The Voice Newspaper February 2020: Windrush victim: 'I've been to hell and back'

FEBRUARY 2020 ISSUE NO. 1905

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WINDRUSH VICTIM:

‘I’VE BEEN TO HELL AND BACK’ Pic credit: Express and Star

Gladstone Wilson couldn’t bury his late mother after being caught up in the Windrush Scandal.

But like other victims, he is now facing a tough battle for compensation - SEE Page 3

Inside

ROUNDUP

THIS MONTH

Spotlight Zoe Bennett

News, views, stories & videos

Cardiff teacher’s class ace maths

The Caribbean brain drain – can it end? p4

Why Dawn Butler is an inspired choice for Labour p11 Spreading the word on organ donations p17

Beating past traumas by eating p19

Why the UK is backing Africa’s female business owners p29 Destination Brent p33

The teen hoping to follow in Serena’s footsteps p64

A CARDIFF teacher is being celebrated after his entire Year 11 class received A* in GCSE maths.

Francis Elive’s students’ achievements are even more impressive considering that only 14 per cent of pupils who took the exam in Wales got the A*.

Fitzalan High School assistant head Jo Kemp said: “We call him the maths whisperer, he instils the belief that they have practised the hardest maths that they have to ever face, so why be scared of an exam?”

Black veterans’ struggle for jobs BLACK EX-SERVICEMEN and women are struggling to find employment after leaving the military.

The Forces for London Programme, an employment support service, says that BAME veterans are struggling to find employment in the capital.

The programme says that 56 per cent of all the applications it has received since the its launch in November 2017 have come from BAME applicants, a figure 10 times greater than predictions.

THE 10 MOST POPULAR STORIES ON VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK 1. Remembering Malcolm Frederick 2. Tributes flood in to inspirational Barbara Campbell 3. Police officer sentenced over possession of indecent image of child 4. Racism and lack of support behind Meghan and Harry’s decision to step back from royals, say supporters 5. Former Voice journalist dies 6. Cardiff teacher’s entire class receives A* in GCSE maths 7. Is there a place for black politicians in Labour?

8. £100 million for black UK businesses 9. Worker who helped Grenfell victims awarded MBE 10. ITV News apologises to Stormzy for misrepresenting his views on racism

WITH A top-selling book alongside burgeoning business and community-focused projects on the horizon, Midlands-based Zoe Bennett has emerged among the region’s most industrious figures over the last several years.

Known by her ‘Motivational Queen’ moniker, Bennett hails from Preston, Lancashire and is of Jamaican extraction.

The sales and marketing professional turned business coach credits her late father Errol F Bennett, and his activities in Preston in uniting a fractured community, providing a roadmap to success for others which she covered in her book on networking.

“He taught me the art of people networking. Networking is not something that just happens but is something one must nurture and look at through a holistic giving approach,” she says.

This mindset helped Zoe parlay her talents into launching a thriving business of her own, Training Personified.

She rounded off 2019 by hosting several business leaders to witness the certification of graduates from her Motivational Queen Masterclass Programme, which helps individuals create a plan for their business success.

Zoe has also taken opportunity to throw the spotlight formally on others by founding the Midlands Business and Community Charity Awards. Scores of Midlands citizens have been honoured since they started in 2017, alongside regional legends including Lenny Henry and Beverley Knight.

Zoe’s Masterclass Programme and the awards are to return later this year.

Got a story? email us at yourviews@gvmedia.co.uk EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Paulette Simpson E. paulette.simpson@thevoice mediagroup.co.uk CORPORATE AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS Paula Dyke E. paula@thevoicemedia group.co.uk T. 020 7708 6693

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FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 3

News

‘PAIN NEVER GOES AWAY’

By Vic Motune & Alannah Francis

A

MAN WHO was prevented from attending the funeral of his mother after being caught up in the Windrush Scandal has told The Voice about the devastating effect his fight to stay in the UK and get compensation has had on his life.

Gladstone Wilson, 62, from Wolverhampton, moved to the UK in 1968 as a 12-year-old to join his parents.

After they returned to Jamaica a number of years later, Wilson stayed in Wolverhampton, working for several years at a scrapyard before becoming a security guard at the city’s New Cross Hospital.

However, his settled life came to a crashing halt when he received a letter from the Home Office in 2011 which said he had “no basis” to stay in the country and that the Home Office had no records of him.

“The letter had a large photo of me on it and said that if I didn’t report to the immigration centre in Solihull I was either liable to be fined £5,000 or put in jail for six months, or both,” Wilson recalled.

“It came as quite a shock.

Every time I look at that letter with the photograph I hang my head in shame – and I haven’t done anything wrong.”

He had no choice but to comply.

Sadly, Wilson’s mother died in December 2014. Not being able to fly out to Jamaica to attend the funeral because of the conditions imposed on him by the Home Office was a huge blow.

ANGRY

“I was unable to go because I wouldn’t have been able to come back because of the situation concerning my British status in the UK,” he said.

“I was angry, annoyed and devastated. Not being able to go to your mum’s funeral… you can’t put a price on that.

My sisters in America had to go over to Jamaica to make the arrangements. I explained everything to them and they did understand. But it was very hard.”

Just a few weeks later there was further tragedy for Wilson when his younger brother died.

Both bereavements, coupled with the fact that he could not work or travel, began to have an impact on his mental health.

“I was very upset. It was a very stressful time losing my mum and my brother in the same month, coupled with everything that the Home Office were doing. I was on medication to keep my mood level calm and I’m still on it,” he said.

Things began to changed when semi-retired solicitor Jim Wilson, who specialised in immigration is-

COMPENSATION BATTLE: Elwaldo Romeo with some of his correspondence from the Home Office

sues, took on his case after they met at Wolverhampton’s Refugee and Migrant Centre.

“Jim wrote to them and pointed out that I was not here illegally. He clearly pointed out the law and told them that their statement that I had no right to be here was nonsense.”

It was August 2018 before his immigration status was finally settled, marking the culmination of a seven-year battle.

In a ceremony at Wolverhampton Civic Centre he was presented with his Certificate of Naturalisation.

“I was absolutely overjoyed,” Wilson recalled. “I was thanking God, I felt like my mum and brother were looking down on me and saying ‘well done, you’ve won the first battle’. It was a very emotional moment and I felt really great because I feel like I’ve been to hell and back.”

However, Wilson’s struggle continues.

Like others who have been

what would happen, I probably wouldn’t be here today.”

Wilson added: “The compensation money will help me move on and get my life back together but whatever amount they give me you can’t repair that damage, that pain. It never goes away.

“Birthdays and Christmas are very hard but I have to be strong because I have a lot of people supporting me.

“It’s a disgrace what the Home Office have done to me, they’ve ruined my life. I feel as though I’ve been treated like a criminal.

“It’s racism, straightforward racism. They may deny it and say it’s not but they could have easily checked to find out my status and the fact that I had a right to be here. They didn’t bother to do that, they just made their minds up that I had no right to be here.

“My fight to get compensation is not all about me, it’s about others who have been affected by the Windrush Scandal. Black lives matter and we need to be heard.”

The Home CRISIS Office action His case reflects hundreds of affected by the Windrush was a disgrace others Scandal who have still not received compensation payments.

– they ruined Campaigners say many my life claims have not even acknowlaffected by the Windrush Scandal, he has applied for compensation under the Windrush Compensation Scheme, launched in April last year.

But the former security guard said that he has found the process far from easy.

“I would not have known what to do if I hadn’t had support from the Refugee and Migrant Centre in Wolverhampton. It’s not that easy trying to understand it all. Without that support I couldn’t imagine

edged by the Home Office since the scheme was launched.

In a bid to help those caught up in the crisis receive the financial compensation that they are owed, Brixton-based Black Cultural Archives (BCA) has been giving assistance to victims to help demystify the compensation claiming process.

Every Wednesday and Saturday until the end of February, the BCA will be holding free legal surgeries for those who require assistance with claims.

The surgeries, made possible thanks to funding from

Picture: Express and Star

As a victim of the Windrush Scandal, Gladstone Wilson wants compensation.

But, say campaigners, he and others are facing barriers in getting the money

LONG BATTLE: Gladstone Wilson with his certificate of naturalisation, which he received in 2018

The Windrush Justice Fund, launched by Patrick Vernon, and the Funding Network, could help dozens of people get the compensation they are entitled to.

Last year, The Voice spoke to Elwaldo Romeo, one of the many British residents caught up in the scandal.

Despite having lived in the UK since he was four years old, Elwaldo was deemed an illegal immigrant by the Home Office for more than a decade after he applied to renew his passport.

He attended the event with his lawyer, Tolulola Agbelusi, who helped him complete his claim for compensation. She told The Voice about some of the difficulties those filling in the form can encounter.

“Because I’m a lawyer and it’s what I do every day I’m aware of what is expected under each section, of what can bolster a case. I think for a layperson doing that, you just tell your story, you leave out a lot of details because we instinctively tell ourselves certain things aren’t important,” said Tolulola Agbelusi, lawyer at Birnberg Peirce.

“Where it’s the impact of life,

BEAUTIFUL CLEAR SKIN

that is something that needs real work and how do you get enough of their information and frame it properly?”

Lawyer Martin Forde, the independent adviser to the Home Office on the Windrush Compensation Scheme urged claimants to avoid paying extortionate fees for help.

“I’d advise you to steer clear of the sharks circling around this scheme, some charging up to 30 per cent to fill in forms,” he said.

Agbelusi said: “I don’t understand why the government hasn’t given proper allowance for people to be able to get lawyers to assist them in making the claims because even as Martin Forde himself is saying, these are claims and you get lawyers to do claims for you.”

To book your free appointment, visit eventbrite and search “Windrush legal surgeries at Black Cultural Archives”. Alternatively you can call the BCA direct on 020 3757 8500 or drop in. The surgeries run every Wednesday between 5pm and 8pm and every Saturday between 10am and 12pm until February 29.

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4 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

News Feature

CAN THE CARIBBEAN END ITS BRAIN DRAIN? In recent years, concerns have been growing that the Caribbean region is losing a high percentage of its skilled population. Here, Lyndon Mukasa examines the origins and possible solutions to this exodus of top talent

W

HEN DR Justin Ram, director of the economics department at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), gave a speech in 2018 at a regional stakeholder consultation session on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) initiative in Guyana, he hit on a major issue that has plagued the region’s leaders for several years.

Ram was addressing what has been dubbed the Caribbean ‘brain drain’.

He said: “When we look at the data, many of the countries [in the region] have lost as much as 70 per cent of their labour force with more than 12 years of schooling.

“That is to say, 70 per cent of our population that we have schooled to tertiary education has left our shores.”

Ram added that unemployment rates in the Caribbean remain very high: “In many of our member countries, it is as high as 25 per cent, and low as 4.3 per cent. I should add that youth unemployment is even higher, and in some of our member countries (it) is as high as 40 per cent.”

ENHANCE

In the Caribbean context, the “brain drain” is reflected in consistently high migration patterns of potentially the most productive segments of the population.

Decades of migration has served to enhance the economic problems that have become particularly acute over the last 10 years.

Following the 2008 financial crisis many Caribbean countries implemented deep austerity programmes to deal with the crisis and also bring decades of public spending under control.

With high debt, low foreign investment and a contraction in

key industries such as tourism, the “brain drain” has only made the problems in the region more difficult to overcome.

Former premier of St Lucia Kenny Anthony (inset below) has described the economic situation of the Caribbean as one of the biggest economic crises since independence.

Historically, the Caribbean has been the site of significant migration flows. For more than 200 years, its people have migrated to other regions in search of work and more opportunities.

The 20th Century, in particular, saw significant movements of people from the region to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as post-war economies sought Caribbean labour to harness the high-level skills that many of the educated migrants possessed.

Those who arrived from the Caribbean in the UK as a source of labour to help rebuild the country after World War Two have become known as the Windrush Generation.

Alongside these movements, however, has been a significant impact on the countries from which Caribbean migrants originated from.

The Caribbean has been the site of the largest and most significant effects of the “brain drain” – a loss of skilled labour that has had a debilitating effect on the economic development of most countries in the region.

What has been many developed countries’ gain has been a loss for the region and the economic effects have become more apparent as the region moves forward in the 21st Century amidst greater competition and vulnerability in the global economy.

Between 1965 and 2000, around 12 per cent of the labour force of the Caribbean had emigrated to an OECD coun-

try – which is almost twice the amount for Central America and six times the average rate for most developing countries.

This has meant that the Caribbean, within that timeframe, has exported more educated and skilled labour (in proportion to its population) to the benefit of other countries than any other region in the world.

Approximately 22 per cent of the Caribbean population lives abroad, with half that percentage having migrated to the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The other half migrated within the region to countries such as the Bahamas, British Virgin and US Virgin Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Since the 1990s, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica have been the largest sources of migrants from the Caribbean.

When looking at individual Caribbean countries the labour losses are even more stark, with Haiti having lost 10 per cent of its population through migration and with smaller countries such as Grenada losing 55 per cent of its population through emigration to OECD countries.

Around 22% of the Caribbean population lives abroad When looking at highly skilled labour, the rate of emigration is on average 70 per cent with several countries such as Jamaica, Guyana, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Haiti losing over 80 per cent of their highly skilled working population. Much of the “brain drain” in the Caribbean lies in the inability of countries in the region to generate adequate employment opportunities for working age people.

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In the English-speaking Caribbean, a significant proportion of the population are educated to tertiary level but then lack job opportunities that reflect their qualifications.

This is reinforced by Frédéric Docquier and Maurice Schiff, researchers for the German based Institute for the Study of Labour, who argue that small states tend to be more dependent on trade and less diversified than larger economies.

VULNERABLE

The small territorial size, small population and (in most cases) limited natural resources forces small states to specialise in the production and export of a few goods and services while relying on imports for significant amounts of finished goods that they cannot produce in large amounts, owing to high production costs.

Small states tend to be comparatively more vulnerable to external price fluctuations and natural disasters which could often lead to more volatility in growth compared to countries with larger and more diversified internal markets.

As a result, when an economic downturn occurs in large countries skilled labour would often migrate internally while skilled labour in small states would emigrate to other countries.

Despite the challenges posed by the brain drain, there is growing evidence from other developing countries that it is not a terminal condition that Caribbean countries necessarily have to endure indefinitely.

Recent evidence from countries such as India, China and Brazil provides tentative hope that it is possible for countries to tempt their nationals back if the right policies and opportunities are provided.

Because of the Caribbean’s position as small island states, pursuing closer and more effective regional integration through the enhancement and

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EXPORTED: Dr Justin Ram; below, CARICOM, which must address the issue

development of CARICOM could help expand and diversify the markets that could potentially keep skilled labour in the region.

STIMULATE

Additionally, a co-ordinated regional effort to create knowledge-intensive, service-oriented economies that has been done in the previously mentioned countries could also help. Other options include encouraging medium-term immigration of

voicenews

skilled labour from other countries and regions to stimulate economic diversification.

As more industries develop, more employment opportunities would (in theory) open up, slowing the migration of highly skilled labour and encouraging those who have left to return.

Hopefully with these options considered, governments and policy makers will move forward to reverse the brain drain and chart a clear path for the Caribbean’s development in the 21st Century.

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6 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Exclusive Voice interview

‘WESTMINSTER ISN’T Liverpool’s first black MP Kim Johnson is determined to give a voice for those who voted to elect her

By Vic Motune

I

T’S FAIR to say that December 13 was not a good day for the Labour Party.

The general election results that emerged after millions of Britons cast their vote the day before saw the party’s support in its traditional strongholds collapse, with a substantial shift in support to the Conservatives.

The result transformed the electoral map, ushering in Boris Johnson as prime minister and giving the Tories a significant Commons majority.

However, there was some good news for Labour.

RECORD

The newly elected parliament broke the record for the number of MPs from a black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background, up from 52 to 63.

Labour was a big part of that – overall, 41 Labour candidates from BAME backgrounds were successfully elected to the House of Commons, an increase from 32 in 2017.

Political commentators have noted that since 1987 there has been a slow but steady increase in ethnic diversity, with BAME MPs now making up at least 10 per cent of the House of Commons.

However, the arrival of one

of the newly elected MPs marked a historic change.

Despite having Britain’s oldest black community, the city of Liverpool has never had a person of colour represent any of its constituents.

That all changed when Kim Johnson became the city’s first black MP, representing the Liverpool Riverside constituency.

The result heralded huge celebrations from her supporters and in Toxteth, where she grew up.

Her success is even more remarkable given that just over six months earlier Johnson had no intentions of standing as an MP. An active community campaigner and member of her constituency Labour Party (CLP) for several years, she was selected in a quick process after it was announced that Britain would have its first winter general election since 1923 and following news that long-serving Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman (inset above left) had quit the party and would be leaving politics altogether.

So now that she has been elected as the city’s first black MP what does she remember of what must have been a momentous night?

“I felt immense pride,” she recalls. “I was overwhelmed because the result on the night was so much better than I had

NEW FACES: The new Liverpool Riverside MP (second from the left) with other newly elected BAME MPs

anticipated. It was a December night, the weather was atrocious, and it’s fair to say that people were a bit fed up of politics.

“So for the constituents of Liverpool Riverside to come out and vote for me was quite overwhelming.

“Being an MP wasn’t on my radar up until September/October last year. I hadn’t consciously thought about it until people in my union and my CLP asked, ‘would you be interested [in standing as an MP]?’”

Johnson adds: “I said I hadn’t thought about it, but I said I would do. And then, literally months later, I’m elected as Liverpool’s first black MP. “I wake up each morning and pinch myself that I am in this historic building, Parliament, representing Liverpool Riverside.”

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Johnson, one of a family of five children who grew up in Toxteth, also known as Liverpool 8, is a well-known and respected figure in the city and in its black community.

PASSION

Those parliamentary colleagues who may not have known much about her before December’s general election could not have been left in any doubt about the passion that drives her following her maiden speech.

She told fellow MPs: “Westminster wasn’t designed for people like me, a working-class black woman from Liverpool.

“It was designed to intimidate, to exclude and keep us out, but the one per cent aren’t going to do that and you won’t know what’s hit you when we get there.”

@thevoicenews

Looking back on it, she says: “I do anticipate there will be fights a many.”

Johnson is equally forthright when asked about why it has taken a city like Liverpool, whose black community predates the Windrush Generation by several decades, so long to

I do believe entrenched racism is a problem in Liverpool elect its first black MP. She says the city’s difficult past and involvement with the

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slave trade still “runs deep”, leading to issues around ethnic representation in the city.

“There is a combination of factors as to why it has taken so long for the city to elect its first black MP,” she explains.

“I make no apology in saying that I truly believe that deeply entrenched institutional racism is a problem in Liverpool. We are under-represented right across the field, not just in politics but in employment and training, for example.

“We have some truly appalling statistics in terms of having black teachers and headteachers in the schools in our city. If you look at the make-up of our city council, as well, it is not representative of the community it serves.

“So I think these types of issues have led to it taking so

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FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 7

Exclusive Voice interview

T MADE FOR MY KIND’ young black people to engage in politics.

“As part of my campaign trail I did a hustings in a local girls’ school where there were a number of black girls who were interested in politics. That’s the kind of thing we need to be doing in terms of engaging more with those people who have been disenfranchised.”

Following her historic election, there were several commentators who claimed Liverpool would now see a more open and honest conversation about the impact of racism in the city and how to tackle it.

MAKING HER PRESENCE FELT: Out on the campaign trail during the recent general election

PROBLEMS

long for the city to have a black MP. “But another issue is getting people involved in politics.

“One of the things I have found in the last 18 months since I’ve been involved in local politics is that it’s difficult to get involved and be promoted into positions within the Labour Party.”

Adds Johnson: “I re-joined the Labour Party in 2013 and became active in my CLP because I was very concerned about the under-representation.

“I was elected as the black members’ officer for the CLP and what I intended to do was to address this issue.

“I established a black members forum, I established regular meetings, I put forward motions raising awareness about under-representation and tried

to encourage local black people to get involved in politics.

“We also need to be doing more in terms of engaging people who have felt disenfranchised from politics. I’m a very confident person, but when I started going to Labour Party

Johnson, however, is not so sure.

“Historically, we’ve had lots of those conversations in the past,” she continues.

“We’ve had lots of reports, such the Gifford report, that identified what the problems are, so we don’t need any more people telling us there are issues in terms of black people facing difficulty getting into jobs and education. And there have been good conversations previously.

“In the past, it was a lot easier because we had a number of black-led organisations that helped advocate on behalf of communities. We had organisations such as South Liverpool Personnel that provided a voice to the community. At the moment there is a void in terms of that campaigning voice, but things are changing.

“There are now groups such as L8 A Better Place who are now coming together as a direct result of black people being more involved in the Labour movement in the city. They’re all about enabling and empowering local people to have a voice.”

The Liverpool Riverside MP suggests that one of the key reasons for that void in local

the last 10 years. We have had 64 per cent of our central government funding stolen, which is bound to have an impact.

“We had a thriving voluntary and community sector in Liverpool that was well funded because we recognised that communities were best placed to support and enable the people who lived in them.

“Those community organisations were a real asset to the city, but the funding for them has been decimated so we’re now having to look at how to do things differently and engage differently.”

That desire to engage differently in the absence of a thriving voluntary sector and make the voices of local people heard was a central factor in her desire to run as an MP. “I’m from Liverpool, I was born in the constituency, I still live in the constituency, I was raised here so my roots go very deep,” she said. “I felt I knew it well enough and was concerned enough and I wanted to be that real voice for the constituents in parliament.”

Given the interest that her election has generated, does she feel pressure?

“I think just being an MP in general provides pressure,” she said. “It involves lots of changes. I’m a new MP in London, I have to find somewhere to live, I have to set up an office in London.

“I’m also having to set up offices in Liverpool and employ staff, and it would be true to say the induction process to help new MPs to do that isn’t the best.

“I want to do the best job I possibly can, but I don’t know if that’s going to be difficult because we’re in opposition and the Tories have such a big majority.”

I want to do the best job I possibly can, but I don’t know how difficult that will be meetings even I found them a bit difficult. If I see anybody new I make a point of saying ‘hello’ and telling them what happens… I think there needs to be more of that.

“I’m also particularly interested in getting more local

campaigning is the impact of cuts to local government as a result of austerity measures taken under the Coalition and Conservative governments.

“This is a major issue. Liverpool, as a local authority, has been hard hit by this Government’s austerity measures over

VICTORY: Kim Johnson with delighted supporters at the election count on the night of her historic election at Wavertree Tennis Centre PHOTO: COLIN LANE/LIVERPOOL ECHO

8 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

News

GETTING ON TO BARACK’S BOOKSHELF? YES HE CAN Pulitzer Prize-winning author Colson Whitehead tells Darell J Philip what it means to be on former US President Obama’s list of 2019’s best reads

A

CCLAIMED AUTHOR Colson Whitehead has spoken about the personal impact of being included on former US President Barack Obama’s reading list for a second time last year.

The distinguished politician tweeted in December to reveal a list of his favourite music, movies and books of the previous 12 months – with a reminder of his summer reading list as well.

Whitehead’s book The Nickel Boys was included on Obama’s summer reading list, and its inclusion was repeated in the annual round-up.

Whitehead spoke to The Voice during a recent trip to London following the release of the same book.

He said: “When he (Obama, inset) picked The Underground Railroad for his summer book list, I was very excited. So when he picked The Nickel Boys for his summer reading list (2019), I was really glad.”

The Pulitzer Prize-winning

author continued: “I got a chance to meet him right before he left office. He invited some writers to the White House.

“He said he had always wanted to have writers and that with eight days left in office, he had finally got round to having us.

“What I love about him is that he’s a president who reads books. If you get invited to the White House now, it’s probably because they’re shooting intellectuals on the White House lawn and I could be next in line, for all you know.”

INHUMANE

The Nickel Boys is based on the real-life story of a reform school in Florida that, during its 111-year history was the cause of brutality and inhumane practices towards its students.

In reference to Whitehead’s latest novel, Obama, who also included the late Toni Morrison

on his reading list, described The Nickel Boys as “a necessary read, detailing the way Jim Crow and mass incarceration tore apart lives and wrought consequences that ripple into today”.

February marks Black History Month in the US and Whitehead’s publishers are expecting great interest in both books.

Whitehouse, who lives in Manhattan, New York, said that he had been thinking of Michael Brown and Eric Gar-

I got the chance to meet him before he left the White House ner – two black men killed by police officers in 2014 - when writing The Nickel Boys.

“The Ferguson riots and protest as well as the deaths that summer of Michael Brown and Eric Garner really made me reflect on police brutality, and the fact that none were brought to account for the deaths of these two young black men,” he said.

“Some of these themes are reflected upon in the book, though it’s during the era of the Jim Crow segregation laws and Civil Rights movement led by Dr Martin Luther King in 1963.”

CHANGE

Despite the media spotlight given to issues such as police brutality towards African Americans, Whitehead said he doesn’t expect there to be change any time soon.

He added: “Certainly not in my life time will there be any change, but I’m hopeful during my children’s time or their children’s time that we can begin to see the change that Dr. Martin Luther King envisaged.”

Whitehead revealed UK fans of his award-winning novel

ENDORSEMENTS DON’T GET BETTER: Colson Whitehead; inset, Obama’s tweet The Underground Railroad can capture the television adaptation of it on Amazon Prime this summer.

It will be directed the by award-winning director of Moonlight, Barry Jenkins.

Appeal launched for black men to become blood donors NHS BLOOD and Transplant (NHSBT) is appealing for more black men to become blood donors in 2020.

NHSBT has been appealing for more men to start giving blood, and there is a strong need for more men from the black community to donate for the first time.

During 2019, only 43 per cent of new black donors were men. For every 100 black women who donated blood for the first time last year, only 74 black men started donating.

The gender imbalance in new donors is the same across all ethnicities and the issue is not specific to the black community.

“However, there is already a shortage of black donors overall, which puts black patients at greater risk of transfusion reactions.

People from the same ethnic background are more likely to have the same blood groups, so black patients

will often get the best match from a black donor.

Men have higher iron levels, and only men’s blood can be used for some transfusions and products.

So without more men starting to give blood, blood stocks will come under increasing pressure in future years.

However, there are currently not enough black blood donors.

SECURE

Among the people supporting the campaign for more men to start donating blood is Danielle Jinadu from Dartford.

The 23-year-old has the life-threatening genetic disorder sickle cell disease, and needs eight units of blood every six weeks.

Like all patients who receive multiple transfusions, Danielle relies on a safe and secure supply of blood, and

male donors help ensure blood is always there.

Danielle, who is studying law at the University of Warwick, said: “For me, blood transfusions are literally the difference between life and death.

“Without blood transfusions, I know I would not be here alive at 23 years old.”

Danielle (inset right) is aware of the need for more black people to donate, because their blood will often be a better match for black patients.

She added: “I really delved into the shortage of black donors in my TEDx talk The Big Black Blood Issue.

“And the overarching feedback from the black community just came down to a lack of awareness and education around the topic.

“The people that give blood are often the hidden heroes. I will never get to know their names, but they are extraordinary.”

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Other people supporting the campaign for more men to start donating blood include Nabila Nakigozi, from Rainham in Essex.

She is only 19 but has already experienced life-threatening complications and crippling pain from sickle cell disease.

Nabila now receives eight to 10

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units of blood every six weeks from the Royal London Hospital.

“Once people are aware of sickle cell, they’re immensely willing to help not just spread sickle cell awareness, but also support me in every way possible.”

Mike Stredder, head of donor recruitment for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Everyone who donates is special. But we need more men to start donating blood this year.

“Blood donation is quick and easy, and your blood can be used in extraordinary ways.

“We need more black donors to help with the overall shortage but we especially need more male black donors.

“Please give if you can – seriously ill people need you, and you will save lives.”

Become a blood donor at blood.co.uk

www.voice-online.co.uk

9 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY, 2020

ADVERTORIAL

www.korugreen.com

Freetown collective lead singers, Muhammad Muwakil (left) and Lou Lyons.

The band is managed by Koru Green Limited, based in Trinidad and Tobago.

KORU GREEN TAKING FREETOWN COLLECTIVE MUSIC TO THE WORLD

By George Ruddock

K

oru Green Limited, based in Trinidad and Tobago, is fast becoming a leading player in the creative industry, providing globally competive services as management and entertainment consultant specialists for cultural practitioners to commercialise and monetise their creative content.

Led by managing director Keron Niles, Koru Green Ltd which was formed in 2017 has already established itself apart from other talent companies by developing a unique service within the creative sector, primarily focused on transforming cultural goods and services into sustainable livelihoods.

MARKETS

The company’s focus is to assist creative professionals who wish to find new markets for the content they produce and/or to expand the consumption of their works within markets in which they are already present.

One of the success stories from its stable of clients is Freetown Collective, a six- piece band made up of talented musicians, whose lead vocalist hails from an area called ’Belmont’ (formerly known as Freetown) in Trinidad which has produced an eclectic sound using a unique blend of Caribbean rhythm and urban pop that is riveting, relevant and authentic.

While Trinidad is widely known for

its famous Carnival in February, Keron was keen to point out that Freetown Collective is not a carnival music band, but rather a dynamic musical ensemble which is not wedded to one specific genre.

There has been a strong increase in demand for Caribbean music in Europe as seen by the rise in popularity for Caribbean artists and music at

festivals such as Summerjam reggae festival in Germany, Ibiza Soca festival in Spain and Reggae Sun Ska Festival in France, along with many others.

Last September Keron Niles and Koru Green Ltd participated in the Caribbean Export sponsored CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum and Authentic Caribbean Expo in Frankfurt, Germany and he felt it was good exposure to the dynamics of the live music market in Europe.

He said: “The Caribbean Export Business Forum provided me the opportunity to meet with some stakeholders who were interested in the music and also allowed me to do some onsite marketing. It also gave me a

better understanding of how we can best gain more exposure for Caribbean talent in Europe.”

The CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum was a strategic event produced

by Caribbean Export which unveiled international opportunities for Caribbean artists and entertainers, by establishing win-win partnerships between EU private sector representatives and

CARIFORUM participants eager to gain access to larger international markets.

UNIVERSAL

Keron said: “The music of Freetown Collective appeals to both the deeply personal and wider universal concerns evidenced by its critically acclaimed debut album ‘Born in Darkness’. It’s not only catchy and relatable, but it also helps us to navigate what it means to be human.”

Keron, however, says that Freetown Collective’s new singles ‘Feel The Love’ and ‘We Bad’ released earlier this month was the first time the band produced a headline track for Carnival.

“We have had a few soca songs before,

STRATEGIES

and the sales data for our live gigs and analyse the demographic trends of our core supporter base. There are not many companies in the Caribbean that provide the services we do at Koru Green”, Keron enthused.

Koru Green Ltd also provides bespoke management consulting services for creative professionals, including musicians, dancers and film makers, that include but are not limited to: Press relations; administrative support (inclusive of accounting and taxation); digital and physical product retail marketing; brand monetisation and creative product marketing strategy development and execution.

DEMOGRAPHIC

This article is part of a series featuring Caribbean entrepreneurs and businesses sponsored by the Caribbean Export Development Agency.

