Our Voice 2011 - The 30th Anniversary Issue

1

Join us on Drop us a message at

ovbucfp@gmail.com We offer welfare benefit advice, crèche, vegan lunches, tea, Disclaimer: coffee and cold drinks, a variety of courses and classes, Allganics The opinions expressed in this wholefood Co op, many volunteering opportunities, clothing for magazine are not necessarily adults and children, donated household goods, and room hire. those of the Centre

ovbucfp@gmail.com Here are some Useful Numbers & Help lines for you:

2

Samaritans 01273 772277 MIND 01273 749600 Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 7697555 Survivors Network 01273 203380 (Supporting female survivors of sexual violence and abuse) BHT Brighton Housing Trust 01273 234 737 (Legal & housing advice service) St Patrick’s night shelter 01273 327736 (Church hall accommodation) Citizens Advice Bureau 0845 120 3710 (The charity for your community) Cocaine Anonymous 0800 612 0225 (Fellowship to help solve addiction) Sussex Beacon 01273 694222 (Specialist care & support for people living with HIV) Missing Persons Helpline 0500 700 700 (help and support) Independent Mediation Service 01273 700812 (Conflict resolution service) Women’s Refuge Project 01273 622822 Victim Support 0845 30 30 900 (Find the strength) National Debt line 0808 808 4000 (Free confidential advice on how to deal with debt problems) Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327 (Advice and support for all men in abusive relationships)

OUR VOICE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE Would you like to take part in producing the next magazine?

Come along on Thursday mornings at 11am in the Main Area In this issue, I’m very happy to say we now have Our Anniversary photo story, Our Writers thoughts on the number 30, Our Beauty and the most welcome addition of the Our Welfare section.

‘Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot’ and ‘Lest we forget’ the 11th hour on 11th day of the 11th month. Where those have fallen in war for our freedom and rights are remembered.

The Occupy protest movement is showing itself in more than 900 cities around the world would host coordinated protests directly or loosely affiliated to the Occupy cause to express the growing wave of global anger at social and economic injustice.

This week a €2 trillion bailout for banks who have spent your money and they’re closing your National Health System and your libraries.

This pilfering of people’s rights and resources is a kleptocracy it is evil and wrong and needs to be countered and all points.

A Kleptocracy is a ‘rule by thieves’ or a form of political and government corruption where the government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its officials and the ruling class at the expense of the wider population, often without pretence of honest service. This type of government corruption is often achieved by the embezzlement of state funds.

This is not a time for suffering in silence, now is the time to come together, make sure we are all in good shape for the coming times. The future’s your birthright. Together we are more than the sum of our parts.

30 years of the Brighton Unemployed Centre.................4 News...............................................................................5 30 Trivia.........................................................................6 Writing Our Own History............................................7 Our Anniversary: Emily opened by saying; The Centre has been created by people for people over a thirty year process. The Centre aims to empower ............................10 Our Welfare: The DWP will be writing to people whose benefits are due for reassessment ...................................13 Calling Tarner: A dedicated team of volunteers have been out into the local community to meet, talk to and record the memories..................................................................15 Home Made Fruity Facials: why not whip yourself up a delicious concoction made of fruits ................................16 CyberMummy: What do parents blog about their children? Everything! .....................................................17 Allganics: good quality organic whole foods affordable to everyone .......................................................................18 Our Allotment: has gone from strength to strength this year ...............................................................................19 Crossword....................................................................20 OUR MAKERS & OUR CORRESPONDENTS: Richard Ince, Malcolm Cook, Kahn Priestly, Emily Humphries, Richard Connolly, Counsellor Ben Duncan, Joy, Amel, Nihida, Alanna, Michelle, Suzie Oddball, Valerie mainstone, Pearl, Tino B Leonard, Judy, PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: Lucy Jo Brown, Richard Chickpea, Malcolm Cook,

3

The three main objectives: 1. To provide advice about benefits for the unemployed and unwaged.

2. To provide educational courses for the unemployed.

3. To provide a base from which unemployed people could organise themselves.

They marched, distributed leaflets, raised a petition calling for an Unemployed Centre which collected 10,000 signatures. They opposed groups such as the National Front and on one occasion defended their building against physical attacks. In 1981 they organised the first free Xmas party for children.

“It is not our task to make life more tolerable for the unemployed, nor to reconcile them to their fate, but to raise them up to fight the capitalist system which creates mass unemployment in the midst of plenty”

In 1984 the name was changed to “Brighton Unemployed Centre” and in 1985 moved to our present home in Tilbury Place. In 1986 the Labour party won control of Brighton Council. The Centre received a grant to pay for workers and to set up a creche.

