The Craig Lewis Podcast

When lockdown kicked in, councils in England were given £3.2m to provide emergency 12-week shelter for rough sleepers, with many making use of empty hotels.

Across Northamptonshire, about 200 people were offered emergency accommodation as part of the "Everyone In" project, but this scheme ended in the middle of June.

Northampton Borough Council then extended the plan until the end of the month.

More than 140 people have spent at least one night in one of two hotels - and almost 80 of these were then helped into settled housing.

And from Wednesday (July 1), 26 rough sleepers have moved again - this time into one of the University of Northampton's halls of residence.

It means three square meals, clean clothing and toiletries, and support to find work and medical treatment.

I spoke to three former rough sleepers who lived in the hotel, Hugo Calado, Vojtech "Victor" Boranos and Daniel Stratford.

When lockdown kicked in, councils in England were given £3.2m to provide emergency 12-week shelter for rough sleepers, with many making use of empty hotels.

Across Northamptonshire, about 200 people were offered emergency accommodation as part of the "Everyone In" project, but this scheme ended in the middle of June.

Northampton Borough Council then extended the plan until the end of the month.

More than 140 people have spent at least one night in one of two hotels - and almost 80 of these were then helped into settled housing.

And from Wednesday (July 1), 26 rough sleepers have moved again - this time into one of the University of Northampton's halls of residence.

It means three square meals, clean clothing and toiletries, and support to find work and medical treatment.

Amanda Wilson, the council's street service co-ordinator, said people were "seizing the chance to improve their lives".

From All Saints' Church to the Market Square, Thomas a Becket to Robert Browne, Northampton is a town full of history.

But has it been neglected?

I took a tour of the town centre with historian Mike Ingram and asked him just that...

Every year Northampton Borough Council offers grants of between £3-15,000 to charities in the town.

The Partnership Grant Funding has previously benefited groups ranging from The Good Loaf and The Hope Centre to Northampton Men's Sheds and the street pastors.

Charities have until noon on Friday (February 21) to apply for the grants.

Two other charities who've received money are Re:Store, which supports vulnerable people in the town, and The Lowdown, which offers counselling to 11 to 25-year-olds.

I went to visit both, firstly catching up with The Lowdown's Sophie Turner...

It's been a tough time to be a Labour supporter.

The party suffered heavy defeat in the general election, with leader Jeremy Corbyn announcing he wouldn't be fighting another.

Members are now deciding what direction the party takes next, with Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry competing to be the next leader.

The contest has seen Socialist Corbyn supporters at loggerheads with colleagues towards the centre of the party.

Earlier this month the party's Parliamentary candidate for Corby, Beth Miller, walked out of a constituency party meeting over suggestions Mr Corbyn's time in charge had been a success.

Yesterday (Sunday, February 9), the local party in Corby voted for who it would like to see be the next Labour leader - nominating Sir Keir.

Elsewhere the Wellingborough CLP (Constituency Labour Party) nominated Mrs Long-Bailey as leader. Both local parties nominated Angela Reyner for deputy leader.

Once nominations for all Labour's constituency groups have been completed, the ballot for party members to vote for their next leader will open on February 21.

Results will be announced in early April.

I caught up with two members of the party in Corby, who have somewhat differing views

 This is my full interview with Greg Clinker and Ross Armour...

It's been a tough time to be a Labour supporter.

The party suffered heavy defeat in the general election, with leader Jeremy Corbyn announcing he wouldn't be fighting another.

Members are now deciding what direction the party takes next, with Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry competing to be the next leader.

The contest has seen Socialist Corbyn supporters at loggerheads with colleagues towards the centre of the party.

Earlier this month the party's Parliamentary candidate for Corby, Beth Miller, walked out of a constituency party meeting over suggestions Mr Corbyn's time in charge had been a success.

Yesterday (Sunday, February 9), the local party in Corby voted for who it would like to see be the next Labour leader - nominating Sir Keir.

Elsewhere the Wellingborough CLP (constituency Labour party) nominated Mrs Long-Bailey as leader. Both local parties nominated Angela Reyner for deputy leader.

Once nominations for all Labour's constituency groups have been completed, the ballot for party members to vote for their next leader will open on February 21.

Results will be announced in early April.

I caught up with two members of the party in Corby, who have somewhat differing views...

Tomorrow (January 31) is Brexit Day.

It may seem like we've been talking about Britain leaving the European Union for a lifetime, but now there is a major step to mark.

There is still plenty to do and a transition period to traverse, but there is no mistaking the historic significance.

Earlier this week I travelled to Westminster to speak to Northampton South MP, Andrew Lewer...

Our hospitals are under huge pressure every day, both financially and dealing with increasing numbers of patients.

One new plan being put forward to improve services in the county is the formation of a new group management model for Northampton and Kettering hospitals.

I spoke to the joint chairman for the two hospitals, Alan Burns...

There's plenty of talk about politics at the moment - with a good deal of it being how "we've heard it all before," "it's boring" or "I've had enough of it". 

The truth is those talking heads you see and hear every day can get a bit draining, but there is something you may want to remember.

Politics is about who looks after our hospitals, our armed forces, our roads and infrastructure, the treatment of your children and ageing parents, and, dare I say it, whether or not we leave the European Union.

Interested now? Perhaps you should be?

If you are, this preview of BBC Radio Northampton's hustings debate for Northampton North may be of interest.

Conservative Michael Ellis, Labour's Sally Keeble, Liberal Democrat Martin Sawyer and the Green Party's Katherine Pate clashed over Brexit, the NHS, austerity, Northamptonshire County Council and more...

** The full debate will be played out between 7-8pm tonight (Thursday, November 28) on BBC Radio Northampton **

People may have watched the ITV clash between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson earlier this week.

But on the same night BBC Northampton held its very own -far more important - debate between the parliamentary candidates for Corby & East Northamptonshire.

Conservative Tom Pursglove, Labour's Beth Miller and Liberal Democrat Chris Stanbra took part in the event at Corby Cube's The Lab.

The subject soon turned to Brexit, but there was still time for the candidates to clash over the NHS, living in Corby, childcare and austerity...

** The full debate will be played out between 7-8pm tonight (Thursday, November 21) on BBC Radio Northampton **