MIL Pubishing Engine 2

Source: London Assembly

• Defibrillators have been installed for the first time ever across the London Underground and Overground network, all Dial-a-Ride vehicles, all TfL-owned piers and some main bus stations
• This means every single borough will have a TfL defibrillator that any Londoner or commuter can access in order to help someone in cardiac arrest
• Last year the London Ambulance Service responded to approximately 13,000 cardiac arrests
• Every moment that goes by without intervention, whether CPR or defibrillation, decreases a person’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest
• The Mayor, alongside LAS and TfL has also today launched a short training video, which demonstrates how to perform chest compressions and use a defibrillator 

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced that all London Underground, Overground stations and Dial-a-Ride vehicles now have life-saving public access defibrillators available to be used if a passenger suffers cardiac arrest.  

Last year, the London Ambulance Service responded to around 13,000 cardiac arrests across the capital. Fewer than one in 10 people currently survive a cardiac arrest and for every minute that goes by without life-saving intervention like CPR and defibrillation, the chances of a person surviving cardiac arrest decrease by 10 per cent.

City Hall, the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) and Transport for London (TfL) have now completed a massive joint rollout of defibrillators across the transport network, which includes most main bus stations,  and piers. This means that every single borough now has a TfL defibrillator that any Londoner or commuter can access to help someone in cardiac arrest and TfL continues to explore how they can further provide even more across the network.

Before Sadiq became Mayor in 2016, defibrillators were installed in a very limited number of busy stations located in central London so reaching full coverage, which goes beyond to the outer boroughs, is a significant milestone for TfL, LAS and City Hall. A number of historic defibrillators have been coming to the end of their life so this has been about upgrading those too. 

The Mayor made the announcement at Highbury and Islington Underground station to mark World Restart a Heart day. He met Estelle Williams, a 999 call supervisor now working as a trainee clinical tutor at LAS, and her father Eddie. The Mayor heard how Estelle sprang into action after Eddie collapsed and stopped breathing while watching TV. She used the skills learned in her LAS CPR training and was able to keep Eddie’s heart pumping oxygen to his brain until an ambulance arrived. Eddie survived, and has just celebrated his 72^nd birthday. 

In the event of a crisis, we know that every second counts. While ambulance crews arrive, having the skills and kit nearby means you can make sure the heart is pumping and the brain isn’t being starved of oxygen. 

Last year the Mayor trained as a London Lifesaver, where he learned to how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, as well as other basic life support skills. 

Today the Mayor, alongside LAS and TfL has also launched a short training video, presented by the BBC’s Dr Chris van Tulleken and Community Resuscitation Training Officer Alexa Barton from LAS, which demonstrates how to perform chest compressions and use a defibrillator.

From today, Londoners will also be able to find heart-shaped QR codes on every defibrillator in the TfL network. These QR codes take you straight to a video on City Hall’s website which will show you how to perform CPR and use the defibrillator, using techniques from the LAS London Lifesaver training.  

The LAS has also today launched the London Lifesavers campaign in schools, starting with Year 8 students. More than 200 students from six schools will be trained with CPR and how to use a defibrillator at City Hall today.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “For every minute that goes by without life-saving intervention like CPR and defibrillation, the chances of a person surviving cardiac arrest decrease by 10 per cent. That’s why I’ve made good on my commitment to maximise the numbers of defibrillators across the city, and worked with TfL and LAS to ensure every underground and overground station as well as major bus stations, dial-a-ride vehicles and all TfL piers have one publicly available. 

“It’s important that Londoners not only have the kit but the skills to step in and assist when someone is having a cardiac arrest, which is why I’m proud that we have launched a short training video, which demonstrates how to perform chest compressions and use a defibrillator.

“This rollout and education drive will ensure people travelling in our city feel safe and confident that they will be helped in the case of an emergency, and supports my aim to continue building a safer and fairer London for all.” 

Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with the Mayor and our colleagues in the London Ambulance Service to support this vital life saving initiative. We know every second counts when saving a life, so we are pleased that as well as having first-aid trained staff at stations, our customers will have quick access to a defibrillator across the Tube and Overground”

Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service said: “We are proud to support this life-saving programme to install defibrillators across the TfL network, and delighted to see it officially launch today.

“We want London to be one of the best cities in the world when it comes to responding to cardiac arrest. The good news is that we have some of the best response ambulance response times in the country for these emergencies but every second counts before an ambulance arrives, and international evidence shows that increasing bystander intervention is the key. We need to build a social movement that makes CPR training one of the things that lots of people know how to do and we need to get defibrillators in every corner of the city. We would urge people to get in touch with us and train to become a London Lifesaver – with additional defibs across the capital from today, learning these skills could be the difference between life and death.” 