These were the words of Dudley Edwards, who was one of the foremost among our founders at the inaugural meeting of the Centre in 1981, Thirty years later we are still going strong.

In 1992 and 1993 the Council reacted to campaigns by the Centre such as the anti-Poll Tax movement and against the Child Support Act. Eventually our grant was cut to such an extent that all workers bar one were made redundant, and the Centre relied heavily on volunteers. The campaigning continued.

In 1994, under Council pressure a charity was formed called the BUC Families Project, which was separate from the campaigning wing BUC Ltd.

How was the Centre born?

In 1980 Dudley and other unemployed activists formed a group called “Brighton Campaign against Youth Unemployment” to campaign for an Unemployed Centre. They had no premises so for a time they occupied an empty council building.

From 1996 there was conflict between trustees who wanted the Centre to be just a charity and those who wanted to continue campaigning. After lots of disputes, involving also the Council and the Charity Commission, threats of legal action, and freezing of funds, eventually BUC Ltd left Tilbury Place. They have been based in Hollingdean since 1999.

In 1981, the Council gave them use of a small building on an industrial estate in Kemptown.

As well as the volunteers, the Brighton and Hove Trades Council and the Workers Educational Association were involved in setting up the Unemployed Centre. At this time other unemployed centres were formed around the country, and all became part of a network known as “The Combine” which still exists today.

As a union man, Dudley Edwards would be sorry that we have no formal links with the Trade Union movement and that we are not now a campaigning organisation, but Hollingdean now carries on that good work.

4

Yes, there is still the wide gap between rich and poor all around us. What the Centre gives is advice, support, activities, education, practical help, and social and emotional relief.

The last magazine made available in four different languages; English, French (translated by Tchansia Kone), Spanish (translated by Alberto Gonzales) and Italian (translated by Daniella Cordi). (you can read then at www.issuu.com.

Mary watches Matt and Malcolm putting up the new sign outside the Centre. Malcolm’s taking picture...

Search: Our Voice Spring, Nuestra Voz, Nostra Voce or Notre Voix). This Anniversary Issue can be found by searching for Our Voice 30th Anniversary. Other language issues are coming soon!

DJ Donald Shier presents a radio program called the One World show on local radio You can also join the Facebook Reverb FM. Recently Matt Armstrong, page just search for Our Voice.

Malcolm Cook and Richard Ince were interviewed by Donald. They talked If you have any comments or with him about this magazine. Donald contributions please drop us a was very interested because he had a line at ovbucfp@gmail.com connection with the centre when it was based on Industrial Estate by the Bingo Hall on Eastern Road and used to lend the Centre the Polytechnic’s van. On hearing about the Tarner Stories writing class he suggested that members of the class make of their work for broadcast.

Tino B Leonard one of our Welfare volunteer advisors (read her article in this issue) also works with on the show as a volunteer, handling bookings and more. Tune in and have a listen to the city’s access radio station.

Broadcasting all day every day to all the people of our city - on 97.2 FM.

IN MEMORIUM Eira Smith, Playroom volunteer and sessional worker who has been ill for the past year, died in the Martletts Hospice on Tuesday September 6th. Eira was a wonderful, fun-loving and strong woman with a commitment to equalities, inclusion and best practice in her work with children.

This is a sad loss to our community, and we would like to offer love and sympathy to her family.

Dalai Lama says; The goal is to cultivate in our hearts the concern a To everyones shock and dedicated mother feels for her child, surprise Gok Wan suddenly To and then focus it on appeared with a camera be without crew and a photographer more and more people some of the from the Argus at the and living beings. allotment on Monday 26th things you want is This is a heartfelt, September doing a publicity an essential part of powerful love. Such shoot for Vodafones World happiness. feelings give us a true of Difference that funded Bertrand Russell understanding of Chloe’s time at the Centre. human rights, that is not grounded just in http://www.theargus. legal terms, but rooted deeply co.uk/news/9273034. in the heart.

Gok_Wan_gets_hands_dirty_ at_Brighton_allotment/

5

30 years ago: Thirty years ago today, the country was in turmoil: unemployment was approaching three million, innercity streets were scarred by race riots. The disarray of the England cricket team matched the nation step for step. They were 1-0 down in the Ashes series.

In the charts in 1981: Ghosttown by the Specials Tainted love by Soft Cell Woman by john lennon Stars on 45 - Stars on 45 Kim Carnes - Betty Davis eye

30 is... the sum of the first four squares, which makes it a square pyramidal number.

There is no number 30 bus in the Brighton and Hove area....

The atomic number of zinc is 30 • Used (as –30–) to indicate the end of a newspaper (or broadcast) story, a copy editor’s typographical notation.

