Ikon announces two new exhibitions to its autumn programme:
Anthony Goicolea
Nail Biter
Ikon Gallery
22 September – 14 November 2010
A young boy sits in bed in a darkened cabin in the woods, nervously biting his nails; as he chews, they grow at an abnormal rate and hundreds of nail shards build up around him. This film by American-Cuban artist Anthony Goicolea unfolds into a sinister portrait.
AVPD
Hitchcock Hallway
Ikon Eastside
23 September – 13 November 2010
A major new work from Danish duo AVPD inspired by the psychological intensity of a Hitchcock film. The entrance to Ikon Eastside is replaced by a door which the visitor is invited to enter. However, all is not what it seems and the visitor’s journey through the exhibition becomes increasingly claustrophobic.
Also opening soon:
Kitagawa Utamaro
Ikon Gallery
22 September – 14 November 2010
Woodblock prints by the 18th century Japanese artist from the collection of the British Museum, curated by British artist Julian Opie.
Donald Judd
A good chair is a good chair
Ikon Gallery
22 September – 14 November 2010
The first major UK exhibition of furniture by seminal designer Donald Judd, regarded as one of the most important artists of the twentieth century.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Whats on in Stafford - Antique Valuation Day
Saturday 4 September 2010
11am to 1pm
Stafford Castle, Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 IJA.
Antique valuation day at Stafford Castle with Bamfords’ auctioneers of Derby. Bamfords’ are regularly featured in a host of TV shows including: BBC Antique Roadshow, Cash in the Attic and Bargain Hunt. People can bring their items to have them valued by the team.
Photo shows Fiona Lewis pictured with 18thc Irish country chair found at the last valuation day at the Castle and valued at around £200 - £300. For further information about events at Stafford Castle visit the website at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/heritageevents
Admission is free of charge.
11am to 1pm
Stafford Castle, Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 IJA.
Antique valuation day at Stafford Castle with Bamfords’ auctioneers of Derby. Bamfords’ are regularly featured in a host of TV shows including: BBC Antique Roadshow, Cash in the Attic and Bargain Hunt. People can bring their items to have them valued by the team.
Photo shows Fiona Lewis pictured with 18thc Irish country chair found at the last valuation day at the Castle and valued at around £200 - £300. For further information about events at Stafford Castle visit the website at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/heritageevents
Admission is free of charge.
Imagineer Productions presents Godiva Awakes
10am – 4pm daily
Location: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5QP
Contact: 0247 6992480
Coventry based Imagineer Productions will present the Godiva Awakes project, commissioned through Artists taking the lead an exciting project forming part of London 2012’s Cultural Olympiad and funded by Arts Council England, at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry on 1 and 2 October 2010.
In July 2012, Godiva will awake to a spectacular performance involving dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians, pyrotechnicians, carnivalists and young people in a procession marking the unveiling of this Lady Godiva for the modern age. Powered by 50 cyclists, on a structure called the Cyclopedia, Godiva will then journey to London to play a part in the London 2012 celebrations. She will be a symbol of justice for the 21st Century embodying the values of fair play, friendship, respect and courage that are at the heart of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Visitors to the exhibition at the Herbert will be able to view prototypes for each element of the project from plans and an animation of the amazing Cyclopedia to sculpted maquettes of Lady Godiva to the designs for the stained glass windows that will appear in Godiva’s chamber to the initial designs for Lady Godiva’s coat which, in 2012, will carry messages from the region to London.
For further information visit http://www.imagineerproductions.co.uk/
Find your family tree in a caravan
Staff will be stationed in a caravan outside WH Smith in High Town on Saturday 4 September between 10am and 4pm. They will answer family history queries, such as how to make a start on a family tree and how to find an elusive ancestor.
Senior archivist Rhys Griffith said: “The current Who Do You Think You Are? BBC series shows just how popular family history is. A lot of people would like to start investigating but don’t know where to begin. This will be a chance to find out what help is available and what sources to use. You don’t have to be a celebrity to have interesting ancestors.”
For those who are unable to visit the caravan on Saturday, people can contact Herefordshire Council’s archive service for advice on family history or with local history questions on 01432 260750 or email archives@herefordshire.gov.uk
Commemorating Britain’s “finest hour”
The Battle of Britain parade honours and commemorates the members of the Air Force who fought and died during the battle and as well as recognizes all the men and woman who continue to serve in the Air Force today.
This year commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which is considered to be the most important event in Royal Air Force history.