Dr Chris Streather, Regional Medical Director & CCIO at the Medical & Digital Transformation Directorate said “I am delighted about this initiative. The ready availability of defibrillators is a key step in improving survival in out of hospital cardiac arrest. Seconds and minutes really do matter and proximity to life saving equipment will save lives. Heart disease is one of our most significant causes of premature death and this equipment make a massive difference. The mayor’s leadership on this has been of critical importance. It goes hand in hand with the education of Londoners in core life saving skills, and it is great to see the work the ambulance service are doing with schools which perfectly complements the delivery of these additional defibrillators.”

London Ambulance Service Chief Medical Officer Dr Fenella Wrigley, said: ‘When someone is in cardiac arrest, every second counts and early chest compressions and defibrillation are key to survival.

“Having more defibrillators in public places, including our busy tube stations, and getting more people trained to use them and learn simple life-saving skills will help save more lives.”

 

Source: City of York

City of York Council and One Adoption North and Humber, the regional adoption agency for the York, North Yorkshire and the Humber, are supporting this year’s National Adoption Week (16-22 October).

Source: London Assembly

Poverty can have detrimental effects on childhood health and development. According to The Childhood Trust, “all areas of a child’s life are adversely affected by poverty: home, school, friendships and more” ^[1].

The percentage of children in poverty after housing costs in London in 2021/22 was 33 per cent, which amounts to around 700,000 children ^[2]. This is the fourth highest of regions in England and is higher than the UK rate of 29 per cent.

There is a large disparity in poverty rates for children between different London boroughs. Almost half (48 per cent) of children are growing up in poverty in Tower Hamlets, compared to 12 per cent in Richmond upon Thames ^[3].

In the UK, children from Black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be in poverty. 48 per cent are now in poverty, compared with 25 per cent of children in white British families ^[4].

The Economy Committee will meet tomorrow for the first of two meetings on child poverty in London. It will examine the scale and causes of child poverty in London, how it differs across boroughs, and the impact of growing up in poverty on children.

The guests are:

• Katherine Hill, Strategic Project Manager, 4in10
• Tom Lee, Senior Policy Analyst, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
• Chris Price, Chief Executive Officer, Pecan
• Klara Skrivankova, Director of Grants, Trust for London
• Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice
• Dan Drillsma-Milgrom, Senior Manager – Equality and Fairness, Communities and Social Policy, Greater London Authority (GLA)

The meeting will take place on Tuesday 17 October from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

Follow us @LondonAssembly.

Source: London Assembly

• Mayor continuing to work closely with Metropolitan Police and communities across London following the impact of the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas in Israel
• Increased neighbourhood reassurance patrols continue and more protection is in place to ensure safety and security of places of worship across the capital
• Sadiq announces more support today for faith leaders in London with extra practical guidance and information to keep premises safe and help build a safer city for everyone

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has reassured communities across the capital today that increased security measures will continue to be in place to protect places of worship following the impact of the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas in Israel.

The horrific loss of life in both Israel and Gaza in the last week has impacted communities across London and the Mayor is determined to do everything he can to support communities and show that there is zero-tolerance to any Islamophobia or antisemitism.

City Hall’s resilience team and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) are continuing to work closely with London’s communities, and the Metropolitan Police has stepped up patrols to provide reassurance and deter hateful acts. This includes a rolling programme of security visits to all London Synagogues.

As part of ongoing work from City Hall to support faith leaders, the Mayor has also announced today a new Community Resilience Champions programme¹, which is being run in partnership with London Boroughs Faiths Network, to provide more practical support for faith leaders on how to keep their places of worship safe for staff, visitors and communities.

The programme is designed to give faith leaders and communities further expert support to ensure security in their buildings and practical guidance to stamp out hate. That includes safety actions, safeguarding and how to support communities in the event of emergencies.

This £10,000 investment, which has been announced during National Hate Crime Awareness Week, strengthens the existing support which is already in place, with MOPAC providing hundreds of free safety and security seminars and webinars for places of worship which impart practical tips on how to keep premises and worshippers safe.²

It is also builds on the Mayor’s record £3million Shared Endeavour Fund³ which is empowering thousands of Londoners to get involved in grassroots community-led projects across London that stand up to tackle extremism, hate, intolerance and radicalisation wherever they are.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The suffering and loss of innocent life in both Israel and Gaza is truly heart-breaking and my thoughts are with all those impacted. It’s vital that we don’t allow events overseas to spill over onto our streets in London and I want to reassure both the Jewish community and the Muslim community that we will take a zero-tolerance approach to any Islamophobia or antisemitism.