• The number of days in the months April, June, September and November • The total number of major and minor keys in Western tonal music, including enharmonic equivalents • In years of marriage, the pearl wedding anniversary • The duration in years of the Thirty Years’ War - 1618 to 1648.

• The code for international direct dial phone calls to Greece • The house number of 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin) • The designation of E30, the European route from Cork to Samara • The number of tracks on The Beatles’ eponymous album, usually known as The White Album • A stage in young adulthood 6

Part of the name of: • 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, the band fronted by actor Russell Crowe • 30 Days of Night, a comic book mini-series and film.

• Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Matthew 26:15.

• The number of the French department Gard • 30 was the route number of the bus blown up by terrorists in Tavistock Square during the 7th July 2005 bombings in London

• History and Literature • One of the rallying-cries of the 1960s student/youth protest movement was the slogan; ‘Don’t trust anyone over thirty’.

• In ‘The Myth of Sisyphus’ the French existentialist Albert Camus comments that the age of thirty is a crucial period in the life of a man, for at that age he gains a new awareness of the meaning of time.

• In Franz Kafka’s novel ‘The Trial’ Joseph wakes up on the morning of his thirtieth birthday to find himself under arrest for an unspecified crime. After making many futile attempts to find the nature of the crime or the name of his accuser, Joseph dies on the eve of his thirty-first birthday.

• The number of uprights that formed the Sarsen Circle at Stonehenge, also the supposed number of holes forming the arrays of Y and Z Holes at Stonehenge.

Sports • In tennis, the number 30 represents the second point gained in a game.

• Lewis Hamilton became the 30th Formula One World Champion on November 2, 2008.

To be ignorant of what occurred before is to always be a child...

Cicero

a ‘abomination’ that is tapioca.

Writing Our Own History

Many centre users already know that the Tarner Stories project is a community oral history project recording the stories and memories of the people who have lived and worked in the Tarner area from the 1930’s to the present day. What is less well known is that the Tarner Stories project also includes exciting art and creative writing workshops producing creative work for publication on the project website at www. tarnerhistory.org and in a book planned for publication in Spring 2012.

The Tarner Writers group is a friendly, supportive writing group that meets every Thursday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30pm, in the upstairs classroom at the centre. The group includes experienced writers and also people who have never written before, but who are interested in local history and in exploring their own creative ideas. Many of the writers come each week, while others dip in and out of the workshops, coming when they can. The group is facilitated by Kahn Priestley, an experienced writer and editor. Every week Kahn inspires us with writing games and exercises to get the ink flowing.

We often use photos of Tarner life and recordings of interviews with local people to inspire discussions about past lives, our own experiences and our creative work. Sessions have included lively discussions about community life in the Tarner slums in the early 1900s and about the politics of the 21st century. We have watched news reels from the 1930s, and explored the jobs people did and the food they ate, from freshly patted butter straight from the dairy to pease pudding and faggots.

The workshops provide a supportive and creative space for people to explore their own memories and lives, as well as the lives of others from the past.

Tarner Writers have written memorably and movingly of haystacks, and rehab, hen nights and dachshunds.

Our work has included autobiography, description, poetry and short stories. You will find some of our writing in this magazine.

We have fluttered with butterflies over the South Downs, sat together around crackling fires and written about how we would change the world. We have been united in our dislike of the ‘gelatinous’

The Tarner Stories workshops have been described as ‘exhilarating’ and ‘frivolous’ (which we take as a compliment), and fun. We love listening to each other’s ideas and creative work. And we have only two rules: 1.

No one has to read their work out loud if they don’t feel ready, 2.

Chocolate is good.

If you would like to explore community history, life’s big themes, and your own creative ideas then we look forward to welcoming you on Thursday afternoons.

To write fiction is to learn to inhabit other skins, whether thinner or thicker than your own.

Graham Greene

The Beginning By Susi Oddball

During those awful Thatcher years There was many a sweat and lots of tears As services were cut without ado Where to go people had no clue Jobs going here, and vanishing there Affecting life everywhere Amidst this chaos, amid this strife There became a new life The Unemployment Families group A focus for a lost people’s troupe A place to come and seek advice Where meeting people was very nice As more people come to seek out friends The centre grew to extend Education, food and a nursery place It started adding to its base Job seeking, IT training and dancing too A cheap vegan meal, and a chat or two Artistic and imaginative lessons, Foreign language and inspired writing sessions A busy centre and at its hub There’s always care and love I hope this centre remains for another 30 years To help people feel safe without any tears 7

What a state!

Theft of a life We need to cut costs and make no mistake, A life undone So is it totally necessary to fund the NHS and welfare state? laddered We have lots of characters claiming sick pay.

