thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--How Discrimination In Housing Is Ruining The Lives Of Queer People Of Colour

“I presented myself to the local authority when I was homeless. I said to them: ‘I’m queer, in the closet, don’t feel safe and need support.’ I was asked: ‘Why are you queer?’” 29-year-old Faz told HuffPost UK.
“It was so confusing, the insinuation that I could choose not to be that, if I didn’t want to be. I’ve already had to deal with the rest of the world asking me those questions.”
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Through a collaboration with LGBTQ+ homelessness charity AKT, HuffPost UK is shining a light on the unique inequalities that LGBTQ+ young people of colour face when trying to access housing.
Created in 1989, AKT supports service users aged 16 to 25 in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a “hostile environment”.
It supports young people into safe homes and employment, education or training, in a welcoming environment.
At 16, Faz and his brothers became housing insecure when their mother died. Things became even tougher for Faz, who’s of Iranian and Pakistani descent, when his sexuality caused problems with his family.
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“I told my local authority that I’m in a situation where I need to have my own space. I feel like I don’t have a sense of belonging, no parents, and obviously my next call for help was to this local authority. I feel like they could have been more compassionate which wasn’t the case,” the east Londoner said.
“The housing officer was very negative and made my vulnerability seem like it was my fault, asking me why I was in this position.
“It’s so important to have empathy for the person you’re talking to because, at the end of the day, we are human beings. Training in terms of how staff can maintain the sensitivity around that is essential for people who are dealing with vulnerable people or complex situations.”
Faz Supplied
After the council failed him, Faz was essentially homeless before finding emergency shelter at AKT’s emergency “Purple Door” accommodation for LGBTQ+ people. He was 24.
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“Often homelessness has a stigma to it that just isn’t true,” he said. “I was forced into the situation I was in; I’m not a bad person, I’d just graduated, I was a standard young person trying to live a good life. But obviously things happen and we need, through local authorities, all the help we can get.”
More than one in three (36%) people accepted as statutorily homeless by councils in England during 2016-17 were from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background, close to three times their representation in the population.
And research by AKT has revealed that young LGBTQ+ people make up nearly a quarter (24%) of the young homeless population.
Some 77% of the LGBTQ+ young people who work with AKT say coming out at home was the main factor in causing their homelessness.
The problem is reflected elsewhere in the housing sector: one in 10 LGBTQ+ people (10%) looking for a house or flat to rent or buy were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, according to a 2017 Stonewall report.
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Faz, who is of Pakistani heritage, explains that cultural norms can often make the “coming out” process difficult for queer people of colour.
“I feel quite uncomfortable with that term ‘coming out’ based on where I come from,” he said. “It’s difficult within certain cultures. It’s not a case of ‘let’s have a cup of tea and a chat’ – we don’t operate like that in my culture.
“When you come from a minority ethnic background, it can be quite difficult when you’re navigating an eastern and western ideology that you come from, and finding yourself – exploring yourself – comes at later stages in your life.
“We need to evaluate further on what coming out means and explore what cultures dictate and the implications of saying these things within your culture – because often you can have support networks that doesn’t understand your culture and that can be detrimental to your safety.”
Faz has now became a support worker, an ambassador and recently a trustee for AKT. He is planning to write a book and hopes to one day open his own trans hostel.
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Robyn Supplied
Robyn, from Manchester, has been estranged from her family for five years since coming out.
She told HuffPost UK: “I’ve been asked about relationship status and also my future plans for partners – how many I plan to bring into the home. Assumptions have been made that I must have multiple partners and they’re criminals that will be coming and going from where I’m living.
“Also I’ve been asked, quite a few times, if I’ve been arrested or in prison – which may be fair enough for a landlord to ask, but none of my white friends have been asked that.”
On one occasion, Robyn moved house with a white partner, who the landlord addressed as the lead tenant when this was not the case.
Having lost her job in August as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, she is often “on the edge” due to the worry of losing her home and having to battle discrimination to find stable housing again.
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“It’s feeling a lot more real by the day,” she said. “Each month I think about what I’m going to say to the landlord to get more leniency for a couple of days or what can I do to raise the rent money.
“There’s no family I can text to kip on their bed for a few days or make up that last little bit of rent; it does feel like you have far less options [as a queer person of colour] especially when you don’t have any family to fall back on.”
Robyn knew coming out wouldn’t go down well.
“I had heard my family making disparaging and homophobia remarks about that community,” she told HuffPost UK. “They would make it clear to my siblings and I that they wouldn’t want anyone like that in the family and if there were – that person would be an outcast at the very least and there would be violence, possibly, by certain members.”
The housing landscape is incredibly tough to navigate for queer people of colour, she pointed out.
“For example, councils can be quite reticent to accept that there’s a threat towards queer people of colour; if you explain that you face violence from homophobic family members [...] they’ll encourage people to go through counselling or family therapy when the situation is far beyond that point.
“The threat isn’t understood and the additional pressures faced by queer person of colour is never understand.
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“Then, when you’re in housing, there can be hostile neighbourhoods. I live in an area that’s relatively safe but the amount of Ukip posters in my neighbourhood whenever an election comes around is startling; the message feels a lot like: ‘You don’t belong here.’”
“My family would make it clear to my siblings and I that a queer relative would be an outcast at the very least and there would be violence, possibly, by certain members."” - Robyn
Leigh Fontaine is a services manager at AKT. He’s responsible for delivering frontline delivery across London and some of the south-east England.
Having worked in the homelessness sector for five years, he has seen a lot and what he describes is astonishing. In all of the organisations he’s worked in, Black young people – particularly young Black men – are disproportionately affected when it comes to trying to access housing options.
Typically this manifests as young Black men being refused viewings for rooms or properties if they use non-westernised versions of their names.
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In other cases, young Black men will attend a property viewing and register their interest, only to then be told it’s not available – even though they can still see the property being advertised a week later on the same letting platform.
Some people have told Fontaine that they’ve sat down with current tenants for interviews and then the tenants have given feedback to landlords that they weren’t the right fit for the house. These were always in scenarios where the make-up of the house was predominantly, if not entirely, white.
“It’s hugely demoralising and young people just get tired of the same kind of experiences,” Fontaine told HuffPost UK.
“What we’ve often found is that young Black people and people of colour come together and look for Black or people of colour-only households because they know if they approach those households they won’t have to deal with all the micro-aggressions that they would normally have to.”
Flashpop via Getty Images
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Robyn echoed this point and likened it to the racist segregation of yesteryear.
“The majority of queer people I know seek out housing with other queer people, within other house shares with their partners. They feel unsafe anywhere else and I don’t blame them – I would feel this way too based on my own experiences.
“It harkens back to the times when people came to this country – when south Asian families came to Britain – and all congregated in one area because they knew there was safety in numbers, they knew they needed to be around their people to feel any sense of security in a country that didn’t want them. It’s still the same thing going on where people who are marginalised.
“When you’re a queer person of colour, there are certain things you expect where housing is considered. It’s stressful to move and find new places. The limitations placed on queer people of colour, and discrimination we face, just makes things almost impossible.”
In a broad sense, marginalised communities have long been forced to set up segregated housing options to meet their own needs.
Social housing sector support for the creation of a wave of BAME community-controlled housing associations led to over 100 BAME associations being set up by the Housing Corporation in 1986.
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Since then, these associations have advanced the housing opportunities of non-white people. The remaining 70 BAME housing associations continue to play a crucial role in offering alternative housing solutions to these communities.
Discrimination on the grounds of race is unlawful in the UK under the Equality Act 2010. It is also unlawful to discriminate on other grounds such as gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief and transgender status.
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of gender and this has been extended under the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 to prohibit discrimination against people who have undergone gender reassignment.
“I’ll call it what it is: racism,” Fontaine added. “And this kind of racism is what’s prominent in the UK – underhanded, sneaky, the indirect form that’s really hard to pinpoint unless you’re the one experiencing those micro aggressions.
“Often it’s a case, unfortunately, of coaching young people to learn that this is going to be part of their experience and try to find ways to help them to build up their resilience. Because sometimes it’s easier to not fight and then just find alternative options than it is to try and push and press the issue.”
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Fontaine wants to see more robust legislative measures implemented to protect queer people of colour accessing housing.
Lady Phyll Akua Opoku-Gyimah Nicholas Hunt via Getty Images
Activist Phyll Akua Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, has been impacted by discrimination throughout her entire life.
In her capacity as AKT patron, as well as founder of UK Black Pride, she is committed to making space for marginalised people to seek community.
“As a queer Black woman living in the UK, by default I am a symbol of resistance,” she told HuffPost UK. “Each layer of my identity has been subject to discrimination at one time or another – whether that is as a Black person facing racism, a woman facing sexism or as a queer person facing homophobia.
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“These prejudices against me are echoed in the LGBTQ+ young people AKT works with. It is the reason why they are susceptible to experiencing a mental health crisis, substance misuse issues, domestic abusive relationships and engage in risky sexual behaviours.
“A lack of wider support combined with the discriminations faced by these young people on account of their identity means too often they slip through the net.”
Now Phyll is calling for more statistics to be recorded detailing the experiences of non-white communities accessing housing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Remembering John Lennon With 80 Rare Pictures On What Would Have Been His 80th Birthday