“I’m continuing to work closely with the police and community leaders to ensure our communities feel safe, and are safe, as they go about their daily lives. Our city is united against all forms of hate and we will continue to do all we can to support faith leaders and communities as we build a safer London for all.”

Fiona Twycross, Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience, said: “We know that the potential threats our communities and cities are facing is evolving which is why the Mayor and I are committed to working with faith leaders to ensure that their places of worship remain safe spaces where individuals and communities can come together in peace. It’s incredibly important that we do all we can to protect our communities and the Mayor’s new Community Resilience Champions programme will help to build a safer city for all Londoners.”

Steve Miller, Convenor at the London Boroughs Faiths Network, said: “After many years of discussion, and with the insights we gained through the pandemic, I’m delighted that the Community Resilience training course is being launched. It will enhance the potential for faith communities and emergency responders to work together. Now is a great opportunity for every faith tradition and place of worship to begin the process of building a London-wide network of Community Resilience Champions and Responders by nominating key leaders to be a part of this course.”

Dr Deesha Chadha, Co-Chair of the London Faith and Belief Sector Panel, said: “I strongly encourage anyone who represents their place of worship to register for this free training which provides you with all the necessary tools and guidance to keep your places of worship safe, secure and prepared for emergencies. Resilience training for communities is becoming ever more important as communities seek to respond to a myriad of potential risks and hazards. I especially recommend this training to representatives from the Dharmic faith traditions – who do not always take up such opportunities – as it is relevant, up-to-date, delivered by experts and could make a significant, tangible difference to their communities.”

Source: City of Portsmouth

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of the council with responsibility for culture, said: “Hotwalls Studios provides a unique opportunity for the public to witness artists at their creative best, partake in enriching workshops, and champion local artistic talent. I am delighted to witness the continued growth of our creative community in Portsmouth, and I eagerly anticipate the diverse creations that will emerge.”

The new resident artists represent a diverse array of mediums and artistic styles, inviting visitors to explore and engage. Every third Sunday of the month, all thirteen studios will open their doors from 11am to 4pm, offering a firsthand glimpse into the artistic process. Additionally, a series of markets, exhibitions, and shows are slated for later in the year.

More details about the new artists can be found below:

Studio one showcases a textile artist called Studio Rumu. Karen’s expertise lies in the ancient art form of needle felting, which involves transforming wool fibres into both 3D models and 2D fibre paintings.

Liz Linfield occupies studio two with Ahoy Dare, which brings together the world of textile art and the stylish realm of street fashion. With her unique knitting creations, she transforms knitting needles into paintbrushes and yarns into kaleidoscopic murals.

In studio four, printmaker Frankie Brown creates whimsical hand-printed illustration, artwork, and stationery. She sources her illustration ideas from fairy tales and folklore, delving into their obscure and sometimes darker origins.

Studio six showcases the ink drawings and paintings by young artists Radford and Jackson, focusing on working-class people and nautical themes. And in Studio nine, painter Ella Kilgour and textile artist Tiger Lily Tufts create a range of work, from surrealist landscapes to colourful rugs and wall hangings.

Finally, studio 11 is taken by designer and artist ’26th of May’, who’s unique jewellery and accessories show creativity and innovation.

For more information on what’s happening at Hotwalls Studios, visit hotwallsstudios.co.uk.

Source: City of Portsmouth

Southsea artist Angela Chick has been chosen to produce pavement artwork to brighten up the north of Commercial Road.

Angela, known for her playful, bright, and bold designs, was selected by a panel put together by Portsmouth City Council. The panel felt her proposed work, with themes of the sea, play, and positive mental health, would best represent Portsmouth.

The project is part of a package of improvements funded by the government’s Future High Streets initiative.

Angela’s proposed piece will be designed to fit in with new seating and planting that is already planned. The successful piece will be placed in the open space to the north of Commercial Road.

The panel included Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Pitt, council officers and representatives of local organisations including Portsmouth Creates and the New Theatre Royal.

Councillor Steve Pitt, who has responsibility for culture and economic development, said: “We would like to extend our thanks to all of the artists that took part in the competition. We have seen some great designs put forward but there was one that really stood out and met all the criteria of the brief.

“Congratulations to Angela, a worthy winner and a great piece to represent the culture and community of Portsmouth.”

Angela Chick, local artist, said: “I was absolutely thrilled to be chosen as the competition winner. I feel a great sense of pride in being given the opportunity to use my artwork to help lighten the days, and high street of Portsmouth. I wanted my design to help remind a resilient community how strong they are, while also encouraging playfulness.”

The overall construction plans for the area have been finalised and works will commence in early January 2024. The artwork that is planned to be implemented on Guildhall Walk will be chosen via a separate process with the Safer Streets team at a later date. The work will be completed by 31 March, 2024.

