Hi everyone,
This blog has now moved to http://www.poachedcreative.com/blog
Please do visit the new blog for more articles, ideas and musing from the Poached Creative team.
We'll keep the full archive here for your reference.
To find out more about us, or get in touch, please visit the Poached Creative website.
Groundbreaking NHS recommendations pave the way for a mental health revolution
By Yousif Farah
Mental health patients and charities including The Mental Health Foundation, Mind and Recovery Focus have all welcomed an announcement by NHS England committing them to the biggest transformation of mental health care across the NHS in a generation.
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| Image courtesy of weekendnotes.com |
Mental health patients and charities including The Mental Health Foundation, Mind and Recovery Focus have all welcomed an announcement by NHS England committing them to the biggest transformation of mental health care across the NHS in a generation.
The announcement which was made yesterday came in response
to a final report carried out by The Mental Health Independent
taskforce and chaired by the Chief Executive of Mind Paul Farmer. In the
report it is revealed that one in four of us will experience a mental health
problem in their life time and that the cost of mental ill health to the
economy is 105 billion a year.
The taskforce had made few recommendations which have been
accepted by the NHS, among the recommendations investing over £1bn a year of additional funding in NHS care by 2020/21 in order to reach one million more people. For a full list of the recommendations please visit NHS England.
Paul Farmer said: “This is a landmark moment for mental health care in this country, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform services and support for people with mental health problems.”
The Mental Health
Foundation believes that the latest NHS commitment marks a pivotal moment
in the fight for a mentally healthier nation.
Jenny Edwards CBE, Chief Executive of the Mental Health
Foundation said:
“The Mental Health Foundation has been calling for a greater focus on prevention and we are delighted that this is clearly reflected in the report”
“The Mental Health Foundation has been calling for a greater focus on prevention and we are delighted that this is clearly reflected in the report”
This groundbreaking report comes less than a week after the release of a similar independent commission-led report chaired by former
chief executive of the NHS Lord Crisp and examining the state of acute psychiatric
care in the country.
Lord Crisp concluded that sending patients to receive
treatments far-away from their communities and homes was a “potentially
dangerous” practice which needs to stop also estimated that every month 500
patients have to travel more than 31 miles and sometimes as far as 100 miles to
receive acute treatment in psychiatric wards due to the severe shortage in
beds. They recommended an end to the practice by October of next year.
In the report Lord Crisp says:
“It is time to end the difference in standards between mental and physical illness” said Lord Crisp.
“People with severe mental illnesses need to find care just as quickly as people suffering from physical illness - and they shouldn’t have to travel long distances too.”
The commission believes the solution to the problem lies in more investment in home-based treatment and a greater role for patients and carers in the service they use.
Poached Creative works closely with many organisations concerned
with mental health patients and their wellbeing providing us with an insight on
how pivotal mental wellbeing is to patients, their relatives and the community.
Lately we have been collaborating with Mental Snapp which is a social enterprise endeavouring to
tackle the stigma surrounding mental illnesses through a video app that enables
mental health service users to tell their own stories by recording short video
updates on their mental health, which become a part of their NHS health record.
We have also trained many people who have experienced mental
ill health assisting them with finding employment and stability in their lives.
Our employees, trainees and volunteers have contributed many
articles pertinent to mental health to our blog, including blogs
describing their own
struggle with mental illness.
Getting out more than you put in
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| Mat interviews Georgina Innes at Dalston Roof Park. |
I came across Poached Creative when they ran a journalism course with the Pavement Magazine in May 2015. Looking back, I can’t quite believe I came close not to going just because it was going to take me 45 minutes to get there from Brixton. But then, I really didn’t think it was going to be anything like as rewarding as it has been.
The course itself reignited my love for the written word. We covered a hell a lot in a short time, with a couple of genuinely inspiring guest tutors who brought us their experience of storytelling and grassroots journalism.
I loved the atmosphere on that course and, although I’ve spent my life avoiding offices, I really jumped at the chance of volunteering when, after the course, Poached and The Pavement asked me.
By the time I started, Poached had moved to the Bootstrap building in Hackney. For those of you who have never heard of it (or the Dalston Roof Garden that sits proudly on… well.. the roof) Bootstrap is a fantastic, chilled out maze comprised mainly of social enterprises. It really is an inspiring place to work.
Writing for the Bootstrap blog and Poached Creative clients, I’ve learnt how to structure articles, how to edit copy and above all how to write about things outside of my experience. The relaxed atmosphere suits me and I’m finally starting to get my head around the meaning of the word deadline.
