In response to an application from Equity, the Principal Planning Officer for Tower Hamlets has confirmed the position of the Local Authority, saying "any proposed development which would not retain the existing cultural venue (along with its important LGBT+ focus) would not be supported.”  The Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club has been a hub for creativity, and inclusivity for more than 20 years, and has a community history that spans 130 years. It has provided a platform for countless artists, professional performers, and community groups, particularly within the LGBT+ community. Its closure has already left a significant void in the local cultural landscape, and we fear that, without immediate intervention, this iconic space could be lost in a battle between developers and planning protections.  Tower Hamlets Council has an opportunity to not only safeguard the club’s future but also signal to residents that their cultural heritage is valued and protected. By doing so, they can ensure that this historic venue continues to thrive and live up to its reputation as a unique centre for culture and community.  We urge Tower Hamlets to act swiftly, as the longer the club remains closed, the greater the risk of it falling into disrepair and being lost forever. We hope that Tower Hamlets Council will take this opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the arts, culture, and the diverse communities that call this borough home. 

The council CAN and SHOULD use it's powers around late night licensing criteria to ensure Hospitality venues provide free transport for late night and anti-social hours workers. The council must also call for improved late night transport provision,  minimum standards for taxi and private hire safety and stronger enforcement of harassment on public transport. 16 UK councils have agreed to support the campaign- let's make Norwich safe too!

Equity is distressed to hear about plans to sell Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, and the imminent closure of its program of events. We understand that the current programming team, who have established BGWMC as an icon of significant importance to the community over the past 20 years, have been given 2 months’ notice to shut down and vacate the venue by Monday 29th July. The potential loss of yet another London venue for queer nightlife is devastating and represents a significant loss of work for performers in the drag and cabaret sector. Not only is the BGWMC venue an asset of tremendous value to the community, but the programme of events is also a vital and consistent source of income for so many professionals. Save Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club!

THERE IS NO U-TURN! Suffolk Council's u-turn announcement is nothing of the sort. Long-term stable funding for the 9 arts organisations currently supported by the Council is still facing a 100% cut. The Council's new announcement is for a one off pot of funding open to anyone, forcing arts organisations to compete against each other, for a smaller cake cut into many slices and causing uncertainty. The Council has confirmed that once this one-off pot has run out, they will still not fund any arts budget. ===== Equity members, local residents, arts and cultural organisations across East Anglia have raised serious concerns following a proposed £528,000 cut to arts and culture funding by Suffolk County Council. The nine organisations affected cover the whole county and include: Suffolk Artlink, the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, the Food Museum in Stowmarket and The Long Shop Museum in Leiston, New Wolsey Theatre, DanceEast and Eastern Angles in Ipswich, Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury and FirstLight Festival in Lowestoft. While these cuts represent a tiny fraction of the council's need to save £64.7 million, they will have a disproportionate impact on Suffolk residents who rely on the arts and culture for employment and the wider community engaged with the vital support provided by these organisations across the county. Companies like Eastern Angles and New Wolsey Theatre tour schools and special educational needs settings providing performances and workshops for children. Suffolk Artlink delivers services to diverse communities including children at risk and vulnerable adults, contributing to Suffolk County Council's strategic priorities. The Food Museum in Stowmarket, which has a national reputation for its community work, but now faces a 13% cut to its core funding. Together these organisations provide hundreds of jobs, support the local economy and provide thousands of hours of engagement for children and adults who need it in Suffolk. They do not deserve to lose access to culture. Sign our petition to oppose these 100% cuts now.

Boris Johnson is a right wing symbol for attacks on the most vulnerable sections of our society. Unelected, with no mandate equates to a free hand in decimating the Rights of workers, the NHS, the Climate. All our communities are in danger from this.

Sexual harassment has no place in the workplace. But every day, people across the UK are sexually harassed at work. 1 in 2 women have been sexually harassed at work. 2 in 3 LGBT workers have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace - that's 68%. Currently, there is no legal duty on employers to take proactive action to prevent this from happening. We're demanding a new, easily enforceable legal duty requiring employers to take all reasonable steps to protect workers from sexual harassment and victimisation. Our laws rely on individuals reporting but #ThisIsNotWorking. The onus is on the victim to report - which can be isolating, confusing and potentially traumatic. Four out of five don’t feel able to report sexual harassment to their employer. It should not be down to the individual to prevent and manage their harassment alone. Tell the government to act now and change the law. https://mcusercontent.com/8afd273cb98bce4cdfe3e8bd2/images/f826d43b-dd6d-4dcc-9034-7c5ab4949b6d.png