Latest news with #GillTaylor
Belfast Telegraph
29-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Appeal for information on homeless deaths in NI ahead of ‘fact-finding mission' next month
An organisation wants to gather a 'clear picture' and 'do justice' to those dying while homeless in Northern Ireland The Museum of Homelessness (MoH) is appealing for information about the deaths of people sleeping rough in Northern Ireland ahead of a week-long series of engagement events being held in Belfast. It's hoped the 'fact-finding mission' in June will help 'get a clear picture and do justice to those dying' while experiencing homelessness in the region. The charity has been running its Dying Homeless Project since 2019 when the Bureau of Investigative journalism handed it over having begun this ground-breaking work in 2017. Strategic lead at MoH, Gill Taylor, described the initiative as one that respects people who could otherwise be forgotten. "It is so important that we honour and remember with love people in Northern Ireland to the same extent as people in Wales, England and Scotland,' she said. 'We are coming to Belfast to make sure the project is doing justice to the community there and we are looking forward to meeting as many people as possible and get a clear picture of what's happening on the ground.' The project aims to capture more detail about those who have lost their lives than currently is covered by official data. According to recent statistics by the Simon Community, one in every 32 people in Northern Ireland is now classified as homeless. Some 59,518 people here are now officially homeless — 4,000 more than this time last year and a 136% increase in the last decade. Around a third (18,567) of those are aged under 18 and families make up over half (33,898) of people with official homelessness status. MoH is the only organisation monitoring deaths in the homeless community in all four parts of the UK. Next month, the team will spend a week in Belfast holding sector facing and public engagement events and taking to the streets outside City Hall between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesday 17 June and Wednesday 18 June. During those times, grieving relatives will have a chance to add the name of a loved one to a memorial banner and share any information that can help the project fairly represent deaths in NI and honour those who have passed whilst fighting for change. The team will also be hosting two events on Wednesday 18 June at the Ulster Museum including an informal gathering (10.30am-12.30pm) that will introduce the Museum of Homelessness and the Dying Homeless Project — their UK-wide initiative that honours the lives of people who die while homeless. This will be followed by a gallery takeover and series of public performances in the Troubles and Beyond Gallery (2-4pm). During their time here, their senior team will also be meeting with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Simon Community Northern Ireland and sharing stories from their collection at The Ulster Museum, in partnership with National Museums Northern Ireland. Since 2018, the museum has collated the annual Dying Homeless Project, a memorial and monitoring project that gathers information about the deaths of people experiencing homelessness. Based in London's Finsbury Park, the museum opened its first ever site this year.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Specialist housing project for vulnerable women opens in Dorset
A new housing scheme for vulnerable women has officially opened in Haven was bought and refurbished by Dorset Council to provide housing for six women deemed at risk of rough scheme has 24-hour onsite support and provides a home free from harm and danger.A cherry tree was planted and a plaque unveiled on Tuesday by housing councillor Gill Taylor. She said: "I am so proud to officially open the first scheme of its kind in the area."This scheme will provide vulnerable women a platform to rebuild their lives and thrive, giving them stability so they can find the strength, confidence and ability to grow and make strides towards making a happy and independent life for themselves."The project has been largely funded by the government's Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP) via Homes England.A second grant from Homes England has funded the support service for the next three years, provided by homelessness charity Julian House chief executive Helen Bedser said: "We are excited to grow our services within Dorset, ensuring that women in the community have specialist support in a secure, stable home where they can rebuild their lives and recover from the trauma of homelessness." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
PSPOs aim to curb heathland wildfires and wild camping in Dorset
Legal restrictions aimed at protecting heathland from wildfires are being proposed for more areas in Dorset.A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been in place in parts of Wareham Forest since a devastating fire in May Council is now consulting on creating more controlled zones, where it will be forbidden to do anything that could potentially cause a caught lighting barbecues, lanterns or fireworks, or dropping cigarettes, will face a £100 fine. Although the greatest risk of wildfires occurs in the summer months, crews have tackled two major incidents in recent 10 March, 9.6 hectares (24 acres) at Canford Heath was destroyed, and on 17 March, an area covering 600m by 200m (656 by 219 yards) was destroyed at RSPB Arne and Weymouth Wetlands Nature fires are thought to have been started deliberately. Dorset Council has been working with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Dorset Police, Forestry England and National Landscapes on the new addition to the fines, enforcement officers will also have the power to confiscate items they believe could be used to light fires in the controlled zones. The authority is also consulting on imposing PSPOs on beaches in Studland to tackle wild camping, which is says has led to property damage, rubbish accumulation, human waste, and destruction of natural and housing councillor Gill Taylor said: "These orders are important for the protection of our natural landscapes, and for protecting the safety and amenity of our residents and visitors to our wonderful county."Similar orders for other areas have been in place for the past three years, helping to raise awareness of the issues. Consultations on the Open Land PSPO and Beaches PSPO are open until 20 April. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Online tool highlights wait for social housing
A council with long waiting times for social housing has set up an online tool so residents can get a "clearer idea" of how long they may need to wait. Dorset Council's wait time calculator aims to inform people how long it could take to secure a social housing property in a particular area based on the latest data. The council offered homes to about 900 households last year, with an average of 73 per month. More than 6,000 people are on the housing register. Demand for housing in Dorset outweighed supply, the authority said. It said it had worked with residents, councillors and front-line officers to test the new tool. Gill Taylor, cabinet lead for housing and health, said: "We have developed this basic calculator to give people an idea of what housing is available in parishes across the Dorset Council area, in just a few clicks at any time of the day or night. "Hopefully, the website will help residents to understand how long it can take to be allocated a social housing property in their desired area, allowing them to make choices about their housing options. "We hope residents will use the results from their search to make informed decisions once they've joined the housing register." She said the tool was part of the council's ongoing commitment to "improving transparency and accessibility for residents who apply for social housing". The council's housing officers can also be contacted regarding individual cases and queries. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Plans to change how council housing is allocated Survey launched to help council's housing strategy Council given money to house Afghan refugees Dorset Council
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Dorset council given money to help Afghan refugees
A council has been given government money to provide seven homes for Afghan £1.75m grant to Dorset Council will help pay for three properties, which can also be used for homeless families at risk of going into bed and breakfast accommodation. Councillors have been told the scheme will depend on the authority being able to agree a partnership with match funding from a registered housing and health portfolio holder Gill Taylor said without the partnership the money would not be enough to pay for the homes. At a meeting the council's cabinet backed her proposal, without debate, to seek a partner to set up and run the scheme, with the council retaining nomination rights for the Taylor said the scheme insisted that the tenancies should be secure, which the council was unable to Ministry of Defence (MoD) has used also Chickerell Camp, near Weymouth, to house people who supported the UK government and military in Afghanistan. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
