New Government Fund for Redeveloping Empty Properties

Kazuri welcomes news that the government is to launch a campaign to refurbish empty homes in order to tackle the housing shortage. 

There are 1million empty properties in the UK and a third of these have been empty for six months or more. These long term empty properties need to be redeveloped in order to house those in need of social housing. 

The communities minister, Don Foster, announced today that government funds will be made available in order to redevelop empty properties. Local councils, housing associations and social enterprises will be able to bid for grants from the £300m fund. 

It is hoped that the redevelopment of empty properties will go some way to readdress the housing shortfall that currently stands at more than 100,000 homes a year. 

Unlock's the Record presents The Women's Issue 'Sex and the System'

The Record is a fantastic free magazine produced by the award-winning charity UNLOCK, the National Association of Reformed Offenders. It is written by reformed offenders, for reformed offenders. This month sees the first ever 'women's only' edition of the Record guest edited by Farah Damji, former prisoner, ex journalist, reformed socialite now running a social lettings agency and campaigning for change in the way women in the criminal justice system are treated.  This issue is also endorsed by best selling author Martina Cole and features an exclusive interview with Martina. This month’s magazine cover is by Sarah Lucas.

Out at the end of the week, this month’s issue will see fabulous femme ex-offenders share their untold stories. These positive success stories from reformed offenders hope to inspire law-abiding people facing discrimination and inequality as a result of having a criminal record. This issue will also contain the latest opportunities for reformed offenders, including job vacancies, volunteer position, consultation opportunities, upcoming event and other information, advice and recent news that relates to reformed offenders.

The first ever ‘women’s only’ edition of the monthly magazine by UNLOCK, The National Association of Reformed Offenders, is so important as this issue will highlight the way systemic abuse and entrenched violence in our public institutions and our personal lives impacts against women. Documenting violence in all its forms: domestic abuse, financial exclusion, the media’s portrayal of female defendants, punitive sentencing, exclusion by enforced separation of the children of female offenders and their families by women being incarcerated hundreds of miles from their communities and roots. 

Containing first hand accounts of women prisoners’ stories, through their voice, art and case studies, this issue will examine what needs to change!

Celebrating the Success of Women

The Financial Mail Women’s Forum (FMWF) is hosting an event, in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group and Halifax, on the 27^th November. This evening will see the winners of the Fresh Start Awards announced, these awards are for women with great business ideas, who hope to become entrepreneurs when they leave prison.

Best selling author, Martina Cole, who was head of the judging panel will be handing out the awards. Fiona Cannon of Lloyds banking Group will also be attending, it was her vision that led to Lloyds sponsoring these awards and her support is vital for the Financial Freedom newsletter.

Lisa Buckingham, chair of the FMWF, editor of the Financial Mail on Sunday and editor of Financial Freedom, when describing the event said “I have been truly impressed by the quality of the entries, the clear desire of our contestants to give something back to society and the sheer bravery of the women who have had the courage to allow their business ideas to be judged.”

In other news, the deadline for the Breaking the Mould Awards is fast approaching – 15^th November. These awards, run in partnership with the 30% Club, celebrate the achievements of companies who are creating a platform for talented females who will become the women leaders of tomorrow.

This Christmas event, is a ‘Black handbags’ do, so bring along a black handbag to donate to Dress for Success, a charity that helps disadvantage women enter the workplace, and in return you will get a raffle ticket to the prize draw on the night.

For more information, visit: www.fmwf.com

London Councils to Send Homeless Families Out of the City

As rents in London continue to rise and the Housing Allowance has been capped at £400 a month councils are preparing to move families out of capital the Guardian reports. Families could be rehoused as far away as Berkshire and Sussex as the shortage of affordable housing in the capital worsens.

London councils are acquiring cheaper properties in areas outside of London as a response to predictions of increasing levels of homelessness ahead of Government cuts that come into force in April of next year. Whilst councils are reluctant to force London families to move away, they are finding it impossible to provide housing in the city. Moving families away from their home borough causes severe disruption impacting on the education of children their wellbeing.

By law local authorities have a duty to house families at risk of homelessness within the Borough the application is made ‘as far as is practicable.’ However, rising rents combined with government cuts make it impractical and, in places, impossible to provide suitable housing.

The government must tackle rising rents in the capital so that affordable housing is available to all. Moving families out of the city does not address the underlying problems of social injustice that lead to homelessness.

Keep Society's Most Vulnerable Out Of Cells

People with mental health problems are far too often subject to custody suites, they must be taken to an appropriate place of safety. "You should stop using police station cells as a place of safety for people with mental health problems" said Deborah Cole, Co-director of the charity Inquest – which provides advice to bereaved families and carries out policy work on contentious deaths.