Some people look at you like you’re a mug when you say you're volunteering. Right now, it would be enough for me to know I’m giving something back, but, and this is the trick with giving I guess, I am getting so much out of it myself: training, working with people and now I’m beginning to get paid for my trouble.
All in all it’s been an extremely rewarding three or four months and without Poached Creative and The Pavement I may just have been another ex-addict with nothing to do.
Stress Awareness Day 2015
By Yousif Farah
Stress Awareness Day aims at tackling psychological distress induced through employment, by highlighting the causes and educating people on how to prevent, cope with and eradicate stress.
Wednesday 4 November is the 15th anniversary of the campaign organised by the International Stress Organization UK, the leading UK professional body for stress management and well-being practitioners.
Stress in the workplace can be triggered by one of many factors, including; excess pressure, high expectations, work-related violence and bullying, lack of support from managers and family or financial problems affecting the employee’s productivity.
It is important to remember that stress is part of everyday life and can be a normal reaction to thoughts, feelings or events. In fact stress can be constructive in helping some people work harder and achieve more. However, Stress which is disproportionate to a person’s coping mechanism is likely to lead to distress. This in turn could result in symptoms of anxiety, depression or even suicidal tendencies.
It can also lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain and problems with sleeping.
A recent report carried out by Health and Safety Executives, the public body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, attributes stress and stress related illnesses to the loss of more than 15 million working days in the UK over the past year. This figure covers 206,000 self-reported cases. However, many employees would prefer not to report their condition in fear of stigma or losing their job.
Even though, Stress is widespread and is not confined to a particular sector social work, teaching and public administration record the highest rates of work-related stress.
At Poached Creative over the years we have had collaborations with many organisations concerned with mental health which makes us the more aware of how pivotal mental wellbeing is to both employers and employees.
Our latest collaboration was with Mental Snapp which is a social enterprise endeavouring to tackle the stigma surrounding mental illnesses through a video app that enables mental health service users to tell their own stories by recording short video updates on their mental health, which become a part of their NHS health record.
As well as designing their website, our staff attend their meetings on regular basis, we also contribute to their eloquent blog. Read the blog written by myself to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Week 2015.
At Poached Creative over the years we have had collaborations with many organisations concerned with mental health which makes us the more aware of how pivotal mental wellbeing is to both employers and employees.
Our latest collaboration was with Mental Snapp which is a social enterprise endeavouring to tackle the stigma surrounding mental illnesses through a video app that enables mental health service users to tell their own stories by recording short video updates on their mental health, which become a part of their NHS health record.
As well as designing their website, our staff attend their meetings on regular basis, we also contribute to their eloquent blog. Read the blog written by myself to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Week 2015.
36 Pounds and 95 pence exhibition - 30 October
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| Sample of the work exhibited- Red War by Saed (Afghanistan) |
By Yousif Farah
36 Pounds and 95 Pence is the first exhibition of The New Art Studio, which uses art as a vehicle for recovery and integration for victims of human cruelty and abuse. It opens on Friday 30 October at the Islington Arts Factory at 6pm.
Raging Calm inspires recovery through its dramatic workshops
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| John Watts, at the Young Vic |
By Mat Amp
Raging Calm’s second 'Flight' 'workshop as part of the Scorched Earth project, unearthed raw personal and inspiring stories, at the St Mungo's Recovery College, on Sept 9th.
Social Saturday 2015 continues to inspire people to BUY Social!
By Sana Amos
Social Saturday marked another huge success on 10 October, with well over 50 events nationwide showcasing the contribution of over 70,000 social enterprises to the UK.
The momentum of the awareness day campaign received widespread coverage across local and national press, as well as on social media. With high profile twitter support including the Prime Minister and Jamie Oliver it was no surprise that #SocialSaturday2015 was trending across social media platforms.
Enterprises across the UK got in the spirit of Social Saturday by running events to showcase and promote their services to the public and highlight how every day they make a positive social and environmental impact.
One good example that truly demonstrated how social organisations can bring the community together was Divine Chocolate, the award winning chocolatier and social enterprise. They celebrated the day in style by hosting a free fair, that brought London’s social businesses in fashion, food and drinks sector together at the Lexi Cinema, itself a social enterprise.
Speaking of the significance of the day Peter Holbrook CBE and CEO of Social Enterprise UK, said: “Social enterprises are redefining how business gets done. When you buy from them, society profits. Social Saturday is all about celebrating and raising awareness about our growing movement. This year we want to really put social enterprise on the map through a range of events across the country.”
At Poached Creative we are proud to be working with Social Enterprise UK to produce the branding and campaign materials for the Buy Social campaign, that helps to support and promote social enterprises like ourselves across the UK.
