What actually happened on Trumps UK state visit - BBC London BBC London 2019-06-07 | US President Donald Trump has visited London his 2019 state visit. But with the UK trip surrounded in controversy, what actually happened? From a baby blimp flying in the sky to a banquet with the Queen, this was a state visit like no other.Produced by Jamie MorelandReporters: Gareth Furby, Katherine Carpenter, Karl MercerFootage: BBC and ReutersSubscribe to BBC London here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London for more: https://bbc.in/2JssOgeLike us on Facebook: bit.ly/2fz7mZ3Follow us on Twitter: bit.ly/2DOhFWq
Would regulating the dog-walking industry make it safer? BBC London 2023-03-09 | There's been an increase in the number of dog attacks in the past 5 years, according to exclusive data obtained by the BBC. The Met Police says it's seen an 83% rise in out-of-control dogs causing injury. Last year alone, they seized more than 1,100 dogs and spent almost a £1m on vet and kennel bills. After the death of a dog walker in Surrey this year, one Londoner is calling for more safety rules, as Olivia Demetriades reports. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The Londoners helping earthquake survivors BBC London 2023-02-09 | The death toll following the earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria continues to rise. Almost 20,000 people, many of them children, are so far known to have died.In London, many are wanting to help through donations, while others are coming to terms with the severity of the disaster for loved ones in Turkey.BBC London visited a freight company in Edmonton and Aziziye Mosque, in Stoke Newington, which have been inundated with donations of clothes, heaters and other items.A steady stream of people are giving their time to get supplies to the people who need them most, as Alpa Patel reports.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
National Apprenticeship Week: Life as a BBC London apprentice BBC London 2023-02-09 | Starting out at work can be hard, so what's it like to do an apprenticeship as your first step on your career path?We spoke to Chelsea, an apprentice at BBC London, and Anayah, an apprentice at BBC Radio London, about what it can be like.Video by Sameena Misbahuddin & Povilas Balsys.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Finding the Pimlico cat BBC London 2023-02-06 | From Dubai to Suffolk via the Victoria line tunnels at Pimlico Tube station: Mr Jingles made quite the journey to get to his forever home!Brought to the UK to live with a foster family and be rehomed, somehow he ended up at the London Underground station.After being spotted by Tube drivers, the team at Pimlico spent about two weeks trying to rescue Mr Jingles.The station's customer services manager, David Nobbs, said he and a small group of local residents made it their priority to get him to safety after he heard it meowing at night, as Olivia Demetriades reports.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The paper mill using elephant poo to go greener BBC London 2023-02-03 | You might think of paper mills as being part of Victorian England but there is one just outside of London which is trying to change the way we think about, and use, paper.Frogmore Paper Mill in Apsley, near Hemel Hempstead, is considered to be the birthplace of paper's industrial revolution, housing the oldest mechanised paper mill in the world.Parts of the site, run by charity Apsley Paper Trail, got badly damaged by a fire last year, but the redevelopment is being used as an opportunity to become more sustainable. Olivia Demetriades has more.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
St Josephs Hospice: A day in the life of a volunteer BBC London 2023-01-20 | It's one of the oldest hospices in the UK. St Joseph’s in Hackney has been supporting those affected by serious illness since 1905. But it's seen a dip in volunteers since the pandemic, while demand for its services has gone up. To help expand the team, they're holding a recruitment fair, as Alpa Patel explains.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Inspiring the next generation of lawyers BBC London 2023-01-19 | 30 pupils from a school in north London have been taking part in a scheme to introduce them to the legal profession, but from a business perspective. The Urban Lawyers programme aims to make law more accessible to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme's been supported by designer shoe brand Manolo Blahnik, who've been explaining what lawyers do INSIDE a business. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Lewis Hamilton: Race an obstacle to making it in F1 BBC London 2023-01-09 | Lewis Hamilton has highlighted that "the difference in race" was one of the biggest obstacles he faced whilst trying to break into professional motor racing. In the BBC One documentary series, We Are England, the seven-time Formula One world champion spoke about the barriers which can often stand in the way of new drivers coming onto the track. In 2021 Hamilton's non-profit organisation, the Hamilton Commission, estimated the proportion of black people in Formula One to be less than 1%. Lewis Hamilton said: "There’s a lack of diversity through the top of big organisations and companies, all the way down. There’s very little black leadership."The teenage drivers, who started out racing go-karts while still in primary school, were invited to speak with Hamilton at the Mercedes Formula One team HQ as they graduated to racing in professional race cars. Their full story can be seen in the We Are England documentary Born To Race on BBC iPlayer.The full We Are England series, which explores real stories from across the country, is available on BBC iPlayer.Film by Stephen Mizelas and Eric Anderson.