This is Northumberland Calling 14.10.22

The Dear oh Dear edition

Because it is interesting to see the slow motion car crash of a formerly untouchable charity. It is a bit like pulling one thread and a complicated edifice starts tumbling showing the rottenness behind.

Mermaids safeguarding failure (again) Digital manager liked to dress as a schoolgirl and posted explicit artwork including photos of himself. He apparently participated the residential programme where there were vulnerable children. Mermaids says that the person no longer works for them. It would appear the position is now being advertised, but it still does not answer the question of why he was employed in the first place. According to the former digital manager’s Linked-In page, the person in question worked at Mermaids until October 2022. The Times article archived:  https://archive.ph/IMZKc

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Liz Truss appears to agree with Miriam Cates, MP that Mermaids should be investigated by the police. Archived Telegraph  version: https://archive.ph/YY7vl

Children in Need, the BBC flagship fundraiser for children has suspended all payments to Mermaids, pending the outcome of the Charity Commission. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mermaids-fishy-links-cast-stink-on-scotlands-trans-bill-9qslkwcm7

School Week which serves the education sector  reports that the Department of Education has removed the link to Mermaids on its mental health and well being  resources. https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dfe-removes-trans-charity-mermaids-from-school-wellbeing-resources/

However, it has been pointed out that the Charity Commission dismissed such complaints about Mermaids before and declined to investigate two years ago (no real reason given). Will they act this time or will they keep sweeping it under the carpet? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charity-watchdog-ignored-alert-from-mother-over-trans-service-0jnp8t2p7

Equally the police force which would be tasked in investigating Mermaids has received training from Mermaids and thus may not be impartial. Archived from the Telegraph: https://archive.ph/mkeWR

 Trans prisoners with male genitalia or who have been convicted of a sexual offence will no longer be housed in the female prison estate. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11304185/Justice-Secretary-signals-policy-reforms-transgender-prisoners.html

Social Work England are withdrawing their case against a gender critical social worker and have apologized on the eve of the tribunal trial. The trial about unfair dismissal is doe to begin  next week.  https://www.ebswa.org/post/social-work-england-withdraws-case-against-gender-critical-social-worker

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation will be on 6 May 2023. It is supposed to be a slimmed down version.  A slight row has developed with India over the Koh-I-Noor diamond – the ultra Nationalist government don’t want it worn.  It never belonged to them btw. Camilla has the choice of several other crowns and may go with one of them. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/camilla-set-to-shun-koh-i-noor-crown-m359bl3q7

The haste which Downing Street wanted the trade deal with India caused India to make unacceptable demands and thus Badenoch has delayed the deal. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-10-liz-truss-hastiness-blamed-scuppering-india-trade-deal-suella-braverman-tb5nh9bjq?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=69487d0572-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_10_14_04_15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-69487d0572-189986889

King Charles was caught on a hot mic saying Dear oh Dear to Liz Truss at the start of their latest meeting. People are saying it was a gentle murmur of compassion. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2022/10/13/king-charles-man-people-pr-blinders-prove/

One of the government’s problems is that the people running the blood banks are incompetent. Thus the NHS stands close to running out of blood – no due to lack of donors but lack of slots and an incompetent booking system which sends people many miles away. When they did away with the drop in donations several years ago, this sort of chaos was forecasted. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/13/blood-donors-having-wait-months-appointments-despite-stocks/

And finally, you never know what you might dig up when you go rummaging through a bargain basement. A Welsh department store discovered it was on a medieval burial site and there were graves of war dead. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/medieval-war-dead-found-under-welsh-department-store-b9ftvshcq