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Late Beatles star John Lennon would have been celebrating his 80th birthday today.
The musical legend died in New York in 1980, after he was shot by Mark David Chapman.
In the decades since, he has continued to have an enduring influence on popular culture, with fans marking what would have been his milestone birthday.
In his hometown of Liverpool, the council has launched a worldwide contest to find another great songwriter.
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A collection of previously unseen pictures of Lennon in New York will also go on display at The Beatles Story in Liverpool.
But if you are unable to make it to the north west, we’ve uncovered some of the most beautiful and rare pictures of John taken during his time in one of the world’s biggest band’s ever to mark the occasion...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Kristen Stewart On The Most Intimidating Part Of Portraying Princess Diana

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Kristen Stewart is feeing the weight of portraying one of the most iconic figures of our time: the late Princess Diana.
The Twilight actor will take on the role of the former Lady Diana Spencer in the upcoming biopic Spencer, which is due to start production in January 2021.
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The film takes place over a three-day period in which the Princess of Wales realises that her marriage to Prince Charles isn’t working, according to Deadline.
Spencer is set at the Sandringham Estate, which is where the royal family spends their Christmas holiday.
Kristen Stewart and Princess Diana Getty Images
Kristen finds elements of the role particularly intimidating, she told InStyle magazine, for which she is the November 2020 cover star.
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“The accent is intimidating as all hell because people know that voice, and it’s so, so distinct and particular,” she revealed.
“I’m working on it now and already have my dialect coach.”
Kristen added: “In terms of research, I’ve gotten through two and a half biographies, and I’m finishing all the material before I actually go make the movie,” most likely referencing Tina Brown’s 2007 biography, The Diana Chronicles, and Andrew Morton’s 1992 tome, Diana: Her True Story. Morton revealed after Diana’s 1997 death that the princess was one of the main sources for the book.
All in all, Kristen said that she wants to know the late princess “implicitly” and to do her story justice.
“It’s one of the saddest stories to exist ever, and I don’t want to just play Diana — I want to know her implicitly,” she said. “I haven’t been this excited about playing a part, by the way, in so long.”
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Spencer director Pablo Larraín is equally excited for Kristen to take on the role. He told Deadline in June he considers Kristen “one of the great actors around today” and that she “can be very mysterious and very fragile [and] ultimately very strong as well”.
“The way she responded to the script and how she is approaching the character, it’s very beautiful to see,” Pablo added. “I think she’s going to do something stunning and intriguing at the same time. She is this force of nature.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--What You Need To Know About The Shielding Plans On The Table

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It’s been months of limbo for those who were previously shielding due to coronavirus, with many continuing to limit their contact with others, even after the official shielding period was paused.
But the clinically vulnerable could soon be told to stay home again, under plans being considered to reintroduce recommendations.
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One plan on the table would see hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people living in coronavirus hotspots being told to shield again this winter.
The plan differs from the original national shielding scheme, where 2.2 million people in England were advised to shield, before the scheme was “paused” at the end of July. Instead, the new proposals would only impact certain parts of the country.
Cavan Images via Getty Images
The proposed plan comes after Professor John Edmunds, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said “we are not that far away from the health service being stretched” in hotspot areas, such as the North of England.
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A decision on shielding has not been finalised and may be delayed because of fears for the mental health of those facing months of isolation, according to The Times.
More than a third (35%) of those who were shielding in spring said the isolation had a negative impact on their mental health. Among shielders under the age of 50, this rose to almost half (46%).
Ministers are expected to outline a three-tier local lockdown system next week – also being called a “traffic light system”.
Areas with outbreaks would be classified as ‘tier one’ and would be subject to the tightest restrictions, while ‘tier two’ would have some restrictions, such as a ban on households mixing. ‘Tier three’ would refer to areas not subject to local lockdown measures.
The new tier system may see those in vulnerable groups told to stay at home again for months, but it’s yet to be revealed if this would affect just ‘tier one’ areas, or larger parts of the country.
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Another idea floated by experts is that vulnerable people could form a ‘chain of trust’ with a select number of people to protect themselves against Covid-19. It wouldn’t mean complete isolation, but those in the chain of trust would need to adopt measures in their lives to reduce their own risk of transmission.
Before a chain can be effective, vulnerable people would need some questions answered, such as what happens if they can’t work from home, and people in their workplace are outside of their chain.
It’s because of this that some campaigners would welcome the reintroduction of an official shielding period. From August 1, clinically vulnerable people were no longer eligible for Statutory Sick Pay on the basis of being advised to shield by the government. This meant thousands were forced to return to work, despite fears for their health.
An online petition calling for the government to reinstate shielding and provide better protection for those deemed clinically vulnerable has gained more than 2,500 signatures. Many of those shielding in spring have not returned to normal life, sparking the hashtags #StillShielding and #ForgottenShielders.
A formal announcement on new measures is not likely to come until Monday, according to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Nobel Peace Prize 2020 Winner Is The UN's World Food Programme

“The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a strong upsurge in the number of victims of hunger in the world. In countries such as Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Sudan and Burkina Faso, the combination of violent conflict and the pandemic has led to a dramatic rise in the number of people living on the brink of starvation.”
The organisation joins the ranks of previous winners including Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter and Mikhail Gorbachev.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Rasping Trump Insists He’s ‘In Great Shape’ As Voice Cracks In Wild Fox News Rant

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Donald Trump was hoarse throughout an extended telephone interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity on Thursday, yet insisted he was feeling great.
At one point, Trump lost his voice while accusing former Vice President Joe Biden of “choking like a dog” during their debate last week:
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The President saying Biden was choking like a dog VS the President losing his voice pic.twitter.com/aETxFT8SPB — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) October 9, 2020
He also struggled with his voice while discussing absentee ballots:
Trump is coughing through this Hannity interview. pic.twitter.com/YuBHzZlSCu — Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) October 9, 2020
Although Trump tested positive for Covid-19 on October 1, he ducked a question about his testing and virus levels. Trump claimed he was in “great shape” and talked up his medication. He also said he wants to hold a campaign rally on Saturday:
Sean Hannity actually asks Trump if he's been tested and if it's been negative and Trump kinda says he was tested then says hes going to be tested tomorrow and that the doctors said there's basically no virus pic.twitter.com/DGR2YPgJLO — Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) October 9, 2020
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At another point, Trump claimed Biden wants to tear down buildings and replace them with new buildings that have “tiny little windows, ok, little windows, so you can’t see out, you can’t see the light.”
"California is gonna have to ration water. You wanna know why? Because they send millions of gallons of water out to sea, out to the Pacific. Because they want to take care of certain little tiny fish, that aren't doing very well without water." -- Trump pic.twitter.com/g0PrXZRgOq — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 9, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Donald Trump Jr Just Said 'One Of Saddest Things I’ve Heard On Fox News'

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Jimmy Kimmel dinged Donald Trump Jr. on Wednesday, claiming President Donald Trump’s eldest son had just said “one of the saddest things I’ve heard on Fox News.”
Trump Jr. — who Kimmel has feuded with on multiple previous occasions — told the conservative network’s “Fox & Friends” show that his father, during his hospitalisation for the coronavirus, was “literally rushing to get me off the phone because he had calls he had to make and work he had to do for the American people.”
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“It’s sort of amazing, some things never change,” Trump Jr. added. “He’s always been that way for his entire life.”
Kimmel doubted Trump Jr.’s spin on the short call.
“Oh, Don Jr. That’s not why he was rushing you off the phone,” said the comedian, before singing the chorus of the Harry Chapin song “Cat’s In The Cradle.”
“That is one of the saddest things I’ve heard on Fox News,” he added.
Elsewhere in Kimmel’s monologue, the late night host came up with a terrifying new role for the fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence’s face during Wednesday’s debate with Democratic vice presidential nominee senator Kamala Harris.
He also exposed Trump’s meaningless boasts since March that a vaccine for Covid-19 would be available “very, very soon” with a cutting supercut.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Sara Cox Sets The Record Straight On Rumours She's 'Drifted Apart' From Zoe Ball

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Sara Cox has sought to put rumours she’s “drifted apart” from Zoe Ball to bed.
The Radio 2 DJs were close pals back in the late 90s and early 00s, regularly spotted out partying on the notorious London club scene together.
In recent years, the pair have been plagued by rumours about the state of their friendship, especially after Zoe was announced as the new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show – a gig some listeners had lobbied for Sara to land.
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Zoe Ball and Sara Cox pictured in 1999 PA
However, Sara has now insisted they’re still in regular contact, telling The Mirror: “I always have to be careful what I say about Zoe because it always sounds like we’ve drifted apart, big drama, high hell and it’s just not.
“We’ve always supported each other, we just live quite far away from each other.
“We were friends and were out partying and then, you know, kids and life kind of happened. But it’s true that we text each other quite a lot now.”
The pair bantering at the Brit Awards PA
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Sara, who now hosts Radio 2′s drivetime show, continued: “We both got to interview Dolly Parton last week, so obviously we were saying how lucky we are. We have the best jobs in the world.
“And I’ll text if she’s said something funny on the show and she’ll text if she’s listening at tea time.”
Sara added that she and Zoe also enjoy regular Zoom calls with the other Radio 2 DJs.
Zoe and Sara pictured in 2001 Dave Hogan via Getty Images
Both presenters previously hosted the Radio 1 Breakfast Show – Zoe from 1998 until 2000 and Sara from 2000 until 2003.
After Zoe was announced as Chris Evans’ successor on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in 2018, she attempted to play down the supposed rivalry between her and Sara.
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“We spoke a lot during the whole process. We’re old buddies and we’ve always been really supportive of each other,” she told Radio Times.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--As Changing Rooms Returns, Let's Remind Ourselves Of The Show’s Biggest Ever Disaster

