'I see you': The Romford campaigner getting black men talking
He added: "Just out of the recognition of the oppression and issues that each of us must have suffered from in our lives just by being a black man."
Mr Reeves and his partner Gina lost their son Danté to stillbirth in 2022. The British-Caribbean parents organised talks and mindfulness walks since the loss of their child in order to get the community talking.He said black men "need to go a step beyond" the nod in the street and said he believed talking was "empowering"."We don't talk about our emotions and that's only holding us back," he said.
He said generational trauma of slavery was often used to blame for the silence found in the community."It's not a new thing and it is not shame, it's more that we have been conditioned to be like this," he said.Men in other cultures often thrived from talking to their peers, he added, but black British men were four times more likely to be hospitalised than white men for poor mental health.They were also less likely to seek help before reaching crisis point and were three times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act, according to the charity MIND. A spokesperson from Young Minds said black men were often told to "be a man" so were conditioned not to show any signs of weakness from a young age.University of Cambridge has worked with The Voice, Britain's only national newspaper for black communities, to survey 10,000 black people in Britain. The study said 68% of respondents, or a family member, had suffered from mental health problems, and 87% said black families did not discuss mental health enough, including generational issues.
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The Independent
37 minutes ago
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Moonraker2025 'Dangerous to cut cure before prevention pays off' Prevention vs cure is logically all very well – but do we know how to reliably prevent sickness that might put people in hospital? For many conditions, effective systems for prevention might take more than a decade to have much effect. So, no money is saved through needing less for cure for 10 years or more. It is very dangerous to run down curative services until we see the new investment in prevention paying dividends. I suppose Streeting will require the NHS to blame the unwell for not following prevention guidelines – as a sort of "not our responsibility: you did this to yourself". Simplesimon 'So… it won't happen' It would take a lot of cash; the NHS doesn't have it because the Treasury doesn't have it... It would require the UK economy to improve dramatically... It won't. 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They need the best resources to handle unclassified 'breakdowns' and set in motion a recovery plan that covers not just fixing the problem, but getting the patient back to normal (or a new normal). This is the NHS's core function and is the public service that we all expect. ArcticFox 'Not a plan, just a wish list' First, it almost certainly isn't a "plan" in the sense that anyone in business would recognise. I bet it is just a wish list of things they want to happen, much like the recently published "Modern Industrial Strategy", lacking any detail as to how it's actually going to be delivered, what the key milestones are, who is going to be responsible, what resourcing and cash is going to be dedicated towards it, and what the measures of success will be. Equally, I doubt there is any delivery structure in place, or transformation programme governance, or anything like that. Second, Labour is going to be out of office come 2028 or 2029 for the next 30 years, and whoever takes over from them will almost certainly tear this plan up. They don't have ten years, and they must know that by now. So honestly, what's the point in publishing a "ten-year plan"? It's just performative at this stage. sj99 The conversation isn't over. To join in, all you need to do is register your details, then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking 'log in' on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
From constipation to ‘tennis elbow' all bizarre ailments netting Brits brand-new cars under corrupted Motability scheme
TAXPAYERS are funding cars for drivers with ailments including constipation and "tennis elbow". The £600 million-a-year Motability scheme offers essential support to individuals with severe physical or mental disabilities. 2 2 But new figures have laid bare how the scheme - which vital to giving those with physical or mental disabilities access to reliable transportation - has been corrupted beyond recognition. The keys to 40 cars were allocated to individuals with 'tennis elbow', a condition that 'causes pain around the outside of the elbow' but is typically resolved with rest, according to the NHS. And 20 individuals suffering from constipation made use of Motability, along with ten people struggling with a 'failure to thrive'. Over 32,000 new cars were handed over for people suffering anxiety or other depressive disorders, while 800 went to individuals with obesity. While obesity can lead to mobility challenges in severe cases, some believe this inclusion is too broad and leaves the programme's goodwill open to exploitation. What's more, the data shows that 770 cars were leased to individuals with alcohol misuse problems, with 220 going to those with issues around drugs. The data was released in response to a Parliamentary Question, published by the Guido Fawkes