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Celebrating Bi Visibility Day

By Jenny Crocker, Co-Chair of Riverside’s LGBT staff network Spectrum Since 1999, Bi Visibility Day has been held on September 23, and is a day to recognise and celebrate bisexuality, bisexual history, community and culture. Bisexual and bi are umbrella terms used to refer to sexual orientations which express sexual and/or emotional attraction to more

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We all have a role to play in ending homelessness

Homelessness is on the increase and solutions are needed. Everyone in the sector must step up to the plate, argues Carol Matthews I am very fortunate in my role that I get to travel around the country seeing so many wonderful places. Whether it be an ambitious regeneration project or retirement living scheme, I am always

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Pan-northern infrastructure investment will ensure the North realises its potential

Roof tops in Headingley, Leeds.

The government’s Northern Powerhouse appears to remain on the agenda, but polices towards housebuilding must match the rebalancing ambition, warns Carol Matthews. ‘The Northern Powerhouse is a vision for joining up the North’s great towns, cities and counties, pooling their strengths, and tackling major barriers to productivity to unleash the full economic potential of the North’.

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Moving city stresses for the trans community

trans-flag

By Draiton Berridge, Support Worker Since my last blog, which you can read here, I have moved from St Patrick’s Supported Living Scheme in Brighton to Willow Walk in Cambridge, a decision to stay with Riverside and scope out new experiences and opportunities in East Anglia. A recurring issue in the trans community is changing

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Riverside calls for an end to the five week wait after survey shows two fifths of UC claimants are forced to use foodbanks

Universal Credit logo

Survey finds that two-fifths of Riverside’s UC claimants (41%) have had to rely on help from food banks More than 80% said the wait for their first Universal Credit payment had caused them financial hardship Arrears for Riverside’s UC claimants are more than three and a half times higher than those who are not claiming – average arrears

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Eat Together: Benefits of social eating

Riverside’s Eat Together campaign is promoting the many benefits of social eating and to highlight this, John Glenton, Riverside’s Executive Director of Care and Support, shares his experiences of eating together and how it can have a positive effect on mental health and wellbeing and social inclusion. There are so many benefits from eating with

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Housing Associations must work with private developers if we are to solve the housing crisis

An increasing number of associations are striking deals with developers to deliver much-needed homes and Carol Matthews, Riverside’s Chief Executive, argues that this is one vital way to tackle the housing crisis. England needs four million new homes. Last summer the National Housing Federation and Crisis published groundbreaking research showing that as a country we need

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Dementia Action Week 2019: The importance of becoming a Dementia Friend

Sally Nicholson, Head of Operations

Sally Nicholson, Riverside’s Head of Operations, explains why she became a Dementia Friend when her grandmother, Dorothy, was diagnosed in 2007 and how easy it is to become one.   I started becoming more aware of Dementia personally when my grandma was diagnosed in 2007. I remember the date as it was the month that

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The Homeless Reduction Act one year on

Riverside Street Buddy Ashley Maigwa chats to a homeless man on the streets of Westminster.

John Glenton, Riverside’s Executive Director of Care and Support, looks at the measures councils can put in place to deliver better outcomes for people affected by homelessness and save money.  A year on from its introduction we still passionately believe the Homelessness Reduction Act has the potential to transform how we support homeless people in England. Now

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Celebrating International Women’s Day

Smira Khalid, Housing Officer.

On International Women’s Day Smira Khalid, Riverside’s Housing Officer, talks about being the first female in her family to graduate from university and thanks her mum for inspiring her. International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year and is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights. Its roots date back to 1909 when the

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