Social Saturday marked another huge success on 10 October, with well over 50 events nationwide showcasing the contribution of over 70,000 social enterprises to the UK.
The momentum of the awareness day campaign received widespread coverage across local and national press, as well as on social media. With high profile twitter support including the Prime Minister and Jamie Oliver it was no surprise that #SocialSaturday2015 was trending across social media platforms.
Today is #SocialSaturday2015, the day to celebrate social enterprises. Use your spending power and #buysocial today! pic.twitter.com/M6w7L7Rrik
— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) October 10, 2015
Today @SocialEnt_UK & @cabinetofficeuk celebrate #SocialSaturday2015 small changes make a big difference #buysocial http://t.co/KopBb6TuBy
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) October 10, 2015
Enterprises across the UK got in the spirit of Social Saturday by running events to showcase and promote their services to the public and highlight how every day they make a positive social and environmental impact.
One good example that truly demonstrated how social organisations can bring the community together was Divine Chocolate, the award winning chocolatier and social enterprise. They celebrated the day in style by hosting a free fair, that brought London’s social businesses in fashion, food and drinks sector together at the Lexi Cinema, itself a social enterprise.
Speaking of the significance of the day Peter Holbrook CBE and CEO of Social Enterprise UK, said: “Social enterprises are redefining how business gets done. When you buy from them, society profits. Social Saturday is all about celebrating and raising awareness about our growing movement. This year we want to really put social enterprise on the map through a range of events across the country.”
At Poached Creative we are proud to be working with Social Enterprise UK to produce the branding and campaign materials for the Buy Social campaign, that helps to support and promote social enterprises like ourselves across the UK.
Rosie Spinks to co-host next #COMMSKNOWHOW seminar
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| Pic: Courtesy of Rosie Spinks |
By Sana Amos
For the second of our #COMMSKNOWHOW monthly seminars Jessica Smith will be joined by Rosie Spinks, co-founder of JosephineJane, to host a seminar on Social Media Marketing at Bootstrap, on 5 November.
The series kicked off last month with the successful seminar on Getting to Grips with Google Analytics and speaking about the event Tobias Priscott, Poached Creative’s training and volunteer co-ordinator, said:
“It was fantastic to kick off our new comms seminars with Chandeep Khosa of Image Creativity. Website analytics have become an intricate part of understanding how we communicate online and we are really pleased that Rosie Spinks will be continuing this theme, by co-hosting our next seminar on Social Media Marketing.”
Rosie has vast experience of social media marketing, as freelance journalist and as co-director of JosephineJane, a web-based business that enhances online presence for a global client base.
Social media is now one of the main platforms of communication across the globe and according to Mediabistro 73% of small businesses are now using social media. This indicates the importance of promoting business through online networks. However having an online platform and using it effectively are two different things.
At its best social media marketing allows you to increase brand awareness, by engaging with your audience and getting them involved in promoting an organisation or product they are passionate about. This seminar will focus on highlighting ways that social enterprises, SMEs, freelancers and charity communicators can put a strategic social media strategy in place.
To find out more about the event, or to book tickets visit our eventbrite page
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#COMMSKNOWHOW seminars are offered at a discounted rate of £5 for Bootstrap tenants and Echo members can attend for 2 Echos. Bootstrap campus and Poached Creative’s past trainees and volunteers can attend for free.
How Social Enterprises reshaped how we view Disability
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| The Young Royals join the celebrations on World Mental Health Day, Photo Courtesy of Getty |
World Mental Health Day is the annual global celebration of mental health education, awareness and advocacy. It is held annually on October 10, and each year the day focuses on a new topic which is affecting mental health patients in the UK, and this year the focal point of the day was “Dignity In Mental Health”.
The 19th century saw the Industrial Revolution which impacted on the attitude of society toward those who suffered from a physical or mental impairment, an attitude lacking in compassion and sound judgment.
People who suffered from any form of physical disability were regarded as a burden on society, it was believed that keeping them in their own homes would encourage laziness.Therefore, they were kept in workhouses in grim and uninhabitable conditions.
On the other hand, people who suffered from a mental impairment faced a fate which was by no means a lesser evil, they were segregated in purpose built Asylums in dire and inhumane conditions with no prospect of curability or discharge.
The 19th century saw an expansion in the building of asylums accompanied by the introduction of Psychiatry. However, it wasn’t practiced in a proper or ethical manner.
During this century (also known as the Asylum Era) more than 120 county pauper asylums were built hosting 100,000 idiots and lunatics compared to a few hundred people living nine small charitable asylums at the beginning of the century.
There was an urgent need for some form of intervention to relieve the disabled community. Efforts were made by charities, also social enterprises to help in improving the work and living conditions of disabled people.