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A ‘floating suspended shelf unit’ and ‘prized antique teapot collection’ has disaster written all over it, but that didn’t stop designer Linda Barker from proceeding with the idea on Changing Room’s most memorable moment.
The home improvement show is set to return to our screens this week when a reboot of the classic BBC series comes to Channel 4.
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Naked Attraction host Anna Richardson will be on presenting duties alongside designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen – who found fame on the original run, which launched in 1996.
Anna will no doubt be crossing everything that she doesn’t have a repeat of what happened to one unlucky homeowner on the show back in 2000.
Seventeen years after the show left our screens, people still talk about the episode in which designer Linda Barker was tasked with redecorating a South London flat belonging to a lady called Clodagh, along with the help of her two neighbours.
Before taking part in the show, Clodagh had written a letter to producers asking for her lifetime’s collection of teapots to be housed in a corner cabinet, but Linda had other ideas.
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Why did anyone ever think this was a good idea? YouTube
Clodagh’s neighbours knew the sentimental and monetary value of the teapots (over £6,000) and were wary when Linda suggested shelves suspended from the ceiling by wires.
“It was going to be absolutely great,” Linda reminisced in a subsequent interview.
“I’m painting such a great picture because, of course, the whole thing ended up in complete disaster.”
Not half, Linda...
Changing Rooms YouTube
Surveying the damage as she arrives at the flat the following day, a nonchalant Linda says: “I think we just have to out our hands up on this one.”
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Probably best Linda, unless you have a lot of superglue handy.
Relive the full horror in the clip below...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--'No Country In The World' Is Going To Take Covid Lessons From Trump: Welsh Politicians Hit Back At U

'No Country In The World' Is Going To Take Covid Lessons From Trump: Welsh Politicians Hit Back At US President

“I’m actually surprised that Donald Trump has even heard of Wales,” Jobbins said, “and I’d be even more surprised if he has a detailed grasp of the situation here. I’m not convinced he’s got a detailed grasp of it in America, to be honest.”
Meanwhile,Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said he looked forward to welcoming Biden as the next president of the United States, particularly since Biden’s hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, had been home to many Welsh immigrants over the years.
“No country in the world is going to take public health lessons from President Trump,” Price said, “and certainly not Wales, as the birthplace of the NHS which gave the world the model of a national health service.”
As of Thursday, Wales has had 28,262 cases of Covid-19. The US, in contrast, has seen over seven million.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Changing Rooms To Return With Davina McCall As New Presenter

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Davina McCall is set to front a revival of interior design series Changing Rooms.
The presenter has been announced as the face of Channel 4′s reboot of the show, despite original host Carol Smilie publicly saying she wanted to return.
It has been revealed that Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is returning, going up against another designer as their teams makeover rooms in each other’s houses.
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Davina McCall PA Wire/PA Images
Davina said in a statement: “I’m so excited to be presenting Changing Rooms. It’s the perfect time to bring it back. Everyone is going DIY and decor-mad!
“I can’t wait to see all the amazing transformations. I might even get stuck in myself if I’m allowed to be let loose with a paint brush.”
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Danny Martindale via Getty Images
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Laurence also said: “It’s taken quite a lot of coaxing to get me under the Changing Rooms banner once more, but nothing like as much coaxing as it’s going to take to squeeze those leather trousers back on.”
Carpenter Handy Andy is also set to don his tool belt once again, according to The Sun.
Carol and Laurence with the rest of the original Changing Rooms team BBC
Changing Rooms originally ran on the BBC from 1996 to 2004, with Carol hosting from its inception until 2003, before Laurence stepped into the presenting role.
After rumours the show was being revived were published in the press earlier in the year, Carol admitted she was keen to return.
She said in an interview with The Sun: “It was definitely the favourite show of my career, without a doubt. It would be the only show I’d come back to telly for.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--10 Joyful Celeb Moments That Brought Us Some Light Relief This Week | Good Vibes Only

10 Joyful Celeb Moments That Brought Us Some Light Relief This Week | Good Vibes Only
This week, there were plenty of moments to keep us laughing, from Mariah Carey rewriting history in her new autobiography to Jane Fonda’s unique way of encouraging people to vote. Meanwhile, Katie Price unveiled a new tattoo of partner Carl Woods’ face (!!), Glenn Close got creative on Instagram and can we please take a second to talk about Lenny Kravitz on the cover of Men’s Health?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Hundreds Of Thousands Of People Could Be Forced To Shield As Covid Spirals 'Out Of Control'

Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people living in coronavirus hotspots could be forced to shield throughout the winter as Covid-19 infections continue to soar.
A government minister acknowledged on Thursday night that the situation was “getting out of control” once again, adding that Whitehall needed to take action.
Ministers are expected to outline a three-tier local lockdown system next week, which may see those most at risk if they catch Covid-19 being told to stay at home for months.
The Times said a decision on shielding had not been finalised and may be delayed because of fears for the mental health of those facing months of isolation.
Around 2.2m people in England deemed “clinically extremely vulnerable” were asked to shield at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, before the scheme was “paused” in July.
The report comes amid calls for the government to take swift action to curb the spread of the virus, after a further 17,540 lab-confirmed cases were reported on Thursday.
Skills minister Gillian Keegan told BBC Question Time on Thursday : “This is serious – it is getting out of control, and we have to do something to bring it back under control.”
Professor John Edmunds, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said coronavirus was “holding a gun” to Boris Johnson’s head over the restrictions being introduced, adding that the nation faces an anxious wait to see the full impact on the NHS.
He said: “In the north of England now, we are not that far away from the health service being stretched.
“Because even if we turn the epidemic around now, infections that occur today won’t go to hospital for another week or two.”
Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds, said the increase in cases should “serve as a warning to the government to take further action without delay”.
“It is clear that the consequences of not suppressing infections sufficiently over the summer may be severe if we cannot get on top of this increase,” he said.
MPs representing constituencies in the Midlands and north of England – where case numbers are highest – were briefed by the chief scientific adviser Professor Chris Whitty on Thursday.
One of those who joined the call said it was implied that the NHS may not cope if case numbers continued to rise in the areas.
And they told the PA news agency that they were shown a graph with early analysis by Public Health England suggesting that hospitality is a major cause of the infection spreading.
The government is reportedly planning to order the temporary closure of pubs, bars and restaurants in coronavirus hotspots, with ministers considering fresh financial packages to help the hardest hit areas and industries.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Deaf Students Share How To Sign 'Donald Trump' And It's Hilariously Unflattering

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“The Donald” it is not.
On Friday, Netflix will premiere Deaf U, a coming-of-age documentary series that follows a tight-knit group of deaf students at Gallaudet University, the renowned private college for the deaf and hard of hearing located in Washington, D.C.
The show — which is co-executive produced by Deaf model and activist Nyle DiMarco — promises an “unprecedented, unfiltered, and often unexpected look inside the Deaf community,” according to a press release. And a promo clip Netflix dropped for the show on Thursday seems to deliver on those goods.
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In the clip, the main cast breaks down a little Deaf culture for the audience by explaining sign names ― the special signs that are used to identify specific individuals in American Sign Language.
“Instead of spelling the names out,” one cast member signs, “we use sign names based on our traits.”
Several cast members then tell the stories behind their own sign names, which vary from having very blue eyes to being obsessed with candy.
Lydia Callis, a nationally certified sign language interpreter, advocate and child of a deaf parent, explained in a 2015 HuffPost blog post that sign names can’t be chosen by the individual and are given to them by a member of the Deaf community.
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Your sign name is a “major part of your deaf identity” according to Callis, and because you can’t simply change your own sign name, “these names carry a history and personality all their own.”
“While it might seem like a novelty to hearing people, having an ASL name is very meaningful for those in the deaf community, and it could even be considered an honour,” Callis wrote. “These names aren’t just given out to anyone — they are a [rite] of passage into the deaf community.”
She concluded: “To have a name sign means you are officially part of the Deaf world.”
So President Donald Trump should definitely not be offended whatsoever by his sign name — which the Deaf U cast members explain looks like this:
Or, ya know, a comb-over flapping in the wind.
“You can tell if someone’s a Trump supporter — they will spell out his name: T-R-U-M-P,” one cast member explains. “But if you don’t like the man, you’re gonna go like this …” (see above).
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He added: “’Cause we all know that man has a toupee.”
It seems like this sign name is generally accepted in the Deaf community. The Washington Post reported in 2016 that if someone wanted to sign Trump’s name in ASL, they should “emulate what might happen if a stiff wind came in contact with Trump’s hair.”
“Deaf people gave Trump a sign name so he should feel honored,” a cast member says in the “Deaf U” clip.
Hey, whether he likes it or not, it does echo his signature look.
Donald Trump's hair blows in the wind as he boards Air Force One in 2017. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Exclusive: Use Sugar Tax Cash To Expand Free School Meals, Ministers Urged