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Friedreichs ataxia: The teen hoping to horse ride her way to the Paralympics BBC London 2023-01-04 | A 13-year-old girl from Catford has set her sights on competing in the dressage at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.Yasmina who has Friedreich's ataxia, a condition that progressively damages the nervous system, lost the ability to walk unaided when lockdown hit and vital physio services were paused. But when restrictions were lifted she took up horse riding as a form of therapy to strengthen her muscles. That lead to a love of horse riding, which lead to recent success in national competitions and now a big ambition, as Jim Wheble reports.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The dancer breaking ballet stereotypes with hip-hop BBC London 2023-01-02 | A Royal Ballet choreographer who fell into dance by accident after getting into trouble at school is using hip-hop to open up the institution to wider communities. Joseph Toonga, who grew up in London's East End, hopes to break traditional stereotypes associated with ballet.Being from a non-traditional dance background he said he was surprised to get given the opportunity at the world-famous dance school. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
South London’s rockstars BBC London 2022-12-30 | Meet south London’s rock ‘n’ rollers, The Carbonators. Performing in the Croydon scene since 2011, they’re part of a music charity called Club Soda. It helps support artists with disabilities, particularly learning difficulties, to train as musicians and DJs. The charity recently won an award for their work in the faith and belief community awards in London. They say there aren’t enough opportunities for artists with learning disabilities but hope that Croydon, being the London Borough of Culture next year, will throw these musicians into the limelight. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Charles Dickens Museum gets dressed for Christmas BBC London 2022-12-27 | The spirits that lurk within the Christmas stories of author Charles Dickens are to be summoned this Christmas in what was his London home, now the Charles Dickens Museum.As 48 Doughty Street is dressed for a Victorian Christmas, new exhibition To Be Read At Dusk: Dickens, Ghosts and the Supernatural celebrates the stories that remain an essential element of the modern-day Christmas, almost 200 years after they were written. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The power of play therapy BBC London 2022-12-26 | Like any six-year-old, Afonso loves his toys, but play has taken on a different meaning since he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia two and half years ago. A big part of Afonso's hospital experience is the play area and the NHS play technicians. They support the young patients, playing games and interacting with toys with them.The toys and technology for children's play at Kingston Hospital has been donated by Starlight. The charity is fundraising to provide more play resources to children's wards across the country. Their Christmas appeal aims to raise £400,000 to bring play to every seriously ill child who needs it. The charity estimates there will be over 1.3 million A&E and hospital admissions for under 18 year olds in England this December alone.As a festive treat for Afonso, and the other children, Kingston Hospital's play team has brought along Father Christmas, his elves and his horse... as his reindeer were resting ahead of Christmas Eve.BBC London's Luxmy Gopal went along to visit them.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
‘Our Christmas Day community party’ BBC London 2022-12-25 | Christmas Day is a joyous occasion for many but for some, it can be a lonely time.A corner shop in Twickenham has been opening its doors on Christmas Day for 25 years to help combat loneliness. Meet and Deep Newsagents have noticed an even bigger need this year, as people are struggling to paying for food and heating.It all began one Christmas morning when one of the owners, Pallu, was woken up by a local questioning why they were shut. He’d just moved to the area from a country in Africa and desperately wanted an international sim to call his mum and wish her a Merry Christmas. The man was so grateful and from that moment, Pallu realised how much people rely on their convenience shops.For years now, they’ve invited locals over for a Christmas drink, snack and they love doing it.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Residents overcharged huge amounts in service fees BBC London 2022-12-22 | Housing campaigners are urging tenants to check their service charge statements and challenge any mistakes. It's after a group of residents accused their housing association of overcharging them thousands of pounds for services they hadn't used.BBC London's Frankie McCamley has the story. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Hanukkah: The Jewish bakery bringing people together BBC London 2022-12-19 | London's large Jewish community are celebrating their festival of light, Hanukkah.Tami Issacs Pearce, known as the challah queen, has run Karma Bread cafe and bakery with her sister in Hampstead, north London for eight years and every year uses different foods to bring local people, regardless of religion or background, together to celebrate. Story by Paul Murphy-KaspSubscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The women doing sex work to make ends meet BBC London 2022-12-13 | A special report about how the rising cost of living is leading more women onto the street - and into sex work. And while others have been on the streets for many years, some since they were just young teenagers, they say they're seeing increasing violence and fewer places to turn to for help. BBC London's Frankie McCamley and cameraman Richard Milliken have spent the night with one outreach team.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
