Ludlow Assembly Rooms Live Event Listings, Feb 2010

Wed 3 February, 7.30pm

Poetry Café

Bring your own or your favourite poems to read and discuss in convivial company. The theme for February is Travelling.

Thursday 4 February, 7.30pm

Ludlow Art Society

The Moving Figure – a workshop, materials provided

An open invitation is extended to visitors to attend these monthly meetings.

Membership is open to all interested in the visual arts. Tickets: £2 members, £3 visitors

http://www.ludlowartsociety.org.uk/

Wednesday 10 February, 7.30pm

Civic Society Lecture

Simon Buteux, archaeologist

The Reader’s House – history and restoration

Open to all, tickets available on the door. £2 members or £3 non-members
Call John Bowles 01584 874 373 for more information. http://www.ludlowcivicsociety.org/

Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 February, 10am – 4pm

Annual Mega Booksale

Thousands of second hand books, plus CDs, videos and DVDs, all at absolute bargain prices. All donations are very welcome to the Assembly Rooms but please, no deliveries until the week of the sale.
Admission £5 before 11am, 50p for the rest of the day

Friday 12 February, 7.30pm

City of London Sinfonia

One of the UK’s leading professional orchestras plays Bartók , Mozart, Finzi and
Haydn , with Karen Geoghegan (bassoon soloist). http://www.cls.co.uk/
£15 (£14 concessions).

Friday 12 February – Sunday 14 March

A Hayward Gallery Touring exhibition

Peter Blake: Alphabet

A set of bold and colourful silkscreen prints, one for each letter of the alphabet, produced by the artist in 1991, together with some of Peter Blake’s rarely seen pictures from private collections.
The exhibition will be opened in person by Sir Peter Blake, 12 February, 5 – 7pm.

Saturday 13 February, doors open 9pm

Grand Fancy Dress Valentine’s Ball

With Ricky Cool and the Hoola Boola Boys. Dress up to the nines and enjoy a fantastic night out dancing to one of our best local bands – there’s a prize for the best costume.

http://www.rickycoolandthehoolaboolaboys.com/ £10 (£9 concessions).

Sunday 14 February, from 2pm

Crazy Golf

Putt your skill to the test over 9 holes of crazy golf suitable for all the family.
The course should take about 15 minutes to complete. £1 (50p concessions)

Sunday 21 February, 10am – 2pm

Tabletop sales

Hassle-free way to sell surplus items and unwanted gifts at this monthly indoor sale. Tables cost £6, to book contact Chris on 01584 813704.

Bargain hunters – this is your chance to pick up some great finds!

Tuesday 16 February, 5.30 – 6.30pm

Family Samba Drumming workshop

Lay down a funky Latin beat in this fun drumming session – beginners welcome.
All ages from 8+. £5 (£4 concessions)

Monday 15 – Friday 19 February

Half Term Fun – Let’s Party!

Lots of things to make and do for ages 3+ including hair braiding, fruit cocktails and a tots’ dance party. The half term film is Where the Wild Things Are (PG), on every afternoon from Saturday 13 to Tuesday 16 February. Full details on our website or ask Box Office for a leaflet.

Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February

Ice Rink

A half term special - for three days the Auditorium is turning into an Ice Rink! The whole family can join in and there are boots to hire. There’ll be music and video projections, and loads of fun. These sessions are very popular, please book in advance. £5 per hr. www.iceskatinguk.co.uk

Friday 19 February, 8pm

Blame Kenny

Covers rock band playing loud, energetic music to get up and dance to, from classic Stones numbers to Elbow and Arctic Monkeys. £5 (£4 concessions) www.myspace.com/blamekenny100

Saturday 20 February, 8pm

Cara Dillon

One of the most original and stunning singers of traditional music. Whether she’s singing her native songs of lost love and emigration, or original compositions, you will be hard-pressed to find a more emotive and captivating performer.
http://www.caradillon.co.uk/ £14 (£12 concessions). 

Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27 February, 7.30pm

The students of Ludlow College proudly present

The Boyfriend

Set in 1926 in a Finishing School on The French Riviera. The Carnival Ball is coming and the girls must find the perfect costumes (and boys) for the sparkling night. Welcome to the carefree world of the roaring twenties ! http://www.ludlow-college.ac.uk£7/ (£5 concessions).

Wednesday 3 March, 7.30pm

Poetry Café

Bring your own or your favourite poems to read and discuss in convivial company. The theme for March is Wrongdoing.

Friday 5 March, 1 – 4pm

Carpentry workshop

Learn basic carpentry skills, using reclaimed wood to make a bird box. Suitable for age 16+. This workshop will take place at the Friars’ Walk workshop, Ludlow.

Please book by Friday 26 February. £12 http://www.furniturescheme.co.uk/

Friday 5 March, 8pm

Love and Taxes

This new live literature piece recalls, using fiction, song and film, the brave days of defiance against the introduction of the Poll Tax, and the friendship and human stories that changed the political landscape in England. http://www.kindandgenerous.weebly.com/

£6 (£5 concessions).

Contact

Ludlow Assembly Rooms • 1 Mill Street • Ludlow • Shropshire SY8 1AZ
Box Office 01584 878141 http://www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/

Boy George - up close and personal in Tamworth

BOY GEORGE ... up close and personal @ BULLIT

SAT 13 FEB

click link to see event >>> http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=379313610081

STRICTLY 200 TICKETS TO SEE HIM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL ... BE QUICK !!!

TAMWORTH`s No.1 CLUB & TERRACE ...

OPEN TILL 3am THURSDAY & SUNDAY + 4am FRIDAY + 5am SATURDAY

RE-THINKIN DRINKIN ... IMPROOVIN GROOVIN !!!

THIS IS GONNA BE HUGE...


TheTicketSellers
24hr holine: 0844 870 0000

calls charged at 5p/min from BT land line

Win a pair of tickets to see Traces at Birmingham Hippodrome

Flying Music, Robert Jolley and Michel Boersma present


The Les 7 Doigts de la Main production of

Traces

CIRQUE AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE!

HALF TERM TREAT


“So thrilling, it will surely make an entire generation run away and join the circus”

The Guardian

Following a hugely successful season at The Peacock Theatre in Spring 2009, and their recent debut on The Royal Variety Performance, Les 7 Doigts de la Main perform their hugely acclaimed production TRACES at Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 February.

Performed by five young French-Canadian artists who demonstrate startling acrobatic brilliance, TRACES features dazzling displays of gravity-defying skill. Whether balancing casually on each other’s heads, tumbling through hoops or leaping spectacularly up giant poles without using their hands, the cast of four men and one woman soar through the show.

More than just a series of tricks however, TRACES pioneers a new brand of circus with a striking human element. Set in a makeshift bunker, five characters hide from an impending disaster outside the door. Using creation as their only antidote to the destruction outside, the cast use every mode of expression available to them, hoping to put down a last mark and leave their traces as best they can. Video, narration and music combine to show snippets of the performers’ real lives, gradually drawing the audience into their stories, as seemingly impossible acts take on a startlingly human nature. Set to a pumping soundtrack ranging from rock ‘n’ roll to blues to hip hop, TRACES mixes raw, classic acrobatics with theatre, skateboarding, street and contemporary dance styles.

The company features a hugely accomplished group of five performers whose skills have been perfected in circus schools and companies all over the world.

Les 7 Doigts de la Main was founded in Montreal in 2002 by seven seasoned circus performers with a goal to create circus shows with a strong human element. Traces was created in 2006 and is the company’s second production. It was performed in Melbourne as part of the Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival in summer 2006 and has been nominated for two Drama Desk Awards in New York.

Traces runs at Birmingham Hippodrome from Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 February.