Working together with the European Union, the Caribbean Export Development Agency supports the sustainable development of Caribbean brands ultimately to increase employment in the region, inclusiveness, particularly for youth, women and indigenous groups, and secure overall poverty reduction. www.carib-export.com

but this is our most formidable attempt at really doing carnival music and the response has been amazing”, he said.

Looking to the international scene, the Koru Green CEO said one of the most important things he is doing now is getting traction for the band in the overseas market.

“We are happy that Caribbean music is spreading and becoming more global but it also creates an interesting challenge whereby we have to become even more innovative in trying to get home-grown talent to the international market.

“My job at Koru Green is helping the band to get their message out to the world. Musicians don’t want to have to think of marketing strategies or to conduct the research that is required for them to compete in a global market place, we take on all of that responsibility while they concentrate on creating the music people will love.

“The management service we provide covers such things as conducting research and providing marketing services that would help to drive increased bookings, along with finding out what needs to be done in order to make our music receptive in each market, what are our legal and tax obligations and to source joint ventures and publishing deals.

“We also look at music sales data

10 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

News

RACISM BEHIND ROYAL SPLIT, SAY SUPPORTERS

Harry and Meghan’s bid for independence ‘due to relentless media attack’

By Vic Motune

S

UPPORTERS OF Meghan Markle have claimed that the racism she faced was behind the decision by her and Prince Harry to ‘step back’ from the Royal Family and become financially independent.

Last month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement that has sent shockwaves across the country.

In a statement published on their Instagram account, they said: “We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family

and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”

The decision saw the couple face criticism in some sections of the national media.

But supporters took to social media to back the couple.

RESIGN

Glasgow-based screenwriter Amna Saleem tweeted: “I wonder what it was about the relentless racism, misogyny and media vultures that led Meghan Markle and her husband to literally resign from the royal family and politely tell everyone to f*** off.”

Also tweeting about the news, Danielle Dash asked:

“How will they justify their racism now that the Sussexes are renouncing the taxpayer’s money?”

Another writer, Roxane Gay, tweeted: “Good for Meghan and Harry opting out of the UK tabloids, staggering racism and the lack of support from the royal family. They will be fine.”

The pair have also said that they will split their time between the UK and North America, likely in Canada.

“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity,” they said.

After crisis talks between senior royals at the crown’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, the Queen released a rare statement in her name to sanction the pair’s new direction.

She said her family “respect and understand” their wishes for more independence while still remaining a “valued part” of the monarchy.

After days of serious talks among the royal family, it emerged that the couple would be fully stepping back from royal duties – freeing up their chance to seek employment.

No commercial deals have been signed so far, but their financial independence means they could seek out fashion lines, sponsorship, become involved with Netflix or Disney,

TRANSITION: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will step down write books, or Meghan could resurrect her lifestyle blog or acting career.

But the Palace said the couple have vowed that “everything they do will continue to uphold the values” of the Queen.

And the couple said they

would also pay back the £2.4m taxpayers spent on renovating their UK home, Frogmore Cottage, while Prince Charles will continue to offer the couple private financial support.

These changes are due to take place “in the spring”.

FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 11

Guest column

COMMITTED ANTI-RACIST DAWN AN INSPIRED CHOICE T

The Labour Party leadership vote has been criticised over the lack of diversity in the candidates who are running. Dawn Butler would keep Labour honest on race, says Maurice McLeod

HIS APRIL, the Labour Party will choose a new leader to replace Jeremy Corbyn.

It will be an important moment for British politics as it will decide the nature of opposition to Boris Johnson’s Tory government for at least the next five years.

At the same time as choosing its new leader, the Labour Party will also be picking a new deputy leader following Tom Watson’s resignation.

The deputy leader’s role is strange one in the Labour Party. As was made clear during Watson’s tenure, the deputy is a senior position within the party, but because the role is chosen by the membership, the leader of the party does not have the power to fire their deputy.

Other than standing in for the leader at Prime Minister’s Questions, the deputy role is ill-defined and so can be whatever the post-holder wants it to be. Ideally, the deputy would work alongside the leader and have an important role when it comes to getting Labour’s message out and making sure that MPs have a say in the way the party sets out its policies.

The partnership between leader and deputy leader is an important one. If it works well, the deputy provides support to the leader and does some of the

KICKER: Caption

political heavy-lifting. When the relationship is adversarial, as it often was with Corbyn and Watston, the deputy can provide a figurehead for those who are unhappy with the direction of the party.

Before Watson (inset below), the post has been held by the likes of Harriet Harman, John Prescott, Margaret Beckett and Roy Hattersley – and the position provides a vital second front as the party tries to communicate its vision.

CREDIBLE

Without much actual power, the deputy leader gives the nation a chance to put a different face on the Labour Party.

This time, the candidates for deputy leader present a very varied selection.

From Rosena Allin-Khan, Ian Murray, Richard Burgon, Angela Rayner and Dawn Butler, there is a range of talented politicians with different communication styles and different political priorities.

The leadership contest looks like ending up a two-horse race between Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey. Whichever politician becomes the leader of the opposition, Labour will need to nurture a fragile coalition of voters if it is to build its way back to power.

The northern working class

voter, the metropolitan elite and the urban poor all need to see Labour as the party offering a credible future.

As the country moves to the beat of Boris Johnson’s drum, there’s a high risk that Britain will become an even more hostile environment for anyone who is not white, and the Labour Party will need to be at the forefront of battles against racism and discrimination.

None of the leadership or deputy leadership candidates has a better track record of fighting for equalities than the shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler.

Since Clive Lewis withdrew from the leadership ballot after failing to get enough of his fellow MPs to back his bid, Dawn is the last black person left out of the 10 candidates. In Allin-Khan and Lisa Nandy, there are other BAME representatives still in the contest, but in Butler, Labour has a committed anti-racist who has also stood up for gender equality, Travellers

EXPERIENCED: Dawn Butler has shown she has the ability to work under different party leaders Labour’s commitment to anti-racism will be even more important than usual in the coming years. Marginalised communities will come under attack and will look to Labour to have their backs.

If there’s one thing we learned from this election, it’s that we shouldn’t take our core constituency for granted and the LGBTQ community.

There will be pressure for Labour to take stances which are less left-leaning.

Some will argue that the party needs to be more migrant-sceptic and that supporting white working class families in Hull means ditching support for black ones in Hackney, but black voters are incredibly faithful to Labour.

As much as 85 per cent of black voters vote for the party, and if the party loses this support, it will be the end of Labour’s realistic prospects for the future.

Dawn was the first black woman to become a minister in Britain and has held senior positions of responsibility under two Labour prime ministers and Jeremy Corbyn, demonstrating her ability to work under different Labour leaders.

Her longevity in Parliament, being first elected in 2005, means she has a level of experience that none of the other candidates for deputy can match.

Having been around under Blair, Brown, Miliband and Corbyn’s Labour means that Butler has shown she can flourish under different regimes, but

also means that some members of Labour’s left might need reassurances about her socialist credentials.

But looking back over the voting records of all candidates, only Butler and Burgon voted against the Welfare Cap in 2015 – Allin-Khan was not an MP at the point and the other candidates toed the party line and abstained.

TRUST

As a nation, we have moved beyond some of the binary politics of left and right, with issues like Brexit or the climate emergency crossing the traditional divide.

Dawn is undoubtedly of the left, but has shown she has the ability to work with all parts of the Labour Party.

“I am committed to work constructively with whoever the party chooses as leader,” Dawn said in a Guardian article.

“As deputy leader, I will help build the largest organising force the Labour Party has seen with more trained organisers in communities than ever before, rebuilding trust as we build our party.”

As recently as 2015, Labour took a much more critical stance on immigration and produced “tough on immigration” mugs, much to the dismay of black and brown voters.

Dawn says: “In the era of #MeToo and the growth in racist and xenophobic attacks, the life experience that a candidate brings to the job is clearly relevant.

“The black and Asian vote has long remained the bulwark of the Labour base.

“If there’s one thing we learned from this election, it’s that we shouldn’t take our core constituency for granted. We are the party of opportunity and diversity.

“The party that was home to the first four black MPs, which passed the first law against racial discrimination and has a majority of women MPs. People expect more from the Labour Party; they should get it.”

In the coming weeks, Labour members will decide whether they agree.

Maurice Mcleod is the founder of Marmoset Media.

12 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

News Feature

SPIRIT OF GARVEY LIVES ON EVEN NOW

ENDURING LEGACY: Marcus Garvey is remembered mostly for his advocacy of the ‘back to Africa’ concept – but perhaps he should be also thought of as a pioneer of self-pride and confidence, argues Kwaku

June 10 this year will mark the 80th anniversary of the death of Marcus Garvey. Here, London-based history consultant and editor Kwaku looks at the pan-Africanist icon’s legacy

T

HERE’S A prevalent view which almost exclusively associates Marcus Garvey and his Universal Negro Improvement Association-African Communities League (UNIA) organisation with the “back to Africa” movement.

Based on the evidence, I suggest Garvey ought to be better remembered for advocating for African history, self-pride and confidence, rather than “back to Africa”.

Yes, Garvey and his UNIA organisation did advocate “back to Africa”.

But, as we shall see, because of his unsuccessful attempt to resettle diasporic Africans in Africa, I would argue that Garvey’s abiding legacy should be his centrality to 20th Century FOUNDER: Historian Dr Carter G Woodson is often credited as the inspiration for Black History Month despite Garvey’s role in highlighting black history PICTURE: US LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

pan-African history and nationalism, and his advocacy for the teaching of African history as a means of uplifting, empowering and encouraging Africans to regain confidence in an effort to rise to their full potential and let, as he stated, “Africa be a bright star among the constellations”.

IDEOLOGY

It’s worth pointing out that the “back to Africa” ideology was neither started by Garvey nor was it his main preoccupation.

By the time Garvey and the UNIA were making inroads into the United States and onto the world stage in the early 1920s, the “back to Africa” movement had had more than a century of history, propelled

mainly by American church and civil society groups. Garvey’s pan-Africanist thought and “back to Africa” ideology were influenced mainly by two men: Edward Wilmot Blyden, an African Caribbean who emigrated in 1850 to Liberia, where he became a writer, educator and diplomat; and Martin Delaney, an African American medic, military officer, and abolitionist.

Delaney was an official of the Liberian Exodus Joint Stock Steamship Company, which managed to transport some two hundred African American émigrés to Liberia in 1878.

Garvey’s main aim for Africa was to redeem colonial Africa for the African, rather than a quest for all Africans in the diaspora to return to Africa. He also once pronounced on the matter, saying: “I have no desire to take all black people back to Africa. There are blacks who are no good here and will likewise be no good there.”

Garvey never visited Africa – the speculation was that the Western colonial authorities would not give permission to such a person, whose call for decolonisation would have destabilised their colonies.

Although the UNIA had chapters across Africa, Gar-

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vey’s direct engagement with the continent was mainly with Liberia, where his plans were to resettle thousands of African families drawn from the Caribbean, and north and south America.

However, the hands of the British and French colonial powers, and the United States, were said to have been at play during the four years of UNIA dealings in the 1920s with the government of Liberia, then one of only two nominally independent, sovereign states in Africa.

conducted feasibility studies and had talks with government officials, which included UNIA members and supporters, such as Mayor of Monrovia Gabriel M Johnson.

The initial positive response to Garvey’s Liberian overtures resulted in a third UNIA party going to Liberia in December 1923, where its responsibilities included sorting out the preparations for 20,000 to 30,000 emigrant families.

Sadly, for reasons too convoluted to go into detail here, by the time the next UNIA

This is one of the key points he should be remembered for, as he has received little credit for this.

The African American historian Dr Carter G Woodson is often credited with founding in February 1926 Negro History Week, the forerunner to today’s internationally celebrated African or Black History Month (BHM).

However, prior to that, the teaching of African history was an integral part of the educational programme available to UNIA’s millions of members and readers of its Negro World newspaper.

As a pan-African champion, when asked if he was African or REFLECTION This was also embedded in one Jamaican, he said: ‘I won’t give of the articles of the Declaration of Rights of the Negro Peoples up a continent for an island’ of the World, which was adoptGarvey’s emissary Elie Garcia began discussions in Liberia with the country’s president Charles King from May 1920, in which he outlined Garvey’s plan to relocate the UNIA’s headquarters to Liberia, raise funds to help the chronically financially challenged country, resettle his followers, and help develop the country.

This was followed in February 1921 by a small retinue of officials and technicians, who

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party arrived in 1924, the relationship had soured. They were deported, their property was sold by the government, the UNIA was proscribed, and land earmarked for the UNIA was subsequently sold to the Firestone tyre company for its rubber plantation.

However, although Garvey’s plan to resettle diasporic Africans in Liberia was unsuccessful, he succeeded in instituting the teaching of African history.

voicenews

ed at the 1920 UNIA Convention in New York. Article 49 demanded that school education of African American children include African history.

Incidentally, article 53 proclaimed that August 31 be observed as an international holiday by all Africans, inspired African History Reflection Day. The day was later declared at a UNIA centenary event I co-organised at the Ghana High Commission in London in 2014.

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FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 13

News Feature movements is unassailable. For example, Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah –in his 1957 book Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah – said: “I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was the Philosophy And Opinions Of Marcus Garvey, Or Africa For The Africans.”

Nkrumah went on to name Ghana’s shipping line Black Star Line, after the short-lived shipping line incorporated by the UNIA in 1919 which unfortunately never reached the shoreline of any part of Africa.

There’s also a Black Star Square in Ghana’s capital city Accra, a black star in the Ghanaian flag – and the national football team are called the Black Stars.

PRIDE CHAMPIONING: Garvey played a key role in advocating for African history, self-pride and confidence, says Kwaku Although he was born in Jamaica, Garvey’s first-hand experience of the lives of the majority of Africans through his travels across the Caribbean, Americas, and Europe helped him to become one of the major champions of pan-African-

ism. So it wasn’t surprising that when asked whether he was African or Jamaican, he replied: “I will not give up a continent for an island.”

Garvey’s influence on the 20th Century African decolonisation and nationalism

Nkrumah also championed Garvey’s African pride philosophy, by talking about “the African Personality”, instituting the African Studies department at the University Of Ghana, and commissioning the compilation of the Encyclopedia Africana, which unfortunately was never completed.

Garvey’s influence can be found not only in other African political leaders, such as Jomo

Kenyatta, Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Patrice Lumumba, but also in faith and civil rights leaders.

The Nation of Islam leader Hon Elijah Muhammad was a UNIA member, as were the parents of his deputy Malcolm X. Martin Luther King acknowledged Garvey’s influence, whilst the Rastafari faith, pioneered by UNIA member Leonard Howell, includes Garvey as one of its prophets.

Also, the flags of African countries, such as Kenya, Malawi and Libya, incorporate the red, black and green tri-colours, which the 1920 Convention declared as the UNIA or pan-African colours.

It is worth noting that by the time Garvey relocated to London in his last years, 1935-40, his stature on the world stage had greatly diminished.

So it’s perhaps not surprising that a 1984 Greater London Council motion to erect a commemorative plaque on Garvey’s London home was successfully opposed on the grounds that he wasn’t sufficiently known in Britain!

Garvey understood the importance of history, which he succinctly summarised in this often-repeated quote: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and

INFLUENCE: Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King are two of several iconic figures who were affected by Garvey’s work culture is like a tree without roots.”

He knew that knowledge of self and one’s history produced confident people, leading him to quip: “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won before you have started.”

This is what Garvey ought to be remembered for.

Kwaku is a London-based history consultant and co-editor of African Voices: Quotations By People Of African Descent. He is co-ordinating the Marcus Garvey/UNIA-ACL 80:100 programming from June 2020.

14 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Dotun Adebayo

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JAMAICA MISSED THE GANJA BOAT

As more and more US states legalise marijuana, the Caribbean’s reluctance stands out “Talking ’bout pirates, you have all some little pirates now, just come from America... fi go do wah? Get rich off I and I!” — Peter Tosh, One Love Peace Concert, Kingston, 1978

O

N JANUARY 1st, Chicago became the latest jurisdiction to owe a debt of gratitude to the Jamaican Rasta man. Or if you look at it from the dread’s perspective, the Windy City is yet another beneficiary of the fight that “I and I” had to endure for the healing of the nation.

Because the state of Illinois welcomed in the New Year by heeding the late great Peter Tosh’s advice to “legalise it”. The ‘it’ in question being cannabis, aka herb/weed/marry-jooanna (as my uncle calls it) or “the healing of the nation”, as the Twelve Tribes might say.

GENIUS

The US state has accepted, like many others in America, that people like to get high and has taken the opportunity to cash in by taxing every single bud that is purchased from the several registered outlets that have opened their doors since the beginning of 2020, and which are doing a spliffing trade.

You know what Yanks are like – where there’s a fast buck to be made even the president’s principles go up in smoke.

But look how long the Rasta man has been telling all nations that people like to get high.

They went all the way to the Blue Mountain-top, like Martin Luther King, to declare it. And they put it on record and carried that message around the world on reggae concert tours.

It didn’t take a genius to see that people really ‘like to get high’. It’s what logicians call a tautology (true in every respect – so true in fact that it cannot be false).

Furthermore, look how long Rasta has been telling the nation about how Jah so loved the Earth that he gave us the herb for the healing of the nations.

In dem times Jamaica wasn’t listening.

It turned its back on the natty and treated him/her as a renegade who must be subjugated.

It just couldn’t see the wood for the ganja smoke.

It was right there, right under the noses of successive Jamaican governments – PNP, JLP, Manley, Seaga, PJ... all these great men and great parties stared the gazillion-dollar (JA) cannabis gift horse in the mouth and declined to pass the kutchie ’pon the left or the right hand side.

The question is why? Why didn’t Jamaica ‘legalise it’ back in 1977 when Tosh first told them that: “It’s good for the flu, Good for asthma, Good for tuberculosis, Even numara thrombosis.”

Far from ‘legalising it’, Jamaican police took their batons and beat Tosh about the head to within an inch of his life for daring to speak truth to power.

And for being so bold as to blow his ganja smoke in their faces, in full presence of the PM and the leader of the opposition. He suffered a cracked skull as a result and probable brain damage.

“I am one of them that happens to be in the underprivileged sector, you nuh see’t?” he explained at the One Love Peace Concert.

“Hassled by police brutality.

Times and times again me haffi run up and down fi wah? Fi just have a little spliff inna me pocket or have a round of herb.

“Or I go buy a draw you haffi ah tense cork your batty and all them bloodbath things there until ah come back. Because police coulda back you up, roadblock coulda down the

LEGALISE IT: Jamaican authorities didn’t listen to calls for taking cannabis out of the black market, but maybe they should have road … You haffi talk the truth!

Cause things deh ah weh me go through ah bloodbath already, seen?”

Tosh tells it like it was for the ‘sufferer’ in Jamaica. Mean-

Farmers in Jamaica were banned from growing what people want while, the judges and doctors and lawyers (and no doubt politicians, though I confess, unlike the other professions, I never saw with my own eyes anyone in government pulling

a draw) were able to smoke in peace and opulence.

It didn’t make no sense. Most Jamaicans smoked, yet farmers in Jamaica were banned from growing the weed that the people wanted.

Meanwhile, farmers in America could grow as much as they wanted of their particularly poisonous weed and sell it to Jamaicans in cigarette packets.

It don’t make no sense.

So why did Jamaica refuse to legalise it? Peter Tosh always reckoned it had to do with the island’s bucky massa mentality.

At that same concert, Tosh noted: “Well right now, Jamaica have been living under this colonial imperialistic sh*tuation for a long time, seen? There are a whole lot of evil forces to fight who don’t like to see

nothing progressive, so learn that! And the devil is a dangerous guy, seen? ...Black people must be more aware and more conscious of them constitutional rights.”

STRAIN

Remember, this was back in 1978 when Jamaican green/ brown stuff was (I am reliably informed) the world leader in the (illicit) market. Since then, of course, the Jamaican government has been compelled to decriminalise the possession of a certain amount of marijuana for personal use.

Peter Tosh should be rolling around in his last resting place with a sense of schadenfreude, but the horse has long bolted the stables. Jamaican herb (I am reliably informed) is no longer

the market leader. Indeed, the common strain on the island is now the bog-standard (I am reliably informed) ‘high grade’, which is not dissimilar to the ‘skunk’ that is the opium of the yutes over this side, the stuff that makes them all wotless.

Nobody’s smuggling that from Jamaica when they can get it from a chemical lab posing as a coffee shop in Amsterdam. And nobody needs to fly out to JA for medical marijuana when most places including the UK now accept that, like Tosh said, it’s good for treating so many ailments – including epilepsy.

In conclusion, Jamaica has only got its politicians to blame for missing the opportunity to monetise the Caribbean ‘gold’ – its equivalent of Arab oil.

DOTUN ADEBAYO, BRITAIN’S MOST CELEBRATED BLACK BROADCASTER, IS KNOWN AS THE KING OF THE NIGHTTIME AIRWAVES. ALL VIEWS HERE ARE HIS OWN. LISTEN TO HIM OVERNIGHT ON BBC 5 LIVE FROM 1-5AM SATURDAY MORNINGS - MONDAY MORNINGS & 1AM - 4AM ON BBC RADIO LONDON (WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY MORNINGS). FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER: @dotunadebayo

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FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE| 15

From spring 2020

the law around organ donation in England is changing Unless you choose to opt out, you will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when you die.

To find out more about your choices, including how to opt out: visit organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 303 2094

PASS IT ON

30236 000mv Pass it On - 03 The Voice - Full Page 340mm x 268mm - English BH.indd 1

08/01/2020 15:59

16 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Midlands News NEWS IN BRIEF THANKS AFTER HOSPITAL CARDIAC WARD OPENS The founder of the Jamaica Hospital Appeal Fund has sent her thanks to those who played a part in the fundraising effort which has seen the building of a cardiac unit at Bustemante Hospital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica.

Birmingham-based Erma Lewis, who launched the Appeal Fund in 1998, said: “This was one of our largest projects that we ever embarked on...

“With the new cardiac unit now open, I am very much looking forward in a few weeks to having a full tour of the new building and also seeing our charity’s name on the Wall of Gratitude.

“It has taken over six years to complete, and our organisation, as one of the partners, donated £8,000 over the years to assist. We could not have done it without your support.

Thank you.”

POLICE STATS INDICATE RENEWAL IN MEADOWS Despite its name, The Meadows area of Nottingham was once rated amongst the most unsafe places to live.

That can now be strongly countered following the release of official police figures showing a drastic reduction in the crime rate in the district.

Last year, the area had 1,677 recorded incidents. By comparison, the worst area outside the city centre, the Arboretum, had 4,238 incidents.

A number of campaigning groups can be credited with helping this turnaround, including the Old Meadows Tenants and Residents Association (OMTRA), which has been active for over 20 years.

An OMTRA spokesperson said: “Fly-tipping was the norm, with rubbish strewn everywhere, dog fouling, cars burnt out on the street and Embankment, drugs and fighting between rival gangs.

“We have been very fortunate to have the police force here who have worked extremely hard over the years to reduce crime figures and people are showing more concern about the neighbourhood and their surroundings.”

The chief constable of Nottinghamshire Police, Craig Guildford, said: “Reputations can precede places and it can take time to remove them. For example, some of the results show The Meadows having seen some quite dramatic reductions since the 1990s and it is reflected on the level of firearms in Nottingham

throughout the 1990s, which has significantly reduced.

“I think it is neighbourhood policing and a partnership approach.”

APPEAL TO STOP AUTISTIC MAN’S DEPORTATION

IN PRISON: Osime Brown A Black Country family and concerned friends are awaiting the date of a final appeal against the deportation of an autistic man to his Jamaican birthplace where he knows no-one.

Osime Brown, 21, who has been clinically diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome with the mental capacity of a five- to six-year-old, is serving a fiveyear sentence in Stocken Prison, Lincolnshire. His deportation was set for December 3, until a last-minute appeal.

That appeal has been dismissed, pending a final appeal with the Upper Tribunal, expected to be heard this month.

Foreign nationals given a custodial sentence are referred to the Home Office for consideration of deportation.

However, a psychologist’s report for the Immigration Tribunal last October said Osime’s “general cognitive ability is within the extremely low range of intellectual functioning”. Reportedly depressed and confused, it has been claimed that Osime attempted to commit suicide on January 4 and prison officials claim he continues to self-harm.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Foreign national offenders should be in no doubt of our determination to remove them, and since 2010 we have removed more than 50,000 of them.”

CCTV EVIDENCE HELPS CONVICT SERIAL THIEF Police in Nottingham have highlighted the usefulness of CCTV after it helped jail a long sought-after target for four and a half years.

Michael Peck, 46, carried out two of his three burglaries at the same house in the Wollaton area of the city last July.

Three bank cards were taken during the first burglary on July 5, along with an envelope containing the PIN numbers and some cash. The 46-yearold was later caught on CCTV using the cards to withdraw hundreds of pounds.

by Veron Graham

ALREADY PLANNING A MERRY CHRISTMAS Meet the volunteer who ensures nobody goes without a festive meal and seasonal cheer

T

HE FESTIVE period may be well over now, but a charitable campaigner based in Basford, Nottingham, is already working hard to bring seasonal cheer to the vulnerable and lonely for Christmas 2020.

Mo Fayose has tasked herself with delivering 6,000 cards and providing 100 turkey dinners to those in need this year.

FOUGHT

This will not be her first such effort: last year saw her secure the delivery of 2,000 handwritten cards: 300 she purchased and the other 1,700 donated by well-wishers, plus more than 120 dinners for those who would otherwise have spent Christmas Day alone.

The cards included hand-cut heart-shaped vinyl stickers, chocolate and an encouraging quote.

Her first festive charity effort was in 2016, and it inspired her to “ensure that loneliness is fought 365 days of the year and not just on Christmas Day”.

And so, as well as providing the Christmas dinners out of her own pocket, Mo also delivers Sunday dinners to those alone and in need once a week.

In doing so she says she has

BRINGING CHRISTMAS CHEER: Mo Fayose will bring cards and turkey dinners to the lonely become the first point of contact for some people who need a higher level of help.

She said: “I got a message from someone asking if I could bring them a Sunday dinner.

He said he needed a meal but he needed more than a meal.

He hadn’t had gas or electricity for five years. I worked with him and now he’s living, he’s got his life back.”

Donations to the Nottingham crusader’s good cause can be sent via her website, mofayose.com, and more details can also be found at communitycaresclub.org.

Banking time to help each other TIME4LEICESTERSHIRE, a neighbourhood scheme that enables residents to receive rewards for helping others in their local area, has been launched across Leicestershire.

The skills exchange initiative is part of the national Timebanking UK programme and is being run by the local council’s Public Health team.

It will operate by encouraging locals to sign up and register their skills as well as the ones they could benefit from receiving.

Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “There are many positive health ben-

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efits for people from being connected within their community and we very much welcome the Time4Leicestershire initiative as a way of helping people across the county to meet more people in their neighbourhoods, get help with some practical jobs and improve their emotional wellbeing at the same time.

HEALTHILY

“We want people across Leicestershire to live as healthily and independently as possible and this scheme will encourage this, regardless of age or ability.”

Time4Leicestershire works on the

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principal of ‘timebanking’ – which differs from volunteering, in that for every hour of time somebody gives helping, they receive an hour’s time credit to bank which they can use on somebody helping them for an hour.

‘Timebankers’ don’t have to meet in person to benefit from the scheme – help can be obtained online if applicable. All those who sign up are immediately credited with two hours’ worth of help.

More information is available at time4leicestershire.org.uk, by visiting The Hinckley Hub, Rugby Road, Leicester, or by calling 0116 305 0705.

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FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 17

Midlands News

SPREADING THE WORD ON ORGAN DONATIONS

Community investment boost aims to change attitudes – and save lives

EMPOWERING OTHERS TO MAKE A DECISION: Abiola Okubanjo, third from left, with other members of the Action on Blood team, who want to encourage blood and organ donations

H

EALTH AUTHORITIES are hoping a Community Investment Scheme that supports 26 regional organisations to the tune of over £200,000 will help recruit organ donors from black and minority ethnic backgrounds ahead of a change in the donation law in England.

From this spring, all adults in England will be considered as having agreed to donate their organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate – known as an ‘opt out’ – or are in one of the groups not covered by the new law.

An opt-out system for organ donation was introduced in Wales in December 2015 and in Jersey in July 2019, and will also be introduced in Scotland

in the autumn. Families will still always be involved in organ donation, so it is vital that they know the potential donors’ choice.

MYTHS

Caroline Dinenage, minister for care, said: “It is fantastic that more people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are considering organ donation than ever before.

“But it is a distressing fact that people from these communities are less likely to get a transplant than if they were white.

“We all have a role to play the government, communities, families and friends - in breaking down the myths and perceived barriers that surround organ donation. I am delight-

ed to see the projects that will be delivering this vital work as part of our Community Investment Scheme and how they will change attitudes and save lives.”

The National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA) is supporting NHS Blood and Transplant in the campaign to address the need for black, Asian, mixed race and minority ethnic donors, which was launched in summer 2018.

Kirit Modi, honorary president of the NBTA, said: “NBTA is very pleased that 26 new projects to inform black and minority ethnic communities about the change in law and increase donors from these backgrounds have been funded.

“The work of community-led organisations is vital to deliv-

ering the facts through trusted messengers.

“They can help people understand that unless more people from their community come

It is a distressing fact that BAME people are less likely to get a transplant forward as organ donors, patients from their own community will continue to face unequal access to transplants.

“The BAME Community Investment Scheme is an important part of the wider activity and campaign to educate and engage these communities.

TRAIN

“NBTA will continue to work collaboratively with NHS Blood and Transplant and others to develop the community model so that it reaches a wider section of black, Asian and minority ethnic groups across the country in the future.”

Action on Blood, among the scheme’s recipients, will train five hair stylists and barbers across its UK salons to serve as

ambassadors that can discuss organ donation with their customers and encourage them to talk to their families.

Abiola Okubanjo, CEO of Action on Blood, said: “We designed the project so that real people in the community would play a fundamental role in empowering others to make a decision about organ donation and share that decision with their families.

“Through this project we will ensure that it’s the truth that people are debating – not myth, not hearsay, not superstition. We believe it’s only when people know the truth that they can make the right decision.”

If you have a story for the East or West Midlands, call/text Veron Graham on 07954 572 988, email veronpgraham@gmail.com, or find him on Facebook or LinkedIn

18 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

by Abigail Reid

Northern News

POWER TO WOMEN IN THE NORTH

Top tips for business

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COLLABORATIVE: Guests and panel talks helped fuel the conversation on inequalities in business faced by northern women

OMEN IN the north west mean business – and a series of events throughout the region is helping them to put their plans into action.

Northern Power Women (NPW) was launched in Liverpool to accelerate gender equality in the north of England by recognising, celebrating and showcasing role models.

“The initiative began with an idea that we should start having a conversation around gender equality from the north, as opposed to everything being very Westminster-centric,” said Northern Power Futures founder Simone Roche MBE, who is also a Northern Power Women partner.

“So, I launched an event called Women Inspiring the Economy and such was the

support, interest, success and legacy of it, that Northern Power Women was born.

