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RECENT TWEETS
Pop singer Ellie Goulding has spoken out in defence of homeless people and asked to meet Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn about the issues, accusing local government of having “lost touch with real people”.
This is in response to Hackney Council’s and Kensington & Chelsea Council’s policies instructing people not to give food or money to homeless people on the grounds that it will fund illicit activities, and comes under the terms of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO).
She has backed homelessness charities and spoken out against the unfair treatment of rough sleepers. One campaign backed by Goulding resulted in Hackney Council amending an order that threatened ‘offenders’ with court action and fines of up to £1,000.
She’s tweeted hard-hitting messages to 4.8 million followers including “Homelessness isn’t a lifestyle choice. It is a last resort and has risen 79 per cent in London since 2010. Because people aren’t caring enough” in June.
This was part of her support messages urging people to sign an online petition to “stop criminalising Hackney’s rough sleepers”. 80,000 people signed the petition urging Hackney Councillors to remove rough sleeping from a list of “antisocial activities” that could incur a fine. The PSPO was allegedly drawn up to deal with “the anti-social behaviour linked to street drinking, persistent rough sleeping and begging in ‘hot spots’” – further criminalising rough sleepers.
During the most recent general election, Goulding revealed herself to be a Labour supporter.
At another event, the Special K/Chime For Change event which launched their Bring Colour Back campaign, Goulding said, “We see the spikes that have been put up, treating homeless people like they’re pigeons – it’s disgraceful... There are 7,000 people on the streets every year in London and for a city that’s thriving, that’s shameful.”
Other famous people who've spoken out
Actor Peter Capaldi ( currently Dr Who), musician Jarvis Cocker, author Ian Rankin and actor Brian Cox (X-Men) are all members of a private club called The House of St Barnabas that helps homeless people by giving them work experience.
Rankin supported the Edinburgh Festival StreetSmart campaign in 2011 urging restaurant diners to donate £1 to homeless people.
Cox also supported a Dundee arts graduate makin a series of films about homelessness in 2011. He has said, “The way we penalise people and make it tough to get out of the social situation they’re in is brutal and very unfair.”
...and the former homeless musician's success
Benjamin Clementine is a former rough sleeper who has found enormous recognition in the music industry.
His debut album At Least for Now has recently been shortlisted for the 2015 Mercury Prize for album of the year. The list is famous for choosing artists whose music style has typically defied categorisation.
The youngest of five children, Benjamin was born in London and left school at 16 after failing to pass any GCSEs.
After that he found himself homeless and slept on friends’ sofas in Camden, north London, and the Place de Clichy metro station in Paris.
He also lived in a rat-infested hostel in Paris, while he busked in bars and on the streets to survive.
It was busking in the metro where he got his big break and was talent spotted by an agent.
His TV debut was on Later with Jools Holland, where he played barefoot at a grand piano. His first album At Least for Now was released in March 2015. His passionate singing style has been favourably compared to legendary French singer Edith Piaf, and he’s also been likened to American singer-songwriter Nina Simone.
Twelve solo artists and bands have been shortlisted for the award, including Florence + the Machine, Róisín Murphy, and former Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes.
December 2024 – January 2025 : Solidarity
CONTENTS
BACK ISSUES
- Issue 153 : December 2024 – January 2025 : Solidarity
- Issue 152 : October – November 2024 : Change
- Issue 151 : August – September 2024 : Being Heard
- Issue 150 : June – July 2024 : Reflections
- Issue 149 : April – May 2024 : Compassion
- Issue 148 : February – March 2024 : The little things
- Issue 147 : December 2023 – January 2024 : Next steps
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- Issue 143 : April 2023 - May 2023 : Hope springs
- Issue 142 : February 2023 - March 2023 : New Beginnings
- Issue 141 : December 2022 - January 2023 : Winter Homeless
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- Issue 123 : Nov-Dec 2019 : HOSTELS
- Issue 122 : Sep 2019 : DEATH ON THE STREETS
- Issue 121 : July-Aug 2019 : INVISIBLE YOUTH
- Issue 120 : May-June 2019 : RECOVERY
- Issue 119 : Mar-Apr 2019 : WELLBEING
- Issue 118 : Jan-Feb 2019 : WORKING HOMELESS
- Issue 117 : Nov-Dec 2018 : HER STORY
- Issue 116 : Sept-Oct 2018 : TOILET TALK
- Issue 115 : July-Aug 2018 : HIDDEN HOMELESS
- Issue 114 : May-Jun 2018 : REBUILD YOUR LIFE
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