National Family Fund

First Stop Web Design announces support for National Memorial Family Fund

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:24:26 GMT

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 8 April 2026

First Stop Web Design ( a sister enterprise of Naphtali & Associates ) has recently reaffirmed its intention to donate up to 10% of all new design projects to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund .

First Stop has already worked with campaign group 4WardEverUK to provide a free web design service for families affected by deaths in custody, and now wants to do what it can to support the ongoing appeals to raise much needed funds for the initiative.

The National Memorial Family Fund is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths in custody. It makes small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the United Kingdom to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in a range of other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

First Stop Design is a small ethical community collective based in Birmingham UK, providing access to affordable services, advice and information to enhance or improve your Internet presence, online marketing and social media communications.

First stop will introduce the arrangement from June 2026 for an undisclosed period.

The Memorial Family Fund Two-Way Give-Back shop is closing

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:46:59 GMT

image credit: mohamedhassan from www.FreeRangeStock.com

provided by: Tippa Naphtali | published: 8 April 2026

We originally launched our ‘Give-Back Shop’ in August 2021 with support from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC). Unfortunately, due to low sales on the platform, it is no longer cost-effective for us to maintain it.

The shop will close from 1 August 2026.

Remaining items will be offered as raffle prizes at future National Memorial Fund events.

In the meantime the shop is available as normal.

All proceeds support our grant funds.

Visit the shop to access products here: www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/give-back-shop

We made changes to the ‘Two-Way Give-Back Shop’ in March 2025:

The shop can now be used by any visitors to this website who can purchase from the range of products or services that are listed. Affected families that are fully registered with the Fund may be eligible for discounts at our discretion.

Purchasing products or services:

Purchase any general or ON SALE items.

After your purchase we'll advise the vendor(s) to issue the goods or services direct!

You may order any number of on-sale items that are listed.

Note: Registered families may qualify for discounted cost of goods in the shop, and just need to contact us by email in the first instance. We'll contact you to confirm a few details, and then consider what discount (if any) can be offered!

Not only is this an easy way for our readers and members to find interesting, ethical and grassroots products & services all in one place, but they will also be supporting a national social fund for families affected by custody deaths and killings .

See other ways to support us here >

Nominations open in May for the 2026 Memorial and Gala Campaigner Awards

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:58:59 GMT

image credit: Charmaine Burton

source: National Family Fund | published: 22 March 2026

In May 2026 we will be announcing the nominations process for the second National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Gala Dinner & Campaigners Awards.

See our report on the 2023 award event here >

Keep updated on the nominations process by visiting this website, signing up for our e-newsletter or following our social media on Facebook , Twitter 'X' and Instagram .

Tippa Naphtali, NMPMFF founder and Development & Programmes Manager, said;

"These awards recognise the efforts of grassroots individuals, groups and organisations that have developed or led on initiatives supporting those that have been affected by state custody deaths and killings, and have also demonstrated a significant commitment to making change and raising awareness."

The 2026 award event will be supported by 4WardEverUK , The People's Tribunal on Police Killings , Naphtali & Associates , and others to be announced.

The 2026 activists campaign awards will be in the following categories:

Mikey Powell Youth Action Award
Benjamin Zephaniah Literary Award
Pauline Campbell Systems Change Award
Gilly Mundy Family Advocacy Award
Joy Gardner Arts & Education Award

See the National Memorial Family Fund's historic moments!

"We want to share some of the historic and pivotal moments for the the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) over the last 5+ years. These mark some of our key milestones and developments over the period which demonstrates how we have progressed our mission." Tippa Naphtali (Founder)

Read full details here >

Benjamin Zephaniah’s brother and widow receive his City of Birmingham Medal

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 17:10:59 GMT

image credit: Janet Douglas - Feed My Creative

source: Birmingham Lord Mayor | published: 12 March 2026

Birmingham honoured the life and legacy of trailblazing poet Benjamin Zephaniah this week during a ceremony at Birmingham City University’s Benjamin Zephaniah Building , where his City of Birmingham Medal was formally presented.

AThe award was accepted posthumously on his behalf by his brother Tippa Naphtali and his widow, Qian Zephaniah on 11 March 2026. Benjamin is the inaugural recipient of the medal, which has been designed by students at BCU’s renowned School of Jewellery.

Born in Handsworth, Benjamin started performing poetry at demonstrations and youth gatherings and his writing often responded directly to events. He was heavily influenced by Jamaican music and poetry and released several albums, as well as appearing on radio and television including his role as Jeremiah “Jimmy” Jesus in BBC drama Peaky Blinders.

Benjamin’s brother, Tippa Naphtali said: “We are extremely proud that it is Benjamin's city of birth that is making this award and are grateful to the City Council for supporting several memorial initiatives since his untimely passing in 2023. We are also extremely grateful to all the parties involved in making this event possible.”

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE said: “From his groundbreaking poetry collections to his iconic role in Peaky Blinders, Benjamin Zephaniah was a trailblazer and is a much-missed son of Birmingham whose work continues to shape our cultural and literacy identity. Fittingly the first recipient of the City of Birmingham medal, he embodied the spirit and creativity of our city, and I was honoured to present his family and widow with this award as we came together to celebrate his remarkable life and career.”

Professor David Mba, Vice-Chancellor of BCU, said: “Benjamin Zephaniah’s voice was fearless and compassionate, challenging injustice and celebrating the diversity that defines Birmingham. It is especially meaningful for Birmingham City University to host this ceremony in the building that bears his name. That the medal has been designed by students from our School of Jewellery makes this tribute even more special, connecting the city, our university and the next generation of creative talent.”

BCU hosts City of Birmingham Medal ceremony to honour Benjamin Zephaniah
12 March 2026

Casey Bailey on the Benjamin Zephaniah City of Birmingham Medal (Facebook Video)
12 March 2026

Benjamin Zephaniah’s widow Qian Zephaniah and brother Tippa Naphtali receive his City of Birmingham Medal
12 March 2026

West Midlands Shine The Light event report - 31 January 2026, Birmingham

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:13:23 GMT

image credit: Jenine Springer, NMPMFF

source: National Family Fund | published: 23 March 2023

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) worked in close partnership with INQUEST and the Family Reference Group to host the Shine The Light event held in Lozells, Birmingham on 31st January 2026. Families from the West Midlands were invited to attend the private ceremony.

‘Shine the Light Ceremonies’ are part of wider Unjust Deaths project events that have been held across England, Wales and Scotland. The events focus on connecting families, communities and organisers while remembering those who have died; and to foster community connections and ‘shine a light’ on state-related deaths and killings.

Jodie Anderson from INQUEST spoke about their campaign and lobbying work and the ongoing support of families across the UK. Tippa Naphtali from the NMPMFF gave an update on the important work of the NMPMFF over the last five+ years which has included providing affected families with support grants of over £64,000 , and co-producing a wide range public and family-only events in UK-wide locations.

The families that were able to attend shared the stories of what happened to their loved ones, and each received a beautiful glass commemorative ‘love heart’ ornament presented by the NMPMFF team.

The attendees enjoyed a light lunch and opportunity to meet and mingle, as well as performances from the amazing soul-searching and moving voice of Davina Songbird accompanied by her impressive pianist, Ed Simons.

Images from the event;

Here are a selection of photos from the 'Shine The Light' event.

View them on Flickr here >

Shine A Light – West Midlands families remembered

See PowerPoint presentation here >

Cameron "CBO" Whelan

Cameron, aged 26, from Birmingham, died after entering the River Avon while allegedly trying to hide in a bid to escape from a police officer giving chase.

Clinton McCurbin

Clinton, a 24-year-old Black man, died of asphyxia in February 1987 while being held down by police officers inside a NEXT store in Wolverhampton. The attempted arrest, based on unproven allegations of credit card theft, had unfolded in full view of the public.

Darren Cumberbatch

Darren, aged 32, from Coventry, died following police restraint, including the use of tasers and batons. A coroner said the level of restraint used was "excessive" and avoidable."

Kingsley Burrell

Kingsley, aged 29, from Birmingham, was detained by West Midlands Police in March 2011 and transported to a Mental Health facility. Later he was restrained and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Keifer Phillips

Keifer, aged 35, from Birmingham, was first sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2015. On the 18 September 2025 he was found unresponsive. An inquiry into his death has been launched.

Lloyd Butler

Lloyd, aged 39, from Birmingham, was arrested in August 2010 following a call from his family that he was drunk and incapable. In custody he received emergency first aid and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Marcus Meade

Marcus, aged 39, from Worcestershire, was shot and killed following a five-hour standoff on Christmas Eve 2024 after police entered his flat. He was alone and suffering a mental health episode when he was shot.

Mikey Powell

Mikey, aged 38, from Birmingham, was having a psychotic episode when his family called police for help. He died in a police van after being violently restrained by West Midlands Police officers.

Scott Mullen

Scott, from Birmingham, died in HMP Oakwood. His inquest was scheduled by a Coroner (with no disclosure) who would most likely find natural cause of death (heart attack) even though medical records hadn't been examined and a final report not disclosed.

Trevor Smith

Trevor, aged 52, from Birmingham, was shot by police at his home in March 2019. His family said that despite a lawful killing verdict, they had serious concerns about the operation including police conduct, decision-making, and leadership.

Statements from the event partners:

Tiphany Springer, NMPMFF Engagement & Support Co-ordinator, said;

"Affected families often get forgotten once mainstream media stops covering the circumstances surrounding how their loved ones died, which is why holding events such as the Shine The Light ceremony is so important. The ceremony gave families a chance to not only reflect on the events that caused the death of their loved ones with other families who experienced similar circumstances, but also to celebrate their loved ones' lives. Families were able to come together, enjoy live performances from Davina Songbird and receive commemorative keepsakes in honour of those they have lost. Being part of the team that helped bring the event together made the experience especially rewarding and impactful."

Tippa Naphtali, NMPMFF Development & Programmes Manager, said;

"We were delighted to co-produce and deliver this important event and to be part of the wider Unjust Deaths events that have been held in other parts of the country. It is important to us at the NMPMFF that we don’t just ask families to retell the trauma they experienced and continue to experience, but also to celebrate what their loved ones gave in-life – it is so easy to lose the real essence of those lives in the fog of campaigning and media coverage. We are about giving safe spaces for families to come together and heal collectively, and this event certainly delivered on that front."

Jacqueline Greenway and Doug Cave, INQUEST Family Reference Group, said;

"What can we say? This was an invaluable and uplifting event; a safe space to remember our loved ones lost in tragic circumstances, whilst acknowledging that there is still much to do to achieve justice and prevent others going through the suffering we did. Sharing stories, food, and such marvellous live music allowed us to collectively mark the passage of time and re-enthuse us to fight for a better society and changes necessary to birth some good from our sorry experiences. We certainly felt comforted we were not alone. We had found our tribe!"

Jenine Springer, NMPMFF Sessional Finance Administrator, said;

"The Shine a Light event was a heartfelt and powerful tribute to those who have lost loved ones in state custody. Families shared moving tributes that honoured the lives, memories, and personalities of those they’ve lost. Events like this are vital as they give families a space to be heard, to remember, and to support one another. Shine a Light truly lived up to its name by bringing comfort, visibility, and solidarity to a community that deserves ongoing care and recognition."

Jodie Anderson, INQUEST Co-Lead of Casework Team, said;

"INQUEST’s focus on history, education and memory came out of the work we began four years ago marking our 40th anniversary. Since then, events like this Shine The Light, have played an important role in not only restoring dignity to the people who died in custody or following contact with the state, but also remembering and paying tribute to the ways that families and communities have resisted and come together. Bereaved families and people in the Midlands have been at the coalface of injustice for decades. This event created space to bring some of them together, to reflect and share stories, creativity and care.”

See the National Memorial Family Fund's featured events!

"These mark some of our key collaborative events over the last 5+ years, which demonstrates how we have engaged with and supported our member applicants, partners and other stakeholders from across the country." Tippa Naphtali (Founder)

Read full details here >

The PTPK's European Action Evidence Session, October 2026

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 16:44:59 GMT

image credit: United Families & Friends www.uffcampaign.org

source: The PTPK | published: February 2026

At the first session of the Peoples Tribunal on Police Killings (PTPK) in London in April 2025 a commitment was made for international action. Now we are announcing the second session which will focus on police killings across Europe. The families of those killed by the police in many European countries will gather for the first time in an unprecedented way to unify radical struggles for justice.

The colonial policing strategies of European nations and the use of extreme violence disproportionately impacts Black, Arab, racialised and migrant communities as well as the working class. This is increasingly happening in the context of the ascendancy of the far-right to political power with an increase in attacks on our communities, compounding the legacy of the preceding left-wing, centrist, and right-wing governments.

Families that struggle for justice have worked together in solidarity in the past, they have learned from each other and inspired each other. The PTPK is initiating new solidarities in this event which will be an opportunity for families from countries including France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, the north of Ireland and the UK to come together for the first time to launch international actions. The tribunal will take testimonies from families and expert witnesses to an international panel in full public view.

There will also be sessions to plan international strategies for communities of resistance to confront the waves of killing and torture by police forces. State violence is used to control populations and to maintain capitalist domination of the working class. This anti-imperialist gathering will link our struggles for justice with the global majority, who we call on for support. We declare allegiance to international calls to abolish and defund the police.

PTPK European Action will build a sustained platform of unity and strength that will challenge the containment of our struggles and take international joint actions to bring justice where it has been absent for so long. A full joint declaration will be released after the event.

See here for more information on the PTPK: www.peoplestribunal.info

Email: tribunalpeoples@gmail.com

The Roger Sylvester Centre opens in Haringey, north London

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:55:35 GMT

image credit: Haringey London

source: Haringey London | published: February 2026

The new Roger Sylvester Centre at Canning Crescent will honour the memory of the man it is named after, by making it easier for more in the borough to get the help they need.

Roger, who experienced episodes of poor mental health, was restrained [in 1999] by police outside his home aged 30, and was taken to hospital, where he sadly passed away, having his life support turned off eight days later. He accessed services at the former Canning Crescent Health Centre, and he was a mental health worker at the Lambo Centre in Archway.

Haringey Council, Clarendon Recovery College, Mind in Haringey, and the North London NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be working together on this new centre .

Haringey has unveiled a pioneering multi-purpose mental health centre named in honour of Roger Sylvester. The disused building at Canning Crescent has been transformed into a hub for integrated mental health support, bringing together vital services from the council, NHS, and voluntary sector under one roof.

If you would like to refer yourself, or a loved one, to any of the services, you can do so below:

Clarendon Recovery College (CRC) is available to people who are interested in knowing more about maintaining their own wellbeing and good mental health, or the mental health of people they know. Our courses are free for all Haringey residents aged 18 and over.
Safe Haven Crisis Hub run by Mind in Haringey, is a service for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. It is a non-clinical short term intervention to help reduce mental health crisis and isolation. This support is offered by peer support workers.
Crisis Prevention House (CPH) operated by the North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT). CPH provides short-term support for individuals experiencing mental health crises, aiming to help them recover and reintegrate into the community. The CPH offers a supportive, recovery-focused environment where individuals can receive assistance to prevent a crisis, manage existing crises, learn wellness skills, and address underlying issues contributing to their distress.

For further mental health support, visit these webpages .

Read the original article >

September 2008

The new NMPMFF Therapy Care Initiative Pilot is now LIVE!

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:42:35 GMT

image credit: Pexels/Duda www.pexels.com

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 16 October 2025

The new National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Therapy Care Initiative Pilot is now active, with the selection process * resuming shortly.

In June 2025 we were pleased to announce that The National Lottery Community Fund ( Awards for All ) awarded the NMPMFF £19,984 in grant funding to further the commitments from our Development Plans .

One of our plans for the future includes Bereavement & Counselling Hubs, ensuring that families affected by custody deaths and killings can get quick, easy and free or subsidised access to mental health, wellbeing and bereavement support in their local area.

The pilot initiative:

Part of the recent Lottery grant will support the NMPMFF Therapy Care Initiative Pilot, a 1-year programme that will identify up to 10 recently bereaved UK families that require therapeutic support.

Other Lottery funded work:

The recent grant awarded also included some modest staff costs, and a significant allocation for two events in 2026. One will be similar to our May 2023 Families Matter, Caring Matters fun day in Manchester, and the other similar to our November 2023 40.20.1 celebration and campaigner awards held in Birmingham.

Some key advisories: *

Participants will now be selected by the NMPMFF Engagement Team or can be assisted to access the Therapy Care Initiative's support by one of our Assessment Partners or a recognised community agency or enterprise that supports affected families.

Participants can be from any region within the UK, but if they are not already a registered family with the NMPMFF they would need to do so before applying for support.

The NMPMFF will contribute a fixed amount of £300 towards the agreed therapeutic sessions or a course of support required by the participants.

Payments would be made directly to the service provider chosen by the family with advice from the NMPMFF or our partners.

Participating families would also be eligible for an award from our NMPMFF Holiday Fund of £100.00 towards a respite or holiday break of their choice.

How participants will be selected!

In the first instance participants will be selected by the NMPMFF Engagement Team.

Third party referrals will also be considered (provided all conditions are met) on a first-come basis, and final decisions made by Tiphany Springer (our Engagement & Support Co-ordinator) and Tippa Naphtali (our Development & Programmes Manager).

View our leaflet here >

Inside The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings (by Red Pepper Media)

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:53:25 GMT

image credit: United Families & Friends www.uffcampaign.org

source: Red Pepper Media | first published: 13 January 2026

The friends and families of those who ‘died in custody’ in the UK, frustrated with the inability of reform to deliver justice, have established the People’s Tribunal on Police Killings . Bringing together over twenty families for a class action lawsuit against the police, it will be the first time families have initiated a group prosecution.

The tribunal renames these deaths ‘killings’, due to the systematic nature of the cases. They told me: "we need no more legislation, no more excuses, no more police training. The criminal law needs to be applied to police officers… we are abolitionist in our approach but in the meantime cops that kill should go to jail."

The conversation centers around the People's Tribunal on police killings, scheduled for April 5th and 6th in London. Ken Fero and Samantha Patterson discuss the historical context of police killings in the UK, the personal impact on families, and the need for a tribunal as an alternative to the traditional justice system.

It is an anti-reformist position combined with a practical demand for justice. In line with this, the group is critical of various efforts to change the police through government reviews, inquests and improvements to police watchdogs, such as the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Reforms to these institutions got them no closer to prosecutions, and often diverted them from justice.

The problem with reform

This problem came into focus after an internal report was released by the Metropolitan Police – ‘30 Patterns of Harm’. It argued racism was ‘built in’ the Metropolitan Police, which the police responded by promising to establish a government review followed by a process of reform.

The changes proposed by reviews like these are treated with extreme scepticism by the tribunal. One of the key members of the tribunal is Samantha Patterson, whose brother Jason McPherson ‘died’ on 18 January 2007.

Read full article >

6 April 2025

The People's Tribunal on Police Killings - Day 1 (film: 7.5hours)

5 April 2025

IOPC Publish custody deaths statistics for England and Wales 2024-2025

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:49:40 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: IOPC | originally published: July 2025

In July 2025 the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) released details of their custody deaths statistics for England and Wales 2024-2024.

The following content is adapted from the IOPC website.

Deaths during or following police contact
Each year, we [The IOPC] publish data showing how many people have died after contact with the police. The report provides a definitive set of figures for England and Wales. It gives an overview of the nature and circumstances of these deaths.

Brief summary of the report:

This report presents figures on deaths during orfollowing police contact that happened between1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. It provides adefinitive set of figures for England and Wales,and an overview of the nature and circumstancesin which these deaths occurred.

During 2024/25, there were:

26 road traffic fatalities
2 fatal police shootings
17 deaths in or following police custody
60 apparent suicides following police custody
50 other deaths following police contact that were independently investigated by the IOPC

Demographic information about those who died is provided in the report, along with details about the circumstances of their death and a summary of trend data. The appendix contains more information, such as the age, gender and ethnicity of those who died, and information about the police force or appropriate authority involved. (The appropriate authority is usually a chief officer or police and crime commissioner).

Some of the investigations into the deaths recorded in the report are ongoing at the time of publication. Details about the nature and circumstances of these cases are based on information available at the point of analysis.

Read full article & data tables here >

Download report here >

Continuously updated

State of Policing: The Annual Assessment of Policing in England and Wales 2024–25

10 September 2025

IOPC publishes figures on deaths during or following police contact

31 July 2025

INQUEST: Unlocking the Truth, Oral Histories Project

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:45:45 GMT

image credit: INQUEST

source: INQUEST | originally published: May 2025

The INQUEST Oral Histories Archive documents state violence, death and resistance in the UK since 1981 and explores over 40 years of fighting for justice through sound, image and print.

In the Archives you will find:

Timeline

Trace the history of state violence and how INQUEST has campaigned alongside bereaved families and others to push for change from 1981-2021. This interactive timeline maps a fragment of the people who have died, campaigning milestones and legal changes in our on-going pursuit of justice.

Case Profiles

Learn about some of the people who have died at the hands of the British state through policing, prisons and mental health services. Find out who they were, how they died and how their families have fought back. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

This selection of 40 people is a tiny sample of the 10,000+ cases that INQUEST has worked on between 1981-2021.

Oral Histories

This collection of interviews preserves the voices and memories of key figures in the movement for justice and transformative change. They provide important context and personal memory to INQUEST’s archive.

With the support of On the Record and a team of mainly bereaved volunteers recorded oral history interviews with INQUEST staff members (current and former), family members, lawyers, journalists, activists and politicians.

See the oral history interview with Family Fund founder, Tippa Naphtali, here >

More about INQUEST here >

Drawing on four decades of campaigning and in conversation with those at the forefront of these struggles, hosts Lee Lawrence, advocate and son of Cherry Groce, and Lucy Brisbane from INQUEST, shine a light on injustice, amplify stories of resistance and explore the best way forward.

See previous 4WardEverUK article >

“A production line of pointlessness” - Children on custodial remand

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 20:05:18 GMT

image credit: Pexels/Duda www.pexels.com

source: Children's Commissioner | published: 11 November 2025

Since becoming the Children’s Commissioner, I have travelled across the country meeting children whose lives are shaped by decisions made far away from them and those whose voices are rarely heard.

Time and time again, I have witnessed children being held on custodial remand, not because they pose the greatest risk, but because the system around them has failed. This report shines a light on one of the most troubling aspects of our youth justice system, the use of custodial remand on children.

Every child has the right to grow up safe, loved, and with the opportunity to thrive. Yet, for too many children, that promise is broken long beforehand .

Last year, 441 children who were locked up in custody awaiting their hearing did not end up receiving a custodial sentence. Another 168 children had their case dismissed altogether.

These are not harmless delays. Even a short spell in custody can be profoundly damaging to a child. From disrupting education, cutting them off from their family and community and sometimes entrenching the vulnerabilities that brought them into contact with the justice system in the first place. That experience leaves a mark, one that lasts long after their release.

What children tell me most about their time on remand is the uncertainty. Not knowing what the outcome will be or how long they will be held in custody. They describe feeling powerless, having to cope with waiting for decisions that are constantly delayed and beyond their control.”

Read full article >

View/Download Report >

Support Us: Family Fund MemberBASE, donor & membership portal

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:35:57 GMT

image credit: 4WardEverUK www.4wardeveruk.org

republished: Tippa Naphtali | 16 October 2024

In 2023 The NMPMFF revamped our MemberBASE service which combines contributions to the Fund with a number of extra benefits utilising the Stripe payment platform . Your support is needed - please help!

Visitors can register as FREE members, or be dual donor/members. ALL members have full control to manage and renew their subscriptions online. They can also book onto our events and other activities without leaving the member portal.

Find out more about 'MemberBASE' and register here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donor-members

New subscriber's are also auto-added to our news and events platforms, but have the option to cancel these if they choose.

The revamped donor platform gives you complete ( and flexible ) control over how you interact and support the work of the Fund. All of our 'Member Options' are flexible so you can dip in and out, increase or decrease your donations as you wish, and interact with other members as well as with the Memorial Family Fund staff and/or volunteers. And all in one place!

Benefits to our donors and supporters:

Supporters can become FREE members ( no donation required )
Secure personal account showing all their activities and donations in one place
Single or multiple donor options with no long-term commitment
Real flexibility to adjust their donations plan if needed

and much more to come...

Benefits to the Memorial Family Fund:

A further means of interaction with families affected by state custody deaths
Easier management & monitoring of donors activities all in one place
More precise and recorded data on donations to the Memorial Family Fund
Ability to engage with donors via multiple routes such as email and text
Reducing the workload of our staff and volunteers to aid more effective oversight
Single access point for our administrative team members

Important Notes: If existing donors choose to use our MemberBASE option they may want to cancel any current donations in PayPal to avoid duplication.

Our standard PayPal donation method will remain available until December 2024.

"We look forward to having you on board"

Please contact us if anything is unclear!

Read more details here >

Mental Health Foundation reacts to Mental Health Act 2025 Royal Assent

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 20:04:38 GMT

image credit: Unsplash from www.FreeRangeStock.com

all credits: Mental Health Foundation | published: 18 December 2025

The Mental Health Act 2025 has received Royal Assent, meaning it is now law.

Dr David Crepaz-Keay, Head of Research & Applied Learning at the Mental Health Foundation, who also has prior lived experience of being detained under the Mental Health Act, said:

“The 1983 Mental Health Act was an outdated piece of legislation which has been used during its lifespan in homophobic, racist and other discriminatory ways. The previous Act did too little to support individuals’ care, and could cause people at their most vulnerable to be detained in inappropriate settings like police stations.

"With that in mind, it is positive that the promise to improve the act, make its usage safer, and give people greater say in their care is being delivered on.

"This reform must now lead to better treatment for those in crisis, and a greater focus on support that keeps people healthy and stops them from reaching crisis point and being detained in the first place.

"Ultimately though, whether these reforms achieve the scale of change needed will be dependent on the resources the mental health sector receives."

Read the full article >

23 December 2025

RCPsych responds to Mental Health Act receiving Royal Assent

19 December 2025

Mental Health Bill receives Royal Assent, revolutionising care

18 December 2025

The Family Fund is facing significant challenges in the year ahead!

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:27:21 GMT

image credit: Jack Moreh at www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: Memorial Family Fund | published: 7 May 2025

The Family Fund is facing significant challenges in the year ahead!

Over the last 2+ years the NMPMFF has lost approximately 116 of our regular monthly donors leaving just 63 at present. More recently we saw the end of core grant funding for our two critical frontline staff .

For the ongoing development of the NMPMFF it is critical that we maintain a level of donations and funding to allow our current structures to grow further, which in turn will aid the continued delivery of our important work and mission.

In 2024 we had to review our grant making systems to ensure that our increasingly limited financial resources were best utilised given the fall in donations, and ending of core grants.

About The Fund

"The NMPMFF is the first (and only) permanent national resource of its kind specifically established for those affected by deaths and killings in custody or state neglect. We make small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the UK to provide practical domestic assistance and campaign support. We are also developing a range of other support services for families, children and young people that are affected."

Tippa Naphtali

Development & Programmes Manager

How you can help!

NMPMFF Donor Appeal

Can you become a donor? Help to get more cash in the coffers to support affected families - spread the word. Thank You! Click here for information .

Shop & Support:

You can easily help raise money for the Fund simply by doing something

that we all do on a regular basis… Our shopping. Click here for information .

General Enquiries:

Tippa Naphtali, (Development & Programmes Manager) via tippa@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Tiphany Springer, (Engagement & Support Co-ordinator) via tiphany@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Please Note: We are a very small part-time team so responses may sometimes be delayed!

Remembrance & Memorials : The people's poet, Benjamin Zephaniah

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:53:15 GMT

image credit: Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group

source: 4WardEverUK Writers | first published: 21 December 2023

The following article is dedicated to Benjamin Zephaniah (cousin of Mikey Powell ), who died on 7 December 2023 aged 65. He died in the early hours of Thursday morning after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks before.

Brother, Tippa Naphtali , said; "To the world Benjamin was the renowned writer, poet, human rights activist, actor and outspoken critic of the state and social injustice and more'. To us, his family, he was also all of these things, but most important of all he was simply a son, brother, uncle or cousin - and we will miss him deeply.

