub-paragraph out of eight from an email from Lee Jasper to Manny Lewis and claimed it showed Lee Jasper improperly pressuring Manny Lewis to make further payments to DIL. In fact the paragraph immediately before that quoted by Gilligan shows that instead of favouring DIL Lee Jasper stated: 'I am also reminded that I expressed very real doubts about the LDA procuring DIL at the point of the contract being agreed - expressed by myself and GLA officers repeatedly once we were aware of the LDA's decision to give this contract to DIL. Our clear recommendation to the LDA was to ensure effective contract management.' Far from supporting Gilligan's allegations this email shows Gilligan's accusation to be false.
• On 17 December Andrew Gilligan reported an interview with his source. Gilligan claimed that the complaint against her was from 'Lee Jasper's godson'. This serious allegation is entirely false as the person concerned is not Lee Jasper's godson.
Despite the fact that a whole series of the allegations made by Andrew Gilligan have already been shown to be false the LDA will review any evidence from Andrew Gilligan. It will not investigate the allegations for which no evidence has been presented.
This review will be undertaken by the Risk and Resources Committee headed by the statutory officer responsible. This decision was taken with the full support and agreement of its independent external auditor. That is now the right way in which the facts about this matter should and will be established and placed on public record.
I do not intend to indulge Mr Gilligan by commenting further on any matters under review. I will continue to rebut any further obvious deliberate untruths or distortions.
This systematic record of unproven allegations and falsification is why I have called on Veronica Wadley to dismiss Andrew Gilligan.
Evening Standard reporter, Andrew Gilligan has truly outdone himself this time by clearly demonstrating that his recent series of 'investigative' articles are in fact part of an overt 'Operation Elect Boris Johnson' campaign to support Conservative candidate's race for London Mayor.
With more than 4 in 10 Londoners coming from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, the BAME vote has now become a significant political stalking ground in the race to City Hall and it appears that candidates will use any means necessary to get there.
The Black Londoners Forum (BLF) was set up in September 2000 and was established as the recognised interface between the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London's black communities.
The Factual Inaccuracies
Our Funding What Gilligan said: The Black Londoners' Forum received £291k from the London Development Agency.
The Reality
The Black Londoners' Forum has never received funding from the London Development Agency. It has however received funding from the Greater London Authority and London Councils (formerly the Association of London Government).
Our Accounts What Gilligan said: The Black Londoners' Forum has not filed accounts for every year they received grants.
The Reality This is untrue. BLF's audited accounts for March 2006 were filed with Companies House. The accounts for the year ending March 2007 will be filed in accordance with the Companies Act and once filed will be available for any member of the public to view.
Who We Represent
What Gilligan said: The Mayor of London dominates BLF's agenda and acts as his mouthpiece.
The Reality The work of the Greater London Authority is important to the BAME community. Why shouldn't the Black Londoners' Forum report what the Mayor of London is doing? Our role is to challenge the Mayor and all the other elected officials in London to ensure that we get a better deal for black Londoners. Our website reports on issues affecting black Londoners, whether they emanate from City Hall or not. Issues do with education, crime, employment, health, housing and young people have all been reported on the BLF website. Gilligan has been highly selective about what he has chosen to report in his Evening Standard 'investigative' pieces.
Eroll Walters, BLF's Interim Director, said: It is a very sad day when all the hard efforts and sacrifices made by individuals can be trampled on by powerful corporations, when our members and our board of governors who serve their community are unable to defend their reputations because we have no platform to speak the truth. The Evening Standard knows that black organisations like BLF do not have the resources to challenge these lies in court and therefore will continue to treat the black community with contempt. When politicians and the media start to use individuals and organisations as pawns in their battles, without any thought to the collateral damage, the question must be asked are they really fit to govern.
Welcome to Black Net Uk the central source for Content, Local and International News, Articles, Gossip, Information and Campaigns. Total user powered content: Every article on Black Net is submitted by users who discover, share and promote content that's important to you and the African and Caribbean Community from Britain and around the world. 
Ballet star Shevelle Dynott was among three high-fliers to meet Gordon Brown at the launch of an exhibition to celebrate great black Britons.
Kennedy