Highlights from autumn in Brighton and Hove

Schools in Brighton and Hove seek to combat self-harming by young people

Hundreds of children and young people, mainly girls, are being admitted to hospital every year as a result of self-harming.

They have to wait up to 18 weeks for a referral to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and up to 8 weeks to see a school counsellor after they have been identified as needing help.

The number of young people self-harming has risen by 40 per cent in just a few years, with 281 under-24s admitted to hospital in 2012-13.

The level of risk and severity has also increased, according to a report to councillors yesterday (Monday 12 October.)

Read the full article in Brighton and Hove News here.

Council Housing Committee investigates living rent

Tenants across Brighton and Hove are struggling to pay their rent because the city is a “low wage economy with excessively high property costs”, according to a council housing committee report.

The Living Rent Campaign petitioned councillors last year asking them to support the aim of keeping rents to a third of a tenant’s income.

Councillors agreed to explore “ways to offer new council housing at a living rent rather than an unaffordable 80 per cent of market rent.”

Read the rest of this article published by Brighton and Hove News here.

Budget cuts in policing likely to affect Brighton residents

Central government cuts to policing are a concern across the country including in Brighton and Hove.

Local Action Teams, part of the Safe in the City Partnership, enable residents to raise concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour with the Police across Brighton and Hove.

Francis Clark-Lowes, chair of the North Laine Community Association and Peter Crowhurst, the outgoing chair, are very concerned that the Police will not routinely be represented at future Local Action Team (LAT) meetings.  “They can’t set police priorities if the Police don’t attend”, said Mr Crowhurst.

He said: “The teams were set up to allow residents to raise concerns and allay their fears. An emergency service is not good enough.”

Read the full article in Brighton and Hove News here.