Driven by inequality in her sector, and a belief in a collaborative north, Roche created a network of ambassadors and advocates, bringing great northern women together to connect and support future and returning talent, as well as giving back to underserved communities.

“Until recently, the campaign has been grown single handedly. NPW is the only pan-northern campaign accelerating gender equality and involves a range of connecting, influencing, and thought leadership, and an annual awards ceremony,” she said.

Working in conjunction with NatWest, NPW recently toured the north with the Role Model Series. Women who recently

started a business or are thinking of doing so were invited to attend the free events and discuss with a panel of business owners how they could be helped to start and grow.

SUCCESS

The final event was held in Manchester last month. Hosted

by Roche, the panel included Annie Mbako, director of Heroworx Institute, James Yu, co-founder of Wicker Wings, Nickala Torkington, co-founder of Flourish CIC, and Heather Waters, strategic lead at NatWest.

Roche added: “We’ve had great success. Individuals have set up their businesses, grown their business and acquired export contracts globally.

“That’s the power of coming together and collaboration –

people coming together to support each other but actually to grow the economy.”

Vanessa Stoddart, an occupational social worker living in Manchester, attended the event to receive advice on how to set up her own business and to network with other entrepreneurs: She said: “I understand it can be difficult and I need all the help I can get. In the near future I plan to start a charity with my sister under the umbrella of Press Red – a Christian organisation educating, equipping, and empowering on the issues of violence and abuse against women and girls.

“Alongside this, I aim to develop an accessory line.”

In March, the fifth Northern Power Women Awards will take place at a ceremony at Manchester Central Convention Complex, showcasing role models and celebrating the many different ways women contribute to a thriving Northern Powerhouse. It will also celebrate the women and men working towards creating gender balance in organisations.

“The awards, which are now the largest in the country, showcase and spotlight the winners not only during the gala event, but also continuously throughout the year to ensure ongoing visibility for these role models and to use their presence to inspire,” said Roche.

For further details about future NPW campaigns and the awards visit northernpowerwomen.com and/or book tickets at eventbrite.

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@thevoicenews

MARTINA WITTER, who attended the Northern Power Women event and has been nominated for an award in its ‘One to Watch’ category, is the founder of Rapha Therapy Services and Black Women in Business and Professionals Network (BWIBP).

BWIBP delivers quarterly exclusive networking events in Manchester for black women in business and black professionals. The goal is to improve opportunities for career and business growth through expanding networks and gaining access to role models, including coaches and mentors.

For readers of The Voice, Martina (inset left) presents her top five tips to leverage your small business in 2020...

1. Mentorship is critical in establishing a successful small business, as you are able to acquire strong leadership skills from a professional who has already walked in your shoes. Consequently, you are able to learn from their experiences – which are not available in textbooks – and you can avoid any pitfalls that they may have encountered.

2. Develop a social media strategy which assists you in achieving your business goals. It’s important to identify which platforms are best suited for your brand as your ideal clients may be on Facebook and not Instagram; therefore you wouldn’t want to waste time creating content marketing on the latter platform. It is important to understand what you wish to achieve on these social media channels: is it heightening brand awareness, brand identity, establishing thought leadership through publishing articles on LinkedIn or creating videos on LinkedIn/Facebook Live? It may be that you want to drive traffic to your website in order to generate sales of products or services. If you are not on social media, I would encourage you to set up a business and/or personal account/page/profile.

3. Focus on how you can attract more customers and convert leads into sales. I would encourage you to focus online and offline as traditional marketing methods such as flyers and mail-outs are still highly effective alongside online marketing. It is important to be visible – therefore regular networking, exhibiting at business expos, advertising in publications, being a podcast or radio guest and delivering workshops online and offline may be advantageous to your company.

4. Collaborate and partner with other organisations that share your company values. It’s important to consider both SME, community and larger corporations as this will increase your brand visibility and credibility. This growth strategy can contribute to greater brand awareness, brand repositioning and financial gains.

5. Be clear on what your unique value proposition is and talk about this when promoting your brand. It’s critical that you are able to succinctly identify your customer’s pain points and how your product or service provides a solution that is far greater than your competitors’ offerings.

You can find more from Martina’s BWIBP at bwibpnetwork@ gmail.com, or on Instagram (@b.w.i.b.p), Twitter (@bwibp11) and Facebook Groups (BWIBP Black Women in Business & Professionals Network). For Rapha Therapy Services, see raphatherapyservices. com, call 0161 955 4720, email info@raphatherapyservices.com, Facebook and Instagram (@Rapha_Therapy_Service).

Martina ‘Motivator’ Witter is also contactable on LinkedIn.

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FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 19

EAT TO BEAT PAST TRAUMA

Northern News

Cooking together as therapy for slavery victims

S

URVIVORS OF modern-day slavery have cooked up a way to increase their confidence with the help of a Sheffield-based charity.

Kathijee Wood, HR administrator at the anti-trafficking charity City Hearts, has been utilising her culinary skills to help women who have been rescued from exploitation.

The 47-year-old mum-oftwo, who is originally from South Africa, lives in Sheffield with her husband and their two children.

Growing up in the city of Durban she developed a love for cooking with her mum and sisters and this bonding has now inspired her to share her passion.

“I couldn’t see myself being a counsellor, but I wanted to give something to help oth-

ers and what I can offer is my cooking, so I try to use that to make a difference,” said Wood.

“I thought of cooking because it brings an element of fun and takes their minds off their trauma for a few hours.”

SURVIVORS

Wood and her husband moved to the UK 23 years ago.

She was appointed to the role of HR administrator at City Heart 11 years ago, taking care of every element of the recruitment process as well as delivering training to new employees.

“People often ask us why the survivors can’t just go back to their home countries. Sadly, it’s not that easy as there is a risk they could potentially be re-trafficked – even by their own families.

“Some could be killed,” she said.

Throughout her childhood, Wood saw first-hand the hardships women could face. “I saw a lot of physical and sexual violence growing up. My desire to help women was sparked at a young age, but I didn’t know exactly how I could help until later in my life,” she recalled.

The women come from countries far and wide, including Africa and Vietnam as well as the UK. Soon after joining the team and seeing the difference the charity made to the lives of trafficked women, Wood decided to volunteer.

“I notice when I go in every second Friday, the atmosphere quickly changes. Often when I

DINNER PARTY: Kathijee Wood treats the trafficked women to food such as bunny chow (inset left), a South African curry meet the women who are new clients to our service, they are understandably very hesitant,” she said.

“They look up as I come in, then carry on with what they are doing. I go into the kitchen and once the sounds and smells come out someone always says, ‘Do you need help?

What can we do?’ Next minute they are laying the table and putting out the tealights.

“Some of these women

are malnourished when they join us, so I always provide a starter, main and dessert. It’s a proper dinner party once a fortnight.”

Government funding initially covers the survivors to be in the safe house for six weeks, so they get three of her delicious meals before they move into other accommodation.

Wood chose to hold her sessions on a Friday because it is

a time when people might be thinking of socialising.

She said: “People love going out to celebrate the weekend on Fridays. They miss their friends and their old lives. I see how I can help bring a bit of that excitement back.

“By the time we get to dessert, they are laughing and talking to each other.”

For more, visit cityhearts.co.uk.

Love is in the air… or is it? Romance expert warns over Valentine’s Day SOON AFTER the Christmas decorations come down the stores are awash with all things red and heart-shaped as the battle begins to demonstrate our love for a beau with flamboyance.

Valentine’s Day is big business and it can be wonderful to spend a day showing our love and appreciation to that special someone in our life. But for some, the day can be full of loneliness — if you’re single — or expose the holes in a not-so-perfect union.

Manchester-based marriage and relationship coach Adaeze Chiwoko, founder of Marriage 4 Real, claims that Valentine’s Day could highlight cracks in a relationship, but stresses that it should be a day for couples to spend looking inwardly and not outwardly.

“If there are cracks, whatever it takes to highlight them is a good thing because it gives you the opportunity to make a decision to deal with it and not just roll on in the same way until the next Valentine’s Day, when you will feel exactly the same,” she said.

It’s no secret that retailers benefit from Valentine’s Day sales, but despite the commercial aspect Chiwoko

thinks that it’s still a wonderful opportunity to go the extra mile to heap love on your spouse, focus on romance and celebrate being lovers.

And you can do that, she claims, without being extravagant: by going for a long walk together, having a candle-lit dinner at home, a joint shower, or fun in the bedroom with scented oils and some super-cheesy love-making music.

to remember why they got together in the first place. Make a decision to do the work to heal – ideally with some help,” added Chiwoko.

Adaeze Chiwoko’s five tips for ‘surviving’ Valentine’s Day if you’re finding it difficult 1. The truth of the matter is it is just a day. You make of it what you want.

It’s important to remember that after the 14th everyone calms down again and goes back to business as usual so there isn’t much point in obsessing about it.

HYPE

She added: “I think that any opportunity to show love to one another should be taken. Yes, you should make every day like Valentine’s Day, but how many of us do? For the most part busy lives take over. So, you should take advantage of the one day where you can join in with the romance in the air, it’s worth it.”

Sometimes our high expectations of the day may in fact lead to more disappointment, especially if used to ‘patch up’ deep-rooted cracks in a relationship. If you’re struggling as a couple it can be difficult to cope with the amount of hype around love and romance.

“The fact is that one day of ‘obli-

2. Love on you! You’re worth celebrating. Celebrate the love you have for yourself.

STRESSES: Adaeze Chiwoko gated romance’ is not going to heal deep-rooted wounds,” Chiwoko added. I would suggest that couples use the day, if they can, to talk through their issues whilst out for dinner. Or even better, book a marriage coaching session and use it as an opportunity

3. Celebrate someone special in your life! You get so much back when you give to other people. Rather than focusing on the card you never received, send one to someone else and make their day special. It could be a friend, a family member, or even a work colleague who needs cheering up.

4. If you’re in a relationship, use the

day to reflect on why you entered the relationship and why you are still there. Gifts and cards may not do much but you can use the day to come together and make a decision to start to do the necessary work to heal.

5. Do not feel sorry for yourself, nothing stays the same! It’s important to maintain a positive attitude towards the stage that you are in right now and maintain hope for the future… whether you’re in a relationship or not.

Chiwoko’s company offers coaching packages for individuals as well as couple.

Marriage 4 Real can offer individuals a 90-day “Overcome Relationship Hurt And Get Your Power Back” programme, while couples could benefit from the 60-day “Infidelity Is Not The End” programme.

You can get in touch with Chiwoko via email (admin@marriage4real.com) or search for Marriage4Real on Facebook and Instagram. Marriage 4 Real is also the name of her podcast. For more, see marriage4real.co.uk.

20 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 21

Letters

VIEW FROM

h t on m e f h t Letter o WE MUST PICK OUR BATTLES

Government must not betray the Windrush Generation again THERE ARE few people who have not been moved by the Windrush Scandal.

When they arrived on these shores in 1948, those migrants began a process that would help transform Britain into the multicultural place that we know today.

They contributed to the country by working tirelessly for the buses, British Rail, the National Health Service and other organisations to help rebuild the economy after the war.

And the culture and style they brought with them has become a key part of popular culture.

So it’s easy to imagine the sense of betrayal and anger many members of this generation, and the wider black community, felt when news of the scandal broke in 2018.

Exposure of the scandal in 2018 led to the resignation of then-home secretary Amber Rudd and a promise to put things right through the introduction of a compensation scheme.

But despite this promise, campaigners say that compensation payments for victims are taking too long to be paid and that the process is “slow and onerous”.

In fact, lawyers working with Brixton Black Cultural

Archives, which is helping Windrush victims with their compensation claims, say they are yet to speak to any victims who have received a final payout, with many waiting months for a response.

Gladstone Wilson, who features in our front page story this week, is one of those people.

As he says in our interview with him, no amount of money will heal the hurt and pain he feels after being unable to bury his mother after the Home Office placed travel restrictions on him.

But it will help him start to put his life back together.

However, the delay in receiving the money he is owed can only prolong the trauma he has experienced, something he should never have experienced in the first place.

It is the same for other victims who have been wrongfully detained, thrown out of work or lost their homes, as a result of the Conservative government’s “hostile environment” project against immigrants.

Somebody needs to get a grip of this situation.

If not, government ministers should not be surprised when they find themselves accused of betraying the Windrush Generation.

Re: Film star David Harewood hits out at Laurence Fox comments on black actors PEOPLE OF colour should not have to explain themselves any more.

I’m glad Fox is on the back foot. The panic in his demeanour is one I am revelling in.

What we’re witnessing could be compared to kidney donations – where you’re a donor unless you opt out.

You are racist unless you call it out.

A racist denier until you say you’re not.

For too long, we have quietly contemplated when to pick our battles against racism in all its colourful variety.

We listened to our parents and elders share their stories of oppression, determined to handle it better. What we have is passive-aggressive, drip-fed persecution, invisible to the Caucasian eye, but damning crystal clear evidence to us.

Pick our battles. Like an abuser knows how to hit where the bruises won’t show is a life lived any given day by a black person facing racism.

LEGACY: Serena Williams has ‘nothing to prove now’

BEST OF LUCK TO PAIR HOME FOR DIVERSITY

GAME, SET, MATCH?

Re: Brent on the RISE as the London Borough of Culture BRENT IS our new world, the home for diversity, talents and actors. That is why we live like one big family, tolerating one another and helping one another to grow along the four corners of the same ship. We are Brent.

We are the borough of culture. We are great because we operate along many channels which made Brent the greatest borough in London.

Re: Is it the end of the road for Serena Williams?

THE VOICE, your headline makes things seem so dire!

Serena is at the top of her game, of course there will be defeats, she is only human.

The decision to retire will ultimately be hers.

She is a champion athlete, a mother, a wife, a business woman.

Tennis is part of who she is, only she will know when it’s time to retire.

George Uzonwa, via voice-online.co.uk

Fay Reid, via Facebook

Re: Prince Harry and Meghan will no longer use HRH titles OH DEAR. What rubbish will Piers Morgan have to spout now that he doesn’t have the royal titles and the taxpayers’ money that was spent to renovate the house to beat Meghan over the head with?

I wish them the best of luck and lots of happiness with their beautiful little boy, Amnah Vicars, via Facebook

FORGE THEIR FUTURE Re: Prince Harry and

CALLED OUT: David Harewood (left) criticised Laurence Fox (right) after the Lewis star said black actors only talk about racism in the industry once “they have five million quid in the bank”

I’m middle aged now and feel free to speak out, to call it out where I was silenced before.

Fox and his ilk know. Don’t tell them or ask them anything. They know. The trick is to convince us that we don’t know.

Meghan will no longer use HRH titles MEGAN AND Harry are looking to forge a future for their family by reading the signs of the time (time that the royal family look at ways to be financially independent of the British taxpayers).

I hope that God will continually putting his loving arms around Megan, Harry and Archie – and that he will richly bless them in many ways.

It is also very sad, how certain sectors of the British media have since the day Prince Harry stepped out in public with his wife of dual heritage (black and white) they have been pushing their racist and colonialist agenda to hound her out of the royal family and out of Britain because they cannot cope with Megan being too smart and intelligent for the whole lot of them.

To convince others that we don’t know. They don’t want to have to explain they’re not bigots. Let him have the chip on his shoulder. It’s time.

self, my dear. You will always be the greatest. It is going to take another 100 years for someone to reach where you went.

Tyrone Corbin, via Facebook

SUPPORT EACH OTHER Re: Is there a place for black politicians in Labour?

BLACK POLITICIANS must learn the divide and rule game and realise how it is used against us.

When one is elected, learn how to unite and support each other.

This leadership election will show what really is happen-

lezah, via voice-online.co.uk

KNOW YOUR LIMITS Re: Is it the end of the road for Serena Williams?

A PERSON should know their limitations. She should have bowed out at the top.

She has nothing more to prove now. Go and rest your-

STRUGGLE: Dawn Butler is one of the leading black figures in the Labour Party

Jax, via voice-online.co.uk

ing. BAME members must start acting as one and support each other. The covert racism still exists more so than ever now.

Let us all be transformed.

The people who say they are for us, let them stand out and say so clearly.

Val, via voice-online.co.uk

IGNORED BY LABOUR Re: Is there a place for black politicians in Labour?

MANY OF us who are black struggle just to be heard in our local Labour Party.

We are marginalised, not allowed to speak and constantly out-manoeuvred when it comes to applying for anything because we are not informed until the last minute.

BAME Labour has ceased to function and it is a disgrace that so many CLPs have not been allowed to set up BAME forums as is our constitutional right.

Racist words and noises are used at meetings and when we complain we are told we are bullying… typical dog-whistle tactics to prevent us having a say.

Iris Bailey, via voice-online.co.uk

22 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

International News THE WORLD AT A GLANCE CARICOM’s new Kenyan office

The Caribbean Community has opened a new joint diplomatic mission in Kenya. A statement from the office of Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley, who opened the complex, said that it is expected to help deepen ties between Caribbean and African nations. “Our region and Africa have been separated, not just by the Atlantic Ocean, but by centuries of division and exploitation,” Ms Mottley said.

UAE condemns Kenya attack

The UAE has strongly condemned an attack carried out by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab on a military base hosting US forces in Lamu, northern Kenya.

Three Americans were killed when three of the group’s fighters stormed the base.

The UAE’s ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation expressed in a statement its “utter denunciation of this criminal act and rejection of all forms of violence, which aim to undermine security and stability and completely contravene all religious and humanitarian values and principles”.

The ministry also extended its condolences to the families of victims while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

Pension pot for Jamaica tourism

Jamaica’s tourism minister has announced the start of a pension scheme for tourism workers in January. An initial JA$250m (£1.4m) will seed the fund, initially for people who have worked in the industry

for more than five years, whether permanent, contracted or self-employed.

Boris flies in for Caribbean visit

CARICOM chairman and St Lucian prime minister Allen Chastanet held brief talks with UK prime minister Boris Johnson at Hewanorra International Airport.

Mr Johnson was on a stopover to Mustique.

Both the St Lucian and British tabloid press had been interested in the fact that the UK leader and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds had flown economy on British Airways on the way to their New Year break.

Somali soldiers have graduated

134 Somali National Army soldiers graduated on November 7 from a UK-led training course in Baidoa, the capital of South West State in Somalia. The training is part of the UK’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of Somali security forces.

During the ceremony, the soldiers demonstrated the combat skills that they have acquired over the past two months which will help them to deliver peace and security in Somalia.

Trinidad’s ‘safer, cleaner’ carnival Trinidad & Tobago’s national security minister Stuart Young met carnival stakeholders to discuss the 2020 Carnival. One of the main issues discussed had been a proposed controlled ban on glass bottles as part of the work to create what the ministry called a “safer and cleaner environment”.

GUYANA EYES OIL BOOM AHEAD OF KEY ELECTION Caribbean nation hopes to usher in age of prosperity as cr de starts to o b t politics co ld pset t e plans

By Debbie Ransome

C

HRISTMAS ARRIVED early for Guyana when it became an oil-producing state three months ahead of schedule, ushering in a new age of prosperity for the Caribbean nation.

As the first commercial crude was extracted from the country’s offshore Liza field on December 20, president David Granger proclaimed it National Petroleum Day, adding that the revenues from oil would be “transformative” for Guyana’s economy.

“Petroleum production has brought the prospects of a higher quality of life closer to our households and neighbourhoods.

It is a momentous event,” he said. “Every Guyanese will benefit from petroleum production. No one will be left behind.”

The president added that what he called the “national decade of development” would give priority to reforming the education system.

But he was speaking against a backdrop of political uncertainty, with little more than two months to go before elections that could see him ousted before his plans can bear fruit.

CATAPULTED

Guyana, formerly British Guiana, is located in South America, but identifies with its British roots as part of the former British West Indies.

It is the home of the headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and, of course, one of the nations that provide the West Indies cricket team.

In recent years, the country has been catapulted to international attention by a series of oil discoveries amounting to billions of barrels. As a result, the International Monetary Fund has estimated that Guyana’s GDP could grow by 86 per cent this year.

Leading oil partner ExxonMobil has said that its first phase of production should

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reach 120,000 gross barrels of oil a day (bpd) over the coming year, while the Energy Voice newsletter says Guyana could end up producing more crude per person than any other country in the world.

Estimates of recoverable crude stand as high as six billion barrels for a country of just 780,000 people.

But despite Granger’s pledges to manage revenues “prudently”, it’s still unclear whether the people of Guyana will actually reap the benefits as political uncertainty mounts.

Elections are due on March 2 and Granger’s Partnership for National Unity coalition faces a stiff challenge from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which held power for 23 years until 2015.

One analyst who has been paying close attention to the implications of the country’s oil discovery is Professor Anthony Bryan, senior associate of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.

“The key to Guyana’s success is the effective management of the oil and gas sector,” he said.

“The danger is that any government will spend now on future earnings, taking on debt.

Inflation can rise, stifling the development of other industries.

“The population can become frustrated at the lack of any immediate tangible benefits that they may have expected from the oil revenues. Managing public expectations is critical. Regulations must be developed to protect against environmental degradation, including oil spills.

“And finally, there is the elephant in the room – namely corruption. The oversight institutions are crucial in order to combat this curse.”

Not surprisingly, the oil finds have upped the political stakes.

The forthcoming elections are the culmination of a long process, triggered by a no-confidence vote in parliament just before Christmas 2018.

Media observers say the

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PROMISES: President David Granger; inset, opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who may review oil production contracts country’s future is in the balance. According to Reuters news agency, Granger’s government has already taken “several key initial steps” towards managing Guyana’s new wealth properly, but that still remains “the crucial challenge” for whoever wins the election.

For its part, analytical journal Foreign Policy reckons that the work put in so far has placed Guyana “on the right path”, but that strong institutions will be essential for keeping the rapidly

It gives our country the chance to move into adulthood growing oil sector on track.

Foreign Policy points out that the New Petroleum Producers Discussion Group, an international forum for addressing development challenges in emerging petroleum markets, has already tackled some of the major issues with Guyana’s Natural Resources Ministry.

The ministry has since been working on setting up a petroleum commission to oversee the oil sector, seen as a key way to blocking potential corruption in a newly oil-rich country.

Draft legislation on managing the oil is expected to become a major political issue as the elections loom.

The energy industry is trying to figure out what the outcome at the polls is likely to mean for the Guyanese oil boom.

voicenews

In an article on what it called the country’s “stop-start election process”, analysis website Petroleum Economist said that oil was, unsurprisingly, the central electoral issue.

Petroleum Economist quoted opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo as stating that all ExxonMobil production-sharing agreement contracts would be reviewed if the PPP won.

It also quoted Raúl Gallegos, a director at consultancy Control Risks, who said that this position had been “politically profitable” for the PPP and “key to their electoral chances”.

HOPE

Meanwhile, the Guyanese themselves are contemplating what it all means for their international standing. The stateowned Guyana Chronicle newspaper said in a December 21 editorial that “first oil” brought with it new responsibilities, for both government and its citizens.

“We hope it brings out the best in us as a people. As a richer nation, the eyes of the world would be constantly on us. The critics would increase,” the editorial said.

It added: “Those who doubt the innate ability of the capacity of post-plantation people to manage wealth would be rooting for our failure, as the natural order of things. It is up to us to prove them wrong. It gives our country the chance to move from adolescence to adulthood.”

Former BBC Caribbean Service Head Debbie Ransome currently runs the website caribbeanintelligence.com.

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 23

International News

NIGERIAN ENTREPRENEUR URGES AFRICA TO IMPROVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Tony Elumelu was speaking at African, Caribbean and acific siness mmit in airobi en a

A

LEADING Nigerian economist and entrepreneur is urging African heads of state to improve the business environment in their countries to drive industrialisation and wealth creation.

Tony Elumelu, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa Group, was speaking at the recent African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Business Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

During his keynote speech on the theme Industrialisation and Private Sector Engagement for Economic Transformation of ACP States, Elumelu said that industrialisation will not be achieved without support for small and medium scale enter-

prises and improved access to electricity.

He said: “We cannot hope to industrialise if we do not fix the issue of power. If our entrepreneurs spend so much of their resources to power their businesses, how then are they expected to make the investments necessary to upgrade and industrialise?

ACHIEVE

“If we do not tackle these pertinent issues, we will be unable to achieve industrialisation, wealth creation and poverty reduction.”

Elumelu highlighted infrastructure development as another critical area needed to achieve sustainable development, highlighting the key

role the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group plays in achieving this. UBA is a force for development in Africa through infrastructure investment and leading the way in cross-border payments and services, with the objective of encouraging trade across the continent,” he said.

While citing the impact of the flagship Entrepreneurship Programme of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he highlighted the critical role partnership between the private and public sectors play in achieving industrialisation.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, a private-sector-led philanthropic initiative, is on a mission to boost the economic transformation of the continent by empowering young Afri-

can entrepreneurs. Over 7,500 beneficiaries across 54 African countries have benefited from its Entrepreneurship Programme.

Elumelu shared stories of beneficiaries in Kenya, including Dr Peter Gichuhi Mwethera, who has developed a contraceptive gel, Uniprin, which aims to prevent HIV infection, and Maureen Amakabane whose company, Usafi Sanitation, is bridging the sanitation gap in schools by providing waterless toilets.

SPIRIT

The president of Kenya, HE Uhuru Kenyatta, said he shared the same approach to development, while highlighting his country’s private sector-focused plan, which has pro-

KEYNOTE: Leading Nigerian entrepreneur Tony Elumelu pelled the country’s ease-ofdoing-business ranking in the world from 129th position out of 190 economies in 2013 to 56th position in 2019.

President Kenyatta said: “Our young people are tech-savvy and with a huge entrepreneurial spirit.

“They are ready to embrace the digital revolution.

“We are experiencing a flourishing digital innovation ecosystem, which can stimulate the rate of growth of ICT and technology innovations, and nurture vibrant tech start-ups and incubator hubs – as Tony (Elumelu) has mentioned – of those young men and women he has supported through his family and foundation.”

24 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

News

TRIBUTES PAID TO ‘INSPIRING’ WRITER Media entrepreneur Barbara Campbell is remembered by friends, former colleagues and others as someone who ‘worked tirelessly for community’

By Vic Motune

Roberts continues: “She was a straight-talking yet bubbly person. I have this memory of Barbara writing to one of the mainstream international women’s magazines who were looking for an editor. She wrote a bold letter challenging them to break protocol and by hiring their first black editor, but of course they didn’t reply. Barbara wanted to see change.

“Sad to see that she is no longer with us.”

‘P

IONEER’, ‘TRAILBLAZER’, ‘dynamic’, ‘tenacious’, ‘a beautiful friend and mentor’… these are just some of tributes to journalist, editor and publisher Barbara Campbell, whose passing was announced on social media on December 29.

Since the announcement of the tragic news, friends, former colleagues and others who knew her have flocked to pay tribute to a woman who played such an important role in shining a positive media spotlight on stories affecting the black community during a time when they were virtually ignored by the mainstream media.

After joining The Voice in 1994 and becoming editor of the publication’s sister paper, The Weekly Journal (later called The Journal) Campbell achieved prominence when she went on to launch the bimonthly magazine Live Listings in 1999 — described as a multicultural version of Time Out — through her company Barbwire Enterprises.

In 2003 she achieved another publishing first with the launch of Britain’s first Black History Month magazine, Black Heritage Today.

Campbell also developed International Black Women’s Month Magazine, an official guide which helped to consolidate the month in the UK.

‘Passionate ‘Impossible to about her work forget warmth and the black of her smile’ community’ Journalist and lecturer Vivi-

Former colleague Denise Dixon Roberts, who worked with Campbell on Black Out magazine, which was launched before Live Listings, spoke of the qualities that made Campbell a successful editor, publisher and passionate campaigner for the black community.

She told The Voice: “She played a significant role in our industry and was passionate about her work and the black community, of course, helping to provide opportunities for those coming behind her.

“She was certainly significant in my career. I worked with her on Black Out. Later I also wrote content for Black Heritage. I remember going to editorial meetings at Barbara’s flat in south London where she wore the hats of the editor, publisher and advertising executive.”

enne Francis agrees. Francis worked with Campbell during her time as a reporter and editor on The Weekly Journal.

She recalls: “I first met Barbara when we both worked as young, fresh-faced news reporters at The Weekly Journal in the mid-1990s. Although we haven’t been in touch for many years, it’s impossible to forget the warmth that her smile and strong character brought to The Voice’s offices.

“As journalists, we sought to elevate the issues, concerns and achievements of Britain’s black communities with impartiality and integrity. Barbara’s work achieved this. She had a deep understanding of the communities that she reported on and the issues that needed to be scrutinised. Her personality and reputation also ensured that she always had good access to the voices that needed to be heard.

INNOVATIVE: (clockwise from above) Barbara Campbell hitting the headlines; her work on Black Out; working as a reporter on The Voice in the 1990s

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“All of this translated into stories that brought originality and authenticity to the Journal.”

Another person whose life and work Campbell had a huge influence on is Winsome Duncan, aka Lyrical.

She recalls: “I am a solid writer because she poured into me her wealth of industry knowledge. We worked quite closely together and it was exciting times in her office with the radio switched on and our usual sing-a-long. She was constantly vibrant and had a fierce passion for the black community, arts and culture.”

Duncan added: “Ms Campbell was my friend, a mentor and a board member for my social enterprise MPLOYME. “I learned the value of unconditional friendship and grace in her presence. When you have someone rooting for you in all your endeavours, like a buried seed, you must push up through the soil, sprout your wings and fly. Barbara Campbell was that sister in the background always championing you on to win and I will always love her for that. I am honoured to spend time with this beautiful soul through the hill and gully. Rest in peace Babs, see you when I get there. My love always.”

‘Dynamic and engaging but she took no prisoners’

Other tributes have highlighted Campbell’s resilience as the publisher behind Live Listings and Black Heritage Today magazines.

The publications were launched at a time when the financial hurdles faced by black publishers and media businesses were particularly steep.

Patrick Vernon OBE, founder of 100 Great Black Britons site, worked with Campbell and witnessed the challenges that black publishers faced in the 1990s and 2000s.

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IMPORTANT LEGACY: Barbara Campbell (also inset left) was passionate about supporting the black community in all her ventures He said: “She was a dynamic, feisty, engaging person with a wicked sense of humour, but at the same time, she took no prisoners. It is no coincidence that she chose the name ‘Barbwire’ as the name of her company.

“It was not just a play on words. It reflected her steely will, tenacity, determination to fight for her business as she tried to provide a service to the community and sustain her family.

“She often would be working around the clock in her flat in Battersea editing, pitching for business and raising her two young children Leanna and Layton. It was always struggle when it came to publication deadlines in meeting the costs of printing her magazines.

However, she still managed to get her magazines out no matter what.”

‘A self-made publishing mogul’

Also paying tribute to her tenacity as a publisher, radio presenter and Voice columnist Dotun Adebayo said: “My abiding memory of Barbara Campbell is that you could never keep this good woman down. She got knocked down

voicenews

so many times in her efforts to ‘be’ somebody but she bounced right back with her cup always half-full, if not brimming over with love, ideas and enthusiasm.