Historians have described the Battle, which involved almost 3,000 allied aircrew, as the turning point of the Second World War. The victory, described by Sir Winston Churchill as Britain’s “finest hour” gave hope to a demoralized Britain and northern Europe. It was the first battle to be won purely by air power.
In all, the RAF lost 1,173 planes and 510 pilots and gunners killed in the Battle. The Luftwaffe lost 1,733 planes and 3,368 airmen killed or captured. If the Luftwaffe had succeeded, Britain would have been invaded and conquered. But the RAF held out, and Britain survived.
Every year the battle is commemorated around the county and during this platinum celebration year, the Cadets from 2438 (Bishop Ullathorne) Squadron Air Training Corps will be proudly displaying their banner amongst the array of colourful standards that will be on parade.
This event is being held on Sunday 12 September at the Leamington Spa War memorial and the event has been organised by 310 Branch RAFA.
The cadets from 2438 Squadron will join the Chairman of the District Council, the Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa Councillor Robert Cunliffe and other dignitaries.
As well as the parade, there will also be a fly past of a spitfire of the RAF historic flight during the ceremony.
Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant Nathan Adams of 2438 (Bishop Ullathorne) Squadron Air Training Corps said ' This will be a good opportunity for the Cadets to say their thank you to 'The Few' who stood up to fight for this country and the free world against seemingly impossible odds'
Local groups invited to join Birmingham Disability Network
OUTLINE OF MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
The Birmingham Disability Network invites application for membership in two categories.
1. FULL MEMBERSHIP is open to Third Sector organisations or groups that meet ALL the criteria below:
•They are based in Birmingham
•They are properly constituted
•They have a good track record in supporting, representing and providing services to disabled people in Birmingham
•They have systems in place to communicate and consult with their service users.
2. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP is open to Third Sector organisations or groups that meet SOME BUT NOT ALL of the criteria for full membership listed above.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Membership benefits include:
•Being part of a professional, independent Network and brand representing disability issues in Birmingham which is recognised as such by the public sector
•Access to infrastructure and capacity building support for smaller organisations
•Access to timely policy and news briefings on disability issues
•Access to information and advice
•Publication in a Directory of member organisations and free publicity on the website
•Access to peer group support and time banking
•Opportunity to raise issues and express views
•Opportunity to consult with public sector organisations and statutory service providers
•Opportunity to influence their policies, procedures and decision making
•Opportunity to work in partnership on commissioning and tendering.
Visit the BDN website to find out more about membership
Learning & Sensory Disabilities Games-Based Learning Exhibition
Games-Based Learning Exhibition
Free entry
Make learning fun for people 16+ with learning or sensory disabilities!
Deaf Cultural Centre, Birmingham, B16 8SZ
24th September 2010
9:30am – 12.30pm (lunch and networking included)
If you are involved in supporting people aged 16+ with learning and/or sensory disabilities and want to help them get and keep a job, then this is the exhibition for you!
The exhibition is taking place at the Deaf Cultural Centre and will showcase a range of serious games for computers and mobile telephones that will help people develop independent life skills and prepare for working life.
Who should attend?
· Educationalists
· Heads of faculties
· Job Centres
· Key Skills Tutors
· Local Authorities
· Social Service providers
· Pre-vocational training groups
Why you should attend?
· Learn how games are being used to support learners and improve life skills
· Opportunity to introduce the games to your own learners as part of a blended learning approach
· See a demonstration of all of the games
· Games and handbook provided free to all delegates
How do I register and get further information?
Please complete the registration form http://www.bid.org.uk/uploads/Stakeholder_Conference_Registration_Form.doc> and email it to Lisa Davies lisa.davies@bid.org.uk as soon as possible.
Please click here http://www.bid.org.uk/uploads/Stakeholder_Conference_Flyer.pdf for more information about the exhibition.
Free entry
Make learning fun for people 16+ with learning or sensory disabilities!
Deaf Cultural Centre, Birmingham, B16 8SZ
24th September 2010
9:30am – 12.30pm (lunch and networking included)
If you are involved in supporting people aged 16+ with learning and/or sensory disabilities and want to help them get and keep a job, then this is the exhibition for you!
The exhibition is taking place at the Deaf Cultural Centre and will showcase a range of serious games for computers and mobile telephones that will help people develop independent life skills and prepare for working life.
Who should attend?
· Educationalists
· Heads of faculties
· Job Centres
· Key Skills Tutors
· Local Authorities
· Social Service providers
· Pre-vocational training groups
Why you should attend?