People who suffered from any form of physical disability were regarded as a burden on society, it was believed that keeping them in their own homes would encourage laziness.Therefore, they were kept in workhouses in grim and uninhabitable conditions.
On the other hand, people who suffered from a mental impairment faced a fate which was by no means a lesser evil, they were segregated in purpose built Asylums in dire and inhumane conditions with no prospect of curability or discharge.
The 19th century saw an expansion in the building of asylums accompanied by the introduction of Psychiatry. However, it wasn’t practiced in a proper or ethical manner.
During this century (also known as the Asylum Era) more than 120 county pauper asylums were built hosting 100,000 idiots and lunatics compared to a few hundred people living nine small charitable asylums at the beginning of the century.
There was an urgent need for some form of intervention to relieve the disabled community. Efforts were made by charities, also social enterprises to help in improving the work and living conditions of disabled people.
The social enterprise we are about to discuss today is a branch of one of these charities first to intervene, it is also the first social enterprise in the UK.
Clarity is a registered charity and a social enterprise which has been employing, training and supporting blind people and people with other disabilities since 1854.
Clarity was founded by a blind lady, Elizabeth Gilbert, who realised that amid these worsening conditions, it was virtually impossible for a blind person to earn their own living. In response she set up a workshop to train blind people to make products to sell with the money reinvested into the business to pay the staff and create more jobs.
The Soap Co
The Soap Co became a member of the Clarity family four years ago. It is a social enterprise working with disabled people to provide the consumer with a quality product and the opportunity to provide a disadvantaged person with a career opportunity.
70% of their workforce is blind, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged and all the company profits go back into the business creating even more jobs.
The Soap Co. started as a small shop in the Lake District creating handmade soaps to provide employment for people with disabilities.Today they supply 50,000 customers and businesses with products, ranging from cruise ships to local councils and boutique hotels.
Last month Poached Creative paid a visit to The Soap Co. We also interviewed the manager and some of the workers, who all seemed in agreement that being part of soap co is impacting their lives and well-being positively.
One of those who we met is Darren Sapsford, before joining The Soap Co. Darren had lost both his parents and home, which led to a breakdown in his relationship and understandably a blow to his self-esteem.
He was looking for a way to rebuild his life when he was referred to The Soap Co. through the Job Centre.
Clarity is a registered charity and a social enterprise which has been employing, training and supporting blind people and people with other disabilities since 1854.
Clarity was founded by a blind lady, Elizabeth Gilbert, who realised that amid these worsening conditions, it was virtually impossible for a blind person to earn their own living. In response she set up a workshop to train blind people to make products to sell with the money reinvested into the business to pay the staff and create more jobs.
The Soap Co
The Soap Co became a member of the Clarity family four years ago. It is a social enterprise working with disabled people to provide the consumer with a quality product and the opportunity to provide a disadvantaged person with a career opportunity.
70% of their workforce is blind, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged and all the company profits go back into the business creating even more jobs.
The Soap Co. started as a small shop in the Lake District creating handmade soaps to provide employment for people with disabilities.Today they supply 50,000 customers and businesses with products, ranging from cruise ships to local councils and boutique hotels.
Last month Poached Creative paid a visit to The Soap Co. We also interviewed the manager and some of the workers, who all seemed in agreement that being part of soap co is impacting their lives and well-being positively.
One of those who we met is Darren Sapsford, before joining The Soap Co. Darren had lost both his parents and home, which led to a breakdown in his relationship and understandably a blow to his self-esteem.
He was looking for a way to rebuild his life when he was referred to The Soap Co. through the Job Centre.
Now he is Product Line Operative, his self-esteem is restored and now he is planning to carry on working with The Soap Co. while trying to become a support worker.
Denis is one of the many people who were helped by Soap Co and Clarity, who are transforming lives by the day.
Denis is one of the many people who were helped by Soap Co and Clarity, who are transforming lives by the day.
The Soap Co. celebrated Social Saturday by encouraging everyone to make a positive social impact through promoting their new line which was released last month and is comprised of new range of soaps and lotions including Black Poppy & Wild Fig, White Tea & Citrus, using formulations which have outperformed other luxury brands in consumer testing.
Moreover, to mark Social Saturday the two heads of The Soap Co, Jason Norris, and Jeremy Robinson of Clarity took a long distance bike ride, visiting many social enterprises en route.
“Even though, I am 360 of miles away from Clarity whenever I go down there I always feel that I am part of Clarity, part of a bigger thing, a bigger vision- part of something that is achieving and moving forward. So yes, that is why I enjoyed it, enjoyed being part of clarity, definitely.”
