We policy holders, many who are elderly, are unable to find £3500 to £4500 pounds for a replacement funeral plan or cremation. Both dignity & the co-op have stepped up to assist safe hands policy holders & dignity covered all funerals & cremations up to the end of 31st oct , policy holders were under the impression that dignity where carry out funerals & cremations out of the goodness of their heart but policy holders have since discovered that dignity are seeking to be paid out of any money recovered by by the administrators out of over £70 odd million pound administrators only estimate that they will recover less than £10 million pound , this divided by roughly 46000 people they stand to recover between 7.5p in the pound & 15p in the pound , meaning policy holders will not receive anywhere near what they paid for their cremation or funeral. The government should be doing more to bring those that have committed fraud to justice it won’t get our money back but to see them handed a lengthy prison sentence would go some way to seeing justice prevail.

Curzon is keen to reach an agreement with the Landlord for a new long-term lease including a substantial increase in rent. This would then allow Curzon to invest in the venue for the benefit of the local community, which they have been unable to do so with the threat of eviction hanging over the venue. The Curzon brand was first established with the building of the cinema site on Curzon Street in 1934, and has a long and storied history there, hosting countless glitzy premieres and events for the local community. But with the lease up for renewal, and despite having security of tenure, Curzon are expecting the landlord to attempt to terminate its lease by either applying for redevelopment or becoming an owner operator – the sole two grounds on which to break the current lease. The recent decision by Westminster City Council, which I helped secure, to grant Asset of Community Value (ACV) status will provide the Curzon with extra protection should the freeholder decide to dispose of the property, but the future of the Curzon’s lease hangs in the balance owing to the potential shenanigans with the lease. The Council found that the Curzon cinema provides a distinct cultural use that furthers the social interests of Mayfair and concluded that Curzon is an important community asset for the area. So please back my campaign to keep the world famous and unique Curzon Mayfair entertaining generations to come at Curzon Street for many more years! Thank you. We have helped save this iconic cinema before, we can do it again! Councillor Patrick Lilley

Please sign this very important petition – it takes less than a minute – to improve men’s health and wellbeing in Scotland. With an alarming rise in suicide amongst Scottish men - 75% of the people who died by suicide in Scotland last year were male – and with already-stretched resources and reduced funding as demand for our services increases, the SMSA is lobbying for a directional change to ensure the charity is around to support future generations of Shedders and keep the spotlight on men’s health. The SMSA pledges to continue making a real difference by empowering thousands of men (our sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers) and their communities - over the coming years - to play their part in a system change towards a wellbeing economy. By trailblazing this male health movement as we have from the beginning, we strive for social change to ultimately secure its future growth and the national statutory investment it rightly deserves. Kinross and District Men’s Shed’s Chairman David Conner said: “The SMSA has been a wonderful support and a great centre of information and advice. Without the SMSA, it is safe to say, we and some other local Sheds would not exist without their help steering us in the right direction—through the obstacles and bureaucracy that is thrown at you especially when starting something new— and enabling us to become self-sufficient.” Member Mike Kelly said: "Having a central driving force has been a huge asset to both new and established sheds. This is part of why men's sheds have been so successful in Scotland." #menssheds #menswellbeing #menshealth #menmatter #shedicine #nevermoreneeded

Johnstone High Parish Church, is a beautiful building situated on top of a hill in the very heart of the town, it is much loved by people of different faiths and by residents of the town who hold no religious beliefs. I used the word beautiful deliberately, as there is much more to a building than just what its basic function is. Buildings form an aesthetic and historical point of view, and are incredibly important to any town or city, this is the reason people from across the globe travel to Europe to see the architectural splendour and the historical beauty of buildings that a relatively young county like America for example does not possess. The tower clock and spire are visible from various parts of the town and outwith the town's boundaries. This has been an intrinsic part of our town for over two Centuries and must be saved for future generations. This is a town with great economic problems at the moment, and with very little in the way of beautiful architecture to lift the centre of town, not to mention the outstanding work the members under take for struggling and under privileged families, with food banks and outreach programmes that go unnoticed by most in the town. But for those who rely on them, they are a buoyancy aid as the rising tide of costs of living crisis and inflation squeezes them when its needed the most. This is major part of the history in Johnstone town. In the hearts and memories of many generations past and present, but in a real sense is very much part of the present, with families struggling to pay for shopping bills that are getting more expensive every week. The members of the high parish and due to the churches location in the heart of the town, the food bank has been able to top up what would have been half full shopping bags, for local families struggling to make ends meet. Closure of the high parish wouldn't just ensure the loss of a beautiful building in such a prominent part of the town, it is to cut off the people who in this time of economic crisis rely on the selfless and amazing voluntary work carried out within its walls.