“Of course she was somebody. She didn’t need the establishment’s approval or acknowledgement. She was a self-made publishing mogul who presided over a magazine empire that she invested her energy and determination into and no small amount of personal wealth.

“Every time I saw her she was on another entrepreneurial publishing venture, the details of which she laid out for me with that illuminating halfsmile that seemed to say, ‘You t’ink me did done? Me jus’ ah come man, me jus’ a come.’

“We are all the poorer for the loss of this amazing woman.”

Keysha Davis, a journalist who worked with Campbell on Live Listings and Black Heritage Today, added: “She was a pioneer, trailblazer and renaissance woman who worked tirelessly to support and celebrate the black British community she cared so greatly for. I am so thankful for the help and guidance she granted me. May her soul rest in perfect peace.”

Barbara Campbell, June 30, 1958 – December 27, 2019

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

Kian

Connor

Rose (Left), Sal (Right)

needed: families with room for laughter & love in their homes.

Kian is 3 years old. He initially appears shy but when he gets to know someone he is very inquisitive and interactive. He plays well with other children.

Connor is 2 years old. He is a happy and affectionate young boy who is kind and caring to other children. Connor loves exploring and his favourite thing is climbing!

Kian is giggly and fun and brings a smile to the face of those who know him. He enjoys playing with toy cars and trucks and is an active boy who loves to be outdoors.

He will always take on a challenge and if he can’t do something, he will keep trying. He loves being outdoors – riding his bike, playing at the park or looking for bugs. Indoors he likes to play with toy cars, tractors, trains, planes and Lego blocks.

Rose loves attending nursery and she is learning new skills and new speech all the time. Sal is a happy girl who loves to be exploring. Rose experienced frightening care in her early life.

Connor had a tricky start to life.

In utero, he was exposed to substance misuse. For his first six months, he experienced poor care by being left alone at times, changes in caregivers and hearing lots of arguments.

It is likely that both girls were exposed to alcohol misuse in utero.

Rose and Sal are looking for an adoptive family who can care for them as siblings and accept any uncertainties in their future development.

Kian has a chromosome disorder and has progressed greatly in his development since coming into foster care. He is delayed in his speech and has extra support for this. Kian is an adorable and fun little boy who is thriving in the care of his foster carers.

He loves attending nursery and is popular amongst the adults and children.

Kian is looking for an adoptive family who can support him to continue to thrive and meet his cultural needs.

His birth mother is White British and Black Caribbean; his birth father is Pakistani.

Connor is looking for an adoptive family who are warm, nurturing and active and who can accept any uncertainties in his future development due to the effect of substance misuse in pregnancy.

Rose (aged 2) and Sal (aged 1) are full sisters sharing the same birth mother (White British) and birth father (Black Caribbean). They have a very close bond and Rose adores her baby sister.

If you can give these children a loving home, or want to know more about adoption, visit aceadoption.com/contact or call 0300 369 0556

THE VOICE| 25

26 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Education

MORE BLACK BRITISH STUDENTS THAN EVER CHOOSING OXFORD e s ollo s significant ear or e orts to diversi st dent bod

O

XFORD UNIVERSITY has announced that more than 22 per cent of undergraduate students starting in 2019 were Britons from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds – up from 18 per cent on the previous year’s UCAS admissions statistics.

The overall proportion of black students admitted is up from 2.6 per cent in 2018 to 3.1 per cent in 2019.

The news comes at the end of a significant year for the university’s stated commitment to access.

UNVEILED

Last May, two new initiatives – Opportunity Oxford and Foundation Oxford — were announced, alongside a steady rise in the number of students from under-represented backgrounds choosing the university.

And, last month, the university unveiled the Oxford–Arlan Hamilton & Earline Butler Sims Scholarship – its first dedicated, fully funded scholarship at undergraduate level for black British students from disadvantaged backgrounds, provided by the international tech entrepreneur Arlan Hamilton.

Professor Martin Williams, pro-vice-chancellor for educa-

tion at Oxford University, said: “It has been a busy 12 months at Oxford, and I am thrilled to share that our efforts to widen access – and build a university environment where talented students from every background and region are welcome and would want to be here – are moving in the right direction.

“These developments are testament to the individuals working towards and driving our access agenda day to day.

“Our access and outreach teams work with schools, families and communities to reach students and provide opportunities for them to decide for

Students need to feel welcome, valued and respected themselves based on facts and what we have to offer them – not hearsay, or long-held perceptions – whether Oxford is the place for them.”

Students who have applied to the university in this cycle are set to take part in the Opportunity Oxford pilot programme this summer.

And the first Oxford-Arlan Hamilton & Earline Butler Sims scholar is due to begin at the university in the next academic year, which starts in autumn 2020.

As well as continued efforts to sustain an inclusive undergraduate student body, specific attention will be given to ensuring that the university environment is as inclusive as it can be, from the curriculum studied to the behaviours observed.

PROUD

Work will also focus on postgraduate admissions, and expanding the university’s offering for students who have been through the care system.

Professor Williams added: “Truly being an inclusive institution is about more than just talking about access and attracting students from less traditional backgrounds.

“All students need to feel and trust that Oxford is somewhere they feel welcome, valued and respected, and that their wellbeing matters to the university.

“I am proud to be a part of this exceptional university community, and over the next 12 months I look forward to sharing more about our work to take Oxford University to the next level.”

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East London student in line for award UNIVERSITY OF East London graduate Allison Vitalis has been chosen as one of three finalists for a top prize at the prestigious British Education Awards (BEA).

Vitalis’s selection in the ‘Degree Category (England Zone 2)’ recognises her work as a curriculum ambassador with the university’s widening participation team and her work with a charity helping victims of knife crime.

Winners were due to be announced at a ceremony in Manchester after The Voice went to press.

Vitalis (inset) said: “I am delighted to have been selected as one of the top three finalists in the British Education Awards.

“It is a great honour and I am excited about attending the awards ceremony in Manchester.

“This, on top of getting a first-class degree at the University of East London last year and winning a NEON education award, is really fantastic, especially after all the tough times I have been through trying to achieve my goals and bring up a family.”

BUSY

Vitalis, 44, from Hackney, east London, achieved a first-class honours degree in clinical and community psychology in November.

She also won the ‘Student of the Year’ prize at the 2019 National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) Awards.

Vitalis was a mature student at university while also raising Brandon, 19, and Ariètte, 8, as a single mother.

Despite a busy life of family, work and studies, Vitalis still managed to find time to get involved in a number of volunteer projects.

Since earning her degree, she has stepped up her voluntary work helping victims of

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knife crime. She is passionate about wanting to help young people at risk and families who have been affected by crime.

Vitalis first became interested in 2016 while working part-time with the Hackney Playstreet organisation.

The organisation’s work includes arranging for streets to be closed off so young people can freely play.

The successful graduate’s charity work includes being a volunteer project director of The Charlie Burns Foundation and The Shaquan Sammy-Plummer Foundation.

The British Education Awards recognise the outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements of students.

A UEL spokesperson said: “The BEA winners are ambassadors for British education. In shining a light on these success stories, the BEA promotes the merits of a British education on both a national and international stage.

“These celebrated scholars represent the best that can be achieved through dedication and hard work, whether at school, college, university or vocational level.”

Vitalis and other nominees in her category will be evaluated on criteria including grades, extracurricular activities, community awareness and entrepreneurship.

Speaking about why she is so passionate about the issue of knife crime, she said: “My nephew Ramone, who is now 25, got stabbed.

That made me even more convinced that something had to be done. Fortunately, he has recovered.

“I hope that the work I am doing is helping save lives and I hope that I have helped provide comfort to parents and families who have lost children through this kind of crime.”

voicenews

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 27

Education

DMU AIMS TO CLOSE THE GAP IN BAME ATTAINMENT De Montfort University initiative to tackle systems that create disadvantage for ethnic minorities

D

E MONTFORT University Leicester (DMU) has launched an initiative to close the attainment gap for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students in higher education.

The Decolonising DMU project aims to encourage staff and students to examine the everyday norms of university life to identify and eliminate systems, structures and behaviours that create disadvantages for ethnic minorities.

During an official launch event at The Venue@DMU, the head of culture change and leadership for the department for education, Rob Neil OBE, told an audience of more than 200 guests: “I think it is exciting and it is vitally important because it is bringing us closer

to the truth – it’s shining a light on our past and will no doubt inform the future and how we interact, how we learn and what we learn.”

Neil, who mentors public sector organisations to help them improve their approach to inclusion and leadership, added: “I know we are on a journey but DMU is leading the way and, in leading the way, will enlighten others.”

GRADUATE

Over the last decade there has been an increase of more than 50 per cent in the number of BAME full-time undergraduate students in the UK, yet only 58 per cent of black students who graduate achieve a first or a 2:1 degree, compared with 81 per cent of white students and 71 per cent of Asian students.

DMU has pledged to close this attainment gap by ensuring the learning environment, campus and curriculum is more inclusive for all.

Decolonising DMU also links with the university’s ongoing commitment to the Race Equality Charter, which aims to inspire a strategic approach to making cultural and systemic changes that will make a real and sustainable difference to BAME staff and students.

The project follows the university’s Freedom to Achieve project, which highlighted its commitment to embracing cultural diversity for success and guaranteeing that all students have equality of access within their education.

As part of Freedom to Achieve, the project team evaluated the curriculum and

VISION: Kaushika Patel, project director of Decolonising DMU; inset, members of the project’s team the resources available for 40 courses at DMU. Following this, the university closed its own attainment gap from 13 per cent to 9 per cent – well above

We know we need to go beyond changing the curriculum the national average – and this next phase aims to get it down to zero.

“We realised that we need to go beyond just changing the curriculum,” said Kaushika

Patel, DMU’s pro-vice-chancellor for equality, diversity and inclusion and project director of Decolonising DMU. “It isn’t just about the curriculum, it is about the whole university, who teaches the students and how they are represented in the university.

“Are the staff representative of our diverse student body?

What practical changes do we need to make in our recruitment processes? What practical changes do we need to make in supporting staff to understand how to address issues around race and colonialism?”

She added: “It’s about how we constructively challenge each other and move forward in a really tangible way. We will look at institution infrastruc-

ture, our policies and processes, supporting staff in training and development and supporting students’ awareness and understanding while helping them to engage with us.”

Mark Prescod, associate professor in marketing at DMU, is part of the Decolonising DMU project team.

He said: “We are looking outside the classroom to make sure that the experience students have is reflective of the students who are actually here at the university, and that they can see themselves in everything that the university does.

“At just under nine per cent, we are ahead of the national attainment gap. But until it gets to zero, we want people to join us on this journey.”

Students work with police and local schools to combat knife crime KNIFE CRIME in London, how people see the police, and new technology used in policing were some of the key topics addressed by students at a recent mini-conference at the University of East London (UEL) examining criminology and policing issues.

The event was part of the university’s increased focus on creating greater cooperation and dialogue between communities across London and the police.

UEL students on the Professional Policing degree course, together with pupils from Westminster City School, also looked at the influence of crime and the professionalisation of policing.

The event was also part of the UEL’s recently launched Tri-Com project, a unique initiative which aims to help break down barriers and perceptions between groups through dialogue.

Dr Sarah Jane Fox, the university’s programme lead on policing, law and criminology, and the initiator of the project, said: “Tri-Com is a collaborative partnership project which aims to encourage inclusion and engagement

Zainah James, a teacher from Westminster City School in central London, said: “We want to be part of a cultural transformation in our city and we are massively excited to work with the police and University of East London to make this happen.

across London by breaking down barriers and myths. We also aim to build up more trust between the police and young people.

“The objectives that Tri-Com is focusing on relate to understanding peer pressure such as online, virtual and face-to-face.

“What we are trying to do is to increase awareness, and as part of this to deter youths from crimes, including knife crime and online crimes, while at the same time minimising the risk of them becoming victims.”

EXPLORE

Dr Fox added: “We recognise the need to educate and inform about the police and the role of policing by establishing avenues of communications by interactivity and mentoring.

We want to work together to problem-solve by forming collaborative groups and working from the bottom-up and top-down – meeting in the middle to find and explore solutions to society’s issues.”

As part of the project, university students and young people meet regularly with po-

INVESTIGATIVE

DIALOGUE: Sixth formers from Westminster City School meeting with UEL students PICTURE: UEL

lice officers to discuss issues that affect them, while exploring solutions and gaining a better understanding, from all sides, of challenges that exist in the community.

University students will, in year two of their studies, engage in further community engagement projects.

“Our students are interested in different aspects such as psychology, policing and the investigative area of police work. This is a great opportunity for them to learn and contribute to tackling the issues that young people across London face.”

James added: “Working with the students from the University of East London will give our pupils an insight into east London life and enable them to learn from people near their own age.”

Professor Julia Davidson, a criminology academic at UEL, said: “This project directly links into the university’s new specialist Online Harms and Cyber Crime Unit and the work we have recently been engaging in, not only in London but across the globe.”

28 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Business & Money

KEEPING YOUR MONEY SAFE FROM THE IDENTITY THIEVES

imple meas res s o ld stop ra dsters rom r ining o r financial li e

By Chima Obieze

M

ILLIONS OF people every year fall victim to identity theft or credit card

fraud.

There’s no doubt that being the victim of credit fraud or identity theft can have a devastating impact on one’s life.

And recent figures would suggest that it’s a problem that’s growing.

According to a 2018 report

by Fraudscape identity fraud in Britain hit a record high with 174,523 incidents that year.

Many of these happened online.

The report also highlighted concerns that fraudsters are increasingly making the move away from credit card and bank fraud towards products and services such as mobile phone contracts, online retail accounts, retail credit loans and even dating profiles, which are subject to less stringent security checks.

Research by virtual private network comparison site Top10VPN.com found that cyber criminals can buy someone’s PayPal login for a price of £280.

Online dating accounts, eBay accounts and social media profiles can also give criminals an easy path to accessing someone’s personal details in order to steal money.

Simon Migliano, head of research at Top10VPN.com, said: “Some of the accounts we found for sale open the door to even more ingenious scams. A hacked Airbnb account, for example, could allow a scammer to pocket hundreds in booking fees or even stay at high-end properties as a guest and burgle the hosts. At less than £6 initial outlay, that’s very appealing to a cybercriminal.

“Our research is a stark re-

There are many routes fraudsters use to take your cash minder of just how easy it is to get hold of personal info on the dark web and the sheer variety of routes that fraudsters can take to get hold of your money.

“This really underlines the importance of two-factor authentication and, more generally, secure use of websites and apps.”

Not only is it a major pain to replace lost credit cards or have money stolen from you, it is a personal violation of the worst kind. Having your identity stolen and trying to prove that it was not you who had made

those purchases or applied for a certain set of papers (such as a passport) is frightening and unnerving at best.

So, it makes sense to take those extra steps to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

Below are three important steps you can take to protect yourself.

1. Use an identity theft protection service These services can provide one of the best ways to tackle online fraud.

Companies such as Cifas, Experian Credit, Check My File and Identity Force combine tools to protect your identity from being stolen with monitoring of credit reports, credit card transactions, banking activity, and even benefits information.

They will monitor your accounts to see if any suspicious activity has taken place and immediately contact the appropriate parties as well as you in order to stop fraud before it happens or gets out of control.

These services may cost you a monthly fee, but they are worth their weight in gold should the need arise to protect yourself.

2. Be computer wary So many computer scams can look truly authentic.

But if you receive a pop-up of any kind, this should be your first indication that something

PRECAUTIONS: Millions of people fall victim to online fraud but there are steps you can take is not right. Even if it has a professional logo that you recognise, do not trust anything that “pops up” on your computer.

Also, be very wary of websites that you visit, and make absolutely certain that you have an up-to-date firewall and antispyware, antivirus programmes on your computer. In addition, make sure that you are using an updated and current version of your web browser to take advantage of the latest security features.

Watch out for emails that seem like they are from some-

one you know, but have an odd subject matter or none at all.

If you have the time, always ask a friend if they sent you something before you open it if it looks even a little bit suspicious.

3. Use a paper shredder As outdated as this may seem, using a paper shredder can save you from a costly mistake.

Many identity thefts begin with your rubbish. Personal information such as name, telephone number, national insurance numbers, and bank ac-

count records, as well as credit card statements are all subject to identity theft.

Shredding those important documents is key to keeping your personal information safe.

If you can, go paperless. Digital communication leaves little room for identity thieves to plough through your bins and piece together important data.

While there are many more ways to protect your identity, these are three ways you can easily get started on the path to keeping your identity safe.

How to cut down on those mounting grocery bills

By Chima Obieze

phone with the regular prices of the items you buy most often.

Not only can you see if that ‘deal’ really is a deal, you can also determine what kitchen staple is cheapest where and adjust your shopping accordingly.

Your price book will also come in handy when you browse through supermarket flyers. You can decide if a loss leader deal is worth driving to the store long before you ever set a foot out the door.

ASIDE FROM your mortgage, your biggest monthly expense is likely groceries.

But unlike your mortgage, car payments and other bills you have to pay, you actually have some control over how much you spend on food – you’re the one who picks it from the shop.

Below are four simple tips you can try to bring the household food bill under control.

1. Make a grocery budget Start by tracking how much you’re spending on groceries for a few weeks. From there, come up with a weekly or monthly budget. Allot that money for groceries and aim to not go over.

Next, try cutting back your budget by £20 per month. Keep going and see how low you can go.

2. Keep a price book Who doesn’t love a bargain or a good deal?

They are all over the store, but do you know if what they advertise as a good deal is actually saving you money? You might if you keep a little notebook or a text document on your

@thevoicenewspaper

3. Come up with a few frugal dishes You don’t have to make drastic changes and eat nothing but rice and beans all week. Instead, think of a few inexpensive dishes your family enjoys. How about a big pot of soup or chili?

Often meatless dishes will be your best frugal

@thevoicenews

bet, or at least use meat in small portions on frugal dish days.

Enjoying frugal meals even just a handful of days during the month – combined with using up any and all leftovers – can make a big difference in your grocery budget.

4. Cut out the extras Those little extras like the fancy bread from the bakery or the sweets you grabbed at the checkout start to add up.

Get in the habit of skipping those extras unless there’s a good reason to buy them.

Stick to your list and you’ll cut your grocery bill by quite a bit each week. It’s amazing how all those little extras add up.

Give these tips a try and you could well see big savings on a weekly basis.

voicenews

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 29

Business & Money

FEMALE BUSINESS BOOST

British Government money will give support to African women entrepreneurs to connect them to global markets while developing gender-inclusive trade policies

I

NTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Secretary Alok Sharma has announced that the UK is to play a greater role in supporting female entrepreneurs in Africa.

Speaking just before the UK-Africa Investment summit (January 20), Sharma said that the UK would commit to boosting support to female entrepreneurs in Africa, helping them overcome barriers to starting businesses and connecting them to global markets.

The new plans will support female entrepreneurs to secure more investment through specialist business training, creating up to 3,000 more jobs and aim to reduce inequality in the workplace.

TAILORED

UK support will also create potential investment and development partnerships for women entrepreneurs as well as seeing the Government work with its counterparts in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya to develop tailored gender-inclusive trade policies.

Africa has the highest concentration of female entrepreneurs, accounting for almost a third of all businesses on the continent.

However, their contributions to the continent’s economic growth remains low, primarily because many women face significant barriers to growing their businesses, such as ob-

taining investment from banks, with almost two thirds of women in Sub-Sahara Africa without bank accounts.

According to Sharma, supporting women-owned businesses to participate in global trade helps drive economic growth and reduce poverty.

He said: “When women are economically empowered, their whole community benefits. Africa’s full potential can only be realised if the energy and ideas of the whole population are unleashed.”

Sharma added that a key part of the UK’s plans was to scale up the successful SheTrades Commonwealth programme, which was launched in 2018 after the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

It has seen more than 2,800 female entrepreneurs receive skills-based training, tailored business advice and mentoring to help them manage and promote their businesses better.

According to the Department for International Development (DFID) in countries where SheTrades is working, it has generated over £18m in revenue.

Ghanaian entrepreneur Leonie Badger, owner of the company Studio Badge, a design and manufacturing home décor brand, which has been supported by SheTrades, said: “I have been able to connect with new and potential buyers from all over the world – that helps

CREATE OPPORTUNITY: International Development Secretary Alok Sharma discusses ideas with African female entrepreneurs me promote the beauty and uniqueness of Ghanaian art for my business Studio Badge.

“Beyond that I have received technical training and mentorship that has inspired me to dream big and gain even more confidence in my product.

“SheTrades has been transformational for my business and I am grateful and excited for the future.”

A DFID spokesperson said: “The long-term economic benefits of supporting women and girls are clear – for every $1 invested in vital reproductive health services, $120 is invested back in economies around the world.

“UK aid is not only helping to increase access to family planning and safe healthcare for women and girls, the SheTrades

programme commits to making women leaders in business across African nations.

BILLIONS

The spokesperson added: “The UK-Africa Investment Summit will bring together businesses, governments and international organisations to strengthen the partnership between the UK

and Africa and help generate billions of pounds of opportunities for both British and African businesses.

“This investment will deliver jobs and growth. By creating more economic opportunities for Africa’s women, it will help more women to enter the workforce, become more financially independent, and help lift their communities out of poverty.”

£50m of start-up loans in London going to BAME entrepreneurs A GOVERNMENT-BACKED programme has provided a significant funding boost to London-based entrepreneurs from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

New figures show that almost half of all loans from the Government-backed Start Up Loans scheme have gone to BAME entrepreneurs since 2012.

In total, the programme has lent over £50m to ethnic minority entrepreneurs in the capital.

The Start Up Loans scheme provides personal loans for business purposes of up to £25,000 at a six per cent fixed interest rate per annum and offers free dedicated mentoring and support to each business.

The aim of the Start Up Loans scheme is to ensure that viable start-ups and early-stage businesses have access to the finance and support they need in order to thrive.

Among the BAME entrepreneurs who have benefited from the loans to start a business is

Jacqueline Hall (inset), from Rainham in Havering. After being made redundant and then turned down from various job interviews, she decided to switch careers and pursue her dream of becoming a life coach.

Inspired by her love of people and listening to their problems, Hall used a £2,500 Start Up Loan to launch DALE Coaching, her own online mentoring company offering development and career coaching.

The business has since expanded to include family business leadership team facilitation and a consortium with other female entrepreneurs that hosts workshops and learning sets and encourages women into STEM-related careers.

Hall said: “After the employment struggles I faced I never thought I’d have been able to launch my own business, but the initial loan I received from Start Up Loans was the kick-start I needed.

“My story shows that if you believe in your

idea and have the tenacity and determination to succeed, then anything is possible. Of course there are hurdles on the way, but I’ve felt supported in facing them.”

AWARDS

Michaela Alexander, from Bow, Tower Hamlets, also used a Start Up Loans to help start her business.

She took out a £10,000 loan in 2016 to write and launch her own children’s book series, Miles & Mia, named after her own two children, after she noticed a lack of ethnic diversity in children’s story books.

Following the success of Michaela’s first book, Miles & Mia A to Z, which won two gold awards for Best Children’s Book at the Junior Design Award and the Mumii Family Awards, Alexander has focused her time on championing diversity in literature and will launch a second book next year.

She said: “I feel very lucky that I have been

able to harness two very important passions in my life, my children and the need for more diversity in children’s books, to make my dream of writing my own books come true.

“I was completely new to running a small business and self-publishing a book. It has been a demanding but brilliant journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the initial funding and support from Start Up Loans.”

Andrea Leadsom, the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, which funds the project, said: “I want the UK to be the best place in the world to work and start a business, and the success achieved by entrepreneurs like Jacqueline and Michaela is an inspiration.

“It is fantastic to see that almost half of Start Up Loans in London have been awarded to people from ethnic minority backgrounds. With the new year starting, now is a great time to start hatching business plans.

“The government-owned British Business Bank offers a range of support to aspiring business owners to help make those plans a reality.”

30 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

People.

Purpose.

Passion.

To find out more about the new JN Bank go to uk.jngroup.com

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE| 31

32 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Soul Stirrings

by Marcia Dixon

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCHES A RANGE OF HEALTHY FOOD IN ASDA

Segun Akinwoleola says he drew on his faith during tough times to achieve his dream

W

HEN SEGUN A k i nwole ola , 31, shared with his ARC church family in east London a journey he’s had to undertake to achieve his dream of seeing a healthy ready meal brand launched in a supermarket, he received a standing ovation.

Segun’s journey to launching The Gym Kitchen brand – a range of meals people can prepare themselves – started in 2017 when he had the idea of developing a healthy meal prep range.

He had grown tired of prepping meals on a Sunday for the week ahead or having to order from meal prep companies and then not wanting to eat it on the Wednesday.

MEDITATING

WISE WORDS: Segun Akinwoleola says he meditated to Ecclesiastes 3 before each meeting

SPAC Nation faces probe in wake of claims THE COMING year is set to be crunch time for youth church SPAC Nation.

The church, which was once positively profiled in the media for its success in reaching atrisk youth and young people in gangs, is now being talked about for all the wrong reasons.

An exposé in The Huffington Post and a BBC One Panorama programme have uncovered allegations of manipulation, financial abuse and safeguarding issues.

SPAC Nation will be subject to an inquiry by the Charity Commission, which will examine

financial, governance and safeguarding matters at the charity.

Particular concern has been expressed by the Charity Commission about the amount of charity income held in cash.

And just last month, SPAC Nation was the centre of a parliamentary debate about its activities.

Despite receiving pressure from all sides, the church is maintaining a strong social media presence and hundreds of its members are still attending meetings.

Thought for the month “You don’t need a new day to start over, you only need a new mindset” — Hazel Hira Ozbek @thevoicenewspaper

After getting the idea, for the past 18 months Segun has been focused on developing the food range with a state-of-the-art manufacturer that delivered on taste, nutritional content and price.

It was Segun’s faith in God that kept him going when things got difficult.

He recalled: “There were times I had to question why I was still trying hard working on this, but because it was ordained

by Him, he opened the doors to get the biggest manufacturer on board, so I had to keep on going.

“The whole of last year I’ve been listening to Never Lost A Battle before every meeting and meditating on Ecclesiastes 3.”

Though he encountered numerous obstacles and difficulties in bringing the product to market last month, The Gym Kitchen food range – comprised of four different meals – was launched in 120 Asda stores across the UK. All the hard work had definitely been worth it.

When Segun announced that The Gym Kitchen range had hit

@thevoicenews

Asda stores on social media, it went crazy.

To date, he has received 2,900 Facebook likes and 1,300 shares, 9,200 likes on Twitter and 1,000-plus likes on Instagram, plus lots of personal messages.

Segun has been pleasantly surprised by the response.

He said: “It’s been so crazy.

I think people seeing a young

I thought I was launching meals. Turns out I was inspiring a nation black man launch a brand into a supermarket that looks like them has resonated. I thought I was just launching healthy meals, but turns out I was inspiring a nation of people.”

Segun, born to Nigerian parents, is the eldest of three children and grew up in Forest Gate, east London.

He became a Christian at 19.

Whilst most of the role models he was surrounded by growing up were rappers, footballers and actors, Segun aspired to run a business.

DRIVE

A university graduate – he has a first-class degree in business management – Segun spent many years working for corporate companies such as Revlon, Coty (Rimmel London) and Kao Brands (John Frieda).

Then, in 2017, he felt it was time to follow his entrepreneurial drive. The Gym Kitchen is the result.

As far as Segun is concerned, this debut range is just the start.

He said: “I want to continue to build The Gym Kitchen to what I believe it can be.

“I aim to develop new and exciting brands that play on the new trends, such as veganism, and help young people to get into some of the big companies before going off to run their own companies.”

For more information, visit thegymkitchen.com.

ON SALE: Segun Akinwoleola with his harissa chicken, Korean beef chilli, piri piri chicken and chicken tikka meals in Asda

voicenews

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e h t r o f All Rise

Photo credit: Eamonn M. McCormack, Getty Images

London Borough of Cultur

Spectacular Show Launches Brent’s

2020 Vision

e

34 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Destination Brent

A BOROUGH GOING PLACES Leader of Brent Council, Muhammed Butt, talks to The Voice and says young people are the future

CULTURE: Sadiq Khan, Kanya King and Muhammed Butt

By Rodney Hinds RH: How proud are you to be the leader of the council?

MB: I have lived in Brent my entire life. I was born here; I’ve raised a family here and now I have the immense privilege of making history here, leading Brent Council during its year as the London Borough of Culture.

For many years there was a sense that Brent was a place that was bypassed or travelled through, but for the last decade that I’ve served, I’ve dedicated my heart and soul to reversing that – and I think it’s working. Right now, we’re a borough going places. From Willesden to Wembley homes are going up, people are moving in and joining our

community.

How excited are you about the borough being named the London Borough of Culture?

It really is the honour of a lifetime.

We really want to showcase the best of Brent and prove to the doubters and naysayers that multiculturalism isn’t failing, but is flourishing in this corner of London.

This year will be the first year the United Kingdom is no longer in the European Union and the focus will be right here in Wembley for the Euros. We think there’s an appetite for new stories about Britain and its relationship with the rest of the world – and Brent can be the place to tell them.

We are the most diverse area in the most diverse city in the world; we are proud to celebrate the stories of our multicultural communities; and we are proud to invite you to experience Brent’s year as London Borough of Culture.

What legacy can that status of London Borough of Culture achieve for the borough?

We know that young people are the future, so we’ve put them at the heart

of our plans, funding a cultural trust, which will give generation after generation the opportunity to experience theatre, music and visual arts – and practise them in spaces, venues and studios right here in Brent.

Before we started our bid, we spoke to young people working with us about what culture meant for them and we learned a lot of hard truths. None of them had ever been to the Tate and few of them knew of the National Theatre – our year as Borough of Culture has to be the beginning of new connections between Brent’s young people and London’s arts and culture.

For too long, experiencing the arts has meant travelling elsewhere, but I want to talk for the Brent that inspired Zadie Smith; that plays host to 16 art galleries; 25 square miles of green space; 5 state of the art libraries; 52 mosques, 17 temples and our 123 churches – and not forgetting the small matter of our national football stadium and world famous music arena.

What would you say to those that have thought of visiting Brent but have not done so yet?

Our Journey Our Story Share your Sickle Cell Story

Come and visit. You might not have heard of us before, but you will do soon – we’re a borough with its head in the city and its toes in the suburbs.

Londoners complain that community is going out of favour, but we’re a borough of 143 languages, where cultures live, work and rest side by side. I am obviously biased, but Brent’s residents are some of the happiest, friendliest and in this divided world, some of the most welcoming.

The vibrancy of the borough is made by its diversity. Brent welcomes everybody what will you do to keep that going?

While we celebrate Brent as one of the most diverse boroughs in London, its very diversity can create divisions – and we can’t take the harmony we have in Brent for granted.

The recent anti-semitic vandalism in Camden, just a few minutes down the road, shows how the wheels of hate are once again in motion.

Labour politicians have a proud tradition of giving voice to those without one. In Brent we will continue to champion cohesion and challenge hate, wherever it emerges.

