Latest news with #SaferSpaces
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
YWMP fundraising new venue and rehearsal space in Oxford
An educational charity that enables young women, trans and non-binary people to get together and make music is fundraising a new gigging and rehearsal is setting up its new base in Little Clarendon Street, Oxford, where it wants to install music equipment and a PA system, transforming it into a purpose-built Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani told the BBC: "The community is buzzing and people are excited to see something new pop up instead of close."The charity has been running for 25 years but has moved around several different locations in the city during its history. Young people aged 14 to 25 can learn music production, events management, and how to play and perform music at YWMP."The main thing that we do is offer space for young people to come and try music for the first time or develop a craft that they've already figured out," Ms Tehrani said."It's not a space exclusively for women, trans, non-binary or young people, but it's a space that puts them at the centre of decisions and safety." YWMP, formerly the Young Women's Music Project, runs a "Safer Spaces" policy, funded by the Youth Music aims to make grassroots live music venues safer and more accessible for all demographics, particularly marginalised Tehrani said: "There is a wider issue that we all see. "Venues are shutting down, they don't have the funding to keep up standards, so we're trying to transform the status quo of going to gigs and how venues are run... that's what our mission is."Ms Tehrani also promised live shows of a "super high standard".The funding will cover costs such as utilities and staffing, and the building will also include a library. Ms Tehrani said the young members of YWMP were excited about its future."Anytime someone has an idea they'll say 'we'll do that at the nest' which is what they've called the project, it's not called the space," she said."So to me the fact that people can see there are possibilities now that this space is opening, that gives me all that I need to know that it is needed."She added: "It is so important for the community to have a place to organise, show up and be supported to create new things." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- The Citizen
Does CCTV help fight crime in Johannesburg?
The Safer Spaces website states that the use of CCTV cameras for crime prevention in South Africa's major cities began in the mid 1990s, primarily driven by Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA). There was optimism about the significant crime reductions and increased arrests, facilitated by agreements for metro police to collaborate with the South African Police Services (SAPS) in responding to incidents detected by CCTV. Over the years, city authorities have taken a more active role in introducing, managing, and upgrading CCTV systems for crime prevention. However, these efforts have often been unilateral, leading to varying levels of CCTV coverage and capabilities across South African cities. Also read: JMPD launches Joburg CCTV Response Unit CCTV cameras are integral to the Gauteng Provincial Government's strategy to combat crime, being installed in townships, business districts, high-crime areas, roads, schools, and other public spaces. Last year, in partnership with Vuma Cam, a project saw the enhancement of these initiatives, adding 6 000 additional cameras to monitor the streets. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lusufi hailed this partnership as a significant milestone, emphasising the need to combat crime, which he views as a barrier to investment in the province. He expressed his frustration with crime and the urgency of protecting residents. The technology-driven crime-fighting campaign is a collaboration between the Department of e-Government, Community Safety, and the police, aimed at enhancing existing initiatives through CCTV, drones, panic buttons, and vehicle tracking devices. Also read: Rosewalk Gardens' fire safety measure leak fixed by JW MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and e-Government Mzi Khumalo noted that this partnership exemplifies the collaboration between the public and private sectors to build safer communities. Vuma Cam has committed to expanding camera coverage in underserved areas, especially in townships and informal settlements. Vuma Cam CEO Ricky Croock stated that the agreement includes an additional 5 000 partner cameras across South Africa, which will trigger alerts for known criminal vehicles detected in Gauteng. He believes that their extensive network, and advanced software, will establish a new standard in the fight against crime. Read more: Safe and affordable ways to travel in Johannesburg without a car Acting provincial commissioner of police in Gauteng Major General Tommy Mthombeni remarked that this initiative brings them closer to e-policing, and stressed the importance of maintaining the infrastructure. He highlighted the involvement of communities as crucial to ensuring the safety of the cameras. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