Then hung from a tree If they say they’re in a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis, How much for a life?

No need to drain the state, there is a simple way around this.

Do they come cheap?

We offer them work for less then minimum wage, Thirty Do they come easy?

Less than an able bodied person; the age for That way employers are appeased, tax payers too wit And the deficit doesn’t worsen.

A time to develop humour And as for heroin addicts, on methadone That will release stress, Claiming benefits, because their life has gone awry; Able to laugh at yourself We simply pop them into rehab Share laughter In six months they’ll be dry.

At Soothes and We’ll get them back to work, find a friendly employer, thirty you heals.

If they quibble about pension schemes can still be Well we’ve done away with legal aid lawyers.

Foolish and that’s ok Perhaps we should take America’s stance and You can play the clown Eradicate the Welfare State, Dance till dawn and And if there’s a public outcry, experiment with different as my colleagues say, Thirty Careers then society feels let them eat cake!

It’s time to settle days for down.

November, April,

By Michelle Lunn

30 PIECES OF SILVER

by Alanna

June and September, some remember it on Works

By Susi Oddball as their their knuckles mnemonic.

Others find If there was 30 hours in a day Thirty, two semirhyme I would have 6 more hours of say circles backwards I would be able to sleep for me it seems And a loving And could go on a shopping spree (in my dreams) Flirty thirty, embrace.

There could be more day and more night quirky thirty, A slightly higher bill for lights Party thirty, the I could think for 6 more hours long time when your Or play my guitar to a song character gets I could paint a picture with extra time shaped.

Or create a garden oh so fine What fun to have a longer day More time to be happy, think and play

30 Hour Day

1. Is the man who comes everyday for the only hot meal he will get that day.

2. Is the man who wants to learn computing skills, interested in it since he became ill.

3. Is the woman who lost her job now she’s looking for a new hobby.

4. Is the woman who comes with her kids to play in the crèche like her mother did.

5. Is the woman who wants to sew, How long she’s been coming I don’t know.

6. Are the couple in benefit strife, they are waiting outside for a little advice.

7. Is the worker who answers the phone, regularly making calls to his home.

8. Is the volunteer, who works in the cafe, His motivation is having a laugh.

9. Is the tutor teaching people how to write, planning lessons in the middle of the night.

10. Is the centre manager who keeps it all together,

let’s hope for another successful 30 years for the centre.

Anon 8

W THIRTY YEARS AGO IN 1981

Thirty years ago, in 1981, I was a respectable matron.

I had lived in the same semi-detached house in Worthing for thirteen years, and been married to the same man for twenty-one years. I was working as a school secretary, and looking after my family, husband, daughter aged eighteen and son aged fifteen. I my spare time I was a trade union activist, serving on the local Trades Council, Chair of Worthing Humanist Group and on the committee of the local Franco-British.

It was the year that François Mitterand was elected President of France, the first Socialist President for many decades. A group of French tourists were visiting Worthing at the time, and invited the FrancoBritish Society to celebrate in a local hotel.

We played a game in which twelve wives were blindfold, and their husbands rolled up their trouser legs. Then the women had to feel the men’s legs and say which one was their husband. Fortunately, my husband’s legs were quite hairy and it was easy to identify him in the line-up. Nobody knew that we had been estranged for years, and that I was already planning my get-away.

Shortly afterwards, I wrote the University of Sussex to ask about their mature students’ entry scheme. Would they still accept my GCE A Levels, which I had passed twenty-five years before? They would, and they did.

Then I started organising my own DIY divorce, which cost £40 out of our joint bank account.

At last I was free to start my new life, and graduated five years later. Neither of my children wanted to go to university straight from school, but both graduated later, as mature students like me.

My life has been so different since then that I find it hard to put myself back, in imagination. Thank goodness I saw, and had the sense to grasp, that opportunity.

Valerie Mainstone

MALIGAYANG KAARAWAN! (Happy Birthday)

A poem for everyday

May I have...

Enough happiness to keep me sweet, Enough trials to keep me strong, Enough sorrow to keep me human, Enough hope to keep me happy, Enough failure to keep me humble, Enough success to keep eager, Enough friends to give me comfort, Enough wealth to meet my needs, Enough enthusiasm to look forward, Enough faith to banish depression, Enough determination to make each day Better than yesterday!