"We've put together this collection of clips and stories to demonstrate the depth of respect which is held globally for Benjamin. His message and legacy will remain for generations, carrying on his work and influence in all spheres of cultural and social dialogue.

"With the greatest of respect dear brother."

Writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah has been remembered as a "titan of British literature" after his death aged 65. Zephaniah was born and raised in Birmingham, UK, the son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse. He was dyslexic and left school aged 13, unable to read or write.

Benjamin Zephaniah: The People’s Poet

(by friend and comrade, Mukhtar Dar )

Benjamin Zephaniah was the living embodiment of the principles he championed—justice, equality, and humanity. His is a profound legacy for young people in our communities to emulate and follow, writes Mukhtar Dar, former member of the Birmingham Asian Youth Movement.

My journey with Benjamin Zephaniah began in the vibrant cauldron of ideologies that was Handsworth in the mid-1980s. As a member of the Sheffield Asian Youth Movement, I found myself immersed in the Black revolutionary politics that defined this hub, attracting artists, activists, and academics. It was here that I first encountered the magnetic presence of Benjamin Zephaniah.

In those tumultuous times, I was documenting the anti-racist struggles of Asian and African Caribbean communities, and in particular the Newham 7 and Newham 8 Campaigns — Asian youth who defended themselves and their communities against brutal racist attacks in East London. Benjamin and his brother Tippa Naphtali actively supported these campaigns, lending their voices through performances at fundraising events and, together with Tippa, and I, we engaged the crowd on the mic while playing drums during the weekly pickets of the trial outside the Old Bailey in London.

Life took me to Manchester and Liverpool, where I had the privilege of teaching art at the Centre for Arts Development Training. It was during this time that I discovered the personal connection—Amina, one of my students, of Pakistani background introduced me to her husband, Benjamin Zephaniah.

Read full article here >

Concern about epilepsy deaths within the UK's prison system

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:50:43 GMT

image credit: Donald Tong at www.Pexels.com

source: Russell Webster | published: 25 November 2025

A new (24 November 2025) Learning Lessons bulletin from the Prisons & Probation Ombudsman summarises research from PPO investigations from the past ten years where a prisoner’s death was caused by epilepsy or the prisoner was diagnosed with epilepsy. Our research found the care prisoners with epilepsy receive could be improved and highlights areas requiring further work.

Context and data:

To understand the learning from epilepsy-related deaths in prisons, the PPO team considered three categories of death types.

Group 1: Where the primary cause of the prisoner’s death was epilepsy (as recorded in the post-mortem) (25 cases).
Group 2: Where the secondary cause of the prisoner’s death was epilepsy (as recorded in the post-mortem) (12 cases).
Group 3: Where the prisoner was diagnosed with epilepsy, but their primary or secondary cause of death was not epilepsy-related (88 cases).

In the past 10 years, the PPO has investigated 125 deaths that fell into one of these three categories. For each group, the PPO report and clinical review was analysed.

Key findings:

The PPO research has identified areas that need to be explored further:

The number of SUDEPs is higher in prison than in the community.

It is estimated that sudden and unexpected deaths in epilepsy (SUDEPs) make up around 0.15% of deaths a year in the UK. From post-mortem reports of deaths in prisons from the past 10 years, 0.64% of deaths in prison were SUDEPs.

The diagnosis of epilepsy within prisons could be improved.

In 11% of the cases from group 1 and 2 (where the primary or secondary cause of death was epilepsy) the prisoner had not been diagnosed with epilepsy.

There is a lower remission rate in prison than in the community.

From the 125 death investigations, the PPO found only 18% had not experienced a seizure in the past year, 56% had, and for the remaining 26% of prisoners it was unclear.

Read full article >

Summary of the National Memorial Family Fund Holiday Scheme Awards

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 22:50:25 GMT

image credit: stockimages at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: 4WardEverUK | re published 7 December 2025

Round 5 applications closed @ 10pm, 7 December 2025

With thanks to a previous donation of £10,000 through Migrant Media / the Legacy Fund , the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund has provided Holiday Scheme awards over several years, supporting children, young people and families.

Families and campaigns (or Assessment Partners on their behalf) are able to apply to this designated fund which will:

Award fixed-amount grants for outings, holidays and short breaks
Make the application as simple as possibles, whilst maintaining good governance
Include NMPMFF Assessment Partners as eligible applicants

Funds are ringfenced in each round (resources permitting) consisting of average awards of up to £250 towards the full cost of recreational events that meet a standard set of requirements.

Awards applications & information:

Round 5 applications opened on 23 November 2025.

This Round closed @ 10pm, 7 December 2025.

For enquiries please contact our admin team - enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us deliver one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Holiday Scheme Initiative summarised

From the Spring of 2023 the NMPMFF committed to provide contributions towards respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays tailored for children, young people and families affected by custody deaths and killings. These would include river and coach tours, activity and theme parks, and self-catering breaks and more!

This particular funding programme will be available as long as resources remain.

Support Us Here

Film Screening: Project Heal presents 'Mikey' - A story by Tippa Naphtali

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 02:07:31 GMT

image credit: Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign for Justice & Legacy

source: National Memorial Family Fund | published: 3 August 2025

Join us for a powerful screening of 'Mikey', one of the four docufilms in the Project HEAL series from Black Thrive Haringey . The film is a deeply personal and urgent story about injustice, grief, and the fight to heal.

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) is the main legacy to Mikey.

It is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those affected by deaths and killings in custody or state neglect. The NMPMFF makes small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the UK to provide practical domestic assistance and campaign support. They also run (or are developing) a range of other support services for families, children and young people that are affected.

Since it was developed in 2005, the NMPMFF (working with other partners) has awarded over £64,000 in grants and awards , and delivered major events; 'Looking Back : Moving Forward' in Birmingham (September 2021), and 'Families Matter : Caring Matters' in Manchester (May 2023) and 40:20:1 in Birmingham (November 2023).

Reserve your places!

Tickets are available for the film premiere of 'Mikey - A Story by Tippa Naphtali' and Q&A, marking the 22nd anniversary of Mikey's death.

Taking place at Everyman Cinema, Birmingham on Sunday, 7 September 2025.

Read more and book here >

See more photo galleries here >

Below is a link to read the full moving article that was written by Mikey's cousin, and prominent activist/social justice campaigner, Tippa Naphtali on 6 September 2018, which commemorated the 15th anniversary of Mikey’s death.

In the article Tippa said; "Such was the impact of his [Mikey's] death, I made the decision to move back to my home town of Birmingham after 28 years living and working in London; so that I could be at the forefront of my family’s fight for justice, as well as to ensure changes were made in both policing and mental health practice.

I was determined that Mikey’s life and death would bring a lasting legacy.

"I was determined that Mikey’s death would not be in vain, and on my return to Birmingham I worked with various parties to ensure that this was the case. Despite criticism from some fellow campaigners, I was also determined to work closely with the police and other statutory agencies in order to bring about meaningful changes in practice and policy, achieved through joint lobbying and other actions. I feel very strongly that these achievements (no matter how small) should be acknowledged and celebrated by all sectors, including the campaigning community."

Tippa Naphtali – A Legacy for Mikey Powell

Read full article here >

The new NMPMFF Lottery funded Therapy Care Initiative one-year pilot

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:50:51 GMT

image credit: Pexels/Duda www.pexels.com

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 3 August 2025

In June 2025 we were pleased to announce that The National Lottery Community Fund (Awards for All) awarded the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) £19,984 in grant funding to further the commitments from our Development Plans .

Part of the recent Lottery grant will support the NMPMFF Therapy Care Initiative Pilot.

This is a 1-year programme that will identify up to 14 recently bereaved UK families that require therapeutic support. By 'recently bereaved' we mean families, children or young people that have been affected by deaths or killings in state institutions within the last 18 months .

The type of therapeutic support that the families want to access will be determined by them and any support agencies that they work with, and can include traditional counselling or talking therapies, animal-assisted, art, behavioural, cognitive or creative therapies etc.

We will be working with our Assessment Partners and other community-based parties to identify the 14 families that will be involved in the pilot.

Some key advisories:

Applicants will need to have been assisted to access the Therapy Care Initiative's support by one of our Assessment Partners or a recognised community agency or enterprise that supports affected families.
Assessment Partners or a recognised community agency or enterprise will refer families to the NMPMFF engagement team.
Applicants can be from any region within the UK, but if they are not already a registered family with the NMPMFF they would need to do so.
The NMPMFF will contribute a fixed amount towards the agreed therapeutic sessions or a course of support.
Payments would be made directly to the service provider chosen by the family.
Participating families would also be eligible for awards from our Holiday Fund of £100.00 towards a respite or holiday break.

Plans to extend the Therapy Care Initiative in the future!

It is our hope that the success of the pilot initiative will demonstrate the continued need for a very specific type of support needed by families affected by the severe trauma of losing a loved one at the hands of statutory and state institutions that should have cared for and protected them.

We will be seeking to secure a major investment from 2026/2027 onwards, so that a more comprehensive version of this pilot can be rolled out, and thereby extending the support to significantly more families.

Further updates to follow.

National Memorial Family Fund 10 years on, and our annual reports

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:34:07 GMT

image credit: Michelle Kelly from www.afcscic.org

source: National Memorial Family Fund | published: 2 August 2025

In September 2025 the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) will be proudly marking 10 years since its inception. On 7 September 2015, the twelfth anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell who was killed in the custody of West Midlands Police, campaigning news group 4WardEverUK , launched the National Family Fund Appeal .

The Fund was developed and constituted in conjunction with the Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign , The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media .

In May and June 2020, triggered by the controversial police killing of George Floyd , subsequent international protests, a tweet from Oonagh Ryder and further follow-up tweets by Lucy Brisbane McKay ( @lucybrisbane ) and others, we received over 900 single donations, and our monthly donors increased from a few dozen to over 100.

What have we been up to!

In June 2020 we announced that after 5 years of fundraising, the first ever NMPMFF grant round opened for applications from affected families. Since then we have administered well over £64,000 in grants across the Family and Holiday, Crisis and UFFC Legacy Fund grant programmes .

From July 2020 we became formally incubated by West Midlands based social enterprise Catalyst 4 Change, thereby taking on its legal identity but maintaining our operational independence.

We have also been financially supported by The Edge Fund, Black Lives Matter UK, INQUEST and a number of smaller donors (Timespan, LV Insurance Services, Sony Music, Naphtali Associates etc) , to fund our staffing and media costs, organisational development, and delivery of family social/support and awards events that were held in several cities across the United Kingdom.

For more details see dedicated pages:

Historic Moments >

Featured Events >

We have produced two comprehensive annual reports demonstrating how our funding and donations were utilised and which also included short and long term development and fundraising strategies and challenges.

In June 2025 we were pleased to announce that the National Lottery Community Fund (Awards for All) awarded £19,984 in grant funding to the NMPMFF to further the commitments from our Development Plans. The funding will be used to support NMPMFF's short-term sessional staffing costs, organising two national family support events over 12 months, and to offer personalised therapeutic interventions for families members before they enter crisis - this includes specific support for children, especially those who have lost one or more of their parents or carers.

However, we still face significant challenges!

Over the last 2+ years the NMPMFF has lost 80+ (60%) of our regular monthly donors leaving our grant reserves almost depleted. Also, in 2023 our core 2-year funding came to an end, seeing the loss of two of our key development and engagement staff members.

We are now being supported by Catalyst 4 Change to address this situation through a dedicated fundraiser, and will continue publicising the need to raise funds via our new MemberBASE and Easyfundraiser platforms.

We remain positive about the future development of our key programmes, and believe that the NMPMFF will only go from strength to strength.

One of the families we supported very recently said;

"I have been deeply touched by the support and generosity of you all. The grant really helped us to have a place of safety to retreat to at times when the inquest process became too much.

"On behalf of all of our family we thank you all sincerely. Please know that in the memory of Mikey Powell you are touching lives."

National Lottery Community Fund announce grant for the National Memorial Family Fund

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:51:45 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 22 July 2025

We are pleased to announce that The National Lottery Community Fund , through its ' Supporting Each Other Through Grief and Bereavement' programme, has awarded £19,984.00 in grant funding to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) to further the commitments from our Development Plans in 2025/26.

The NMPMFF (developed in 2015) is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths in custody and makes small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the United Kingdom to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in a range of other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

The Lottery funding will be used to support NMPMFF sessional staffing costs, organising two national family support events over 12 months, and to offer personalised therapeutic interventions for families members before they enter crisis - this includes specific support for children, especially those who have lost one or more of their parents or carers .

The NMPMFF 5-Year Plan

The NMPMFF has ambitious development plans for the future.

Many new initiatives will be rolled out over the next 3+ years, with support also provided by 4WardEverUK , Catalyst 4 Change CIC , Migrant Media and others.

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us .

NMPMFF APPEAL: We need to replenish our fund resources for family grants

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:02:52 GMT

image credit: Migrant Media www.vimeo.com/migrantmedia

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 16 March 2025

The NMPMFF needs to replenish its grant fund resources for affected families!

Over the last 2+ years the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) has lost 80+ (60%) of our regular monthly donors, and our grant and reserves are very low.

The National Memorial Family Fund is the first and only national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths and killings in state custody.

See details of how you can support us here:

MemberBASE Subscriptions - www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donor-members

PayPal One-Off Donations - www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donations-paypal

The Fund makes small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the United Kingdom to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in a range of other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

Download and share the promotional flyer here >

Campaigning news collective, 4WardEverUK, launched the new National Memorial Family Fund website in April 2019 to raise both awareness and funds for the initiative inspired by Mikey Powell, who was killed in police custody on 7th September 2003.

Law Society urges government to invest in civil legal aid for a ‘fairer society for all’

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 23:49:31 GMT

image credit: Duda / Pexels

source: The Justice Gap | p ublished: 12 June 2025

The Law Society of England and Wales has called on the Government to invest more money in civil legal aid to ensure greater access for all.

In collaboration with the Legal Services Board and YouGov, the body recently found that 55% of adults experiencing domestic abuse cases did not receive any legal support. Of those who sought help, 54% were unable to access it.

They have acknowledged governmental efforts increasing civil legal aid fees for housing and immigration, but still believes improvement is necessary across family law, community care, mental health, and other related areas.

The Law Society’s new legal aid desert map reveals that more than 42 million people in England and Wales, nearly 70% of the population, lack access to community care legal aid providers in their area.

The organisation’s president, Richard Atkinson, expressed his concern, saying ‘civil legal aid is a crucial service that protects people and communities and reduces the strain on other public services.

The Law Society is also asking for further reforms : reinstatement of early legal advice for separating families, guaranteed legal aid for both parties in family law cases involving abuse allegations, and increased legal aid fees for family law, mental health, community care, and other critical areas to attract legal aid providers. Finally, it advocates for a test for determining legal aid eligibility that does not exclude people living in poverty.

In support of the campaign, Atkinson claimed that by helping people face their legal challenges, they help individuals and ‘strengthen families, protect children and provide better care for people in our communities.

Read the full article here >

Mental health Lampard Inquiry chair vows to 'seek out' the truth

Fri, 09 May 2025 00:02:29 GMT

image credit: Pexels/Duda at www.Pexels.com

source: BBC News | published: 28 April 2025

The chair of England's first public inquiry into mental health deaths vowed to "seek out the truth" - despite difficulties getting documents from the NHS.

The first key evidence sessions in the Lampard Inquiry - examining more than 2,000 deaths at NHS inpatient units in Essex between 2000 and 2023 - have begun in London.

Baroness Lampard said although the hearing was "breaking new ground" , 21 legal notices had been issued to NHS organisations to force them to submit evidence .

"We will seek out the truth," she said, adding she would not hesitate to use her legal powers "to the fullest extent necessary to compel the production of evidence where it's not provided" .

Baroness Lampard said the inquiry was of "national significance" as it focussed on "the big critical concerns about what went wrong over almost a quarter of a century".

Counsel to the inquiry, Nicholas Griffin KC, said: "We have been unimpressed with a significant number of requests for deadline extensions... and the number of occasions where providers have not given the material expressly asked for."

He said there were problems with the condition of paper records, "missing documents" and providers, including private ones, sending information late.

Mr Griffin said it was a criminal offence to suppress, conceal, alter, or destroy relevant evidence and said providers should be properly resourced to respond to the inquiry.

He said the inquiry should not be delayed because of it.

Read full article >

22 April 2025

Lampard Inquiry: terms of reference

10 April 2025

What is the Lampard Inquiry and what could it change?

9 September 2024

Mental health patients with nowhere to go cost NHS £71m in England

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 10:01:50 GMT

image credit: Unsplash at www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: The Guardian | first published: 11 February 2025

A lack of supported housing was the biggest reason for delayed discharges from mental health hospitals in England last year, costing the NHS about £71m, according to a report.

Analysis from the National Housing Federation (NHF) found that in 2023-24 there were 109,029 days of delayed discharge because mental health patients were waiting for supported housing, and the number of people stuck in hospital as a result of housing-related issues had more than tripled since 2021.

In September 2024, waiting for supported housing was the single biggest reason mental health patients, fit for discharge, were unable to leave, accounting for 17% of all delays. This lack led to a strain on NHS capacity and a rise in patients being sent out of area for hospital admission, the report found.

Rhys Moore, director of public impact at the NHF, said: “Not only are tens of thousands of people, who deserve the opportunity to live a healthy, happy and independent life, being failed, but the shortage of these homes is increasing pressure on public services, increasing homelessness, and costing the NHS and ultimately the taxpayer more in the long run.”

There are about half a million supported homes across England, but numbers are falling, and an NHF survey found that one in three (32%) supported housing providers in England have had to close schemes in the past year owing to financial pressures.

Read full article here >

Jean Charles de Menezes’ mother says ‘everyone should watch’ TV drama

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 21:41:23 GMT

image credit: Terence Bunch: www.terencebunch.co.uk

source: The Guardian | published: 22 April 2025

The mother of a man shot dead by police in a London Underground station after being mistaken for a terrorist has said “everyone should watch” a new dramatisation of her son’s killing.

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot seven times by two police marksmen in Stockwell tube station on 22 July 2005. De Menezes was wrongly identified as one of the fugitives involved in a failed bombing two weeks after the 7/7 attack in London , which killed 52 people.

Would-be suicide bombers had targeted the London Underground on 21 July but their devices failed to explode. De Menezes, a 27-year-old Brazilian electrician, was mistaken for one of the suspects because they were linked to the same block of flats .

Friends and family of Jean Charles de Menezes - the innocent man shot dead by police in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings - held a memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.

The family of the Brazilian electrician say they're still fighting for justice, and still want police officers to be prosecuted over the shooting.

Home Affairs Correspondent Nick Beake reports

No officers were ever prosecuted for the killing but the Metropolitan police was fined for breaching health and safety laws. The officer in charge of the botched operation was Cressida Dick, who became Metropolitan police commissioner in 2017.

The fatal shooting is the subject of a new four-part Disney+ drama starring Line of Duty’s Daniel Mays and Being Human’s Russell Tovey, airing on 30 April.

Speaking in London at a preview screening, De Menezes’s mother, Maria de Menezes, recalled the moment she learned of her son’s death nearly 20 years ago.

Read full article here >

Families of people who died in police custody lead the first People’s Tribunal

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 21:18:35 GMT

image credit: United Families & Friends www.uffcampaign.org

source: The Voice Online | published: 4 April 2025

Families of people who died in police custody in the United Kingdom held the first public People’s Tribunal on the 5th & 6th of April 2025 at Regent's University in Central London. The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings (PTPK) , is a collective of campaign groups of families whose loved ones have died in police custody.

The group is instigating the reopening of all of the several thousand deaths and initiating their reinvestigations. This international initiative with a 10-year plan of action is aiming to deliver the justice that every family affected by deaths in police custody has long campaigned for.

Last year, official statistics showed that the UK saw the highest number of deaths in or following police custody for 17 years.

The latest annual data from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) covering 2023/4 shows 24 deaths in or following police custody in England and Wales .

One long-term goal is to develop a global movement of people’s tribunals.

Last year, official statistics showed that the UK saw the highest number of deaths in or following police custody for 17 years.

Read full article / see videos >

6 April 2025

The People's Tribunal on Police Killings - Day 1 (film: 7.5hours)s

5 April 2025

The total of self-inflicted deaths under IPP reaches ninety-four

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 20:57:53 GMT

image credit: Ron Lach at www.Pexels.com

source: Inside Time | published: 27 March 2025

Four more prisoners serving Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences have taken their own lives, taking the total number to 94. Another 37 released IPPs took their own lives in the five years to April 2024, according to Government figures, as many struggle with the strict licence conditions.

On 9 February 2024 a prisoner serving an IPP sentence died at HMP Warren Hill in Suffolk. Another self-inflicted death took place at high-security HMP Frankland in Durham the following month. On 29 June, a man under an IPP sentence died at HMP Swaleside, and a fourth self-inflicted death was recorded on 29 October at HMP Wymott. Nine took their own lives in 2023, the highest annual total on record.

The architect of the sentence, David Blunkett, described the latest loss of life as a “terrible tragedy” which should focus minds on action to help IPP prisoners. He admits he regrets introducing the open-ended jail terms when he was home secretary in 2005. They were abolished in 2012 due to human rights concerns, but not retrospectively, leaving thousands without release dates, including for minor crimes, until the Parole Board says they are safe for release.

Successive governments have refused to re-sentence IPP prisoners, despite calls from the all-party Justice Select Committee UN special rapporteur on torture, amid high rates of suicide and self-harm.

Labour peer Lord Woodley, whose private member’s bill for IPP prisoners to be re-sentenced will not succeed without government support, said: “Ministers accept the importance of resolving the IPP scandal but there is still a lack of bravery and common decency, with the government refusing to consider a re-sentencing exercise – widely seen as the only effective way to resolve this industrial-scale miscarriage of justice.”

Read full article >

The role of Black-led organisations in supporting Black mental health

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 20:44:45 GMT

image credit: Unsplash from www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: Taylor & Francis | first published: 9 January 2025

The objective of this Black emancipatory action research project was to explore the role of Black-led community organisations in supporting Black mental health and wellbeing in the UK.

The framework application involved adequately compensating community organisations for their consultancy role; having ‘research conversations’ rather than interviewing participants; and focusing outputs on community benefit.

Eight individual and group research conversations took place with nine Black directors, employees and volunteers working with Black-led community organisations, aged between 19 and 62, living in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse conversations .

Conclusions

Black-led organisations play multiple roles in supporting individual and collective mental health, crucial for mediating the effects of racism and mitigating ethnic inequalities.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to both illuminate the critical role of community organisations in promoting Black mental health in the UK and to prioritise participant, and community, benefit throughout the research process.

Black mental health inequalities

In the United Kingdom (UK), people from Black communities have a higher prevalence of mental health conditions including depression, panic disorder and psychosis.

Higher rates of schizophrenia and suicide are found in Black Caribbean and African communities compared with South Asian, Chinese and white communities.

Despite worse mental health outcomes, evidence suggests that Black people are less likely to report or seek help for mental health conditions and when they do, are less likely to have their mental health conditions detected by health care professionals.

Black communities report experiencing racist mistreatment by mental health services. This leads to expectation of racist treatment, discourages early access, and leads to the perpetuation of mental health inequalities.

Read full article here >

NMPMFF's Two-Way Give-Back shop now available to all visitors

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 13:49:20 GMT

image credit: mohamedhassan from www.FreeRangeStock.com

provided by: Tippa Naphtali | republished: 16 March 2025

We have made changes to the ‘Two-Way Give-Back Shop’ ( first launched in August 2021 ) with support from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC).

Our ‘Two-Way Give-Back’ programme block-purchases or is donated selected services and products from third party community-based and ethical traders, and offer them at discounted prices to our website visitors. All proceeds support our work and grant programmes.

Visit the shop to access products here: www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/give-back-shop

The Service or Product Providers:

Vendors get an optional listing on our ‘Two-Way Give-Back’ shop page with a brief summary and link to their web-page/online resource
The optional listing is available at a fixed monthly fee of £9.50, or a fixed annual fee of £96.00. Other terms may be negotiable
Vendors listings will be seen by 100’s of visitors to our website, and any of our current offers are also frequently communicated to our members and stakeholders via e-news and social media postings
Vendors listed would also qualify to secure stalls/stands at our public events either FREE or at a reduced rate

Purchasing products or services:

Purchase any general or ON SALE items.

After your purchase we'll advise the vendor(s) to issue the goods or services direct!

You may order any number of on-sale items that are listed.

Note: Registered families may qualify for assistance towards the cost of goods in the shop, and just need to contact us by email in the first instance. We'll contact you to confirm a few details, and then consider what support (if any) can be offered!

Read the full programme page and vendor registration >

Announcement of The PTPK’s first session on 5-6 April 2025

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 11:41:29 GMT

image credit: United Families & Friends www.uffcampaign.org

all credits: The PTPK | republished: 16 February 2025

The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings has emerged as a radical grassroots initiative led by families of those killed by the police in the UK. With more than 3000 deaths at the hands of the police. Over the past 50 years there have only been 4 successful prosecutions that led to police officers being convicted and going to prison. This figure of ‘success’ is one of the lowest in the world. ( See full flyer here )

The disproportionate number of Black people killed represents the depth of racism that is ingrained in the police forces of the UK. Policing structures are corrupt and must be abolished. ( see full statement here )

The rate of police killings has been increasing over the decades. Police violence is going up but the prospect of justice is going down. Anyone who believes that the situation is improving, or that tweaks to the system will prevent further deaths, is delusional.

The failure to prosecute successfully has led to the formation of the PTPK supported by the United Families & Friends Campaign, Migrant Media, Black Lives Matter and 4WardEverUK. Its aim is to radically challenge the existing structures and the ongoing collusion that had led to this failure of justice. The PTPK is led by families and friends of those killed by the police and volunteer investigators who do not have faith that the system will ever deliver justice.

We are instigating the reopening of all of the several thousand deaths and initiating their reinvestigations. These investigations will be led by lawyers from outside the UK supported by an international team of activists and academics.

These will lead to other actions.

Read full article >

If you have queries please contact tribunalpeoples@gmail.com

All communications are held in strict confidence.

BOOKINGS

Affected families and guests are pre-booked.

See public bookings here:

www.eventbrite.com/e/the-peoples-tribunal-tickets-1250522579699?aff=oddtdtcreator

The CPS announces updates in custody deaths legal guidance

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:08:18 GMT

image credit: INQUEST

source: Crown Prosecution Service | published: 31 January 2025

Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "Criminal prosecutions brought against police officers for actions taken in the course of their duties are extremely rare and these decisions are only made after careful consideration of all the relevant evidence and circumstances."

[He went on to say] "It is crucial that police officers are able to use their powers with legal certainty and clarity, always balanced with the public’s need to see the highest levels of scrutiny and accountability .

"At the request of the Attorney General, and to ensure the public can have confidence in the way the CPS reaches its decisions, I have now reviewed our relevant legal guidance in this area and made changes where relevant within the law.

“It is important to ensure the independence and quality of CPS guidance and decision making provides assurance both to police officers and the public in these complex cases which have profound implications for all those affected by them."

The changes also give some further clarity for the public and police on considerations prosecutors make with regards to police training.

As part of the review the CPS engaged with the National Police Chiefs Council, the Police Federation of England and Wales, the Police Superintendents’ Association, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, as well as other stakeholders.

Read the full article >

10 February 2025

Ministry of Justice: Safety in Custody Statistics

30 January 2025

The 'Black Voices on Policing Reports' have been published

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:01:47 GMT

image credit: Sourced by 4WardEverUK

source: Black Thrive Global CIC | published: February 2025

Black Thrive Global (BTG) has announced the official publication of 'Black Voices on Policing', a series of reports produced by Black Thrive Global in collaboration with Psi. The work was delivered to the Mayor’s Office in the fourth Quarter of 2023 and has now been officially published this month.

This body of work gathers the experiences and ideas of London’s diverse Black communities on how to build a credible, representative, and impactful model of community-led scrutiny of policing. It represents a valuable contribution to the evidence base that has led to a Mayoral commitment to build a new model for police scrutiny, one that makes it easier for all Londoners to scrutinise police work and influence change .