‘Giving birth was the biggest fear of my life’ BBC London 2022-12-13 | A woman from south London with restricted growth wants to inspire others after becoming the first woman in the world with a rare, recessive condition to give birth to a healthy baby.28-year-old Hira Ahmad gave birth to baby girl Dua in January at St George’s Hospital. She is the first woman in the world to have done so with Bruck Syndrome. It is associated with both brittle bone disease and arthrogryposis, causing joint stiffness, and less than fifty people in the world have it.During her pregnancy, Hira had regular hospital appointments and fetal testing to check if her baby would have brittle bone disease, of which there was a 50:50 chance, and tests confirmed Dua didn’t have the condition.Hira says she is extremely positive about her experience and wants to share it to inspire others with conditions similar to hers. Karl Mercer reports.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
You shouldnt be scared to breathe in the air BBC London 2022-12-12 | The death of a toddler that was caused by his exposure to mould has led to a sharpened focus on those whose job it is to ensure people have habitable homes.In Awaab Ishak's case, a coroner found a housing association had failed to act to prevent the two-year-old's death, from a respiratory condition. While no other coroner has reached such a conclusion, instances of health problems being connected to mould are not uncommon.BBC London visited a flat block in Hendon, north London, to speak to residents who say their lives are being affected by this issue.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
I lost my arm and leg in an accident on the Tube BBC London 2022-12-07 | A woman from Camden who lost her right leg and arm after being run over by two London Underground trains at a north London station is fundraising for a bionic arm.Sarah de Lagarde, 44, was travelling home from work on 30 September having only just recovered from Covid when she fell asleep while on her train.When she woke and realised she had missed her stop, she rushed to the opposite platform at High Barnet station to head back, but lost her footing and fell through the gap between the platform edge and train.Two months on from the accident, Ms de Lagarde has been discharged from hospital and is learning to walk again.The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it was reviewing the internal investigation, which is being run by London Underground.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Teaching the doctors of the future with virtual reality BBC London 2022-12-06 | Imperial College London has become the first medical school in the UK to use virtual reality (VR) as part of their curriculum to train future doctors. Medical students wear VR headsets to immerse themselves in emergency situations like cardiac arrests or asthma attacks and are asked to make life or death decisions. These experiences can often be difficult for trainee medics to come across before their first shift, meaning many doctors begin their career with little experience of dealing with a patient who becomes very unwell. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
We need more beehives and beekeepers in London BBC London 2022-11-22 | A north London property developer has swapped his hard hat for a bee suit in his bid to protect wildlife.Khalid Undre, 57, bought a parcel of land in Harrow over a decade ago and began to grow crops and took up beekeeping to pollinate his plants.He started with six hives and now has over 300 hives spread between his honey farm in Harrow and other locations across the capital, like Enfield and Holland Park.Mr Undre is passionate about protecting the local environment and hopes to have 500 beehives by the end of next year. He says there's plenty of room for more beehives and beekeepers in London and that this is something more people should be taking up.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
London schoolchildren star in cost of living music video BBC London 2022-11-21 | A primary school in Newham has teamed up with a professional filmmaker to make a music video about the cost of living crisis and London Living Wage. St Antony’s Catholic Primary School is in one of the most deprived boroughs in London where a quarter of its pupils receive free school meals and a third of their parents work two jobs to make ends meet. Filmmaker Saloum N’jie, who has two children at the school, has worked on TV shows including Bridgerton and Luther. The school are passionate about change and, as part of their work with Citizens UK, have campaigned for several local employers to pay the real Living Wage.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Now I have deaf friends I feel less alone BBC London 2022-11-18 | A school holiday playscheme funded by Children in Need gives children who are deaf a bit of respite from the stress of negotiating the hearing world.And it’s often the first experience they have of being part of a community.One charity led by deaf people runs a project in north London that benefits from fundraising efforts and donations.Remark! Community helps young people form meaningful relationships and provides a community where they feel they belong.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