Tickets are priced from £10-£28 and can be booked on 0844 338 5000 or online

http://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/ (calls vary from 5p per min, transaction charge 6% phone and counter, 3% online).

Spaghetti Gazetti Ticket Competition

Would you like to win two tickets to go and see this totally amazing show at Birmingham Hipprodrome on Monday 15th February 2010 at 7.30pm?

For a chance to win one of three pairs of tickets which have been generously provided by Birmingham Hippodrome just email me the answer to this question by midnight on Friday 5th February 2010:

In which North American city was the Les 7 Doigts de la Main company formed in 2002?

Please put Spaghetti Competition in the subject line of your email and send your name and answer to editorialgazette@googlemail.com by midnight next Friday (5th Feb). The three winning names will be randomly chosen and I will publish the names of the three winners on Saturday 6th February and dispatch the tickets the same weekend. Good luck to everyone who enters!

Pete to talk on Family History

Spaghetti Gazetti editor Pete Millington has been invited to talk on Family History to members of the public at Walsall Centre for Independent Living on Friday 12th March 2010. The talk will be part of Bitesize, a unique programme offering the people of Walsall taster sessions in various subjects.

I have been researching my family tree since the early 1990s and have taken some branches of my ancestors back to rural Shropshire in the late 1600s and some of my Irish ancestors back to famine striken Connaught of the mid 1840s. I was recently thrilled to make contact with my maternal grandmother's family in Dublin and to learn about a fascinating ancestor, my great great grandfather John McDonnell, a man who was totally blind but became a wealthy entrepreneur developing his basket weaving company into a lucrative trade making traps (as in 'pony and trap') for Edwardian Dubliners before retiring to the countryside.

Genealogy is a fascinating hobby and you never know what you are going to turn up next! You can view my family tree blog online at http://brummiefamilytree.blogspot.com/ to get an idea of what can be done when you combine family history research with social history and the narratives of ordinary people's lives.

Or if you live in Walsall, why not contact Walsall Centre for Independent Living and book in to hear my first ever genealogy lecture! Come along and hear my tips (all self taught) for tracing your own ancestors.

Contact Walsall CIL on 01922 650790

BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME WELCOMES THE YEAR OF THE TIGER CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS: SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY

Birmingham Hippodrome will be the second main performance venue for this year’s Birmingham’s Chinese New Year celebrations, sponsored by Lebara Mobile, it was announced today. The UK’s most visited theatre will be hosting colourful and breathtaking performances from Chinese opera to acrobatics and traditional dance.

Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee Chairman Jeffrey Yap said: “We are delighted that Birmingham Hippodrome is able to assist in opening up their public spaces this year. This new partnership only serves to improve the experience of the Chinese New Year festival for the whole community and widens the area in which our family-friendly festival can be celebrated.”

The performances, taking place in the theatre’s foyer areas in the afternoon, will kick off with the traditional Dragon Dance performed by Bai Ling Chinese Acrobatics Co Ltd (UK) who will make their way through the foyer areas ‘driving away evil spirits’ and ‘bringing good luck and fortune’ to visitors.

The theatre will also be decorated with traditional Chinese lanterns and Chinese themed food and special cocktails will be served - ideal for those who might want to celebrate Valentine’s day a little differently this year.

Stuart Griffiths, Chief Executive Birmingham Hippodrome, commented: “This is the first time the theatre has been able to provide performance space for the Chinese New Year celebrations and we very much look forward to welcoming everyone into the building to help usher in the Year of the Tiger.”

Light House Film & TV quiz is 4 years old

Light House's popular Film and Television Quiz returns on Monday 8 February, to celebrate its 4th anniversary. This regular quiz tests movie fans on memorable, and not so memorable, moments in film and TV. It takes place on the 2nd Monday of every month in Lock Works café bar and costs £5 per team, with a maximum of 4 members per team. Assemble your teams at 8pm for an 8.30pm start.


Started in February 2005, the quiz, run by Light House's resident film expert and film studies lecturer Kimberly Forlini-Softley, has become one of the most highly attended events on the Light House calendar with up to 20 teams participating each month. Originally written by Light House's very own in-house team, previous winners are now invited to write and host the quiz, a tradition started by former regulars 'The Bloxwich Massive' back in Feb 2007. Hosts for the 4th anniversary quiz are The Browncoats who, previously as hosts, have 'sweded' their own clips, recreating popular films or scenes with a limited budget using only a camcorder.

Kimberly says 'I am really pleased the quiz has reached this milestone. It has really come into its own with regular participants signing up a year in advance to host and there is a great community spirit amongst the teams. It doesn't matter how much you know about film, as the team that comes in first and the team that comes in last have an equal amount of fun. So, whether you’re a a film fan, a pop culture junkie or somewhere in between come & help us celebrate this milestone in Quiz-Tory. Let your geek flag fly.'

The 4th Anniversary Film & TV Quiz takes place in Lock Works on Mon 8 Feb, 8/8.30pm and costs £5 per team (up to 4 members). Light House is located in the historic Chubb Buildings in Wolverhampton City Centre. For further information contact Light House box office on

t. 01902 716055 / e. info@light-house.co.uk or visit http://www.light-house.co.uk/
 

More than 5,000 ways to strike Olympic Gold

CompeteFor, the online ‘business dating’ website which provides business opportunities for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is celebrating its second birthday with the 5,000th tender advertised on the service since its launch in January 2008.


Over 7716 businesses in the West Midlands are currently registered on CompeteFor, to take advantage of the 5,000 opportunities ranging from printing to event management contracts from training to abseiling services.

To date almost 50 tenders have been won through the CompeteFor system by 44 different West Midlands firms, with a combined value of around £10 million. These include:-

RMD Kwik Form of Brownhills

Varley & Gulliver of Birmingham

Hickman & Love of Dudley

Tension Control Bolts of Whitchurch

Slick Seating of Redditch

Keller Ground Engineering of Rugby

Bakers Coaches of Stoke

Zaun Fencing of Wolverhampton

CompeteFor was designed to offer small and medium-sized firms the opportunity to bid for contracts from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Together with the Olympic authorities and their main contractors, more than 600 buying organisations are now placing opportunities on CompeteFor including the Olympic Authorities and their main contractors.

Around 74% of contracts awarded have been placed with small to medium-sized businesses, and 18% of contracts have gone to businesses with 10 or less staff.

Paul Painter, a co-founder of Zaun Fencing, Wolverhampton said: “As a result of winning this large project, we have benefitted from other work both on and off the Olympic site.”

Jim Johnston, Business Manager 2012 Games at Advantage West Midlands, said: “CompeteFor continues to go from strength to strength and we are very pleased that so many London 2012 and public sector supply-chain opportunities have thus become accessible to small businesses. In these very diffcult times for many firms, we would encourage them to use CompeteFor as a key strand in their business development activity.”

Ian Lucas, Minister for Business and Regulatory Reform, said: "This is a very significant milestone to have reached and illustrates just how successful and user friendly the CompeteFor website is.

Long term preparation and being in condition is the key to success - in sport and in business. With that in mind, the government has been helping UK businesses get in condition through Business Link and its portfolio of products - such as the Manufacturing Advisory Service – which has helped domestic companies win London 2012 contracts via CompeteFor.

The finish line isn’t in sight yet; there are still many more contracts up for grabs for small to medium sized businesses, which could also provide the opportunity to secure contracts for future global sporting events.”

CompeteFor is continuing to grow. There are still over £1 billion worth of Olympic-related contracts to come to the market. The Greater London Authority 'family' - the London Development Agency, Transport for London, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, and Metropolitan Police - now also use the system routinely for their procurement of goods and services.

