Over the past month, the UK has witnessed the unprecedented spread of Covid-19 – it has infected around 90,000 and killed more than 11,000 people in hospitals (mid-April 2020). As we know the true numbers infected and/or died, is under-represented due an absence of wide-spread testing (front-line staff and community) and through a lack of data from Britain’s care homes. The disturbing images we see via our televisions and social media channels of those who have died make uncomfortable viewing. We see a selection of faces of doctors and nurses, bus drivers and care home workers all killed. All of whom represent our frontline workers in this battle against the spread of the virus. The evidence from the deaths of these frontline workers clearly show that a disproportionate number of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), who have been infected, are dying from Covid-19. Although BAME people represent some 14% of the UK population, available evidence suggests that some 35% of this group have been impacted (Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre, 4 April 2020). Government experts are suggesting causes include social and economic factors, overcrowding and multigenerational living. However, they fail to acknowledge some of the well-known, deeply entrenched inequalities which pervade British society, and which adversely impact BAME communities. In most aspects of life, including education, housing and employment, BAME communities experience institutional discrimination, which has an adverse impact on life chances. Furthermore, several decades of health research consistently show that BAME communities experience worse health outcomes for conditions such as high-blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, HIV, breast and prostate cancer. Many of these ‘underlying conditions’ are associated with poorer coronavirus outcomes, so it is little wonder that BAME frontline workers are being infected with Covid-19 to this extent. The Ubele Initiative is a BAME led national organisation which supports BAME communities and recently co-produced a statement which supports this campaign. Ubele will set up a Call to Action with a 10 point Community Action Plan which will be launched on Monday 27th April 2020. Ubele call on the government to urgently conduct a full independent public investigation into why and how BAME front line staff including clinicians, care home workers and transport staff and the wider BAME communities are being disproportionately infected. We urge the government to release Covid-19 data based on ethnicity from across all UK regions. Furthermore, the government also needs to deliver on its’ testing policy and target the above groups of staff as well as the wider community.

Hate crimes towards the LGBTQ+ community are on the rise. The Home Office reported from 2018 to 2019 police recorded 14,491 crimes committed against people because of their sexual orientation an increase of 25% and a further 2,333 offences against transgender people because of their gender identity an increase of 37%. This only accounts for crimes reported with Stonewall reporting that four in five LGBT people (81 per cent) who experienced a hate crime or incident didn't report it to the police. Despite the rise there has been no amendments to the law to count homophobic, biphobic or transphobic hate crimes as aggravated offences. Sections 29 to 32 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created specific racially or religiously aggravated offences, which have higher maximum penalties than the non-aggravated versions of those offences, hate crimes towards the LGBTQ+ community should be brought up to the same level.

As last night's Bulgaria vs England football match showed, racism in the sport is still rife in Europe. People were captured on TV making monkey chants and Nazi salutes towards black players. The racist abuse was so bad that the game had to be stopped twice in the opening 40 minutes. The current Uefa penalties are completely unacceptable and do not deter racists. Issuing financial fines, anti racism posters and partly closing stadiums simply does not work. It's time Uefa got tough.

BBC Breakfast host, Naga Munchetty, was found to have broken the corporation’s editorial rules following her criticism of Donald Trump for telling politicians of colour to “go home”. Racism is not a valid opinion which you can have an “impartial” stance on. For communities and people who experience racist abuse – including Munchetty – being expected to treat racist ideas as somehow valid can have a devastating effect on their dignity. Along with many other celebrities and campaigners, we believe that the BBC’s decision to uphold the complaint made against Munchetty is deeply flawed, potentially illegal and goes against the spirit and purpose of public broadcasting. The BBC’s current position will also have a huge effect on future diversity within the BBC, to suggest that future BAME broadcasters will be hired at the BBC, providing that they remain “impartial” about how they feel about their experiences of racism is ludicrous.

Spotlight is “the industry’s leading casting platform”. As such, and in such a competitive field of employment such as Stage and Screen, Spotlight is gatekeeping to prevent Non-Binary and Gender Non Conforming persons from even entering the field to apply for a large percentage of the work due to their binary choices of gender options available to register. This prevents us from both applying for work as so many casting calls require spotlight, but also, from applying honestly. This wastes both the time and money of both performers and professionals seeking artists to cast for specific roles. Non Binary people are valid and performers should not have to identify as other than who they are in order to apply for a very necessary Spotlight membership.

For years, the Jeremy Kyle Show has turned the real-life suffering of people into entertainment. Now, after the death of a guest, ITV have suspended the show - and calls are growing for it to be cancelled permanently. The Jeremy Kyle Show is famous for humiliating people on national television with lie detector and DNA tests. Guests are goaded into arguing about personal conflicts and relationship problems in front of a studio audience. A judge described the show as a “human form of bear baiting". Sign the petition and tell ITV to end the Jeremy Kyle Show for good.

We have one of the lowest state pensions here in the UK

It has become clear that the United Kingdom is neglecting foreign nationals who have joined our Armed Forces. Often discharging them without any support or token of thanks for their service. Many are deported back to their country of origin despite creating a life and family in Great Britain. This is wrong and cruel. If a person is prepared to die for us, we should acknowledge this and offer security and peace by giving citizenship.

"Over 30,000 people are locked up in prison-like conditions every year, with no time limit on how long they can be held. This is not for having committed a crime. It is purely because they do not (yet) have the correct immigration papers. The majority of people detained are eventually released, but many never really recover from the trauma. It’s a terrible waste of money (£125 million a year), and a waste of lives. Immigration detention is a wholly unnecessary, unjustifiable practice, one of the most harmful aspects of the UK’s “hostile environment” for migrants and a shameful civil rights abuse that cannot be ignored." Quoted from the 'These Walls Must Fall' Campaign Website (http://detention.org.uk/)

Essex County Council have announced plans to close 25 libraries and to turn a further 19 over to be run by local communities to save money. My local library, in West Mersea, employs 2 people for 21 hours a week. Not only will they lose their jobs if these closures go ahead, but so will all the staff at the threatened 44 libraries. My library is thriving. It is always busy with people of all ages reading newspapers and periodicals, borrowing books, DVDs and CDs, accessing the internet, researching their family ancestry and speaking to others. Libraries are fantastic assets to the community and need to be saved. No libraries in Essex should be closed or downgraded to being run by volunteers The elderly population of Essex need these libraries. Many do not have computers and some of them may not speak to anyone else in their day. We need local libraries in local communities which can be accessed on foot or bike, by all sections of society. Please think again before implementing these closures.

It takes 7 mins to cross as a pedestrian with the lights, so people take risks running across. There's no safe cycle route, but it could be much safer with a few dropped kerbs and some paint. It is monstrous that the proposed Highways England scheme does not take this into account. We need a regular combined pedestrian/cyclist phase over this dangerous junction. Also, eg: - pavement alteration for bikes by derelict hairdresser and opposite for bikes. - crossing point is needed from station across to Athelstan Rd - over just Bitterne Rd West instead of multiple crossings. - traffic calming needed by the concrete blocks on Bullar Rd, as the crossing is often ignored by vehicles. Please join us on 18th Nov: https://www.facebook.com/events/266846273945353/ (or contact us via http://www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/ )

Both the Hope Centre and NAASH offer an unmatched and undeniably crucial role in providing vital services to the towns homeless and vulnerable community. No other organisation be it housing, charity or council come near to the services provided or the compassion and heart they are provided with. To allow a business who's bottom line is about profit to take over this service in conjunction with other organisations that are only interested in control rather than compassion is not in the best interest of the homeless community in this town.