BBC Children in Need: My disability wont stop me from having fun BBC London 2022-11-17 | Thirteen-year-old Jessica has Global Developmental Delay which limits her ability to join in activities with children her own age. But with the help of Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre in east London, she has found herself able to swim, paddleboard and go kayaking - something her mum says she's very proud of. The group is funded by Children in Need and has been a huge help to Jessica.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The future of tennis? BBC London 2022-11-16 | Andy Murray’s more used to centre court than the central atrium at the Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush. But that’s where he was, promoting one of the fastest growing sports, padel tennis. For the two-time Wimbledon champion this new racquet sport is another great way to get young people into tennis.📲Read more: bbc.in/3V2hM5LSubscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The Fixing Factory BBC London 2022-11-15 | The Fixing Factory is a community repair hub in Camden that fixes home electrical goods and the community just pay what they can afford. The project is all about fixing our relationship with disposable tech, tackling e-waste and giving our tech products a longer life. They even offer training to repair your own electrical goods. The Fixing Factory is now open on Queen’s Crescent in Camden and people say it leaves you with a positive community feeling of "we did it!"📲 See more: bbc.in/3O0VBKN Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
‘I can’t afford a London home so I made a miniature one’ BBC London 2022-11-14 | Like many in London, Hannah Lemon dreams of owning her own place, but cannot afford to buy a property. Instead, she has built herself a miniature version of her dream home. Since lockdown, Hannah has been a full-time miniaturist, working from the dining table of her north London flat. She has made 12 rooms for both personal and commissioned projects, and around 200 tiny plants. She hopes that her tiny home will one day become full-sized.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Keeping our Family Beauty Business Running BBC London 2022-11-11 | The cosmetics industry has been going through tough times over the last few years. Sales have declined and Revlon, one of the biggest names has recently filed for Bankruptcy. But one London-based beauty brand is bucking the trend.Barry M, one of the last British beauty companies to remain under family ownership has seen sales of its nail varnish sky-rocket from around 500,000 to up to 7 million per year.‘For us to compete against multi-billion pound companies, as a small family business, is amazing and I am so proud of that.’The success comes as the company celebrates its 40th anniversary.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Cutting through mental health stigma BBC London 2022-11-09 | Barbers in north London are tackling black men's mental health, one haircut at a time.Barbers at five barbershops in Islington are being given specialist training to spot and help customers struggling with their mental health – providing a safe space talk and guiding them towards long-term help.According to charity Mind, young black men and boys are far more likely to be diagnosed with a serious mental illness than compared white men.The scheme, being delivered by Islington Council, is part of a three-year programme aimed at improving young men’s mental health and tackling inequality.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The cycling group helping Londons homeless BBC London 2022-11-08 | Whilst cycling around London, Verral Paul-Walcott noticed a rise in the number of people sleeping rough and created 'The Homeless Network'. He now has hundreds of volunteers who help help give out food and supplies to those in need.📲Read more: bbc.in/3NMiIZxSubscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
I learnt how to channel my addiction into art BBC London 2022-11-07 | A former homeless drug addict has turned his life around and is now an up-and-coming graffiti pop artist hosting an exhibition in an east London gallery.Opake, also known as Ed Worley, was recently offered a lucrative contract by a top gallery, but he turned the offer down and chose Quantas Gallery, where he decided to host a homeless breakfast with Centrepoint.His exhibition, "Sanity Through Repetition", follows the influences of his personal journey through addiction.It is running until 19 November.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The litter-picking ladies of Ealing BBC London 2022-11-06 | A pair of litter-picking pensioners from West London have gained 'hero' status from their community. They have filled up more than 2,000 bags of rubbish, planted flowers and repurposed discarded bins where they know they are needed. Gayle Labib & Noelita St Clair-Adelaja are part of the Litter Action Group for Ealing Residents and have spent a year clearing streets and parks there, and made friends while doing it.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The bleak world of trafficked children and modern slavery BBC London 2022-11-04 | We’ve been hearing this week about the poor treatment of migrants when they arrive on the shores of England. Many of those entering the country are children - some have been trafficked, taken away from their parents for exploitation and abuse. Those who are taken in by the authorities enter the care system. But a BBC London investigation has found increasing numbers of child trafficking victims are disappearing from care in the capital, with some youngsters saying they have to ‘go missing’ in order to survive. Frankie McCamley has this special reportSubscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Ukraine refugee: I had to share a bed with stranger BBC London 2022-11-03 | About 13,500 refugees have fled Ukraine for London since the Russian invasion began, according to UK government figures. More than eight months since the war started, some sponsors are no longer able to support those in need, which has put some refugees at risk of homelessness. Olena, from south-east Ukraine, was housed by a sponsor in a hotel, but when the sponsor could no longer afford to continue, she was referred to Hounslow Council for emergency accommodation. She was placed in a private flat, rented by the council, but was forced to share a bed with someone she did not know and the flat had multiple issues, including mould, damp and even an exposed hole in the wall. Since we filmed with Olena last week, Hounslow Council says it has rehomed her. Councillor Sue Sampson, cabinet member for housing management and homelessness, said: “We were extremely concerned to hear about the living conditions and, after carrying out an unannounced inspection, immediately moved Olena to different accommodation. "We will be working with an interpreter to help us talk to Olena about her longer-term housing. We know this has been very frustrating and we are sorry for any distress caused."Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Phone box lifeline BBC London 2022-10-30 | A community group in Deptford have turned an old red phone box into a community hub.The charity, Kath's Place, has been helping out people for years in south-east London. They took over the phone box, by Deptford railway station, from BT after it had been left in disrepair. The charity says the rising cost of living means more people need to access help. Though the charity itself is also facing its own challenges .Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Im blind and kayaking the length of the Thames BBC London 2022-10-29 | A man from Greenwich, who has lost 80% of his sight, is paddling the entire length of the Thames in a kayak to raise money for charity.Richard Simpson was registered blind in 2019 and said he wanted to complete the challenge before he loses his sight completely.The 61-year-old, who is raising money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People, camped by locks along the route and has almost completed the 215-mile journey.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
If youve eaten out in London, youve had food from our market BBC London 2022-10-28 | Workers at the UK’s largest wholesale fresh food market says they’ve seen a shift in the kinds of fresh fruit and veg we are consuming. Traders at New Covent Garden market at Nine Elms say Brexit and the Covid pandemic means chefs no longer want ‘year round’ produce, but are now competing for the best seasonal produce from the UK. Vernon Mascarenhas is one of the traders who deals directly with restaurants. He says: “We are the powerbrokers, we are the kings. Because we’ve got the produce.” More than 2,000 night workers at the market serve everyone from Michelin-starred chefs to prison kitchens with fresh fruit and veg, producing an annual turnover of £650 million. Film by Ben Moore, Eric Anderson, Carrie Slinn and Kristian Harris.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
The bus driver risking his life in Ukraine BBC London 2022-10-27 | A 25-year-old London bus driver has spent the past seven months risking his life to help people in Ukraine. Arthur Smith, from Battersea, ferried medical supplies to the front line and transported injured people out of occupied zones. His idea to go and help went viral and led to hundreds of volunteers joining a convoy from the UK to Ukraine. Arthur’s team ended up transporting 14,000 people to safety, delivering 95 tonnes of medical supplies and 112 tonnes of food. He’s now returned to work, driving the 159 to Oxford Circus, but hopes to get back out to Ukraine soon.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Why you should recycle your vape BBC London 2022-10-26 | Over the past couple of years sales of disposable vapes have rocketed. They're easy to get hold of but there are concerns about how they're being thrown away. Millions of them aren’t being recycled, which is a problem because there's lithium inside, a finite resource, and enough is wasted annually to make 1,200 electric car batteries.Recycling disposable vapes is not straight-forward, find out what you can do here.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
‘I would only eat a sandwich a day so I could feed my cat’ BBC London 2022-10-25 | An animal welfare charity is urging Londoners not to abandon their pets after seeing a sharp increase in the number of cats and dogs being left on their doorstop.Mayhew, which is based in Harlesden, north-west London, said it was nearing full capacity and was adapting other areas to accommodate a sharp rise in pets being handed over to them due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.The RSPCA reported the number of people abandoning animals had increased 25% since the same period last year.Colin Ortutai-Hughes, a user of the charity, said he was not willing to let go of his three-year-old cat Molly.The 45-year-old described situations where he has prioritised feeding her over himself, saying there are occasions where he goes hungry in order to buy cat food.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