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Ministers are under pressure to use “sugar tax” cash to pay for food schemes for poorer families as the Covid-19 economic fallout takes hold.
A letter signed by 108 health and children’s experts, seen by HuffPost UK, calls on chancellor Rishi Sunak to target the soft drinks industry and spend the money on healthy food for youngsters.
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It warns the Covid-19 pandemic will hit deprived areas harder, with 2.3 million UK children now thought to be at risk of food insecurity. Four in five children are not getting their five-a-day, the letter adds.
Signed by 29 councils’ public health directors, many of which cover “red wall” constituency areas in the north and Midlands, as well as charities and mayors, the plea to the government follows high-profile free school meals campaigning by Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.
It calls on Sunak, health secretary Matt Hancock and education secretary Gavin Williamson to back five key policy changes.
As well as the sugar tax investment, it calls for an expansion of free school meals and holiday hunger programmes to all youngsters whose families receive Universal Credit (UC) and the extension of fruit and veg schemes to all primary school age children.
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Reception children have their lunch at Woodlands Primary Academy in Oldham, northern England on September 7, 2020. OLI SCARFF via Getty Images
The group also want the government to raise the value of the “healthy start” vouchers in line with inflation to £4.25, and for ministers to guarantee that pregnant women and families with a baby who claim UC are eligible.
Vera Zakharov, coordinator for Sustain, the charity which has been the driving force behind the appeal, said: “Local leaders have spoken, and children’s food access needs to be a front and centre priority for policymakers.
“Government has a unique opportunity this year to show leadership on safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the next generation by championing fiscal policies that provide a nutritional safety net to some of the most vulnerable children and families.
“We are urging ministers to spend public money wisely by investing in children’s health.”
The call is backed by community leaders in cities and regions experiencing some of the worst rates of child poverty, including Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield and Manchester. Elected mayors from Bristol and Middlesbrough are also backing the calls, alongside food poverty groups across the country.
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The Covid-19 crisis has put food insecurity and health inequalities in the spotlight.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak ASSOCIATED PRESS
Research by the Food Foundation earlier this year found 14% of adults living with children reported experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in the last six months. It is estimated some 2.3 million children live in these households.
Sustain adds that studies have shown that four in five children are not reaching their five-a-day requirement for fruit and vegetables.
Andrea Fallon, director of public health for Rochdale Council, said: “Covid has shone a light on the impact of long-term inequalities in health particularly in the north of England and Greater Manchester and these inequalities are highly likely to get worse.
“We urge government to take action now to ensure that children and families have access to good food as this is a key foundation for good health and wellbeing and as such an essential part of getting a good start in life.”
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Mark Adams, public health director for South Tees, who signed the letter, said: “These policies will add much needed national support to our local priorities of tackling obesity, particularly amongst children. They are also essential in narrowing the health inequalities that we face between South Tees and the England average, and also between communities within our area.”
Sunak has temporarily boosted Universal Credit by £20 as the lockdown sparked a huge rise in claims and unemployment.
The sugar tax was forecast to raise £520m in its first year but that figure was revised down to £275m as companies adjusted products to avoid the levy.
The government was also forced to extend free school meals over the summer holidays amid fears many children could go hungry.
The chancellor is set to hold a comprehensive spending review this year, but a date has yet to be confirmed.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Covid Testing IT Contracts To Avoid Scrutiny After Government Pays £2m Settlement

The government has been accused of wasting “huge amounts of money” after reportedly spending millions settling a lawsuit over a Lighthouse Lab contract.
The BBC reported on Thursday that the government had agreed a settlement amounting to some £2m following a lawsuit over how it chose who should be awarded an IT contract for the new Covid laboratories.
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Diagnostics AI, a British company, claimed that it had been swept aside by officials in favour of UgenTec, a European company, despite allegedly spotting some of the positive Covid-19 cases its rival missed.
The company went on to sue the government, describing the procurement process as “unfair and unlawful”.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has vehemently denied any claims of wrongdoing, and is in the process of settling the case – which means their selection process won’t be publicly scrutinised in the courtroom. It also added that the final figure of the settlement remains subject to agreement.
Some have criticised the government for the decision to settle, raising concerns regarding the transparency of the government’s expensive private contracts paid for with public money during the crisis.
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Shadow cabinet minister Rachel Reeves told HuffPost UK: “No public transparency, and plenty of money wasted: seems like that’s just how this Tory government likes it these days.
“This government’s incompetent way of handing out contracts like these not only wastes huge amounts of money while local public services crumble - but more efficient and experienced British businesses also miss out while massive companies take the spoils with little transparency or accountability.”
The government has repeatedly been accused of maintaining secrecy around its coronavirus spending, with a major HuffPost UK investigation published in August revealing “scandalous and shocking” revelations about the way taxpayers’ money was handed out.
In the wake of the Diagnostics AI case, Steve Goodrich of Transparency International UK told HuffPost UK that months into the pandemic the government should be working to open up its tendering processes once more.
He said: “Earlier this year, government was under immense pressure to expedite the UK’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including shortcutting usual procurement processes.
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“Whilst uncompetitive tendering sped-up supply chains, it has also raised valid questions as to who was awarded what contract, when and for how much.
“Now eight months into the pandemic, it’s time the public sector returned to open and competitive tendering to avoid further damage to trust and possible litigation.”
According to the BBC the contract Diagnostics AI missed out on was worth in excess of £1m, with settlement costs coming to an estimated £2m.
The company had hoped that their software would be used in thee Lighthouse Labs – which were set up around the country in response to the pandemic – in order to determine whether the graphs produced following analysis of Covid testing swabs showed a positive or negative result.
During a trial run of 2,000 samples, Diagnostics AI claimed there were issues with UgenTec’s analysis – alleging it had found negative results when they were positive or inconclusive.
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Diagnostics AI said it had taken legal action over the matter as they believed it was “significant public importance to highlight the serious and harmful consequences of a biased procurement process for the British public’s health.”
A spokesperson added: “NHS experts including leading virologists confirmed our findings - that the system the Lighthouse Labs chose was flawed and produced incorrect results. This gives rise to serious questions about the accuracy of the testing process.
“Diagnostics.ai provide the only system for accurate PCR result analysis that has been independently peer-reviewed and publicly validated by the NHS.
“We hope that the issues raised in this claim will make the UK government reflect carefully on how vital it is to have an impartial, rigorous and comprehensively validated procurement process for the provision of all such crucial services”.
DHSC have slammed the company’s claims as “inaccurate”, with a department spokesperson saying: “We completely refute this inaccurate claim about the accuracy of results - the tests are reliable and effective, the laboratories that undertake them have been reviewed and assessed by experts and the percentage of false negatives or positives is tiny.
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“This was a commercial dispute over a software contract where a number of factors were considered before it was awarded, which is still subject to final agreement over costs.”
The BBC reported that the government was preparing to settle the case at a cost of around £2m. WPA Pool via Getty Images
Diagnostics AI also sued two non-profit companies owned and financed by the government, UK Biocentre and Medicines Delivery Catapult (MDC), which were in charge of the process to decide which company to use for the Lighthouse contracts.
The BBC reported that Diagnostics AI had repeatedly asked for information about what services were required by government and how their bid would be evaluated.
According to the company, that information never came – though they say claim UgenTech were provided with the details they needed.
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In the situation of a national emergency, as declared by the PM, the government can have the power to procure services without going through the usual tendering process.
But Diagnostics AI claim that because the company had been recommended to UK Biocentre alongside UgenTec they were therefore both being considered – and so say the ensuing process was unfair.
A spokesperson for UK Biocentre said: “The allegations are groundless; this was a commercial dispute. The software in question is being used widely in the Lighthouse Laboratories, in some NHS laboratories and abroad.
“External quality assurance has confirmed that the PCR testing in the Lighthouse Laboratories (of which the automated diagnostic software forms part) is performing well.”
HuffPost UK has also MDC – which strongly refuted Diagnostic AI’s allegations in a statement to the BBC – for comment.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--55 Hilarious Tweets About The Questions Kids Ask

My son asked if you could put chapstick on a lizard. I said no, they don't really have lips, but he mused that you could put it on its leg or tail if you really wanted to, leaving me no choice but to concede defeat in the world's most pointless discussion. How is your 8 am going?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--This Is The Housing Discrimination I Face As A Trans Person