To register on CompeteFor visit www.competefor.com

If West Midlands businesses want to find out how they can get fit to compete for London 2012 contracts, they should visit www.businesslinkwm.co.uk or ring 0845 113 1234.

For further information on how the West Midlands is maximising the opportunities created through London 2012 visit http://www.wmfor2012.com/

Birmingham people urged to join telephone health service during National Heart Month

The team behind an innovative telephone healthcare service is urging Birmingham people with long term heart conditions to enrol as National Heart Month begins on 1 February.

Birmingham OwnHealth provides one-to-one advice and support to members with heart conditions including coronary heart disease, heart failure, cardio vascular disease and high blood pressure. The service is available in several languages, and members work with a designated Care Manager over the telephone to help manage their condition.

The service helps members to have lives that are more independent, make positive changes to their health and lifestyles and gives them the power to manage their conditions better.

Now the service is urging people with long term conditions across north and east Birmingham to join up during National Heart Month, which is run by the British Heart Foundation until 28 February.

William Arnold, who lives in Sheldon, has coronary heart disease and has been a member of Birmingham OwnHealth since January 2008.

“Before signing up to Birmingham OwnHealth, I was tired all the time and was often in a lot of pain. I didn’t really know why and I felt as though there was nothing I could do to improve things,” William says. “But all of that changed when I started to talk regularly with my Care Manager.

“I immediately felt more confident about visiting my GP and began to get a better understanding of my condition and the medication I needed to take. I found it so easy to talk to my Care Manager and for me personally, even though I still remain in close contact with my GP, I found my Care Manager’s advice just as helpful. I also never get the feeling that I’m taking up somebody’s time unnecessarily.

“Before I enrolled, I felt really ill most of the time and it affected almost every aspect of my life. But OwnHealth has given me the confidence to work more closely with my GP to get the most out of my treatment and things have improved enormously. I’ve even been able to start working again, something I could only dream about while I was sitting at home suffering.

“I like the fact that my Care Manager is always just a phone call away. I can always get advice, information or just a bit of reassurance if I need it.”

Ask your GP or other health professional about joining Birmingham OwnHealth or go to http://www.birminghamownhealth.co.uk/ for more information

Holocaust Memorial Day in Solihull

A memorial service to mark Holocaust Memorial Day was held on Wednesday morning, 27 January, in Library Square, Solihull.

This internationally recognised day commemorates the tragic loss of life in the genocides of World War II and more recently in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur.

Holocaust Memorial Day falls on the anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp. This year marks the 65th anniversary of that day.

The Solihull Partnership event, organised through the Solihull Faith Forum, included prayers led by Rabbi Pink, signing of the Commemoration Book and a one minute’s silence. Dr Martin Stern, a Holocaust survivor, spoke at the event alongside the Mayor of Solihull Councillor Norman Davies and members of the Solihull Faith Forum, Rabbi Pink, Beryl Moppett, the Reverend Susan Height and Pal Singh.

Solihull Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Bob Sleigh said: “We have a responsibility to remember those who were persecuted and murdered in the past. This is a day when everyone, for all our different communities, can come together and reflect on potential consequences of racism and intolerance and commit to creating a better future.”

Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Norman Davies said: “Although this day is to remember the horrors of the past, we must not become complacent in thinking such atrocities have not and will not happen again. Unfortunately there are still societies rife with prejudice and persecution. It is only through the lessons of the past, monitoring our own attitudes and speaking out about discrimination that we can hope to build a safer and inclusive society.”

For more information on Holocaust Memorial Day visit http://www.hmd.org.uk/

Steve Gibbons Band at the Jam House

Steve Gibbons set to raise the roof at the Jam House Birmingham


Birmingham country rockers The Steve Gibbons Band are promising to raise the roof when they stage a long-awaited gig at the Jam House, Birmingham, next month.

The charismatic Gibbons, who has enjoyed hits across Europe and Australia as well as the UK, will be performing tracks from his Dylan Project at the St Paul’s Square live music venue on Wednesday, February 3.

The band’s legions of fans will also be treated to classic tracks, including Tulane, One of the Boys and many more.

Gibbons, the legendary singer/songwriter, who lives in Edgbaston, has a loyal following and is widely regarded as one of the most enduring artists, having enjoyed more than 40 years in the music business.

The show replaces the Bev Bevan Band, whose gig has been rescheduled for later in the year.

John Bunce, operations manager for the Jam House, said: “Steve is an absolutely fantastic performer who always puts on a great show. His unique style attracts fans of all ages. It promises to be a brilliant night.”

Tickets for the show cost £5 and are available from www.thejamhouse.com or by calling 0121 200 3030.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE MARTINEAU CENTRE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ?

Birmingham Free Industrial School, Gem Street, founded in 1849

Written by Percy Lea, former Principle of Tennal School


The Martineau Teachers Centre, previously based in Bristol Road, was transferred to Balden Road, Harborne, following the closure of Tennal Community Home School in 1984. This event resulted in 140 years of ongoing care, education and support for Birmingham’s destitute and disadvantaged children coming to an end.

Before 1846 the education and care of children in Birmingham and other expanding cities was neglected. Children over the age of 7 years who broke the law were treated as adults and could be hanged, transported or imprisoned. In 1850 more than 11,000 children were admitted to prisons in England and Wales.

The origins of the Martineau Centre, are in the founding of the first Ragged School in Lichfield Street, Birmingham, by the Revd Grantham Yorke in 1846, and also in the free industrial School which was opened in Gem Street in 1849. The Bishop of Worcester was a patron of the new institution and the Mayor of Birmingham was a member of the Management Committee.

The new Gem Street school had 3 departments :-

[1] A day School teaching the 3 R’s, history, geography, singing and moral and religious values

[2] An industrial class teaching practical trade skills, including carpentry and metalwork.

[3]An Asylum for deserted and orphaned children offering full board up to the age of 14 years.

The 1886 Act required that children should be employed in industrial work for 6 hours a day and it reduced the time spent in the Schoolroom. The day school was closed and Gem Street then had a dual role working with delinquent children and also as a refuge for destitute young people.

The running costs of the school were high and in 1873 the girls were transferred to Birmingham’s Board School at Sparkhill, reducing the number of pupils to 117. However, in 1876, the number of boys in the school had risen to 155.

The purchase of a recreation ground in Harborne in 1876, was deemed necessary to keep the boys fit with games and exercises. In 1900, the Gem street institution was condemned on Health ground, having insufficient fresh air, and a new school was built on the 7 acre site.

Harborne Industrial School was opened on May, 22nd, 1903, in Balden Road. It was never classified as a Reformatory School although the inmates were ‘‘ drawn from the class of boys who owing to indifferent home surroundings or criminal parents, would drift towards a life of crime or vagrancy, ``

The Hon. and Revd. Grantham Munton Yorke, D.D., Founder of the School

In 1925, Harborne Industrial school was renamed Ansell School. However, in 1927, a Home Office Report stated that there ‘‘ was little or no difference in character in the neglected or delinquent child. `` Subsequently, in 1933, Reformatory and Industrial Schools were abolished and a National System of Open Approved Schools was set up. Ansell school was renamed Tennal School in 1938.

In 1968, a White Paper ‘ Children in Trouble ` stated that there was a need for a ‘‘ variety of provision, `` and this was followed in 1969 by the ‘ Childrens and Young Persons Act .` In 1974, a new assessment centre for children, was opened at Tennal School by the Home Secretary, Sir Keith Joseph. At this time Approved Schools were renamed Community Homes with Education.

