Black children labelled 'subnormal', boy tricked into moving to Ghana, women-only gym U-turn & other stories from Black, Asian and Arab communities living in the UK - curated by Melissa Sigodo
Brunch with Tessy Ojo was a nice change of pace
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Thank you for subscribing to The Source.
Thank you as well for your patience with the newsletter. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending Tessy’s brunches for a special women’s event. Tessy Ojo is the Chief Executive of The Diana Award which is the only charity that bears the name of Diana, Princess of Wales. It has developed programmes that provide young people with skills to create positive change in their communities globally. It was empowering to hear some inspiring testimonies and participate in a workshop by the lovely
who is also here on Substack.
Before we get into the newsletter, I just wanted to mention how grateful I am for you all subscribing to The Source. It also really touches me when you drop a like on the note that I send out to say the newsletter will be delayed. It lets me know that you are looking forward to it which means a lot.
I know Substack isn’t the most community friendly when you’re not signed up to the site, but I would really like to build community on here with you all. So feel free to drop me a message about anything at all or you can leave a like or a comment about the stories that impacted you the most. It helps me to understand how to make the newsletter better and also, just to know how the news I share is making you all feel.
Without any further ado, here’s the news you shouldn’t have missed this week.
News
Maisie Barrett who was labelled ‘backward’ by her headteacher and wrongly placed in a school for physically and mentally disabled kids says that as an eight-year-old girl, staff made her wash white pupils. She says the government must give compensation and apologise to the many Black children who were affected by the scandal. Read the full story by me at The Mirror
A boy duped into moving to Ghana by his parents says that “it was a blessing. Mark Wilberforce says living in the West African country taught him discipline and gave him perspective after he had been excluded from two schools and his friends were sent to prison in the UK. Read the full story by Mark Wilberforce at The BBC
A report about 53 Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage children who died or were seriously harmed between Jan 2022 and March 2024 has revealed a ‘significant silence in talking about race and racism in child safeguarding’ making kids of these backgrounds ‘invisible’. Read the full story by me at The Mirror
A women-only gym founder has been accused of transphobia after she U-turned on her decision to allow trans-women. Natalie Barnett had previously tweeted that trans-women would be allowed in at her gym as they also ‘needed protection’ but then reneged on her promise stating that the gym was now only for biological women. Read the full story by Chloe Mayer at Newsweek
Violence Against Women and Girls
Hassan Sentamu who repeatedly stabbed 15-year-old Elianne Andam has been ordered to spend at least 23 years in prison for her murder. Sentamu had a history of attacking girls and carrying knives before he killed her. Read the full story by BBC
A man has been jailed for life for killing “much-loved” teenager Stephanie Marie, 19, who he stabbed through the heart at Crawley railway station in August 2024. Stephanie’s family said, “We are devastated that her young life has been ended in this way. She had her whole life ahead of her”. Read the full story by Sinai Fleary at The Voice
The aunt of Zara Aleena who was murdered on her way home from a night out has called for the justice system to “ensure murderers face their sentencing” after triple killer Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentence hearing for the murders of Louise, Hannah and Carol Hunt. Read the full story at Asian Image
Politics
Labour MP and Mother of the House Diane Abbott “was kept out of a meeting” to discuss the impact of welfare cuts. The MP tweeted, “Unfortunately I and other colleagues were told the meeting was full. Keen on dissent in other countries. Not so much here”. Read the full story by Hamish Morrison at The National Scot
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