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About five years ago, when I was living in Manchester for uni, I was about to be outed as transgender to my family back home in Birmingham. For my safety, I wanted to stay away.
After being essentially homeless for a short while, I ended up living in a halfway house. Going into this place ready for a relatively long stay and thinking this would my home for however long I needed, I thought well, I don’t want to lie about who I really am. But when I would introduce myself to people and tell them my name and my gender identity, I could immediately tell things were going to be difficult. When things turned violent with other residents, I was told I should ‘tone down’ the whole gender thing.
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They say that moving house is one of the most stressful things you’ll ever do. But this was just the first time I faced housing discrimination because of of my gender identity.
When I have tried to find places to live since then, if my race wasn’t already a hindrance if not a dealbreaker, I feel like I can’t tell landlords or potential housemates about my gender identity or my sexuality because it might be ‘too much’.
It’s horrible to say now, but I always felt like I needed to hide parts of myself. I would justify it by thinking that maybe it’s fair enough if people can’t handle all these intersections, maybe it my fault for having all these different parts of my identity. I would tell myself that maybe I did need to tone it down after all.
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Years later, when I was trying to move in with a female partner, landlords often assumed our relationship wasn’t as strong or based in love as the straight couples looking at the same places. I’m sure every landlord has concerns about what would happen if a couple breaks up, but for us it was always such an issue it became embarrassing. My name, Robyn, is something of blank slate, where people fill in their own idea of my gender and race. Sometimes when I meet a landlord I can almost see the cogs turning in the head as they think ‘this isn’t what I signed up for’.
My partner, who was white, made it very clear that this kind of thing never happened before they met me – not to blame me but to let me know I wasn’t imagining what was happening. I would regularly be asked rude things about my gender identity, about my past, about my relationship, about whether my partner and I wanted to get married... It got to the point where flat viewings became more like therapy sessions.
And it’s not just me. I hear nightmare stories constantly about the way friends and the LGBTQ+ community are treated – whether they’re moving in as couples and not seen as legitimate like we were, or whether they’re treated as if they’re “just friends”. Many friends feel like they have no option but to live with other queer people when perhaps they want to live in a different area or different city entirely. They feel like anything other than living with other queer people would be dangerous. And lot of us will take a place on offer because it’s their only choice, rather than stay with abusive or homophobic family members.
“Having limited options for housing has a knock-on effect for every aspect of my life.”
I’ve thought the same too – I live alone now and often think I should move into somewhere with other people like me just to feel safe. I’m disconnected, none of my friends live near me, nobody I know lives around me, and to see anyone I do usually have to travel quite a bit. Having limited options for housing has a knock-on effect for every aspect of my life. Considerations have to be made for what employment I could potentially reach safely and regularly, which supermarkets I’m able to get to for groceries, which doctors surgery catchment I fall under and what public transport links are nearby. These are all things most would consider when moving home but in my situation these feel less like considerations and more like taking what I can get and having to make it work somehow.
I’m more comfortable with my identity now, and I feel like I’m at the point where if you can’t handle me being myself. I’m alright moving on from whatever opportunity it is. But there’s a definite fear of going through the whole process of finding a house again. Last time, I had my partner but now, living alone, I know that going through estate agents, looking for housing is a process that is daunting, even terrifying right now. I know I would still need to think twice about what I wear when I meet landlords for the first time, as if I’m going to a job interview and need to dress more masc than I normally would, so they won’t ‘suspect’ anything about my identity.
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I think a lot of people might have this idea that these concerns are quite trivial. But when you’re LGBTQ+ or a person of colour, or both, these are the sort of things you have to think about – not just in housing but in all our everyday interactions. Discrimination has such far-reaching implications that a single comment or incident is never just that. Those implications have rarely felt more exemplified than in the fight for fair, safe and stable housing as a trans person of colour in Britain.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--23 Spectacular Autumn Walks Across The UK

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You’re reading Move, the nudge we need to get active, however makes us happiest and healthiest.
Warm oranges, fiery reds and uplifting yellows. Autumn is king of colour – and 2022 is set to be even more vibrant than most.
The National Trust often predicts a good year for autumn shades if we experience an “Indian summer” in September.
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“The warm, sunny days that many of us experienced in September, and rainfall in some areas of the country has helped many tree species build up additional sugars in their leaves which will soon be trapped in the leaf as it becomes cut off from the rest of the tree branch, a process known as abscission,” Pamela Smith, national gardens and parks specialist at the Trust, previously explained.
High sugar levels produce red colours known as anthocyanins, she adds – and if we get more sunny days, more rain and some colder temperatures, but above freezing, it could be a “really good year for autumn colour”.
According to polling for the charity, nearly a third (30%) of people said seeing leaves turning colour and falling from trees was their favourite thing about autumn. The findings suggest “leaf peeping” – a trend which started in the US and Canada for people travelling to view and photograph colourful autumn foliage – may be taking hold in the UK.
Want to make the most of the sights? Below you’ll find 23 places recommended by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland.
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East of England
Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk
National Trust/ Justin Minns
Take a stroll down the beech-lined ‘Victory V’ avenues, where the towering branches create tunnels of colour over your head. It’s worth making a detour down the ‘Lion’s Mouth’ as well, where the narrow winding lane flanked by trees really does feel like it’s entering the jaws of a fire-coloured lion.
Ickworth, Suffolk
National Trust/Justin Minns
If you’re a bit short on time then the easy two-mile Albana walk will offer you plenty to see at Ickworth, with maples, chestnut, beech and oak trees ranging from bright yellow to deep red at this time of year. Alternatively head off the beaten track, where remote areas provide likely spots for deer sightings.
View the website here.
Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire
National Trust/Justin Minns
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Wicken Fen’s stunning autumn colours can be seen on a walk around the reserve’s mosaic landscape of reed bed, grassland and open water. This is also the best time of year to spot some of the resident wildlife, from Orb-weaver spiders spinning their delicate webs to the bright blue flash of Kingfishers diving into the waterways.
Midlands
Longshaw, Peak District
National Trust/Adam Kirkland
Take a colourful stroll among ancient oaks in Padley Woods, meander along historic packhorse routes lines with heather and gorse, or head up onto the rugged moors for spectacular views over the Hope Valley. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of majestic red deer in the distance.
Carding Mill Valley, Shropshire
National Trust/ Rick Greswell
From heath-covered hills to the valley stream, there’s plenty of autumnal colour to enjoy at Carding Mill Valley. If you’re lucky (and get up early enough) you might even be rewarded by an autumnal cloud inversion, where the valley fills with a sea of fog at your feet.
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Clent Hills, Worcestershire
National Trust/James Dobson
Sitting only eight miles outside Birmingham, the Clent Hills are the perfect place to blow away the cobwebs with a ramble. Autumn is well known as the season of fruitfulness, and the Clent Hills are a forager’s dream with blackberry and bilberry bushes among other tasty treats. Just remember to leave some for the wildlife – and don’t pick anything that you can’t confidently identify.
North
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, Yorkshire
National Trust/Andrew Butler
The World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and the Georgian water garden Studley Royal make an impressive sight, especially when they’re surrounded by bright reds, oranges and golds from the autumnal foliage. This route will take you through the medieval deer park with its panoramic views, through the sprawling water garden and up the riverside with wide autumnal views of the abbey to finish.
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
National Trust/Derek Hatton
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Explore the outdoors on the Southern Woods walk, which takes you along the meandering River Bollin and through the woodland which was once the pleasure grounds of the mill owners. Crunch through leaves along rugged paths, and enjoy the sights of the season.
Aira Force and Ullswater, Cumbria
National Trust/John Malley
From the tumbling 65ft waterfall surrounded by fiery autumnal colours to the wooded glades and open vistas from the summit of Gowbarrow, there’s plenty to look out for. Maybe you’ll even spot some of the local red squirrels.
South East
Chilterns Countryside, Buckinghamshire
National Trust/ Hugh Mothersole
This landscape is a classical Chiltern blend of hills topped with beech woodlands, gently rolling valleys and farmland divided by hedgerows. In autumn you can wend your way through trees covered in fiery hues, and make the most of the seasonal display.
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Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent
National Trust/James Dobson
Sissinghurst is the place to experience the best of the autumn months. When Vita Sackville-West designed the planting scheme for the garden she wanted to ensure year-round interest with seasonal planting. Her legacy continues to this day, ensuring that the gardens are full of colour right up to the end of autumn.
Morden Hall Park, London
National Trust/Andrew Butler
Crisp autumn days are the time to visit Morden Hall Park. Its avenues are planted with limes and horse chestnuts and become a riot of colour crisscrossing the park as the weather changes. With so much open space to roam, the former deer park is a breath of fresh air in the London suburbs.
South West
Stourhead, Wiltshire
National Trust/Stephen Robson
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Stourhead is one of the South West’s most celebrated sites for autumn colour, and it’s not hard to see why. This walk takes you up through beautiful mixed woodlands, and on a crisp, sunny autumn day the light streaming through the trees makes the foliage even more fiery. Don’t forget to take a turn around the famous landscape garden as well to see deep hues of red, russet and yellow reflected in the lake.
Buckland Abbey, Devon
National Trust/Mel Peters
The best autumn displays can be found on the red and blue walking routes, which both start by leading you along the Beech Avenue, with its beautiful gold and orange foliage and views over the Tavy valley. You’ll also get to explore among the oaks and beeches in Great North Wood – which happens to be a brilliant spot for blackberrying if you get hungry on your journey.
Wales
Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
National Trust/John Hammond
Autumn explodes into a riot of colour at Dinefwr. The path you’ll follow on this walk was designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown when he visited Dinefwr in 1775. Along the way you’ll wander among veteran trees burnished with gold, red and orange leaves. You might even catch sight of some of the fallow deer that live here too.
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Plas Newydd, Anglesey
National Trust/Paul Harris
Take a stroll to some of the estate’s hidden corners and you’ll be treated to sweeping vistas across the Menai Strait, and beyond to Snowdonia. The landscape really comes into its own in autumn, when the woodlands will be blazing with colour, and the red squirrels will be hard at work foraging for nuts to last the winter.
Powis Castle, Powys
National Trust/Mark Bolton
As the evening light begins to fade and the cooler air arrives, the garden at Powis Castle comes alive with a dazzling array of reds, yellows, burnt oranges and golds. Explore borders brimming with shrubby salvias, sedums, asters and tall, deep blue aconites, and from the Great Lawn admire maples and acers glowing in striking shades of gold, orange and yellow in the low autumnal sunshine.
Scotland
Killiecrankie, Scottish Highlands
munro1 via Getty Images
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Head to Killiecrankie’s famous green footbridge to walk among the red leaves in the Scottish Highlands. Expect some wildlife to join you on your adventure, with red squirrels, woodpeckers and pine martens hidden among the trees.
Grey Mare’s Tail Nature Reserve, Moffat
munro1 via Getty Images
The waterfall at the Grey Mares Tail is one of the UK’s highest in the UK, plunging 60m from Loch Skeen into the Moffat Water valley. You’ll find a range of breath-taking shorter walks and longer hikes, made all the more spectacular lined with autumn shades.
Corrieshalloch Gorge, Scottish Highlands
Ashley Cooper via Getty Images
Take a stroll over the suspension bridge at Corrieshalloch to see the Falls of Measach at its best. This walk is unforgettable any time of year, but the yellow trees add extra drama.
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Northern Ireland
Crom, County Fermanagh
National Trust/Peter Muhly
Crom is one of the UK’s most important nature reserves, with the largest area of oak woodland in Northern Ireland, perfect for wandering beneath the canopy of russet leaves. You’ll also find hedgerows stuffed with autumnal fruits like blackberries. Look out for some of the wildlife that’s often about at this time of year, including wading birds, otters, and red squirrels gathering food to see them through winter.
The Argory, County Armagh
National Trust/John Miller
In summer the Argory’s lime tree walk is lush and green, but as the year winds down the avenue begins to turn, and soon you’ll find yourself strolling underneath a sea of golden leaves. If you’ve still got some energy left then why not explore further through the riverside woodlands? If you keep a look out, there could be some fallen conkers to collect.
Mount Stewart, County Down
National Trust/Bernie Brown
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Voted one of the top ten gardens in the world, Mount Stewart was designed by Lady Londonderry to be full of colour. The Red trail is the estate’s main circular walk which loops its way through both fields and woodlands, flanked by bright fiery colours the whole way round. You’ll also get to take in some beautiful views over Strangford Lough.
Move celebrates exercise in all its forms, with accessible features encouraging you to add movement into your day – because it’s not just good for the body, but the mind, too. We get it: workouts can be a bit of a slog, but there are ways you can move more without dreading it. Whether you love hikes, bike rides, YouTube workouts or hula hoop routines, exercise should be something to enjoy.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--How To Motivate Yourself To Leave The House When It's Grim Outside