A White Paper, in 1980, recommended ‘‘ a wide range of alternatives to custody, `` and the Home Office transferred the responsibility for community schools to local authorities. However, cheaper community based provision was considered by local authorities to be economically more viable than community schools. Subsequently, Tennal Community Home School was closed in 1984. The 81 year tradition of providing support for disadvantaged young people at the Balden Road School came to an end.

Nevertheless, the institution provided a very suitable base for the Martineau Teachers Centre, and the main building was extensively refurbished. At that time the Balden Road School represented one of the largest concentrations of accessible facilities available for educational and community use. These included a newly equipped weight training room, a gymnasium, a large sports hall, a caged games area, an indoor swimming pool, and a large playing field, plus ample facilities for catering, conferences, private celebrations, adult education courses and leisure facilities.

Currently, 500 people are employed at the Martineau Centre by the Birmingham City Council Education Department, including the Curriculum Support Service; Youth Assessment Centre ; Instrumental Music Service ; Psychology Unit ; Health Education and numerous others, comprising 30 agencies based in the Martineau Centre. However, plans have been made to transfer the 500 staff to new offices in Woodstock Street in 2011.

In answer to the key question asked many times during the past year, ‘ What is going to happen to the Martineau Centre ? ` the standard reply from Councillors and Senior Officers has been ‘ No decision has yet been made ! ` If this is true, why has building maintenance been reduced to a minimum ? Why has community use of facilities been withdrawn ? Who decided to shut down adult evening classes 3 years ago ? Why are rooms no longer available to hire at the Centre ? Why are local schools or community groups no longer able to use the playing fields ? Why has no consultation with the local community ever taken place ? These and many other questions need to be answered for they indicate that the decision to close down the Martineau Centre was made surreptitiously some time ago.

The Martineau Centre has apparently been run down to promote its sale to private developers and local people have a right to be consulted. Local leisure and adult education resources are currently insufficient and the irreversible loss to the local community of the potential benefits and accessible facilities of the Martineau Centre is difficult to justify.

See article below for more details

Solemn faces on a solemn occasion for pupils and teachers

Plea to save the Martineau Centre

A new group naming themselves the Martineau 10 has been set up in Harborne with the aim of saving the well known Martineau Centre in Balden Road for community use. The Martineau Centre, once the Tennal Community Home School and before that the Harborne Industrial School, has been the location for the City Council’s Teachers Centre since the mid 1980s but it’s future is in great doubt at the moment with the transfer of teacher training services in the city to a new building in Woodcock Street near the University of Aston possibly as early as August 2010. Some 500 staff are expected to move into the new building at Woodcock Street.

Local people in the Harborne and Quinton area are concerned that the Centre, described as one of the largest concentrations of accessible facilities available for educational and community use in the city, will be closed down with the loss of it’s newly equipped weight training room, a gymnasium, sports hall, caged games area, an indoor swimming pool and a large playing field. The building also has ample facilities for catering, conferences, private celebrations, adult education courses and leisure facilities. Sports England have also expressed their concern about the potential loss of these facilities to the local community.

A spokesperson from the Martineau 10 group told The Harborne and Edgbaston Gazette:

“It would be reassuring for people living close to the Centre if some future social and community use could be identified for the Centre before the present users have finished with the buildings”.

One local resident and parent of young children at a nearby school who have used the facilities at the site in the past, told us:

“It is very disturbing to hear of the impending closure of this fantastic site when there are charities, social enterprises and sports groups in the city looking for accommodation. Harborne always seems to be left out when it comes to community based facilities and the Council should now give residents a clearer indication of their intentions with this building. We have seen buildings and land sold off too many times now by local authorities across the West Midlands in what appear to be ‘done deals’ which the public learn about after it’s too late. Local people have the right to be consulted”

Read a fascinating article inside this edition about the history of the Martineau Centre, written by former principle Percy Lea who still lives locally. To support the campaign, put your comment on the Facebook page “Save the Martineau Centre” or email the Martineau 10 on:

bojangles1053668@AOL.com

BUSINESS LAW UPDATE CONFERENCE — 3rd FEB 2010

Fancy a round of golf on The Belfry's PGA National Course.....?

Or is having your hair cut at Tony & Guy more your style?

Why not come along to Birmingham Metropolitan College's 'Business Law Update Conference' on the 3rd February 2010 at the Sutton Coldfield Campus

It will be your chance to win some fantastic prizes in our charity raffle, being held at the conference, to help raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital

The conference is aimed at Birmingham and Sutton Coldfield entrepreneurs and business people to update them on amendments to the laws governing their business, the new ACAS Code of Practice for conduct, disciplinary and grievance procedures.

Speakers from Wragge & Co, Weightmans LLP and Browne Jacobson LLP will offer their expert legal advice and knowledge on employment law through a series of update briefings with information guides also available.

If you are interested in coming to this event please find attached a leaflet outlining the event and booking form to be returned to:

Annette Butler: abutler@sutcol.ac.uk

Ikon Gallery exhibition opening: 2 February

Exhibition opening


Tuesday 2 February, 6-8pm. Free entry.

Ikon Gallery, Brindleyplace, Birmingham

You are invited to the opening of Ikon's new exhibitions by Clare Rojas and João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva.

Clare Rojas produces colourful folk-inspired paintings which comment on gender relations and representation with characteristic humour. Patchworks of panels combine to recall a range of cultural sources from Native American craft to street graffti.

Portuguese artists João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva present a body of new 16mm films in which they conduct a curious investigation into natural phenomena. Against a background of philosophical debate, their carefully crafted works exude a playful inventiveness.

Exhibitions continue to 21 March.

Peggy Honeywell Performs

Tuesday 2 February, 8.15pm, second floor galleries, free

On the night of her exhibition opening, Clare Rojas performs songs taken from her folk albums Green Mountain, Faint Humms and Honey For Dinner released under the name of her alter-ego Peggy Honeywell. No need to book.

Ikon Gallery

1 Oozells Square
Brindleyplace
Birmingham
B1 2HS

Tel: +44 (0) 121 248 0708

Birmingham Council consults on new Equalities Bill

Organisers of a consultation event which took place in Birmingham today are welcoming a new commitment from Birmingham City Council to consult with disabled people on services in the city. The event was run by the newly formed Birmingham Disability Network which is bringing together disability organisations to provide a representative and consultative voice for disabled citizens.

The event which took place at the Bordesley Centre in Sparkbrook was chaired by Louise Simmons who is chief executive of Birmingham Disability Resource Centre and chair person of the Network, and it was funded by Birmingham City Council who used the occasion to blaunch a new dialogue with Birmingham's disabled community around the Council's duties under disability and equality legislation.

Councillor Alan Rudge, who is Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources, gave an opening speech in which he welcomed the opportunity to consult disabled people through the Birmingham Disability Network. Stephen Hodgkins from the national organisation Disability LIB spoke about the history of disabled people's organisations in the UK and the support being provided by Disability LIB to groups across the country and Simone Aspis of the Alliance for Inclusive Education spoke in detail about the new Equality Bill is making it's way through Parliament and will both complement and supersede existing legislation. Simone also explained the points within the Bill on which the disabled people's movement are consulting and lobbying nationally.

Simone Aspis

In the afternoon, delegates took part in workshops led by Birmingham City Council officers around employment and communication. The intention is that similar workshops on other issues will be organised in the next few months in preperation for the Equality Bill becoming legislation. The event itself was made accessible through support features such as British Sign Language interpreters and through graphic illustration organised by Cerebral Palsy Midlands in Harborne.