Jason Peter Norris, manager at The Soap Co.- Keswick
“Even though, I am 360 of miles away from Clarity whenever I go down there I always feel that I am part of Clarity, part of a bigger thing, a bigger vision- part of something that is achieving and moving forward. So yes, that is why I enjoyed it, enjoyed being part of clarity, definitely.”
Jason Peter Norris, manager at The Soap Co.- Keswick
My journey with The Camden Youth Hub Project Board
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| Catherine and Amaan at the Poached Creative offices |
By Catherine Capaldi
A new youth space is about to open in the
centre of Camden designed by young people for young people, on 12 November.
As one of the young people involved I am
excited and nervous about the space being open to the public. On one side I’m
excited because its finally going to be open and on the other side nervous
because I’m scarred that people will not want to go to the place I and my
fellow Camden Youth Hub Project Board members helped create.
We designed the hub for young people to go
and chill out, meet new people and make friends.
I have now been involved in the development
of the hub for 18 months, during this time I have learnt to not judge a book by
its cover and have developed more of an open mind.
The Camden Youth Hub Project Board has
worked alongside Camden Council to design the look of the space and the
services it provides. Highlights have included working on the design and colour
scheme, working as part of a team, making a documentary with Poached Creative
and Mediorite, working with Maria, Lizzie and Dionne from Camden and making new
friends.
Part of my role as a board member has been
to promote the needs of disabled people. As a wheelchair user I find it is
important to show people the importance of access at the beginning of the
design process. This has been really important to me as I want disabled people
to be able to ask for help, feel part of something and not an outcast for
having a disability.
I have met allot of new people through this
project and made some close friends, like Chris. When we first met he was very
quiet but being part of the board has helped him come out of his shell and show
more of his great personality.
This is a great example of what the hub
will achieve when it opens.
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Social Saturday 2015 almost upon us
By Yousif Farah
One in a series of blogs
celebrating Social Saturday
In our previous blog
dedicated to celebrating Social Saturday 2015, we went through the concept of
social enterprises, its history and
development, and how in a short space of time they have become an integral part
of everyday life, impacting individuals, societies and the economy.
We also embarked on a voyage aboard the Hackney Pirate’s ship of adventures,
but this week we will focus on a sports social enterprise which we are
immensely proud to have in our local area of Dalston, East London.
Circle Sports
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| Photos by Stephen Archer (Big Issue Online Journalism trainee). |
Circle Sports is a social enterprise trading in sport’s
clothing and equipment. They provide practical customer service work
experience, training and mentoring to young people aged 18-24, in their trendy Circle
Collective shop on Kingsland High Street,
In their four short years of existence they have helped many people progress through their lives, pulling them out of hardships and into a stable
life and promising future.
Denis is truly a shining
example and testament to the outstanding work Circle Sports is providing to
young people. He arrived from Lithuania and managed to teach himself English in
less than seven months, after which he was referred to Circle Sports via the
Job Centre. It took Denis no time to prove himself as an asset to the company;
he shone as a diligent young man. However, he then suddenly disappeared.
Staff tried hard to track him down until they managed to find him and found
out that he had been made homeless. They provided him with help and assistance
and helped him get back on his feet and find accommodation. Eventually - with
some help from Circle - he secured a trainee role in construction with their
sponsor Land Securities.
Inspirationally, since starting work at Land Securities Denis has won their
Employment Strategy Award in the 18-24-year-old category.
Denis is just one of the countless people guided and assisted by Circle
Sports, who will be joining in the celebrations of Social Saturday 2015 on the
10th of October.
Turly Humphreys, Founder and Managing Director at Circle Sports says:
“Since we started in 2011 Circle has helped many young
people discover their true potential and secure full-time employment,
alongside improving workplace skills, confidence and a positive
mind-set.”
“My advice to new and emerging social enterprises is to have a commercial aspect to help them cover the cost of running a social enterprise."
Social Saturday 2015 is coming on 10 October
Social Saturday is a nationwide day dedicated to promoting social enterprise.
Following the enormous success of the inaugural Social Saturday 2014, Social Enterprise UK, and more than 70,000 social enterprises across the country are preparing for this year’s event.
Their activities will raise awareness of the significance of the social enterprise sector to individuals, communities and the economy as a whole.
A social enterprise is a business model that works to achieve a social mission. Profits are usually reinvested in social causes and sustaining the business.
When you buy from a social enterprise, you buy social. Buying social means you provide an unemployed person with a career opportunity, or provide a homeless person with a bed for the night, or help the environment, as well as saving money and challenging profit-driven only businesses through competition.