Thirty Years Ago I Didn’t Know…

That the natural world is more wonderful than we could ever imagine That love can break your heart, but a heart can learn to love again That my family tree has roots all over this city, including the slums of old Carlton Hill That I would survive cancer with the love and support of my family and friends That in retirement, I would do all kinds of interesting and useful things That seventy would be my best birthday yet That I would have four lovely granddaughters who would bring me joy every day That it’s never too late That the best is yet to come That I do like to be beside the seaside That social justice is always worth the fight That being alone is not the same as loneliness That laughter is a golden key to unlock grief and sadness Thirty years ago I didn’t know …

9

The begininng of the thirtieth year of the centre was marked with a celebration day that was so attended that the main area was overflowing!

Emily opened by saying; The Centre has been created by people for people over a thirty year process. The Centre aims to empower people, encourage people to be politically aware. The Paid Workers run the facility, the Volunteers who do the DIY, providing food, childcare, education, information, healing, relaxation, respite, crisis support. It is the members should make the decisions about what the centre does next. The trustees are the caretakers of the organisation their job is to check that the members and the workers dont make decisions that threaten the long term survival of the Centre.

Nahida asked; What is the vision for the Centre going to go in the next few years?

10

Emily replied: An active and vibrant membership and that we are secure.All of the projects have ideas about where to go in the future.

Joy added; I see the Centre as a great big family and people that come here provide that to Centre.

Richard took his lead from the stigmatisation of the unemployed and benefits; Unemployed people have been given the responsibility for their own employment and there’s cutting of Disability Benefits of people already assessed by health professionals.

The government has proposed cutting these benefits by 20% by 2016 and disabled people should be paid less than National Minimum Wage.

All of this and Housing Benefit reductions of 10%, campaigning is more relevant than it ever has been.

Valerie says; I’m down with Che Guevara and Thomas Paine!

It’s not just what we do it’s the way we do it! That’s why we have a Safe Centre Policy. The personal is political. Benefits merely support low paying employers.

People are not paid properly for the work that they do and that’s why we are still here. Sorry Dudley but we are...

I’m interested in why have we distanced ourselves from the trade unions why are we not unifying under one banner? How has this come about?

I have been in and out of work and done wonderful things here. I have learnt I.T. skills and found work training others.

I’m wondering if there’s negociation about funding for disabled lift with the council.

Richard replied; After 30 years of erosion of Trade Union laws.The initiative has to come from the people, grassroots as well as the unions.

It is a Council building and they are also funders so they fund us and we pay the rent back. It cost £100 000 for the lift, with funding being hacked back all of time and given with conditions on what you can do and how you can do things... We have got to raise the money ourselves...

11

Malcolm asked; So how far did you run and just how much did you raise? Do you think that more transparency in authorities and organisations would lead to better feedback?

Ben replied; I raised £800! I ran the full 26 miles of the Brighton Marathon and I won’t be doing it again!

Amel says: We want training and proper jobs not just free volunteering, we have had enough!

I’m not sure how it works, is their funding for access and accessablity?

I’ve trained here and found work because of it and have trained others so is their any funding for training?

I will have a look for a list of buildings around the city with disabled access with information about their costs and seek a briefing about this. But there will be no funding

I fed up with this culture of taking from the poor and giving to the rich What is being organised locally does anyone know?

Has any one been taking part in any of the organised campaigns in city The short answer again is no. I can’t speak for the government as it changes it’s plans as things become better understood... I think the gavernments stance at the moment is not to fund training buit lessen it...

It gives us less money and tells what we can do with it. A policy about the Big Society shifts responsibility onto the voluntary sector, then people scratch their heads saying this isn’t going to work of training needs...

12

Valerie suggested that next time could there be an induction loop at meetings. Helen asked if we could have a look at the Video Project run by Lucy Brown, about centre users as a part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. People were asked to have a look at it in the Computer Room, and to have a look at the new website and give suggestions. Everyone had a meal, enjoyed the bands, drama, photograph exhibition and the clown on stilts blowing bubbles in the garden.

Pictures; Lucy Jo Brown Transcription: Malcolm Cook

Between April 2011 and April 2014 if you are receiving Incapacity benefits (IB), Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA), Income Support (IS) on grounds of disability or illness, you will be assessed for Employment and Support allowance (ESA).

The DWP will be writing to people whose benefits are due for reassessment. They will also phone people asking questions to see if they need any extra help.

They do not need to phone the DWP. People will then be sent a medical questionnaire (ESA50), which you need to complete and return.

The information on the form will then be used to assess eligibility for ESA, and whether you need to attend a Work Capability Assessment (WCA), which is much like an informal medical and interview. You will be contacted by phone if you need to attend the WCA. If it’s decided that you are entitled to the benefit then you will not need to attend a Work Capability Assessment. This can be done from the information provided by the ESA50. Filling in the ESA50 correctly is essential.

