5 reasons why you should write to your MP to prioritise LGBTQ+ youth homelessness: 1. LGBTQ+ young people are being kicked out for being who they are. 77% of the young people akt supports face homelessness when they came out or were outed by family members ( akt 2015) 2. Rejection means young people do not have anyone to turn to for support. Only 13 per cent of LGBTQ+ young people felt supported by parents or stepparents while homeless (akt 2021) 3. Often housing services are not equipped to respond to their needs. 44% of local authorities and housing associations have not received training on LGBTQ+ homelessness ( akt 2022) 4. The abuse and discrimination lgbtq+ young people face doesn't end at home. Over half (59 per cent) of LGBTQ+ young people have faced some form of discrimination or harassment while accessing services ( akt 2021) 5. The cost of living and private rented sector crisis, is pushing more lgbtq+ young people into homelessness. Charities like akt are struggling with increased demands to our services and compared to before the crisis, we can support less people for the same amount.

We believe that access to free public libraries and archives services can change lives for the better. They are needed in Dudley Borough more than ever. Library services foster literacy and a lifelong love of books, particularly among children and young people. They enable access to vital information for marginalised groups and permit students of all ages a quiet working environment. They're also community hubs, support to parents, and offer culture, music, and reading to all. Archives, along with libraries, are also vital to the preservation of our local heritage and identity. Closing or cutting libraries or archives services in Dudley will jeopardise the educational development and cultural life of the Borough for decades to come. Your support of this petition will be visible in the public domain.

The military industrial complex – the relationship between a country’s military and the defence industry – is not often the first thing that comes to mind when we think about UK universities. But as climate change and global conflict escalate, it has never been more important that our education systems are used to advance peace. But UK universities continue to invest in and partner with the companies who profit from and contribute to this instability. The dED database has uncovered £2BN+ of university investments in military partnerships - and we’ve barely scratched the surface yet! This demonstrates the massive scope of university relationships with arms entities, rooted in an industry which will not help us tackle modern-day security threats. The arms industry cannot help to resolve the security threats arising from climate change, poverty, and global instability. Veterans for Peace have said this plainly: “War cannot solve the problems we face in the 21st century”. We cannot fight climate change with fighter jets, and cannot solve health crises with combat drones. As Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. The military sector and arms industry make their profits from resource exploitation, conflict and the building-up of weapons reserves: the exact things generating instability. To create a more peaceful world, our universities should support and develop security innovations to help us face modern-day security challenges – rather than investing in ones that negatively contribute to the threats we face. Universities hold undeniable power to shape society. By signing this petition you will help to make sure that this power is used in favour of peace and not war. Add a direct message to the Chancellor of your University in the comment box available, using your university email address if possible. Organisational endorsements: Bury & Salford Peace Group Centre for Peacebuilding Organisations For Our Great-Great-Grandchildren ForcesWatch Glasgow University Arms Divestment Coalition International Peace Bureau London Campaign Against Arms Trade Manchester & Warrington AM Quaker Peace Group Musicians for Peace and Disarmament Rethinking Security Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group Scientists for Global Responsibility Shadow World Investigations Stockport for Peace Stop Fuelling War The Vivienne Foundation University of Bristol Students Union WILPF UK Sign on behalf of an organisation here: https://forms.gle/NLscs5TDJNi1KrjNA Please also consider supporting our crucial work by contributing to (and sharing) our just-launched fundraising campaign! https://gofund.me/3a8050b7 > Buy dED Merch - https://webuildpeace.shop/

We are swimming in shit, and lies are being spread about "improving water quality" when there has been greed-linked increased dumping of sewage consistently over the last 20 years (with occasionally falls and rises because of "dry" and "wet" years.

On Saturday 13th August 1831 the twenty three year old Richard Lewis was led to the scaffold in Cardiff and hanged by the neck until dead for allegedly injuring a soldier in the Merthyr rising riots. His trial was mired in controversy. The trial reports indicate that there was no reliable evidence proving Richard Lewis had caused any wounding and witnesses contradicted themselves. Nonetheless, he was found guilty due to the political climate of protest and revolt. We believe he was made a scapegoat so others did not follow in his example! In 1874, a man named Ianto Parker confessed on his death bed, in the USA to the Reverend Evan Evans that he stabbed the soldier and then fled to America fearing capture by the authorities. Another man named James Abbot, who testified against Penderyn at the trial, also admitted to lying under oath. We call on King Charles to right this cruel injustice! "O Arglwydd, dyma gamwedd." (O Lord, this is injustice.) Were the final words of Dic Penderyn, before being executed for a crime he didn't commit, the stabbing and wounding a soldier in the skirmishes between the starving workers of Merthyr Tudful and armed soldiers sent in to quell the Merthyr Rising of 1831. 191 yrs on, the original injustice is perpetuated by the lack of a pardon...time to put that right!

The gardens have always been free to go round. Now it is £78 for 2 adults and 2 children. Could you afford £78 for a walk?