BRENT IS THE HISTORICAL HOME OF THE SICKLE CELL SOCIETY

photo credit June Okochi

T

The Sickle Cell Society is presenting a new project in 2020 exploring the history of Sickle Cell in the UK since the Windrush generation's arrival. Help us shine the light on the UK's fastest growing genetic condition. Sickle Cell disproportionally affects people from Black African and Caribbean heritage. Whether you are patient, a carer, a family member of a sickle cell patient, a campaigner or medical professional, share your story by contacting alinta.sara@sicklecellsociety.org @thevoicenewspaper

Dawn Butler, Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, was elected as a member of parliament for Brent South in 2005 and described her consistency as a shining example of integration at its best.

She told The Voice: “I am really proud that Brent has been awarded the London Borough of Culture 2020 and congratulate everyone who backed the campaign.

“Brent is one of the most diverse borough in Europe and this presents the opportunity for us to showcase our talent, creativity and cultural diversity.

“All communities will be involved in the celebrations and I encourage you all to log onto the Brent website and participate.

Let’s celebrate each other on all of our uniqueness.

he Sickle Cell Society was founded in 1979.

Last year the charity celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Presently the charity is excited to present a new project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The project will chart a history of Sickle Cell Disorders (SCD) in the UK since the Windrush Generation’s arrival.

CRUCIAL

SCD disproportionately affects people of Black African and Caribbean heritage and is now the UK’s fastest-growing genetic condition – changes over the last 70 years have been immense. This project is necessary and crucial. Although SCD has been medically recognised as a health condition for over a century, awareness of it remains relatively low and people with SCD are still facing stigma.

• The issues faced by people with SCD (and carriers of the trait) and their families • How campaigning and lobbying has dramatically increased awareness and understanding of SCD, improved standards of care, increased diagnosis and informed research and treatment • The role of the NHS, patient support groups and the Sickle Cell Society • Recognising the individuals to whom we owe thanks for their tireless hard work and commitment to the cause.

The project will target participant groups in London and the Midlands (where SCD preva-

This project will look at:

@thevoicenews @thevoicenews

voicenewspaper voicenewspaper

lence is high), engaging a much wider audience in public events.

Over 18 months, we will deliver: • Research/evidence-gathering • Establishment of a Sickle Cell Society archive • Heritage workshops engaging young people and the over 50s affected by SCD • Oral histories obtained from campaigners, pioneers, patients, and other prominent individuals • An exhibition accompanied by public events.

Whether you are patient, a carer, a family member of a sickle cell patient, a campaigner, medical professional and you want to share your story, your archives or simply you want to know more about the project contact Alinta Sara (alinta. sara@sicklecellsociety.org)

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 35

Photo credit: Eamonn M. McCormack, Getty Images

Destination Brent

EXTRAVAGANZA (above, left to right) EXTRAVAGANZA: scenes from RISE, the opening event to launch Brent as the Borough of Culture for 2020

Spectacular show launches Brent’s 2020 vision

T

HOUSANDS OF people were taken back in time as they watched a community cast of hundreds telling the story of Brent through dance, spoken word and projections underneath the iconic Wembley arch.

RISE, the opening event to launch Brent as the London Borough of Culture for 2020, took viewers through some of Brent’s most well-known history on Saturday (Jan 18).

Brent’s large Irish and West Indian populations were celebrated as contemporary dancers showcased the arrival of the communities who settled in the borough in the 1940’s and made Brent their home. For generations, people of different countries, faiths and backgrounds came to find a new life in Brent.

DANCERS

There was reference to the huge mark Brent has made in the football world with a nod to Brent-born Cyrille Regis and Raheem Sterling as a community cast of dancers performed a football inspired routine with

the world famous Wembley Stadium as a backdrop.

Trojan Records and reggae were next on the scene as dancers paid homage to Brent’s history as the gateway to reggae music in the UK. Brent has a rich contribution of music to Britain and was once home to Bob Marley and the Wailers as they toured the UK in the 1970s.

flags and placards to recreate the strike and the picket lines that were set up in the 70s.

Spoken word and a “holi” inspired dance piece brought the performance to its crowd pleasing final lead by General Levy who performed his hit Incredible, surrounded by hundreds of local dancers from across Brent’s diverse communities.

CULTURES Neasden is home to the largest temple in Europe. Members of the temple and dancers from the Hindu community showcased their talents as they portrayed the labour of love that helped build the temple.

The Grunwick Strike, which took place in Dollis Hill, was a protest of the working conditions faced by the staff of mainly Asian women. Led by Jayaben Desai, the strike became a movement. In a visual spectacle that included the now famous words Jayaben said in protest, community dancers waved

Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council said: “I was born in Brent in 1966 and have lived here my whole life. I grew up with people from all over the world who have settled in Brent and made this borough their home.

“I’m so proud to be a lifelong Brent resident and the launch of the Borough of Cultures perfectly captured the true diversity and history of our borough.”

Lois Stonock, artistic director of London Borough of Cultures said: “RISE was a celebration of the huge positive contribution that different cultures have made to Brent both economically and culturally.”

36 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Destination Brent

THE JASON ROBERTS FOUNDATION: A KEY HUB FOR SO MANY REASONS

By Rodney Hinds

O

NE OF the key hubs in Brent is the Bridgestone Arena, formerly The Pavilion. The venue is the sporting home of the Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF).

The Foundation was established in 2007 by former professional footballer, media personality and social activist Jason Roberts as a means to put something back into the community he came from. It also underpins his belief in equal opportunities, rights and representation for individuals regardless of background or circumstance.

REGARDLESS

Initially focusing on the Stonebridge Estate in the London Borough of Brent, where

FOUNDER: Jason Roberts Jason grew up, and in Grenada, where his family originate from and for whom he played as an international footballer, the Foundation originally focused on football based social inclusion projects. These are initiatives that offer participation and playing opportunities to young people who otherwise have little chance of accessing coaching or opportunities to progress as players.

The JRF works across bound-

aries to engage and support young people.

In recent years the work of the Foundation has broadened to provide a more holistic programme of support including mentoring, life skills, education and training projects within its wider sports activities and has worked with young people at risk of offending, those excluded from school or struggling in the school curriculum, and young people with physical and learning difficulties.

Throughout this process, JRF works across boundaries to engage and support young people regardless of background or circumstance.

Within this context the Foundation has worked with a range of partners including the Home

Office, Football Foundation, Wembley Stadium Trust, Housing Associations, businesses and community sector partners to ensure high quality delivery, at the right times, with the most needy young people.

COACHING

Last year the Bridgestone Arena welcomed Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz prior to the making their World Cup bow in France.

The charismatic Girlz made the day of dozens of young people in northwest London.

The FIFA World Cup debutants, visited the Bridgestone Arena in Brent to undertake coaching sessions during the half-term break.

The excited youngsters were able to get their pictures taken with the international

players while also getting various items autographed. It was quite simply child’s play for the team from the Caribbean!

Otis Roberts, CEO of the Jason Roberts Foundation, said of the international visitors: “It was fantastic to welcome the Reggae Girlz to the Bridgestone Arena for this event. We were delighted to have the sup-

port from the Mayor of Brent, MP Dawn Butler and the community at large.

“The girls made a lasting impression on the young people and went to great lengths to engage with the many activities on offer.”

Hillside, Stonebridge Park, Harlesden, London NW10 8LW

FUN: The Reggae Girlz with local youngsters

The Black History

Colouring Book

invites children of all races and walks of life to celebrate in the outstanding achievements of Black historical figures who have made significant contributions to history against all odds. Each historical figure has transformed history through education, politics, medicine, leadership and a desire for equality and freedom for all.

With beautiful sketches that show Black historical figures in action and five amazing facts to accompany the sketches, young children will fall in love, learn and feel empowered.

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@thevoicenews

Available on Amazon or purchase from any ordinary bookshop.

Tel: 0793 0844 609 Email: mas-95@hotmail.co.uk voicenewspaper

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FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 37

Destination Brent Be-Longing, a story of hope A new film shines a light on the issue of foster care Be-Longing is the story of a young boy aged 9 years old who has been placed in care and is living in a foster home. Removed from violent and chaotic birth parents after a series of family breakdowns, he is torn between accepting the trust, kindness, and security of his foster family and remaining ‘loyal’ to his birth parents who he still loves dearly. The film uses actors to provide insight into the real world of foster care and it is intended to widen understanding of the experience of a child in care and promote debate.

If you love children and are passionate about their well-being, this is a must-see short film to get a better understanding of what young people in care are going though.

Be-Longing has won a host of awards • Casey McKenzie - Nominated for best Child Actor - INDIE SHORT FEST. LA • Official selection August 2019 INDIE SHORT FEST LA • Be-Longing Bronze AWARD -for Best Drama Short INDEPENDENT SHORT AWARDS.LA • Be-Longing GOLD AWARD -for best Child Actor INDEPENDENT SHORT AWARDS.LA • Cinematography Award - A show for a

For budding musicians and songwriters, there’s no better place to learn their craft than ICMP, London’s original school of contemporary music performance

F

ounded in 1986, and originally known as The Guitar Institute, the school soon expanded to offer courses in drums, bass, vocals, songwriting, music business and music production. In 2006, the school was renamed The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) and moved to Dyne Road in Kilburn, where it has remained ever since.

CAREERS

Over the years, they’ve had countless student success stories, from songwriter Cathy Dennis (Britney Spears, Katy Perry) to producer Fraser T Smith (Adele, Tinchy Stryder, Kano, Dave). More recently, Luke Patterson has achieved immense success with his band Clean Bandit and Tiana Major9 recently signed to Motown Records and featured on Stormzy’s latest LP.

STUDENTS

Currently over 1,000 students attend ICMP, studying a range of courses covering Music Performance, Songwriting, Music Production and Music Business. All courses are closely aligned to the needs of the music industry and prepare students for successful and rewarding careers. At ICMP, your future is in your hands, and students graduate feeling emboldened and

inspired, with the tools, connections, selfconfidence and head start needed to drive forward their careers in the music industry.

Learn more at icmp.ac.uk Celebrating the creative Borough of Brent

The school is very proud of its Brent location and actively encourages participation from local residents by offering a 15% discount on all short courses (evening, weekend, online and summer schools). Residents of Brent can access the discount using the code BRENT15, view the courses available at: icmp.ac.uk/part-time.

change film festival • Official selection Florence film Awards 2019 • Finalist 2019 Festigious Film Festival • Official selection Montreal international Black Film Festival 2019 • Gold Award Winner SPORTLIGHT SHORT FILM AWARDS 2019 • FINALIST HOLLYWOOD JUST4SHORTS BEST DRAMA SHORT 2019 • Special mention London X4 Seasonal Short Film Festival

NEXT SCREENING

Other Cinema – Wembley 29th Feb Screening + Q&A Crystal Palace International Film Festival 2020 21st March Screening + Q&A

38 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Destination Brent

Barnet, Brent, Enfield & Harrow Can you spare a few hours a week and make a difference to a local family?

A difference that could last a lifetime?

Volunteer with Home-Start Barnet, Brent, Enfield & Harrow and make that difference!

We’re a part of the biggest network of volunteers in the UK! To find out about home-visiting volunteering, go to:

www.homestartbarnet.org or call 020 8371 0674

All applications are subject to an Enhanced DBS check Home-Start Barnet company no. 5379764 | Charity no. 1109550 T: 020 8371 0674 E: admin@homestartbarent.org W: www.homestartbarnet.org

CHAMPIONING FAMILIES IN BRENT

Home-Start Barnet, Brent, Enfield and Harrow provides support to parents and children

H

ome-Start Barnet, Brent, Enfield and Harrow is a registered charity working in Brent (and other parts of London) whose mission is to support vulnerable families with children aged 0-19 in Brent who are experiencing difficulties in various aspects of their life.

The work of the charity is based on the belief that children need a happy and secure childhood to get the best start in life. Issues in the families it supports are wide-ranging, from isolation and loneliness, through to domestic violence, disability, bereavement, mental health issues, family breakdown, poverty and all sorts of struggles around parenting. Home-Start’s work focuses on strengthening parenting confidence and competence. Support is holistic, non-judgmental and always tailored to the family’s individual needs with the primary objective of creating better outcomes for the children.

Reducing adverse childhood experiences can lead to: • improved social skills, psychological/

emotional adjustment, and problem behaviours in children • higher levels of educational attainment • improved physical health • halving the rates of depression and substance misuse • improved employment and earnings, reduced crime and reliance on benefits in adulthood The charity recruits and trains volunteers from across the community to offer weekly homevisits to families, building trusting relationships that support the development of the children.

Emotional and practical support for parents helps reduce stress levels in the home, in turn promoting better outcomes in all sorts of ways for the children, reinforcing stability and preventing problems from escalating.

In addition to volunteer home-visiting support – Home-Start has recently started a counselling service in Brent in response to long NHS waiting lists and a growing need for mental health support.

Home-Start also offers events and outings to

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families during the long summer holidays when for many families the cost or logistics of outings and holidays are prohibitive.

“Home-Start did something that no counsellor, professional, friend or family member could do...

You gave me the old Yasmine I once knew and was frightened I had lost. This is the mother my children need.”

IN RETURN, WE OFFER YOU

•

The chance to make a real difference

•

Belonging to the community of Home-Start Barnet families, staff, volunteers and other local businesses and organisations

•

Value and impact - investing in Home-Start provides clear benefits to the families and the wider community

How YOU can get involved Become a Home-Start volunteer – why?

• 3 hours a week as a Home-Visiting Volunteer can help to bring a family out of desperation and towards happiness and safety • 4 meetings a year as a Trustee, plus some background support work to guide the work of our dedicated Home-Start staff • 3-6 hours a week of crucial Administrative Support at our offices or assistance in running our Family Groups provides us with invaluable help and builds your skills

@thevoicenews

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FEBRUARY 2020 THE VOICE | 39

Destination Brent

FROM NIGERIA TO BRENT

Brent councillor Ernest Ezeajughi on his life and career in the borough

I

came to Brent from Nigeria in 2004 and I’ve called Wembley my home ever since.

As a husband and father-of-four, I have always been passionate about helping people and this is why I became involved in politics. In 2014 I was elected as a councillor and it has been a great pleasure serving the local community since then. I became Deputy Mayor in 2018 and Mayor in 2019. Prior to this I have served in a variety of roles such as the Vice Chair of the Brent Connect Forum and as a member of the Planning and Public Realm Scrutiny Committees. Away from politics, I am a scientist at the Medicine and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA).

SUPPORT

When I became Mayor, I chose to support The Sickle Cell Society, who support people living with sickle cell disease and The Jason Roberts Foundation, who support young people. I really believe in the aims of both of these charities and support the work that they do. In my eyes, both of them are working to save the lives of local people, just in different ways.

At the beginning of this year, I was really

pleased to be able to pledge an extra £5,000 for each charity thanks to a great bit of team work and talent from a local organisation.

Following the New Year’s Day Parade last month, our entry - which was designed by Mahogany Carnival Design - was judged the best parade entry and won a £10,000 prize.

This is an amazing, well-deserved achievement and goes to show just a small sample of the kind of talent we have in the borough.

TALENT

This win was a great start to what will be an amazing year for Brent. We are the London Borough of Culture 2020 and I can’t wait to celebrate it. We have a jam packed schedule with everything from big events involving hundreds of people like the Harlesden Bass Weekender, a two-day event celebrating Harlesden’s place in reggae culture, down to smaller performances, exhibitions and workshops hosted by individuals and community groups.

We kicked off this amazing year in January with RISE, an outdoor dance and film display with an incredible soundtrack performed by a diverse cast of hundreds of local residents.

This told the story of Brent - a story of how people from different countries, faiths and backgrounds made this little known North West London borough home. The atmosphere on the day was electric and made me so proud to be a Brent resident.

In the time I’ve been here, I’ve seen the borough change and grow thanks to additions like the London Designer Outlet, Boxpark and the Troubadour Theatre joining the much loved local establishments like the Kiln Theatre, Lexi Cinema and The Ace Café. These new spaces have helped to draw in a new crowd of people who are visiting Brent and finding out more about what the borough is all about.

FUTURE

Young people were a huge part of our London Borough of Culture bid and they absolutely are the future of Brent. This year, we will be able to build on the achievements we have made in the past and look towards a very bright and colourful future. Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the UK and I can’t wait to show the rest of the country, how influential our borough and its residents are.

PASSIONATE: Cllr Ernest Ezeajughi

W. www.wmcplus.co.uk E. patrick@wmcplus.co.uk T. 0203 368 8747

A new Perspective of helping...

INDEPENDENT ADVICE

MORTGAGE PRODUCTS

MORTGAGE BASICS

MORTGAGE CALCULATER

40 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Destination Brent I am Jasmine Dale, an award-winning entrepreneur, and I call the borough of Brent home. Born and raised in Harlesden in the 70s to Caribbean parents, I am the last child out of six. It was easy to be hidden, in a large family with my father serving in the British army and my mother, a proud housewife, managing a busy home

LO N D O N

Do not miss the UK Premiere of PASS OVER, which begins previews from 13 February.

Following a sold-out run at New York’s Lincoln Center, Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham directs this new production featuring Alexander Eliot, Paapa Essiedu and Gershwyn Eustache Jnr. An epic mash up of Waiting for Godot, the Exodus and stories ripped from the daily headlines, Antoinette Nwandu’s fierce and politically charged play exposes the experiences of young black men in a world that refuses to see them.

Use promocode THEVOICE for £10 OFF all Band A and B tickets KilnTheatre.com | 0207328 1000

As a child I always had uncapped creative abilities often dancing, knitting, drawing, and creating hairstyles on my siblings and dolls.

After moving to Dollis Hill and experiencing a cultural blend of friends, it was becoming increasingly clear that finding Jasmine wasn’t going to be easy.

To keep my active mind busy, I joined dance classes and Brownies. Realising I had a natural flair for dancing. It became one of my passions. It wasn’t until I attended John Kelly Girls in the 1980s, that a door was opened for me to further my potential as a young budding dancer.

It was through the opportunity given to me by my dance tutor

to perform at The Place Theatre in Euston for a youth project, that I navigated a social environment that could have quite easily deprived me of the successful and enriched life I have built.

My Saving Grace As I worked on the youth project, raising money for deprived areas in Africa, I gained a sense of awareness and confidence, being able to look outside of myself and work towards aspirations like being the lead dance role; I was able to explore aspects of who I was and wanted to become. Tasting the success of becoming the lead dance role, was my dream come true and right there my mind was made up!

Giving Back Today, as an award-winning hairdresser of 25 years and owning my business for 17 years. With the current knife crime epidemic, my aim is to give back to the community by organising The Brent Factor.

Self-Expression My objective is to design an infrastructure that is high in preforming and very cost effective allowing the younger generation in the community of Brent self-expression of natural talents and gifts.

The loss of promise, potential and hope has drained the community and robbed us of our youth and thus the future. I wish to be part of the change, a brighter future.

UK Blac k Bu s i n e s s GU I D E 2019- 20

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Crime ‹

We consider the dealing of a case as a partnership between ourselves and our clients and this leads to a more effective and purpose-driven working relationship www.voice-online.co.uk voicenewspaper @thevoicenewspaper @thevoicenews

Lifestyle

GREEN RUSH

Cannabis, CBD, ganja, marijuana, herb, weed...

Lifestyle looks at the revolution heading our way

42 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis What are cannabis conventions and how do they influence the way that the industry is changing?

BY GUY SHEARMAN

C

ANNABIS CONVENTIONS are beginning to pop up around the country, with many offering promises of relevant industry information and exciting breakthrough techniques.

Though these conferences might not be the most interesting way to pass time for the average cannabis user, they are proving to be a wealth of knowledge for those who are actually actively growing marijuana or aiming to create a name for themselves within the industry.

As the cannabis industry continues to boom, there has been a growing interest in these conventions and what they have to offer.

More people are beginning to lean towards making their own cannabis products, whether it is for themselves or part of a fullscale business plan.

These conventions are bringing together a variety of cannabis growers from all levels, including people who are just starting as well as industry leaders. When you put this many people together to discuss the future of cannabis, it is easy to see how these cannabis conferences might influence the way the industry forms.

What are cannabis conventions?

They are simply gatherings where civilians, business owners, and industry professionals can all come together to talk about cannabis and the various

processes around it. These conventions are known for bringing together relevant professionals with everyday people in order to share their knowledge about the industry and what it has to offer.

There are often presentations, classes, and various displays to show off all of the amazing things being done within the industry. Providing a space for people to come together to learn and grow while discussing growing is incredibly helpful for improving processes and elevating the overall standards of the cannabis industry.

On one hand, a major focus at cannabis conventions is the creation of cannabis products themselves. This is where you will find people sharing knowledge about various forms of actual product creation. There are panels filled with expert growers who are willing to share their techniques and talk about what they have learned. Some groups focus on the processes, while others focus on the tools themselves.

Cannabis trade shows can provide people with the opportunity to see certain strains and discuss the actual process that went into cultivating them. This is also true with other kinds of cannabis products. While strains and growing are an obvious point of interest, there are

also groups of people dedicated to talking about edibles and topical creations as well.

These professionals can discuss and educate on the processes behind making successful and consistent products and share key secrets that can help others to make better cannabis products as a whole.

These portions of cannabis conferences are great for those who are looking to just make or grow their own products as well as business owners throughout the various stages of their career. The true benefit is that it is a safe place for people to discuss the science behind making great cannabis products.

Beyond the science behind the actual cannabis product creation, cannabis expos are also absolutely amazing for learning about running a cannabis business.

There are professionals from every step of the process when it comes to actually running a cannabis business of your own.

You can meet people who are selling products online or running stores in their local area.

Many of the popular conventions have leaders in the industry that are willing to talk through what it means to open a cannabis business from start to finish.

There are experts on running a store front, legal compliance, and even distribution. It takes a village to run a dispensary, and

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these individuals are happy to help share their knowledge with interested parties.

Though every cannabis expo is different, you can always expect to leave one of these events with a wealth of knowledge.

How the conventions influence the industry

The true power behind cannabis conventions is the fact that these events are shaping the industry in many ways.

At a cannabis expo, you can expect a variety of knowledgeable and interested people to show up and have many engaging discussions. The fact that these events provide a specific space for people interested in joining the industry to come together ultimately impacts just how the industry moves itself.

Bringing together industry leaders and those joining the industry to talk about processes and struggles is necessary for improvements to continue to be made. When one company or individual learns something incredibly helpful that enhances their process and shares it, industry processes and stand-

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a r d s are born.

Having the right people in the room to discuss the gritty details of being a part of the cannabis industry helps to shape the future of running these businesses as well as creating products.

It is when you bring this kind of knowledge together that innovation is born, and innovation is great for the future of any industry.

Conclusion

In the cannabis industry, there is a lot of room for innovation and growth. Since the industry is still growing and there is so much experimenting being done, it makes it easy for people to try just about anything.

There has never been a better time to try something new or different because the industry isn’t established enough for there to truly be a right or wrong way to do something. This makes it an exciting time to join the industry and makes it possible for newcomers to help leave their mark.

As the industry continues to establish itself, conventions like these are perfect for bringing people together to make sure that it is done right. Cannabis conventions are about bringing the community together to focus on skill, education, and innovation.

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SOME OF THE BEST TO GO TO...

MJBizCon: Presented as the biggest in the world, this US event offers 35,000 attendees – you’ll surely find what you’re looking for.

Cannabis Lab Conference & Expo: A two-day conference in Miami that primarily focuses on the business and legal side of things, with networking sessions for investors and entreprenurs.

Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition: Leading business-to-business trade show with professionals, workshops, speaker presentations and more.

The next show is scheduled for May 28-30 in New York, followed by dates in LA and Boston.

HANFEXPO: Held just 20 minutes from Vienna’s international airport, this is an amazing holiday experience and a chance to support start-ups throughout Europe.

Hemp & CBD Expo: The UK’s only 100 per cent dedicated hemp and CBD show with the best new products and a speaker schedule split between business and general interest stages.

Europe Canna Expo: Educational and networking opportunities abound at this event organised

by London Canna Group, which will hold the expo in three cities: Dublin, Zagreb and London.

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 43

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

Cannabis was key medicine in the days of Pharaohs

BY ROBERT BRUSCO

C

ANNABIS IS widely considered to be one of the most widespread options when it comes to medicinal herbs.

However, in ancient times the plant’s popularity was far greater, and its use much more common in different aspects of regular life.

As things have turned out, modern laws have now prohibited a lot of the cultural and religious practices which had been a part of Egypt’s history and culture for thousands of years. It wasn’t easy to unearth the history and evidence to support these claims, but let’s take a look at some of the ways in which the ancient Egyptians used cannabis.

Ancient Egyptians had uncovered and used the medicinal properties of cannabis even beyond what modern medical science has been able to do so far.

The Ebers Papyrus (inset below) was written roughly around 1550 BC and is one of the oldest finished medical textbooks to have been found so far. It mentions a number of formulae which make use of hemp to alleviate pain and inflammation caused by various diseases and injuries. Apparently, women in particular used marijuana as a way to waive off depression and other psychological problems in the early days of Egypt.

The oldest medicinal use of the herb in the region may date back even further, to 2000 BC, when it might have been used to treat glaucoma, cataracts,

haemorrhoids, vaginal bleeding and even cancer.

It can be estimated that cannabis was probably not a cure, but an alleviator of the symptoms in most cases.

MUMMY

Modern medical science, on the other hand, is only beginning to establish the fact that cannabis has some truly remarkable pain-relieving properties, along with being a very potent calming agent for the imbalanced nervous systems of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

When the mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses II was uncovered and examined back in 1881, traces of cannabis in the remains were the last thing anyone was expecting – but it was there. Since then, a lot of the uncovered mummies have shown similar traces of the herb in their systems, confirming the suspicion that cannabis was indeed a part of the regular culture in ancient Egypt.

Seshat, the goddess of wisdom, was often depicted with a leaf of the cannabis plant above her head in paintings from thousands of years ago. Bastet, the feline goddess of war, was also related to the use of cannabis in the region, but more in terms of witchcraft.

Evidence also suggests that worshippers may have consumed marijuana in one form or another during certain religious festivities and rituals.

Although it may sound strange if you have not heard about it before, cannabis was actually used in the produc-

HISTORY: In ancient Egypt, cannabis was used for medicinal, religious, and cultural purposes (Mundo Cannábico); inset left, the goddess of wisdom Seshat is depicted with what some scholars believe to be a colourful cannabis leaf over her head tion of ropes, sails, and fabric in particular.

In fact, research suggests that ancient workers used a meticulous technique with the cannabis fibre to break down larger rocks before transporting them to constructions sites.

The technique generally involved hammering down the dry canna-

bis fibre into the cracks of the larger rocks, before soaking them thoroughly in water. As the fabric began to expand, it was strong enough to fracture the giant rocks.

The herb was so popular in the old days of Egypt that the famous Roman emperor Aurelian practically imposed a tax on it!

With special thanks to ancient-origins.net.

44 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

’ am fine place to visit

t s the rst ace ost o us thin o when we thin o canna is ut where is ood in sterda

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

D

ESPITE THE many spots around Europe situated just off the beaten path where you can grab a little “draw of weed”, enjoying your cannabis is still pretty much a prohibited activity.

Which is why many still flock to Amsterdam to enjoy their toke, edible or vape in peace.

Feeling on edge and looking over your shoulder for the law is the opposite of what you’re supposed to be experiencing when consuming recreational cannabis, so when you want to enjoy a quick jaunt to the Netherlands, although cannabis is currently illegal, it’s decriminalised – which allows you to consume it all over the country in designated cafés.

Lifestyle has got a few spots for you to check out.

Barney’s Coffee Shop

A beautiful spot. Barney’s is a renowned winner of multiple “High Times Cup” awards and is Amsterdam’s most original and futuristic coffeeshop.

Situated at the 500-year-old landmark building on Haarlemmerstraat where it all started 23 years ago after extensive renovations, their re-designed interior is even more comfortable than it was before. Easy to find, Barney’s is a five-minute walk from Centraal Station.

Top tip: This place won an award for Liberty Dry Freeze.

Thank us later.

Grey Area MORE THAN COFFEE: Some of Amsterdam’s coffee shops can be a little intimidating for newbies to the scene

OK, so you’re a connoisseur, are you? Right then. Head on down to Grey Area, open seven days a week from midday.

That’s right, breakfast in your hotel and then down to the café you go. Only, this isn’t an ordinary café. This is a spot for specialists. If you’re, er, a little green in the scene, this place

might be a little daunting. You’re expected to know your onions when you drop into Grey Area.

Newbies, check out some of the other places Lifestyle recommends – but if you’re long in the tooth when it comes to procuring your particular flavours, the likes of Snoop Dog et al have all frequented this particular venue, so you’re in good company.

Top tip: Ask for Grey Crystals. And thank us later!

Coffeeshop Solo

For the veteran Amsterdam visitor this might not be as hidden a gem as those in the know like to think it is. Coffeeshop Solo is a throwback to when most of the places seemed to offer you a standard, relaxed atmosphere in which both locals and tourists can meet.

While the menu is quite nor-

mal, and priced competitively, it’s their strong edibles that are a stand-out feature. Make no mistake, do not overdo it when you visit here. It’s beyond com-

fortable in there and the staff are always friendly.

Top tip: The strawberry silver and Platinum Valley Ice O Lator.

Yet again, thank us later!

‘Canada has got a unique opportunity’ SO YOU want to go further afield than the usual quick trip over to Amsterdam and you’re looking at Canada as an option? Lifestyle has you covered.

Not everyone understands the recent changes that have seen Canada legalise recreational cannabis.

However, the country is braced for “Canna-tourism”!.

Last year saw the first ever New Heights Cannabis Tourism Summit, and New Heights founder Jennifer Mason said: “Canna-tourism can have a major economic impact, both directly and indirectly for both industries, similar to wine tourism.”

UNTAPPED

She added: “Recent market research indicates the future cannabis consumer looks more like a wine tourist than the stereotypical ‘stoner.’

“There are many untapped opportunities, [and] Canada is posed to lead the industry with culinary tourism, spa and wellness experiences and more.”

David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, a market

research analyst, spoke at Ontario’s Southwestern Tourism Conference, where he presented tourism representatives with numbers to ponder about cannabis tourism.

“There’s a real opportunity for tourism,” said Coletto, whose organisation has done market research for cannabis companies.

He added: “Canada has a unique opportunity to invite the world to see how cannabis is made. It’s

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very different than how many people think it’s made.

When you go to Dublin, you go to the Guinness Brewery [inset above left].

“Why not go to a cannabis company when you come to this region?”

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And here’s what you really need to know: No matter where you are in Canada, you can legally possess, carry, and share (with other adults, obviously) 30g of cannabis. Depending on where you are in the country, it could cost anywhere from $160-400 (around £90-230).

In most provinces across Canada, the legal age for marijuana use is 19. However in Quebec, the legal age is 18.

In Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, the law states that people can smoke cannabis where they can smoke cigarettes.

But in Halifax, there are plans to make designated toking zones.