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, emphasised the importance of this work:

" This is an important body of work that represents a valuable contribution to the wider evidence base that has led to a Mayoral commitment to build a new model for police scrutiny... The Commissioner, the Mayor, and I remain more committed than ever to implementing a robust and transparent framework of community police scrutiny that is truly representative of London."

A summary of Black Thrive Global:

Since 2016 Black Thrive in Lambeth has been working with statutory and community partners to address the inequalities that Black people face throughout their lives which negatively impact their mental health and wellbeing, experiences, and outcomes. Black Thrive Global evolved from the work of Black Thrive Lambeth.

It was founded upon the common understanding that wherever Black people of African and Caribbean descent are located, detrimental outcomes persist. We determined that focused Black Leadership which facilitates systems change will transform the Black experience from surviving into thriving. Read more here >

Fourth Round of the NMPMFF Holiday Scheme announced

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:26:02 GMT

image credit: stockimages at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: 4WardEverUK | published 1 February 2025

Round 4 award applications closed on 7 March 2025!

With thanks to a previous donation of £10,000 through Migrant Media / the Legacy Fund , the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund is poised to launch the 4th round of Holiday Scheme awards, supporting children, young people and families.

Families and campaigns will be able to apply to a designated fund which will:

Award fixed-amount grants for group outings/holidays and short breaks
Consider group applications made up of minimum pre-set number of adults and children/young people
Ensure applicant groups are not all from a single family/campaign
Encourage participation jointly with other families/campaigns in their region
Include NMPMFF Assessment Partners as eligible applicants

The fourth awards round has ringfenced a maximum of £3,500 consisting of average awards of up to £400 and one gold award of up to £1,000 towards the full cost of recreational events that meet a standard set of requirements.

When will this grant round take place?

This round will open on 20 February and close on 7 March 2025 .

Awards applications & information:

Round 4 applications close @ 10pm, 7 March 2025.

For enquiries please contact or admin team - enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us deliver one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Holiday Scheme Initiative summarised

Working closely with Family Contact Groups throughout the country, the NMPMFF would consider applications for a range of social activities that are requested, designed and delivered by the applicants in UK-wide localities.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Birmingham legends are to be honoured by city council

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:21:28 GMT

image credit: Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group

source: Birmingham City Council | published: 20 January 2025

Members of Black Sabbath are set to be given Freedom of the City and Benjamin Zephaniah posthumously awarded the City of Birmingham Medal.

A report is to go to city council on Tuesday 28 January recommending that each founding member of Black Sabbath become a Freeman of the City of Birmingham: Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Terence “Geezer” Butler and Bill Ward.

A separate report will go to the same meeting recommending the posthumous award of the City of Birmingham Medal to Benjamin Zephaniah. It recognises his ‘unique and distinguished contribution to the field of literature and for his charitable and community work’.

Benjamin Zephaniah was born in Handsworth and became a trail-blazing poet whose work was featured in the national curriculum. As well as his huge body of poetry he was a writer, musician and actor.

He published his first poetry collection, Pen Rhythm, in 1979. He started performing poetry at demonstrations and youth gatherings and his writing often responded direct to events. He was heavily influenced by Jamaican music and poetry and released a number of albums.

Read the full article >

'Long-awaited' day arrives with reform of controversial IPP sentences

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:18:14 GMT

image credit: Duda / Pexels

source: The Justice Gap | first p ublished: 23 November 2024

New provisions have come into force to end Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, described as the ‘single greatest stain on the criminal justice system’.

Almost 2,000 people serving controversial lifetime licenses will have their sentence terminated immediately. The measure applies to those who have been released for at least five years and who have been out on licence for two years.

The reforms were announced by the previous justice secretary, Alex Chalk, in an attempt to address the scandal of people languishing in jail indefinitely, despite in many cases not having committed serious offences.

IPP sentences were introduced in 2005 to keep offenders who were deemed dangerous detained beyond the end of their tariff (the minimum period they have to serve in prison). The sentence was abolished in 2012, but the abolition did not apply to those already serving it. As of July this year, 2,700 prisoners, 99% of whom are serving time beyond their initial tariff, remain on IPP sentences.

These new provisions were introduced by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and have come into force on 1st November, described as ‘a long-awaited day’ by the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Children serving the parallel Detention for Public Protection (DPP) sentences will also benefit from the new provisions. Children who have been released for four years and have been on licence for two years will have their sentences terminated immediately.

Read full article here >

Justice Secretary unveils plans to shut women’s prisons amid overcrowding crisis

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 00:16:40 GMT

image credit: Unsplash from www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: The Independent | originally published: 24 September 2024

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out plans to slash the number of women going to jail and ultimately close women’s prisons amid an overcrowding crisis . She unveiled a new body, the women’s justice board, which will have the “ultimate ambition of having fewer women’s prisons” – potentially allowing them to be converted to male or mixed jails.

The prison population in England and Wales hit a r ecord new high a fortnight ago , with 88,521 people behind bars – but there are just 3,440 women in jail.

More than half – 55 per cent – are victims of domestic abuse, while two-thirds have committed non-violent offences. Ministers want to improve services like community support and residential women’s centres to provide an alternative to prison .

It comes after the government said thousands of inmates would be freed early in a bid to ease overcrowding.

In her speech to the Labour conference in Liverpool, Ms Mahmood said that when she took over the ministerial role, the crisis had been just “one bad day from disaster”.

“Within minutes, I was told our justice system was on the point of collapse,” she said. “Within weeks, our prisons would overflow. Had that happened, the consequences would have been apocalyptic."

Read full article >

Support Us: Family Fund MemberBASE, donor & membership portal

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:16:52 GMT

image credit: 4WardEverUK www.4wardeveruk.org

republished: 3 January 2025

In 2023 The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) revamped our MemberBASE service which combines contributions to the Fund with a number of extra benefits utilising the Stripe payment platform . Your support is needed - please help!

Find out more about 'MemberBASE' and register here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donor-members

Want to give a one-off donation?

To donate via PayPal with debit or credit cards visit:

www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=H8XPYZ54HJ4HA

New MemberBASE subscriber's are also auto-added to our news and events platforms, but have the option to cancel these if they choose.

Benefits to our donors and supporters:

Supporters can become FREE members ( no donation required )
Secure personal account showing all their activities and donations in one place
Single or multiple donor options with no long-term commitment
Real flexibility to adjust their donations plan if needed

and much more to come...

Benefits to the Memorial Family Fund:

A further means of interaction with families affected by state custody deaths
Easier management & monitoring of donors activities all in one place
More precise and recorded data on donations to the Memorial Family Fund
Ability to engage with donors via multiple routes such as email and text
Reducing the workload of our staff and volunteers to aid more effective oversight
Single access point for our administrative team members

Important Notes: If existing donors choose to use our MemberBASE option they may want to cancel any current donations in PayPal to avoid duplication.

Our standard PayPal donation method will remain available until December 2024.

"We look forward to having you on board"

Please contact us if anything is unclear!

Read more details here >

Holiday Scheme funding round to be announced soon

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 12:58:19 GMT

image credit: www.pexels.com

source: 4WardEverUK | re published: 3 January 2025

The Holiday Scheme was made possible by a donation of £10,000 from Migrant Media (through the UFFC Legacy Fund ). The Memorial Family Fund will shortly announce the next round of grants supporting children, young people and families.

The Holiday Scheme application process has been made simpler for applicants, ( see the application process here ), meaning individual families can apply. Strict criteria will ensure that recently bereaved, children/young people and/or those affected by delayed or re-emerged trauma etc, receive priority considerations for any awards.

There are no expectations on applicants to provide formal feedback.

We will open the next Holiday Fund grants process (Round4) on 21 February 2025.

We will continue to administer the UFFC Legacy Fund (in partnership with Migrant Media) while resources are available.

Ken Fero of Migrant Media said;

"The public awareness and support after the killing of George Floyd had strengthened this initiative which goes directly to improve the lives of families impacted by state violence in

the UK. We support this important grassroots initiative and urge others to join.

When the state fails us, the people must act"

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us launch one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Family Fund Holiday Scheme Initiative

From July/August 2024 the NMPMFF has provided resourcing for respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays tailored for children, young people and families affected by custody deaths and killings.

Working closely with our Assessment Partners throughout the country, the NMPMFF will consider applications for a range of social activities that are requested by the applicants in UK-wide localities. Resources will be made available to successful applicants to help cover the costs of their respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays.

Some basic criteria and conditions would apply. Further updates to follow!

Preventable Deaths Tracker (learning to prevent future deaths)

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:37:47 GMT

image credit: Stuart Miles at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: Preventable Deaths Tracker | first published: June 2023

One in five deaths are preventable every year. But, less than 1% have a coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths report (PFD) written.

PFDs are written by coroners and sent to individuals or organisations that have the power to act. Those that receive PFDs must respond to the coroner within 56 days outlining actions taken, proposed or provide an explanation for inaction.

However, there is no mechanism to ensure that responses are received, actions are taken, and lessons are learnt to prevent future deaths.

The Preventable Deaths Tracker is trying to change this .

See the database here >

The team

This project was founded by Dr Georgia Richards in 2020 with support from a team of academics, clinicians and coroners from the University of Oxford, the University of Birmingham, and London.

The team has been undertaken research on coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths reports (PFDs) and acted as expert witnesses in coronial courts and other legal cases related to PFDs for decades .

Preventable Deaths Tracker's work

"Our work spans three areas, including 1) research, 2) education, and 3) communication.

"We design studies to answer important questions for public health and safety. We write scientific reports and academic publications, with more than 20 published to date.

"We conduct training for users of the Preventable Deaths Database, the writing of PFDs, and advise on digital processes to improve the PFD system."

Read full article >

NMPMFF presents its Annual Report for the period 2022-2023

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:04:44 GMT

image credit: 4WardEverUK www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | republished: 29 December 2024

We were proud to present our second full annual report of our activities between 2022 and 2023. The 1 September 2023 marked 8 years since the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) was founded, and just over 3 years since our first ever funding round .

NMPMFF Founder, Tippa Naphtali, said; "As is the case for many small charities and community organisations, the last year has put up almost as many challenges as it has seen in positive developments and ventures for the NMPMFF.

“This report will cover the most significant of the positive, whilst also being realistic about some of the challenges and hurdles ahead.”

The Fund is the first national resource of its kind for those affected by deaths and abuses in state custody, making small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the UK to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or assist them to engage in local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

In April 2021 we announced ambitious plans for the future . This report provides details of what the Fund was able to achieve with the grant aid, donations and voluntary input we have received, as well as several significant developments over the past year, and our continued work against our 5-year plan and other developments including;

Core and project funding and donations that were raised
Our mix of income generation and appeals for new donors to support our work
Update on the Annual Gala Dinner & Awards initiative
Our assistance to The People's Tribunal on Police Killings in delivering a national call out for involvement to any families whose loved ones have died at the hands of the police or after contact with the police
A feature on our event first family fun day event which took place in Manchester on 27 May 2023 and was a free family only entertainment, socialising and pampering event for those affected by deaths in custody
The 2022 launch of the NMPMFF Holiday Scheme Initiative supporting children, young people and families, with assistance from the United Families & Friends Campaign(UFFC) and Migrant Media
Updates on grants and gift schemes awarded to affected families

The report also sets out our income & expenditure for 2022-2023, our forward thinking Work Plan and a summary of our partners, collaborators and donors.

The Fund has already made a practical difference to numerous families and their campaign groups that need financial and wellbeing support during their long struggles for justice lasting decades in many cases.

It is our absolute and undivided commitment that this work should be continued indefinitely, and will maintain our momentum in this respect.

Download the Annual Report here >

1st Commemoration Event: We Remember Benjamin Zephaniah

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:39:48 GMT

image credit: Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group

source: BZFL Group | first published: 2 November 2024

On December 7, 2024, led by Benjamin’s family and supported by the Memorial Family Fund, the heart of Newham and the literary world will unite in a powerful celebration of the life and legacy of the iconic poet, writer, and activist Benjamin Zephaniah, commemorating one year since his untimely passing.

We Remember Benjamin Zephaniah; 1958 to 2023, to be held at The Arts Venue in Stratford, East Lond, marks the first anniversary of Zephaniah’s death and will honour his extraordinary work and enduring legacy in the world of poetry, activism, education and social justice.

Some Background:

Affectionately dubbed the ‘Bard of Stratford’, Zephaniah’s connection to Newham began in the late 70’s and early 80’s when he moved to the borough at the age of twenty-two and immersed himself in various community and social justice initiatives, including housing and food co-operatives.

He was a Patron of the Newham Monitoring Project, Discover Children’s Story Centre, and Hibiscus Caribbean Elderly Association, and regularly taught at the Newham Black Performing and Visual Arts Workshop.

This special tribute event will feature readings of Zephaniah’s poems by renowned figures such as poet and children’s author Michael Rosen, and other influential artists, writers, musicians, such as Levi Tafari, The Riddim Squad and Zita Holbourne, as well as public figures, who will also share their reflections on his influence.

There will also be an exhibition celebrating Zephaniah’s role as a pioneer in Black British culture and his contributions to human rights advocacy, alongside a range of stalls from community organisations and enterprises.

Event Details:

Date: December 7, 2024

Location: The Arts Venue, Stratford Youth Zone, Theatre Square, London, E15 1BX

Start and Finish: 3pm to 9pm (two parts – exhibition/interaction (daytime) + performances/speakers (evening)

See full booking details here >

See full Press Release – For further information, interviews with family, artists, and performers, or to request press accreditation, please contact UEL Senior Corporate Communications Manager Lucia Blash at l.blash@uel.ac.uk

Services mark 50th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 00:51:01 GMT

image credit: Birmingham Irish Association and Chris Egan: www.birish.org.uk

source: 4WardEverUK | originally published: 15 November 2024

Memorial services were planned and held to mark the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings, in which 21 people died.

The bombs were detonated in the Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town on New Street on the evening of 21 November 1974. An inquest in 2019 heard 220 people were injured in the attacks, but the perpetrators have never faced justice.

The main memorial service was held next to New Street at on 21 November, with a later service at St Phillip's Cathedral, Birmingham.

What happened during the memorial services?

Those attending the first service gathered at the tree sculpture memorial to the victims just outside New Street Station.

Pupils from Bishop Challoner Catholic College performed a song that they had prepared for the proceedings .

The Birmingham Irish Association also invited everyone to pause for a minute at 2pm to remember the dead.

The later service at the cathedral was open to all and featured prayers and hymns, led by the Bishop and Archbishop of Birmingham.

It was also streamed online , and on a screen outside.

The ceremonies were also attended by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh, and attendee’s heard a message from the King.

On the 21 November 1974, 21 people lost their lives in the city and 182 were injured. Countless others suffered and communities, lives and friendships were destroyed due to this horrific incident and its long reaching affects.

Other News:

Post Event: Report on the Birmingham Pub Bombings 50th Memorial Service 2024

22 November 2024

BBC Local launches new podcast on the Birmingham Pub Bombings

1 November 2024

Birmingham pub bombing updates from Birmingham Irish Association

Various dates (archived)

IRIE-ISH : A community tribute and memorial to Dr Benjamin Zephaniah

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:26:42 GMT

image credit: Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group

source: BZFL Group | first published: 14 October 2024

This event was organised in association with the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group , Melika Queely (local classical artist), The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund and Birmingham Irish Association .

All the performers were multicultural young people from Birmingham who wanted to show their appreciation of Dr Benjamin Zephaniah through music. poetry and dance. There was also an Auction Raffle of unique hand-made Zephaniah canvas murals to raise funds for the Acorns Children’s Hospice appeal.

The event format included:

Performances from Melika Queely and young people from African/Caribbean and Irish communities
Speakers from the family of Benjamin Zephaniah and others
Presentation from Acorns Children’s Hospice
Donations to Acorns were actively encouraged

If you already have an event scheduled, let us know here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/submit-event-zephaniah

This was a multicultural (child-friendly) tribute and memorial event for a giant of our times.’ See the event flyer here

Donations were raised for Acorns Children’s Hospice ( see their 'thank you' letter here )

National Memorial Holiday Fund grants round three funding summary

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 20:39:18 GMT

image credit: Pexels/Duda www.pexels.com

source: Memorial Family Fund | published: 29 September 2024

The third National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Holiday Grants round closed on 7 September 2024. This also followed recent changes that were made to simplify the application process.

We successfully allocated £3,050.00 in grants to 10 families/campaigns/family members in this round. This takes the total awards over the life of the Holiday Fund to £4,050.00.

Recipients of grants included:

We are very proud to have been able to support the families and campaigns representing those listed below, and are grateful to our staff, volunteers, and donors that made it all possible:

Anonymous Family
Chris Kaba
Mzee Mohammed
Jason Pulman
Shey Balogun
Jason McPherson
Jermain Baker
Jamie Cole
Jamie Andrews
Azroy Dawes-Clarke

The NMPMFF Support & Engagement Coordinator, Tiphany Springer said;

"The Holiday Fund scheme was a real success and we're glad to be able to support these families. I hope all the families who received a Holiday Grant are able to get some much needed rest."

Previous Round Two Holiday Fund Grant

We provided significant support to Kebba Dobo Jobe’s family for a wellbeing holiday and estranged family visit to Gambia of 13 family members in early 2024.

The United Families & Friends Campaign's Legacy Fund also contributed to the total grant that was awarded.

Facebook dedication from Kebba's family

NMPMFF founder, Tippa Naphtali, said;

"See this beautiful dedication to Kebba Dobo Jobe, another fatality at the hands of the police state in 2004. We were so pleased to support their reunion and holiday to Gambia. This is why we do what we do... Onward"

Please see our 'Grants Awarded' page for details of some of the recipients:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/grants-awarded

Also see our 'Family Album' page for more featured images:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/family-album

Brixton prison ‘failing’ as inspection reveals overcrowding and drug abuse

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 19:19:15 GMT

image credit: Donald Tong at www.Pexels.com

source: The Justice Gap | published: 24 September 2024

In the most crowded category C prison in the country men are turning to drugs because they have ‘nothing constructive to do’.

In a response to the latest inspection of Brixton Prison, prison reform charity the Howard League have criticised the prison for locking men up "for hours on end’ in ‘dirty overcrowded cells’. Andrea Coomber, head of the charity, said: ‘If someone is sent to prison, we should do all that we can to support them to move on from crime and live healthily.

"Brixton is doing the opposite, with hundreds of men locked up for hours on end in dirty, overcrowded cells and turning to drugs when they should be getting training and employment."

In an inspection report released today, His Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons (HMIP) revealed despite holding men convicted of sexual offences, Brixton prison is failing to prepare prisoners for their release back into the community. It said there were no accredited offender behaviour programmes and this ‘hampered work to reduce risk’.

At the time of the inspection the employment hub and employment advisory board were closed, so no prisoners were being offered work placements, and none were being released on temporary license.

The overcrowding in Brixton means as many as 66% of prisoners share a cell designed for one person, and many were only allowed out of these cells for 45 minuted a day to shower and go outside.

Read full article >

Justice secretary unveils plans to shut women’s prisons amid overcrowding crisis

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 19:05:31 GMT

image credit: Pexels/Duda www.pexels.com

source: The Independent | published: 24 September 2024

Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out plans to slash the number of women going to jail and ultimately close women’s prisons amid an overcrowding crisis . She unveiled a new body, the women’s justice board, which will have the “ultimate ambition of having fewer women’s prisons” – potentially allowing them to be converted to male or mixed jails.

The prison population in England and Wales hit a record new high a fortnight ago, with 88,521 people behind bars – but there are just 3,440 women in jail.

It comes after the government said thousands of inmates would be freed early in a bid to ease overcrowding.

In her speech to the Labour conference in Liverpool, Ms Mahmood said that when she took over the ministerial role, the crisis had been just “one bad day from disaster” .

“Within minutes, I was told our justice system was on the point of collapse,” she said. "Within weeks, our prisons would overflow. Had that happened, the consequences would have been apocalyptic."

Read full article >

Remembrance & Memorials : Mikey Lloyd Powell, 21 years on

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:23:57 GMT

image credit: Friends of Mikey Powell

source: National Family Fund | published: 15 September 2023

Mikey’s cousin and prominent activist and social justice campaigner, Tippa Naphtali , previously wrote the following moving article to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his September 2003 custody death - it remains relevant today:

"It was a lazy Sunday morning of 7th September 2003 when I received the devastating news from my sister that my cousin, Michael Lloyd Powell (known as Mikey), had died during a violent restraint by West Midlands police officers. This news was to mark the start of a 15-year journey that would have a significant impact on my life to this day.

"Mikey was a hard-working and loving father of three boys, and was well-known and respected in the local community. He was experiencing a severe psychotic episode when police officers were called by my distraught aunt, Clarissa Powell .

"After a brief verbal altercation, the attending officers drove a police car at Mikey knocking him down, then beat him with batons, CS gassed him, and violently restrained him. Knowing he was injured, they drove him to a police station not a hospital. He died of asphyxiation after been restrained face down on the floor of the police van."

When two worlds collide

"I had worked in the fields of mental health and police consultation in London for many years prior to my cousins’ death, and these collided tragically in September 2003.

"Such was the impact of his death, I made the decision to move back to my home town of Birmingham after 28 years living and working in London; so that I could be at the forefront of my family’s fight for justice, as well as to ensure changes were implemented in both policing and mental health practice. I was determined that Mikey’s life and death would be remembered with a lasting legacy."

Read the full article here >

For 2024 and beyond, Tippa said;

"While we will never forget what happened on the night of Mikey's killing, it is his life and how he lived it, that will continue to inspire us to develop mental health and wellbeing initiatives, and continue to fight for an end to deaths, killings and abuse at the hands of the state."

4WardEverUK, the first organisation set up in remembrance of Mikey, has a mission inspired by Kwame Nkrumah's words - which we wholeheartedly support;

“We face neither East nor West; We face forward. All men of goodwill, organize, organize, organize. We prefer self-government in danger, to servitude in tranquility. Forward ever, backward never”

NHS 111 offering crisis mental health support for the first time

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:21:52 GMT

image credit: Unsplash from www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: NHS England | published: 27 August 2024

Millions of patients experiencing a mental health crisis can now benefit from support through 111 , the NHS has announced today.

The change means the NHS in England is one of the first countries in the world to offer access to a 24/7 full package of mental health crisis support through one single phone line.

People of all ages, including children, who are in crisis or concerned family and loved ones can now call 111, select the mental health option and speak to a trained mental health professional.

NHS staff can guide callers with next steps such as organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternatives services, such as crisis cafés or safe havens which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to A&E or a hospital admission.

Previously, local health systems had their own separate phone lines, which were fast-tracked during the pandemic and took around 200,000 calls per month.

For people who need support at A&E, if there is a risk to life, every emergency department in England now also has a liaison psychiatric team available to offer specialist care.

NHS Talking Therapy Services are also available for people who need help with other mental conditions such as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and PTSD and anyone can refer themselves online via NHS.uk or by contacting their GP .

Read the full article >

Can you donate goods or services to our Two-Way Give-Back shop?

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:13:50 GMT

image credit: mohamedhassan from www.FreeRangeStock.com

provided by: Tippa Naphtali | re published: 15 September 2024

The 'Two-Way Give-Back-Shop' was launched in August 2021 with support from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC). Products or services in our shop are offered to affected families at heavily discounted prices.

We need your help to expand the goods and services on offer to affected families!

We'll purchase goods where possible, or you can donate them:

The guidelines for purchased goods are set out on the main page here .
Details on how to donate goods or services are set out on the donors page here .

Families can visit the shop to

access our products here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/give-back-shop

Families claim products or services:

Once purchased families are put in touch with the vendors direct (where applicable) to claim their purchased products or services. See vendors expression of interest page >

Note: Families will be provided with a unique reference code to redeem a voucher from our service vendors and product providers… It’s simple!

Not only is this an easy way for our registered family applicant members to find interesting, ethical and grassroots products & services all in one place, but they will also be able to find practical items such as web design, t-shirt printing, leaflet & logo design, greeting cards, mental health and other training, clothing & accessories.

See general grants awarded by the Fund here >

The Edge Fund: Round 16 grants are due to open in August 2024

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:50:50 GMT

image credit: Serge Bertasius Photography at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: The Edge Fund | published: July 2024

The Edge Fund has announced that its 16th funding round is to open in August 2024. Here you can find the answers to questions that are frequently asked about their application process.

They will award 40 grants of £1,000 to groups in the UK and Ireland.

The application form will be available on their website from 12 August to 13 September.

WHAT THE FUND WILL SUPPORT?

Applications with a primary objective of creating long-term change in society by addressing the causes of injustice and inequality
Groups addressing issues that face a particular community that are led by that community
Groups that struggle to get funding elsewhere, particularly if other funders might consider them to be "too radical."
All types of non-profit organisations, including groups that are not formally registered.

The d ecision making process:

Funding decisions are made collectively by Edge Fund members, who cover a broad range of issues and communities and income levels.

Through members’ meetings they discuss next steps, any issues that have arisen and decisions that need to be made, and as a group decide how to move forward.

Decisions are made by consensus whenever possible, or otherwise by majority vote. Some discussions take place by email or over Zoom. They also have a Core Group of around 5-10 members who do the background work before meetings, to prepare proposals for members to discuss.

See the original web page >

NMPMFF have made significant operational and grant structure changes

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 12:02:20 GMT

image credit: Jack Moreh at www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: Memorial Family Fund | published: 3 July 2024

In our previous report we outlined why the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) would be making some significant changes to our grant making and administrative systems in 2024.

Some reasons for the change relate to significant drops in donor income in recent years, meaning that we needed to manage our limited finance resources very carefully, as well as overhaul our administration systems that were previously time-intensive and thereby prolonged the application process for all parties.

We will be discontinuing the Family Support Fund for the foreseeable future, and encouraging families to make more use of our low-cost online Give-Back Shop for more generalised items (such as t-shirts, campaign banners, online communications, training and other services).

The Crisis Family Fund will now be our principal grant programme.

Strict criteria will ensure that only those in genuine urgent need receive awards. The process will remain simple, with a quick turnaround. Administration for NMPMFF teams and Assessment Partners is minimal and there are no expectations on applicants to provide formal feedback.

The Holiday Awards Fund application process has been made simpler for applicants, meaning individual families can apply ( see previous process here ) . Strict criteria will ensure that the recently bereaved, children/young people affected by delayed trauma, re-emerged trauma etc, receive priority. There are no rigid expectations to provide formal feedback.

Grants to be reopened:

We will be seeking to open the Crisis and Holiday Fund grants in August 2024, and also introducing our LIVE Q&A sessions online .

We will continue to administer the UFFC Legacy Fund (in partnership with Migrant Media ) while resources are available.

Assessment Partners:

We have streamlined our partner members and will be actively seeking to invite a range of new partners over coming months.

The Assessment Partner support and promotions structure is crucial to the effective working of our grant programmes and other services .

General Enquiries:

Tippa Naphtali, (Development & Programmes Manager) via tippa@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Tiphany Springer, (Engagement & Support Coordinator) via tiphany@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Please Note: We are a very small part-time team so responses may sometimes be delayed!

The NMPMFF Crisis Family Fund is set to reopen in August

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 01:08:36 GMT

image credit: Friends of Mikey Powell www.mikeypowell-campaign.org.uk

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 2 July 2024

The National Memorial Family Fund first launched the Crisis Family Fund in March 2021 in partnership with the United Families & Friends Campaign ( UFFC ).

The Crisis Family Fund will always be open to applications for urgent needs ONLY of affected families (dependent on available resources). This Fund reopens on 1 August 2024.

Important Note: Priority will be given to applications from families that have been recently bereaved or those facing renewed or delayed trauma).

Grants will generally be between £50 to a maximum of £250. Some grants awarded may be less (or more) than the amount requested. Family Fund Assessment Partners will largely drive the application process, with quick decisions made by our team.

Families receiving a Crisis Fund grant will not be required to submit any feedback (as is the case with the general Family Support Fund grant rounds).

The Process:

The first stage of the current process ( registration ) and grant limits will still apply, but from that point forward there is a simple endorsement that Assessment Partners will submit to the Memorial Family Fund - and that's it!