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As the days shorten, the mercury drops, and the leaves turn different shades before falling to the ground, it becomes increasingly hard to motivate yourself to leave the house. We’ve all been there.
The cold and rainy weather can be all kinds of off-putting, not to mention the fact your window of opportunity to get out in daylight is shrinking: mornings are dark, evenings are darker still. So that leaves... lunchtime.
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Those working from home might even go a whole week without stepping foot outside. Sadly, this isn’t great news for our health – especially at a time that’s already emotionally and physically draining.
“There’s a lot of research about the change of seasons and how our mood is affected by this,” Grace Warwick, a psychotherapist and Counselling Directory member, tells HuffPost UK. “And then, of course, we’ve got everything that’s going on with lockdown.”
Simply going outside can raise a lot of questions for us right now, she adds – “The whole contrast between out there and in here is getting greater.”
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There are many reasons why you may not be heading outside as much. Routine is an important factor in getting us out and about, but working from home can mean your routine shifts drastically. But there’s also so much to think (and worry) about with Covid, that we’re no longer prioritising our own wellbeing.
In short: everything is hard. But going outside is important. So, is it possible to train your mindset so you actually want to go out each day? Yes – but it very much depends on what drives you personally.
Know the benefits it’ll bring to your whole day.
One of the biggest benefits of being outside is the light exposure. “We know – and this is really important at the current time – that will help you get your daily dose of vitamin D,” says Warwick, “and vitamin D will help your mood.” (Just don’t forget your sunscreen.)
As the season changes – and the light changes – it affects the circadian rhythm (your body’s natural rhythm). “A good thing to do is to walk early morning, within about an hour of waking, because that gets the light into your system at the right time,” says Warwick. “Strangely, that will help you sleep better in the evening. It gets you back into nature’s rhythm, if you like. And improved sleep will obviously improve many things for you, like your mood.”
Lee Chambers, an environmental psychologist and wellbeing consultant, often recommends people working from home tweak the structure of their day to get that natural light. As winter approaches, he advises going on a walk mid-morning or in the afternoon, and adding that hour of time you’ve taken out onto the end of the day when it’s getting dark.
Ridofranz via Getty Images
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If we don’t take advantage of daylight, we can experience a rise in melatonin, which makes us sleepy. Our serotonin also drops, says Warwick, which makes us more inclined to depression. This can create a vicious circle where we don’t leave the house, we don’t get enough daylight, and we feel worse the longer we stay indoors. “Light, as simple as that seems, has a very powerful impact on lots of different things,” says Warwick.
There are other benefits, too. “It reduces our stress levels, produces endorphins and that’ll help regulate our mood. We can genuinely feel more energised just from the nuts and bolts of being out there and getting fresh air,” she says.
A Mental Health Foundation survey found getting outside was a major way for people to deal with the stress of the pandemic. The most popular ways to ease stress included walking (59% said this helped them cope) and visiting green spaces, such as parks (50% said it helped).
Retrain your brain.
Warwick advises people to think about their ‘push’ and ‘pull’ motivations. Push motivations are you saying: ‘I’m going to make myself do this and I’m going to think about the benefits of doing it’. This is a good one for those who find it hard to stay motivated. It’s about giving you that literal *push* to leave the house – you think about the benefits, you make a decision, you stick to it.
Pull motivations are about breaking the rut you’re in and actually *wanting* to make a change, rather than forcing it, says Warwick. And one way to do this is by thinking about how getting outside can be really quite joyful.
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Reframing how you think of winter and the colder months might be a good place to start. Brits can be quite negative about winter, seeing it as a dark and challenging time, says Chambers, whereas countries like Scandinavia see it as lots of fun. “It’s a good opportunity for people to get their comfy gloves, scarves, woolly hats, and a nice warm coat and explore a bit,” he says.
“Sometimes it’s about reframing winter wear as being really comfy – if you invest in a nice hat, nice scarf and gloves it’s a pretty nice feeling when you’re tucked up and that icy airs hits your face – it gives you motivation and that cognitive wake-up.”
Roberto Westbrook via Getty Images
Enjoy the beauty of nature.
Remembering there’s still a natural – and beautiful – world out there can help us get outside of our own bubble of working from home, dealing with childcare, and worrying about a million other things.
Connecting with the world “can be calming for the mind and the soul,” says Warwick. Rather than thinking: “I should probably go for a walk on my lunch break”, remind yourself: “I actually want to go outside and connect with nature.”
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Warwick, who is also a mindfulness teacher, recommends taking mindful walks that take note of the changing seasons – pick a tree on your route and track how it changes every time you walk past. “It can be nice to extend that by taking photographs, so you track your walk,” she says. “There’s something extremely grounding and calming about that.”
Be playful.
There’s a potential for playfulness when we go outside which we lose sight of as we grow up. Think of the muddy puddles, the welly walks, the snowball fights. Shift your attitude and make it fun.
“We forget playfulness in all of this – we used to go out to play, when we were little. I would encourage people to think about that [playfulness], if they don’t want the calming effect,” says Warwick.
Chambers agrees and urges people to “be a child”. He explains: “The beauty of winter is going outside and being curious. And that’s so important. That curiosity is what gets us out of our comfort zone, experiencing new things.”
Birute via Getty Images
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Tick it off.
If your life is ruled by to-do lists, then simply scheduling in some time to go on a walk can be really helpful – and it also gives you the satisfaction of getting to tick it off afterwards (basically, the best feeling ever).
Not into jotting down? Schedule a calendar notification or an alarm so you get a reminder that it’s time to go outdoors.
Use your outdoor time to be proactive.
If none of these solutions appeal, perhaps you need to consider being proactive when you’re out – could you visit the bank, run an errand, or join forces with others in the community to do a lunchtime litter-pick? This could also help with those in need of more social connection.
Those who hate spending time alone might be more reluctant to go out on a solo walk. Is there anyone in your neighbourhood who might want to go on a stroll at the same time? Perhaps a friend would be up for driving to yours so you can go to a park on your lunch break – or vice versa?
“Start to get things in your diary that you’re looking forward to – that excitement and anticipation bolsters you,” says Chambers. This, in turn, makes you want to go out a bit more rather than sitting in all the time.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--We're Facing Down A Winter Of Covid-19. How Are You Feeling?

After a spring cooped up at home, “social bubbles” and summer’s lockdown easing offered some respite – even as the vulnerable continued to shield. Then came local lockdowns, the return to school and university, and the new rule of six. Now we’re in autumn and facing down the long winter. Lockdown fatigue, both emotional and – in the case of long Covid – physical, is rife.
It’s a lot, which is why you can update us regularly or send a one-off message – whatever you feel comfortable sharing. We know the mental health toil is more serious for some than others. Good and bad days take us all by surprise.
So, tell us, how are you feeling?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--After Divorcing At 50, I Prioritised My Sex Life. This Is What Happened