Social enterprises have been working hard to elevate communities since the nineteenth century when workers in Rochdale formed a co-operative in response to the exploitative working conditions. However, social enterprise as we know it today re-emerged in the mid-nineties.
When a new social enterprise emerges, entire communities reap the benefits. Varying in size, purpose and industry, they range from small social enterprises like Poached Creative to nationwide enterprises like the Big Issue.
Being a social enterprise ourselves, specializing in writing and design we completely understand the importance of buying social. We are also pleased that in recent years social enterprises have become an integral part of everyday life in London.
Over the years we have had many partnerships with social enterprises across the country, including Social Enterprise UK – who we proudly created the original Social Saturday marketing materials for. We buy social whenever we can.
To mark the occasion, in the lead up to Social Saturday we will shed a light on different and unique social enterprise in our local area of Hackney.
The Hackney Pirates
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| Part of the Hackney Pirates Ship of Adventures Courtesy of The Big Issue Online Journalists |
The Hackney Pirates is an enterprising charity working to develop the literacy, confidence and perseverance of young people in Hackney, so that they achieve both in school and in the world beyond.
The educational social enterprise was thought of by Catriona Maclay, who at the time was a teacher at a primary school based in north London. Through her experience as a primary school teacher she realised that a change in the learning environment could benefit pupils aged 9-12 and make them more receptive to learning.
The Hackney Pirates began as a pilot scheme supported by Bootstrap, now it is well established. They work together with local schools, volunteers and families providing local kids with the dream class room: a Ship of Adventures complete with secret passageways, an underwater cave and a ship’s cat.
During the voyage participating pupils receive support in order to enhance their writing and reading. They are also encouraged to take part in a unique creative publishing project in which young people work with professionals to write their own books, CDs and websites, allowing them to practise their writing skills as well as see the whole project through to publication.
Catriona Maclay, Founder of The Hackney Pirates says:
"We believe that young people learn best when there's a little adventure involved, and when they can see that their work has consequences in the real world, so our publishing projects are a great way for young people to develop their literacy while also building up their confidence and perseverance.
If you would like to spend your Social Saturday supporting The Hackney Pirates, then pop by our Ship of Adventures - a unique gift-shop, book-shop and cafe where you can see all the fantastic work of the Young Pirates on display."
Read our Social Saturday blog #2 on Circle Sports.
Read our Social Saturday blog #2 on Circle Sports.
The Pavement celebrates its tenth anniversary
The Pavement Magazine celebrated its tenth anniversary on 11 September with a star-studded comedy night at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington.
The event was a real blast and featured renowned comedians Stewart Lee and Robin Ince, whose performances highlighted the support the small-format magazine has gathered during its first decade in print.
The Pavement Magazine is a homeless publication founded in 2004 and designed to fill a vacuum by producing content featuring essential practical information alongside hard-hitting and entertaining reportage primarily aimed at and tailored to a homeless readership. In the past ten years the Pavement has gradually established itself as not just a useful magazine but an entertaining publication with the magazine’s Word on the Street programme encouraging contributions from homeless writers.
Karin Goodwin, the magazine’s editor says “The founder, Richard Burdett, saw a real need for a publication that put information straight into the hands of those who needed it most; homeless people themselves….We believe that our readers themselves are the experts on homelessness”.
The night was not just about celebrating The Pavement’s anniversary. It also aimed to raise awareness of the charity, boost the magazine’s profile and generate desperately needed funds.
Ince's strong support for the cause is the only reason for his performance, coming as it did six months into a five year sabbatical from the stand-up circuit. Indeed, all the performers talked about the need to support the Pavement with a genuine passion that fuelled the joyful and positive atmosphere of the celebration in the theatre on the night. Sandwiched between the two featured comedians were strong performances from the comedy duo Read-Wilson and Hughes Hughes and the singer Barb Jung whose distinctive voice has lost none of its soulful power.
Robin Ince rocked the house with the stand-out performance on the night. His wickedly clever style of of jumping from one story to another was delivered at brisk pace, developing themes that eventually found their way back home, all the while stabbing logic in the face with a dagger of razor sharp reason.
In contrast Stewart Lee’s act, delivered at slow pace, was all about deconstructing the art form of stand up comedy. Throughout his career he has chosen to tread his own path, pushing the boundaries set by the mainstream in order to continually develop his own routine.
The same could be said of The Pavement’s journey over the past ten years. In Karin’s words "The night itself was a great mix; there was caustic wit, warmth and laughter, political agitation and generally an outpouring of support and goodwill for The Pavement and all it stands for”. She adds "Not only does the money raised help us to keep printing copies of The Pavement, which are in constantly high demand; it also encourages us to keep working harder to make sure The Pavement goes from strength-to-strength."