Pete Millington, who is Information Manager at Birmingham Disability Resource Centre and one of the organisers of today's event said:

"It is great to see this new potential for disabled people and disability organisations in Birmingham to consult with the Council. Today's event respresents a step towards building a longer term relationship between the Council and the Network so that ultimately the views of disabled people can be heard and responded to on an ongoing basis. It is encouraging to learn how issues in Birmingham are mirrored around the country and that there are disabled people's organisations lobbying Parliament at a national level".

For details about the next consultation event please email bdrc@disability.co.uk

Mick Leahy paved the way for all

Jason Lowe, Birmingham based boxing correspondant for The Harp Newspaper pays tribute to an Irish boxing great who for many years has lived and worked in Coventry. Mick Leahy died on 5th January 2010.

He gave them the toughest fights they ever had'

He paved the way for Irish boxers to set their goals high and push hard'

Mick Leahy the former Cork born fighter who became the first Irish born British Middleweight champion was laid to rest on January 19th in Coventry with former champion friends attending to say a fond farewell to their lost friend.

Former British & Commonwealth Champions Bunny Johnson, Danny McAlinden and Jack Bodell along with past champions such as British Middleweight Champion Bobby Arthur, Four weight Midlands champion Brian Cartwright all gave fantastic tributes to their friend and said it was so sad Mick had lost his life when he gave the world so much.

Hundreds attended the Our Lady of Assumption church in Coventry to pay their final respects to the fallen champion and also to offer their love and friendship to the loving family he has left behind.

Mick, who passed away at Christmas time, was in poor health for some time. An operation to help improve his situation went well but unfortunately Mick's health did not improve and after he caught a chest infection, the former boxer was sadly unable to keep up his final fight any longer. Mick sadly passed away with his loving wife Theresa at his side.

It has been reported that Mick died of Alzheimers disease but this is not so. Mick died of bronchial pneumonia at the age of 74.

The service celebrated Mick's Life, both in and out of the ring, his boyhood close friendship with Randolph Turpin - the former World champion from Leamington and how much Mick strived to make his family happy. Micks life was for his family alone and all he achieved was committed to his wife and children who are truly warm and loving people.

No one who knew Mick ever had a bad word to say about him and all agreed that he was a man who lived to make other people happy. Many other former fighing friends of Micks such as Jackie Turpin, Dick Richards, Tony Riley, Peter Boddington, Peter Healy and Larry Parks all attended with former ABA fighters from all over offering their fond memories to the Leahy family.

Former Irish unlicensed Cruiserweight champion Jason Lowe said "Mick was a positive person to all that met him. He offered boxing so much and still pushed to give it extra".

Without questions there should be a statue monument erected in Coventry to show all how proud and thankful they are to Mick's boxing life. Jason interviewed Mick for the Irish Harp newspaper some years back and stayed a friend to the family. Pnly last year he and Danny McAlinden visited Mick in his care home and cried when they left.

Unbeaten

Mick leaves behind a widow, five children, grandchildren and 1 great grand daughter.

Watch highlights on You Tube of the night that Mick Leahy became only one of 4 boxers to defeat Sugar Ray Robinson:

Vidar's latest review

Audio-described performance of Cinderella at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre by Vidar Hjardeng.


At last Sunday’s matinee the Wolverhampton Grand laid on a special audio description service for a group of children (and their families) from the National Blind Children’s Society. In my capacity as one of the charity’s trustees I had the great pleasure of joining them all for a fun-packed afternoon to enjoy this perennial rags-to-riches favourite.

The theatre’s resident describer, Anne Hornsby, along with Access and Marketing Manager, Janine Graeme and NBCS Events Manager, Sally Freeman and her colleague Hazel Russell, warmly welcomed the VIPs in the theatre foyer before dividing the group into 2, and while one lot was taken behind the scenes for the pre-show touch tour, the others went off for some refreshments and to listen to some children’s audio books provided by the theatre for 20 minutes or so, until it was their turn to go on stage.

For many it was their first experience of a touch tour and the children really made the most of it as they were allowed to try on some of the outlandish hats and wigs worn by the Ugly Sisters – much to the amusement of their Mums and Dads! In addition to getting a hands-on feel for some of the costumes, we were all shown a number of the key props, notably Cinderella’s pumpkin-shaped coach which in a spectacular end to the first half of the show, carried her off to the ball flying through the air, drawn by the amazing Pegasus.

When everyone was back in the coffee area people were given their all important headsets with a quick lesson in how they worked, before being taken down to the auditorium to take their seats – at the front of the stalls – to listen to Anne delivering the scene setting notes. These contained details of the set, who played which character and their costumes. Despite this being Anne’s 4th description of the show, she made as spontaneous and fresh as if it was the first time she’d ever done it – clearly enjoying it as she encouraged us all to join in the time-honoured ritual panto banter of ‘He’s behind you!!’ etc.

The indominatable Krankies and Stefan Dennis from Neighbours, led an outstanding cast and everyone in the NBCS party was delighted when the charity got a special mention from Baron Hard-up and Buttons (alias the Krankies) which was a great finale to a terrific afternoon.

The next audio-described show at the Grand is the cult musical, The Rocky Horror Show, on the evening of Friday, 26 February and information on tickets (including possible discounts), headsets and Touch Tour, can be obtained from the box office on 01902 429212.

MERIDEN ROTARY NEWS

SHELTERBOX IN HAITI

When 50 Meriden Rotarians, families and friends got together to hold a charity auction before Christmas, to raise money for Shelterbox. little did they realise how relevant were their efforts. They raised £3000, enough for just over six Boxes, each equipped with a tent and the basic essential needs for up to 10 people, who have lost everything in a disaster.

Then we heard the news of the awful Haiti disaster; that the first ShelterBox Response Teams were already arriving in Port au Prince. The first twelve tents are actually being used to set up a field hospital at the airport. This young lad lost a leg: the photo was taken in a Shelterbox tent, where he is receiving some comfort with the help of a colouring book from the box.

Hundreds and hundreds more boxes are on their way, packed by volunteers within hours of news of the disaster breaking.

Shelterbox was set up ten years ago by an inspired Rotarian in Cornwall, Tom Henderson, just awarded a well deserved OBE. Their aim is to provide emergency shelter for half a million people each year. They aim to be one of the first relief organisations on the scene, aided by the worldwide Rotary network. The events in Haiti show just how much their work is needed.

Find out more about this amazing organisation on:- http://www.shelterbox.org/  

ROTARY CONTACT DETAILS: Ian Courts, Rotary Club of Meriden.

01676 535490
iancourts@yahoo.co.uk

A Real Eye Opener

Action for Blind People – Free Social Enterprise and Employment Development Event

5 March 2010, Birmingham

Action for Blind People is an expert national organisation, ensuring blind and partially sighted people get practical support in all aspects of their lives.

In April 2009 Action for Blind People became an associate charity of RNIB, in an innovative partnership combining regional service delivery across England. This partnership enables both organisations to share skills and deliver services in line with the UK Vision Strategy.

For more information phone us on our National Freephone Helpline 0800 915 4666 or visit our fully accessible website: http://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/  

Registered Charity no 205913 (England and Wales); SC040050 (Scotland).

Robert Lane gig at the Tower of Song, Birmingham

On Friday the 5th of February


Singer songwriter Robert Lane returns to The Tower of Song in Birmingham after a triumphant EP launch last October. Once again he is joined by fabulous guests including Sam Draisey, Simon Davies and comedian Lee Goodall.

In the main part of the night Robert will perform the songs from his EP Twenty Two plus some new and never heard before tracks, as well as covers of songs by some of his biggest influences. The evening will end with the return of the house band featuring Ken Stratford, Steve Butt and Garry (Gaz) Barham, who will rip it up with Robert at the end of the night with some Blues and Rock and Roll. The gig is free entry

Short Bio

Robert Lane is a 23 year old Guitarist, Songwriter and Singer based in Birmingham. This year he has released the EP Twenty Two on which he performs vocals, guitars, bass and percussion as well as various keyboards and pianos.