Each province has its own specific rules on where to purchase cannabis. The important thing to remember is that weed will be legally sold only in government-regulated stores, and these typically have a seal displayed in the window to indicate they are approved by the Canadian government.

voicenews

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FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 45

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

420 ON HOLIDAY

here s nothin i e a it o ud and rea ast ut where on this earth is that ossi e Lifestyle nows

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

W

HETHER YOUR needs are medicinal or recreational, where is the best place in the world to wake and bake in peace?

Lifestyle has found three accommodating spaces around the world where you can enjoy a bit of bud and breakfast all at the same time.

Uruguay

Art-deco suite (above left) in Montevideo’s Old City The capital of Uruguay – where marijuana was legalised last year – has a bohemian, artsy vibe but the laid-back demeanour of a beach town.

Montevideo is a charming city, especially if you have spent time in hectic Buenos Aires. It’s

calmer, more laid-back, and Montevideans take advantage of the river! In Montevideo, you see kite surfers and families on the white sandy beaches, people heading to the bars and cafes to take in the sunset, and the massive rambla is perfect for cycling, roller-blading, a run, or just walking off all of the fabulous food and drink.

As a visitor, you can be gifted marijuana but you will not be able to buy (no one is right now, as the government-sanctioned harvest is still smoke on the horizon).

Uruguay’s marijuana laws regarding public consumption are

similar to tobacco laws, i.e. over-18s can smoke anywhere other than a public building or enclosed place of work. So you can’t smoke inside a cafe or restaurant but you can smoke at the outdoor tables.

To avoid causing nuisance, take your cues from other patrons – don’t light up if no one else is.

South Africa

Purple Haze Eco Lodge (below) This is eco-driven, self-catering and 420-friendly accommodation in Chintsa East on the Wild Coast of South Africa.

Purple Haze Eco Lodge is situated on a hill in the seaside village of Chintsa East and sur-

WAKE & BAKE: Why not visit a plantation house (inset) in Hawaii? rounded by a protected coastal forest reservation area, and is just 800m from the beach.

Apart from being the first 420-freindly lodge in Africa, “what makes us special is our truly magical location and how the design of the lodge interacts with its surroundings through decor and floor-to-ceiling glass doors in all of our units”.

The lodge promises to feel like a part of nature but with plenty of detail and comfort.

Hawaii

Hawi Plantation House The Hawi Plantation House is a Big Island treasure. Nestled in quaint Hawi Town, each retreat bedroom is in a historical

landmark building. Within the open and spacious areas of the House that feels like a home, guests enjoy transformational learning experiences.

Delicious meals are a major benefit to guests, where expertly prepared local organic foods are lovingly conceived and prepared.

A visit will provide your mind and body with benefits from the best learning retreat on Hawaii Island. And cannabis is available, although medical documentation may be required.

A large swimming pool, cabana and seating areas are perfect learning and relaxation spaces, while outdoor areas provide powerful spaces for private or group conversations.

46 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

Stepping out into the subscription service

Entrepreneurs offer service to deliver CBD wellness products direct to your door

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

F

OUNDED IN early 2019, Serenity Box Co have positioned themselves as the UK’s first CBD subscription box service.

With the hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) oil space a tad overwhelming for people seeking to understand CBD and determine which products are best for them, the company’s founders Damien Brome and Michelle Da Silva claim their service eliminates the confusion and hard work customers face navigating the market.

“Every month, we curate and deliver amazing CBD wellness products from around the world, direct to our customers’ doors,” said Brome.

He added: “It is a low-cost, low-risk way for the UK customers to explore a rapidly expanding market.”

Lifestyle wanted to find out more.

With the ‘Green Revolution’ moving at a rapid pace, what was it like for a dynamic black

POPULAR: The elegant boxes are available for subscribers; inset above, the goodies that are waiting inside.

duo launching a business in the cannabis industry?

Lifestyle: What was the lightbulb moment that preceded your decision to launch Serenity Box Co and the steps you took to get it to market?

Damien Brome: I’m a lazy shopper and love the fact that products I buy online are only a click away. Subscription services are great, as it means I can spend my energy elsewhere. I was keen to try CBD for the sleeping benefits I had read about.

My co-founder Michelle Da Silva and I searched for a UK CBD subscription service which would meet this requirement, but could not find anything. After formal research, we confirmed there was a gap in the market for a service like Serenity Box Co. Getting to market was challenging. Setting up our infrastructure behind the scenes before launch was our biggest win.

Most banks still classify CBD as illegal, because of its confusion with marijuana.

L: It’s a wellness subscription service providing vari-

ous products, but before we get into those, one of your strong selling points is making CBD easy for everyone.

Do you find people are easily confused?

DB: At the moment, “CBD” is a buzzword which generates a lot of interest in the media but with little practical information provided around its core benefits, meaning the general public is still confused as to why they should buy it.

The UK CBD market is still in its infancy, hence the lack of understanding behind why it is so great to incorporate into daily wellness routines (as well as how to use it).

We make CBD easy in several ways. A big part of Serenity Box Co’s job is to explain CBD and its range of benefits to our audience. Every Serenity Box we send to our customers contains

“The reviews and pictures posted online always bring a smile to our faces” a card explaining the products contained in the box, why they are useful and directions on how to use.

We also assume responsibility to curate the best products on the market, so that we ensure our customers connect with, discover and enjoy the best lab-tested products on offer.

L: Are there many other black-owned CBD companies that you have come across on your journey and what encouragement could you offer others trying to find their feet in the industry?

DB: We have come across only two other black-owned CBD companies in the UK so far.

Given the thousands of farmers, wholesalers and retailers within the CBD industry, this low number does not reflect the diversity found at the consumer end of the spectrum.

Our advice for others entering the industry is two-fold: firstly,

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refine your idea until it’s golden. Understand every aspect of your product. What is your USP? Who is your target buyer?

Secondly, we would advocate patience. In such a young industry, building momentum for your business can take time. Stick with it and think of inventive ways to get your message across.

L: How do you see the growth of the industry panning out over the next decade?

DB: Globally, CBD is about to announce itself in a huge way. The UK CBD industry alone is set to triple in size between now and 2022. As we understand more about its ability to reduce inflammation, ease pain and promote calmness, it will be naturally incorporated into our daily routines.

We expect the format in which CBD is taken to diversify and become innovative. For instance, we will see more products such as CBD chocolate, tea and chewing gum come to the fore, alongside the more “pharmaceutical” CBD oil and tincture products that are widespread.

L: So what are your favourite products and why?

DB: The products we have been lucky to share with our customers have been phenomenal, so it is hard picking favourites.

Three of note are: chocolate from Infinity CBD, Body Salve by Love Hemp and Roll On Body Oil from CBD Queen.

L: Which products have received good feedback?

DB: Our boxes have gone down well with our customers – they have commented on the range of different edibles that we have included, such as coconut oil with cacao, bath bombs and CBD-infused honey.

ENTREPRENEURS: Damien Brome and Michelle Da Silva L: What’s been the most difficult bit about launching Serenity Box Co and what has been the most rewarding part?

DB: CBD is still confused with marijuana [CBD is primarily produced from hemp; hemp and marijuana plants are cousins but CBD does not contain the psychoactive compounds found in marijuana], which made it extremely difficult to set up bank accounts and online merchant accounts.

Advertising CBD is still not permitted on social media and Google, which means we have to market our business the old-fashioned way; by word of mouth and happy subscribers.

The most rewarding part of what

we do is receiving feedback from our customers. The reviews and pictures posted online when people receive their boxes always bring a smile to our faces.

L: It’s Valentine’s Day this month – what would you recommend from your product range and why?

DB: Alongside subscriptions, our One-Off Serenity Starter Box is the perfect Valentine’s gift.

It is filled with lots of products which focus on pampering and wellness. It’s something different to the standard chocolates and flowers and aftershave gift boxes people send for Valentine’s, and is a great introduction to CBD.

GET YOUR HANDS ON ONE WITH THE VOICE! Lifestyle has teamed up with Serenity Box Co to give away a gift box to three of our lucky readers.

Go to voice-online.co.uk/competitions to enter!

L: What if a customer likes a product and wants it again next month -– can they ensure they get it or is it a lottery every month?

SBC: Customers will soon be able to purchase the products they liked via our website. Until then, every box sent to our customers contains a card explaining the products in the box, how to use them and where to source them directly.

@thevoicenews

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FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 47

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

HOW HEMP CAN SAVE YOUR SKIN C

ANNABIS, MARIJUANA, weed, hemp and wacky backy are just some of the names given to the illegal substance making the headlines.

The cannabis plant has long been known to have outstanding medicinal properties and, more recently, healing inc e ene Cannabis oil can be applied topically to promote a healthy skin appearance. When used in this way, the oil can help stimulate the shedding of older skin cells and encourage the growth of new ones.

It helps in the production of lipids, which help to combat chronic skin conditions, including acne and psoriasis.

Due to its ability to reduce stress, cannabis oil can help prevent some types of skin diseases that break out during times of anxiety, such as eczema or rosacea.

Lifestyle takes a look at the ene c nn i n e u e skincare products that are available...

Chantelle

CBD Body Salve (Love Hemp, £29.99) Love Hemp’s CBD body salve is made only from 100% organic ingredients.

H a n d blended and luxurious, this deep conditioning body salve harnesses the spirit-lifting properties of the miraculous hemp plant.

This product can help to heal skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis and other stubborn skin concerns.

As well as hemp, the formula contains coconut oil, beeswax, argon oil, rosehip oil, geranium oil, eucalyptus essential oil, lavender essential oil and zero THC.

Hemp Overnight Nourishing Rescue Mask (The Body Shop, £18) Enriched with hemp seed oil known for its ultra-nourishing and skin restoring properties.

When it comes to hydration, this overnight mask does the trick, giving much needed moisture to dry skin.

The hydrating but non-greasy formula replenishes thirsty skin with moisture. Wake up to skin that feels softer and comforted.

Hemp Oil 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner (Dr Organic, £6.99) Based on an organic hemp oil formula, this shampoo and conditioner is a rich natural source of essential fatty acids and omega oils, and has added bioactive plant extracts chosen for their nourishing properties.

Those suffering from conditions such as dry, itchy scalp could benefit from its nourishing properties.

Follow Chantelle on Instagram: @Chantelle_Kimberley, on Twitter: @Chantelle_k1m, or email chantellekimberley14@gmail.com

48 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Discover simple steps to look after your mental health Every Mind Matters will get you started with a free online plan designed to help you deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood, improve your sleep and feel more in control.

Find your way to better mental health.

Search every mind matters EMM19-02 Š Crown copyright 2019

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 49

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

‘We filled a gap in market for trusted CBD products’

From chocolate to bottled water, Love Hemp have been revolutionising health

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

W

E ALL know how important it is to stay hydrated – but what are the benefits of H2O infused with CBD? Lifestyle sat down with the UK’s fast-growing Love Hemp brand to talk about Europe’s first CBD water.

Lifestyle: Where did the journey start?

Love Hemp: We were established in 2015 by two London entrepreneurs, Tony Calamita and Thomas Rowland.

The friends spotted a gap in the market for a high quality, trusted and innovative CBD brand.

All Love Hemp products are certified THC-free, third party-tested under strict laboratory conditions, and come with a guaranteed CBD concentration.

“We would welcome a better understanding of products from retailers” LS: There’s expected to be a huge increase in CBD products in the UK over the next decade, but from your own perspective, what are people really interested in?

LH: People are becoming much

more conscious of their holistic health and wellbeing and are increasingly well-read on the benefits of CBD. They are looking at ways to improve their nutrition and optimum diet. I think there will continue to be a demand for CBD from people who are looking for help with their ailments.

But we predict the big demand for the CBD industry will be people searching for optimum wellbeing products.

LS: Love Hemp has a vast range of products, but which ones are you most proud of and are there any that have surprised you with how well they have been received?

LH: It was enormously challenging to create our own CBD water. But we were delighted when Love Hemp Water became the

UK’s first spring water to be infused with CBD hemp droplets.

Today it is stocked in a number of leading retailers across the country, including WH Smith, Ocado, Holland & Barrett and Sainsbury’s.

LS: Is there a downside in the growth of the CBD market? What are some of the things that you’d like to see addressed or monitored moving forward?

LH: We would welcome better compliance from the retailers in knowing and understanding the quality of the products they are selling.

LS: For people who would like to get started in the CBD business, what would be your top three tips?

LH: l Ensure you have done

INNOVATIVE: Love Hemp’s range of products

your homework on your supply chain so you can guarantee you have a quality product; l Have a USP as there are an increasing number of CBD products coming to the market; l Have purpose behind the products in your range; l Always keep your customers in mind when creating your products.

but what are the benefits of CBD water?

LH: We created Love Hemp Water because we wanted to make CBD as accessible and convenient as possible for people. It costs just £1.99 per bottle so it’s also a great price point for those who haven’t tried CBD before. It also encourages people to drink more water, which is important.

LS: You have your own water,

For more, see love-hemp.com

50 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

AN INTRODUCTION TO MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Focus on cannabis

s the research into the ene ts o continues the wor d and usiness is ettin used to idea

BY PAUL SEGAL

M

EDICINAL CANNABIS is by no means a new phenomenon. After all, the cannabis plant has been incorporated into medical treatments as a pain reliever for thousands of years.

However, it is only within the past decade or so that we have seen modern medicine begin to recognise its potential benefits.

Its popularity today, particularly in the form of CBD, is growing at pace thanks to strong interest from consumers.

Indeed, The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis estimates that 1.3 million consumers are spending over £300 million per year on CBD products in the United Kingdom.

This is larger than the total UK consumer spend on Vitamin D (£145 million) and Vitamin C markets (£119 million), combined.

Yet despite such popularity, confusion still reigns about what the product actually is.

At a glance, the world of medical cannabis can seem complicated and overwhelming; with so many abbreviations for the various compounds, it can be difficult to get to grips with what the products actually contain.

So, here is an introduction to medical cannabis, which will

POPULAR: Paul Segal runs cannabis producer Symtomax; inset left, CBD products; inset below, the plant is harvested help you understand a little bit more about the products themselves and how they work.

Starting with the source

To be able to understand the basics of medical cannabis, perhaps it’s best to start with the source.

Cannabis itself comes from, rather fittingly, the cannabis plant (also known as Cannabis sativa). Whilst this might be an obvious point, interestingly the cannabis plant can produce over 140 naturally occurring chemical compounds known as cannabinoids.

Of the various compounds

produced by the plant, it’s THC (or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) which are most commonly used in medical cannabis.

However, both cannabinoids can have very different effects on the body, so it’s important to understand the difference between the two.

Knowing your CBD from your THC

The main difference to note is that CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning it does not create the “high” effect often associated with cannabis.

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THC, on the other hand, is the primary constituent of cannabis that causes intoxicating effects; because of this, the volume of THC in medical cannabis products in the UK is limited to 0.2 per cent.

Despite the associations of THC with recreational use, CBD is growing in popularity, thanks to claims of various therapeutic benefits.

Indeed, proponents of CBD claim that it has wide-ranging benefits, from treating inflammation and pain to reducing anxiety and insomnia.

There is a constant stream of scientific research being conducted to investigate all possible benefits it could present, with exciting developments emerging in this space on a regular basis.

CBD has grown exponentially as the compound has made its way into everyday products.

Dedicated CBD retailers, for instance, sell everything from CBD-infused shampoo to confectionery, while CBD coffees have cropped up on the menus of popular cafes.

These, however, represent commercial uses, rather than medical use cases.

CBD cannot currently be marketed as a medical product due to insufficient research; however, oils and capsules are being used by people as supplements in the hopes that it might relieve symptoms like pain and anxiety.

Put simply, we’re hearing these abbreviations more and more because a greater number of consumers are taking the products and praising its benefits – particularly when it comes to CBD. Narrowing in briefly on the UK market, an ITV report from October last year revealed that around six million Brits have tried CBD bought in shops and online.

Indeed, people’s exposure to

fectiveness at treating medical ailments.

For example, research published by Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2017 suggested that CBD reduces seizures by nearly 40 per cent in children with a form of drug-resistant epilepsy known as Dravet syndrome.

As this trend grows and CBD products reach more consumers, education is key. Arming the public with a good understanding about medical cannabis and

What does the future hold for medical Why are these cannabis? hard to overstate the speed abbreviations It’s with which CBD has entered the mainstream, and the volentering the ume of research currently being mainstream? undertaken to uncover its ef-

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how its various compounds are used will ensure safe, responsible use.

It will also ensure consumer knowledge keeps pace with scientific developments in this space.

For instance, my company Symtomax are looking to launch their CBD Oral Tab in the early part of the year, which will offer an innovative delivery method.

The unique route of administration through the inner lining of the mouth not only improves the flexibility of time release, but also increases the amount of medicine available to enter the bloodstream.

Whilst this is just one example, it highlights the rapid developments currently taking place in the medical cannabis industry.

Perhaps most importantly, improving education and creating a more open discussion around medical cannabis will bolster transparency and trust in the market.

This will, in turn, prevent false expectations about what that product currently can and cannot do.

Paul Segal is the chairman of co-founder of Symtomax, a leading licensed medical cannabis producer based in Portugal, with the largest cultivation site in Europe. Symtomax is dedicated to the production, research, cultivation, processing and distribution of medicinal cannabis oil to pharmaceutical companies worldwide.

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FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE| 51

FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

THE VOICE | 53

Focus on Lifestyle cannabis

There’s money in weed – billions, it turns out!

While recreational cannabis remains illegal in the UK, medical cannabis roducts were e a ised in ate o owin its rst u year o use y ritish atients a new study su ests that the ar et or e a canna is in the cou d oo y i ions o ounds in the ne t our years

BY CONSULTANCY.UK

A

S THE moral hysteria, racism and classism, which had for the longest time stigmatised cannabis use, finally dies down, governments around the globe are relaxing their laws surrounding the drug.

Seeing it as an opportunity to reduce policing costs and open up a valuable new form of tax revenue, 2017 saw Uruguay become the first country to legalise recreational cannabis use, while Canada followed suit in 2018, becoming the first G7 member to do so. In the US, recreational marijuana is legal in nine states, while medical marijuana is legal in 30 – cashing in on the fact 76 per cent of north Americans would try legal cannabis therapeutic products.

As a result, the market for cannabis in North America is projected to boom to $37.9 billion (£29 billion) by 2024, according to Prohibition Partners, a cannabis-focused strategy and research consultancy.

The firm’s Global Cannabis

Report also predicted that all 50 US states will legalise recreational cannabis by the end of 2024, due to the economic success of its introduction so far.

Legal cannabis is not only on the rise in the Americas, however. With a population of more than double that of the US and Canada, Europe is set to become the world’s largest legal cannabis market, having grown more in the past year than the past six years combined.

But one nation which remains largely resistant to this potential opportunity is the UK. At present, only medical use of cannabis is tolerated, and at present very few people in England are likely to get a prescription for medical cannabis on the NHS. Currently, it is only likely to be prescribed for severe forms of epilepsy, vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy and muscle stiffness and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis.

That is not to say that change is unlikely, however.

A new study from Prohibition

Partners, focusing on Britain, has forecast that the UK’s legal cannabis market could be on the brink of a multi-billion-pound boom. While the industry is currently experiencing low revenues – the first major shipment of medical cannabis only arrived in the UK from the Dutch Office of Medical Cannabis in February 2019 – this is likely to rise rapidly.

Of particular note is the news that some 20,000 patients in the UK are to be given medical cannabis over a two-year period in

an initiative that aims to create the largest body of evidence on the drug in Europe. Backed by one of the UK’s leading medical bodies, it is hoped it will persuade the NHS to prescribe the drug for a range of conditions – which would significantly up demand for medical and pharmaceutical cannabis.

STRAINS

Medical cannabis refers to plant-based or plant-derived cannabis products prescribed by a medical practitioner for the treatment of a specific condition or disease. Pharmaceutical cannabis refers to products formulated using pure cannabinoids (either plant extracts or synthetic) that have been through full clinical trials and licensed as a medicine. Examples of products include Sativex, Epidiolex/ Epidyolex, Cesamet, Marinol and Syndros.

Prohibition Partners estimates that 337,886 patients – around 0.5 per cent of the total population – will be making use of these treatments by 2024, making the UK legal cannabis market worth £2.3 billion.

Since it is currently estimated from a starting point of approximately £147,200 in 2019, that represents exponential growth over the coming four years. As well as a significant increase in accessibility of medical cannabis in mid-2020 being behind

this, the report also anticipates recreational cannabis being legalised in mid-2021.

Despite a group of cross-party MPs predicting the UK will fully legalise cannabis use within five to 10 years following a fact-finding trip to Canada, recreational legalisation by 2021 under a majority Conservative government still seems a stretch.

Government statistics indicate that 7.18 per cent of UK adults have used cannabis in the past year. This accounts for approximately 4.7 million adults, which gives an estimated black-market value of up to £6 billion per year.

The millions of cannabis us-

“The numbers are likely to rise as access to medicinal cannabis improves” ers in the UK, with numbers increasing over the past six years, belies the massive opportunity for investors if recreational cannabis were to be made legal in the UK. Meanwhile, for those worried about health impacts, there is an observable decrease in the prevalence of cannabis use among youth, suggest-

ing success of local education around potential harms of cannabis for the mental health of youth.

Stephen Murphy, co-founder of Prohibition Partners, said of the findings: “Despite being the largest exporter of medical cannabis in the world, the UK currently imports 100 per cent of its cannabis-based medicines prescribed to patients.

“The opportunities in the sector remain immense, however.

The numbers of consumers are likely to increase as access to medical cannabis improves, most recently evidenced by the licensing of Epidyolex, a cannabis-based medication for epilepsy soon to be reimbursed under the NHS.” On top of this, the UK legal cannabis market could be even larger by 2025 if CBD products are taken into account.

Prohibition Partners excluded CBD from the assessment as it is an essential component of medical marijuana, but it is derived directly from the hemp plant, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant. A YouGov poll published in October 2019 estimated that 11 per cent of UK adults had tried a CBD product (this equates to approximately six million people), while the UK CBD market in 2019 was £300 million. This is expected to reach £1 billion by 2025.

54 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

There are many ways to consume CBD oil, including these intriguing recipes...

E R ’ E W W O

N

!

G N I OK

CO

BY JOEL CAMPBELL & ROYALCBD.COM

T

HE HISTORY of cooking with cannabis dates as far back as 10th century India, where people have been using a mixture of ground cannabis flowers and milk (Bhang) for spiritual purposes.

Similar recipes were discovered in Italy from the Renaissance period, but it wasn’t until the second half of the 20th century that the popularity of cooking with the herb exploded, with all these magic brownies, lollipops, chocolate bars, salad dressings, and other crazy recipes.

Cannabis is a food-friendly herb that can spice up your cooking experience and add a plethora of health benefits to your nutrition regime, so it’s no wonder why people have adopted this activity with so much enthusiasm.

However, cooking with CBD oil is a relatively new phenomenon.

In this article, we’ve prepared a list of our favourite CBD-infused recipes, both savoury and sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, please, pull out your aprons!

Making your own CBD recipes is easy and simple, especially when you’re using the already decarboxylated CBD from full-spectrum extracts or isolates.

All you need to do is follow the recipe.

If you’re just getting started with cooking recipes with CBD oil, we suggest that you make smaller batches at first. You know how it is, aspiring cooks often end up wasting their ingredients because they fail to recreate the recipe, and CBD oil is an expensive ingredient.

Better safe than sorry, as they say.

So, without further ado, have a look at these mouthwatering CBD-infused recipes and enjoy your next cooking session.

CBD-infused Guacamole (above)

BY: CREATING BETTER DAYS

Ingredients: l 3 medium ripe avocados, peeled, halved, and seeded l 1 tbsp lime juice l ½ tsp rock salt l ½ tsp ground cumin l ¼ tsp ground cayenne pepper l ½ medium onion, finely diced l 2 small tomatoes, seeded and diced l 1 large garlic clove, minced l 1 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped l ½ jalapeno pepper, finely chopped l 1ml CBD oil Instructions: 1. Place the avocados in a mortar or bowl and mash them with a fork or pestle.

2. Add the salt, cumin, garlic, cayenne pepper, coriander, onion, jalapeno, tomatoes, and lime juice. Top the mixture with your full-spectrum CBD oil and stir to combine.

3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the guacamole sit at room temperature for 2 hours before serving.

CBD Pesto Pasta With Spicy Shrimp

BY: THE HERB SOMM

Ingredients: CBD raw pesto: l 100g fresh parsley l 75g cherry tomatoes l 1 tbsp pine nuts l 2 medium garlic cloves l 2 tbsp olive oil l 4 tsp CBD oil l A pinch of salt and pepper to taste Shrimp (prawn) Pasta: l 225g uncooked penne pasta l 450g asparagus l 1-2 cherry tomatoes, halved l 2 tbsp butter l 1 tbsp olive oil l 1 tbsp lemon juice l 1 tsp red pepper flakes l 1 tsp cayenne pepper l Salt and black pepper to taste l 5 king prawns

CBD Chocolate Latte Ingredients: l 240ml unsweetened milk (or you can use plant-based milk if you want) l 1 tbsp raw cacao powder l 1 tbsp maple syrup l 1 tsp vanilla extract l Pinch of Himalayan salt

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@thevoicenews

Instructions: 1. For the pesto: rinse off the leafy greens under cold water and place all the pesto ingredients in a food processor. Blend until the pesto becomes a smooth sauce.

2. Scoop the pesto sauce with a spoon and transfer it to a small bowl. Cover with clingfilm and store in the fridge.

3. For the prawn pasta: in a large pot, boil water over medium heat and add the uncooked penne pasta.

Cook according to package directions.

4. Grab a large saucepan and heat butter along with olive oil over medium heat until fully melted.

5. Dip both sides of the prawns in the previously ground red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper before adding them to the pan.

Once added, squeeze in the lemon juice and cook until the prawns turn pink on each side.

6. Wash the asparagus and cut into 5cm blocks.

Add the asparagus to the pasta for the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain and set aside.

7. Once your prawns have been thoroughly cooked, add the pasta and asparagus to the pan. Sauté for about a minute and remove from heat.

8. Mix in 6 to tablespoons of pesto. Add cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and top the meal with shaved Parmesan cheese.

l Your favourite flavourings (e.g. mint, cinnamon, cayenne, culinary lavender, or rose water) l 1 full dropper of CBD oil Instructions: 1. Place all ingredients (except CBD) in a small pot.

2. Bring to simmer over medium heat and whisk vigorously to prevent any clumps.

3. Once done, remove from the heat and mix in your CBD oil.

PHOTO: MR. FOOD

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FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

THE VOICE | 55

Focus on Lifestyle cannabis

MEZZ AROUND au aunders e ains why he s building a global brand with the cutting edge US lifestyle company

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

M

AKE NO mistake about it – the US have stolen a march on the ‘Green Rush’ where embracing the consumer is concerned, but one blackowned business is keeping up with the Joneses.

Mezz, co-founded by Los Angeles resident Paul Saunders, is a cutting edge lifestyle company leading the next wave of herbal culture.

While many were getting bogged down with the prospect of qualifying for a licence to grow cannabis, Saunders told Lifestyle that his mission revolved around understanding how, apart from actually growing the plant, he could fit in that space.

PHILOSOPHY

“We started with the idea about four years ago when I was contacted by someone in the cannabis space to help market another brand that they had,” Saunders said.

“A conversation was had that led to a partnership being struck with the philosophy of starting a new cannabis company, a brand that we didn’t have a name for but we thought we could bring products to the market that really talked to a lifestyle we knew, which was music culture, hip-hop and that sort of thing.

“I felt like there was an identity missing in the cannabis space

POPULAR: Pre-rolled joints are proving the best seller for Mezz

that spoke to that movement.

“We also had to work out how to bring products to the market place. We did some brainstorming and that’s how we came up with Mezz.”

Saunders says there was some trial and error as they tested different products in the market and it wasn’t until 2017 that Mezz was fully formed, accompanied by hardware and branding.

Part of the organisation’s message, though, was to ensure people saw them as a movement united by the common goal to define their lives through the things they do, say, and create. Removing the stigma from the industry through education and new understanding was also a vital part of their endeavour.

With the laws and regulations surrounding the cultivation of cannabis in the US proving to be a bit of a minefield to navigate successfully, Saunders says the main thing about establishing Mezz was “finding a way into the cannabis space without getting into the cannabis space”.

He explains: “A lot of people think that you have to have a lot of expertise, licensing and things like that to get involved but we figured out a way to be involved without being a grower or knowing anything about plant.

“So what we did was create

the story and then we got some funding and we figured that just like any other product once you can begin to create a product you can sell underneath the brand. We can outsource and hire the best growers and the best production company to make the products that we wanted based on our formula for our brand.

So we circumvented needing a licence.

“Just like a clothing manufacturer doesn’t own factories overseas, they don’t grow the cotton which makes their clothes, they purchase those things for their brand. They have a concept and they put it together, we’ve done the same thing.”

Based in Denver, Colorado, USA, Saunders says logistically it just made sense to have their headquarters there due to the relaxing of cannabis laws in the region. At present they operate in all legal markets across the States.

With attitudes towards cannabis a little more evolved in favour of the users in America, for anyone in the UK looking to get into business Saunders has a few bits of advice.

“Whatever your trade or skill is, now you can apply that to cannabis. Just like any business, right?

“If you’re an accountant or you own a security company or you do know how to grow, or you’re a scientist or an engineer, you can apply all of those trades to the industry depending on what your passion is.

“There are so many opportunities that are outside of just having a store or growing it.

Like any other industry there are third party operations that the industry needs.

“Even if you’re not growing it there is still a need for packaging, there is still a need for transportation, and there is still a need for logistics, testing, marketing and branding or managerial.

“That’s how I got into it. I looked around at what made

VISIONARY: Paul Saunders is leading the next wave of herbal culture with Mezz (inset) sense to me, my background is marketing and branding and I have worked for ad agencies and some of my clients back in the day were tobacco and alcohol companies.

“I’m the first layer of branding and very familiar with how products play a role in culture and I understand how something resonates based on the way it’s presented or the formula that we have.”

“We can outsource the best growers and the best production company”

If you have ambitions to get into business in the cannabis arena then Saunders implores you to keep an eye on the trends that will invariably affect the landscape.

Medical marijuana trials in Denmark and the hundred million-dollar acquisition of Canadian cannabis companies by major British tobacco organisations are the type of activity in the marketplace you should know about.

Talking about Mezz’s most popular product on offer, Saunders says recent negative stigma surrounding vaping has

seen an upsurge in people requesting pre-rolled joints.

He said: “Right now the prerolled joints are the best seller but the vape pens were the most popular product for a long time.

“Then the vape crisis happened in America. There were some deaths that came as a result of people using vape pens but they came about as a result of people making vapes on the illicit market. They’re using ingredients that are not conducive to the safety standards that are in place.

“In the legal states you have requirements and safety measure in place, but on the black market, there is no safety structure in place.”

Talking about how he sees the future of the cannabis market in Europe and whether there

is room for Mezz, Saunders says building a global brand is always his aim.

“I’ve always wanted to build a global brand and that’s why we went with a company that had a formula and brand ideals, that way we can simply take that formula and brand overseas and say, these are our best practises, these are our goods and this is what works for us.