View or download the full guidance here >

Further details about our funding programmes : Click here >

See the National Family Album : Take a look here >

Update on NMPMFF operational and grant structures in 2024

Sun, 26 May 2024 12:36:25 GMT

image credit: Jack Moreh at www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: Memorial Family Fund | published: 26 May 2024

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) will be making some significant changes to our grant making and administrative systems in 2024, and will be making formal announcements in June/July.

The main reasons for this are as follows:

Having seen a very significant drop in donor income over recent years means that we have to manage our limited finance resources very carefully.

The current administration systems are time-intensive and can complicate and prolong the application process for all parties.

We want to focus our awards more prominently on affected families that are in critical and urgent need, with a quick and stress-free turnaround.

Families or campaigns that require support with more generalised or functional resources (e.g. IT hardware or stationary, t-shirt print and marketing, websites and social media etc) will be encouraged to use our low-priced online Give-Back Shop .

Finally, our Holiday Fund application process will be made much more streamlined and easier for eligible families to apply.

The NMPMFF will also be reviewing our Assessment Partners structure.

Application Assessment Partners are based in various locations around the UK and support applicants, make requests for the consideration of grants and encourage applicants’ feedback. They also help to promote and publicize the work of the NMPMFF.

We will be actively seeking to renew/refresh the commitment of current Assessment Partners, as well as inviting a range of new partners to participate.

The Assessment Partner support and promotions structure is crucial to the effective working of our grant programmes and other services .

General Enquiries:

Tippa Naphtali, (Development & Programmes Manager) via tippa@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Tiphany Springer, (Engagement & Support Coordinator) via tiphany@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Please Note: We are a very small part-time team so responses may sometimes be delayed!

Holiday Scheme Revamped: Plans to be announced soon

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:27:47 GMT

image credit: www.pexels.com

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 25 May 2024

With thanks to a previous donation of £10,000 from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media (through the Legacy Fund ) , the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) is poised to relaunch the Holiday Scheme Initiative in 2024 supporting children, young people and families.

The Holiday Scheme application process will be made simpler for applicants, ( see previous process here ). meaning individual families can apply. Strict criteria will ensure that recently bereaved, children/young people and/or those affected by delayed or re-emerged trauma etc, receive priority considerations for any awards.

There are no expectations on applicants to provide formal feedback.

We will be seeking to open the Holiday Fund grants process in July/August 2024, and also introducing our LIVE Q&A sessions online.

We will continue to administer the UFFC Legacy Fund (in partnership with Migrant Media) while resources are available.

Ken Fero of Migrant Media said;

"The public awareness and support after the killing of George Floyd had strengthened this initiative which goes directly to improve the lives of families impacted by state violence in

the UK. We support this important grassroots initiative and urge others to join.

When the state fails us, the people must act"

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us launch one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Family Fund Holiday Scheme Initiative

From July/August 2024 the NMPMFF will provide resourcing for respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays tailored for children, young people and families affected by custody deaths and killings. These may include river and coach tours, activity and theme parks, and self-catering breaks in some of the UK's areas of outstanding beauty.

Some basic criteria and conditions would apply. Further updates to follow!

Tina’s Haven: Catalyst for emancipatory practice for birthmothers affected by trauma-based addiction

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:29:24 GMT

image credit: Truth & Justice 4 Tina

source: Tina's Haven | first published: May 2024

"In Love and Anger" is a report of an action research-based study of the pioneering Tina’s Haven pilot project, delivered in East Durham during 2022 and 2023. Twenty-eight women in addiction recovery participated in the Tina’s Haven pilot project, the majority were birthmothers severed from their children. Full Report / Executive Summary

This study emerges within the context of:

Marginalised and vulnerable females in the North East being found 1.7 times as likely to die early than in England and Wales as a whole; and the average age at death falling by ten years, from 47 to 37.
Mortality rates from drug poisoning decreasing for males and increasing for females in 2022; and drug related deaths in the North East being consistently the highest of any English region for ten consecutive years.
The North East, having the highest number of children in the care system, 113 per 10K; 1.6 times the national average.

The study shines a light on the plight of birthmothers severed from their children by addiction as a result of: VAWG, early trauma, exclusion from their families and communities, being marginalised and stigmatised by state services; and further harmed from involvement with legal institutions that are known to blame and punish women for the abuse they have been subjected to.

The intention of the Tina’s Haven project is to develop a transferable model of holistic and emancipatory praxis, that will bring about self-empowerment and solidarity among birthmothers severed from their children by trauma-based addiction.

Read full article here >

The People's Tribunal on Police Killings callout to families

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:25:56 GMT

image credit: United Families & Friends www.uffcampaign.org

all credits: The PTPK | first published: 19 April 2024

The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings are making a national call out to any families whose loved ones have died at the hands of the police or after contact with the police.

The Tribunal has been established to unify the struggles taking place, create a platform for justice and take direct action.

For more information visit www.peoples-tribunal.org/about

In the last year the PTPK has:

Engaged a team of 15 volunteers from activist, academic and media backgrounds who have been investigating a number of cases and gathering the documentation that will be presented to the Tribunal Panel
Engaged with Expert Witnesses who will support the families
Forensically examined a number of killings by the police who were killed through use of violence as well as other factors
Commenced preparation for the Tribunal scheduled for the end of 2024
Commenced preparation for the long term actions that will take place to follow the Tribunal

The PTPK is run by families for families, and we are reaching out to any families that want to get involved in the Tribunal as it moves into the next stage either as a participant, organiser or supporter.

If you are interested please contact tribunalpeoples@gmail.com

All communications are held in strict confidence.

Disputed terms ‘deflects attention’ in deaths following police restraint

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 00:34:59 GMT

image credit: INQUEST

source: The Justice Gap | published: 19 March 2024

A recent investigation by the Observer has revealed widespread use of disputed medical terms, ‘Acute Behavioural Disturbance’ (ABD) and ‘Excited Delirium,’ in explaining deaths following police restraint incidents in the UK.

Further concerns have been raised about the disproportionate application of these terms to black individuals, exacerbating existing inequalities in the use of coercive measures .

Despite being rooted in pseudoscience and rejected by medical experts, these terms continue to be employed by authorities, raising concerns among campaigners who argue they perpetuate racial stereotypes and obscure police accountability.

ABD and excited delirium are often used interchangeably to describe individuals exhibiting agitation or bizarre behaviour, often attributed to mental illness or drug use. Symptoms include insensitivity to pain, aggression, and elevated heart rate.

While authorities claim these terms aid in identifying individuals in need of medical assistance, critics argue they serve to deflect attention from police actions and responsibilities in restraint-related deaths.

Read the full article >

12 March 2022

Excited delirium: valid clinical diagnosis or medicalized racism?

6 April 2021

Forensic Science Regulator: The use of ‘excited delirium’ as a cause of death (PDF file)

Published in 2020

How “excited delirium” is misused to justify police brutality

10 August 2020

Excited delirium: Medical emergency – not willful resistance

10 July 2015

Justice Gap: New magazine sheds light on a broken justice system

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:32:32 GMT

image credit: Duda / Pexels

source: The Justice Gap | published: 12 April 2024

A new issue of the Justice Gap magazine PROOF is out on Monday shining a light on our broken criminal appeals system. PROOF issue 6 features a series of long read articles on a number of shocking and unresolved cases including the Birmingham Four, the Manchester 10, Oliver Campbell and Jason Moore.

The issue features an interview with Andrew Malkinson by the Guardian’s Emily Dugan. He talks about life since his conviction was quashed last summer. ‘It’s a tough time because there’s so much uncertainty,’ he said. ‘I’m living in a tent, I’m living on benefits. I want some resolution.’

The theme of the issue, sponsored by the Future Justice Project , is ‘The Other Ones’ – a reference of the T-shirt worn by Malkinson as he stepped outside the Royal Courts of Justice as a newly exonerated man. It read: ‘Innocent and not the only one.’

The issue features contributions from leading journalists including David Jessel, the former presenter of the BBC’s Rough Justice, as well as academics, activists and lawyers. Winston Trew of the Oval Four – who had his conviction overturned in 2019 – writes about the racist police officer who fitted him up more than 50 years ago.

PROOF #6 focuses on racism in the justice system – in particular, joint enterprise, the use of Drill music in our courts as evidence of gang membership as well as the racist origin story of majority verdicts.

Read the fill article here >

Netpol Protests Advisory: Get organised to defend dissent

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:28:20 GMT

image credit: Sourced by 4WardEverUK

source: Netpol | published: 2023

New sweeping anti-protest laws have come into force, through the Public Order Act (May 2023) and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (April 2022) . Many of the new powers are poorly defined, with the Home Secretary having powers to regulate the meaning of “serious disruption.” In practice, the police themselves will often be able to decide when and how to impose conditions, opening the door for widespread abuse.

This means that protesters, especially if they are near a business or a public building, may find themselves facing threats of arrest in circumstances that they have not previously encountered .

It’s vital that we resist these new police powers. Netpol will support grassroots groups as they face these new police powers, working to provide information and resources and looking for ways to challenge the policing of demonstrations in the courts and on the streets.

A last-minute concession offered by the government was for the Home Secretary to “prepare and publish a report” on the way new powers are used.

But with so much confusion from police, government and officials on how the new powers will be used, we need to build up our own body of evidence on the way police powers are misused and freedom of assembly rights are violated.

Know Your Rights for everyone!

New police powers were introduced primarily to disrupt and further criminalise campaigners who use direct action or civil disobedience tactics, which can mean something as simple as blocking a road.

This means groups who adopt these tactics need to ensure, before organising a protest, that they know what these changes to the law mean.

You may also want to arrange to have Legal Observers at your demonstration and have conversations in your group about what to do if someone is arrested.

Read full article >

We'll be reviewing our operational and grant structures in 2024

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 22:19:40 GMT

image credit: Jack Moreh at www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: Memorial Family Fund | published: 30 January 2024

In order to maximise how we use our limited financial and human resources, in 2024 we'll be introducing new systems in relation to our operations, grants and partnerships.

This will include making our support grants criteria much more focussed on those in most urgent need , and our Holiday Fund will be made more streamlined and easier for eligible families to apply.

Families or campaigns that require support with more functional resources (e.g. IT hardware or stationary, t-shirt print and marketing, websites and social media etc) will be encouraged to use our low-priced Give-Back-Shop .

We'll also be reviewing and extending our Assessment Partner relationships, and introducing quarterly live Q&A sessions for partners and families via Zoom.

Finally, we'll be seeking to increase our public donations , sponsorships and core funding for staffing and service developments , in order to ensure that the National Memorial Family Fund is secure well into the future.

General Enquiries:

Tippa Naphtali, (Development & Programmes Manager) via tippa@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Tiphany Springer, (Engagement & Support Coordinator) via tiphany@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Please Note: We are a very small part-time team so responses may sometimes be delayed!

Launch of the Benjamin Zephaniah Memorial Calendar

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:37:38 GMT

image credit: Firmbee at www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: Memorial Family Fund | published: 30 January 2024

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund have launched the Benjamin Zephaniah remembrance calendar on behalf of his family.

The calendar will be populated over coming weeks and months and will feature national events that were, or are due to be, held to remember Benjamin Zephaniah who sadly died on 7 December 2023 aged 65.

"The family actively encourage independent events as well as those they may collaborate with. Where possible, they would be happy to send along family representatives."

If you already have an event scheduled, let us know here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/submit-event-zephaniah

The people's poet, Benjamin Zephaniah

See the recent article from Benjamin's family on 4WardEverUK

View it here >

The family are meeting on 10th February to consider offers to host events that have come in from Birmingham, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham etc.

These offers range from local councils, individuals, businesses, charities, universities, schools and more! 'Keep an eye on our news for updates.'

Can you donate goods or services to our Give-Back shop?

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 21:35:38 GMT

image credit: mohamedhassan from www.FreeRangeStock.com

provided by: Tippa Naphtali | published: 30 January 2024

The Two-Way Give-Back-Shop’ was launched in August 2021 with support from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC). Products or services in our shop are offered to affected families at heavily discounted prices.

We need your help to expand the goods and services on offer to affected families!

We'll purchase your goods, or you can donate them:

The guidelines for purchased goods are set out on the main page here .
Details on how to donate goods or services are set out on the donors page here .

Families can visit the shop to

access our products here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/give-back-shop

Families claim products or services:

Once purchased families are put in touch with the vendors direct (where applicable) to claim their purchased products or services. See vendors expression of interest page >

Note: Families will be provided with a unique reference code to redeem a voucher from our service vendors and product providers… It’s simple!

See general grants awarded by the Fund here >

Report: Structural racism behind disproportionate Taser use

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:39:54 GMT

image source credit: Pexels/Duda

source: The Justice Gap | published: 15 December 2023

A new study by the College of Policing exposes racial disparities in the use of Tasers, caused not by individual officer bias, but structural and institutional racism.

The study highlights that black individuals are over four times more likely to be subjected to Taser use. Contrary to initial perceptions, the report suggests that individual officer decisions are not the leading cause of this racial disparity.

The report identifies key factors, emphasizing how and where officers are deployed as crucial elements. Officers are more frequently dispatched to higher crime areas, characterized by acute poverty and larger ethnic minority populations, contributing to the disproportionate use of Tasers.

The Taser saw a significant increase in deployment, from just under 17,000 times in 2017-18 to 34,276 times by 2021-22. The number of officers equipped with Tasers has also risen.

Read full article here >

13 December 2023

Police more likely to Taser black people due to institutional racism, report finds

13 December 2023

IOPC report flags concerns about police use of Taser

25 August 2021

40-20-1 Event report: Celebration, Memorial and Gala Campaigner Awards 2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 23:31:17 GMT

image credit: Charmaine Burton

source: National Family Fund | published: 7 December 2023

Dedicated to Benjamin Zephaniah

This article is dedicated to Benjamin Zephaniah (cousin of Mikey Powell ), who died on 7 December 2023 aged 65. He died in the early hours of Thursday morning after being diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago. Read Guardian article here >

The first National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Annual Gala Dinner & Campaigners Awards for 2023 (in conjunction with INQUEST ) took place on 25 November 2023 at the Legacy Centre, Birmingham, and combined three significant events in-one.

The full pre-event article can be seen here >

The event was a huge success with over 150 people in attendance from locations all over

the country. These included affected families, campaigns, voluntary and statutory organisations, regulatory bodies and solicitors firms. See the event programme here >

Tippa Naphtali, NMPMFF founder and Development & Programmes Manager, said;

"While we will never forget what happened on the night of Mikey's killing, it is his life and how he lived it, that will continue to inspire us to develop mental health and wellbeing initiatives for those affected by state custody deaths and killings, and we will continue to work with others for an end to deaths, killings and abuse at the hands of the state.

"4WardEverUK, the first organisation that was set up in remembrance of Mikey, has adopted a mission that is inspired by Kwame Nkrumah's words - which we wholeheartedly support."

‘We face neither East nor West; We face forward. All men of goodwill, organize, organize, organize. We prefer self-government in danger, to servitude in tranquility. Forward ever, backward never.'

Images from the event;

Here are a selection of photos from the '40-20-1' event.

The full interactive and shareable gallery will be available in the new year.

'Their words tell the story'

"We have included the feedback below from families, campaign groups and organisations that were in attendance at 40-20-1:

INQUEST (support organisation)

"This weekend, it was an honour to work alongside the NMPMFF on the first awards ceremony recognising the vital work of bereaved families fighting for justice and change."

"The whole INQUEST team wanted to thank you for a great afternoon and evening on Saturday. It was wonderful to have so many families gathered together. The venue looked beautiful, the awards were lovely and the food delicious! Well done, it was evident that a lot of hard work went into it. It was moving to see the INQUEST banner up on stage with the Mikey Powell banner – it symbolised the legacy and connection of family campaigning."

Dr Jules Montague (event speaker)

"Thank you for inviting me Tippa. It was an absolute honour to be there. One of the most meaningful and stimulating events I've been to in a while, and one that I think will galvanise change. So glad you were able to recognise the hard work of so many on the night. Congratulations to you and the team for making it all happen."

Dr David Baker (event speaker)

"Thanks for putting on such an amazing and inspirational event."

Dr Adam Elliott-Cooper (event compere)

"It was a pleasure to be part of such an inspiring and historic event. Looking forward to many more in the future!"

Karen Clare (affected family member & award recipient)

"What an honour it was to collect The Mikey Powell Youth Action Award on behalf of Abigail's Army. I first connected with the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund three years ago, and its founder Tippa Naphtali, Tiphany and Jenine quickly became a huge support to me and Saturday was the first time we'd met.

"Many of you will remember the charity were the sole beneficiary of the monies raised at Abi's 30th Birthday event last year, so it was great to share such an amazing evening and to connect with so many families and other organisations."

Janet Butler (affected family member)

"Just to say, thank you Tippa and everyone at the Family Fund and 4WardEverUK for the amazing effort and hard work that created a top night - you should all be so proud."

Susan Alexander (affected family member)

"This was a well organised and well informed event with great people achieving great things. Forward Ever!"

Sonia Fereday (guest/attendee)

"It was such an honour to attend 40-20-1 the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund gala dinner and campaigners awards. Such a touching event full of beautiful people of strength, determination, courage and love.

"It was hard holding back tears listening to tributes and testimonies from families of loved ones taken. The unity and fight was throughout. Some amazing performances and lovely food. Was fab to meet and listen to the incredible Tenna Star thank you for your hospitality and thank you for the knowledge."

Taylor Rose MW Solicitors (sponsor)

"I wanted to thank you for a truly inspiring evening and event on Saturday. My colleague and I were humbled by the variety of activist and bereaved families who courageously continue to fight for justice."

Kids Of Colour (award recipients)

"This award is for all the incredible young people of Greater Manchester who we get the pleasure of working with, from youth sessions to advocacy, we hold so much love for each of you that we have met on this journey so far - thank you for trusting us."

JENGbA (award recipients)

"A big thank you to NMPMFF for honouring us with with beautiful award.

Last night we stood amongst giants."

The activists campaign awards went to 16 recipients in the following categories:

Mikey Powell Youth Action Award
Pauline Campbell Systems Change Award
Gilly Mundy Family Advocacy Award
Joy Gardner Arts & Education Award

See the full award list here >

See the National Memorial Family Fund's historic moments!

Read full details here >

Historic moments for the National Memorial Family Fund: 2018 to 2023/4

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 23:27:50 GMT

image credit: Rhiann Francis

source: 4WardEverUK | re published: December 2023

We want to share some of the historic and pivotal moments for the the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) over the last five years.

These mark some of our key milestones and developments over the period which demonstrates how we have progressed our mission .

Much research, as well as grassroots knowledge, has shown that people of African and Caribbean decent, die in disproportionate numbers in state institutions.

Below are a collection of articles published on this website ( showing the oldest first ) .

UFFC 20th Anniversary conference and rally (held October 2018)

2 November 2018

In 2018 we collaborated with the United Families & Friends Campaign to mark the 20th year of the annual rally and protest by also holding a conference on 26 October, followed by the rally on 27 October from Trafalgar Square to 10 Downing Street. Read more >

National Family Fund – Unprecedented donations in calls for justice

14 June 2020

Initially triggered by the brutal police killing of George Floyd, international protests and a Tweet from Oonagh Ryder (@oonskie) and subsequent follow-up Tweets by Lucy Brisbane McKay (@lucybrisbane) and others, we saw unprecedented donations to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund in May and June 2020. Read more >

National Mikey Powell Family Fund announce 1st funding round

14 June 2020

In June 2020 were extremely pleased to announce that after 5 years of fundraising, the first ever National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund round would open for applications. Read more >

The National Family Fund is formally incubated by Catalyst4Change

8 August 2020

We were pleased to announce that (with effect from 29 July 2020) the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund would be formally incubated by West Midlands based social enterprise Catalyst 4 Change, thereby taking on its legal identity but maintaining our operational independence. Read more >

UFFC Rally 2020 : Memorial family event takes place online

1 November 2020

In October 2020 we collaborated with the United Families and Friends Campaign to hold the annual protest & rally online due to Covid restrictions, with a powerful video tribute that remembered the victims and heard from some of the families affected. Read more >

Launch of the Two-Way Give-Back Programme

23 January 2021

In conjunction with 4WardEverUK our ‘Two-Way Give-Back’ programme will block-purchase selected services or products and offer them to affected families at discounted prices. When families use the service, vendors simply give a little back! Read more >

National Family Fund & UFFC to launch Crisis Family Fund

23 January 2021

The National Memorial Family Fund added a new funding stream called the Crisis Family Fund in March 2021 in partnership with the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC). Read more >

Looking Back : Moving Forward – National Family Fund event report

20 September 2021

This event took place on 10 September 2021 marking the 18th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell in West Midlands police custody, and celebrated 6 years of the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund developed by his cousin, Tippa Naphtali, in September 2015. Read more >

National Mikey Powell Family Fund & UFFC launch Legacy Fund

25 October 2021

The Legacy Fund was a new funding stream administered by the National Memorial Family Fund on behalf of the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media. Read more >

BLM UK announce funding for the National Memorial Family Fund

25 October 2021

Black Lives Matter UK agreed to the release of £40,000 in grant funding to the National Memorial Family Fund to further our Development Plan and appoint two new key part-time staff members (employed via accountable body, Catalyst4Change CIC). Read more >

INQUEST donates funding for the National Memorial Family Fund

11 November 2021

INQUEST donated £7,500 in grant funding to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund to further our development of the Annual Gala Dinner & Awards initiative. Read more >

NMPMFF presents its inaugural Annual Report for 2021-2022

1 October 2022

We were proud to present our first full annual report of our activities between 2021 and 2022. The 1 September 2022 marked 7 years since the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund was founded, and just over 2 years since our first ever funding round. Read more >

UFFC Legacy Fund support for the NMPMFF Holiday Scheme

1 October 2022

The United Families & Friends Campaign and Migrant Media donated £10,000 through the Legacy Fund in order to support the National Memorial Family Fund Holiday Scheme and respite initiative supporting children, young people and families. Read more >

Abigail's 30th Birthday Fundraiser raises over £2k for the Family Fund

3 February 2023

Everyone at the NMPMFF wholeheartedly thanked the family and also Doughty Street Chambers for this wonderful gesture and contribution to the Family Fund - this will very much help in our continued efforts to support affected families in the UK. Read more >

Families Matter : Caring Matters – event report & photo gallery

6 June 2023

This event took place in Manchester on 27 May 2023 and was a free family only entertainment, socialising pampering event for those affected by deaths in custody. It consisted of a 3-course meal and beverages, pamper zones, arts & wellbeing stalls, resident DJ and local performing artists. This event was essentially all about respite, entertainment, fun and pampering. Read more >

Two Decades On – A continued legacy in remembrance of Mikey Powell

29 August 2023

The 7th September 2023 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the brutal and needless death of father of three, Michael Lloyd Powell (commonly known as Mikey, and a cousin of the renowned poet and writer, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah) at the hands of West Midlands Police in Lozells, Birmingham. Mikey was experiencing a psychotic episode. Read more >

40-20-1 Event report: Celebration, Memorial and Gala Awards 2023

November 2023

The first National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Annual Gala Dinner & Campaigners Awards for 2023 (in conjunction with INQUEST) took place on 25 November 2023 at the Legacy Centre, Birmingham, and combined three significant events in-one. Read more >

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us .

About The Memorial Family Fund

Founder, Tippa Naphtali, said; "We are the only organisation nationally that occupies this space, and are therefore absolutely unique and bespoke".

The Fund is the first permanent national resource of its kind for those affected by deaths in custody, making small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the UK to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

Launch of the 'Unlawful Killing' INQUEST Podcast 2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 23:23:40 GMT

image credit: INQUEST

source: INQUEST | published: November 2023

Every year hundreds of people die preventable deaths at the hands of police, whilst in prison, or in the care of mental health services in the UK. Some of the names you’ll know. Most of them you won’t.

Bereaved families are left fighting for answers, demanding justice, and campaigning for change, in a system that is stacked against them.

Unlawful Killing is a unique new podcast series shining a light on state violence, death, grief and resistance.

Listen on Spotify here >

Listen on Apple here >

If you need support after listening to this podcast, see the INQUEST page on external sources of support .

If you are a bereaved family member and would like

support from INQUEST, see their help and advice pages

for more information.

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell . Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen . Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord . Music by Dave Okumu .

See full article here >

40-20-01: Celebration, Commemoration and Awards event announced

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:21:27 GMT

image credit: Friends of Mikey Powell

source: National Family Fund | published: 12 November 2023

The first National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Annual Gala Dinner & Campaigners Awards for 2023 (entitled 40-20-1) will take place on 25 November 2023 at the Legacy Centre, Birmingham , and combines three significant events in-one:

40 years celebration of INQUEST's services
20 years since Mikey Powell's death in custody
1st year of the Annual Activists Awards

About The NMPMFF:

On 7 September 2015, the twelfth anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell, who was killed in the custody of West Midlands Police, campaigning news group 4WardEverUK, launched the NMPMFF in collaboration with the Friends of Mikey Powell Campaign, United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media. Founders also acknowledged the late campaigner, Pauline Campbell.

It is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those affected by deaths and killings in custody or state neglect.

The NMPMFF make small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the UK to provide practical domestic assistance and campaign support, and also run (or are developing) a range of other support services for those that are affected.

See other NMPMFF historic moments here >

See our first major annual report >

About INQUEST:

INQUEST is the only charity providing expertise on state related deaths and their investigation to bereaved people, lawyers, advice & support agencies, the media as

well as parliamentarians.

Their specialist casework includes deaths in police and prison custody, immigration detention, mental health settings and deaths involving multi-agency failings or where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question.

INQUEST’s policy, parliamentary, campaigning and media work is grounded in the day to day experience of working with bereaved people. Employing an integrated model, this brings together casework support, family participation, identification of thematic trends, statistics and analysis that feeds into the organisation’s work on campaigning, information sharing and policy and parliamentary work.

Team Statements:

Tippa Naphtali, Development & Programmes Manager, said;

"While we will never forget what happened on the night of Mikey's killing, it is his life and how he lived it, that will continue to inspire us to develop mental health and wellbeing initiatives for those affected by state custody deaths and killings, and we will continue to work with others for an end to deaths, killings and abuse at the hands of the state.

" 4WardEverUK , the first organisation that was set up in remembrance of Mikey, has adopted a mission that is inspired by Kwame Nkrumah's words - which we wholeheartedly support."

‘We face neither East nor West; We face forward. All men of goodwill, organize, organize, organize. We prefer self-government in danger, to servitude in tranquility. Forward ever, backward never.'

Tiphany Springer, Engagement & Support Coordinator said;

“My role is to support applicants when applying for support grants or accessing our other services, and I also undertake central administrative tasks, assist with organising our events and activities.

“This event is important as it will recognise the work of families and campaigners that have put their all into bringing about systems change and supporting victims of state violence and injustice.

“I hope that the National Campaigners Awards gains more and more exposure as that, in turn, leads to more exposure for individual campaigners and for families that sometimes feel alone and unheard. When these families benefit from our support and attend our events, they realise that they're not alone and that there's a whole community ready to stand behind them.”

Maia Watkins, Awards Marketing & Publicity Assistant, said;

“My role is to organise and distribute marketing and social media publicity for the annual awards events.

“These annual events will help to raise more awareness around the issues of injustices, the effects of racism and police or state brutality, whilst also recognising families, individuals and organisations that have been affected by this and have effectively campaigned for change.

“The NMPMFF National Campaigners Awards will bring more light to the works of so many who have made a positive change in society with regards to seeking justice.”

Nehanda Sankofa, Awards Venues & Activity Co-ordinator, said;

"This event is extremely important because it acknowledges those who work tirelessly for justice of those affected by deaths in custody.

"I think that amidst pain it is important to celebrate and show appreciation for the strength and courage to fight, and I am proud to be a part of this celebration.

"In the future I hope to see the NMPMFF National Campaigners Awards be a leader in celebrating those who stand for justice, and we can hold a bigger Gala each year around the country."