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You’re reading Sex Diaries, a HuffPost UK Personal series about how we are (or aren’t) having sex. To share your story, get in touch on ukpersonal@huffpost.com.
Becoming single at 50 after 23 years of marriage was the most disorienting experience of my life – more unsettling than any challenges I had shared with my then-husband, like navigating dirt tracks around Africa or bringing home a new baby.
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But like any major transition, life after divorce meant I could open doors I’d never considered knocking on. I decided being single was not a problem to be fixed but an opportunity to be enjoyed, much like finding myself at an ice cream buffet with a spoon and no sampling limit.
I vowed to be curious. As I was entering menopause, I was suddenly less interested in appearances and more so on my own happiness. Midlife felt like puberty with wrinkles – I’d occasionally snarl at everyone in my orbit, but my life possibilities felt vast. Unlike puberty, with a seemingly infinite amount of time ahead, the other side of 40 lent new urgency and focus to my pursuits. I began doing work I loved and living more simply. I also began prioritising my sexual pleasure and discovered how much I didn’t know after decades with one partner.
“I gave myself permission to date without an agenda and chose men who were most unlike myself.”
I gave myself permission to date without an agenda and chose men who were most unlike myself. These men – foreign academics, a tantric therapist, unemployed artists – offered new insight into the pleasures of sex. Saying yes to those pleasures, saying yes to my sex life, quickly became a midlife mantra. With a variety of partners, I learned more about my body’s likes and dislikes: that spanking didn’t feel good though it did throw me into a fit of giggles; that sex with multiple people was more distracting than exciting (but still fascinating).
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My libido surged for several years during the perimenopause, not uncommon as the end of a woman’s fertility approaches. But as I moved through menopause – and my frenetic dating agenda – I gradually lost my desire for casual sex. Three years after divorce, I wanted to cultivate a long-term partnership again. But this search did not resist moving quickly to the bedroom.
I think we can understand much about a person by the way they relate to us sexually. If a man was more interested in his own orgasm than in mine, I found him to be self-centred in many other ways. I looked for a lover to be generous and curious in bed, to laugh easily if our bodies made funny noises. These qualities usually extended to the way he approached life and relationships.
“Midlife sex and love is vastly different from what I was looking for as a young woman.”
I have also learned that timing is critical when looking for midlife love. Someone newly out of a long-term relationship is very often, as I was, ‘tapping the herd’ – that is, enjoying a variety of other partners, discovering how love might be different after first marriages flounder and the kids have been raised. The first few years of dating at midlife, I couldn’t offer a man monogamy, and when I tried it often ended in tears. When I myself dated newly-separated or divorced men at the point I was ready for a relationship, I was the one pounding my fists in frustration – until I accepted that these men also needed to go through their own post-divorce reckonings.
Midlife sex and love is vastly different from what I was looking for as a young woman. I’m a romantic realist now, more clear-eyed over the compromises required of a partnership. And the relationships I’ve had in middle age have been sexually thrilling and emotionally deep. I forgive more easily but also quickly walk away from bad behaviour. Sex reflects who we are as partners and I’m glad I’ve rejected feeling of shame around experimenting with many people.
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And though I still haven’t found the person I want to grow (even) older with, the journey has become less disorienting and more valuable than I ever imagined. Rather like exploring dirt tracks in a foreign country – now with my own compass.
Karin Jones writes the monthly column, ‘Savvy Love’ for Erotic Review magazine, and is writing a memoir about menopause and midlife dating


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Lorraine Kelly, Joe Wicks And Marcus Rashford Among Stars On Queen's Birthday Honours List

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In 2020, the list is heavily populated by “unsung heroes” who contributed during the coronavirus pandemic, which includes a number of famous faces.
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The Body Coach Joe Wicks is to receive an MBE for the “accessible, live workouts” he delivered during lockdown, which helped raise money for NHS charities, as is fellow fitness guru Derrick Evans (who you might know better as TV’s Mr Motivator).
Joe Wicks Steve Meddle/Shutterstock
Marcus Rashford has also been recognised on the honours list, again receiving an MBE, “for services to vulnerable children in the UK during Covid-19”.
The 22-year-old Manchester United player campaigned for families in England to receive food vouchers during the summer holidays earlier this year.
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Marcus Rashford Jon Super/Shutterstock
Receiving CBEs this year are professor Brian Cox, screenwriter Sally Wainwright, actor Adrian Lester and the aforementioned Lorraine Kelly.
Lorraine Kelly, Mary Berry and Adrian Lester are all featured on the Queen's birthday honours list Ken McKay/ITV/Media Punch/Shutterstock
Meanwhile musicians Dizzee Rascal and Lady Leshurr will receive and an MBE and BEM, respectively.
It has been noted that the majority of the list was compiled before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but was “deferred in order to consider nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the Covid-19 effort”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Mary Berry 'Overwhelmed' To Receive Damehood In Queen's Birthday Honours List

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Former Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry is celebrating the fact she’s to receive a damehood in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
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The 85-year-old said she was “absolutely overwhelmed to receive this very great honour”.
“For most of my life I have been lucky enough to follow my passion to teach cookery through books and the media,” she explained.
Mary Berry NurPhoto via Getty Images
Mary added: “I just wish my parents and brothers were here to share my joy, as my only achievement at school was just one O-level – in cookery of course!
“However, I am sure they are looking down and smiling. I will celebrate with my husband and family very soon.”
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She added: “I am immensely proud to be a Dame but I don’t mind what people call me.
“I think it causes for a celebration – I think it’s normally white wine but I bet the champagne will be out.”
We’re guessing that celebration will look a little bit like this...
...or, indeed, like this...
Mary has led a long career in the cookery and broadcast industry, most famously judging Bake Off during its stint on the BBC, alongside Paul Hollywood.
Mary made the decision not to remain with the show when it was bought by Channel 4, and has since gone on to appear in shows like Britain’s Best Home Cook and Mary Berry’s Simple Comforts.
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The majority of this year’s honours list was compiled before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but it was “deferred in order to consider nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the Covid-19 effort”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Queen's Honours Go To Covid Heroes Who Stepped Up When The Government Didn't

When Covid struck Geoff Norris, 53, who has worked for five years at Asda in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, quickly realised that some of the most vulnerable people in society – especially the elderly – would struggle to access food and supplies during lockdown.
In the absence of a government plan to reach isolated people, many of whom were forced to self isolate, Norris set up his own delivery service in his time off alongside thousands of other volunteers across the country.
He explained: “As Covid hit and just before it started to lock down, you noticed all the delivery slots were being booked, everything was taken, so we were delivering to regular customers and on the last week or so before they were saying ‘we can’t get any slots’.
“I turned round and said ‘look, I’ll see what I can do, just keep your eye open’.”
He rallied “four or five” driver colleagues to volunteer their own time to pick shopping, go through the tills and deliver it in their own vehicles on a Sunday.
He took orders by email and phone with the help of his wife Vanessa and 22-year-old daughter Anna, or if customers contacted the store directly colleagues passed on the order to him.
They posted about what they were doing on a local Facebook group and were contacted by some people who lived many miles away but were calling, panicked about how to get food for vulnerable parents who had no internet.
“I think we managed to do it for about 15 weeks,” said Norris. “Don’t get me wrong, it was hard but it was very rewarding seeing the gratitude you got from people that didn’t think they could get anything.”
Norris also organised a surprise 90th birthday party for a regular customer of his, decorating the outside of her bungalow with balloons, buying her cake and flowers and reading out birthday messages from her family – who live in New Zealand – before singing Happy Birthday with his colleagues.
Reflecting on the period of lockdown, the key worker added: “There were a lot of people that were in need and they were scared, the same as the whole country, and we just thought let’s just do something. We just did all we could.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Marcus Rashford Vows To Continue Child Food Poverty Campaign After Receiving MBE

Marcus Rashford who has been awarded an MBE for services to to vulnerable children in the UK during the Covid-19 outbreak in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. PA
Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford has vowed to continue the fight to support vulnerable children after being made an MBE.
The 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list was due to be published in June, but was pushed back to enable nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the crisis.
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Rashford, 22, launched a high-profile campaign which resulted in the government changing policy over its free school meals vouchers during lockdown, helping ensure children in need did not go hungry during the summer break.
The England forward has maintained his drive for social change by since forming a child food poverty task force, which has linked up with some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets and food brands.
Reflecting on his “humbling” MBE, Rashford vowed to continue fighting to protect the most vulnerable children.
“I’m incredibly honoured and humbled. As a young black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22,” Rashford said in a statement via Manchester United.
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“This is a very special moment for myself and my family, but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honour.
“The fight to protect our most vulnerable children is far from over.
“I would be doing my community, and the families I have met and spoken with, an injustice if I didn’t use this opportunity to respectfully urge the Prime Minister to support our children during the October half-term with an extension of the voucher scheme, as the furlough scheme comes to an end and we face increased unemployment.
“Another sticking plaster, but one that will give the parents of millions of children in the UK just one less thing to worry about.
“Let’s stand together in saying that no children in the UK should be going to bed hungry. As I have said many times before, no matter your feeling or opinion, not having access to food is never the child’s fault.”
Rashford’s family help support the striker’s campaign, and shared their pride at his MBE honour.
“We are all so proud of what he has done and everything he is doing for the community and himself,” a family spokesman told the PA news agency.
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“For us guys, we are going to continue to try to make a difference to as many families and lives as we can.”
Rashford scored 22 goals in all competitions for Manchester United last season as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side finished third in the Premier League.
The striker has found the net twice in the new campaign.
United, though, have struggled for consistency and lost their last match before the international break 6-1 at home against Tottenham.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Will Rishi’s Rushed Return To Furlough Be Enough To Stop Mass Unemployment?