A decision of entitlement will then be made using the ESA50, WCA and other medical evidence, such as doctors/ consultant letters.

If ESA is awarded, you will continue to receive your current benefit. Moving to ESA will NOT result in a reduction of current benefit. The DWP will write and phone you notifying you of your entitlement, and will transfer the claim automatically.

If the DWP decide that there is a possibility that you will eventually be able to return to work, they will be placed in an ‘ ESA Work Related Activity Group where you will have to; 1. Participate in Work focused interviews with an advisor.

2. Get support to help you prepare for suitable work.

3. Receive extra money on top of basic ESA benefit called Work-related activity component.

If the DWP assess that your disability or illness has a severe impact on their ability to work, they will be placed in a Support

Group. This means you will: • receive extra money on top of their basic ESA, called the support component.

• NOT have to participate in any work related activity, but can do so voluntarily.

What happens if you are NOT awarded ESA? The DWP will phone and write, notifying you of their decision, and what to do if you feel it is incorrect. (You have the right to appeal, within one month of the date of the decision letter) They will explain alternate options available, which may include claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), Income Support (IS), if a lone parent, and Pension Credit.

Useful websites:

www.turn2us.org.uk/

www.dwp.gov

www.citizensadvice.co.uk

Locating urban centres Cities are the cultural and political nuclei. Cities globally tend to be coastal. This pattern illustrates the importance of urban hubs to trade and transportation, both historically and today. As the population becomes more urban, we note a movement of people from the heartlands to the coastlines.

Abstract Courtesy of the National Geographic Atlas

13

Tarner Stories is an exciting 2 year local community history project based here at the BUCFP, funded by the Lottery Heritage fund and now in its final year.

Through oral history recordings, photography and creative writing we are aiming to create a learning tool and archive for future generations. A dedicated team of volunteers have been out into the local community to meet, talk to and record the memories of those that have lived and worked in the Tarner/Carlton Hill area as far back as the slum clearances of the 1930s. The research, recordings and creative pieces can be found on the Tarner Stories website; www.tarnerhistory.org and will be published in a book and displayed in a final exhibition by May 2012.

Do you live in Tarner?

Perhaps you live or work in the area or have done for a number of years and would like to tell us about what life is like here now? You could talk to us, write a poem about it or send us your

photographs.

Tarner Stories needs your photos… We are on the hunt for images old and new. So if you have photographs that you would be happy 14 to use in the project (we scan

and return copies) our details are below.

Do you fancy getting out your camera-phone or digital camera and taking some photos of the area as you see it? We are looking for images of people working, playing, shopping, the streets, local architecture, landscapes, signs and patterns - anything that catches your eye. Your photographs will be included on the Tarner Stories website and maybe even the book.

Would you like to become a volunteer on the project? Some of our volunteers have trained as oral historians and carried out interviews, others have joined our creative workshops, history and time-line building workshops, helped at local events, photographed the area, attended tours and carried out research, some have even performed with the Tarner drama group.

Richard Ince one of our trained oral historians who has been involved from the very beginning and who has now carried out more than 10 of the interviews told us a little about his experiences as a volunteer on the project: ‘I would never have dreamt I’d have the confidence to go out and interview someone.

Volunteering for Tarner Stories has helped me to become more understanding and tolerant of others, it has helped me to learn how to talk to someone and more importantly

PICTURE CREDITS: Tarner Stories 2011 Colour Street Signs: Chloe Howley.

Clearance Map: Brighton and Hove Museum

how to listen.

I’ve really enjoyed just getting to know people.’

There are many ways you could get involved so please give us a call 01273 671213 for a chat about areas of the project that are of interest to you. Email your images of life in Tarner in 2011 to Jess and Chloe on info@ tarnerhistory.org with your name, phone number and picture titles or upload them on our Facebook page. We will let you know when they are up on the website.

Why not join us for the: • The Creative Writing Groups @ The BUCFP Centre every Thursday afternoon 2pm – 4pm

What is a Slum?

A group of individuals living under the same roof in an urban area that lacks one or more of the following five conditions: 1. Durable housing – housing that is built on a non-hazardous location and has a structure permanent and adequate enough to protect it’s inhabitants from the climatic conditions.

2. Sufficient living area – no more than three people share the same room.

3. Access to improved water – a sufficient amount of water for family use, at an affordable price, available to household members without extreme effort, especially on the part of woman and children.

4. Access to sanitation – access to an excreta-disposal system, either in the form of a private toilet or a public toilet shared with a reasonable number of people.