Robert exudes a proudly eclectic style which touches on introverted singer songwriter, broken hearted blues journeyman and pop tinged troubadour. Robert is a natural performer and in 2009 performed at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and The Tenby Blues Festival, as well as many fabulous midlands venues including Wolverhampton's Newhampton Arts Centre and The Public in West Bromwich. In early 2010 he will be appearing at Jools Holland's famous Birmingham venue, The Jam House as well performing on Internet TV show Balcony TV, which has seen performances from artists such as Ash, The Script, Biffy Clyro, Nouvelle Vague and Dengue Fever.

Robert Lane can be seen and heard at http://www.robertlanemusic.blogspot.com/

Tower of Song address

107 Pershore Road South
Cotteridge
BIRMINGHAM
B30 3JX



Tel: 0121 486 1300

New on the BSSEC blog... ART starts the year with twice as much to lend to social enterprises & small businesses

ART starts the year with twice as much to lend to social enterprises & small businesses

January 21st, 2010 by Steve Walker

BSSEC member ART (Aston Reinvestment Trust) — one of the longest-established community finance providers in the UK — is starting the new year with over £2m to lend to businesses in Birmingham and Solihull that cannot get finance from conventional sources.

This includes lending to social enterprises. READ MORE/...

http://www.bssec.org.uk/blog/?p=435

The Wedding Present - The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton: Friday 16th July 2010

The Wedding Present have had eighteen UK Top 40 hit singles… not bad for a band that has, from its inception, stubbornly refused to play the record industry’s game. In 1985 David Lewis Gedge boarded a National Express coach in London with 500 records packed into a pair of his mother’s suitcases and, in this fashion, the band’s debut single GO OUT AND GET ‘EM BOY! was delivered to the distribution company, and The Wedding Present was born. That pioneering spirit has been at the core of the band’s philosophy ever since. From GEORGE BEST, “an unmitigated delight” [NME], the first full-length release on their own Reception Records onwards, the band has charted an appealing, if often eccentric, course of its very own.

“The boy Gedge has written some of the best love songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Era. You may dispute this, but I’m right and you’re wrong!” John Peel.

Official Website: http://scopitones.co.uk/

Tickets priced £16.00 will be available from Monday 25th January at Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/

Black by Day – A 24 minute TV pilot completely self funded

Abdul Wahid (Grips) and Director Matt Hickinbottom

Dear Spaghetti Gazetti readers,


Below is some information about the "Black by Day" TV Pilot

A few people got together with an idea for a Black country TV show and self financed the full length pilot which will be on show to the public in February.

It's a comedy Drama set in 1899 about 3 women who live in the Black Country and was made entirely in the Black Country Museum.

Our aim is to get some investment or media interest in the full 8 part series as the pilot was completely self funded and we're already in pre-production on episode 2.

The trailer is available on YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYnk8Y-cmc4



Kindest regards,

John R Walker
 

Filming Black by Day

Think Shameless meets Jane Eyre

We’ve made a 24 minute pilot episode of genuine Black Country-based comedy/drama/soap. Set in circa 1899, it was filmed entirely on location at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley in the heart of the West Midlands and was completely self funded.

We’ve placed a trailer on You-Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYnk8Y-cmc4 but you can see the whole thing at the following events

We plan to make another 7 episodes and the second one is already in pre-production

We can’t recall ever seeing a TV ‘soap’ or even ‘sit com’ that’s ever been based in the working class 1899 Black Country so we really felt that our concept had major potential for transferring to film.

We’re looking for a buyer of the series or a financer to help complete the next 7 episodes so to get people to see the first episode we’ve put together 3 nights we’re people can see the pilot, get a live “Fizzog” show and have a great evening

This isn't just any ordinary night of entertainment either!

You wonderful people get to be the first to preview the pilot episode of Fizzog's and Post Office Studios (soon to be worldwide phenomenon) comedy/drama 'Black by Day'... Think Shameless meets Jane Eyre!

Tickets £10 each or 5 for £40

(and there's still time to pop to the pub after)

3 Nights - 3 Venues...

Thursday 11th February - Thorns Community College, off Stockwell Avenue, Quarry Bank, Brierley Hill DY5 2NU

Friday 12th February - Black Country Livivng Museum, Tipton Road, Dudley DY1 4SQ

Saturday 13th February - Light House, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT

7:30pm - 10:00pm
 

Jacky Fellows

Fizzog

Fizzog is a well-established and fully professional community theatre company with a reputation for quality, entertaining, issue-based work.

Now in our 9th year, we have never received core-funding but continue to thrive through winning bids and securing commissions and funding from private organisations, national funding bodies, and local councils. The fact that our success and reputation has now kept us in constant employment is a further testament to our passion, commitment and quality of work.

The story so far...

We approached the Museum in 2006 with the idea of performing a daily living soap on site in the back to back houses during the summer. We piloted the project over a weekend and the pilot was so successful that we were invited back for a further four weeks in 2007. After being partly credited for a rise in the museum’s visitors, our commission was further extended to 6 weeks in the summer of 2008 and also included a winter holiday season of Halloween, Bonfire night and Christmas.

Our story employs rough-cut and often rowdy Black Country characters, at the heart of which are the Froggatts and the Cotterills, two notorious families who not only live in very close proximity to each other in their traditional back to back houses, but also share the equally traditional enmity for each other’s trades- the Froggatts being Black Country nailers and the Cotterills, miners, both permanently engaged in venomous personal relationships and a never ending battle for one-upmanship

This has proved to be a highly successful collaboration between the museum and ourselves and has resulted in our being able to develop engaging plotlines, daily trialled with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In these plotlines, we explore a wide range of personal dilemmas and controversies in a darkly comic manner: there is certainly nothing soft-centred about our approach as we don’t shy away from the social reality of the times in which our work is set. And the visitors, in short, love it.

This is due, in the main, to the strength of our character base. We’ve invested much time and creativity into developing strongly identifiable three dimensional ‘people’ in our intergenerational, fictional families. They’re a rich mix of human failings, family loyalties, individualism, and Black Country ‘orkedness’. And, obviously, the opportunities provided by the museum locales add a powerful authenticity to it all.

A feature that visitors from all over the country and from abroad are often intrigued by is our use of genuine Black Country dialect and idiom: this is a recognised specialism of Fizzog, aided by the fact that we’re all home-grown Black Country performers. We’re well aware that this is a dialect that is both fast dying and which receives little wider national recognition for its richness and uniqueness. We feel that our drama/comedy series could begin to address this, by championing not only the dialect but other aspects of traditional Black Country small industry culture and bringing them to a wider audience (possibly with the use of subtitles!)

Jacky Fellows, Deb Nichols and Susan Hawkins

Other Fizzog Sketches

The Company has diversified considerably over the last couple of years, now specialising also in live Black Country Comedy sketch shows. As a result of our never losing sight of the vital importance of the entertainment factor, whatever the commission brief, a number of our project’s Black Country characters have now become an extremely popular addition at these showcase evenings. The indication of just how promising and successful a transition to film could be came from the reaction of the audience during a screening of a short 5 minute sketch we improvised and filmed for one of our shows. ‘Safety First’ featuring four of our most popular Black Country characters, was so well received by the audience indicating very much that our range of Black Country characters are equally at home on the screen as they are in live theatre. In fact, we’ve found the film medium helps in developing their subtleties and gives far more scope for placing them in their natural locations.

John R Walker (co-producer and 1st AD).