I'm a queer woman who, over the last year, has become a pretty big football fan. It means this World Cup I actually feel invested in the outcome for once, and would enjoy watching some of the matches! Except it's being held in a country where people like me can be locked up just for loving someone of the same gender. So I was glad to hear European Captains planned to wear the OneLove armband as a stance against discrimination. And then saddened when, ahead of the first England match, they had to back down or risk being booked. German Minister Nancy Faeser wore the band during her country's match against Japan. It's a symbol of solidarity that could mean a lot to LGBTQ+ people in Qatar and around the world, so I've set up a petition asking any UK politicians who go to Qatar - in either an official or unofficial capacity - to commit to wearing the armband too. It might be too late to change things for this World Cup, but we can at least ask those in power who go along to send a message to FIFA: You claim to stand against discrimination based on sexual orientation, but you’re acting like you’ve forgotten that. The rest of us haven't, and we're not going to let you forget it.

The Chartered Institute of Housing is seeking to host a lavish £250 plus VAT Presidents dinner at the very time NO ONE has been held to account for the tragic loss of Baby Telan Stone 11 months and Awark Ishak , this is in truly poor taste at a time in which families have had NO justice, thousands live in homes not fit for purpose whilst its leaders seek to hold a lavish jolly whilst claiming zero funds for repairs whilst Food Banks like We Care is facing closure because Energy and Food hikes mean it needs to raise £25,000 to open and serve its 3000 people and pets in crisis in 2023. This Event should be cancelled and cash saved investing in local food projects and improving tenant's homes. Across the UK in 2022 young children and babies have died in Social Housing the very sort of housing those most in need depend on and expect decent housing, holding a lavish dinner at a time Social Housing is under such huge and justifiable scrutiny is totally and morale wrong and should NOT go ahead

We are concerned as local councillors, that 2 important bus routes have been withdrawn from our area, without an adequate replacement service. X26/X27 – Leeds – Thorpe Park (via York Road) These routes serve our social and economic centres and are important to our local community. All sorts of people living in East Leeds used these buses to get to and from town, to the hospital, to work and to visit family, as well as to use the leisure facilities at The Springs. We have therefore written to the Managing Director of First Group and asked for this decision to be reconsidered. Other local routes have been withdrawn but replaced by other services. This is not the case with the X26/X27. We will continue to campaign for better bus services across our area. Bus services should be affordable, accessible and make good connections - with the profits being put back into the service, rather than skimmed off the top for shareholders while services are reduced!

Fox hunting, deer hunting, and hare hunting still take place in the UK. These cruel activities have been banned in England and Wales for nearly 20 years, but the law is failing us all. Too many animals are suffering, local communities are being abused and the public is being misled, as too many hunts are getting away with it.  It’s time for change.

My handsome son Zak died because the health authorities and other institutions that were supposed to be caring for him, failed him miserably. A coroner has deemed the following: Healthcare failings in obtaining information so that a patient reveives their medication. Failings to provide patient discharge information relating to diagnosis, prescription and care plan details. Concerns relating to a lack of clarity over the meaning of the word "urgent" when a patient referral is made to the access and assessment team. Concerns that current healthcare guidelines, (in relation to patients that may be disengaging or non concorordant) are lacking and need perfecting. Zak's death was regarded as a Serious Incident by the trust that failed him. Zak was seen by a GP whilst under a trusts care, (6 weeks before he took his own life).The GP had serious concerns that Zak was paranoid, lacking capacity and dehydrated. Nothing was done and incredibly no notes seem to be available, to show if anything was done or what they did to help and support Zak. A different GP saw Zak again 18 days before he passed away. The GP made an urgent psychiatric referral but they did not have a clue about Zak's current medication or treatment plan because they had NO NOTES from the previous care provider. They had a legal duty of care to get Zak help and treatment. As it currently stands health authorities and other institutions where care is provided can say they have not got a patients notes or they cannot find them. There is a massive loophole in the current law which allows this to happen. The institutions and health authorities are allowed to say and I quote: " The notes may have been done or they may not have been done", as an excuse for not providing a patients notes. How can this be either morally or ethically right in 2022 when notes have been computerised to try to stop this from happening. How can they be allowed to get away with saying: " We do not have the notes, we had no access to that computer system or we cannot find the notes or they may have been done or they may not have been done". Please please stop this from happening any more. God forbid it happens to your loved one. Jo Farmer