1. The proposed billboard is in the Otley Conservation Area (1) and thus completely out of character. According to Leeds City Council Planning Department “[conservation areas] are designated by the council, and protect the character and appearance of a whole area, not just its buildings.” “Stricter rules apply in conservation areas regarding the type and size of advertisements that can be erected…” (2) 2. The billboard will be situated in a place where numerous roads, drives and car parks adjoin the main road. This increases the likelihood of an accident caused by a distracted driver. The evidence suggests that digital billboards are more dangerous than standard paper ones (3). 3. They will be opposite a number of houses and flats, the residents of which have a right not to have their nights disrupted by the light generated by this installation. 4. The roads are a common, publicly-owned space that citizens (children, especially) should be free to walk, cycle or drive along without being bombarded by advertisements. 5. Otley Town Council, Leeds City Council, and the British government have all declared climate emergencies. A year of operation for one billboard may use as much energy as 37 UK homes (4). This doesn’t take into account the embedded carbon or materials, particularly rare-earth metals, that go into the construction of the billboards. 6. One of these billboards has recently been installed on Piper Lane in Otley, opposite housing, on a dangerous stretch of road, near a school. Local residents were rightfully furious about this. Sadly their campaign to have it removed fell on deaf ears. The reaction from residents to a further billboard on is likely to be similar. 7. Impact on wildlife - most birds migrate at night and can be drawn off course by artificial light. Artificial light may also alter songbird mating patterns - causing males to sing at different times and attracting females to perhaps poorer quality mates (5). Otley Town Council has also recently declared a Biodiversity Emergency and commissioned a Biodiversity Audit, this development would fly in the face of that declaration. 8. Leeds City Council has recently gone to great efforts to change most street lamps in Otley to LED bulbs. One of the key benefits of this is reduced light pollution. This effort will all be for nothing in the areas close to the proposed billboards. 9. Has a proper visual impact assessment been carried out? When active, these structures are visible from a great distance. 10. Precedent - a similar application has recently been rejected in Bristol on the following grounds: “The proposed advertisement, by virtue of its excessive size, illuminated nature and overall design, siting and appearance would represent a prominent and incongruous, poor quality, visually intrusive addition to the townscape which will detrimentally impact upon the character and appearance of streetscene and surrounding area.” (6) 11. There is nothing in the planning application asking the applicant to declare their environmental credentials, or the source of the materials that will be used to create the billboard. Given what we know about forced labour and the unethical sourcing of materials for electrical components, establishing the ethical procurement policies across the city is essential. 12. The applicant does highlight the environmentally destructive nature of traditional paper and paste biillboards (7). This is not an argument for replacing them with something else damaging to the environment, but a clear sign that their business is completely unsustainable and incompatible with the climate and biodiversity crises we face. References: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/otley%20ca%20no_4.pdf https://www.leeds.gov.uk/planning/conservation-protection-and-heritage/conservation-area https://adblockleeds.co.uk/2021/09/16/are-digital-billboards... https://wellbeingeconomy.org/the-environmental-impacts-of-co... https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/wildlife/ https://adfreecities.org.uk/digital-billboard-application-receives-over-200-objections-from-local-residents/ https://www.wildstone.co.uk/corporate-social-responsibility

This is important as we need to go about our daily business without fear or harm. Very recently an elderly man was attacked whilst walking his dog on a busy beach and these balaclava gangs are now trying to control our roads by preventing anyone passing them.

The only way we can help our pets is for this ban to become active, we were very lucky our boy survived he was in a very bad way and critical, we would not want anyone else to go through this or potentially a worse case scenario.

On behalf of the people who have died, been injured and traumatised alongside the public, it is essential that we ensure this is not allowed to happen again and that the right people are held accountable for what went wrong that night.

Despite the Bank of England base rate increasing to 4.25%, most savings accounts have an interest rate of less than 1%. As most of the country struggles with the current cost of living crisis, banks should be sharing their profits with their loyal customers, instead of pocketing all the profits for themselves. But here's the thing - this issue is in the news right now, and banks have been put under the spotlight. MPs recently questioned them in Westminster, and now the FCA - the body who regulates banks - have said they'll consider intervening if the issue continues. So banks will be feeling the heat - but we need to ramp up the pressure. How? Well right now the voice of the public - their customers - is missing. A huge petition, signed by tens of thousands of us, could be the first step in sending a strong message to banks that we will not stand for this unfair practice. Together, we can turn up the heat and make sure banks prioritise customers over their own profits.

The Fire Brigade Museum is established as a not for profit organisation, run by volunteers, ensuring all revenue supports the objectives of the Museum. The Museum exists to deliver 7 social objectives: 1) Support 999 workers suffering mental illness such as PTSD by support groups & use of revenue to pay for psychological treatment required which isn't readily/quickly available to prevent suicide and loss of career and help in times of financial hardship caused by such events. 2) Support young people 12-25 who have severe confidence issues, additional learning needs or mental illness as they transition from education by offering a safe and supportive environment where they can access Apprenticeships, work placements & jobs among the many different tasks in a museum from restoration trades, catering, marketing, administration, conservation & education. This will prevent suicide & give young people a chance to develop into a career that may have not been open to them due to their conditions, in an environment where they are understood & supported to thrive at their pace. 3) Combat social isolation through volunteering programmes in the Museum from guides, to outreach, to fundraising. To hold a 'person library' where those who are lonely can book some time to chat with a volunteer. 4) To become the National Museum of Firefighting, recording and preserving all aspects of the Fire Service, supporting National Curriculum subjects such as the Great Fire of London and the Blitz. We will provide an immersive experience of these historical occurrences, handling the equipment and uniforms that were there or building modern replicas of historic Firefighting equipment which can be used and demonstrated as accurate portrayals and displays. 5) To champion diversity, inclusion and anti-bullying within the emergency services by educating on the past and by demonstrating inclusive behaviours. 6) To educate on safety through a range of learning experiences, that support the safety and prevention campaigns of Statutory bodies, Governing organisations and the emergency services to prevent injury and to aid these bodies in delivering safety messages across the UK. 7) To actively seek technology and practices that reduce carbon emissions and make this available to partner organisations across the UK. We will educate on the impact of fire and other incident types on the environment, encouraging prevention and environmental protection. We have been given notice by TVBC and our Landlord to vacate our current premises by the end of May 2023. We are urgently fundraising for an alternative premises to prevent closure. Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council have funds that can be used to help us.