5. Access to tenure – protection from forced evictions

Abstract Courtesy of the National Geographic Atlas

15

16

Blogging: therapy & raising awareness in your community Cybermummy, one of the biggest blogging conferences was held in June this year with over 425 delegates, high profile guest speakers and workshops to help bloggers improve their skills. Parent blogging has exploded over the last few years, with thousands on-line all over the country sharing their experiences of parenthood.

It was clear listening to the delegates at Cybermummy that parents blog for a variety of reasons and not all to try and make money. Some start up blogs to help channel their emotions through the tough moments of parenting. There are blogs which focus on raising awareness for causes such as children’s charities or disability groups plus numerous parent to parent review sites.

Sound confusing? Well that is the only downside, with so many parent blogs on-line it is difficult to figure out which ones to follow.

However sites like BritMums. com and Netmums are pooling bloggers together in one place on their networks, like reading your favourite Sunday paper with lots of different columnists. These would be good places to start following other parents musings and get great tips for all aspects of family life.

So how can you get a blog going?

With publishing websites such as Wordpress it’s free and fairly easy to start one up if you have the means or access to get on-line. Brighton based, Sussex-wide charity SCIP has had a limited amount of funding to provide training for free on blogging plus audio publishing (podcasts) video blogging (vlogging). The Brighton & Hove Community

Reporters group meet monthly, a free network for those already publishing or aspiring writers or broadcasters. It’s a great support network for your venture. If you don’t feel confident about setting up your own blog but have an issue you want to relate there are sites that look for guest blog content, albeit unpaid, it’s a start to get your voice heard and ‘out there’. Your experiences and advice could help other parents in the city plus offer great therapy for whatever it is you are going through.

Top tips for your blog & getting heard: 1. Be genuine: write about what you’re passionate about whether it’s a personal journey you are sharing or writing about a charity or cause in your community. The passion will come through in your writing and have the right impact on the reader plus can be extremely enjoyable to write.

2. Keep the word count concise: remember that reading on-line is harder work on the eyes that reading a book or newspaper.

People tend to drift after first few paragraphs, so keep the word count between 400-500 words and come to the point quickly & exactly.

4. Add some colour: if you can add images or video to the blog it stands out. Ask your community group to invest in some technology and organise group assignments with others interested in the field of photography, video or audio? With most publishing websites such as Wordpress it is very simple to incorporate different media and a great group project to promote social cohesion.

5. What do others say? @isdaddycool, tells me on Twitter that he blogs ‘to share, let it all out, enjoyment, to get to know other blogs. It’s like diary.’

All that remains to ask, what are you waiting for?

More details on SCIP and their services can be found at www. scip.org.uk Brighton & Hove Community Reporters news and events: www.bhcr.scip.org.uk www.BrightonMums.com Welcome input from guest parent bloggers. Contact: brightonmums@gmail.com

The BUCFP also run an Introduction to Blogging on September 28th with Laurence and Wordpress for Web Design on the 3rd, 4th & 5th October, a 3 day course.

3. Social network: create a Facebook page for your blog, a Twitter account and interact with other bloggers. You’ll create a community of your own, be inspired and get more readers.

17

Allganics is a food co-operative run by volunteers at the Brighton Unemployed Centre. Our aim is to make good quality organic whole foods affordable to everyone.

We buy our products in bulk to reduce costs and minimizing packaging waste.

Open weekdays 10.30-12.30 Bring your own bags Spreads

Cleaning Products

Snacks each Hemp 9 Bar

0.75

Licorice

0.54

Sesame Bar

0.42

Chocolate - Montezuma

1.05

Chocolate - Maya Gold

0.63

Digestive Biscuits

0.88

Peanut Butter

3.70

Laundry Powder (1kg)

2.85

Fruity Oat Biscuits

1.19

Tahini

2.06

Washing Up Liquid (1ltr)

1.51

Corn Crisps

0.74

Honey - mountain

3.13

Toilet Rolls (x4)

2.02

Fruit Bar (cereal)

0.41

Yeast Extract

3.29

Ecover Bleach

1.56

Pumpkinseed Butter

3.25

Jam -Blueberry

1.89

Jam -Cherry

1.89

Soya Milk ( - GREEN)

1.23

Jam -Raspberry

1.89

Soya Milk ( plain- RED)

1.20

Jam -Orange spread

2.04

Rice Dream

Mushroom Pate

2.13

Bread & Crackers

Miscellaneous Foods Mixed Herbs

1.76

Beetroot (jar)

1.72

Coconut Milk

1.61

0.82

Falafel Mix

1.04

Tea, Loose English B/fast (100g)

1.25

Sausage Mix

1.08

Pesto

2.69

Loose Chamomile(100g)

1.21 Molasses

1.64

Mayonaisse

1.95

Miso (rice)

