Temperature On The Streets Serendipity

Pawlet Brookes speaks to Ben Browne, Chief Operating Officer at De Montfort University, about the challenges faced by university staff, students, and administrators as the uncertainty of COVID-19 continues to disrupt higher education as normal. Browne discusses the university’s COVID response, which has led to a low case number on campus, their value-led approach to staffing during this time, and the ways they are supporting their diverse student body. 
This conversation was recorded on Monday 11 January  2021.

This conversation was recorded on November 2020.
In this third episode, Carol Leeming–multi-award-winning author, poet, and screenwriter–discusses the impact of the pandemic on the creative sector as well as on Leicester’s community. She gives us the temperature on the streets for community sentiment on COVID-19, Brexit, Windrush, and other social challenges. Carol also shares encouragement and practical advice for artists and creatives on how they can care for themselves and seek out opportunities to grow and advance their work during this time.
 

In our first episode, we discussed the state of public health in Leicester and in Black, Asian, and marginalised communities throughout the UK. Now, we’re taking a closer look at our mental health and what needs to be done to address the immense pressure so many find themselves facing. Leyla Okhai is a coach, mediator, inclusion and wellbeing practitioner who serves the community through her company Diverse Minds. She joins Pawlet Brookes to share her insights.
 
 

COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting Black people and other minority groups in Leicester and the rest of the UK. Why is that? How is this challenge connected to the parallel struggles of Black Lives Matter and the Windrush Generation? What can we do about it? In this episode, Pawlet Brookes speaks to Ivan Browne, Director of Public Health and Sports Services at Leicester City Council to discuss these questions and the larger impact of COVID-19 on Leicester.

Serendipity has developed a new podcast series that addresses issues facing Black, Asian and other minority and marginalised communities in Leicester. The podcast series explores a range of topics including the impact of COVID-19 and practical advice in the aftermath, mental health and wellbeing as an informative dialogue with community activists, academics and experts.  The podcast provides support and advice to help people to rebuild their lives and their communities.  Given the current spike in cases in Leicester and lockdown being renewed in the city this is a much-needed resource.