Tippa Naphtali speaks – A Legacy for Mikey Powell

Read full article here >

See NMPMFF milestones:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/historic-moments-for-the-nmpmff-2018-to-2023

See ’40 years of INQUEST:

www.inquest.org.uk/Listing/Category/40-years-of-inquest

A Legacy for Mikey Powell:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/two-decades-on-a-continued-legacy-in-remembrance-of-mikey-powell

Get in touch with the National Memorial Family Fund

Voicemail: 0843 289 4994

Email: enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Green & Black Cross: publish Guide to the Public Order Act 2023

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 21:33:48 GMT

image credit: Duda/Pexels at www.Resources.Duda.co

all credits: Green and Black Cross | published: October 2023

The Public Order Act 2023 has received a lot of attention for the impact it will have on activists in England and Wales. This guide is designed to help you understand the law as it is written.

It is hard to know exactly how the measures will impact protesters until more time has passed.

If you are arrested or threatened with arrest under any section covered here, please let Green & Black Cross know by calling the Protest Support Line on 07946 541511 so they can better understand how these changes are being used.

PLEASE NOTE: At the time of writing, a chunk of the Act is not yet in force, meaning it cannot be used unless and until it is ‘commenced’ in Parliament.

Green & Black Cross said; “We’ve noted this next to each heading where it applies, and will try to update the guide as this changes. To be sure if this has changed when you’re reading this, visit the legislation website .

Read original article >

30+ call for rethink of UK’s approach to responding to mental health crises

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 21:29:15 GMT

image credit: Pexels at www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: Liberty | published: 31 October 2023

Liberty, along with over thirty organisations and individuals working in mental health, the criminal justice system, racial justice and civil liberties, has called for a rethink of the UK’s approach to responding to mental health crises.

The statement’s release coincides with the cut-off point at which the Metropolitan Police, under a new ‘right care right person’ policy, will stop responding to mental health calls unless there is seen to be a threat to life .

Signatories including the National Survivor User Network, INQUEST, and the United Families & Friends Campaign, as well as bereaved families of people who have died at the hands of the police or in mental health settings, welcome the news that police will have a reduced involvement in mental health calls.

They note that police interactions can be extremely harmful and even deadly for a person experiencing mental health crisis, particularly people of colour.

At the same time, they say that current mental health provision is failing people, and that a new approach is needed which centers community care and tackles the root causes of mental ill-health and distress.

From November, as announced by Sir Mark Rowley earlier this year, the Metropolitan police will stop responding to mental health calls except where there is seen to be a threat to life.

Read full article >

Two Decades On – A continued legacy in remembrance of Mikey Powell

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:15:32 GMT

image credit: Friends of Mikey Powell

source: National Family Fund | published: 29 August 2023

The 7th September 2023 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the brutal and needless death of father of three, Michael Lloyd Powell (commonly known as Mikey, and a cousin of the renowned poet and writer, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah ) at the hands of West Midlands Police in Lozells, Birmingham. Mikey was experiencing a psychotic episode .

Mikey's 20th year commemoration will be marked in a joint event to be held at The Legacy Centre in Birmingham on 25 November 2023. The event, entitled 40:20:01, combines a celebration of INQUEST's 40th year , a dedication to Mikey's life, as well as the first ever Memorial Family Fund Annual Gala Activists Awards .

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) is the main legacy to Mikey.

Since it was developed in 2015, the NMPMFF (working in conjunction with the United Families & Friends Campaign ) has awarded almost £50,000 in grants and awards , and delivered two major events; 'Looking Back : Moving Forward' in Birmingham (September 2021), and 'Families Matter : Caring Matters' in Manchester (May 2023).

See NMPMFF historic moments here >

See the first major NMPMFF annual report >

Family and Friends (from 10th Anniversary);

Mikey's Sister, Sieta Lambrias said; - “Whilst we appreciate the apology received by the WMP for the pain and anguish caused to my family as a consequence of Mikey’s death, we would be far more appreciative of an apology acknowledging that it was the actions of their officers that caused the death, as found by the inquest jury in 2009.”

Mikey's cousin, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah said; - “An apology for the death of my cousin ten years after the event is cold comfort. We have been asking questions for ten years, protesting for ten years, writing letters, and poems, and statements for ten years, but most of all we have been collectively grieving for ten years. What is important is that we let it be known that although we accept this apology, we are intelligent enough to know that it is just an apology, and it is not justice.”

Mikey's cousin, Joyce Springer-Amadedon said; - “From the beginning we thought we wouldn’t get a guilty verdict in the criminal courts, but we took it so far so that there would be some scrutiny, in particular for West Midlands Police, who have had a poor record in the past and need to be seen to be accountable. It was not just for us but for all the other families who don’t know how their loved ones came to die while in custody.”

Family supporter and radical filmmaker, Ken Fero said; - “Over the ten years of the struggle that this anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell marks it has been a real privilege to know and work with the family. Not only have they run an exemplary individual campaign on the legal and political fronts to get justice for Mikey, they have also worked to support other families that have experienced the brutality of a death in custody.

“They have shown resilience and insight and this has led to real change at different levels in the area. What all families want when they lose a loved one under these circumstances is fairness in the justice system and for those responsible to be punished. 10 years on Mikey can be proud that the unrelenting daily work, particularly of his cousin Tippa Naphtali, has made sure that Mikey’s death was not in vain.”

See more photo galleries here >

Below is a link to read the full moving article that was written by Mikey's cousin, and prominent activist/social justice campaigner, Tippa Naphtali , which commemorated the 15th anniversary of Mikey’s death.

I was determined that Mikey’s life and death would bring a lasting legacy.

Several organisations have been developed over the last two decades that were strongly influenced or inspired by Mikey's case - They include:

4WardEverUK : Its purpose is to provide a one-stop-resource for case profiles, news and events, useful resources, statistics, appeals and more; in relation to deaths and abuses whilst in custody; including the death penalty, other injustices and human rights abuses in the UK and internationally.

Red Alert HELP : With support from The Edge Fund 4WardEverUK developed an interactive online advice portal available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to help visitors find the information, services or support that they need.

National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund : The purpose of the fund is to ensure that families or their campaign groups across the UK get access to small grants to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their campaigns, or assist them to engage in other local, regional or national events and initiatives.

Mentoring & Advocacy Support Hub : Previously known as the Peer Support Programme, was initially developed as part of the MIND & Time to Change 300 Voices Project to support young African and Caribbean men with mental health problems in Birmingham to build resilience, and aid recovery. Catalyst 4 Change now manages this programme independently of MIND.

Catalyst 4 Change CIC : Catalyst supports community organisations, social enterprises, faith groups or businesses that have a significant African/Caribbean mental health/wellbeing service user base. They do so by providing seminars, networking/collaboration opportunities, capacity building, incubation support, representation, research support and access to a professional services directory.

Tippa Naphtali speaks – A Legacy for Mikey Powell

Read full article here >

For 2024 and beyond, Tippa said;

4WardEverUK, the first organisation set up in remembrance of Mikey, has a mission inspired by Kwame Nkrumah's words - which we wholeheartedly support;

“We face neither East nor West; We face forward. All men of goodwill, organize, organize, organize. We prefer self-government in danger, to servitude in tranquility. Forward ever, backward never”

National Memorial Family Fund repeated appeal for new monthly donors

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 11:57:05 GMT

image credit: Migrant Media www.vimeo.com/migrantmedia

source: 4WardEverUK | re published: 27 August 2023

Over the last 2+ years the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) has lost 90+ (approx 59%) of our regular monthly donors! Thus will mean that the general support grants rounds will be less frequent during coming months. Can you help?

The National Memorial Family Fund is the first and only national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by abuse, neglect, deaths and killings in state custody.

See our full information page and details here: www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donor-members

Download and share the promotional flyer here >

‘Significant’ increase in deaths in police custody in the UK, 2022-23

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 11:56:03 GMT

image credit: DomJ at www.pexels.com

source: The Guardian | published: 28 July 2023

The number of deaths in or following police custody in England and Wales has increased significantly , doubling in 12 months to the joint-highest level in the past 16 years, the police watchdog has said.

Figures from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) showed the number of deaths surged past the 10-year average as it increased from 11 in 2021-22 to 23 the following year .

"Sadly, we have seen a significant rise this year in the number of deaths in or following police custody, up to 23 from 11, and the highest figure recorded for five years,” said the IOPC’s acting director general, Tom Whiting.

“While last year’s figure was particularly low, the fact we have seen a sharp reverse is concerning and raises challenges which spread well beyond policing."

The figure is the highest since 2017-18 when there were also 23 fatalities. The worst year was 2006-07, when 27 deaths were reported. The average number of deaths in a year during the past decade was about 16.

Of the 23 people who died in or following police custody, 22 were men and one was a woman. The age range varied from 20 to 93 years old, with 19 victims being white, two black, one of mixed ethnicity and one Asian. The absolute numbers of deaths meant no meaningful comparison with the racial and ethnic mix of the general population could be drawn.

Read full article >

LGA: The police mental health service withdrawal is too quick

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 01:03:12 GMT

image credit: Sourced by 4WardEverUK

source: LocalGov | published: 26 July 2023

Local authority leaders have raised concerns that plans for police to stop attending mental health incidents, as set out in the National Partnership Agreement, are ‘being rolled out too quickly.'

The Local Government Association (LGA) said police were stepping back without adequate ‘local engagement and partnership working’, creating a risk that other agencies would be unable to pick up increased demand.

The agreement will mean the police do not attend mental health incidents, unless there is a ‘significant safety risk’ or crime involved, and instead refer them to a partner agency.

An agreement signed today (26 July) means the policy will begin in England, while forces in Wales work with the Welsh government to draw out a plan.

According to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the policy could save a million police hours each year.

President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Lade Smith, said it was ‘no secret’ that the police were ‘under an incredible amount of pressure, whilst at the same time being chronically underfunded’.

Police withdrawal posed a ‘real danger’ to patients, Dr Smith added. Rachel Bacon, NPCC lead for mental health, said: "I do want to reassure our communities that the police will always be here to protect you and will always attend incidents where there is a threat to life."

Read full article >

Cruse Bereavement : The leading national charity for bereaved people

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 01:02:09 GMT

image credit: Segopotso Makhutja from www.pexels.com

source: Cruse Bereavement Care | republished: July 2023

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Watch Andy Langford, Cruse’s Clinical Director , explain who they are and how they are actively supporting people during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Cruse History

From their beginnings running clubs for widows from the founder’s house in Kew, Cruse Bereavement Care has grown to be a charity with an international reputation.

Over the years, they have helped bereaved people in times of crisis, such as after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and the Manchester Arena Bombings, and have expanded to support hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Find out more about Cruse’s history .

What Cruse stands for;

Vision: That all bereaved people have somewhere to turn when someone dies.

Mission: To offer support, advice & information to children, young people and adults and enhance society’s care of bereaved people.

Values: Cruse Bereavement Care are Responsive, Compassionate, Respectful, Supportive and Innovative.

Feelings After Someone Dies

Many people are surprised by the range of emotions they experience after the death of someone close.

What does grief feel like?

People often ask Cruse, what does grief feel like? In this video, Andy Langford- the Clinical Director for Cruse Bereavement Care, explains some of the most common feelings after a death.

Training

Cruse Bereavement Care provides training and consultancy for any external organisation who may encounter bereaved people in the course of their work. Contact them to find out more: training@cruse.org.uk.

Visit the Cruse website here >

Preventable Deaths Tracker (learning to prevent future deaths)

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:57:33 GMT

image credit: Stuart Miles at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: Preventable Deaths Tracker | first published: June 2023

One in five deaths are preventable every year. But, less than 1% have a coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths report (PFD) written.

However, there is no mechanism to ensure that responses are received, actions are taken, and lessons are learnt to prevent future deaths.

The Preventable Deaths Tracker is trying to change this .

See the database here >

The team

This project was founded by Dr Georgia Richards in 2020 with support from a team of academics, clinicians and coroners from the University of Oxford, the University of Birmingham, and London.

The team has been undertaken research on coroners’ Prevention of Future Deaths reports (PFDs) and acted as expert witnesses in coronial courts and other legal cases related to PFDs for decades .

Preventable Deaths Tracker's work

"Our work spans three areas, including 1) research, 2) education, and 3) communication.

"We design studies to answer important questions for public health and safety. We write scientific reports and academic publications, with more than 20 published to date.

"We conduct training for users of the Preventable Deaths Database, the writing of PFDs, and advise on digital processes to improve the PFD system."

Read full article >

Families Matter : Caring Matters – event report & photo gallery

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 21:03:39 GMT

image credit: Michelle Kelly

source: National Family Fund | published: 6 June 2023

We opened with an appreciation to the families and introduced the Family Fund team to attendees, with each team member outlining their roles. Thanks were also extended to the attending stallholders, performers and the venue.

The event also screened a short spoken word film from George the Poet, an honest, compelling piece to mark the upcoming 6th anniversary of the Grenfell fire in London .

The event attendees marked a 72 second silence in remembrance of each of the victims.

Family Fund founder Tippa Naphtali said; "We wanted to ensure that this was not just yet another event where families were being asked to retell the stories of what happened to their loved ones, and thereby reliving their trauma. Instead, this was all about kicking back, having fun, and enjoying the company of others with lived experience and making connections."

Images from the event;

Here are a selection of photos from the 'Families Matter : Caring Matters' event.

What some families said;

Michelle Balogun

28 May 2023

"I would just like to say a massive Thank you for inviting us to the wonderful event yesterday in Manchester. We had a wonderful time and we enjoyed all of it.

"The singers, poet and performances were amazing, the speech about the Grenfell Tower fire was very moving. We spoke to many people there and felt such a connection and empathy as we are going through similar experiences.

"I also would like to thank you for the beautiful gift that was given to me, a beautiful one place and wax melt gift set from one of the stall holders, I was deeply moved by their kindness. Plus we can’t wait to receive our amazing prizes, £50 gift card, the T-shirts and framed masked picture, that my son plans to use in his new place when he gets it.

"I loved the workout and painting sessions, and the food was just amazing, so glad we got to take some home. ��

"We haven’t been to many places as a family in recent months that have felt so rewarding as yesterday was, I thank you for giving us that experience. Plus the support you have all given us as a family, with the help towards my sons headstone, and the break away we have reserved for September at Dillon’s Den. I can’t wait to take my youngest there as he’s so excited to be having a holiday.

"Thanks again for everything, it’s made life a little lighter for us and we couldn’t have felt that without your help."

Rohey Jobe

3 Jun, 22:43

"Thank you for the amazing day in Manchester.

"I’m having a hard time right now but trying my best as that’s all I can do.

"I've provided pictures with me wearing earrings from the Craftspiration jewellery stall at the pamper day! I couldn’t resist buying them!

"Thank you for inviting us."

A buffet of great food was also provided, and everyone ate together giving families, performers and the Fund team a chance to mingle and enjoy themselves over a tasty feast. The food was delicious and came in abundance, so many attendees were able to take containers home.

There was also a raffle where families won some really cool prizes that were taken from the Family Fund Two-Way Give-Back Shop .

Families and other attendees could also treat themselves to pampering activities which included face painting, t-shirt printing, nail & lash treatments, canvas painting and fun exercise sessions in the lovely sunshine. Other stalls included some impressive handmade children's clothes, jewellery, accessories and hand drawn art works.

This event included some amazing live performances from local artists throughout the day. There was spoken word poetry from Manchester based Griot Gabriel, beautiful singing from singer & musician Ellouise Bridge and her talented two-piece band, and we ended the event with some uplifting Reggae sounds from Easi B where everyone could dance and enjoy themselves. These artists all performed with positive messages of peace and empowerment.

The resident DJ, Ezeek The Meek, played sweet background tunes throughout the day creating a relaxing and positive environment.

The day closed with Tippa and the Family Fund team thanking everyone for coming and enjoying themselves, as well as reiterating that this event was put on for families to relax, have fun and take a break over the bank holiday weekend.

This event had been organised in cooperation with 4WardEverUK and Migrant Media , and was also supported by Naphtali & Associates and Catalyst 4 Change CIC .

National Memorial Family Fund – Ambitious plans for the future!

In 2022 the National Family Fund unveiled some ambitious plans for the future.

It is hoped that the new initiatives will be rolled out over the next 3 to 5 years.

Read full details here >

The Grenfell tragedy : Marking the sixth anniversary in 2023

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 21:02:09 GMT

image credit 9comeback: www.freedigitalphotos.net

source: The Guardian | originally published: 11 April 2023

More than 900 bereaved family members, survivors and local people who were affected by the devastating Grenfell Tower fire have agreed on a settlement of their civil claims arising from the blaze.

The fire at the residential tower block in west London killed 72 people in June 2017. Those who took part in the legal claim were represented by 14 firms that have stressed the agreement does not affect the long-running public inquiry, chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, which is looking into the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the blaze. It has yet to publish its report.

The agreement will also not affect the potential for any criminal charges to be brought in the future. The group added that; “the fight for justice continues.”

In a statement, the firms involved said: “The settlement is completely independent of, and has no impact upon, the ongoing public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, which is due to publish its report in 2023, or the ongoing criminal investigation where it is anticipated that the Crown Prosecution Service will make a decision on whether to pursue criminal charges against those responsible for the fire after publication of the final Grenfell Tower Inquiry report.”

“In those respects, the BSRs’ [bereaved family members, survivors and local residents] fight for justice continues.

“Finally, it should be recognised that no amount of damages could ever be sufficient to properly compensate those affected by the fire.”

Read the full article >

May 2023

St. George's Park hosts Grenfell Memorial Cup 2023

May 2023

Grenfell: System Failure review – sobering unpicking of a tragedy

24 Februaru 2023

Grenfell Tower fire - Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction

(date unknown)

Grenfell Timeline

(date unknown)

Second Round of NMPMFF Holiday Scheme announced

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 03:45:53 GMT

image credit: stockimages at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: 4WardEverUK | updated: 5 August 2023

Round 2 closed on 7 September 2023!

With thanks to a previous donation of £10,000 from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media (through the Legacy Fund ) , the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund is poised to launch the 2nd round of Holiday Scheme awards on 7 August supporting children, young people and families.

Families and campaigns will be able to apply to a designated fund which will:

Award fixed-amount grants for group outings/holidays and short breaks
Consider group applications made up of minimum pre-set number of adults and children/young people
Ensure applicant groups are not all from a single family/campaign
Encourage participation jointly with other families/campaigns in their region
Include NMPMFF Assessment Partners as eligible applicants

The second awards round will allocate 7 awards of £600 and one gold award of £1,000 towards the overall cost of recreational events that meet a standard set of requirements.

When will this grant round take place?

This round opened on 7 August and close on 7 September .

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us deliver one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Holiday Scheme Initiative summarised

We look forward to hearing from you!

Revamped: Family Fund MemberBASE, donor & membership portal

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 12:27:10 GMT

image credit: 4WardEverUK www.4wardeveruk.org

republished: Tippa Naphtali | 3 June 2023

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) has revamped our MemberBASE service, first introduced in July 2021, which combines contributions to the Fund with a number of extra benefits utilising the Stripe payment platform.

New subscriber's are auto-added to our news and events platforms, but have the option to cancel these if they choose.

Benefits to our donors and supporters:

Supporters can become FREE members ( no donation required )
Secure personal account showing all their activities and donations in one place
Single or multiple donor options with no long-term commitment
Real flexibility to adjust their donations plan if needed

and much more to come...

Benefits to the Memorial Family Fund:

A further means of interaction with families affected by state custody deaths
Easier management & monitoring of donors activities all in one place
More precise and recorded data on donations to the Memorial Family Fund
Ability to engage with donors via multiple routes such as email and text
Reducing the workload of our staff and volunteers to aid more effective oversight
Single access point for our administrative team members

Important Notes: If existing donors choose to use our MemberBASE option they may want to cancel any current donations in PayPal to avoid duplication.

Our standard PayPal donation method will remain available until December 2024.

"We look forward to having you on board"

Please contact us if anything is unclear!

Read more details here >

National Memorial Family Fund appeal for new monthly donors

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 12:45:49 GMT

image credit: Migrant Media www.vimeo.com/migrantmedia

source: 4WardEverUK | re published: 8 April 2023

Over the last 2+ years the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) has lost 80+ (49%) of our regular monthly donors! Therefore the general grants rounds will be less frequent during coming months. Can you help?

The National Memorial Family Fund is the first and only national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths and killings in state custody.

Visit the ‘MemberBASE’ page for more details here: www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donor-members

Download and share the promotional flyer here >

Update: What has Black Lives Matter UK done with the money?

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:57:52 GMT

image credit: Kelly Lacy at www.Pexels.com

source: BLMUK | first published: 6 March 2023

BLMUK started in 2016 as a loose network of activists who wanted to respond to escalating racist violence from the British state .

"Our first action, #Shutdown took place on Friday 5th August 2016 to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the murder of Mark Duggan. Dozens of activists in Birmingham, London, Manchester and Nottingham organised shutdowns of transport hubs, including Birmingham and Heathrow Airports to sound the alarm on racist state violence in the UK."

"Since then we have continued to organise for Black liberation. We have worked with other collectives such as Wretched of the Earth to focus on climate justice for the global majority and the successful Against Borders for Children campaign which stopped the UK government’s efforts to create a children migrant database ."

BLMUK volunteers donate their time doing administration, community organising, communications and whatever else is needed, which includes raising some funds to support the organisations work.

"Until 2020, our previous efforts raised around £8,000, so when we launched our UKBLM fund in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, we were overwhelmed with the incredible support we received across the UK and beyond.

"From birthday gift donations to school groups running events, it was inspiring and encouraging to see so many from all backgrounds work for Black lives in the UK."

Read the full article >

BLM UK announce new funding for the National Memorial Family Fund

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:30:00 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 7 March 2023

We are excited to announce that we have secured funding from the second round of grants distributed by Black Lives Matter UK . £20,000 in grant funding has been allocated to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) to further our Development Plan by supporting our two key part-time staff members (the Development & Programmes Manager and Engagement & Support Coordinator).

See The Guardian article here > | See all recipients here >

The NMPMFF’s funding programmes are structured to assist families financially both at the time of loss (e.g., support with funeral or memorial costs etc), and after, in the form of support with counselling, inquest costs, website development, publicity resources, respite breaks and more.

Much research, as well as grassroots knowledge, has shown that people of African and Caribbean decent, die in disproportionate numbers in state institutions.

The NMPMFF is also closely involved with initiatives such as Red Alert HELP!, The United Families & Friends Campaign, Black Lives Matter UK, The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings and others, all seeking to challenge injustice and influence structural change reform.

Statement from BLMUK

"We are delighted to be at the point of announcing the outcome of Black Lives Matter UK’s second round of funding. We have redistributed funds to 17 extraordinary grassroots organisations working tirelessly for their communities. We feel immensely privileged to stand in solidarity with them in their important efforts."

Statement from the NMPMFF

"This vital support will empower and strengthen our efforts to advance justice, freedom, and equality for Black and marginalised communities affected by state custody deaths and killings, and be instrumental in progressing our mission." Watch our short video >

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us .

About Black Lives Matter UK

Black Lives Matter UK formed in 2016. They are a member-led, campaigning organisation, working towards collective liberation. They fight for the Black working class family, here and across the world, fighting against racism, but also against capitalism and patriarchy because ALL Black lives matter. They are proudly led by Black people and are a multitude but not everyone.

Like many Black radicals who have come before, BLMUK believe in the power of solidarity and stand strong in a long lineage of Black struggle for freedom. They welcome and express solidarity with all those fighting for freedom across the world, be it in Kashmir, Kurdistan, Venezuela or Palestine. Visit the BLM UK website here >

I Can’t Breathe: Race, death & British policing (from INQUEST)

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:00:02 GMT

image credit: Duda Images from www.dudamobile.com

source: INQUEST | published: 20 February 2023

In ‘I can’t breathe’: Race, death and British Policing, INQUEST investigated the processes, procedures and evidence base of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the coronial system to examine how accountability for racism is delivered.

INQUEST found a system which works against delivering accountability, that appeared blind to the evidence and where racial discrimination was not addressed meaningfully.

The detailed report makes the following issues clear for the first time:

Official data never before made public shows that Black people are seven times more likely to die than White people following the use of restraint by police.
No death of a Black person following police custody or contact has led to officers being disciplined for racism, at a conduct or criminal level.
Despite the stark racial disproportionality evidenced in data, none of the accountability processes effectively or substantially consider the potential role of racism in deaths.
Britain’s leading human rights lawyers told INQUEST that the role of racism is not adequately scrutinised by post-death investigation system.

The report features new data and analysis. It includes powerful interviews with expert human rights lawyers who are members of the INQUEST Lawyers Group, and five bereaved family members who have been through the legal processes.

See executive summary here >

Read original article >

Application process for new NMPMFF Holiday Scheme announced

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 20:07:22 GMT

image credit: stockimages at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: 4WardEverUK | updated: 26 March 2023

Sorry! Round 1 applications are now closed!

With thanks to a previous donation of £10,000 from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media (through the Legacy Fund ) , the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) will be launching the Holiday Scheme Initiative in the Spring/Summer of 2023 supporting children, young people and families.

Families and campaigns will be able to apply to a designated fund which will:

Award fixed-amount grants for group outings/holidays and short breaks
Consider group applications made up of minimum pre-set number of adults and children/young people
Ensure applicant groups are not all from a single family/campaign
Encourage participation jointly with other families/campaigns in their region
Include NMPMFF Assessment Partners as eligible applicants

Across two award rounds there will be allocations of fifteen awards of £600 and one gold award of £1,000 (for a particularly inventive proposal) towards the overall cost of recreational events that meet a standard set of requirements.

When will grant rounds take place?

The first awards round will open on 7 April and close on 7 May.

The second will open on 7 August and close on 7 September .

Awards application forms & information:

Applications can be submitted from 7 April 2023.

Round 1 applications closed @ 10pm, 7 May 2023.

Important: Only registered families/campaigns and NMPMFF Assessment Partners can apply for awards, but any affected families/campaigns can be participants in the actual outings or holidays applied for!

Our list of potential national outing ideas (above) is useful reading!

For enquiries please contact Tiphany Springer - tiphany@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us deliver one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Holiday Scheme Initiative summarised

From the Spring of 2023 the NMPMFF will provide contributions towards respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays tailored for children, young people and families affected by custody deaths and killings. These will include river and coach tours, activity and theme parks, and self-catering breaks in some of the UK's areas of outstanding beauty.

Working closely with Family Contact Groups throughout the country, the NMPMFF will consider applications for a range of social activities that are requested, designed and delivered by the applicants in UK-wide localities. Resources will be made available to successful applicants to help cover the costs of their respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Leeds bridge remembering police race harassment victim opened

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 19:44:05 GMT

image credit: 9comeback at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: BBC News | published: 26 January 2023

A new bridge honouring the legacy of a man who died after being racially harassed by police officers has been officially opened in Leeds. The David Oluwale Bridge, which spans the River Aire, was formally opened at a ceremony earlier [today].

Mr Oluwale, from Nigeria, was last seen fleeing police in April 1969 and he was later found drowned in the Aire. The council said the bridge was a symbol of ambition and commitment to diversity and inclusion in Leeds.

Mr Oluwale's body was found in the river after he had been targeted by officers because of his mental health, homelessness and race, the council said.

The new pedestrian bridge, which is between Sovereign Street and Water Lane, was both a physical link and metaphorical bridge between the present and future of Leeds as a city, the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) said.

Emily Zobel Marshall, DOMA's co-chair, said:

"The new David Oluwale Bridge is deeply symbolic.

"It is a physical emblem of our commitment to confront historic institutional failings and prejudices which led to the death of an innocent man, as well as a representation of renewal; of our commitment to aim for a future where people from all cultural and economic backgrounds are made to feel safe and welcome in Leeds."

Read full article here >

Abigail's 30th Birthday Fundraiser raises over £2k for the Family Fund

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 19:34:57 GMT

image credit: Karen Clare, Mother of Abigail Clare

source: National Family Fund | published: 3 February 2023

"I was first introduced to The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund by my INQUEST caseworker. I tragically lost my daughter Abigail aged 27 to suicide in April 2020, the beginning of the first Covid lockdown. Abi died in a psychiatric hospital whilst under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act. Her death has had a devastating affect and life will never be the same.

"In the subsequent two years, I have been successful in gaining two very generous grants from The Memorial Family Fund. This enabled me to attend a meeting with Nadine Dorries, (previous Member of Parliament for suicide prevention) and her team. The surplus money was spent on lanyards promoting a charitable bursary fund I had set up in memory of my daughter, Abigail's Army; Daisy Fund.