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It was only a matter of time. When Rishi Sunak set out his ‘Winter Economy Plan’ just a few weeks ago, many (including this newsletter) warned that it was inadequate to the sheer scale of the looming problems threatened by the Covid second wave.
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Back then, he delighted some Tory MPs and newspapers with his bullish rhetoric that “we must learn to live with it and live without fear”. Well, fear is stalking the land among those who can see their jobs and businesses disappearing across the north, and it now seems the Treasury has finally been scared enough by the political consequences that he is doling out some extra support.
Of course the chancellor will never admit that this is a U-turn on his plan to withdraw furlough, even though local furlough is exactly what this looks like. The government will pay two thirds of the salary of each employee (up to £2,100 a month) in any pub, bar or restaurant forced to shut down in the new local lockdowns expected next week. The 67% is less generous than the 80% of full furlough however. Exactly what people should do to cope with the loss of a third of their income remains unsaid.
Although the help is welcome, it’s no surprise that several local council leaders have already suggested it’s too little, too late. They were distinctly underwhelmed by the presentation given them tonight, confirming the earlier warning from the mayors of Greater Manchester, the Sheffield and Liverpool city regions and North Tyne that the plan did not “appear to have gone far enough to prevent genuine hardship, job losses and business failure this winter”.
And it wasn’t just last month that many warned Sunak that he should go for a targeted version of furlough, it was many months ago. In his rushed announcement today (a Tweeted video clip is hardly a statement on the floor of the Commons), he said his expanded Jobs Support Scheme would be “for closed businesses”. But what about all those closed sectors of the economy, such as aviation and creative industries, effectively shut down by government regulation?
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As the Resolution Foundation put it this afternoon: “The delay in putting [the scheme] in place will have come at a high price in jobs lost.” It rightly says that the Job Support Scheme itself needs further reform to persuade bosses to cut hours rather than jobs. Another U-turn may well be on its way in a few weeks if employers simply go for the bottom line.
What makes the government’s position all the more politically dangerous is the latest growth news, with this morning’s GDP figures showing that the hoped-for ‘V-shaped’ recovery now looks like a stuttering spike on the nation’s economic electrocardiogram. Sunak’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme may have done too little on consumer spending and too much in spreading the virus.
The bigger problem is that these local lockdowns look like they are going to slowly creep across the entire country. The three-tiered system of controls may well leave most areas in the top two most serious categories and only a shrinking handful in the lowest one. Only today, on a call to MPs, I’m told Matt Hancock made clear things were getting worse everywhere.
The south has so far escaped much of this, but with London due to get new curbs, the counties around it could follow very quickly. I understand public health officials in Essex, for example, are pushing for tier-two restrictions that would mean a ban on household mixing.
The lack of grip on the virus or from both No.10 and No.11 Downing Street is what will worry their MPs most. The PM suggested last week he would hold weekly press conferences from now on, but he failed to do a single one this week. Sunak too appeared so afraid of scrutiny that he didn’t make this announcement in a No.10 press briefing, but via pooled broadcast clips.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Gavin Williamson 'Seeking Revenge’ On Teaching Unions By Axeing £11m TUC Fund

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Education secretary Gavin Williamson has been accused of seeking “revenge” on teaching unions that stood up to him over school reopening after he scrapped an £11m adult education scheme run by the TUC.
The Union Learning Fund (ULF), which offers union members training in maths, English and IT, was first set up by the Blair government in 1998 and trains a quarter of a million people a year.
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But Williamson has decided to withdraw taxpayer cash from the project at the end of this financial year.
The move, which comes just a week after Boris Johnson pledged to put skills at the heart of his political mission, has prompted a cross-party backlash within Parliament, trade unions and the further education sector.
One MP said that the move looked like “Gavin’s revenge” on teaching unions that had dared to question his school reopening plans earlier this summer during the coronavirus pandemic.
Safety fears meant that re-openings had to be tightly restricted, despite pledges by Williamson and Johnson to ensure all primary pupils would get face time with their teachers. The education secretary has also come under heavy criticism from unions and others over the A-levels fiasco.
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The decision to axe the training scheme, which was slipped out in a letter to the TUC, has prompted a request for an urgent Commons statement next week with calls for the cabinet minister to rethink his plan.
Former skills minister and education select committee chair Rob Halfon told HuffPost UK: “We seem to be saying as a government, just for the sake of a bit of short-sighted union bashing, let’s take this money away from 250,000 people who will potentially be affected.
“The politics are pretty poor, given Frances O’Grady [TUC general secretary] supported the chancellor’s jobs scheme and stood next to him in Downing Street only recently.
“I have made clear that personally I did not appreciate the behaviour of some of the unions in school re-openings. But you’ve got to separate those kinds of things from something that does good work like the ULF. It’s a grassroots-based, trusted organisation that is proved to have delivered great training. The government has got to reconsider.”
Shadow education secretary Kate Green said: “It takes a unique level of incompetence to scrap a policy that works for workers, businesses, and our economy, but Gavin Williamson has managed it.
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“Tens of thousands of people benefit from UnionLearn [the TUC organisation that now runs the ULF] every year, and the government are now denying them these opportunities with no justification. They must urgently review this short-sighted decision.”
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady with chancellor Rishi Sunak ASSOCIATED PRESS
According to a report published by the Department for Education and UnionLearn in 2018-19, every £1 invested in the fund resulted in a total economic return of £12.30.
The scheme has been particularly active during the pandemic, helping workers develop skills online and to gain new qualifications.
Hilary Benn, who helped devise the scheme, said: “Having worked with David Blunkett to set up the Union Learning Fund, which is all about levelling up and has been such a success in helping workers to develop skills, build confidence and gain qualifications, there is no justification for getting rid of it. None whatsoever.
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“It is a shameful decision and I’m sure there will be a big campaign to get the Government to change its mind.”
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “Thousands of people have benefited from the work provided by the Union Learning Fund over many years, so it is disappointing that the government is proposing to cease funding.
“Any substitute will struggle to match it for expertise and value for money. We urge government to think again.”
A TUC spokesperson said: “The TUC is seeking urgent meetings with ministers about UnionLearn funding.
“UnionLearn provides learning and skills opportunities to a quarter of a million working people each year.
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“The prime minister has been clear on the importance of skills to rebuilding the economy. UnionLearn should be recognised by ministers as a valuable national asset, with particular importance now for the nation’s plans to build back better.”
Bob Harrison, chair of governors at Northern College and another key figure in the setting up of the fund, said it was “bizarre” that the PM could promote skills and then decide to end ULF funding.
“The impending rise in unemployment makes the work of the UnionLearn representatives promoting learning in the workplace critical.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We have taken the decision not to continue to provide grant funding to UnionLearn in the next financial year.
“We will instead be investing the money to directly support further education colleges, other training providers and our new £2.5bn National Skills Fund to help more people learn new skills and prepare for the jobs of the future.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-10-09--Police Restraint Of Black Man Kevin Clarke Contributed To His Death In Custody, Inquest Finds

Kevin Clarke died in police custody at Lewisham Hospital in 2018 PA
The use of restraint by police on a Black man with paranoid schizophrenia was “inappropriate” and contributed to his death in custody, an inquest jury has found.
Kevin Clarke died at Lewisham Hospital in 2018 following an incident in the Polsted Road area of Catford, south-east London.
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An inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court heard that the 35-year-old told officers “I’m going to die” as he was put into handcuffs, due to his size, but was “ignored” and then lost consciousness as he was taken to an ambulance.
Returning a narrative conclusion on Friday after five days of deliberations, an inquest jury concluded that the decision to use restraint on Clarke “probably more than minimally or trivially” contributed to his death, adding it was inappropriate as it was not considered in view of the risk to the police and the public.
Jurors said: “It is highly likely that at least one officer heard Mr Clarke say: ‘I can’t breathe’, on one of the occasions he repeated it.
“Despite this, no action was taken other than one officer saying: ‘You’ve got to breathe, you’ve got to breathe, breathe, deep breaths’.
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“Failure to remove restraints at this point was contrary to guidance and training.”
Wendy Clarke, Kevin's mother, and his sister Tellecia at a mural of Kevin Clarke in Lewisham PA
Clarke had been living at the Jigsaw Project, a residential support service, for about two years up until his death in hospital on March 9 2018.
He had been seen by officers earlier that day, but was not sectioned despite concerns from staff at Jigsaw.
Police were called again later in the day and Clarke was found lying on the ground at the edge of a school playing field.
An ambulance was called after the situation was deemed “a medical emergency”, and Clarke was placed in two sets of handcuffs – linked together due to his size – along with leg restraints.
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Pc Lee Pidgeon, who was one of several officers at the scene, told the inquest Clarke had begun to get “a bit fidgety” and the use of handcuffs to restrain him was appropriate as he was showing signs of acute behavioural disorder.
In body-worn camera footage, Clarke could be heard groaning, saying “I can’t breathe” and “I’m going to die”.
When asked by coroner Andrew Harris why Clarke was “ignored” by the officers in attendance, Pc Pidgeon replied: “I cannot answer that, sir, I don’t know.”
The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has already admitted its crew failed to conduct a “complete clinical assessment” of Clarke on arrival.
This amounted to a “failure to provide basic medical care”, which an inquest jury said possibly contributed to his death.
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The cause of his death was given as “acute behavioural disturbance, in a relapse of schizophrenia, leading to exhaustion and cardiac arrest, contributed to by restraint, struggle and being walked”.
Leslie Thomas, family counsel, said it was “blatantly apparent” Clarke was having difficulty breathing and the force used by police was “completely disproportionate”.
He said the way officers moved Clarke put him at risk, adding: “(An officer) keeps his head down and his torso is bent forward.
“You ran the risk that Kevin’s breathing was being compromised.”
Pc John Buckingham said Clarke was placed in limb restraints “so that he wouldn’t further hurt himself, myself or my colleagues in the immediate area”.
Paying tribute to her first-born child, Wendy Clarke described Clarke as a “friendly, gentle giant” and said he had once told her: “I’m a lover, not a fighter”.
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