“Now you can recreate that in the UK or you can recreate it in Africa or Denmark, whatever places are popping up, that’s why we went that route as opposed to being a grower. Being a grower means you have to be in that place, in that state or in that city. I wanted a more international approach.”

For more details mezzbrands.com

go

to

All you need in a handy book A CANNABIS revolution is taking place! Legalisation and de-stigmatisation has cannabis moving out of the haze and into the spotlight, and the Cannabis Dictionary is your grown-up guide to every aspect.

With hundreds of entries this stylish guide provides objective information on the cannabis world, from health effects, CBD oil and varieties of the plant, to legalisation, big business

and psychological impact. The Cannabis Dictionary is publishing next month, and is part of the Mitchell Beazley’s Dictionary Series of the finer things of life.

For more books, see page 59.

56 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

‘I didn’t look for a prison to grow herb... it just happened that way’ he irony is not ost on

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

I

N 2016 Damian Marley sauntered into the cannabis business by buying a disused prison in order to grow some herb.

The move turned more than a few heads as the world wondered what the youngest Marley was cooking for the future.

It turns out he’d partnered with legal weed company Ocean Grown Extracts who needed a place to cultivate medical marijuana for state dispensaries.

For Marley, the irony of growing weed in a space that used to host people criminalised for their association with the plant, was not lost on him.

SERENDIPITY

At the time he was reported as saying: “I partnered up with some people at a company called Ocean Grown Extracts and they were looking for a place to set up and grow.

“It just so happened that the prison was on the market and, you know, it’s a big facility.

There’s a lot of room you can use there to grow herb.

“But then of course the serendipity of the story … We’re growing herb in a place that was once used to lock up people for the possession of herb, it’s a beautiful story. It wasn’t really

a ian

something that was intentional. I didn’t set up to look for a prison; it just so happened that way.”

Sitting with Marley a couple of years later and his association with the cultivation of herb was clear. He even sang about it on his Grammy-winning album Stony Hill.

Talking about how his track Medication represented his contemporary take on herb, Marley said: “Well it’s very positive. I mean the mere fact that it is becoming legal in certain places takes away, for me personally, it takes away having to look over your shoulder and having to worry about the police, it takes away a stress.

“So regardless of what’s happening with the business, regardless of anything else, it has alleviated some of that stress of

ar ey as he reflects on a

eauti u story

that proves what we as Rasta have always been saying, that herb is the healing of the nation.

“We have the evidence to prove that now medically, which is great.”

He’s put his money where his mouth is and backed medicinal marijuana in a way many are predicting will become a trend this decade as a host of artists and stars in general come around to understanding the wide-reaching benefits of herb.

“I always say, we always use it as spiritual sacrament, recreational use, whatever you want to call it. But the real promise is what it is showing in medicine.

“Whether or not you smoke herb, you definitely want your aunt who is sick to get better, your child who has epilepsy not

“It’s got nothing to do with getting high; it has to do with making people live a better quality of life” us having to worry about been criminalised because of herb.

That in itself is great.

“Outside of that now, definitely where the premise in medicine is concerned, because of it becoming legal and the research we have evidence now

to have seizures. It’s got nothing to do with getting high; it has to do with making people live a better quality of life. So that is wonderful.

“Where herb is concerned, I mean, it goes without saying that it’s a big part of my life.

CULTURE

“It’s a big part of my culture, a big part of my day to day life and now that this opportunity has presented itself, that we can do business legally in the field of marijuana, why wouldn’t I [get involved]?

“And it’s very important to me to be a voice and represent people who have always been a part of that culture, feeding their family by selling herb, growing herb and being able to feed their family, for them to still be

he oice s i esty e editor oe

a

MAKE NO mistake about it, this decade will see the UK engulfed by the ‘Green Rush’ as cannabis, in its many forms, becomes a staple in the lives of thousands up and down the country.

I’ve wanted to highlight this evolving space ever since I landed here at The Voice newspaper in the guise of Lifestyle and Entertainment editor.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE: Damian Marley (also inset with his plants) says it’s important to represent those who have always been a part of that culture, feeding their family by selling herb involved in this movement as it moves forwards is very important.

“So that is something, I am a big advocate of and hope to be a voice for that culture of the original people.”

Protecting the interest of the ordinary man is a Marley trait, but the 41-year-old is also en-

couraging people to pay attention to the corporates angling to seize control of the Green Rush.

He enthused: “Be aware of big corporations whose sole purpose is really to just make profit and money.

“Be careful how you have those people get involved.

Again there has been a whole

e on why we re oo in to the And the questions that come with it: When it comes to cannabidiol (CBD), do we really know what it is and how it relates to cannabis?

Medical marijuana, what’s the deal? How much money is REALLY in the cannabis business?

Are black people in the UK getting ready to take advantage of the opportunities that

@thevoicenewspaper

reen ush this

will arise as a result of the oncoming ‘Green Rush’?

What can we learn from other markets and black-owned businesses that have established themselves in that space?

This month we’ve touched on all of those subject areas in and around the cannabis revolution as well as providing some historical context on the use of cannabis through

@thevoicenews

economy built on herb because of it being illegal and the man who chooses to take the risk to sell it or grow it and can feed their family, you are putting those people out of a way of earning a living if you don’t include them.

“That is my concern when it comes to the bigger heads.”

voicenews

onth

the ages, some literary direction on where to read up on the plant and how to include it in your food and beauty regime.

Reggae artist Peter Tosh said they should “Legalise It” years ago (See This Is BrukOut, next page) and it looks like very soon his dream will come true.

Be ready, opportunity awaits.

Leaf icon at top of page from macrovector

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

This is Brukout!

THE VOICE | 57

by Seani B

The music made marijuana e ae and danceha e t an a on e eryone s a enda and now with the rest o the wor d catchin u to eter osh does our cu ture sti ha e a ace a id the science

“G

ANJA IS the healing of the nation” – a phrase that I am all too familiar hearing, due to my love of reggae and dancehall music.

Singing about ganja rates as one of the top five topics in such music, the others being bad mind, girls, gangster lifestyle and Father God. The relationship between marijuana and music didn’t start with reggae, but I think it’s fair to say it’s been the most potent (no pun intended) relationship of all. Jazz musicians had been singing about the reefer from the beginning of the last century, but it was Rastafarians and Jamaicans that were the poster boys for this little green plant.

Legends like Peter Tosh certainly ticked that box with anthems like Legalize It or Buck In Hamm Palace. Reggae as a whole made sure ganja stayed on the agenda, when you think of mammoth hits like Under Mi Sleng Teng, Frankie Paul’s Pass the Tu-Sheng-Peng or Barrington Levy’s Under Mi Sensi.

If you close your eyes, it’s very easy to conjure up that poster of a Rasta man with a big fat spliff in his mouth, but there is more than that to Rastafarians – It’s part of their reli-

gion and they see it as a herb of life, a healing medicine and they have preached this for years. It’s a herb that I heard my mother talking about boiling to help my brother’s asthma.

Since the beginning of the new millennium, it seemed that the bigger heads had taken a different view on weed and we started to see laws being relaxed worldwide. Could it be that “The Babylon System” had discovered what Rastafarians had been preaching about for years?

Yes, I said Babylon System because the “system” have found their way of controlling it and putting labels on it in a manner that the man in Westmoreland, where the best ganja comes from (another song reference), wasn’t able to do.

Even that way of thinking made me realise how deep the phrase “Babylon system” is. It actually was a system and not some throwaway phrase that sounds on point.

When you see your friends all talking about THC and CBD levels like they were professors and scientists you know something is going on. Before it would just be “I just got the boom draw” – now it’s like you have to have a degree to understand the different strains and their effects. What hap-

pened to the simplicity of what Top Cat spoke about in his 1989 hit Love Mi Ses – “Ses ah herb, and a herb ah ganja, ganja ah weed and a weed ah marijuana”?

Well, in 2020 Top Cat may have to rewrite that line and

“When your

friends talk about THC or CBD they sound like scientists”

drop “medical marijuana” in there somewhere.

Let’s be honest, though, marijuana is just another of our mother’s medical mysteries that the world has caught up with. When my mum was making juices out of every vegetable known to man, I never saw any shops selling carrot juice, like they are now.

Do I even need to mention aloe vera, or sinkle bible as mummy used to call it. Let me just say it’s “the system” at work again.

What bothers me most of all, though, is where are all the innovators or the people that were persecuted for their beliefs or forward-thinking about

LEGEND: Will Peter Tosh ever get his wish to see a chalice lit up in Buckingham Palace?

this magical plant?

I recently watched a Netflix documentary and was quite sickened to see the industry that had been built with very few of the faces that had probably been selling £10 draws on the street corner. It may sound like a stereotype, but where were the mandem?

We can’t pretend that we never knew one or two people that sold weed, but in this boom, it’s as if that “type” of person has been omitted from the “system” (here’s that word again).

Someone that I know who’s involved who and has a next-level appreciation for marijuana is Damian Marley.

Damian is one of those that has been proactive to get involved in the growth of this billion-dollar industry. Rather than just singing about it and

PROACTIVE: Damian Marley is involved in the weed industry continuing the promotion without benefits other than getting high, he bought and transformed a Californian prison in 2016 to cultivate his own strains.

The irony for Damian is that this is the exact place where weed growers and sellers probably ended up.

Not any more!

With the speed of acceptance that marijuana seems to be getting, is it possible that we may see what Peter Tosh wanted? Will that day arrive of a chalice getting blazed in Buckingham Palace or has that ship just sailed… nudge nudge, wink wink!

58 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

Focus on cannabis

A CURE FOR THE SUPERBUGS? ritain is co in around to the edica ene ts o cannabis – and research shows there may be more

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

N

EW GROUNDbreaking research has found that cannabinoids – compounds found in the cannabis plant – can be used to tackle and eliminate drug-resistant bacteria, providing optimism to those looking for cures for superbugs such as MRSA. After screening five cannabis compounds, scientists have found antibiotic properties and found that one particular compound, cannabigerol (CBG), was able to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most common hospital superbugs.

The results from the lab concluded that CBG kills both MRSA and “persister” cells which cannot be eliminated by the commonly prescribed antibiotics.

More people are now wanting

natural remedies instead of the constant use of over-the-counter medication such as antibiotics. Cannabidiol, known as CBD oil, is already being used to relieve anxiety, epilepsy and insomnia.

PRECEDENT

Now that there is scientific research to show cannabinoids can be applied to fight superbugs like MRSA, there will be less of a dependence on antibiotics, especially if established prescriptions are now incapable of combatting superbugs.

Further research conducted

by YouGov shows that almost 3 per cent of the British population are using cannabis to treat a medical condition.

Research from EOS Scientific has unveiled that there is a growing precedent for British consumers favouring holistic remedies, rather than over-thecounter prescriptions.

EOS Scientific, the UK’s leading CBD oil testing service, has

commissioned nationally representative research across a sample of more than 2,000 UK adults exploring the growing shift in health-conscious Britons seeking alternative and holistic remedies to manage their health.

Some 30 per cent of Brits, representing almost 15 million of the population, are wary of

“There is a stigma over cannabis derivatives in the UK” approaching a doctor about their mental health as they don’t want to be prescribed medication that may be too severe for their symptoms or have negative side-effects· And 38 per cent of Brits, representing almost 17.5 million

UK adults, say they would use CBD oil to manage their mental health.

Simon Manthorpe, CEO of EOS Scientific, has commented on cannabis derivatives having greater influence in medicinal practices. “There is a stigma around cannabis derivatives being used in the UK,” he said.

“Research is in its early stages, however, there is a growing body of research that suggests cannabis derivatives provides a non-addictive treatment for superbugs and bacteria.

“Our own polling unveils the significant shift in attitudes that are taking place with regards to cannabis-derivative remedies and treatments. Already establishing itself as a remedy for mental health-related ailments, there needs to be more of a concerted effort to explore the potential benefits of cannabis-related compounds.”

The number of UK users of CBD oil has almost doubled in the last year, with many claiming

REMEDIES: Certain cannabinoids are able to stop MRSA the cannabis-based product to be a more natural and easily accessible way to manage their health. We are seeing increasing numbers of people turning to more alternative remedies for a number of ailments including insomnia, psoriasis and eczema.

“Off the back of over a million Britons using cannabis for

medicinal purposes illegally, we clearly are not doing enough to tolerate the health-related aspects that are associated with certain compounds from the cannabis plant,” Manthorpe added.

“Further exploratory research that is considered in it its approach needs to be conducted without fear of public stigma.”

FEBRUARY 2020

Lifestyle

THE VOICE | 59

Focus on Lifestyle cannabis

es ite the s cri ina isation o canna is there s enty o in or ation out there or anyone interested in the s iritua ant o et yourse ready or

THE HERB REVOLUTION

BY JOEL CAMPBELL

S

PEAK TO some and they will tell you that cannabis – or herb – is the healing of the na-

tion.

Whether you believe that or not, there is no denying that the use of the spiritual plant is growing at a rate previously unseen.

Key to the safe use of the plant, however, is understanding the varying and diverse ways in which it is consumed.

From the creation of essential oils to THC-free gummies and CBD oral drops, rubs and creams, there really is no limit to what could come next.

The herb revolution is here, so get reading and bring yourself up to speed.

The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis Written by Brian Thomas and Mahmoud ElSohly The Analytical Chemistry of Cannabis: Quality Assessment, Assurance, and Regulation of Medicinal Marijuana and Cannabinoid Preparations provides analytical chemistry methods that address the latest issues surrounding cannabis-based products.

The plethora of marketed

strains of cannabis and cannabinoid-containing products, combined with the lack of industry standards and labelling requirements, adds to the general perception of poor quality control and limited product oversight.

The methods described in this leading-edge volume help to support the manufacturing, labelling, and distribution of safe and consistent products with known chemical content and demonstrated performance characteristics.

The Cannabis Health Index Written by Uwe Blesching The Cannabis Health Index is an in-depth book that harnesses more than 1,000 scientific studies to explain how cannabis, along with mindfulness techniques, is useful for over 100 chronic diseases and symptoms.

Penned by Uwe Blesching, PhD, no stone is left unturned when it comes to the herb’s impact on common and more severe ailments.

Readers can use this comprehensive, evidence-based book to learn about cannabis as a medicine, and how it could help them in their health battles.

If you’re curious about the impact of cannabis on specific conditions, you don’t have to trudge through the entire volume.

It’s divided into different sections according to pathologies, such as inflammatory diseases, neurological diseases, and cardiovascular health.

Beyond Buds: Next Generation Written

by Ed Rosenthal and Greg Zeman ‘Guru of Ganja’ Ed Rosenthal, author of the much-loved Marijuana Grower’s Handbook, and Greg Zeman, assistant editor at Cannabis Now, will walk you step-by-step through the most cutting-edge methods of cannabis consumption.

If you want to stay up to date with the latest innovation and developments in the cannabis industry, this book is for you.

Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower’s Bible Written by Jorge Cervantes Marijuana Horticulture is 512 pages of pure wisdom. It’s the quintessential guide to growing weed, and has been a bestseller since 1983.

The current fifth edition provides 1120 colour images that put all of the concepts on display. World-renowned cannabis

expert Jorge Cervantes penned the book.

It provides all the information you need to know how to reach a successful harvest.

Cervantes will teach you how to set up a growing environment with the resources you have on hand—from grow rooms to greenhouses. He also covers what lighting to use, how to secure your grow, and how to feed your crop correctly.

Marijuana Horticulture doesn’t stop there. The book is an extensive guide on using growing techniques such as sea of green to optimise yield.

It also explains how to clone, flower, and harvest cannabis plants. Once you’ve trimmed your buds, you’ll learn how to dry and cure them, and even how to make hash.

The Easy Cannabis Cookbook Written by Cheri Sicard The Easy Cannabis Cookbook showcases just how far edibles have come. Edible cannabis used to be defined by brownies and cookies, yet now spans into every nook and cranny of the culinary world.

If you’re an established or aspiring cannabis chef, this book will quickly become a valuable ally. Writer Cheri Sicard covers cannabis 101 – an explanation of the history and medicinal use of cannabis. She also provides an accurate dosing guide and a list of essential equipment when cooking with the herb. The Easy Cannabis Cookbook features over 60 different medicated recipes, including banana bread and cheese fettuccine alfredo.

60 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

What’s on & where DAYS OUT HERlarious: International Women’s & Mother’s Day Comedy Special All Stars Of Comedy Productions, fresh from their recent sell-out UK tour, presents HERlarious in celebration of International Women’s and Mother’s Day. This season’s star-studded all-star female line-up is headlined by internationally acclaimed comedian Shazia Mirza (above).

There will also be Maureen Younger’s frank, fast, feisty, sharp and engagingly honest humour with attitude! Plus Annette Fagon’s anecdotal, observational and refreshingly honest razorsharp material that appeals to all audiences.

March 8 The Wardrobe, Leeds Doors 6pm, Showtime 7pm 07522 39426 £16.65

Black Tech Achievement Awards have been set up to celebrate and acknowledge black role models and innovators within the tech sector and to help illuminate the pathways to greater representation of the black community within the industry.

Despite a number of initiatives to increase diversity in the tech sector there is still a notable lack of representation.

The BTA looks to provide a platform that champions black leaders within one of the most thriving industries.

February 13 QEII Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE btaawards.com/booknow/ £300 (individual seat) MOTOWN LEGENDS: The Four Tops and the Temptations are touring the UK

Arena – Liverpool; Apollo – Manchester; An Evening with Whitney First Direct Arena – Leeds; SEC Armadillo – Glasgow; BASE Hologram, the leading live event producer P&J Arena – Aberdeen; of cutting edge holographic Bord Gais Theatre – Dublin; Arena – Birmingham; live entertainment tours and attractions worldwide, Bournemouth International Centre – Bournemouth; has announced – in partnership with the estate Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff; Brighton Centre – Brighton; of renowned songstress Royal Concert Hall – and legendary performer Nottingham; Whitney Houston – the UK dates of the upcoming Hammersmith Apollo – London hologram touring ticketline.co.uk production. This is the Toni Morrison: The From £45 - £65, up to only production authorised Pieces I Am £70 in London by the Whitney Houston The critically acclaimed estate, and features Toni Morrison: The Pieces the chance to hear her Supa Dupa Fly I Am will open in UK Santorini 2020 renditions of classic hits cinemas the weekend of For the fifth year running, I Will Always Love You, International Women’s Day. I Wanna Dance With Supa Dupa Fly is taking The film offers an artful their celebration of hip-hop Somebody (Who Loves and intimate meditation on Me) and Higher Love. and RnB and blending it the life and works of the February 27 to March 10 with four days and nights legendary storyteller and of wild parties in some of M&S Bank Arena 2 Nobel prize-winner. the world’s most stunning From her childhood in locations on the paradise the steel town of Lorain, island of Santorini, above.

Ohio to ‘70s-era book Get ready for 12tours with Muhammad Ali, hour beach parties on from the front lines with Santorini’s most exclusive Angela Davis to her own private beach, parties on riverfront writing room, the edge of a volcano and Toni Morrison (right) leads exclusive villa parties on an assembly of her peers, this idyllic Greek island. critics and colleagues on June 5 – 9 an exploration of race, Santorini, Greece America, history and the supadupaflyfestivals. human condition as seen com/products/supa-dupathrough the prism of her fly-santorini-2020 own literature. £89pp Released March 6 Breakin’ Convention 2020 NIGHTS OUT The influential festival of hip-hop dance theatre The Black Tech Awards returns to its Sadler’s Across 11 categories, the PHOTO: TIMOTHY GREENFIELD-SANDERS

MUSIC

@thevoicenewspaper

Wells home for its 17th anniversary on May 2-3, before embarking on a national tour until June 6.

An unmissable date in the annual hip-hop calendar, Breakin’ Convention features unparalleled line-ups of both local and international hip-hop performances, curated by UK hip-hop theatre legend, Sadler’s Wells associate artist and Breakin’ Convention artistic director Jonzi D. May 2-3 6pm (doors at 4pm) Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4TN 020 7863 8000 sadlerswells.com £25 to £40 (£18 concessions) The Four Tops and The Temptations 2020 UK Tour Motown legends The Four Tops and The Temptations are returning to the UK in November to perform some of their most popular and award-winning songs that continue to inspire musicians around the globe.

The Tamla Motown label broke down cultural and social barriers and The Four Tops and The Temptations were at the very forefront of that transformative period.

Original members Duke Fakir and Otis Williams,

@thevoicenews

of the Four Tops and Temptations, respectively, hold a special place in the hearts of British fans, and they are both delighted to be returning to the UK for the 2020 8-date concert tour in October and November.

Kicks off on October 29 at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Multiple venues ticketline.co.uk Various Positive Vibration – Festival of Reggae 2020 After a year-long hiatus, the UK’s award-winning celebration of reggae music and Jamaican culture returns to the Baltic Triangle, Liverpool.

Since its inception in 2016, Positive Vibration has established itself as one of the country’s most exciting and eclectic reggae festivals, playing host to internationally renowned bands, legendary sound systems and selectors, and some of the brightest new talent.

Next year’s festival is no exception, with some absolute heavyweights already confirmed, including: Hollie Cook + General Roots, General Levy + Joe Ariwa, Neville Staple Band, Mungo’s Hi Fi ft. Charlie P, African Head Charge, Mad Professor, Tippa Irie and more…

June 12-13 The Baltic Triangle, Liverpool £16.75 to £44.25

voicenews

(under-12s go free)

THEATRE When It Breaks It Burns (coletivA ocupação) When It Breaks It Burns is a collective “dance-fight” built on each performer’s recent experiences. Texts, music, choreography, and photos taken by the high schoolers themselves make up the scene.

Fighting shouts are sung; street actions and movements are evoked in the bodies of all who participate. Get up close to the action as real life invades the stage.

When It Breaks It Burns envelops the audience in a party, a protest and an uprising.

February 19 – 29 Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN 7.30pm bac.org.uk/ whenitbreaksitburns £12 - £20 Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal Cirque du Soleil is gliding into the UK with its coolest arena show yet – Crystal.

This one-of-a-kind arena show blends circus arts and the world of ice skating in a stunning new production that will take the audience on a journey into a whimsical frozen playground where stunning skating combined with jaw dropping acrobatic feats defy the imagination.

March 6-8 TBC FlyDSA Arena, Broughton Ln, Sheffield, S9 2DF cirquedusoleil.com/ crystal £33 to £156

Back to the Future – The Musical Producer Colin Ingram (Ghost – The Musical) and the creators of the film Back To The Future, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, are delighted to announce Tony Award winner Roger Bart as Dr Emmett Brown in the world premiere of Back to the Future – The Musical, which will open at the Manchester Opera House for a strictly limited 12-week season, prior to transferring to the

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 61

NEWSP APER

Sir Coxsone’s 55th Anniversary Show

EVE THE MNT OF ONTH

WITH an epic line-up including Aba Shant-i, Mad Professor, Saxon, King Tubby’s, and live PAs from Levi Roots, Little Roy and Winston Francis, this huge celebration of soundsystem culture is led by the legendary Sir Coxsone himself.

The “Uniting The Tribes Tour” is a series of shows celebrating sound system culture to be held throughout the UK during February 2020.

Each show will feature an impressive line-up of UK sound-systems led by the legendary Sir Coxsone, who recently marked his 55th anniversary as one of the world’s leading reggae soundmen.

February 21 Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, Brixton, London SW2 1RJ 10pm – 4am 020 7274 2290 £8 plus booking fee

West End. The combined eight-time Grammy Award-winning pairing of Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard will send you on an electrifying ride through time with an all-new score alongside the 1985 original movie’s iconic hits, including The Power of Love, Johnny B Goode, Earth Angel and Back in Time.

February 20 – May 17 7.30pm and matinees Opera House Manchester, 3 Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HP

0844 871 3018 From £19.55 I Think We Are Alone A production by Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth, coproduced with Curve, I Think We Are Alone is a bittersweet and funny take on our ache to connect with those voices we need to hear again, those arms we need to feel around us and those faces we need to see again.

It is about letting go and holding on to what we love the most.

The production (below)

features Chizzy Akudolu, whose credits include Edmond De Bergerac (Birmingham Rep), The Rec Room (Triforce), and The Vagina Monologues (UK Tour), and is designed by Morgan Large with lighting

by Paul Keogan, sound by Ella Wahlstrom and casting

by Will Burton.

February 3 – 8 Contact venue Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR 01752 267222 Check venue

EXHIBITIONS Her Lens, His Story: Female Directors and Masculinities This explores complex, revealing and often provocative takes on men and masculinity, as seen through the lens of female filmmakers around the world.

As the Barbican Art Gallery explores how masculinity has been depicted by artists and photographers over the decades, the Barbican Cinemas present a series of feature films by female directors, including Edith Carlmar, Kinuyo Tanaka, Larisa Shepitko

and Shahrbanoo Sadat, many of which are very rarely screened in the UK, that offer interesting and insightful depictions of its male characters.

February 26 – March 1 2 Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS 020 7638 8891 Contact venue

020 7638 8891 Contact venue

Steve McQueen at Tate Modern Celebrated for his powerful and uncompromising vision, Steve McQueen (below) creates work that addresses the urgent issues of representation, identity and history. Tate Modern will present the first survey of his work in Gone Too Far! (12A) with the UK for over 20 years. introduction Featuring 14 major works As part of the Barbican’s of film, photography and Her Lens, His Story series sculpture, the exhibition (see above), Destiny will be an unprecedented Ekaragha adapts Bola opportunity to experience Agbaje’s fast and funny the depth of McQueen’s play about London visual art for the first time teenager Yemi. since he received the Yemi (Malachi Kirby) Turner Prize in 1999. is hoping to attract the February 13 – May 11 attentions of Armani Tate Modern, (Shanika WarrenMarkland), but his prospects are thwarted by the arrival of his loud Nigerian brother (OC Ukeje).

When the brothers are sent to buy some okra, their day rapidly spirals out of control when Armani’s ex (Tosin Cole) goes on the hunt for Yemi.

March 9 2 Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS

Bankside, London SE1 9TG Open daily 10am – 6pm, and until 10pm on Friday and Saturday 020 7887 8888 Contact venue We Will Walk – Art and Resistance in the American South Doris Derby, Lonnie Holley, Nellie Mae Rowe, Emmer Sewell, Freeman Vines, Kara Walker and Jack Whitten are among the artists featured in We Will Walk, the first exhibition of its kind in the UK. It reveals a little-known history shaped by the Civil Rights period in the 1950s and 60s, bringing together sculptural assemblages, photography, paintings, music and quilts by African American artists from Alabama and surrounding states.

The exhibition is conceived and curated by artist Hannah Collins with co-curator Paul Goodwin.

February 7 – May 3 Turner Contemporary Rendezvous, Margate, Kent CT9 1HG turnercontemporary.org Free

62 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

by Rodney Hinds

Motoring

Volvo S90 was music to my ears

Car: S90 T8 AWD Twin Engine R-Design Plus Automatic Price range: £37,835 – £58,405

Swedish offering keeps the Germans on their toes

T

HE VOLVO S90 saloon is among Volvo’s newest large premium models. It joins the award-winning XC90 at the top of the Volvo range as part of the ‘90 series’, and is made on the Volvo-designed-and-built Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

Every version of the S90 showcases Volvo’s confidence in design and luxuriousness, and its market-leadership in technology, connectivity and, of course, safety.

Their stylish, elegant exterior designs are perfectly complemented by interiors that combine premium, natural materials and clean Scandinavian style.

Generous proportions and large windows ensure the interiors are as spacious as they are airy, while the thoughtfully designed load spaces are practically shaped as well as large.

All S90s are powered by Volvo’s Drive-E range of efficient powertrains. Every model has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, which is perfectly matched to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The engine range comprises D4 and D5 diesels, T4, T5 and T6 petrols (the T6 is avail-

able only in V90 Cross Country trim), and a petrol-electric T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid.

The S90 is available in entry-level Momentum, dynamic R-Design and luxurious Inscription trim levels. Each trim level is offered in even better equipped Pro form, too.

“The sound system allows you to optimise settings” There is so much going for the S90. Every vehicle comes with a high-quality 10-speaker sound system as standard, although upgraded Harman Kardon or Bowers & Wilkins set-ups are available.

The Harman Kardon system features 14 speakers, Dirac Unison advanced surround-sound digital processing and a total output of 600 watts.

The system allows you to optimise the sound settings for everyone on board or for specific occupants, and you can even adjust the level of surround sound to suit your preference.

World-class audio is available in the form of the Bowers & Wilkins system. The set-up benefits from the expertise of the renowned British audio equipment company, and includes 19 speakers and a total system output of 1,400 watts.

The set-up includes low-distortion tweeter, mid-range and woofer speakers, along with a ground-breaking air-ventilated subwoofer, which is integrated into the car’s body (rather than being in a traditional freestanding box) to effectively turn the whole interior into a giant subwoofer.

The mid-range speakers feature the distinctive yellow Bowers & Wilkins cone design, while the dashboard’s centre speaker with a tweeter on top provides a particularly open, spacious sound.

At the touch of a button, it can also mirror the exact acoustics of the Gothenburg Concert Hall in Volvo’s home town, a stage environment or a recording studio.

It would be fair to say that this Swedish offering was quite literally music to my ears.

The Germans have long had the executive car segment sewn up, the Volvo S90 ensures that the likes of Audi and BMW are kept on their toes.

It goes without saying the Volvo S90’s sound system is the star of the show Although the S90 is a premium model, it’s still trying to catch the Germans up @thevoicenewspaper

@thevoicenews

POINTS & PLUGS

THE dynamic development programme for the fastest and most technically advanced McLaren ever has concluded, with McLaren chief test driver Kenny Brack taking the new Speedtail (pictured) up to its maximum speed of 403km/h (250mph) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The final high-speed tests in the hypercar’s engineering validation process saw Speedtail prototype ‘XP2’ reach its maximum speed more than 30 times on the space shuttle landing runway at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds.

voicenews

DRIVERS with poor vision are routinely breaking the law by refusing to wear glasses or contact lenses at the wheel, warn experts.

A poll of optometrists found nearly half – 44 per cent – of patients are recklessly taking to the road despite failing to meet legal vision standards.

The findings were revealed just before last month’s festive break.

Drivers can have their licence revoked if they cannot read a number plate from 20 metres away, but it is up to them to report themselves to the DVLA.

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

Young Voices

‘Cambridge is testament to hard work’

SELF-BELIEF: Student Vanes Creavalle’s offer from the University of Cambridge is a product of her hard work, but she also argues that the key to academic success is to focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses

Vanes Creavalle explains that anyone is worthy of an offer from top universities if they push themselves

BY AALIYAH HARRY

Y

OUNG STUDENT Vanes Creavalle, 18, has received an offer from the University of Cambridge. She tells Aaliyah Harry about the opportunity to attend one of the most famous academic institutions in the world…

AH: How does it feel to receive this offer?

VC: It feels incredible as it is a testament to all of my hard work and exemplifies the value in our school’s motto, “success through effort and determination”.

AH: Do you have any top tips for students like yourself who wish to apply to Cambridge?

VC: Self-belief is key. It is important to remember your strengths rather than focus on your circumstances and barriers that could potentially hinder you from achieving your goal.