"The following year due to the generosity of a second grant, I was able to attend the two week inquest into Abi's death which took place 60 miles away from my home.

"To attend such a hearing, to read a post-mortem and watch CCTV of my daughter’s last hours was a crucifying experience but was made more bearable by knowing I could stay in a hotel each night and not have to negotiate the three hour round trip home every day."

"It has been a privilege to have been able to say thank you for the kind and generous financial support I received from the Memorial Family Fund. When I lost my daughter in detention, I believe I became part of a ‘family’ of others who have also gone through similar heartbreaking situations. I believe that we have to support one another and hopefully this donation will go some way in doing this."

Tippa Naphtali, Development & Programmes Manager, said;

“Everyone at the NMPMFF wholeheartedly thanks the family and also Doughty Street Chambers for this wonderful gesture and contribution to the Family Fund - this will very much help in our continued efforts to support affected families in the UK.

“This is by far the largest single donation from a family campaign to the Fund since its inception in 2015, and again we echo the family’s statement that we must all stand together and support one another in order to provide collective help and assistance.”

See NMPMFF grants awarded here >

The Justice for Gaia manifesto has been launched (August 2022)

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 19:29:29 GMT

image credit: Justice for Gaia

source: Justice for Gaia | first published: August 2022

The Justice for Gaia manifesto, which puts forwards demands around policing, mental health and social support, was created because lives like Gaia’s are still being risked and lost because of outdated policies, devastating funding cuts and a toxic culture of misogyny within many of our public services.

The manifesto emerged from what we learned during the inquest into Gaia’s death, as well as talks with leading women's rights organisations, mental health experts and disability rights campaigners about what needs to change to save lives like Gaia’s. We are demanding that survivors get the support they deserve and that their voices are heard so we can all live in safer and fairer communities.

See the manifesto details here >

Also see Gaia’s Guided

Designed to help loved ones when someone goes missing, Gaia’s Guide is the resource we wish we’d had then. It provides step-by-step guidance on how we did it. It covers everything from how to organise a search and engage the public to dealing with the press and police.

The guide is free to download here

“When Gaia went missing I didn’t know what to do, none of us knew what to do. We knew with public backing and attention the police would have to do something but I didn’t know how to get the word out. If it wasn’t for Marienna and all the volunteers I think we’d still be searching. We want to offer the guide so families know what to do. When someone you love disappears it’s hard to even think straight. Hopefully Gaia’s Guide will help.”

Gaia’s twin sister, Maya Pope-Sutherland

National Memorial Family Fund grants round six funding summary

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 11:51:17 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 28 December 2022

The sixth National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grant round closed on 7 December 2022. In this round the assessment team also awarded Crisis Fund grants as well as awards from the UFFC Legacy Fund .

We successfully allocated £3,000 in grants to 10 families/campaigns/family members in the sixth round. This takes the total awarded over the life of the Fund to £47,740.00.

Recipients of grants included:

We are very proud to have been able to support the families and campaigns listed below, and are grateful to our staff, volunteers, donors and supporters that made it all possible:

Family of Trevor Monerville (Support Fund)
Family of Desmond Maddix (Support & Crisis Fund)
Justice 4 Terry Roberts (Support Fund)
Justice for Winston (Support Fund)
Azelle Rodney Campaign (Support Fund)
Dependents of Sheku Bayoh (Legacy Fund) x3
Dependents of Ibrahima Sey (Legacy Fund)
Dependents of Kebba Dobo Jobe (Legacy Fund)

Please see our 'Grants Awarded' page for details of some of the recipients:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/grants-awarded

Also see our 'Family Album' page for more featured images:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/family-album

NMPMFF's new Holiday Scheme plans to be announced in 2023

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 11:48:34 GMT

image credit: www.pexels.com

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 28 December 2022

With thanks to a previous donation of £10,000 from the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media (through the Legacy Fund ) , the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) is poised to launch the Holiday Scheme Initiative in the Spring/Summer of 2023 supporting children, young people and families.

Families and campaigns will apply to a designated fund which will:

Award fixed-amount grants for group outings/holidays and short breaks in the UK
Consider group applications made up of minimum pre-set number of adults and children/young people
Ensure applicant groups are not all from a single family/campaign
Encourage participation jointly with other families/campaigns in their region
Include NMPMFF Assessment Partners as eligible applicants

The NMPMFF is also integrally involved with initiatives such as Red Alert HELP!, The United Families & Friends Campaign, Black Lives Matter UK, The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings, and others, all seeking to challenge injustice and influence structural change reform.

Ken Fero of Migrant Media said;

"The public awareness and support after the killing of George Floyd had strengthened this initiative which goes directly to improve the lives of families impacted by state violence in

the UK. We support this important grassroots initiative and urge others to join.

When the state fails us, the people must act"

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us launch one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Family Fund Holiday Scheme Initiative

From the Spring of 2023 the NMPMFF will provide resourcing for respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays tailored for children, young people and families affected by custody deaths and killings. These will include river and coach tours, activity and theme parks, and self-catering breaks in some of the UK's areas of outstanding beauty. Read more >

Some basic criteria and conditions would apply.

About United Families & Friends Campaign:

The United Families & Friends Campaign (aka UFFC) is a coalition of those affected by deaths and killings in police, prison and psychiatric custody, supports others in similar state institutions. Established in 1997, UFFC supports families of people from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds across the United Kingdom.

About Migrant Media:

Migrant Media was established in 1989 and is a collective of radical film makers working in documentary film production. They are media producers and activists embedded within communities of social and political interest and change. Their work has a focus on race and class with a central narrative of defiance and resistance.

Download the Press Release:

Word version | PDF version

IOPC Publish custody deaths statistics for the UK 2021-2022

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 11:45:53 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: IOPC | originally published: September 2022

In September 2022 the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) released details of their custody deaths statistics for England and Wales 2021-2022.

The following content is transcribed from the IOPC website.

Deaths during or following police contact

Police forces have a statutory duty to refer all incidents involving a death or serious injury to us. Each year, we publish data showing how many people have died after contact with the police.

Our report provides a definitive set of figures for England and Wales. It gives an overview of the nature and circumstances in which the deaths have happened. Read the most recent statistics on deaths during or following police contact (PDF format) , and the associated data tables (ODS format) .

You can also read our Deaths during or following police contact: Statistics for England and Wales 2021/22 as HTML .

Our time series tables (ODS format) show data on gender, age and ethnicity of the deceased and the police force area by death category since 2004/05 to 2021/22. The time series tables are also available as a PDF .

You can view our presentation (PowerPoint) to learn about the most recent statistics on deaths during or following police contact.

The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

You can read our news release on the latest statistics here and our Director General’s comments on the release .

Download the report here >

Read full article >

28 September 2022

National Memorial Family Fund sixth funding round opens

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 09:38:38 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 6 November 2022

We are pleased to announce the sixth round of National Memorial Family Fund grants which opens on 7 November 2022. We are also administering the new UFFC Legacy Fund , which is earmarked for the child dependents of custody death victims and their families.

Important: Affected families and/or campaigns will need to be registered on the NMPMFF website before applying for grants from the the general fund – various assessment partners are available to assist with applications.

This Memorial Family Fund grants round opens on Monday, 7 November 2022 and it will close on Wednesday, 7 December 2022.

The main difference in this sixth round (compared to earlier ones) is that grants will not generally be awarded/issued on a rolling basis , but rather final decisions will be made after the closing date on 7 December 2022.

The exception to the above will be if it is confirmed by an Assessment Partner that the need is significantly urgent, or if a Crisis Fund is deemed to be more appropriate.

Sixth Round Family Fund Small Grants Allocation:

The NMPMFF have set aside £3,400.00 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria for grants. However, where deemed appropriate, some applicants may be advised to apply for the fast-track support via the Crisis Family Fund for emergency needs.

See full application details and guidance here >

See appeal for new monthly donors here >

............................................................................................................

General Enquiries: Tiphany Springer via enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk or;

Tippa Naphtali via tippa@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Please Note: We are a very small part-time team so responses may sometimes be delayed!

Just by shopping you can support the National Memorial Family Fund

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 09:38:27 GMT

image credit: mohamedhassan from www.FreeRangeStock.com

provided by: Tippa Naphtali | first published: 25 March 2020

You can now support the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund every time you shop online… It’s that simple!

You can easily help raise money for the fund simply by doing something that we all do on a regular basis… Our shopping for food, furniture, DIY, garden products, movies, clothing or items via Amazon, eBay and many other well-known outlets.

Visit our Easyfundraising page for details and registration here : www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/nationalmemorialfamily

The National Memorial Family Fund is led by 4WardEverUK , in association with Migrant Media , and the United Families & Friends Campaign .

How Easyfundraising Works!

When you use easyfundraising.org.uk to shop with any of their 4,000 retailers, the retailer makes a small donation to say thanks, and this gets transferred to your cause.

You can use the website or App to browse retailers. Then just click on the retailer you’d like to shop with. It’s really simple, and you’ll help our cause.

Visit our page to get started

Click here for details >

Other Family Fund News:

Buy your badges and support the Family Fund – When you purchase badges all the proceeds go to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund to support families that have been affected by custody deaths throughout the UK. Read more here >

NMPMFF presents its inaugural Annual Report for 2021-2022 – The National Memorial Fund presents its first full annual report of activities between 2021 and 2022. Read more here >

Staff recruitment in 2021-2022 - With thanks to grants and funding from INQUEST and BLM-UK, the National Memorial Fund appointed two new part-time core staff members and five sessional workers to support ongoing and new projects. Read more here and here >

The Family Fund MemberBASE, donor & membership portal

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 09:37:58 GMT

image credit: 4WardEverUK www.4wardeveruk.org

originally provided by: Tippa Naphtali | 3 July 2021

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) introduced a new donation method in July 2021 which combines contributions to the Fund with a number of extra benefits.

It's called 'MemberBASE' : visit the portal here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donor-members

Affected families may also want to register on MemberBASE for the extra benefits and early-bird funding round updates.

The new donor platform gives you complete ( and flexible ) control over how you interact and support the work of the Fund. All of our 'Member Options' are flexible so you can dip in and out, increase or decrease your donations as you wish, and interact with other members as well as with the Memorial Family Fund staff and/or volunteers. And all in one place!

Benefits to our donors and supporters:

Supporters can become FREE members ( no donation required )
Secure personal account showing all their activities and donations in one place
Single or multiple donor options with no long-term commitment
Real flexibility to adjust their donations month by month if needed

and much more to come...

Benefits to the Memorial Family Fund:

A further means of interaction with families affected by state custody deaths and killings
Easier management & monitoring of donors activities all in one place
More precise and recorded data on donations to the Memorial Family Fund
Ability to engage with donors via multiple routes such as email and text
Reducing the workload of our staff and volunteers to aid more effective oversight
Single access point for our administrative team members

Important Notes: If existing donors choose to use our MemberBASE option they may want to cancel any current donations in PayPal to avoid duplication.

Our standard PayPal donation method will remain available until further notice.

"We look forward to having you on board"

Please contact us if anything is unclear!

Read more details here >

UFFC Legacy Fund support for the NMPMFF Holiday Scheme

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 23:24:18 GMT

image credit: www.pexels.com

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 1 October 2022

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and Migrant Media have donated £10,000 through the Legacy Fund to support the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) Holiday Scheme Initiative supporting children, young people and families.

Ken Fero of Migrant Media said;

"The public awareness and support after the killing of George Floyd had strengthened this initiative which goes directly to improve the lives of families impacted by state violence in

the UK. We support this important grassroots initiative and urge others to join.

When the state fails us, the people must act"

Tippa Naphtali, founder of the NMPMFF said;

"The ongoing pain of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of

campaigning and lobbying of the state. We are extremely grateful for the support of the

UFFC Legacy Fund which will help us launch one of our key aspirational initiatives "

The Family Fund Holiday Scheme Initiative

Working closely with Family Contact Groups throughout the country, the NMPMFF will support a range of social activities that are requested, designed and delivered in UK-wide localities. Resources will be made available to these groups to help cover the costs of their respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays – some basic criteria and conditions would apply.

About United Families & Friends Campaign:

About Migrant Media:

Download the Press Release:

Word version | PDF version

NMPMFF presents its inaugural Annual Report for 2021-2022

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 23:24:05 GMT

image credit: 4WardEverUK www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 1 October 2022

We are proud to present our first full annual report of our activities between 2021 and 2022. The 1 September 2022 marked 7 years since the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) was founded, and just over 2 years since our first ever funding round .

Founder, Tippa Naphtali, said; "We are the only organisation nationally that occupies this space, and are therefore absolutely unique and bespoke".

Core and project funding from Black Lives Matter UK and the national charity, INQUEST
Our mix of income generation and appeals for new donors to support our work
Outline of the establishment of the Annual Gala Dinner & Awards initiative as part of a wider set of aspirational projects
New central and project management and coordination salaried and sessional staff members
A feature on our inaugural event, 'Looking Back Moving Forward' held in September 2021
Launches of the Crisis Fund, Legacy Fund and Two-Way Give-Back eShop
Updates on grants and gift schemes awarded to affected families

The report also sets out our income & expenditure for 2021-2022, our forward thinking Work Plan and a summary of our partners, collaborators and donors.

The Fund is already making a practical difference to families and their campaign groups that need financial and wellbeing support during their long struggles for justice lasting decades in many cases.

It is our absolute and undivided commitment that this work should be continued indefinitely, and will maintain our momentum in this respect.

Download the Annual Report here >

National Memorial Family Fund appeal for new monthly donors

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 23:23:55 GMT

image credit: Migrant Media www.vimeo.com/migrantmedia

source: 4WardEverUK | first published: 11 August 2022

Over the last 22+ months the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) has lost 80+ (49%) of our regular monthly donors! Therefore the general grants programme had to be suspended until November 2022. Can you help?

The National Memorial Family Fund is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths and killings in state custody.

Visit the ‘MemberBASE’ platform for more details here: www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/donor-members

Download and share the promotional flyer here >

Purchase our improved pin badges today and support the Memorial Family Fund

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 23:23:44 GMT

image credit: Naphtali Associates www.naphtaliassociates.org.uk

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 23 September 2022

Get your Family Fund badge! When you purchase your badge all the proceeds of sale will go to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) to support families that have been affected by custody deaths throughout the UK.

We are the only organisation nationally that occupies this space, and are therefore absolutely unique and bespoke!

You can find out more about the history and purpose of the National Memorial Family Fund by watching this short video : Click here >

Can you support the NMPMFF's services development plan?

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 22:12:57 GMT

image credit: image source credit: Pexels/Duda

source: NMPMFF | published: 7 September 2022

We want to share our ambitious service development plans for the future with you.

Funded from a mix of personal donors and grants, the new initiatives will be rolled out over the next 3+ years. Some are already in their infancy, but we want to see them grow!

We are the only organisation nationally that occupies this space, and are therefore absolutely unique and bespoke - led by affected families for affected families.

See our current planned services here:

Services planned include the Annual Gala Dinner & Awards, National Events Programme, Counselling Hubs, Regional 24-Hour Advice Lines, and the Year-Round Holiday Schemes.

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/future-plans

The difference we are making now!

It is our absolute and undivided commitment that this work should be continued indefinately, and will maintain our momentum in this respect.

What we need, and what you can do?

For the further progress of our service development plan it is critical that we maintain a level of donors and funding to allow our current structures to develop further, which in turn aids the continued development of our important work and mission.

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please donate or contact us

Migrant Media to produce radical new documentary on the Bradford 12

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 22:12:47 GMT

source: Migrant Media | published: 5 September 2022

Migrant Media are pleased to announce that they are going into production on a radical feature length documentary about the seminal case of the Bradford 12 , supported by the BFI Doc Society Fund (awarding National Lottery funding).

In 1981 twelve young Asian men were arrested and charged with terrorism for defending Bradford from an imminent racist skinhead attack. Following national and international protests in support of the defendants, and a tense lengthy trial, they were acquitted establishing the precedent of the right of organised self-defence for the first time in the UK. This is their story .

At the time Bradford was tense with police inspired rumours of an imminent invasion by coach loads of racist skinheads. The United Black Youth League called for an organised defence of Bradford and prepared themselves, along with others from the community.

Twelve men were arrested in a case that became known as The Bradford 12. The defendants were imprisoned on Conspiracy and Terrorism charges, facing life behind bars. The police said they were terrorists. The community rebutted, “They are our sons.”

The documentary will be a journey through the case, from the victories against the old racism and fascism of the 80’s, to the resistance against the new racism of Islamophobia of the present.

We will see how the Asian Youth Movements and United Black Youth League were actively engaged in showing solidarity with the dead of the New Cross Massacre; of protesting against racist murders in Southall and East London and organising community self-defence of Brick Lane. They actively supported anti-colonial struggles internationally, especially in Palestine and Ireland.

Read full Press Release here >

For more information contact:

Email: bradford12film@gmail.com
Instagram: @migrantmedia
Twitter: @TariqMehmood000 @kenfero @mukhtardar260

The Grenfell tragedy in numbers on fifth anniversary of fire

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 21:16:38 GMT

image credit 9comeback: www.freedigitalphotos.net

source: Express & Star | originally published: 13 June 2022

In the five years since the Grenfell Tower fire, there have been four government housing secretaries, three evacuated families are still awaiting permanent homes, and two phases of a public inquiry into the tragedy.

Grenfell survivors and bereaved family members marked the fifth anniversary of the deaths of 72 people on June 14, 2017. That poignant number was also being displayed around North Kensington on green hearts, which have become a symbol of the tragedy. It is the one statistic that will forever be associated with the fire.

Here, the PA news agency breaks down the other statistics behind the tragedy and its continuing aftermath.

– The response since the fire

£5.1 billion – funding promised by the Government to replace unsafe cladding in all buildings over 18m in height in England, made up of £3.5 billion promised in 2021, and £1.6 billion promised in 2020.

201 – households needed rehoming after the fire. Three of these are still in temporary homes, according to the the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

1,826 – days in the five years since the fire took place.

486 – buildings over 18m tall that were identified as having Grenfell-style cladding on them.

58 – buildings over 18m tall that have yet to have their cladding removed as of May 2022..

Read full article >

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I fear we could face another Grenfell Tower disaster (Sadiq Khan)

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Remembering Grenfell: our journey so far

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Visit the Grenfell United website

www.grenfellunited.org.uk

New sessional staff at the National Memorial Family Fund

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 21:11:20 GMT

image credit: Free Range Stock - StartupStockPhotos

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 27 June 2022

With thanks to 2021 funding from INQUEST and Black Lives Matter UK for the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF), we have recently appointed four new sessional team members to carry forward our plans.

Three of the new team members will specifically support the NMPMFF Annual Activist Gala Dinner & Awards initiative in the areas of partnership, CSR & sponsorship, marketing & publicity and venues & activity coordination. The third new member will assist other key staff with marketing & publicity for fundraising and general public events.

Our new team members are:

Kwesi Ochosi : Awards Partnership, CSR & Sponsorship Co-ordinator
Assistance with developing partnerships, corporate/business giving and sponsorship.

Maia Jasmin-Watkins : Awards Marketing & Publicity Assistant
Assistance with developing marketing strategies and campaigns for our Awards events.

Nehanda Sankofa : Awards Venues & Activity Co-ordinator
Assistance with securing venues, speakers and activities for our Awards events.

Nirad Abrol : General Marketing & Publicity Assistant.

Assistance with developing marketing strategies and campaigns for our general events.

The teams initial focus will be on;

The Family Fund Annual Gala Dinner & Awards

Led by 4WardEverUK , we plan to work with a range of other campaign and civil rights groups, individuals, charities and companies to launch the Annual Activists Awards & Gala Dinner in Spring 2023. Its principal aim is to formerly recognise those affected families and individuals that have influence structural change. Its secondary purpose is to raise the profile of, and resources for the National Memorial Family Fund.

The National Events Programme

The first of three events (made possible with a small part-funded grant from the Edge Fund ), Looking Back : Moving Forward , was held on 10 September 2021. The event marked the 18th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell in police custody, and celebrated 6 years of the National Family Fund. The second event due in August 2022 will be a social day for affected families including a 3-course meal, free raffle prize draw, live entertainment and pamper & chillout discussion and meeting zones.

Where it all began!

The birth of the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund followed the launch of a video and online Crowdfunder appeal in 2015.

Founder, Tippa Naphtali (cousin of Mikey Powell) said; “The needs of affected families often gets lost in the equally important work of campaigning and lobbying of the state. We want to change that with a permanent fund set up specifically for their needs.”

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us .

National Memorial Family Fund grants round five funding summary

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 21:02:15 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 27 June 2022

The fifth National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grant round closed on 7 May 2022. In this round the assessment team also awarded several Crisis Fund grants as well as awards from the UFFC Legacy Fund .

We successfully allocated £5,450 in grants to 13 families/campaigns/family members in the fifth round. This takes the total awarded over the life of the Fund to £43,590.

Recipients of grants included:

We are very proud to have been able to support the families and campaigns listed below, and are grateful to our staff, volunteers, donors and supporters that made it all possible:

Abigail's Army
Justice for Sheku Beyoh
Justice for Marc Cole
Justice for Mogous
Mikey Powell - child dependents x2
Joy Gardner - child dependents
Christopher Alder - child dependents x2
Terry Roberts - child dependents
Anthony Grainger - child dependents
Jason McPherson - child dependents
Adrian McDonald - child dependents

Please see our 'Grants Awarded' page for details of some of the recipients:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/grants-awarded

Also see our 'Family Album' page for more featured images:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/family-album

National Memorial Family Fund fifth funding round due to open

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 14:42:18 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 19 March 2022

We are pleased to announce that the fifth round of National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund grants will open on 7 April 2022. We are also administering the new UFFC Legacy Fund , which is earmarked for the child dependents of custody death victims and their families.

This Family Fund grants round will open on Thursday, 7 April 2022 and it will close on Saturday, 7 May 2022.

The main difference in this fifth round (compared to previous ones) is that grants will not generally be awarded/issued on a rolling basis , but rather final decisions will be made after the closing date on 7 May 2022.

The exception to the above will be if it is confirmed by an Assessment Partner that the need is significantly urgent, or if a Crisis Fund is deemed appropriate.

Fifth Round Family Fund Allocation:

The NMPMFF have set aside £4,600.00 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria for grants. However, where deemed appropriate, some applicants may be advised to apply for the fast-track support via the Crisis Family Fund for emergency needs.

See full application details and guidance here >

............................................................................................................

General Enquiries: Tiphany Springer via enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk or; Tippa Naphtali via tippa@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Important Note: We are a small team so responses may sometimes be delayed!

Racial Justice and Social Transformation: How funders can act

firststopwebdesign@gmail.com (First Stop Design) — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 14:36:16 GMT

image credit: Vlada Karpovich at www.Pexels.com

source: Ten Years Time | published: February 2022

Racial Justice and Social Transformation: How Funders Can Act is a report which we are proud to share with all those interested in advancing racial justice in the UK. It is a report which seeks to inject ambition into the British funding landscape and create a clear roadmap for action.

The report represents a place where we hope to clarify some of the best practices needed to make racial justice a reality and racial injustice a thing of the past. We turn our heads to the past, present and future, seeing that, for many of the conversations we are having today, the past is extremely important in making visible the racist and disempowering notions and foundations of practices and understanding still used today.

We review how both sides of the coin need to be addressed and understood to engage in racial justice work to the best of our ability. Such a multifaceted approach requires, in our eyes, a focus on the grantmaking endeavours of trusts and foundations in the UK, their investment strategies and the internal operations and governance of charitable funding organisations.

Read the full article here >

Read the Executive Summary here

Read the full report here

National Mikey Powell Family Fund 4th grants round funding summary

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:11:49 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 13 December 2021

The fourth National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grant round closed on 7 December 2021. In this round the assessment team also awarded several Crisis Fund grants.

We successfully allocated £11,940 in grants to 26 families/campaigns in the fourth round. This takes the total awarded over the life of the Fund to £37,940.

Recipients of grants included:

We are very proud to have been able to support the families and campaigns listed below, and are grateful to our volunteers, donors and supporters that made it all possible:

Desmond Maddix Family
Jusice4Mouayed
Scott Mullen's Family
The Trevor A Smith Campaign x2
Abdul Hamid's Family
Justice 4 Daz Campaign
Justice for Allan Marshall
Sierra Leone School & Football Team
Justice for Winston
Justice4TerryRoberts
Charlie Millers Family
Justice for Jasmine
Touching on the death of Steven O’Neill
Justice for Mzee Mohammed
Justice 4 Hayley
Kieran Barrett's Family
Gary Mavin's Family
Justice for Monerville Brothers
Brandon Mortlock's Family
Trevor Monerville's Family x2
Justice for Gaia
Oskar Nash's Family
Andrew Dean's Family
Simeon Francis Family

Please see our 'Grants Awarded' page for details of some of the recipients:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/grants-awarded

Also see our 'Family Album' page for more featured images:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/family-album

Memorial Family Fund launches Independent Advisory Group

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:44:50 GMT

image credit: Free Range Stock - StartupStockPhotos

source: Family Fund Team | published: 13 December 2021

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) launched its new Independent Advisory Group (IAG) in December 2021. This forms part of our long term strategy that was announced earlier this year (2021).

NMPMFF has appointed an Independent Advisory Group (hereafter referred to as the NMPMFF IAG or the Advisory Group) which is made up of local, regional and national multi-disciplinary campaigners and interested parties that will provide input to the NMPMFF’s strategic objectives, fundraising and service delivery.

The Advisory Group will have clear terms of reference and formal meetings generally take place a maximum of four (4) times per year. Other input from individual members may be extended to NMPMFF outside of meetings by mutual arrangement.

The main responsibilities of the Advisory Group are:

To offer independent strategic/professional advice and guidance to the NMPMFF specific to its purpose and mission
To help develop a working partnership of trust, confidence and transparency between our affiliate members and stakeholders
To assist the NMPMFF strategy on advising its stakeholders on how to communicate effectively with their communities
To identify issues affecting those that are affected by deaths and killings in custody in the UK, and any related mental health and wellbeing matters
To provide individual perceptions that reflect individual communities
To highlight community tensions and issues of concern to help seek solutions

If you are interested in being involved please contact Tiphany Springer via tiphany@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk .

The Memorial Family Fund Core Team:

The National Memorial Family Fund is an affected family led organisation with a core team of four and intermittent volunteers. It has custodian trustees and is currently incubated by Birmingham enterprise, Catalyst4Change CIC.

Tippa Naphtali : Development & Fundraising Co-ordinator
Responsible for the general oversight, development and fundraising initiatives.

Tiphany Springer : Engagement & Support Administrator
Responsible to support grant applicants, events and general administration.

Jenine Springer : Sessional Finance Administrator & Give-Back Buyer
Responsible for assisting with payments and monitoring of all finance matters.

The teams initial focus will be on;

The development of our Independent Advisory Group

The IAG will be made up of local, regional and national multi-disciplinary campaigners and interested parties that will provide input to the NMPMFF’s strategic objectives, fundraising and service delivery. The Advisory Group will have a clear terms of reference.

The Family Fund Annual Gala Dinner & Awards

Led by 4WardEverUK , we plan to work with a range of other campaign and civil rights groups, individuals, charities and companies to launch the Annual Activists Awards & Gala Dinner. Its principal aim is to formerly recognise those affected families and individuals that have influence structural change. Its secondary purpose is to raise the profile of, and resources for the National Memorial Family Fund.

The National Events Programme

The first of three events (made possible with a small part-funded grant from the Edge Fund ), Looking Back : Moving Forward , was held on 10 September 2021. The event marked the 18th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell in police custody, and celebrated 6 years of the National Family Fund. The second event due for the Spring 2022 is planned to be a social evening for affected families including a 3-course meal, live entertainment and chillout discussion and meeting zones.

View the Family Fund Team page here >

INQUEST donates funding for the National Memorial Family Fund

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:57:02 GMT

image credit: Migrant Media www.vimeo.com/migrantmedia

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 11 November 2021

INQUEST has donated £7,500 in grant funding to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) to further our development of the Annual Gala Dinner & Awards initiative.