All in all the night was a worthy celebration of the ten years in which the Pavement has struggled on a shoestring to establish itself as a publication that genuinely helps those on the street. Laughter maybe the best medicine for life but for some of the disenfranchised on the street there is no better tonic than The Pavement Magazine. To find out more, visit the Pavement Magazine website.
Comedy night marks ten years down the Pavement
By Yousif Farah
Pavement Magazine is celebrating its 10th
birthday on Friday 11 September, a milestone that will be marked with a high-profile
comedy fundraiser featuring the exceptionally hilarious Stewart Lee.
The event will be held at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington’s North
Street, off Caledonian Road, and the all-star line-up will also include Robin
Ince, winner of the Time Out Award for Outstanding Achievement in comedy and music from Barb Jungr whose album of Bob Dylan covers was once described by the Wall Street Journal
as “the most significant vocal album of the 21st century”.
Also joining them will be Tom Read Wilson and Gary Albert Hughes who are both known for performing satirical and political songs.
Also joining them will be Tom Read Wilson and Gary Albert Hughes who are both known for performing satirical and political songs.
The Pavement hopes the event will raise much-needed funds
to help them further pursue helping homeless people through their unique publication.
Its sole purpose is to support people at times of crisis,
aiming to make life that bit easier for homeless people through providing them
with information that can both help reduce short-term hardship, as well as
enable them to guide their own lives.
The publication is pocket-sized, concise, providing homeless
readers with news from the streets relative to their situation and often
neglected by the mainstream press. Alongside the news stories they run monthly updated lists of day centres, soup kitchens and places to gather advice
and assistance regarding housing. It also has features on health, legal
advice and an insider’s view of life in hostels.
The publication relies entirely on donations from the
public and volunteers. However, these volunteers are highly skilled writers and
cartoonists, some of whom work for reputable media outlets such as Private Eye.
At Poached Creative we work closely with the Pavement
magazine. Some of our own Big Issue online
journalism trainees have contributed articles to The Pavement. We also
recently ran a four week media training course for budding contributors.
Furthermore, the writing panel meetings are held at our
premises and are attended by our writing mentor Grant and I.
Grant says: “The listing section is a revelation especially when you
first find yourself in that situation.
The proceeds of the forthcoming event will help more homeless people through their ordeal.
For tickets, bookings and information on how to get to the
venue visit The Pleasance Theatre website.
To donate visit The Pavement website.
Youth recognition
by Yousif Farah
Therefore, it was only sensible of the United Nation to dedicate
a day to raise awareness of youth, their achievements and their struggles also highlighting
the vital role youth play in shaping our future while enriching the present
through skill, talent or through simply being young and progressive.
This week, on 12 August, people from around the globe celebrated the 15th anniversary since the establishment
of International Youth Day.
The day covered 15
areas which affect youth, including education, employment, environment, poverty
and health.
Last year the day focused on youth and mental illness, as it
stands 20% of youth around the world experience a mental health condition.
This year the focal point of discussion will be youth and unemployment.
Ban Ki-moon Secretary General of the UN says in his Youth Day 2015 speech:
"I applaud the millions of young people who are protesting for
rights and participation, addressing staggering levels of youth unemployment,
raising their voices against injustice, and advocating global action for people
and the planet.
Volunteerism is an ideal way to improve society – and it is
open to virtually everyone. Youth can also join forces with the United Nations
as we move from forging the new sustainable development goals to implementing
them. That spirit of action is embodied in the theme of this International Day: Youth and Civic Engagement."
In the UK according to the House of Commons as of May 2015,
15.9 per cent of young people (aged 16-24) were unemployed, that is down 1.9% from the
year before. 21 per cent of these young people are long-term unemployed for 12 months
or over.
The research
reveals a gradual increase in the number of young people securing employment post
the economic turmoil. However, if contrasted to periods prior to the economic
crisis the figures remain lower.
In this calculation the Commons relied on the definition set
out by the
International Labour Organisation which includes everyone actively seeking
work whether on benefit or not.
According to the organisation, the world as a whole is
facing a worsening youth employment crisis, with young people three times more
likely to be unemployed than adults. It also warned of a “scarred” generation
of young workers facing a dangerous mix of high unemployment, increased inactivity
and uncertain work conditions in developing countries.
The ILO estimates the number of youth looking for work
worldwide at 73 million.
The International Labour Organisation is based in Geneva and
was founded in 1919 in the wake of the Labour crisis which was triggered by World
War 1. It later became the first specialized agency in the UN, currently operational
in 60 countries around the world.