Since the start of government imposed austerity 12 years ago, the council has lost £110m of central government funding while demand for services has soared. Over ten years of pay freezes our workers have lost an average of £4-8000 a year in pay, while house prices and rents have soared. We need to keep our key workers and young families in the city for it to thrive, but we can’t do that if we can’t pay them properly. Across the country councils are struggling to retain workers - from social workers to care workers, teaching assistants and planners - thousands are leaving public service for better paid jobs in the private sector. This is a potential disaster for our councils and our services. Government needs to act now to avert a crisis, yet the autumn budget statement had nothing to offer local councils other than more stagnation and a greater council tax burden on already struggling residents. As millions in the country are bracing themselves to have to choose between heating and eating and mass poverty is becoming normalised, councils across the country are going to have to choose between jobs or services. As our residents face one of the toughest winters in living memory, they must not again be expected to pay for mistakes they did not make. They need to know their local councils are getting the support they need from government, not watch them be slowly starved of cash and resources while the government pursues policies that make the rich richer. It’s often the case that trade unions and employers disagree. It is also often the case that different political parties disagree. But these are extraordinary times, times where no-one in our city is free from the anxiety and pressures of the cost-of-living crisis. Times where it is essential that we focus on what unites us, and to work together to protect our vital public services and those that rely on them. Brighton and Hove UNISON, the Green Administration and Labour Councillors at Brighton & Hove City Council are coming together in solidarity with other local trade unions, organisations, charities and businesses, to demand that central government properly fund local public services and public service workers. We are united in the need for well-funded public services and united in the need for a workforce that is decently paid. Corinna Edwards-Colledge, Joint Branch Secretary, Brighton and Hove UNISON; Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty, Leader, Brighton and Hove City Council and Green Group; Cllr John Allcock and Cllr Carmen Appich, Joint Leaders, Labour Group. Also supported by GMB Sussex Branch and Brighton & Hove NEU.

Right now the FIFA World Cup is taking place in Qatar. Before the tournament kicked off it was surrounded by controversy, but now the games are underway, controversy remains. Players have been banned from showing support for campaigns championing tolerance and diversity, and FIFA, despite campaigns from all over the world, have still refused to commit to a compensation scheme for migrants and migrant families who have been affected by the Qatar World Cup. Football Associations in the nations that make up the UK could have a huge influence on FIFA - if they chose to wield it. Far more than ordinary football fans do. FIFA needs radical change and electing Infantino to stand for another 4 years is not the way to do it. That’s why the Home Nations Football Associations along with Football Associations from around the world have to come together and demand urgent action and a complete overhaul of FIFA.

When permission was granted by the Welsh Government in 2005, the local community in Merthyr Tydfil, who had fought the proposal fiercely, were promised that mining would end after 15 years, on 6th September 2022 and that restoration of the land would be complete a few years later. Yet it’s reported that coal mining hasn’t stopped, ruining the long-awaited peace for the local community who can see and hear the coal mine from their homes. And now the mining company has applied to expand the coal mine by 9 months, and has said it will apply for a further 3 years of coal mining, (and who knows what beyond that...?). This will not only fuel climate change by nearly 6 million tonnes of CO2 and 16,000 tonnes of methane, but inflict further explosive blasting, noise and dust pollution on nearby residents. On top of this, the long-awaited restoration of the land, will be pushed back by years, with concerns that it will never happen. *********************** Pam mae hyn yn bwysig? Pan roddwyd caniatâd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn 2005, cafodd y gymuned leol ym Merthyr Tudful, a oedd wedi brwydro’n ffyrnig yn erbyn y cynnig, addewid y byddai mwyngloddio’n dod i ben ar ôl 15 mlynedd, ar 6ed Medi 2022 ac y byddai’r gwaith o adfer y tir wedi’i gwblhau ychydig flynyddoedd yn ddiweddarach. Ond adroddir nad yw mwyngloddio glo wedi dod i ben, gan ddifetha’r heddwch hir-ddisgwyliedig i’r gymuned leol sy’n gallu gweld a chlywed y pwll glo o’u cartrefi. Ac yn awr mae'r cwmni mwyngloddio wedi gwneud cais i ehangu'r pwll glo am 9 mis, ac wedi dweud y bydd yn ceisio am 3 blynedd arall o gloddio am lo, (a phwy a ŵyr beth y tu hwnt i hynny...?). Bydd hyn nid yn unig yn hybu newid yn yr hinsawdd gan bron i 6 miliwn tunnell o CO2 a 16,000 tunnell o fethan, ond hefyd yn achosi dioddefaint i’r trigolion cyfagos trwy’r ffrwydradau pellach, llygredd sŵn a llwch. Ar ben hyn, bydd y gwaith adfer hir-ddisgwyliedig ar y tir yn cael ei wthio yn ôl gan flynyddoedd, gyda phryderon na fydd byth yn digwydd.