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

Mayor supports Book Week with her favourite stories

13 October 2023

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Patricia Logue, has pledged her support for Book Week NI which is taking place from 16-22 October and is encouraging people across the North West region to connect with their local library and get reading.

Mayor Logue said she was very supportive of any initiative aimed at promoting reading: “Book Week is a great way to celebrate the joy of reading whilst also highlighting the important role local libraries play in the lives of people across our community and in our schools, colleges and universities.

“I would encourage everyone to take the time to sit down and pick up a book –  it’s a great way to relax and escape after a busy day. I love to sit and read in the evenings, it’s a chance to unwind and grab a few precious minutes to enjoy a good story.”

As part of her support for Book Week Mayor Logue has recorded a short video for her social media where she outlines her favourite books and encourages others to do the same.

“For Book Week I chose two books that are very special to me, the first is “Strumpet City” a very famous historical novel by James Plunkett that tells the story of the Dublin lockout in the early 1900s.

“It is one of those books that truly reflects the contrasting lives of the urban working class with those living in poverty and accurately depicts the difficult times in Dublin in the years leading up to the First World War. 

“Another favourite of mine is a novel by Irish writer Anne Griffin entitled “When All Is Said”, a tender story of an elderly man who sits at a bar stool and raises five toasts to five people who have made the most impact on his life.

“It’s a lovely heartwarming story that has stayed with me and which I regularly recommend to friends.”

Mayor Logue added: “To celebrate Book Week I am encouraging you all to take a trip to your local library and see for yourself the excellent range of books that are available.

“If you have children or grandchildren, then there is nothing better than to encourage them to sit down with a book and allow their imagination to go on a journey.

“Not only is it good for helping them to relax but it creates empathy and gives them a fantastic start to their education as well as their mental health and wellbeing.

“So what are you waiting for? Grab a book, find a cosy spot and let the magic of reading transport you to a new world.”

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

Destined members get into the spooky spirit ahead of this year’s Halloween Carnival Parade

13 October 2023

Halloween preparations are well underway at Destined as members came together to create spooktacular accessories and props for their part in this year’s parade.

The Derry Halloween celebrations come to a breathtaking close on Halloween night with the world-renowned Carnival Parade. Hundreds of members of community groups, organisations and schools come together to create an electric performance that dances its way through the city centre on all Hallow’s Eve.

Like many years before, Destined, based on the Foyle Road, are taking part in this year’s parade and have been working hard creating accessories and props for their costumes. Two workshops, facilitated by the North West Carnival Initiative, took place earlier this month to help get everyone in the spooky spirit.

Community spirit remains at the heart of Derry’s world-class festivities with hundreds of local performers from right across the city and district. Organised by the North West Carnival Initiative, the Carnival Parade brings the four-day programme of events to a thrilling close.

Charlene Keenan, Manager at Destined, said the group were delighted to be a part of this year’s carnival parade as it’s something they really look forward to every year.

“We’re all really excited for Halloween this year and are looking forward to being a part of the famous carnival parade. We work with a wide range of age groups here at Destined, from people in their late teens right through to people is their 70’s and Derry Halloween is the only event that really brings everyone together, we really love being included in it all.”

The North West Carnival Initiative visited Destined at the beginning of October to work with members and help create props for their costumes. Charlene went on to explain how much the group enjoyed the workshops, as it was really important for the participants to feel involved in the parade before it takes place. She went on to praise the diversity of the parade and looked forward to working with everyone on the night.

“The Derry Halloween parade really does include a huge range of diverse groups and organisations and that’s why we love it. At Destined, we firmly believe that while our users may have learning disabilities, they should still be offered the same opportunities and rights as anyone else. They may need a little extra support, but we love that they are still involved in these world-class festivities.

“We are all really looking forward to the parade. We’ll probably meet here before and get our make-up and costumes sorted before we make our way down. There is always a great buzz beforehand and we’re all really excited for this year’s event.”

Destined has an overall aim of integrating people with Learning Disabilities into their local communities. They host a range of programmes to achieve this with a strong focus on supporting families, education, social, arts, women, health, fitness and personal development.

Destined will join some of the North West’s finest performers to bring the story of Derry Halloween to life with fearsome displays of magic and mayhem.

The Derry Halloween parade will take place at 7pm on Tuesday 31^st October. Following the parade, the City of Drones will kick off at 8:15pm with the firework finale at 8:30pm.

Derry Halloween is supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Tourism N. Ireland, BT and the Executive Office.

For more information on the Derry Halloween Parade or to download the full programme of events, please visit www.derryhalloween.com