The NMPMFF (developed in 2015) is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths in custody and makes small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the United Kingdom to provide practical domestic assistance.to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in a range of other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

Daniel Machover, Chair of INQUEST said;

“We have, for the last few years, collaborated closely with the Fund, which has proved to be of immense benefit to the families we work with, at a time when they go through a complex, traumatic and protracted bereavement. Their work, like ours, has families at its core, and we are delighted to be able to contribute to its further development.”

Deborah Coles, Executive Director of INQUEST said;

“INQUEST works with families bereaved as a result of state violence, racism, neglect and indifference and on the struggle for justice, accountability and systemic change. We very much recognise and value the importance of close links with organisations sharing that work and our values and are therefore delighted to be able to support the highly impactful NMPMFF.”

The Family Fund Annual Gala Dinner & Awards

The NMPMFF’s 5 year Development Plan includes the establishment of the Annual Gala Dinner & Awards scheme as part of a wider set of aspirational projects . Led by 4WardEverUK , we plan to work with a range of other campaign and civil rights groups, individuals, charities and companies to launch the Annual Activists Awards & Gala Dinner.

We seek to run a pilot event in late 2022. Its principal aim is to formerly recognise those affected families and individuals that have influence structural change. Its secondary purpose is to raise the profile of, and resources for the National Memorial Family Fund.

Other National Memorial Family Fund plans!

As well as our current funding programmes and gifting schemes, the NMPMFF also aspires to develop other initiatives that recognise and support affected families.

National Events Programme :

In June 2020 it was announced that the NMPMFF had appointed Catalyst 4 Change CIC to organise a series of national live music and arts events (which was delayed by COVID-19 restrictions). This has been made possible with a small part-funded grant from the Edge Fund together with our own investment. Read more here .

Regional 24-Hour Advice Lines :

The NMPMFF aspires to develop regional helplines (in partnership with Red Alert HELP! ) for families concerned about a loved one detained in police, immigration, prison institutions or detained under the Mental Health Act.

Bereavement & Counselling Hubs :

The NMPMFF aspires to develop a range of counselling & therapy hubs across the UK to help children, young people and families deal with the devastation following a custody death. They will work with established charities, companies and individuals ensuring that affected families can get the help they need as quickly as possible in their regions.

Year-Round Holiday Schemes :

The NMPMFF aspires to provide respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays for families affected by custody deaths. These will include river & coach tours, activity & theme parks and self-catering breaks in some of the UK’s areas of outstanding beauty.

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us .

About INQUEST:

INQUEST is the only charity providing expertise on state related deaths and their investigation to bereaved people, lawyers, advice and support agencies, the media and parliamentarians. Their specialist casework includes deaths in police and prison custody, immigration detention, mental health settings and deaths involving multi-agency failings or where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question. This includes work around the Hillsborough football disaster and the Grenfell Tower fire.

New staff at the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:46:52 GMT

image credit: Free Range Stock - StartupStockPhotos

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 11. November 2021

With thanks to recent funding from INQUEST and Black Lives Matter UK for the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF), we have recently appointed two new key part-time staff members (employed via accountable body, Catalyst4Change CIC ), and two sessional team members to carry forward our plans.

The NMPMFF is also closely involved with initiatives such as Red Alert HELP, The United Families & Friends Campaign, Black Lives Matter UK, The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings and others, all seeking to challenge injustice and influence structural change reform .

The Memorial Family Fund Core Team:

Tippa Naphtali : Development & Fundraising Manager
Responsible for the general oversight, development and fundraising initiatives.

Tiphany Springer : Engagement & Support Administrator
Responsible to support grant applicants, events and general administration.

Jenine Springer : Volunteer / Sessional Finance Administrator
Responsible for assisting with payments and monitoring of finances.

The teams initial focus will be on;

The development of our Independent Advisory Group

The Family Fund Annual Gala Dinner & Awards

Led by 4WardEverUK , we plan to work with a range of other campaign and civil rights groups, individuals, charities and companies to launch the Annual Activists Awards & Gala Dinner. Its principal aim is to formerly recognise those affected families and individuals that have influence structural change. Its secondary purpose is to raise the profile of, and resources for the National Memorial Family Fund.

The National Events Programme

The first of three events (made possible with a small part-funded grant from the Edge Fund ), Looking Back : Moving Forward , was held on 10 September 2021. The event marked the 18th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell in police custody, and celebrated 6 years of the National Family Fund. The second event due for the Spring 2022 is planned to be a social evening for affected families including a 3-course meal, live entertainment and chillout discussion and meeting zones.

Where it all began!

The birth of the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund followed the launch of a video and online Crowdfunder appeal in 2015.

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us .

Hundreds march in London for those who died in state custody

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:38:52 GMT

image credit: INQUEST

source: PressTV | published: 31 October 2020

Hundreds of friends and relatives of people who died in prison or police custody in the UK have held a rally and remembrance procession through central London, calling for justice for their loved ones.

The rally, which is organized by the United Families & Friends Campaign , has taken place every year in London since 1999 . The group is made up of bereaved families and others affected by deaths at the hands of United Kingdom police, in prisons, in immigration systems, and psychiatric custody.

The latest march began in Trafalgar Square on Saturday and marchers carried banners with photos and pictures of those who they say had died at the hands of the police and state.

“It’s an annual memorial. It’s in memory of all loved ones that have died at the hands of the state in the UK, and we are remembering them today,” said Marcia Rigg, from Mitcham.

Rigg’s brother, Sean Rigg, suffered a heart attack in Brixton police station in 2008 after being restrained by police while suffering an episode of mental ill health.

“It’s a memorial procession as opposed to a protest march, even though it is a protest against the non-accountability of any of these deaths in custody,” said Rigg, who is now the chair of the UFFC. “I’m certain there is not one family here that has received justice.”

Read full article >

Other Related News:

Video : Families march in London highlighting deaths in police custody

October 2021

BME Deaths in Custody 2014 – 2021

September/October 2021

List of killings by law enforcement officers in the UK

Last Updated August 2011

BLM UK announce funding for the National Memorial Family Fund

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:46:18 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 25 October 2021

Black Lives Matter UK has agreed to the release of £40,000 in grant funding to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) to further our Development Plan and appoint two new key part-time staff members (employed via accountable body, Catalyst4Change CIC ).

Much research, as well as grassroots knowledge, has shown that people of African and Caribbean decent, die in disproportionate numbers in state institutions.

The NMPMFF 5-Year Plan

The BLM UK grant will support both NMPMFF’s grant aid programmes, and its ambitious development plans for the future. Many new initiatives will be rolled out over the next 3+ years, with support also provided by 4WardEverUK , Catalyst 4 Change CIC , Migrant Media , the United Families & friends Campaign and others.

What the Family Fund plan to do!

As well as their current funding programmes and gifting schemes, the NMPMFF also aspires to develop other initiatives that recognise and support affected families.

National Events Programme:

Annual Gala Dinner & Awards:

Led by 4WardEverUK, the NMPMFF plans to work with a range of other campaign and civil rights groups, individuals, charities and companies to launch the Annual Activists Awards & Gala Dinner. Its principal aim is to recognise those affected families and individuals that have influence structural change. Its secondary purpose is to raise the profile of, and resources for the Family Fund.

Regional 24-Hour Advice Lines:

Bereavement & Counselling Hubs:

Year-Round Holiday Schemes:

What can you do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us.

About Black Lives Matter UK

Like many Black radicals who have come before, BLM UK believe in the power of solidarity and stand strong in a long lineage of Black struggle for freedom. They welcome and express solidarity with all those fighting for freedom across the world, be it in Kashmir, Kurdistan, Venezuela or Palestine.

Visit the BLM UK website here >

National Memorial Family Fund 4th funding round due to open

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:46:13 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 25 October 2021

We are pleased to announce the fourth round of National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund grants will open early in November 2021. We are also administering the new UFFC Legacy Fund , which is earmarked for the child dependents of custody victims and their families.

This Funding round will officially open on 7 November 2021 and closes on 7 December 2021.

The main difference in this third round (compared to previous ones) is that grants will not generally be awarded/issued on a rolling basis , but rather final decisions will be made after the closing date on 7 December 2021.

The exception to the above will be if it is confirmed by an Assessment Partner that the need is significantly urgent, or if a Crisis Fund is deemed appropriate.

Fourth Round Family Fund Allocation:

The NMPMFF have set aside £6,000 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria for grants. However, where deemed appropriate, some applicants may be advised to apply for the fast-track support via the Crisis Family Fund for emergency needs.

See full application details and guidance here >

............................................................................................................

Please direct any enquiries to Jaki Miller via enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk or;

Tippa Naphtali via tippa@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Important Note: We are volunteers so responses may sometimes be delayed!

National Mikey Powell Family Fund & UFFC launch Legacy Fund

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 20:46:06 GMT

image credit: Friends of Mikey Powell www.mikeypowell-campaign.org.uk

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 25 October 2021

The Legacy Fund is a new funding stream that will be administered by the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) on behalf of the United Families & Friends Campaign ( UFFC ) and Migrant Media .

UFFC is a coalition of those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody, and supports others in similar situations. Established in 1997 initially as a network of black families, over recent years the group has expanded and now includes the families and friends of people from varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

About the UFFC Legacy Fund

In July 2020 Migrant Media and UFFC had successfully raised £39,140 from over 900 supporters through a Crowdfunder appeal for £30,000. The appeal focussed on the need to support UFFC’s campaigning work highlighting deaths in custody cases, and to help families of victims organise and work collectively. £9,140 (which was the excess of the appeal), has been distributed to support families including through the Gift/Legacy Fund facilitated by NMPMFF.

In October 2021 it was unanimously agreed by UFFC’s interim steering group that the remaining funds (£30,000) should be earmarked for the child dependents of custody victims and their families. Grants will be ongoing in the form of an open call through UFFC and Migrant Media .

How it works

Important : Legacy Fund callouts will coincide with any active rounds of the Family Fund until such times as the resources allocated are depleted. Download Application form here >

Important Note: Please submit completed applications to uffclegacy@gmail.com

Grants will be awarded to children of death in custody/police killing victims, who are at a point where funds awarded will make a material difference to their wellbeing and/or development.

UFFC Gift & Legacy Fund

Applications must be submitted to the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) direct via uffclegacy@gmail.com and not through the Family Fund.

See full guidance here | Download application form here

Grants will generally be a maximum of £300 per dependent . Some grants awarded may be less (or more) than this amount at the discretion of UFFC.

Grant recipients will not be required to submit formal feedback, however, UFFC may request some ‘soft’ feedback on how the fund helped them.

Funds can be available from the UFFC Legacy Fund for a range of needs including (but not exclusively) the following:

Contributions towards further education or training
Help with developing small enterprise ideas
A special event, e.g. 18th birthday, gap year travels
Support with keep fit, art or driving lessons etc
Contributions to a special treat (visit to theme park etc)

Grants for any such or other reasons will be considered at the sole discretion of UFFC.

View or download the full guidance here >

Further details about NMPMFF funding programmes : Click here >

See the National Family Album : Take a look here >

Looking Back : Moving Forward – National Family Fund event report

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 13:04:25 GMT

image credit: Tippa Naphtali

source: National Family Fund | published: 20 September 2021

See the image gallery here >

The event opened with an appreciation to Mikey's mother, Clarissa Powell, who attended with many members of her extended family. A short tribute film to Mikey's legacy was released shortly before the event. See it here >

The 60plus-strong audience were also informed about the numerous campaign groups, community initiatives and organsiations that have been developed over the last 15+ years as a legacy to Mikey Powell. See full details here >

The event also heard from several families that have been recipients of grants from the National Memorial Family Fund. They spoke of the heartache of losing their loved ones, and how the fund had helped to alleviate some of the after effects of such loss with support for funerals, memorials, respite & family breaks, counselling services, domestic costs and much more.

The event also included the premier screening Migrant Media’s new film ULTRAVIOLENCE , a hard-hitting and extremely emotive film following the experiences of people whose loved ones had died or been killed at the hands of the state. Since 1969, over 2,000 people have died at the hands of the police in the UK. Shootings, chokeholds, batons, gassing, suffocation, restraint and brutal beatings are some of the methods used. In this documentary, the families of the victims of police violence demand justice. They ask why society ignores human rights abuses by agents of the state.

There was a short but effective Q&A on issues that were raised in the film with panel members including, Ken Fero (ULTRAVIOLENCE Filmmaker), Sieta Lambrias (sister of Mikey Powell), Simon Foster (West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner), Beresford Dawkins (Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust) and Dr David Baker (Criminologist/Author- Liverpool University). There was the notable absence of representatives from the Independent Office for Police Conduct!

This fundraising event was delivered in association with 4WardEverUK and Migrant Media , and was also supported by Catalyst 4 Change CIC and The Birmingham Irish Association .

The National Memorial Family Fund – Ambitious plans for the future!

Earlier this year the National Family Fund unveiled some ambitious plans for the future.

It is hoped that the new initiatives will be rolled out over the next 3 to 5 years.

Support will also be provided by 4WardEverUK, Catalyst 4 Change CIC, Birmingham Irish Association, Migrant Media and the United Families & friends Campaign and others.

Read full details here >

19 deaths in or following police custody over last 12 months

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 13:00:55 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: The Justice Gap | originally published: 30 July 2021

There were 19 deaths in or following police custody last year with 12 of that number of fatalities having been restrained, according to the latest figures from the police watchdog.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct also recorded that there have been 92 other deaths following contact with the police, however deaths are only included in this category when the IOPC has conducted an independent investigation.

The 19 deaths in 2020/21 is a slight increase from last year (18) and is in line with the average figure from the last decade. The charity INQUEST report that since the end of the IOPC statistics reporting period on March 31, there have been a further five deaths in or following police custody and contact.

‘Last year the world responded to the death of George Floyd and mobilised against deaths in police custody and racial injustice,’ said Deborah Coles, director of INQUEST. ‘Yet once again the data on deaths in police custody and contact in England and Wales repeat the same patterns, nothing changes. This is despite the lifesaving recommendations from multiple inquests and the Angiolini review.’

‘The focus of this Government however is denying structural racism and inequality, appearing tough, ignoring evidence and repeating failed policies focused on criminalisation. Ultimately to prevent further deaths and harm, we must look beyond policing and redirect resources into community, health, welfare and specialist services’ Coles continued.

Read full article >

Related Publications:

19 people died in police custody in year in England and Wales

29 July 2021

Successive governments ‘willing to accept’ people dying in or after police custody

29 July 2021

Deaths in police custody reform, progress update 2021

20 July 2021

Deaths in police custody reform, and progress update 2021

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 12:58:43 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: GOV.UK | originally published: 20 July 2021

The United Kingdom Government [has said it] is committed to delivering meaningful and lasting change to prevent further deaths in custody and to support [affected] families. That is why on 23 July 2015, then Home Secretary Theresa May MP announced a major review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody, focusing on the experience of bereaved families.

This followed the former Home Secretary’s meetings with bereaved families who made clear that the system was not fit for purpose; not only in preventing deaths in police custody, but also ensuring families are supported throughout the process and lessons are learned and implemented quickly.

The Rt Hon Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC’s Independent Review of Deaths and Serious Incidents in Police Custody was published on 30 October 2017 (‘ the Review’). The Government’s substantive response was published on the same date.

The Review made 110 recommendations to Government departments, police forces in England and Wales and public sector organisations. Many of them are cross-cutting and multi-disciplinary in nature.

The review looked at the events leading up to such incidents, as well as existing protocols and procedures designed to minimise the risks. It covered the immediate aftermath of a death or serious incident and the various investigations that ensue. Crucially, it also focused on how families of the deceased are treated at every stage of the process.

Read full article >

Related Publications:

UN calls for end of ‘impunity’ for police violence against black people

29 June 2021

Report into deaths in custody in England and Wales ‘kicked into long grass’

1 November 2020

Campaigners alarmed at College of Policing ‘Protection after police contact’ policy

14 September 2020

Landmark review on deaths in police custody published today is an opportunity to save lives

30 October 2017

National Mikey Powell Family Fund 3rd grants round funding summary

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 19:48:34 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 10 June 2021

The third National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grant round closed on 7 June 2021. In this round the assessment team also acknowledged the easing of Covid-19 restrictions with a one-off gift to all successful applicants.

We successfully allocated £8,150 in grants to 19 families/campaigns in the third round. This also included uplift awards from the newly established Family Crisis Fund.

Recipients of grants included:

We are very proud to have been able to support the families and campaigns listed below, and are grateful to our volunteers, donors and supporters that made it all possible:

Abigail's Army
Charlie Todd Campaign
Charlie Millers Family
Marshalls Movement
Mother & Family of Jermaine Baker
Mother of Jermain Baker's daughter
Campaign for Saul Altal
Family of Henry Ballantyne
Justice For Marc Cole & Adrian McDonald
Family of Lloyd Butler
Justice for Winston
Azelle Rodney Campaign
Family of Joshua Weavers
Family of Kevin Clarke
Family of Tim Hunt
Family of Timothy Moxey
Justice for Mzee Mohammed
Justice 4 Daz
Family of Jason McPherson

Please see our 'Grants Awarded' page for details of some of the recipients:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/grants-awarded

Also see our 'Family Album' page for more featured images:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/family-album

'I know how George Floyd’s family feels, racist officers watched my brother die’

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 19:47:37 GMT

image credit: Josh Hild at www.Pexels.com

source: Hull Daily Mail | published: 2 June 2021

A year on from the murder of George Floyd, Janet Alder explains in her own words the pain of her brother’s death.

Christopher Alder , 37, died on the floor of a Hull police station in 1998 with officers standing around him allegedly making racist monkey noises. His sister Janet has been campaigning ever since for justice.

One year on since the death of George Floyd, Janet shares the similarities between the two cases and how Floyd’s tragic death brought back memories from her brother’s case.

A year has passed since I – along with the rest of the world – watched the video of George Floyd’s life being casually snuffed out in utter horror.

Seeing Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes, I even felt my own chest restricting and throat closing.

It reminded me of another black man I’d seen slowly die in police custody – my own brother, Christopher.

Read full article >

25 May 2021

4WardEverUK campaign media : 15 years on and more yet to come!

Sun, 16 May 2021 12:01:57 GMT

image credit: 4WardEverUK www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 8 May 2021

June 2021 will mark 15 years since the launch of 4WardEverUK in 2006 by Tippa Naphtali the cousin of Mikey Powell , who was killed in the custody of West Midlands police, Birmingham, UK in September 2003. Our purpose is to provide a one-stop-resource for profiles, news, event details, useful information, appeals, and more in relation to deaths in custody and other injustices in the UK and internationally.

Over the last 15 years 4WardEverUK has both maintained and established links with, and supported, campaigns both in the United Kingdom and abroad, held or co-produced many events, influenced local regional and national reforms; and been actively engaged in developing and overseeing custody initiatives working across statutory and community sectors.

See our factsheet here >

To mark its 15th anniversary 4WardEverUK will be continuing its current focus & mission, as well as working in collaboration with some other key partners such as the following:

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund

The National Memorial Family Fund is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths in custody. They will make small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the United Kingdom to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in a range of other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

The People’s Tribunal on Police Killings

The Tribunal will hear evidence regarding the above from families and other relevant parties. This will be presented to an international panel in a public forum. The panels decisions will then be implemented with the support of international bodies.

Catalyst 4 Change CIC

Catalyst supports community organisations, social enterprises, faith groups or businesses that have a significant African and Caribbean mental health / wellbeing service user base. They do this by providing learning seminars, networking opportunities, capacity building, incubation support, representation and research; and access to a professional services directory.

RedAlert HELP! (under development)

First conceived in 2014, RedAlert HELP! is now under development by 4WardEverUK and Catalyst 4 Change. The initiative already provides an online DIY support hub, and has aspirations to also provide advocacy support and a 24Hr telephone and text advice service for families affected by deaths or abuses in custody, or concerned about vulnerable relatives or friends detained in custody.

4WardEverUK pledge to continue their mission of bringing relevant news to the campaigning and general community, influencing change, supporting other justice initiatives and programmes to support victims of state injustice and wrongful killings.

“We face neither East nor West; We face forward. All men of goodwill, organize, organize, organize. We prefer self-government in danger, to servitude in tranquility. Forward ever, backward never” Dr Kwame Nkrumah

Find out out more about what 4WardEverUK does here >

Onward in 2021 and beyond…

The families of British men who died in police custody speak out

Sun, 16 May 2021 11:56:51 GMT

image credit: Duda Images from www.dudamobile.com

source: The Huff Post | published: 29 April 2021

Introduction: 4WardEverUK’s Tippa Naphtali said; “This is a powerful and comprehensive piece on custody deaths/killings and the National Memorial Family Fund. We are very grateful to Emma Youle (Special correspondent, HuffPost UK) and the families that participated.”

1,784 people have died in England and Wales after contact with the police since 1990 – yet no officer has been held to account.

The CCTV footage shows a man face down on the floor of a police station, handcuffed and unresponsive, as he gasps for breath.

Officers are heard laughing and joking while making monkey and chimpanzee noises, apparently unmoved by the desperate plight of the man in front of them.

To this day, Christopher Alder’s sister cannot understand how Humberside Police stood by, ignoring her brother’s need for help and mocking him as he died.

“They never even gave him a chance,” she says.

“They saw me and my family as just Black people that didn’t deserve any respect whatsoever. Christopher didn’t deserve any respect – he was Black, it didn’t matter. And, you know, the whole system has done it.”

Christopher, a father and former British Army paratrooper who had served in the Falklands, had been assaulted at a nightclub earlier that evening.

Janet has spent decades trying to piece together the events that followed, leaving her brother unconscious on the floor of the custody suite with his trousers around his knees.

Read full article >

National Memorial Family Fund 3rd funding round due to open

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 20:56:05 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 22 April 2021

We are pleased to announce the third round of National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund grants will open early in May 2021. We are also administering the Crisis Family Fund , launched in March 2021, which families can also apply to provided they meet the criteria.

Important: Affected families and/or campaigns will need to be registered on the NMPMFF website before applying for grants from the fund – various assessment partners are available to assist with applications.

This Family Fund round will officially open on 7 May 2021 and closes on 7 June 2021.

The exception to the above will be if it is confirmed by an Assessment Partner that the need is significantly urgent.

Third Round Family Fund Allocation:

The NMPMFF have set aside £5,000 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria for grants. However, in addition to the current conditions of grant, affected families can also apply for general cash support (via the Crisis Family Fund) if they have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or other emergency needs. This will be considered even if those families do not have an active campaign which is ongoing!

See full application details and guidance here >

............................................................................................................

Please direct any enquiries to Jaki Miller, Jenine Springer or Tippa Naphtali at enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Important Note: We are volunteers so responses may sometimes be delayed!

The National Memorial Family Fund : Ambitious plans for the future!

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 20:52:54 GMT

image credit: Migrant Media www.vimeo.com/migrantmedia

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 22 April 2021

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund has unveiled some ambitious plans for the future. It is hoped that the new initiatives will be rolled out over the next 3 years.

Support will also be provided by 4WardEverUK , Catalyst 4 Change CIC , Birmingham Irish Association , Migrant Media and the United Families & friends Campaign and others.

See current Memorial Family Fund grants and services here:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/future-plans

What the Family Fund plan to do!

As well as their current funding programmes and gifting schemes, we also aspire to develop other initiatives that recognise and support affected families.

National Events Programme

In June 2020 we announced that the Memorial Family Fund had appointed Catalyst 4 Change CIC to organise a series of national live music and arts events (subject to current COVID-19 restrictions). This has been made possible with a small part-funded grant from the Edge Fund together with our own investment. Read more here >

Annual Gala Dinner & Awards

Led by 4WardEverUK, the Memorial Family Fund plans to work with a range of other campaign and civil rights groups, individuals, charities and companies to launch the Annual Activists Awards & Gala Dinner. Its principle aim is to recognise those affected families and individuals that have influence structural change. Its secondary purpose is to raise the profile of, and resources for the Family Fund.

Regional 24-Hour Advice Lines

We aspire to develop regional helplines (in partnership with Red Alert HELP! for families concerned about a loved one detained in police, immigration, prison institutions or detained under the Mental Health Act.

Bereavement & Counselling Hubs

We aspire to develop a range of counselling & therapy hubs across the UK to help children, young people and families deal with the devastation following a custody death. They will work with established charities, companies and individuals ensuring that affected families can get the help they need as quickly as possible in their regions.

Year-Round Holiday Schemes

The Memorial Family Fund aspires to provide respite breaks, group outings and short UK-based holidays for families affected by custody deaths. These will include river & coach tours, activity & theme parks and self-catering breaks in some of the UK’s areas of outstanding beauty.

What you can do?

Can you help with the Memorial Family Funds’ aspirations? If you have skills, experience, knowledge, resources or connections that can help, please contact us .

See the Family Fund Q&A : REGISTER NOW!

Birmingham mental health unit suicide ‘didn’t need to happen’

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 20:48:15 GMT

image credit: Unsplash from www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: BBC News | published: 28 March 2021

The family of a woman who was the seventh person in as many years to take her own life by the same means at units run by an NHS trust said it “shouldn’t have happened” .

Azra Hussain, 41, died at the secure accommodation in Birmingham on 6 May. Mairi Ul Hasan said her mother “had her grandchildren to get to know [and] watch grow up” . An inquest concluded Ms Hussain would still be alive if not for a series of failures by a mental health trust.

Her daughters are now calling for a public inquiry after their mother’s death at Mary Seacole House , in Winson Green.

Since her death, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has demanded Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust update all its doors in secure accommodation by June. Ms Hussain, who experienced bipolar manic episodes, died despite being on 15-minute observations.

“It’s been heartbreaking, it’s been awful,” Ms Ul Hasan said. “I can’t even comprehend or put it into words how awful it’s been, she shouldn’t have died, it shouldn’t have happened, it didn’t need to happen.

“She was gone too soon… she had the rest of her life to live, she had her grandchildren to get to know [and] watch grow up. She didn’t deserve all the pain, all the suffering,” she added.

Read the full article >

20 September 2020

Mental Health related deaths

28 December 2019

Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust – Learning from Deaths

January 2018

National Mikey Powell Family Fund & UFFC launch Crisis Family Fund

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 18:25:45 GMT

image credit: Friends of Mikey Powell www.mikeypowell-campaign.org.uk

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 27 February 2021

The National Memorial Family Fund launches its new funding stream called the Crisis Family Fund on 1 March 2021 in partnership with the United Families & Friends Campaign ( UFFC ).

The Crisis Family Fund will be generally open for applications ( subject to available resources ) for urgent needs of affected families in-between the standard grant rounds programme which is only open periodically.

This will be a fast-track process for urgent requests only . Family Fund Assessment Partners will largely drive the application process, with quick decisions made by our team.

The Process:

The first stage of the current process ( registration ) and grant limits will still apply, but from that point forward there is a simple endorsement form that Assessment Partners will submit to the Memorial Family Fund - and that's it!

View or download the full guidance here >

Further details about our funding programmes : Click here >

See the National Family Album : Take a look here >

BLM UK to fund ‘people’s tribunal’ for deaths in custody

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 18:20:00 GMT

image credit: United Families & Friends www.uffcampaign.org

all credits: The Guardian | first published: 17 February 2021

Black Lives Matter UK has announced £45,000 of funding to the United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) to set up a “people’s tribunal” for deaths in custody.

The coalition group of family members who have lost loved ones in state custody, formed in 1997, is so far the largest recipient of Black Lives Matter UK’s initial round of funding.

Black Lives Matter UK announced last month its plan to release more than £100,000 to black-led organisations across the country. The campaign group received £1.2m in donations via a GoFundMe appeal, following widespread protests last summer [2020].

UFFC, which supports families of people who have died in police custody, prisons and secure medical units, has welcomed the support of Black Lives Matter UK, which will be active partners in the tribunal.

Read full article >

See UFFC's official statement >

New National Family Fund collaborative services announced

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:50:44 GMT

image credit: Merelize from www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 9 February 2021

The National Memorial Family Fund is to launch two new services in March & April called the Crisis Family Fund and the Two-Way Give-Back initiative respectively, in partnership with the United Families & Friends Campaign ( UFFC ).

The Crisis Family Fund

Essentially this is a fund that will always be open for applications (subject to available resources) in-between the standard grant rounds programme which is intermittent.