Job Opportunity - Health Exchange CIC

Job Title: Universal Services Co-ordinator

Salary: Circa £18,500 (by negotiation)

Hours: Full time (37½ hours per week)

Location: Health Exchange



PEASE NOTE: The closing date for this vacancy has been extended to Monday 1st February 2010.

Health Exchange CIC is looking for an individual who has a high level of organisational ability to co-ordinate the development and implementation of the Health Exchange Universal service.

This will mean the utilisation of the web, social media, Digital TV and SMS enabling all of our clients to access information and choice of service via Health Exchange kiosk network, PC, PDA, TV, and mobile phones.

For this post you will need the following experience/skills:

Graduate level or equivalent in Health Promotion or community work

Good understanding of web2 standards and protocols

Track record of achievement in delivering information communication services in the community

Interest in advances in computer technology, the internet, social media and SMS

If you want more information on this post or wish to submit an application form please visit http://www.healthexchange.org.uk/  vacancies and email your application form to info@healthexchange.org.uk


Sharon Tew
Office Manager/PA
Health Exchange CIC

Registered Office: 6th Floor Chamber House, 75 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3DH

Company No: 06445689

Tel: 0121 607 0112
Fax: 0121 607 0137

Worcester Open - Regional Art Exhibition

Another regional art open exhibition opportunity for artists in Birmingham and across the region.

An open call to artists to submit artwork for a major regional Contemporary Art Exhibition.


Contact

Nathaniel Pitt, Project Manager / curator
01905 616660 / 07595397861 info@worcesteropen.co.uk  

Details:

24th April - 26th June 2010 - Worcester Contemporary Art Open

Venues


Worcester City Gallery, Foregate St. WR1 1DT,

PITT artist-led space, 62 Chestnut Walk. WR11PR


Call for Artists.

Images of completed works, live art proposals and texts are sought for selection by: Matt Price, Anne de Charmant, Sophie Hope, Andrew Mania, Simon Rees and Prof. Antonia Payne. Exhibition curated by Matt Roberts, Charlie Levine and Nathaniel Pitt

Prizes, publication and exhibition opportunities

£15 per submission (up to 3 images) to cover costs. Guaranteed inclusion* Payment online or via cheque payable to Pitt Studio.

Accompanying texts by: Freee, Dave Beech, Chris Brown, Nick Ranga Alexandria Clark.

APPLY: Online – upload 3 jpeg images max 500 pixels wide, www.worcesteropen.co.uk or post images to PITT, 62 Chestnut Walk, Worcester, WR11PR. Do not send originals in the first instance. Please include your name, address and email address. CVs and short statements may also be supplied but are not essential.

Deadline: 1 March 2010

Organiser/employer: Nathaniel Pitt, W-CA, Worcester Museums

County Council staff dress down for Haiti

In a first, Warwickshire County Council staff all dressed down to raise money for earthquake-stricken Haiti.

Staff across the entire council were given permission to wear casual clothes for the day on the proviso that they make a minimum contribution of £1 to the Disasters and Earthquake Committee fund which has been set up to co-ordinate fundraising on behalf of Haiti.

County council employees regularly raise money for charities, with dressing down at the end of a week being one of the commonest means of doing so, but this is the first time that an effort has been co-ordinated across all the directorates in the county council.

Jim Graham, Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Council, said: “This marks a brief change in focus for staff.

Whether we work with children, older people, our schools, the communities and local areas, our working agenda is driven to make Warwickshire a better place. And rightly so.

"I am grateful for staff’s dedication but am equally pleased that we, as a workforce, have seen a bigger, more global picture. It is to our credit that we are looking to help the people of Haiti too.”

Jo Casey, one of the members of staff who helped organise the day, said:

“We have a number of staff reps groups across the council who not only act as an advocate for staff on issues like morale and wellbeing, but support local and national charities through a number of fundraising activities. I’m pleased so many staff have contributed on one form or another, and money is going to such a worthy cause’.

Cultivations Focus Meetings 2010 Growing into the Community ECOL groups/ Botany

We are in the process of launching our Focus Meetings for 2010. These meetings may be of interest to those working with Mental Health, Rehab, Reparation and Social Justice. It also links in to Conservation, Environment, Horticulture and Agriculture. We would really appreciate it if you could help us to inform as many people as possible by cascading this information to any other organisation or interested person.


CULTIVATIONS

‘Breaking New Ground’

‘Growing into the Community’

Re-engaging disadvantaged, disaffected and isolated people within the wider community

The meetings will raise awareness about the health, social, environmental, educational and economic benefits of encouraging people to become involved in any form of horticultural, environmental or conservation activity.

If you work in Health and Social Care, Social Justice, Education or the Environment please make time to attend this event – share and exchange your knowledge and skills with others.

We will demonstrate how such involvement enhances, improves and increases an individual's sense of place, personal awareness, health and well being. Attendees will examine issues concerning poor mental health, anti social behaviour, isolation and exclusion. They will also look at the challenges encountered during the process of re-engagement in the community and consider the health, social, educational and vocational opportunities that horticulture and environmental activities can provide.

Successful inclusion is achieved by creating opportunities for participants within the wider community. Horticulture and Environmental activities are used as the main focus in helping to promote well being, collaborative problem solving, skills transference, choice, ownership and responsibility.

Adopting alternative approaches to education enables participants to develop and revise the skills that underpin individual development, clear communication, better understanding, self awareness and self confidence. Our overall aim is to ensure greater understanding of the benefits of engaging with nature, a more effective provision of service and greater opportunity for re-engaging excluded and isolated people within their own communities.

Come along and dig a little deeper and unearth the real value of

'Growing into the community'

Times: 10.00 – 15.30 hours

Cost: £35 per delegate - Refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided

To book a place please contact Lynda 01766 590388 or visit www.cultivations.co.uk and book on line

CULTIVATIONS

Working in the Field of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture

Head Office: Nant yr Helyg, Maentwrog, Gwynedd, LL41 4HF

Registered Charity No: 1114598 Company Limited by Guarantee No: 5617190

www.cultivations.co.uk

VENUES:

South West: Wednesday 24 February 2010, Victory Hall, Broadclyst

South East: Thursday 25 February 2010, Portslade Town Hall, Portslade

South Central: Friday 26 February 2010, Lawn Community Centre, Swindon

South Wales: Wednesday 17 March 2010, Swansea Guide Headquarters, Swansea

Mid Wales: Thursday 18 March 2010, Llanidloes Community Centre, Llanidloes

North Wales: Friday 19 March 2010, Ffordd Las Community Centre, Rhyl

North East England Wednesday 14 April 2010, The Wilton Centre, Long Newton, Stockton

York and Humberside Thursday 15 April 2010, Jubilee Community Centre, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

North West England Friday 16 April 2010, Ince Community Centre, Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester

East of England: Wednesday 26 May 2010, Moreton Hall Community Centre, Bury St Edmunds

East Midlands: Thursday 27 May 2010, Greenway Centre, Nottingham

West Midlands: Friday 28 May 2010, Sandwell Valley Park Farm, West Bromwich



For anyone interested in an item for an e-newsletter, please include the following details


'Growing into the Community’ Focus Meetings 2010 run by Cultivations.

Re-engaging disadvantaged, disaffected and isolated people within the wider community.

For those working in, Rehab, Reparation, Social Justice/Care, Mental Health, Post Traumatic Stress, Youth Work

Links in to Conservation, Environment, Horticulture and Agriculture.

http://www.cultivations.co.uk/ or phone 01766 590388

Hello! It's Rhyme Time

Inner Wheel Club of Coleshill

This is an interesting short report sent to the Coleshill Gazette by Syb Hart who is Club Correspondent of the Inner Wheel Club of Coleshill.