website and reported on by the Daily Mail. The scheme, which costs some £600m and is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, supports around 589,000 claimants in England and Wales as of 2024. It allows beneficiaries to exchange part of their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for a car, powered wheelchair, or scooter, essentially giving them options tailored to their needs. It also allows friends or relatives to drive the vehicle on their behalf of the claimant, further expanding its usefulness. Furthermore, the initiative drives a significant portion of new car purchases in Britain - accounting for one in five sales across the country. This heavily supporting the automotive industry in the process and, in turn, creating jobs. ADHD/ADD: 9,090 Alcohol misuse: 770 Anxiety and depressive disorders: 32,160 Anxiety disorders - other/type not known: 2,600 Back pain: 6,760 Constipation: 20 Depressive disorder: 7,460 Elbow disorders - other/type not known: 50 Obesity: 800 OCD: 650 Phobia - social: 190 Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis): 40 Allergy risk of anaphylaxis unknown or not fully assessed: 10 Failure to thrive: 10 Food intolerance: 20 It provides those who are physically or mentally unable to gain access to reliable transportation - which can reduce isolation and improve mental health, thus enabling them to engage more fully in society. But there are claims that people are exploiting the system. Some influencers have even been found to boast online about obtaining these vehicles for minimal costs, and even advising others on how to maximise their benefits. Earlier this year, we reported on one balaclava-wearing influencer who gave viewers a step-by-step guide to obtaining PIP and Motability - and even suggested followers could take the government to court if turned down. In one video, he shows viewers how to pick up an Abarth 695 Sport, usually worth £31,000, for 'basically free'. He said: 'To get this car, all you have to do is pay £599. "This car is an automatic with nearly 200 brake horsepower, and it does 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. The Sun Says Motability scheme has been corrupted beyond recognition by obvious scammers CAN there be a greater example of how our welfare system has spiralled out of control than the grotesque monster that Motability has become? For decades the scheme provided a lifeline for profoundly disabled people. But since Covid, Motability has been allowed to mushroom into a massive industry way past its original remit. A system designed to help the most vulnerable use their Government PIP payments has now warped into a £7billion company supplying one in five new cars in Britain. How? Because thousands claiming to have issues such as anxiety have been allowed to sign up for luxury BMWs and Mercedes 4x4s. Taxpayers are now even coughing up for people who say they are depressed to claim free driving lessons. The Sun is NOT suggesting genuinely disabled people shouldn't be protected. But Motability has been corrupted beyond recognition by hordes of obvious scammers. Labour must ignore the hand-wringers, concentrate on the genuinely needy. And end this insanity once and for all. Hardly good news when debt has ballooned and billions for defence spending is urgently needed. She's right to try to slash the burdensome red tape unnecessarily tying up businesses. But here's a couple of bigger ideas for the Chancellor to add to her growth wish list: Axe Ed Miliband's ruinous Net Zero targets. And stop whacking taxes on families and business. "Did I mention it has a full exhaust system, which absolutely sounds insane?' And another user explained in a video how her four-year-old autistic daughter would be 'driven around in style' after replacing their Vauxhall Zafira with a new Skoda Kodiaq. The family motor is typically worth £36,000, but can be picked up on Motability for just £3,299. John O'Connell, at the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'The Government must look at the criteria before this situation gets worse.' But Motability Operations said: 'To use the Motability Scheme, you must receive a higher rate mobility allowance. 'Eligibility for the allowance is determined and awarded by the Government.' Another systemic issue flagged by critics is the three-year replacement cycle for vehicles provided through the scheme. It's argued that this timeframe is unnecessarily short, given the durability and longevity of modern day motors, while replacing vehicles every three years escalates costs and raises concerns about wastefulness. Labour peer John Mann questioned the necessity of such frequent replacements. He said: 'Motability is making too much money. It needs tighter criteria. There needs to be a return of some of this money they have accrued to the exchequer. 'I also question why it is necessary for its customers to change to a new vehicle so regularly. Cars last a long time and the whole point of Motability must be to help people live a normal life. Three years per car is too short a time frame.' While concerns around the scheme's overall financial management, eligibility criteria and misuse are certainly valid, the Motability scheme remains a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Brits with genuine mobility challenges. Many believe reforming the programme to address certain issues and prevent exploitation could ensure it continues to fulfil its mission - without compromising its vital role in supporting disabled individuals.