· Learn how games are being used to support learners and improve life skills
· Opportunity to introduce the games to your own learners as part of a blended learning approach
· See a demonstration of all of the games
· Games and handbook provided free to all delegates
How do I register and get further information?
Please complete the registration form http://www.bid.org.uk/uploads/Stakeholder_Conference_Registration_Form.doc> and email it to Lisa Davies lisa.davies@bid.org.uk as soon as possible.
Please click here http://www.bid.org.uk/uploads/Stakeholder_Conference_Flyer.pdf for more information about the exhibition.
Upstage Theatre’s New Venture!
Pictures from the last show
The Musical Theatre classes launched last year at the Firs and Bromford Community Centre have proven very popular and have led to pupils taking IDTA Singing and Dancing exams and taking part in 3 shows. Similar classes are also held at other venues across Birmingham.
Some of Upstage Theatres’ pupils recently performed in ‘Wallop Mrs Cox’ at the Birmingham Hippodrome and also ‘Fame’ at the Alexandra Theatre.
For more information on classes please check out the website http://www.upstagetheatre.webs.com/ email UpstageTheatre@live.co.uk or ring 07732 567 509 for more information.
Disco Divas & Street Stylers – Thursdays 5.30-6pm
Learn ALL the modern dance styles including:
Freestyle, Disco, Street, Hip-Hop & Breakdance
Cheeky Cheerleaders - Thursdays 6-6.30pm
Join our squad and feel the rush of excitement as you blast your way through choreography set to the latest and greatest Cheerleading anthems.
Strictly Country Kids – Mondays 6.15-6.45pm
Learn Line Dance, Latin American and Ballroom the fun way with dances like the Cheeky Cha Cha and Strictly Salsa, whilst Grapevining to the Hoedown
Harborne car park to be developed
Letter to the Editor
Dear Sirs
Birmingham’s Planning Committee
In spite of a concerted campaign by the residents of Harborne, and other areas of the South East of the City, our wonderful Planning Committee, (several of whom were on holiday or otherwise unable to attend) today allowed a developer to pass an application to remove 66 parking spaces from Harborne Village to provide a few very small houses and flats. This provides an excuse for another developer to remove another 44 spaces over the road. Add these to the several hundred office workers relocated to the city centre and thus prevented from shopping in the village, it is a dagger blow to all the suburbs, not just Harborne.
After a passionate and eloquent presentation by the chosen spokesman for the traders and residents of Harborne, the members of the committee just looked shifty and agreed to planning permission for a development that will considerably worsen conditions for everyone in the area. This car park land, owned by the Parish Trust of St John’s, - about which no membership information is available - is used by the suppliers of shops on the High Street. Huge delivery lorries, backing on and driving off the tiny space left on to a narrow road, will cause so much traffic to back up on the High Street, that anyone travelling through the village will be delayed, late for work, dying in an ambulance, etc. Why didn’t anyone know about it before? This could possibly be because the official notice relating to it was wrapped round a lamp post, away from the address on the application. 700 people signed petitions against this development, but the planning committee voted for it.
Why were two of the most senior members of the Harborne Society and the Leader of the Council observed to be walking away into restricted territory, after the meeting? Whose side are they on? It’s not just Harborne. It’s our city. It is time that a serious effort was made to consult with the community before letting stupid ideas get carried out by people with more money than sense, and who have no intention of attempting a concerted development strategy for the community.
There are other developments waiting for the verdict of this shifty quango, so the community should have a look at current applications and complain in writing if they know what’s good for them.
Yours sincerely
Rwth Hunt
Norman Avenue, Harborne.
Dear Sirs
Birmingham’s Planning Committee
In spite of a concerted campaign by the residents of Harborne, and other areas of the South East of the City, our wonderful Planning Committee, (several of whom were on holiday or otherwise unable to attend) today allowed a developer to pass an application to remove 66 parking spaces from Harborne Village to provide a few very small houses and flats. This provides an excuse for another developer to remove another 44 spaces over the road. Add these to the several hundred office workers relocated to the city centre and thus prevented from shopping in the village, it is a dagger blow to all the suburbs, not just Harborne.
After a passionate and eloquent presentation by the chosen spokesman for the traders and residents of Harborne, the members of the committee just looked shifty and agreed to planning permission for a development that will considerably worsen conditions for everyone in the area. This car park land, owned by the Parish Trust of St John’s, - about which no membership information is available - is used by the suppliers of shops on the High Street. Huge delivery lorries, backing on and driving off the tiny space left on to a narrow road, will cause so much traffic to back up on the High Street, that anyone travelling through the village will be delayed, late for work, dying in an ambulance, etc. Why didn’t anyone know about it before? This could possibly be because the official notice relating to it was wrapped round a lamp post, away from the address on the application. 700 people signed petitions against this development, but the planning committee voted for it.
