On 3rd June 2020, a video emerged of two white teenagers forcing a black teenager with Autism to kiss their trainers at Holmfirth Cricket Club in West Yorkshire. The sickening video was filmed by at least one other person and bystanders can be heard laughing in the background. Racist abuse such as this is common place across the UK but all too often victims are forced to endure the suffering in silence. Given the context of recent global events, we believe this crime to be particularly callous. The repeated demands to ‘get on your knees’ and ‘kiss my trainers’ and the threat to ’slap 50 shades of black’ out of the victim make it clear that this crime was motivated by the victims ethnicity. We are petitioning Jason McCartney MP to stamp out racism and hate crime in his local constituency and support Keiran's campaign for justice. No justice. No peace. Read more about the story here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/04/white-youths-arrested-for-bullying-black-boy-in-west-yorkshire

For safer streets, cleaner air and improved well being of Hackney Wick’s Community. To claim back spaces from the dominance of cars on our roads and to create spaces and infrastructure that is designed, developed and installed by us the community for the community for a greener future of us all. This project is a response to Covid-19 and we have been able to push through the possible road closure with the councils support. The last 2 months have shown the great need for more outdoor space and green areas.

Right now, MPs who can’t safely return to Parliament are not getting the same treatment as those who can. For constituents and people across the country, knowing that our MPs have the same access to voting and scrutinising the government is important. Until this week, all MPs were taking part in parliamentary activity remotely because of the coronavirus crisis. The system was not without its flaws, but this week MPs have been asked to return to Westminster. However, only 50 MPs can be present in the House of Commons at a time, and there is confusion about who is eligible for proxy votes. This isn’t doing justice to our democracy, and forces MPs to make difficult decisions about representing constituents or keeping themselves and their communities safe. The government’s own guidelines say work from home if you can. Add your name to the petition if you think MPs should be able to keep participating virtually so they can represent us properly, and fully hold the government to account during the COVID-19 crisis, add your name.

It should be important for black history to be taught within the education system because it is paramount for many people who are of black heritage aswell as people of colour to know their history and where they are coming from, because many black individuals are lost. History is taught in the curriculum but not every history is taught in the curriculum, black history should be taught so black children do not get lost in the unrealities of society. Albeit, though we do have black history month it is not enough as everything is not covered within that said month to the same extent that European history is taught. It is important that this is done so that equality is seen within the education system regarding the histories of others who have actually contributed to this system, learning about this is just as vital as learning about any other topic within the education system. This is important that every person of colour and not of colour should be taught black history the same way we are taught European history to show equality in the education system, because teaching us European history has allowed us learn about them but non-blacks haven’t learnt about us. Every other nations history is taught in the curriculum but when it comes to black history we are at an disadvantage. Many third generations children of my grands do not know their history , the parents are to busy trying to make a living and not educating their children on their ethnicity, we as a race of black parents must teach our young men and women to stand up and be proud of their race, instead of shying away from the facts. I strongly believe because of the lack of black history thought in schools from the early 1950’s to 1960’s has damaged the way how 1st 2nd & 3rd generations blacks in the uk think and If these individuals were taught from day 1 by their parents and curriculums were put in place in schools they would be more understanding of their identity and cultural background.

Racism is a stain on humanity and must be eradicated. Many feel the main starting point in doing so is through education and learning. In light of George Floyd’s death and Black Lives Matter protests across the globe, I have been considering how we as a society can move forward and challenge racism, how I can teach my children about Black History and it occurred to me that I did not learn enough about Black History when I was at school, especially Scotland’s role in the slave trade. Having left school ten years ago, I have reached out to younger peers and colleagues who are still at school or have left school more recently to gather their views and, sadly, the consensus is that Black History is still not well represented in schools.

In light of recent events where we as a global community have witnessed innocent black lives taken in acts of racial discrimination, we have to ask ourselves why the response of many people is still to discriminate. It is the responsibility of the educational system to highlight the history of British colonisation and involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade to understand how and why racial prejudice, divisions and unequal opportunities exist for black people in Scotland and Britain. It seems that a lack of understanding of the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement comes down to a lack of education, and we cannot let this be a failing of our educational system, nor let it feed into peoples ignorance. The police brutality demonstrated in recent events unveils a universal racist system that does not afford black people the same privilege as that of white people and an understanding of this must be achieved through education. This is as much relevant in the UK as structural racism has been evident in Grenfell, disproportionate deaths related to COVID19 and the tragic incident involving Mark Duggan, to name a few.

This is an area of great conservational importance. The moorland is an essential part of our eco-system and a vital sanctuary for wildlife and people alike. Unfortunately, over recent years, it has attracted large numbers of visitors, including some who unfortunately have little regard for the environment. As a result, many local people do not go at all any more. We want people to use, not abuse our precious landscape.

The building is not only a famous landmark in featherstone it is the hub of our community. For many years it has been at the heart of peoples lives from wedding receptions, birthday parties, and funeral wakes. Many people in the area tell stories of happy times in the junction, more recently it has become a music venue and also a supporter of local charities. We have a hardcore of regulars who want the pub to remain and the clientele has greatly increased thanks to the efforts of the recent landlord. It would be a tragedy for the town were it to be sold and re-developed.

Because the council budget cannot adequately provide current services so why spend money on something that is unnecessary

Skem Men-Aces is one of the most highly decorated disability football teams in the country and deserves some recognition within it's hometown by way of a permanent sign on one of our many roundabouts. Most advertising signs, on our roundabouts, are empty and it would be great to see one turned permanently into a "Home of The Skem Men-Aces" sign. Skem Men-Aces is a real jewel in the crown of the wonderful things this town has to offer and it would be a fitting tribute to such an incredible club that has even won the Queens Award for voluntary services.

On 24 April 2020, Statutory Instrument 445* removed and weakened legal protections from children in care (and children who could come into care) in England. There was no public consultation or Parliamentary debate. The changes were brought in overnight. Councils in England are now allowed to reduce social worker visits to children in care (which can be by phone, video or other electronic means). Even a six-weekly telephone call is no longer mandatory. The duty to have an independent six-monthly review for each child has been removed. Pre-court scrutiny and other vital safeguards in adoption have been lost. Legal timescales for children's homes inspections have been removed, and independent scrutiny of children's homes diluted. Safeguards for children placed out of their home area with people who are not connected to them have been removed. Safeguards in relation to short breaks have been removed. This particularly affects disabled children. Even duties on fostering services to notify Ofsted of criminal convictions and infectious disease have been reduced. These changes weaken vital safeguards for vulnerable children built up over 70 years. The government says the changes are temporary until 25 September 2020 “unless extended”. But some of the changes extend beyond the expiry date. Moreover, the government has a track record of trying to remove and dilute councils’ duties. In 2016/17, Ministers tried to get a law through Parliament which would have allowed councils to opt out of their children’s social care duties for up to six years – as an experiment for removing them altogether. Children’s rights campaigners and charities have consistently stood together to successfully defend children’s legal protections. Please join us in pressing to urgently reinstate children’s rights in care. *Its full title is The Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020.

Because being a 1950's woman myself I know the harm stress worry and the impact it has had on my life and the mental issues it has caused me