At Poached Creative we have always been sympathetic towards
young people and supportive of their causes, as well as encouraging young people to join our Big Issue Online
Journalism Course, we’ve run numerous projects with young people, for instance our latest collaboration with our partners Mediorite to
help Camden Council’s youth project board plan, film and produce a documentary.
To read about more about our work with youth and youth campaigners visit our campaigns page.
My journey so far...
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| Mat outside Poached Creative's office at Bootstrap, Dalston |
By Mat Amp
My journey with Poached Creative started several months ago, as the result of a conversation with my case-worker at St Mungo’s.
I was living in supported housing and was looking at various ways to reconnect with the world, both socially and professionally, in recovery from substance abuse issues that had eventually left me homeless.
I was informed of a free journalism training course being run by Poached Creative, a social enterprise, who were working in partnership with The Pavement, the free pocket sized magazine for people who are homeless.
At the time I was throwing myself at just about everything to see what stuck in a ‘try everthing commit to nothing’ approach to life and I have to admit that my initial reaction wasn’t that positive. To be honest I thought it would be a waste of time, especially as the weekly seminars meant an hour tube/train ride across London from Brixton to Hackney and back.
But I put my concerns aside and set off for the first session with absolutely no expectations. I say that but I must have held on to some because I was surprised by just about everything that followed.
The sessions were set around a large oval table which helped us all relax and open up, promoting the kind of positive and constructive atmosphere that was so important as a canvas for the highly informative lectures that followed. One seminar on storytelling and the practical session that came a week later, ‘writing your own story’, was an epiphany to me. It was during that session in Hackney library writing about my experiences living in a homeless hostel over the past few years that I rediscovered my deep love of writing, a desire that had deserted me during those few bleak years living at the margins of society.
The final session on interviewing techniques was outstanding, the icing on what had been a pretty tasty cake of an experience. I was going to miss it.
Or was I? Well the simple answer to question was no. When Poached Creative held out its collective hand with the offer of volunteer work at their new offices at Bootstrap, I bit it off.
Or was I? Well the simple answer to question was no. When Poached Creative held out its collective hand with the offer of volunteer work at their new offices at Bootstrap, I bit it off.
The Human Right Act gets a stay of execution
By Yousif Farah
 |
| Amnesty International |
Prior to the recent General Elections the Conservatives had
pledged to replace “The Human Rights
Act” with a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. However, there seemed to
be no mention of it in the Queen’s Speech, at the opening of Parliament on
Wednesday.
It is not the first time the Conservatives have attempted to
push their bill through: there was a similar attempt during the last coalition
Government but it was blocked by the Liberal Democrats.
The Conservatives, who won the election with a 12 seat
majority, would have struggled to get the bill through the Commons and Lords as
both SNP and Labour and whoever remained from the Liberal Democrats would have
voted against it. Furthermore, some of the party’s own back benchers, many of whom
are in the judiciary, are opposed to the measure.
However, some senior party figures seem adamant that it is
only a matter of time, and that the Bill will be delivered sooner or
later. Liz Truss, the Conservative environmental
secretary says:
“Absolutely the plans are going to be delivered at some
point because it was a clear manifesto pledge “
Meanwhile, human right groups expressed a level of caution
following the development. Kate Allen, Amnesty International Director in the UK,
said she remained “very worried”. Whereas, Liberty director Shami
Chakrabati called it heartening but added:
“There is a long struggle ahead but time is the friend of
freedom”
The Human Rights Act received Royal Assent on 9 November
1998 and came into force in England on 2 October 2000. It was introduced to bring
The European Convention
on Human Rights closer to home through incorporating into UK law the rights contained in the convention.
Among the rights contained in the convention: the right to
life, prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment, protection against
slavery, the right to a fair trial and the right to free speech and protest.
The European Convention on Human Rights is an international
treaty aimed at protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. It was
drafted in 1950 and came into force on 3 September 1953. The UK was the first
country to ratify the treaty.
Over the years since the introduction of the act many cases
were decided through the implementation of the HRA. An illustration of the
application of the act could be found in S and Marper v United Kingdom, where
the UK courts ruled that it was legal to retain fingerprints, cellar samples
and DNA profiles of individuals who have not been convicted of an offence. Strasbourg held the approach to be disproportionate
as well as an infringement of the person’s right to a private life contrary to
Article 8 of the convention.
Another illustration is the 2009 A v United Kingdom case, a
case in which it was decided that the detaining of 11 non-national terror
suspects was legitimate. The European Court of Human Rights deemed the judgment
both disproportionate and discriminatory and in breach of Article 5 of the
convention which emphasises the right to liberty.
Amnesty International is launching a campaign to preserve
the Human Rights Act. If you agree that the current Act should be retained
please visit.
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