Friday 14th July 2017 at 6pm
Bay 56, 4 – 8 Acklam Village, Acklam Road, W10 5TY

One Voice Community Collective and members of #The Real Community invites you to attend a press conference at “The Village” Bay 56, 4 – 8 Acklam Village, Acklam Road, W10 5TY just off Portobello Road on Friday 14th July at 6pm.

One Voice Community Collective and members of #The Real Community will present a grassroots report from the Ladbroke Grove Community who have been maintaining and delivering an unprecedented and historic aid effort without the assistance or support from the government or local council. This will be the first in a series of press conferences, which shall focus on specific issues surrounding the Grenfell Tower fire. The aim is to breakdown many of the issues in order to focus and add clarity to the realities faced on a daily basis.

On Friday you will hear first hand accounts from those on the frontline of this unprecedented disaster. We will testify to the love and commitment shown to the victims by ordinary members of the community. Irony has shown it’s those who have the least that ultimately end up giving the most.

Just over four weeks ago our lives where changed forever. Since the fateful night of the Grenfell Tower Fire we have had to the face an almost impossible task of filling the void in response to what was not fulfilled by the government, local council and charitable bodies in terms of aid and support for the true victims of the fire.

We hit the ground running and collectively we’ve had to learn and adapt to the reality of dealing with an unprecedented emergency situation, whilst at the same time being a community in deep grief and trauma.
With so many unanswered questions our mission is to find long-term solutions to rebuild our unified community.

For further information contact: Niles Hailstones + 44 7949 890 245

The BBC has produced this thoroughly researched timeline of the events of 14th June which we feel merits sharing whilst being aware that some may find it difficult to read/view due to the subject matter.

Messages from the tower
Piecing together the timeline of London’s Grenfell Tower fire in the words of victims and survivors (BBC News)

George Monbiot outlines why the Government must not be allowed to dictate who is the Chair of the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Fire nor the Terms of Reference. He discusses the very real prospect of Brexit leading to a “bonfire of red tape”, the Tory euphemism for basically removing all protection and rights from workers. Essential viewing.

From: Grenfell Volunteers Support & Information Network

SOS Silence of Suicide, run by Michael Mansfield QC and his partner Yvette Greenway, alongside umbrella group Justice4Grenfell Campaign & the Grenfell Volunteers Support and Information network are reaching out to the community and all those affected by the recent fire tragedy, asking them to come together as a group in a safe space as one voice, to discuss their emotions, feelings & mental wellbeing.

This SOS initiative, ‘A Safe Space To Talk’ has been endorsed by Duncan Bew, Consultant Trauma & Acute Care Surgeon, & Clinical Director of the Trauma Unit at NHS King’s College Hospital London, which treated some of the Grenfell survivors.

There will be plenty of trained professionals and volunteers on site for anyone who feels they need one to one conversations either during or after the meeting.

This meeting is for those who are experiencing sadness, grief, trauma, isolation and loss. It is to support and listen to those affected and their needs in a safe & confidential space.

Please assist those you are supporting and others you may know of to attend. Many residents & volunteers affected by Grenfell have asked for this support.

Date: Saturday 15th July 2017.
Time: 3pm til 6pm
Venue: The Harrow Club, 187 Freston Road, W10 6YH.
Tube Station: Latimer Road
Refreshments provided

J4G shares the concerns of survivors, bereaved families and the wider community regarding the latest statement from the Met Police giving numbers of fatalities, survivors and “missing” as a result of the Grenfell fire. The number of fatalities & missing are generally felt to be too low and not consistent with previously announced figures. Conversely, the number of survivors is considered by many to be too high.

“That night, 14 residents were not in the building, leaving at least 80 people dead or missing, the Met said.”

These figures do not tally with the 87 fatalities already announced by the authorities, figures that were already felt to be too low by many in the community.

The Police estimate of 350 people living in the Tower presents an average of less than 3 people living in each apartment. Survivors and residents from the local area do not accept this estimate, believing it to be way too low. It also fails to take account of the fact that it was Ramadan and therefore there would be many visitors in the Tower, breaking their fast with family and friends.

The Police estimate of 55 people missing is also being challenged by the community, who believe it to be an underestimate and not consistent with the facts. The Metro on 15th June reported that:

“Police revealed today that they have received around 400 calls reporting people missing following the Grenfell Tower fire.”

In addition, there were more than 600 calls made from the Tower on the night of the fire just to the emergency services, plus many more calls made by terrified residents to family and loved ones. The volume of calls alone suggests that many more than 350 people were in the Tower on the 14th June.

“…more than 600 emergency calls made that night ..”

The Met Police statement says that ‘there were about 255 survivors” – many in the local community are asking where are all these survivors and who are they?

It is unfortunate in the extreme that a statement issued in an attempt at transparency has only served to deepen the sense of mistrust in the authorities and heightened the widely held belief that a cover-up is underway.

A panelist from the Stephen Lawrence inquiry shares the lessons he learned that might be relevant to the Grenfell inquiry

Read the full article:
Lessons for the Grenfell Tower Inquiry