3.29

Tomato Puree

1.06

Teas & Drinks

Oat Cakes(plain)

1.06

Loose Peppermint(100g)

1.16

Oat Cakes(herb)

1.23

Fennel Tea

1.18

Ricecakes (no salt)

0.73

Wild Berry Tea

1.48

Ricecakes (quinoa)

0.82

Licorice Tea

1.39

Raisin Loaf

1.36

Jasmine Green (loose)

1.23

Coconut Block

0.98

Pizza Bases

1.64

Earl Grey

2.09

Sea Salad

3.62

Pukka Ayurvedic

1.72

Tamari (100ml refill)

1.19

No Caf

2.05

Stock Cubes

1.19

Rooibosch (Tick Tock)

1.86

Cornflakes

1.97

Carrot and Apple Juice

1.82

Sun Dried Toms (jar)

3.02

Apple and Blackcurrant

4.12

Rice Syrup

2.22

Apple Juice Concentrate

4.11

Flour Buckwheat

2.08

Gram Flour 1.50 Polenta

18

1.73

New volunteers are always welcome, and volunteers from other areas of the Centre can come and visit Monday afternoons leaving the Centre at 12.30 is the time to remember for anyone who has not been up with us before.

The Centre allotment has gone from strength to strength this year, starting with the great terracing work that got done over the winter. In Spring we barrowed tons of soil and compost onto the new beds and they have been quickly filled with tomatoes, lettuces, kale, chard, dill, cress, rocket, carrots, broad beans, peas and even dahlias and grape vines.

In the autumn, look out for some cooking sessions coming up. The first one is on the August Bank Holiday, Monday 29th, from 12pm. If you need directions for that day, please ask in the office for a map.

Food Project BUCFP 6 Tilbury Place, BN2 0GY We also planted lots of new fruit and nut trees in the Spring, a few of which sadly did not survive the 01273 671213 / 601211 bucfp.food.project@gmail.com long dry spell. On the North side of the site fruit production is expanding even more with extended raspberry and rhubarb patches, as well as the two It was so long beds with parsnips, basil, parsley, cucumbers very much what I needed; and more.

We have been supplying the Centre kitchen with large crops of delicious mixed lettuces, chard, dill and other herbs, not to mention flowers for our Volunteer Thank You Celebration and the wonderful 30th Brithday Party. The herb garden at the Centre itself is flourishing with mint, oregano, parsley, chives, sage, rosemary, nasturtiums, lemon balm, thyme, chamomile, calendula, lavender and more, all doing well.

a welcome oasis from the city, where like minded volunteers joined in communion with each other and flora and fauna.

Delvin

19

Across 2 If you ? something with another person, you both have it, use it, or occupy it. You can also say that two people ? something. (5) 5 A third person plural used refer to a group of people, animals or things. (4) 6 Existing in or relating to mountains, especially in Switzerland. (6) 7 A feeling of certainty that something exists, is true or is good. (6) 9 Give something up to obtain something else. (9) 10 A light greenish-blue colour. (9) 12 Very firm and stiff to touch and is not easily bent, cut or broken. (4) 13 A very common four legged animal that often kept by people as a pet or to guard or hunt. (3) 15 A group of people who are related to each other, especially parents and their children. (6) 18 Official break up of an organization or institution.

The end of a session of Parliament. (11) 19 Strong and noticeable, not dark. (6) 22 Very large animals with long trunks, which it uses to pick things up. (9) 23 The capital and largest city is Budapest.(7) 24 Coins or bank notes that you use to buy things. (5) 27 Putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention. (15) 28 The colour of lemons, butter, yolks and cowards. (6) 29 Working hard or concentrating on a task, so that you are not free to do anything else. (4) 20 30 The place where Adam and Eve lived, (4)

Down 1 The hole in a lock that you put a key in. (7) 3 A payment or gift made to help someone. (8) 4 Belonging to or relating to France, or its people, language or culture. (6) 8 A sea creature with a long soft body and many soft arms or tentacles. (5) 9 The luck some people have in finding or creating interesting things by luck. (11) 11 Is all the people who live in a particular area or use a particular place. (9) 14 Objects used to protect yourself from rain or hot sun. (9) 16 has many parts or aspects that are difficult to understand or deal with. (11) 17 A place or society is full of people from many different countries or cultures. (12) 20 A sweet food made by baking a mixture of flour, eggs, sugar, and fat in the oven. (4) 21 A holiday during which you travel on a ship or boat and vist a number of places. (6) 25 Consists of paintings,sculptures,and other objects which are created for people to look at admire or think deeply about. (3) 26 Feelings of pleasure, usually because something nice has happened or because they feel satisfied with their life. (5)