General News Benefit fraudsters avoid jail A Hove couple who fraudulently claimed nearly £54,000 in benefits while running a lettings agency were handed suspended jail sentences at Brighton Crown Court today, Friday, 27 February. His Honour Judge Tain sentenced James Furness, 50, formerly of St Aubyns, Hove, to a term of 16 months in prison By Besi • 2 min read
General News Reverbathon is back! RadioReverb celebrates its 8th Birthday with an all live marathon weekend starting March 6. RadioReverb is a community radio station run entirely by volunteers and turns eight this March. To celebrate, the station will be broadcasting a Reverbathon live from the evening of Friday, 6 March to midnigh By Besi • 2 min read
Arts Stonewall launches young writers’ competition Stonewall, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality charity, has launched its first Young Writers’ competition for budding authors between the ages of 14 and 17. The competition invites young people to submit short stories and poems that support the theme of ‘LGBT equality: changing hearts and By Besi • 2 min read
General News Research finds new cyclists are still disproportionately young and male New research based on the analysis of Census 2001 and 2011 data has found that growing cycling levels have not been accompanied by greater age and gender diversity. The research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and part of a project led by the Centre for Diet and Activity By Besi • 2 min read
LGBTQ+ News Sheila McWattie – funeral arrangements Sheila McWattie, who died suddenly last week, will be laid to rest on Thursday, February 26 at 4.30 p.m. Sheila’s funeral will take place in the South Chapel at Woodvale Crematorium, Lewes Rd, Brighton, BN2 3QB. Friends attending the funeral are asked to bring a single orange or yellow flower and a By Besi • 1 min read
National News Labour promise to ban MPs from taking second jobs Following the cash-for-questions revelations last week concerning two former Home Secretaries, Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw, the Labour Party has announced that no sitting Labour MP will be able to take a paid directorship or consultancy from May 7. If elected to Government on May 7, Labour will m By Besi • 2 min read
Arts PREVIEW: Women take centre stage at Brighton Early Music Festival The programme for Brighton Early Music Festival 2015 will be one of the country’s largest celebrations of WOMEN – as composers, performers, inspirational characters, muses and symbols – including the largest UK celebration of women composers of the past. Festival highlights include a new production By Besi • 2 min read
International News Who’s the Pride daddy in 2015? Men’s tent return to Brighton Pride. If you go down to Preston Park on August 1 you’ll be sure of big bear surprise! The Brighton Pride Men’s Zone, supported by Brighton Bear Weekender is back; bigger, better and more Bear-tastic than ever before. The popular Men’s Dance Tent along with the scene’s By Besi • 1 min read
General News Health Secretary to visit Royal Sussex County Hospital today Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, will be welcoming the Health Secretary to the Royal Sussex County Hospital this week. THE visit comes as Mr Kirby has been pressing the Department of Health and the Chancellor for an additional £60 million for the Royal Sussex County Hospital. By Besi • 1 min read
LGBTQ+ News FA develop Trans* inclusion in football policy On Saturday February 7, the FA opened its doors to a group of 14 transgender footie fans. Ages present at the workshop ranged between 10 – 59 and the group came together to think about the best ways to include trans people who participate in football – as players, coaches, match officials or as fans By Besi • 3 min read
Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven News Kemptown MP highlights administration’s recycling failures The Department for Communities and Local Government has responded to enquiries from Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton and Kemptown, regarding Brighton and Hove City Council’s recycling rates, placing them among the bottom 25 councils in the country. By Besi • 2 min read
Arts Council to debate future of Brighton Hippodrome Brighton and Hove City Council will hold a debate about the future of the Brighton Hippodrome at a full council meeting on March 26. The debate has been triggered by a petition signed by more than 4,288 people calling on the council to support the venue returning to live theatre. 1,250 signatures we By Besi • 2 min read