We held our first meeting of 2010 on Monday 18th January at the Grimstock Country House Hotel. The speaker at this meeting was Judy Gumbley from 'Lepra'. The charity has been working for 80 years and the Queen is their patron.

For leprosy there is still a stigma attached to the disease which is rife in India, South America, Brazil, Africa, Malawi and Mozambique. But there are no longer any leprosy colonies. Lepra provide travelling surgeries and visit rural areas and towns to treat, educate and encourage people with leprosy to come forward to be cured by antibiotics. The cost to cure a single person is the relatively small sum of £21.

Judy captured the attention of members with her very interesting talk and provided literature and photographs.

Inner Wheel has supported 'Lepra' for many years.

Birmingham Disability Resource Centre - an update from Pete Millington

Pete Millington is the Information Manager at Birmingham Disability Resource Centre, Bierton Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8PQ.

Birmingham Disability Resource Centre (BDRC) has been growing during the past 6 months with successful funding applications to the Working Neighbourhoods Fund which means we are part of several new local projects in the city around employment and training for disabled people, such as the BEST network in Yardley who have recently opened up new offices based at the BDRC and with the Birmingham Disability Consortium. The new funding has seen us advertising for new staff over the past couple of months and we hope to release more information about the projects in the next couple of weeks.

The Centre has also taken on 4 workers under the Government's Future Jobs Fund and is also launching a new Arts and Crafts Group next week and inviting applications from disabled people to join this group.

BDRC is the lead organisation on the development of the Birmingham Disability Network and is organising an event of 26th January to start a process of consultation with Birmingham City Council (see details below). But we are also working on the following important new initiatives:

BDRC has been successful in obtaining 12 months funding from the Equality and Human Rights Commission to employ a part time training officer to raise awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act around the West Midlands metropolitan county area. The recruitment for this post closes on Wednesday 27th January.

BDRC's information service is currently looking for venues in the Selly Oak ward of Birmingham to run advice based open events for the public between now and the end of March. We are hoping to launch a similar initiave in Northfield shortly.

And finally.... I would remind you that BDRC are about to publish a new book funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund which records the history of Birmingam Disability Resource Centre, Birmingham Disability Rights Group with opening chapters recording the development of disability issues during the early to late 20th century.

The book has been written by myself, Pete Millington with help and support from a team of volunteers and oral history interviewees with subediting and design support from Hazel Wood Associates. The foreword of the book is by Professor Carl Chinn and the cover design is by internationally acclaimed disabled cartoonist Crippen. The book will be launched in February with audio and PDF versions.

To find out more about any of the above developments at BDRC and in particular about the event this Tuesday, please contact us at:

BDRC

Bierton Road
Yardley
Birmingham B25 8PQ

email: bdrc@disability.co.uk
Telephone: 0121 789 7365
Fax: 0121 785 0104
Website: http://www.disability.co.uk/

Consultation Event on Tuesday - Disabled People in Birmingham

The Birmingham Disability Network is a new network of disability organisations in Birmingham whose aim is to bring disability groups together in the city to work more effectively and strategically on behalf of all disabled people. The network includes groups that are led and managed by disabled people such as Birmingham Disability Resource Centre, Birmingham Centre for Inclusive Living and People in Partnership and also organisations which provide services to particular groups of disabled people such as Focus Birmingham, BID Services with Deaf People, BITA Pathways and Action for Blind People.

The Network was asked by Birmingham City Council to organise an event on Tuesday 26th January 2010 at the Muath Trust's Bordesley Centre at Camphill near Sparkbrook which will explore and focus on disability equality issues in the city and we hope will become the first step in building a new engagement relationship between the City Council and disability organisations.

Speakers will include Alan Rudge from Birmingham City Council, Stephen Hodgkins from Disability LIB and Simone Aspis, a disability activist and member of the national government advisory gorup Equality 2025.

The event on Tuesday will be the first of a series of consultation events with the Council through the Spring around it's disability equality duties.

There are still places left for disabled people and / or representatives of organisations or statutory departments who work with disabled people.

Please register by contacting Tracey Walton at Birmingham Disability Resource Centre on Monday:

email: bdrc@disability.co.uk

Telephone: 0121 789 7365
Fax: 0121 785 0104

A View from the Bridge

Image by Stewart Hemley

Ron Barber Studio Theatre, Crescent Theatre

Sheepcote Street Brindleyplace
Birmingham B16 8AE

But the truth is holy...

Arthur Miller recaptures something of the Greek tragedy in his powerful tale from the shadows of Brooklyn Bridge. A modern classic with universal themes of love, attraction, jealousy and betrayal, the play shows Eddie Carbone’s relentless journey of self-discovery.

In equal measures this play stirs the emotions and challenges the intellect.
 
Time: 14:45, 19:45

Prices: £11.50 (Conc. £10.50)

+44 (0)121 643 5858(Hotline)

crescent@easynet.co.uk
http://www.crescent-theatre.co.uk/

West Midlands Third Sector Strategic Forum

Do you have a passion for the Third Sector? Do you have the ability to champion the voice of the Third
Sector and influence in regional public policy arenas?


If yes, a great opportunity exists to join the newly formed West Midlands Third Sector Strategic Forum.

The West Midlands Third Sector Strategic Forum will be an independent body which has a clear mandate for engaging with regional policy makers at a strategic level on behalf of the Third Sector in the West Midlands. The Forum’s remit will focus on working with the Joint Strategy and Investment Board (JSIB) – the body responsible for policy and investment in the West Midlands from April 2010.

The forum’s inaugural meeting will take place on the 24th March 2010.

As a successful candidate you will bring confidence and experience from a proven leadership role within the West Midlands Third Sector, combined with distinctive ambassadorial influencing and networking skills. Potential candidates must have the capability and capacity to engage with policymaking processes and decision-makers at regional level. Most importantly you will have a passionate belief in the West Midlands Third Sector.

If you think you have the required qualities and want to apply for a post, or for more information please visit http://wmthirdsectorstrategicforum.ning.com/.

For an informal discussion about the Forum, please contact Kate Gordon, RAWM Policy Co-ordinator by email: katherineg@rawm.co.uk or telephone: 0121 359 9114.

Closing date: Friday 22nd January 2010. Applicants must be available for video interviews between 1st February – 19th February 2010 which will be made available for view and comment on http://wmthirdsectorstrategicforum.ning.com/ from 19th – 28th February 2010.

The West Midlands Third Sector Strategic Forum will be independent of Regional Action West Midlands and accountable to the sector. Regional Action West Midlands is the accountable body and will provide the secretariat. “Third Sector” in this context refers to community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.

Birmingham Irish Forum on the move!

Hi,


Just to let you know that the Irish Forum offices are being relocated from Tuesday 26th January 2010 and our new details are as follows:

Telephone number: 0121 772 9425
Fax number: 0121 604 6662

New Address:

Alcester Street
Birmingham
B12 0PH

My email address will remain the same.

patw@irishforum.co.uk

Kind regards

Pat Wright

About the BICF:
 
Set up in 1993 the Birmingham Irish Community Forum (BICF) strives to represent and support the Irish Community in Birmingham.


♣ The Birmingham Irish Community Forum tries to reach out to all areas of the Irish community, helping the Irish in Birmingham to deal with economic, social, cultural, health, and educational issues.

♣ Our motto is ‘Ag obair le cheile’ which means ‘working together’ and the BICF currently works with more than sixty affiliate organisations.

♣ The BICF wants to ensure that the Irish Community in Birmingham is proud of their unique cultural identity. At the BICF we want to support and encourage the Irish in Birmingham and help in whatever way we can