Coles was addressing members of the House of Commons Affair Select Committee, she was speaking after being questioned by Conservative MP James Clapperson about practical steps that could be taken to mitigate the risks of deaths following police contact. She stated that police officers must stop using cells to detain society’s most vulnerable people.

The Inquest Co-director is also a member of an independent panel assisting the IPCC with the review into deaths in custody that started last month. On October 23 she appeared at the Palace of Westminster, alongside Marcia Rigg, whose brother Sean died following a police contact incident, to give evidence. Both she and Rigg were giving evidence as part of an inquiry MPs have been holding into the work of the police watchdog. Both witnesses said they were concerned about the large number of ex-police officers who now work for the IPCC and are responsible for conducting investigation.

While Coles said she understands the rationale behind employing ex-officers, there should have been a transfer to a more independent ethos in the eight years since watchdog was created, with the employment of more independent investigators. She also added that private security companies providing services to police forces should also be subject to IPCC scrutiny where necessary.

Marcia Rigg shares Cole’s belief and concerns, stating that people would have greater confidence in the IPCC if they employed less ex-police officers. She welcomes the implementation of the £4 million package to improve and enhance the CCTV in Metropolitan Police Vans but added that it is of the utmost importance that they keep up their commitment to transparency.

Misogyny Kills: RIP With the Angels Amanda

Canadian teenager, Amanda Todd, was found hanged, this tragic event occurred after she was the victim of an online bullying campaign. Just weeks before the teenager committed suicide, she made a heartbreaking video in which she held up cards to tell her story; one read “Everyday I think why am I still here.” This, no doubt, evoked harrowing feeling for those who knew Amanda and anyone who has ever been a victim of bulling.

What is most shocking about this extreme case is the level of sexism involved the abuse she receive; the twelve year old girl was persuaded by an older male online to reveal her breasts, he captured the image and proceeded to use it to torment Amanda, sending it to her friends and family. The man threatened to send the image to everyone she knew if she didn’t give him more, Amanda refused to send him more, and true to his word, he released the image to everyone at Christmas. Amanda’s ordeal was even more horrifying because instead of her friends rallying around her, they took it as an opportunity to ridicule her and torment her further.

Amanda, suffering from anxiety and depression, relocated in an attempt to rebuild her life. However, the man did not let alone and he started a Facebook group with the image as the profile picture. As word spread, Amanda lost all her friends; one of the cards in the video read “Nobody liked me.”

Relocating a second time, Amanda was in touch with a former male friend, who she thought genuinely liked her and she ended up having sex with him. The boy turned out to have a girlfriend, who cruelly, along with her friends took it upon themselves to tell Amanda that nobody liked or wanted her around, and in case she never got the message, they gave her a beating too. Amanda then attempted to commit suicide, instead of people realising this had gone to far and this poor girl was really suffering, she was met with comments on Facebook stating she should try again and not fail the next time. The police are currently tried to find the man who posted the images.

The tragedy runs deeper as during her whole order, Amanda was made to feel she brought the abuse on herself and in someway deserved it. With a celebrity culture that highlights the double standard applied to men and women, who was there to tell Amanda it was not her fault? For example, singer Chris Brown, who severely assaulted his then girlfriend, Rihanna, was quickly accepted back into the music industry; some of his fans even tweeted they would gladly take a beating if it meant they could be his girlfriend, as if Rihanna deserved what she got because she should have felt privileged to be in his presence. After this incident, questions were raised as Rihanna, sported a sexier look accompanied by some rude song lyrics.

Another example of these double standards applied to men and women is when Kirsten Stewart was rumoured to have had an affair with direct Rupert Sanders. Despite being married with children, Sanders received no attention, yet Stewart was subject to death threats from her alleged boyfriend Robert Pattison’s fans, who were outraged that she had the cheek to cheat on him.

Though Amanda Todd’s case is an extreme one, her struggle is an all too common occurrence. We are all equal and there is never a justification for bullying! Whether it be in home, school, or workplace it is not something anyone should have to deal with ever!

Have Your Say On Universal Credit

In 2013, Universal Credit will replace a number of existing benefits, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Child and Working Tax Credits and housing benefits; working-age people seeking work and those on a low wage will be entitled to it.

Rather than fortnightly payments, this benefit will be paid on a monthly basis. Ministers argue that will help claimants and their families become more independent as it will promote financial responsibility by encouraging people to manage their own funds. According to the DWP it will also reduce in-work poverty and cut back on error and fraud.

In exceptional circumstances direct payments can be made to some landlords.

Please complete the survey and let The Residential Landlords Association know what you think about the proposals for Universal Credit. The results of this survey will be used in their discussion with the government: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/universal_credit