It is better than any other station Ive been to BBC London 2022-10-24 | Bond Street station on the Elizabeth line has opened, five months after the line went into service.Transport for London said the new step-free station would "relieve congestion at Oxford Circus and make the area more accessible".It can accommodate about 140,000 people a day, with entrances at Hanover Square and Davies Street.The Elizabeth line became operational in May but trains did not stop at Bond Street due to building work delays.BBC London went along to meet some of the first passengers to use the station.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Renting in London: I have lived in an old school and now an office block BBC London 2022-10-20 | Living in an empty building such as an old office, school or a church as a property guardian has been a way of finding a place to live in the capital at a reduced rate. Property Guardians don’t have the same rights as normal tenants but do get to pay less than the market rate. 29-year-old Charley Hullah, from south London, has lived in five empty properties over the past nine years. The Property Guardian Providers Association says they expect the number of people who want to become guardians to rise by more than 50% to 50,000 this year. Charley says he's seen both the demand for these properties and the prices go up, as other renters seek cheaper options in London.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Renting in London: I cant afford my own place BBC London 2022-10-19 | After a five-week property search, Tace McWilliam moved to the capital. She settled on a house share as she couldn't afford to live on her own.She moved from Lincolnshire to south London for work and is one of many renters in the capital who’ve had difficulty finding an affordable property lately.Rising demand for homes combined with a falling supply has caused prices to increase. Data from the Trust for London found that for between April 2021 and March 2022 the average rent for a one-bedroom place cost the equivalent of 46.3% the gross-median pay in London, compared to 26.4% for the rest of England.Tace says she thinks buying a property is out of reach. Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Look inside the newest Elizabeth line station BBC London 2022-10-18 | On Monday, the last station on the Elizabeth Line will open at Bond Street, following a series of delays. Train services will run every five minutes to begin with and the station will be able to accommodate nearly 140,000 people a day, contributing to an overall station capacity of 225,000 across the Jubilee, Central and Elizabeth lines. The station will also have step-free access making it more accessible.There will be no service on Sunday 30 October, but from Sunday 6 November trains will run every three to four minutes, seven days a week.From then, passengers heading for the West End from Heathrow, Reading and Shenfield will be able to get a direct train to Bond Street without having to change at Paddington or Liverpool Street.BBC London's political correspondent Karl Mercer got a sneak peek inside the new station, with London mayor Sadiq Khan.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Renting in London: We went viral on TikTok BBC London 2022-10-17 | Competition for properties in London has been driving up the cost of renting in the capital.Figures from Rightmove show that demand on the site for new rental homes has risen in the capital 14% in the last year, while the number of properties available has dropped by 35%.Rowan Salama, an interior designer from West London, thought she could find the perfect place in 10 days, but when she discovered the realities of renting in London she started to upload her viewings on TikTok.Her flat-finding ups and downs attracted a great deal of interest on social media.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
From busking in Waterloo to the big screen BBC London 2022-10-14 | A film director, who had almost given up hope of casting a lead in his upcoming film, says he knew when he saw a busker performing under an escalator at Waterloo that he had found his woman.Sherika Sherard is now the lead character in the film Phea which is being released next month having been well-received at the Directors Guild of America and Outfest in LA.Sherika, who is making her acting debut, wrote and performed the songs her character sings in the film.BBC London took her back to where she first met director, Rocky Palladino.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Hollywood masterclass for inner-city equestrians BBC London 2022-10-12 | Riders from Ebony Horse Club in Brixton have been given an opportunity to learn horse stunts from a Hollywood stunt team.It's part of an initiative to inform young people of the range of career options open to them within the equestrian sector and provide them with practical experience to shape their talents. The Ebony members toured the Devil's Horsemen yard, workshops and carriage stores and met some of the horses who have starred in productions such as Wonder Woman and Game of Thrones. The Devil’s Horsemen have spent 30 years providing horses and carriages for blockbuster movies and award-winning TV series.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Should more women be train drivers? BBC London 2022-10-10 | Train companies say they’re trying to attract more women into the industry, in particular train drivers. The aim is to improve diversity in the workforce and make the profession more inclusive. Kelly Garcia has been a train driver for the past nine years. As a single mum, she found the flexibility and salary were key factors in joining the industry.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
Londons lifesaving bleed-control specialists BBC London 2022-10-09 | With rising knife crime rates in London, a preventative educational project goes out and teaches basic bleed-control skills to people in the capital to help save lives.YourStance helps young people make informed decisions when faced with an emergency by teaching lifesaving skills, including using every day items like a belt, sanitary pads, shoelaces or a jumper.Ana Waddington is its founder, and paediatric sister in A&E at the Royal London hospital, with experience of serious youth violence and adolescent care.She showed BBC London's political correspondent Karl Mercer what to do if you find yourself in a situation where you might need to save a life.Subscribe here: bit.ly/2Gd18gBCheck out BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/londonInstagram: instagram.com/bbclondonFacebook: facebook.com/bbclondonTwitter: twitter.com/bbclondonnews