You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don’t take, so you have to make sure that your perception of the prestigious Oxbridge institutions does not scare you away from applying, because if you put in the hard work, you are as much of a worthy candidate as anyone else.

Moreover, you should familiar-

ise yourself with the application process as the test and interview can be challenging, they are not just a test of your academic ability but are there to see if you can think on your feet and adapt to pressure.

Lastly, it is important that you are passionate about the subject that you want to study, as the professors are leaders in their fields and like to see people who have equal interest in their subject.

The process can be stressful, so having a non-academic focus in your life can help and you should make sure that you look after your health and wellbeing too.

THE VOICE | 63

AH: How are you preparing for exams?

VC: I am keeping my head down and focusing on my school work.

The next couple of months will be stressful but it’s short-term suffering for long-term success and I hope to reap the rewards of my hard work on results day.

AH: Why is Cambridge your ideal university?

VC: What attracted me to Cambridge was the unique learning

opportunity that it offers and its world-class professors who are leaders in their fields. I believe that a degree from Cambridge can open many doors for me in the future and studying with people who share my passion for learning will be a wonderful experience.

AH: How has your school/sixth form guided you throughout the UCAS journey?

VC: My school has been very helpful in guiding me through

the UCAS process from start to finish. They encouraged all of us to aim as high as possible and apply for courses that we may not necessarily have the confidence to apply to ourselves, and emphasised to us that we can achieve anything that we put our minds to.

Throughout the year we were encouraged to take part in academically enriching activities and to do academic reading that we were able to talk about in our personal statements.

64 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Young Voices

THE JADE EMPRESS

We catch up with the 13-year-old who shares erena i ia s irthday and i ht match her on the court one day too

BY RODNEY HINDS & AALIYAH HARRY

T

HE AUSTRALIAN Tennis Open is currently being played at Melbourne Park. And a young talent from Manchester, 13-year-old Jade Cole looks destined to be a competitor Down Under in the future.

The tennis teenager represents Lancashire, and Great Britain. She was ranked Number 1 in the Great Britain U12, top 15 in UK U14 and top 30 for 2006 U14 in Europe.

She has played multiple na-

SHE’S ACE: Manchester youngster Jade Cole (main and inset above right) has quite a collection of medals (inset below left) from her career in tennis so far tional tournaments in the UK and attended regional, inter-regional and national training camps. Jade has played many singles and doubles finals.

In the last four years, the Great Britain Lawn Tennis Association has established training for promising young players under a new performance strategy – and acknowledged Jade’s potential by giving her such a pathway to development.

To fulfil the objective of this strategy, Jade attends regular regional training at Leeds Tennis

Academy Regional Player Development Centre.

As a testament to her dedication and achievement, Jade has been training with the regional performance team since she was 8 years old.

Jade was recently selected for the National Age Group Programme, which provides some funding towards some of her training and tournaments.

Other benefits include representing Great Britain in various tournaments in the United States and Europe.

How was your most recent time in America?

I was with Team GB and it was very good.

Before we had the tournament, we had a week of training

@thevoicenewspaper

at the USTA national academy that the Americans train at.

I trained with top players and then we competed in the tournament the week after.

When and why did you start playing tennis?

I started playing when I was three-anda-half. I began playing tennis because my dad used to play.

He introduced the sport to me, so it’s in the family.

Who is your tennis hero?

I love Serena Williams [inset above left]. We were also born on the same day! I love her because she is so confident.

We play the same game, [her style] is aggressive and when I play, I’m also aggressive. She uses her forehand a lot.

@thevoicenews

How do you get prepared before a big game?

Weeks before, I train and work on the things I want to improve for the match. Every lesson is two hours long. I tend to train more when it gets closer to the tournament.

But the day before a big game I rest and figure out the goals I want to achieve.

Right before the game I listen to music. My favourite artist to listen to is Ed Sheeran.

I also do five physical workouts to keep warm and prepare for the match in my own space.

With such a busy schedule are you home-schooled?

Online schooled, to be precise.

I enjoy doing it online.

You can actually speak to the teacher that’s teaching you as

voicenews

it’s a live video. It’s kind of like normal school.

Where do you hope to be in the next five years?

I want to be a professional tennis player playing in Grand Slams.

How do you feel representing Great Britain?

I feel very proud.

How did young American Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff (inset left) inspire you last year?

I met her! She plays teen tennis and I got to sit on the court and watch her play.

We got to ask her questions and take pictures. I’ve played in the same tennis tournament as her for the past two years and I will also be playing it this year.

She was really nice. She’s very inspiring.

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

RECRUITMENT

Tel: 020 7510 0340

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FDA will be running an eight month paid traineeship at a UK distributor. We are looking to recruit ambitious trainees from across the UK who can display the following attributes and who are prepared to relocate to London.

• A passion for film and a desire to learn • Excellent written and spoken communication skills • Experience of using Microsoft Office packages and email • The ability to work as part of a team

Our current vacancies are for self- employed solicitors who will be working on a generous fee sharing scheme. Danbar Solicitors provide a flexible working environment and boast of freeing its solicitors of the enormous administrative work that can be associated with solicitors’ work.

This provide our solicitors time to be devoted to the clients we serve.

Danbar Solicitors offer an opportunity to work in various areas of law.

Dates: May 2020 – February 2021 in London Trainees will undertake an office-based placement in a UK distribution company. We want to make the film industry more inclusive. People of colour, people who consider themselves to have a disability and those from economically challenged backgrounds are underrepresented in the commercial sector of the film industry. That’s why we welcome applications from these groups.

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Trainees will work full time (defined as 35 hours per week) for 36 weeks in host companies, and will regularly attend training sessions with the other trainees, which will further enhance their employability skills and knowledge of the film industry.

Trainees will be paid a monthly training allowance proportionate to the London Living Wage Trainees will be entitled to 16 days annual leave, subject to agreement with their host organisation.

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Are you passionate about film and want to work in the film industry, but are struggling to find your way in?

Danbar Solicitors is an established firm which is expanding at a great pace.

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THE VOICE| 65

Great resilience.

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Be new entrants to the film industry i.e. not have more than twelve months industry work experience, be it continuous or discontinuous/paid or unpaid.

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Be UK residents and eligible to work in the UK. To apply please fill in the online application form at:

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If you are a qualified solicitor with extensive knowledge in the areas of law stated above and you want to work in a friendly and dynamic environment, please send your CV and cover letter to: info@danbarsolicitors.co.uk Please mark your letter for the attention of the recruitment officer. black weekly ISSUE NO. 1891

o.uk

| JULY 11 -

2019-20

‘I ALMOST DI NOW I’M A ED – BUT DOCTOR’ Dr Rochelle Smith had to learn Now she has been honoured by to speak and read again. £1.00

By Vic Motune

A

MEDICAL STUDENT who was left a coma after in a potentially fatal viral infection has graduated as one of the top students in her year, ning a prestigious also prize for achievements.winRochelle Smith’s dream of becoming nearly ended a doctor after acute encephalitis, she was struck down with a viral infection which left her in the brain in a coma for two and a half weeks and in hospital for a further two months.

TALENTED Rochelle, from Epsom in Surrey, towards a degree was working in of the West Indies medicine at The University (UWI) after choosing in the Caribbean to study so she could be grandparents who live in Jamaica. closer to her Following her illness the talented to learn how to student had walk, she was determined speak and read again. But to realise her coming a doctor dream of beand After sitting her has recently graduated. finals she was month with a special prize from awarded last being one of The UWI for the four best performers in final exam. the She told The Voice: “I see myself as person but other a regular people looking at me strength through, for example, how may find my illness.

I dealt with “The more experiences we share, the realise there are others going through more we thing.” the same

Thousands turn

Pic credit: Elainea

PRIDE: Eventgoers

grace the stage

ISSUE 2

WHERE ARE THE BLACK REFEREES?

LIFE & STYLE

AMAZING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Not old enough to drive or vote but running their own successful companies

the West Indies

HIGH PRAISE: Dr Rochelle Smith

Carn ival 2019 out for UK Black

African & Caribbean Food & Restaurant Guide 2019-20 A Voice Media Group Publication

receiving her prize for Triple Honours from the Dean of the Faculty at The University of the West Indies, Dr Tomlin Paul

on page two

Emmott

Story continues

BUSINESS GUIDE

AUGUST 15 - 21, 2019

Bright future for Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff

The University of

EXCLUSIVE

UK BLACK

17, 2019

‘She’ll be the best in the world one day’

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The deadline for applications is end of day on: March 6th 2020 For more information regarding film distribution in the UK please see: www.launchingfilms.com For any queries please contact us at: apply@fda.uk.net

Pride

THOUSANDS OF lesbian, gay, sexual, transgender bi- biggest festival for LGBTQ people and queer (LGBTQ) people the crucial role of colour gathered of colour. black and brown at Hackney’s Although awaiting people played Haggerston Park brown stripes. in the famous a final fi UK Black Pride for at the time And the main Stone- saw last of going to pressgure wall uprising 50 years stage performances This year markedweek. ago. ganisers said that orfrom Jason Kwan, NEO, and the event’s the attendance first year at the headliner at STRIPES east London venue this year’s event was in Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, MNEK. after several excess of 10,000 beating co-foundsuccessful years Speakers included er and executive last year’s attendLambeth. in ance record Glenroy Murdirector of UK ray of Jamaican of 7,500.

Black Pride said advocacy group UK Black Pride ahead of the event: The theme for J- “We are is now Europe’s this year’s event FLAG, and Amber Hikes, was #WhenWeRise, the wom- diversity,so energised by Hackney’s a reminder of an behind the eight stripe historical signifi rainbow a welcoming flag which also cance as includes black and such a broad place for people from range of diasporas.”

OFFICIATE: Uriah Rennie is the only black referee in the history of the Premier League

Lack of representation among

CLEAR CEILING: Reuben Simon of Ref Support UK is trying to help bring

more black referees to football

officials in Premier League

highlighted as season starts

By Liam Kenny black official following in his illustri- another BAME referee for many ous footsteps.

ITH THE controversial years. And here we are, despite the Video Assistant Referees FA’s commitment, there CONVINCED is a clear ceil(VAR) initiative newly ing for black refs.”

Now Reuben Simon, a former introduced to the Premier senior FA referee League, focus has been on match of- Black, Asian and ambassador for Read the full story – page 35 and minority ethnic ficials in the opening weeks.

(BAME) officials at Ref But where are the black Support UK, referees has claimed that and officials? when Rennie retired he was convinced that Sheffield-born Uriah Rennie there would first and only black referee is the not be another top-flight black referee to have for some time. officiated in the Premier League.

Simon told the Voice He retired the best part of Sport: of a ago and there is no indicationdecade “I could see what was going on, I for a knew after Rennie we wouldn’t see

W

WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT! 26 year old Asher builds his own carpentry business

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THE VOICE | 67

Sport

HIGH QUALITY: The cricket scholarship scheme was founded

by Ebony Rainford-Brent (inset)

Surrey cricket scheme aims to inspire the next generation of black players

By Rodney Hinds

S

URREY COUNTY Cricket Club will this month launch a new scholarship programme to create new opportunities for young African Caribbean cricketers to enter the club’s performance pathway.

Targeting boys and girls with sporting potential aged 11 to 18, the initiative intends to break down barriers for the local African Caribbean community by providing Level 3 ECB-qualified cricket coaching, sports science and personal development education, equipment and travel grants – as well as chances to meet inspirational role models from their community.

While the ambition of the programme is to further opportunities for young players to get involved with high quality cricket, there will be no parameters around the number of participants who reach a senior county level.

EXCLUSIVE

Two free open days will take place on March 4 and 11 in the Ken Barrington Cricket Centre at the Kia Oval.

The capacity for each session is limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

All attendees will receive a Pride of Lions Membership at Surrey County Cricket Club, the club’s membership cate-

gory exclusive for under-16s, enabling them to attend all Surrey matches throughout the season free of charge, alongside an adult.

Following these, a number of participants will be identified to participate in a longterm scholarship programme starting in the summer.

In partnership with Surrey Cricket Foundation, the programme will also support local African Caribbean clubs in developing a sustainable infrastructure and in building strong links with a range of community schemes.

Former Surrey and England bowler Alex Tudor will unveil the programme alongside founder Ebony Rainford-Brent later this month, before next steps for future applicants are announced in due course.

Rainford-Brent, also Surrey’s director of women’s cricket, said: “The ACE Programme is something that I am really excited about.

“There is no doubt that

there has been a lack of engagement with the local black community in our sport for some time and now is a thrilling time to start rebuilding those links.

STRONGLY

“This programme will be the first of its kind and it is brilliant that we can create tangible opportunities for talented young people to access high quality coaching and support, as well as reduce many of the barriers into cricket for this community.

“The links that we will build and the partnerships that we will establish will be vital to driving our future vision where we create an even richer history at the club.

“There is no doubt that this

vision will take time, however working collaboratively with the community, I have every faith in future success.”

Surrey chief executive Richard Gould added: “At Surrey we’re always looking for new ways to be active in the local community that has supported us so strongly through the years.

“This programme is an excellent opportunity to build a stronger connection with our African-Caribbean neighbours and also in the wider county, helping support young players who may otherwise be left behind by the game of cricket.”

For more information, please contact Jon Surtees at Surrey CCC on 07813 130331 or jsurtees@ surreycricket.com.

68 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Sport

THE COVER STORY YOU CAN BELIEVE

TALENT: Jamaica’s Justin Burrowes was winner of the amateur tournament; inset below, young golfers of the future

CREDIT: ALACRAN FOUNDATION

Jamaica Open tournament a success as sponsors help boost talented youngsters

By Rodney Hinds

T

HE 52ND Jamaica Open was another huge success, hosted at the Tryall Golf Club in Hanover.

Some 80 professionals and 20 amateurs competed in a 54 hole stroke play, open golf tournament with a prize pot of $100,000 (£76,200). The contest was sponsored by Alacran Group.

American golfer Patrick Cover was crowned champion in what was a close competition with David Morland. Cover’s 12 under par total of 204 gave him a two-shot victory.

OPPORTUNITY

It was also an exciting day for 18-year-old Jamaican golfer Justin Burrowes, who won the trophy for top amateur.

Additionally, Alacran Foundation joined forces with the Jamaica Golf Association for this year’s camp, a testament to Alacran Foundation’s aim to invest in youth and give them the opportunity to learn from the professionals.

WINNER: American Patrick Cover (centre) receives the Jamaica Open trophy from Rohan Marley (right) and Peter Chin (left) at the Tryall Golf Course. CREDIT: JAMAICA GOLF ASSOCIATION The kids’ clinic proved a hit earlier on in the week when Ewan Peebles of the Tryall Club

philanthropic organisation that facilitates international collaborations, provides funding and

The Jamaica Open attracted some of the world’s top players in the 50s and 60s and senior PGA Tour professional Peter Horrobin led an intuitive session with upcoming players from the Cinnamon Hill Golf Club programme.

The Alacran Foundation is a

invests in art, music, sports and social initiatives that increase education and inclusion for youth and communities.

The foundation operates in London, Miami and Jamaica.

The Caribbean island has captured the heart of the founder Alessandra Lo Savio, who hopes to support and invest in youths across Jamaica.

Since the Jamaica Open started in 1953, it has gone through numerous mutations.

Even before there was a PGA Tour, the Jamaica Open managed to attract some of the world’s top players, many com-

ing to Jamaica in the late 50s and early 60s for an adventure and an exotic locale.

Professional golf has grown tremendously over the last 60 years. With the emergence of

the PGA Tour and several subtours, the prize money has grown to levels that an independent tournament like the Jamaica Open would find hard to match.

Sprinter’s a Caribbean icon

By Karen Palmer

IMPROBABLE: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was one magazine’s Person of the Year

SPRINT LEGEND Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, one of the greatest female sprinters of all time, won the person of the year accolade from a Caribbean-American magazine.

A reader of Everybody’s wrote: “I suggest Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, mother, sprinter and Jamaican Olympian.

“At age 32, Fraser-Pryce did the improbable; she won her fourth IAAF World Championship title

@thevoicenewspaper

@thevoicenews

in the 100m dash after having a child.

“Not only is she a worthy competitor, she gives back to the community where she grew up. She is humble and has a beautiful spirit and a strong mind.”

MAJOR

The Person of the Year for 2019 is included in the Everybody’s 2020 Global Caribbean Calendar edition.

The calendar lists all major events in the region and Caribbe-

voicenews

an communities worldwide, such as carnival and independence dates.

Fraser-Pryce validated her undisputed track and field greatness at last year’s World Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar.

Her 100m victory meant that Fraser-Pryce became the first mother to win an Olympic or world 100m title since Gwen Torrence in 1995 and the oldest woman ever to win an Olympic or world 100m title, at 32.

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 69

Sport

TELL THE COLE STORY One of football’s greatest ever strikers talks about life and career for top charity

By Rodney Hinds

A

NDY COLE scored again with the community recently.

One of football’s greatest strikers was centre of attention at Bush Hall – the iconic independent music venue in Shepherd’s Bush – for a very special and one-night-only tribute evening for the Manchester United and Newcastle legend, with all proceeds going to The Jason Roberts Foundation (JRF).

Cole shared his life and times with Flex of Manchester United fame.

At Bush Hall were football fans of all backgrounds, young and old.

Also in attendance were a host of stellar football names including Les Ferdinand, Chris Ramsey, Paul Davis and Ricky Hill, among others.

The Jason Roberts Foundation was established in 2007 by former professional footballer, media personality and social activist Jason Roberts.

RIGHTS

Roberts started his career at Hayes football club before signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers and going on to play for Bristol Rovers, West Bromwich Albion, Wigan Athletic amongst others, before retiring from professional football in March 2014.

Now a respected football pundit, appearing regularly on BBC’s Match of the Day and Football Focus, he set up JRF as a way to put something back into the community he came from, and to underpin his belief in equal opportunities, rights and representation for individuals regardless of background or circumstance.

Cole is most notably remem-

bered for his time in the Premier League with Manchester United, where he spent six years of his career, winning numerous trophies in the process.

He is the third-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, with 187 goals.

Cole has the distinction of being one of the few players in England to have swept all possible honours in the English game.

LEGEND: Andy Cole (also inset) spoke at an event to raise money for the Jason Roberts Foundation

‘We have organised events to boost the under-represented groups in football’

By Troy Townsend OVER THE past few months I’ve been seen commenting and writing a lot about the issue that just won’t go away in football: racism.

Incident after incident – where’s Troy?

Outcome – where’s Troy? How can we implement change – where’s Troy?

I appreciate the platform that I have, which comes with a massive level of responsibility that I’m more than happy to take on, mainly due to my own personal experiences when playing and being racially victimised.

During those days, there was no one to turn to, no one gave me any advice or guidance. There is definitely more to this Troy than just that.

So, I want to promote the other area of my work that only this platform truly allows me to.

The reason I came to work at Kick It Out was due to their mentoring initiative, which celebrates 10 years in 2020. It’s a concept that provided me with opportunity and one that I now gratefully lead on.

Raise Your Game (RYG) is Kick It Out’s mentoring programme and has seen many aspiring individuals gain access to employment opportunities, work shadowing or placements within football.

This year, we kick off with three exciting events over the next few months. RYG Intermediary starts us off on Wednesday,

February 19 in partnership with Unique Sports Management.

USM is a football management agency that will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about the business of football from a representing player perspective.

Unfortunately, this event is closed, generally, as we have a cohort of young people waiting to attend.

RYG Media is next up on Friday, March 6 and we have the massive privilege of hosting it at the amazing Sky Central Studios.

Sky will provide a unique insight into a variety of job possibilities with the media outlet. It’s a real chance for those interested in media to develop knowledge and an understanding of what it takes to work within a big, corporate media company.

WOMEN

Finally, as part of International Women’s Day we will again be providing an exclusive space for young women with an appetite for working in football, with an event tailored specifically to empowering them to believe.

Various workshops will be accessible on the day, including media and coaching, all taking place on Monday, March 9 at Stamford Bridge – the home of Chelsea Football Club.

Our biggest event, the annual national conference, has no defined date as yet, but will once again be held at the Emirates Stadium in late April.

Always important to note is that Raise Your Game events are designed to support those from under-represented groups, as Kick It Out tries to address the imbalance of football’s workforce.

It’s a programme that has seen many high-profile people give back by mentoring the game’s next generation.

Ten years on, I believe we are making a very good job of what it says on the tin, but we must keep growing.

If any of the above is of interest, or if you want any further advice on the Raise Your Game series, please email Events@kickitout.org.

Troy Townsend is the head of development for Kick It Out.

MENTORING: Troy Townsend leads the fight for a fairer game with events (inset) educating the next generation

70 | THE VOICE FEBRUARY 2020

Sport

STANDING UP FOR THE FAN CHANNEL Ardent Reds supporter Flex has the dream job as host of the United Stand

By Joel Campbell

F

ORMER youth worker and special needs teacher Flex says becoming host and presenter for the world’s biggest Manchester United fan channel on YouTube was a dream he didn’t envision.

Having joined the platform just under two years ago, throwing caution to the wind and embracing a whole new change of direction in his career, Flex told the Voice of Sport that he was enjoying every minute of his job and with over 20 million views on the United Stand platform since the start of the year (at the time of writing this), it’s safe to say he is doing a great job.

However, the ardent United fan has endured a little bit of stick recently. As fan channels garner more influence on football fans with their growing popularity, they also come under greater scrutiny from those opposed to the new media alternatives.

Flex, 32, says that for the most part what they do is received well by both fans of the club and fans of the game.

The Voice of Sport wanted to know more about the man asking the questions: VoS: The United Stand – talk about bringing that platform to

life, your motivation and the journey so far?

Flex: I was put in touch with the guy who actually owns the channel, Mark, and he wanted to take the channel further. He had 130,000 subscribers when I first started two years ago but they didn’t have any one out there on the ground, they didn’t have any one speaking to match going fans, they didn’t have rawness, that immediate reaction after games.

Yes, AFTV had the blueprint and you could see what they do but as Man United, the biggest club in the world, I just felt that we should have that as well. I’d never done it before, I don’t come from any media background or anything and I just went for it.

VoS: Fan channels are a relatively new phenomena – some would say a natural by-product of a digital era, but from your perspective talk about the need for those platforms that provide a space for independent voices.

Flex: I know we’re not accepted by everyone and there has been a lot of hostility towards us and it has been perceived negatively, but a lot of that is due to the lack of understanding of what a fan channel actually is. With the viral nature of a lot of our videos

it’s entertaining for a lot of our rivals and the internet to see someone shouting or getting angry and upset about their club. There is something funny and entertaining about that and I understand that but what happens is, videos get shared and people perceive it to be just that but it’s not, it’s a chance for people to have their say. It’s the way of the world, it’s a new way of consuming football.

VoS: A big club like Manchester United will always garner interest, a word on their current situation as you see it?

Flex: Obviously since Sir Alex left it’s at an all-time low.

The fact that we need to keep restructuring, keep rebuilding,

keep sacking managers shows the incompetence of the way that the club is run. We’ve got owners that are taking out much more money than they are putting in. When we do invest we invest poorly, and the tools that we are giving to managers and not sticking by them is comical. We’re reaping what we sow with these shocking decisions.

VoS: Who would you like to see take the hot spot if Ole Gunnar Solskjær left?

Flex: Mauricio Pochettino is probably the most likely for me. We need someone with more credentials than Solskjær and someone who is going to work better tactically with

these players and put their ideas down. Pochettino has proven to have improved players, he’s improved Spurs. Yes, he didn’t win anything, he nearly did and I think with more resources I think he can.

VoS: Fan channels in general have taken a little stick this season. A sense of growing antipathy for the influence you guys have garnered seems to be present these days, how are you dealing with that?

Flex: There’s this misconception that fan channels are only out to make money and they want to feed negativity and it’s all false. At the end of the day out biggest growth period has been during positive moments.

Tyler’s the man in the know CALLING ALL NBA 2K players! Do you need help with your jump shot? Is your game weak from the free-throw line? Are your team just, wack? Well, you no longer need to suffer in silence as the Voice of Sport is here to help.

We’ve teamed up with the UK’s best NBA 2K player to offer you unfettered access to any assistance you need.

Tyler Warriner-Prince is going to be our resident NBA 2K agony uncle throughout 2020.

If you want to get advice on how to step

@thevoicenewspaper

up your game you can find him on twitter: @TizzleJR. Throughout the year we will be following Tyler as he pursues his dream of becoming eligible for the NBA 2K League Draft.

The 22-year-old was hailed as very unfortunate not to be selected following his last-minute call up for the NBA 2K League European Invitational, the league’s first-ever qualifying event in Europe which took place last December. This year he aims to put it right.

@thevoicenews

voicenews

Our biggest growth periods were actually when José Mourinho won the Europa League and Ole was appointed.

VoS: What’s the future for the United Stand?

Flex: The sky is the limit.

We didn’t envisage it being as big as it is. We got to 500,000 subscribers in the summer and we’re already at nearly 650,000.

VoS: What about personal goals beyond that, you recently hosted the Q&A with Andrew Cole at his ‘evening with’ event in West London. Can we expect to see you doing more of that?

Flex: My background is education, I’ve been a special needs teacher and a youth worker for 10 years prior to doing this. I was also an electrician for a stint so I have been around the houses in terms of occupations.

People don’t realise what you have to give up in order to do this. I don’t see friends a lot of the time, I don’t see family a lot of the time, my life revolves around the Manchester United fixture list. It’s been hard making the adjustment in terms of family and loved ones but you do it because you can see what can happen from it.

Hosting an evening with Andy Cole, it was a dream for me to do that.

www.voice-online.co.uk

FEBRUARY 2020

THE VOICE | 71

Sport

FOREST VIBRATE TO SAMBA BEAT

African stars are putting their best feet forward in Championship challenge

By Liam Kenny

W

HEN IT was announced by Nottingham Forest they had signed goalkeeper Brice Samba from Caen, it would be fair to say a good percentage of fans were dubious.

After all, they already had four senior ‘keepers on the books and the No1 shirt belonged to Arto Muric.

Fast forward a few months into the season and it is hard to recall a goalkeeper having as much of an impact as Samba.

The muscle-bound stopper has been sensational and already become a cult hero at the City Ground.

He understands the club and the fans, and his own ambition is obvious to anyone that watches him. He is good with his feet for such a colossus.

INFLUENCE

He had kept eight Championship clean sheets and has started every game since his debut, establishing himself as the firm first-choice stopper under coach Sabri Lamouchi.

Samba’s influence on the team was immediately apparent.

Forest went unbeaten in 11 of his 13 games, keeping six clean sheets along the way, and it’s that form that has cemented

him as a key player in Forest’s promotion push.

Born in Linzono, Congo, Samba has quickly become one of the more popular characters in the Forest squad, and this was cemented when he gave away five tickets and his jersey to a fan that had got his name tattooed on his body, following a 3-0 cup win at Derby. The fan had tweeted a proposition involving a clean sheet, which Brice achieved and hilariously took him up on.

There is a flag that floats around the City Ground which depicts Samba, 25, doing his trademark pre-match prayer, and he loves the reception he’s had since coming to the city.

“The supporters are amazing here, there’s a lot of players who have a good relationship with them,” said Samba.

“We are good friends. After training we go for food. It’s good for the team. It’s very important for the objective this season that we’re all together.”

Forest are in the shake-up for a play-off place and are looking in good shape for promotion for the first time in several seasons.

With Samba in goal, they easily have one of the best Championship ‘keepers around and look like they’ve made the best signing from Caen since a certain N’Golo Kante moved to Leicester City a few years ago.

Brice’s good form is being aided by the presence of Forest

LEADING LIGHTS: Brice Samba has been in unstoppable form for Nottingham Forest; inset below, Samba Sow has been providing the midfield drive for the City Ground club

midfield dynamo Samba Sow who was signed from Dynamo Moscow in the summer and has been another great coup for the Reds this season.

EXPERIENCE

The 30-year-old has suffered from injury, but Forest fans are itching to see his return, citing the stability and experience he brings to the team.

The Mali international has

been capped 36 times by his country and is a no-nonsense defensive midfielder and arrived for less than a million pounds in the summer. The City Ground club have lots of options in the middle of the park, but the drive and power Sow brings gives them another dynamic.

The fate of Forest’s season relies heavily on the continued performances of the two Sambas, who have been shining lights so far this campaign.

Windies ready to rock at Edgbaston

By Rodney Hinds WEST INDIES cricket captain Jason Holder will lead his side in three Test matches in England during the summer of 2020.

It will be the team’s first visit to the UK since a disappointing World Cup campaign last summer.

The team from the Caribbean will play at The Oval, Edgbaston and Lord’s, with Birmingham-based Edgbaston hosting the second Test between June 12-16.

Following the Edgbaston public ballot and members’ priority windows, there is only a limited number of tickets remaining for the first two days. Prices start from £11 for adults and £6 for Under 16s.

Edgbaston has confirmed it will increase its capacity for next summer’s major matches. The ground will once again install an 840-seat temporary stand for use across England’s Test match against West Indies and oneday international against Ireland.

A further allocation of general ad-

June 2020

4-8: 1st Test, The Oval 12-16: 2nd Test, Edgbaston 25-29: 3rd Test, Lord’s mission tickets for all days will be released when the position of the pitch and sightscreen restrictions have been confirmed.

Tickets for the Edgbaston Test are on sale and available online at tickets.edgbaston.com, over the phone calling 0121 369 1994 (option 1) or in person at Store ’94.

TESTING TIMES: Jason Holder, who was officially rated the world’s best all-rounder in January last year, will lead his West Indies side into action against England this summer

FEBRUARY 2020 | THE VOICE

TOP SPORTS COVERAGE 24/7 VOICE-ONLINE.CO.UK/SPORT

OF SPORT

LOSS OF A LEGEND

By Rodney Hinds

Famous faces who paid tribute...

“Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.” — Barack Obama “Kobe was truly larger than life, a legend. May he and all those who lost their lives today rest in peace. Love and condolences to his family. LA will never be the same.”

— Leonardo DiCaprio

“RIP Kobe, hero to many including my grandson, extraordinary athlete and always kind to me and my family. My deepest condolences to his family.”

— Whoopi Goldberg

“I’m sad to hear that we lost one of our greats. Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest athletes and was such an inspiration to so many including myself.

I’m deeply saddened for his family and for the people around the world who looked up to him. May he and his daughter rest in peace.” — Lewis Hamilton

T

HE WORLD was in shock on hearing of the tragic death of basketball icon Kobe Bryant.

The NBA legend died in a helicopter crash aged just 41.

His teenage daughter, Gianna, was also killed in the accident along with seven other passengers.

Bryant, the NBA’s fourth-highest point-scorer, was travelling in a private aircraft when it came down in Calabasas near LA, California.

He was a five-time NBA champion who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his death has shocked the sporting world.

He retired in April 2016.

Stars from football, music, film and beyond have paid tribute to the ‘Black Mamba’.

Tributes poured in from all and sundry (see left) to confirm Bryant’s superstar status as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Bryant’s achievements include being the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He was also two-time NBA scoring champion and a twotime Olympic champion.

He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters – Natalia and Bianca and Capri.