This will be a fast-track process for urgent requests only . Family Fund Assessment Partners will largely drive the application process, with quick decisions made by our team.

The Process: The first stage of the current process ( registration ) and grant limits will still apply, but from that point forward there is a simple endorsement form that Assessment Partners will submit to the Memorial Family Fund - and that's it!

The Two-Way Give-Back initiative

COVID-19 means we all have to work differently to survive and in order to support each other in the difficult times still ahead of us. As a result, the National Family Fund wanted to find a way to support local and creative enterprises whilst also supporting families affected by custody deaths… The Two-Way Give-Back initiative was born!

How it works: We will block-purchase services or products and offer them to affected families at heavily discounted prices. When families use/order services or products we’ve previously purchased, vendors simply give a percentage back to the fund.

An affected family member or campaign group (subject to terms) can claim any one of the products or services available in our Give-Back Shop. All they have to do is make contact with us, confirm a few details, and we'll put them in touch with the relevant vendor.

Further details to be announced : Register for news updates >

National Family Fund 2nd grants round & UFFC Gift Fund summary

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:46:21 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 9 February 2021

The second National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grant round closed on 7 February 2021, as well as the United Families & Friends Campaign ( UFFC ) Children's Xmas Fund that we managed on their behalf.

We successfully allocated £2,300 in grants to 4 families/campaigns in this round. The average grants were in the range of £250 to £400+ dependent on the need identified.

Recipients of Family Fund grants included:

We are very proud to have been able to support the families and campaigns listed below, and are grateful to our volunteers, donors and supporters that made it all possible:

Justice for Grant Alam
Cherry Groce Memorial Appeal
Justice for Allan Marshall
Family of Jake Anderson

Please see our 'Grants Awarded' page for details of some of the recipients:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/grants-awarded

Check out the National Family Album:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/family-album

Recipients of Children's Xmas Gift Fund grants included:

A total of £200 was paid out as gifts to children under the age of 18 years old.

UFFC are likely to pay out further awards from their Gift Fund in due course.

National Mikey Powell Family Fund & UFFC to launch Crisis Family Fund

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 15:31:48 GMT

image credit: Unsplash from www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 23 January 2021

The National Memorial Family Fund is to add a new funding stream called the Crisis Family Fund in March 2021 in partnership with the United Families & Friends Campaign ( UFFC ).

Essentially this is a fund that will always be open for applications (subject to available resources) in-between the standard grant rounds programme which is intermittent.

This will be a fast-track process for urgent requests only . Family Fund Assessment Partners will largely drive the application process, with quick decisions made by our team.

The Process:

We'll be providing more information in February 2021.

Further details about our funding programmes : Click here >

See the National Family Album : Take a look here >

Landmark reform of UK mental health law is on the cards

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 15:15:01 GMT

image credit: rebcenter from www.Pexels.com

source: 4WardEverUK | first published: 13 January 2021

The UK Government says that major reform of the Mental Health Act will empower individuals to have more control over their treatment and deliver on a key manifesto commitment.

People with mental health issues who are detained under the Mental Health Act will benefit from landmark reforms which provide more control over their care and treatment, the government has announced today.

Take part in the Public Consultation (click here)

The government want your views on changes to the Mental Health Act to help put patients at the center of decisions about their own care. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 21 April 2021.

A package of reforms has been set out in a wide-ranging new Reforming the Mental Health Act white paper, which builds on the recommendations made by Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review of the Mental Health Act in 2018.

Read full article here >

National Memorial Family Fund 2nd funding round opens

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:30:02 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 14 June 2020

We are extremely pleased to announce ( following Round 1 Grants ), the second round of National Memorial Family Fund grants opened on 7 December 2020 (We are also administering the UFFC Children’s Christmas Gift Fund ) which families can also apply to.

Important: Affected families and/or campaigns will need to be registered on the NMPMFF website before applying for grants from the fund – various assessment partners are available to assist with applications.

The second Memorial Family Fund round officially opened on 7 December 2020 and will close on 7 February 2021.

The main difference in this second round (compared to round one) is that grants will not be awarded/issued on a rolling basis , but rather final decisions will be made after the closing date on 7 February 2021.

The exception to the above will be if it is confirmed by an Assessment Partner that the need is significantly urgent.

Second Round Family Fund Allocation:

The NMPMFF have set aside £10,000 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria for grants. However, in addition to the current conditions of grant, affected families can also apply for general cash support if they have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . This will be considered even if those families do not have an active campaign which is ongoing!

See full details and guidance here >

UFFC Children’s Christmas Gift Fund:

We are also administering the United Families & Friends Campaigns Children’s Christmas Gift Fund. UFFC have set aside up to £2,800 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria.

Families can apply to the Children’s Christmas Gift Fund immediately.

See full details and guidance here >

...................................................................................................................

Please direct any enquiries to Jaki Miller, Jenine Springer or Tippa Naphtali at enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Important Note: We are volunteers so responses may sometimes be delayed!

National Family Fund & UFFC Gift Fund announce 2nd funding round

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 20:07:53 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 10 November 2020

We are extremely pleased to announce ( following Round 1 Grants ), the second round of National Memorial Family Fund grants opening on 7 December 2020 (We are also administering the UFFC Children’s Christmas Gift Fund ) which families can also apply to.

Important: Affected families and/or campaigns will need to be registered on the NMPMFF website before applying for grants from the fund – various partners are available to assist families with applications.

The second Family Fund round opens on 7 December 2020 and closes on 7 February 2021.

The exception to the above will be if it is confirmed by an Assessment Partner that the need is significantly urgent.

Listen to Tippa Naphtali (joined by Ken Fero & Michelle Kelly)

Unity FM 93.5 FM ( www.unityfm.net ) 'What Shape Are You In' programme aired on 28 October 2020, t alking about the National Memorial Family Fund, the Ultraviolence film, and counselling/wellbeing services.

Second Round Family Fund Allocation:

The NMPMFF have set aside up to £10,000 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria for grants. However, in addition to the current conditions of grant, affected families can request general cash support if they have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be considered even if those families do not have an active campaign which is ongoing!

UFFC Children’s Christmas Gift Fund:

We are also administering the United Families & Friends Campaigns Children’s Christmas Gift Fund. UFFC have set aside up to £2,800 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria.

This fund will make a £50 Christmas payment to any affected child whose parent or carer was a victim of state custody death. The funds must be used for the direct benefit or enjoyment of that child over the Christmas& New Year period.

Families can apply to the Children's Christmas Gift Fund immediately .

The only conditions that apply are that:

The child must be under 16 years of age
A parent or carer of the child died in state custody
Families that received Family Fund or Gift Fund awards in round one (ended in Sept 2020) are not generally eligible for this scheme
Interested families should complete the expression of interest form ( click here )

What Family Fund applicants need to do?

It is very important that applicants follow the advice provided in the Family Fund Quick Guide , to ensure that they are both eligible and ready to complete an application:

:: Click here for the Quick Guide ::

Please direct any Family Fund enquiries to Jenine Springer, Jaki Miller or Tippa Naphtali at enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Important Note: We are volunteers so responses to emails may sometimes be delayed!

See the Family Fund Q&A : REGISTER NOW!

UFFC Rally 2020 : Memorial family event takes place online

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 20:01:55 GMT

image credit: Panther Manchanda

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 1 November 2020

In October 2020 the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC) annual protest & rally moved online with a powerful video tribute that remembered the victims and heard from some of the families affected.

UFFC extended their thanks to Ken Fero of Migrant Media for compiling the film. It will remain online permanently for viewing at any time.

The film includes moving and powerful statements from and short clips about several families including those of Christopher Alder , Kingsley Burrell , Gaia Pope , Justice for the 96 , Darren Neville , Sheku Bayoh , Cherry Groce , Jack Susianta , Allan Marshall and many others. It also included footage from past annual rallies, a musical tribute to 33 killings by the state, an appeal by the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund , a moving tribute to Matthew James Leahy and much more .

‘There were almost 700 views of the film within the first 24-hours of its release’

As a response to the killing of George Floyd in the United States, UFFC saw unprecedented donations from the public towards its work, and is now poised to consult families nationally, reaffirm its membership, announce its next annual general meeting and strategic plan. Further updates to follow in 2021.

The UFFC looks forward to 2021 when it is hoped they will once again take their protest to the heart of government in central London. Keep informed here >

A number of significant developments preceded this years event:

(not listed in order of date)

The National Memorial Family Fund

The National Memorial Family Fund delivered its very first grant funding round in September 2020 and awarded over £8,000 to 19 families from across the UK affected by state deaths. Grants were for campaign resources, respite, counselling, publications and small business start-up support costs. The second grant round is to be announced shortly.

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Ultraviolence: the new film about deaths in police custody

Two decades ago the police tried to silence Ken Fero’s fearless documentary Injustice. Twenty years later, his follow-up is filled with even more pain and outrage. Ultraviolence was launched at the BFI Film Festival in October 2020. Producers Migrant Media said; “The silence over the police killings of Black people is now broken. Since 1969, over two thousand people have died at the hands of the police in the UK. Shootings, chokeholds, batons, gassing, suffocation, restraint and brutal beatings are some of the methods used.”

www.ultraviolencefilm.com

1Extra Talks (BBC UK Sounds)

This programme was aired shortly before the 2020 memorial. Reece Parkinson and Shahlaa Tahira explore how we might change the police in the UK. Features several families, campaign and reform groups speaking about the controversy of police killings and custody deaths.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000nvqf

Families ‘appalled’ as new law grants officers anonymity

Families of people who have died in police custody have expressed serious concerns about a new policy which gives anonymity to the officers involved. Campaign groups and relatives say it will now be even harder to hold police accountable under the ramped up policy, which came into force in July 2020. Read the article here >

The UFFC 22nd annual memorial family event for 2020 moves online

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 22:26:53 GMT

image credit: Panther Manchanda

source: United Families & Friends Campaign | published: 4 October 2020

Due to Covid restrictions UFFC will be holding this years 22nd annual memorial event online.

All families are requested to submit a two-minute clip of the story of their loved ones making sure they mention their name and details of what happened.

Please send your clips to contactuffc@gmail.com

The deadline for sending in your clips is on the 20 October 2020 , no later than 12:00pm.

These will all be edited together and released across all UFFC and partner platforms at 1:00pm on Saturday 31st October 2020. We will also be releasing it across all media.

This is open to all families as a way of remembering our loved ones. We hope that all our supporters will help to promote the online release and be part of this remembrance action on the day.

Further details will be released in the run-up to the day.

Watch Migrant Media’s groundbreaking documentary ‘INJUSTICE’ about the struggles for justice by the victims families and the formation of the UFFC.

The UFFC national rally supports

The National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund

Every year since 1999, the UFFC holds its annual remembrance procession from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street to remember loved ones who have died in custody.

Watch Migrant Media’s groundbreaking documentary ‘INJUSTICE’ about the struggles for justice by the victims families and the formation of UFFC.

The UFFC was set up by the families who had lost loved ones at the hands of the state to challenge the injustice in the system. It began as a network of black families because disproportionate numbers of BME people were dying in police custody. It has now grown to include families of all races that die in custody.

Come and support the families of those who have died at the hands of police, prison and secure medical units in the UK.

The UFFC network includes the families of: Leon Patterson, Roger Sylvester, Rocky Bennett, Harry Stanley, Sean Rigg, Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah, Azelle Rodney, Christopher Alder, Brian Douglas, Joy Gardner, Paul Jemmott, Ricky Bishop, Mikey Powell, Jason McPherson, Sarah Campbell, Jimmy Mubenga, Paul Coker, Mark Duggan, Sheku Bayoh, Olaseni Lewis, James Herbert, Kingsley Burrell, Thomas Orchard, Amy El-Keria, Darren Neville, Jason McDonald, Philmore Mills, Mzee Mohammed, Adrian McDonald, Rashan Charles, Edson da Costa, Mark Cole and many others.

Supported by: 4WardEverUK, Migrant Media, INQUEST, UNISON, RMT, FBU, UNITE, Tottenham Rights, Sisters Uncut, London Campaign Against Police & State Violence, LARAG, NMP, Pan African Society Community Forum, Institute of Race Relations, Edge Fund, Black Lives Matter UK, National Union of Students and Defend The Right to Protest.

“We look forward to seeing you – No Justice No Peace”

RAAH Fest 2020: ‘Stronger together than divided’ supports the National Family Fund

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 22:23:04 GMT

image credit: Rhiann Francis

source: RAAH.Fest | published: September 2020

So what is RAAH.Fest? It is a charity music festival to amplify the voices of young people affected by migration displacement, human trafficking and racial discrimination.

RAAH. Fest is 100% run by volunteers and supports people and charities in the youth sector.

This year the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund is amongst the 20 charities selected to benefit from the funds that are raised this year.

Where are all the donations going?

“No one should feel like they don’t belong, which is why RAAH. Fest supports some pretty amazing charities. These charities are dedicated to putting an end to human trafficking and racial discrimination and the negative impacts of migration displacement.

“We are dedicated to making every penny count!

“Funds raised by RAAH. Fest will go towards helping our selected charities, providing grants for individuals/grassroots projects and ensuring RAAH. can continue to do good.”

Learn more here >

Watch Promotional Video - Click Here >

Subscribe to the RAAH.Fest YouTube channel. This will build RAAH’s viewings for the day of the festival – so it is essential! (Click Here)

RAAH Fest Fund is a restricted fund operating under the auspices of Prism the Gift Fund, Registered Charity Number: 1099682.

Important & Useful References:

See more about RAAH.Fest here >

National Mikey Powell Family Fund 1st grants round funding summary

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 21:50:48 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 14 September 2020

The very first ever National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grant round closed on 7 September 2020, acknowledging the anniversary of Mikey Powell's death.

We successfully allocated £8,350 in grants to 19 families/campaigns in the first round. The average grants were in the range of £250 to £650+ dependent on the need identified.

Recipients of grants included:

We are very proud to have been able to support the families and campaigns listed below, and are grateful to our volunteers, donors and supporters that made it all possible:

Justice for Gaia
Justice For Marc Cole & Adrian McDonald
Justice for Cameron 'CBO' Whelan
JusticeForJack
Azelle Rodney Campaign
Justice for Seni
Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign
The Forgotten
Lloyd Butler
Justice For Joy
Justice 4 Daz
Justice for Christopher Alder
Jason Mcpherson
Justice for Kingsley Burrell
Justice for Mzee Mohammed
Leon Patterson Campaign
Justice for Winston
Justice4TerryRoberts
Robert Waller Campaign

Please see our 'Grants Awarded' page for details of some of the recipients:

www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/grants-awarded

Memorial Fund Family Album: We developing a gallery of images - keep informed!

From the makers of INJUSTICE comes Ultraviolence

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 21:48:36 GMT

image credit: United Families & Friends Campaign

source: British Film Institute | published: September 2018

15 years after Ken Fero’s ground-breaking film Injustice, which examined deaths in police custody, comes a compelling follow-up that feels as timely as ever.

Since 1969, there have been over 2000 deaths in police custody in the UK. It is a frightening statistic that Ken Fero approaches with seasoned conviction.

Ultraviolence employs unflinching archival footage to document the tragic and undignified deaths that took place between 1995 and 2005. Victims include Fero’s classmate Brian Douglas and Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot and killed whilst travelling on the London underground.

With intimate access to a variety of sources, Fero encounters families devastated by these killings and subsequently thwarted in their struggle for justice. Ultraviolence shows a corrupt system failing UK citizens. An essential starting point in understanding the urgency felt amongst many UK social movements today, Fero’s film is all too prescient

Read original article >

Ken Fero : Filmmaker:

Filmmaker Ken Fero , is the director of numerous documentaries including the multi-award-winning Injustice . The film chronicles the fight for justice of seven families whose members died in police custody. None of the police officers involved in any of these killings have been prosecuted or disciplined.

Alarm at College of Policing’s ‘protection after police contact deaths’ policy

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 21:45:27 GMT

image credit: Duda Images from www.dudamobile.com

source: Naphtali & Associates | published: 14 September 2020

Families of custody death victims and campaign groups have raised serious concerns about the College of Policing’s recent announcement of a new ‘Protection after police contact deaths’ policy in conjunction with the Police Federation.

In a statement on the Police Federation website they said; “Officers involved in deaths or serious injuries will be given protection in College of Policing policy – akin to colleagues who carry firearms. Today (July 6) the College has launched a Death or Serious Injury Authorised Professional Practice (DSI APP) policy.”

Police Federation of England and Wales’ Post Incident Procedure Lead Steve Hartshorn, said; “There has been a deaths or serious injury policy in place for firearms for many years which has been tested through the courts and has set a standard that protects officers and assists with the provision of best evidence.

“I am pleased to say this new policy from the College of Policing will afford those same protections to all our officers and staff.”

Some of what families and campaign groups have said:

Debbie Whelan (Justice for Cameron Whelan)

“Slipped that one in under the radar didn’t they, it’s a shame they don’t afford the same to the families of the people they kill.”

Lisa Cole (Justice For Marc Cole & Adrian McDonald)

“Absolutely vile. Look at the wording, When they should be in prison they get ‘welfare support packages’ instead. It absolutely boils my blood! You’ve got a coppers wife pushing for Harper’s law when those kids who killed him are already in prison, as if police are somehow more deserving of life than our children. I can’t even read it properly I’m so angry!”

Tippa Naphtali (4WardEverUK & The Friends of Mikey Powell)

“Yes. Saw a summary of this recently. It requires a coordinated and unified response which I’m investigating over coming weeks. A disgrace!!! Fly’s in the face of the Dame Elish Angiolini’s report a few years back.”

Tippa Naphtali (representing 4WardEverUK, The National memorial Fund and The United Families & Friends Campaign) has formally approached the charity INQUEST to clarify what actions can be taken to respond to this unsavoury development.

Further news to follow!

The National Family Fund is now formally incubated by Catalyst4Change

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 12:11:44 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 8 August 2020

We are pleased to announce that ( with effect from 29 July 2020 ) the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) is now formally incubated by West Midlands based social enterprise Catalyst 4 Change , thereby taking on its legal identity but maintaining our operational independence.

Catalyst 4 Change has a powerful social mission to strengthen the capacity and networks of user-led, voluntary, social enterprise, grassroots, statutory organisations and businesses to ensure the right mental health care is in place.

The Catalyst 4 Change team is made up of directors and associates that came together in 2015 with a shared vision to tackle mental health inequalities, and support grassroots activities aimed at those affected. The team have several decades of combined experience in delivering a range of wellbeing and community initiatives to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

How this helps the National Family Fund!

Being incubated by Catalyst 4 Change provides the NMPMFF with a legally constituted lead/governing body to guide and administer good governance and accountability practices. The incubation also opens up new avenues of funding and income generation for the NMPMFF until it is formally constituted in its own right.

Other long term aims of the NMPMFF include:

Stage a range of national events (e.g. live music, theatre & drama, films & Q&A’s etc) to raise both awareness of the issues of deaths in custody in the UK, and revenue for the fund
Develop regional helplines ( in partnership with Red Alert HELP! ) for families concerned about a loved one detained in police, immigration, prison institutions or detained under the Mental Health Act
Develop a range of counselling & therapy hubs across the UK to help children, young people and families deal with the devastation following a custody death
Provide respite, group outings and short UK-based holidays for families affected

Mikey’s cousin, Tippa Naphtali said;

“This fund has the potential to make a real difference for families and their campaign groups that need financial support during the often long and drawn out struggles for justice that can last for decades.

“The needs of affected families and children can often get lost in the equally important work of campaigning and lobbying of state institutions. We want to change that with a permanent national support fund set up specifically for their needs.“

See the Family Fund Q&A : REGISTER NOW!

National Mikey Powell Family Fund 1st funding round opens

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 20:09:35 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 7 July 2020

We are extremely pleased to announce that the first ever National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) grants round officially opened for families/campaigns affected by custody deaths on 7 July 2020.

The first round will close on 7 September 2020 (the 17th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell ) or when all funds set aside for this round have been allocated.

What applicants need to do?

See full details and guidance here >

Please direct any enquiries to Jenine Springer, Jaki Miller or Tippa Naphtali at enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Important Note: We are volunteers so responses may sometimes be delayed!

The future for the National Memorial Family Fund

As well as the core purpose of providing small grants to affected families/campaigns, the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund will also:

Stage a range of national events (e.g. live music, theatre & drama, films & Q&A’s etc) to raise both awareness of the issues of deaths in custody in the UK, and revenue for the fund
Develop regional helplines ( in partnership with Red Alert HELP! ) for families concerned about a loved one detained in police, immigration, prison institutions or detained under the Mental Health Act
Develop a range of counselling & therapy hubs across the UK to help children, young people and families deal with the devastation following a custody death
Provide respite, group outings and short UK-based holidays for families affected

Mikey’s cousin, Tippa Naphtali said;

See the Family Fund Q&A : REGISTER NOW!

National Mikey Powell Family Fund announce 1st funding round

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 19:31:30 GMT

image credit: www.4wardeveruk.org

source: 4WardEverUK | published: 14 June 2020

We are extremely pleased to announce that after 5 years of fundraising, the first ever National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) round will open for grant applications from 7 July 2020.

Important: Affected families and/or campaigns will need to be registered on the NMPMFF website before applying for grants from the fund – various partners are available to assist with applications.

The first round opens on 7 July and will close on 7 September 2020 (the 17th anniversary of the death of Mikey Powell ) or when all funds set aside for this round have been allocated.

The NMPMFF have set aside £10,000 to be distributed to applicants that meet the criteria for grants. However, in addition to the current conditions of grant, affected families can also apply for general cash support if they have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . This will be considered even if those families do not have an active campaign which is ongoing!

What applicants need to do?

It is important that applicants follow the advice in the order of appearance below , to ensure that they are both eligible and ready to submit an application:

Carefully read and understand the conditions of grant Q&A – www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/questions
Contact one of our Assessment Partners in your region or who you may already have links to – www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/partners (we strongly advise applications via our partners) *
Either with the assistance of an Assessment Partner or by completing yourself, * you must register with the NMPMFF to be eligible to apply to the fund – www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/register-now
Wait until 7th July before applying – Unfortunately, applications received prior to the opening date will be held over until the next funding round. So it is very important that the opening date is observed!
Applicants can submit through an Assessment Partner or complete the application online – www.memorialfamilyfund.org.uk/apply-online (Remember, you must register your family/campaign to be eligible)

Please direct any enquiries to Jaki Miller or Tippa Naphtali at enquiries@memorialfamilyfund.org.uk

Important Note: We are volunteers so responses may sometimes be delayed!

National Family Fund – Unprecedented donations in calls for justice

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 19:10:01 GMT

image credit: Jack Moreh from www.FreeRangeStock.com

source: National Memorial Family Fund | published: 14 June 2020

Initially triggered by the controversial death of George Floyd , subsequent international protests and a Tweet from Oonagh Ryder and subsequent follow-up Tweets by Lucy Brisbane McKay ( @lucybrisbane ) and others, we received unprecedented donations to the National Mikey Powell Memorial Family Fund (NMPMFF) in May and June 2020.

During this period we received over 900 single donations, and monthly donors increase from a few dozen to 140+ and thereby ensuring good levels of regular donor income.

This has meant that the NMPMFF is now poised to open the first ever funding round since it launched the original Crowdfunder appeal in September 2015.

The Memorial Family Fund is the first permanent national resource of its kind specifically for those that are affected by deaths in custody. It will make small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the United Kingdom to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in a range of other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives.

Tippa Naphtali (founder of the National Memorial Family Fund) said;

“We are so grateful to all those that shared on Twitter, made donations and subscribed to monthly donations. Just shows what can be done when we ‘put our backs into it’ in a concerted way. Thank you all”

The invisible children (Victims of United Kingdom prison system)

Sat, 02 May 2020 21:00:27 GMT

image credit: joetherasakdhi from www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

source: PrisonPhone | published: 25 February 2020

Earlier this week, the BBC released an article on their ‘newsbeat’ page (news aimed at young adults) in which they had spoken to Toni. Toni was 11 when her mum was sent to prison, she also had 2 sisters. The 23 year old sister had just had a baby, and had to then take care of Toni and her 9 year old sister.

As adults, we feel great sympathy for children going through the trauma of a parent being taken away from the home, however, can we really empathise?

We have all been children at some point, obviously, but unless we went through that specific trauma at that specific age, I think it’s really difficult to be able to fully understand.

In the article it explains how Toni felt she couldn’t be upset, as her little sister copied her, and she didn’t want her feeling sad. She then reflects on this stating “I don’t think I properly processed my emotions at the time”, which is almost certainly the case, and quite damaging.

There are several charities which have the sole aim to assist families at times like this, with trained professionals who can give useful advice to those who need it. I will pop some details at the bottom of this post.

However, currently schools are not informed when a parent goes to prison. Just making this small step a major priority can make a huge difference to the child involved.

Read full article >

UFFC 20th Anniversary conference and rally (held October 2018)

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 00:36:03 GMT

image credit: Natasha Thompson ( INQUEST )

source: Tippa Naphtali | published: 2 November 2018

This year the United Families marked the 20th year of the annual rally and protest by also holding a conference on 26 October, followed by the rally on 27 October from Trafalgar Square to 10 Downing Street.

The conference entitled Interrogating State Violence: Custodial Deaths, Justice and Resistance was a co-production by the Centre for Research on Race and Law, United Families & Friends Campaign, Migrant Media and 4WardEverUK.

Over 250 people attended the conference held at The Light, Friends House in Euston London. It was opened by Akala (BAFTA and MOBO award-winning hip-hop artist, writer and social entrepreneur, Supporter of UFFC), with a powerful statement on social justice and progression which earned him a standing ovation.

Other keynote speakers included Janet Alder , the sister of Christopher Alder who died in Hull Police Station in 1998 and who has campaigned for justice ever since, and Sherene Razack , distinguished Canadian Professor and the Penney Kanner Endowed Chair in Women’s Studies.

A number of other presentations were delivered by family campaigns, support organisations and scholars including Saqib Deshmukh ( Justice for Paps Ullah Campaign ), Deborah Coles ( INQUEST ), Marcia Rigg and Aji Lewis ( Justice for Sean Rigg Campaign and Justice for Seni Lewis Campaign ), Tippa Naphtali ( Mikey Powell Campaign / 4WardEverUK ), Dinesh Napal (Graduate in Law, Development and Globalisation) and many others.

The conference also included a screening of INJUSTICE (by Migrant Media/Ken Fero & Tariq Mehmood) which highlights the struggles for justice by the families of people that have died in police custody (Winner Best Documentary BFM London Film Festival 2002, Winner National Social Justice Award 2003, Winner Best Documentary (Human Rights) One World Film Festival 2003. Distributed by the BFI).

The UFFC rally & protest:

This years event was attended by about 400 people including the family campaigns of Kingsley Burrell, Leon Patterson, Kishni Mahay, Marc Cole, Sheku Beyoh and many others, as well as groups such as INQUEST, Fight Police Brutality, Black Lives Matter, London Against Police Violence and others.

Families addressed the crowd giving their accounts of what happened to their loved ones and their long and continuing fights for justice and accountability.

In July 2018 it was revealed that police custody deaths had hit the highest level in a decade following a 64% increase in the space of just one year. Figures published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) shows there were 23 police custody deaths in 2017/18, compared with just 14 the year before, marking a sharp spike amid a trend of falling numbers over the past decade. Read more here >

In April 2018 reports also circulated regarding The disproportionate number of deaths of black and brown people in incidents with the police, and that structural racism remains rooted in the fabric of British society. A panel of UN human rights experts cited data from the Metropolitan police showing a disproportionate number of minority ethnic people – particularly those of African or Caribbean descent – dying due to excessive use of force by the state.

Read more here >

Activist and campaigner, Tippa Naphtali , spoke passionately for the need to support the National Memorial Family Fund . The fund was to be the first permanent national resource of its kind for those affected by deaths in custody, making small grants available for families and their campaign groups across the UK to provide practical domestic assistance, to further the work of their own campaigns or to assist them in engaging in other local, regional or national campaigns, events and initiatives. Watch the video here >

See images from the conference and rally via 4WardEver on Flickr and Outside The Whale Pics .