Why were two of the most senior members of the Harborne Society and the Leader of the Council observed to be walking away into restricted territory, after the meeting? Whose side are they on? It’s not just Harborne. It’s our city. It is time that a serious effort was made to consult with the community before letting stupid ideas get carried out by people with more money than sense, and who have no intention of attempting a concerted development strategy for the community.
There are other developments waiting for the verdict of this shifty quango, so the community should have a look at current applications and complain in writing if they know what’s good for them.
Yours sincerely
Rwth Hunt
Norman Avenue, Harborne.
The Mayor of Solihull celebrates Raksha Bandhan
The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ian Courts receives the rakhi from Hansa Pankhania.
Joined by members from the local Hindu community group, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, the Mayor took part in the tying of the rakhi as part of the festival.
The festival, celebrated by both Hindus and Sikhs, celebrates the bond of affection between brothers and sisters. The rakhi threads symbolise protection from evil and are offered along with prayers for the brothers’ well-being. In return brothers give their sisters a gift and pledge to protect them from harm. As the rakhi is tied, a prayer is offered asking for happiness and prosperity.
This ritual is often extended to friends and neighbours to signify harmony and a peaceful co-existence as if they were brothers and sisters.
As well as the tying of the rakhi, the group blessed the Mayor while throwing rice and painted a bindi on his forehead.
The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ian Courts, said: “It has been an honour to learn about and take part in this festival. Raksha Bandhan is an important festival about the unity and love between friends and family – a very important message regardless of your religion or beliefs.”
Heritage trail around Elmdon Park
Solihull residents are invited to come on a free heritage walk around Elmdon Park on Sunday 5 September.
During the two hour walk, Solihull Council’s Park Rangers will tell participants all about this beautiful and historically important park.
Walkers will learn about the previous occupants of the 18th century estate as well as the interesting walled garden, which is thought to have once contained peach houses, vineries, cucumber and melon pits and pool.
Residents who want to take part in the walk should meet at St Nicholas car park, off Damson Parkway, at 1.30pm.
During the two hour walk, Solihull Council’s Park Rangers will tell participants all about this beautiful and historically important park.
Walkers will learn about the previous occupants of the 18th century estate as well as the interesting walled garden, which is thought to have once contained peach houses, vineries, cucumber and melon pits and pool.
Residents who want to take part in the walk should meet at St Nicholas car park, off Damson Parkway, at 1.30pm.
The Saturdays - Wolverhampton Civic Hall: Monday 14th February 2011
Tickets go on sale at 9.00am on Friday 3rd September.
The Saturdays - Wolverhampton Civic Hall: Monday 14th February 2011
Una Healy, Frankie Sandford, Rochelle Wiseman, Mollie King and Vanessa White are experts on the live circuit having performed to thousands last year on their sold out 2009 tour and have since dazzled fans at festivals across the country. Rochelle says:
‘We couldn’t be more excited for the ‘Headlines’ tour. Performing live is absolutely our favourite part of being in The Saturdays, and we can’t wait to see all our fans up and down the country!’
The Saturdays new album ‘Headlines!’ released through Fascination Records, went straight into the UK albums chart at number 3 upon release, following the smash hit single ‘Missing You’, the UK’s current number 1 airplay record.
'Headlines!’ is an eight-track album that includes a handful of sparkling new songs - plus Ego and their number two smash from last year, Forever Is Over. The new album is the result of studio sessions that took place during Ego’s four-month chart reign at the start of the year.
Since they debuted in 2007 the girls have sold nearly 2 million records and racked up a very impressive seven top ten singles. They have fronted a major campaign as the face of Impulse and are currently starring in ‘The Saturdays: 24/7’ - a prime-time behind-the scenes documentary for ITV2.
Official Website: http://www.thesaturdays.co.uk/
Tickets priced £24.00 are available from 9.00am on Friday 3rd September at Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/
New evidence identifies rural employment needs
And crucial factors which need to be addressed are broadband availability, transport and affordable housing.
However, there are also high levels of home working (three times the level of urban areas) and a high level of entrepreneurship, showing that the region's residents are creative and resilient. And the rural unemployment rate is declining as we come out of recession.
The regional development agency has published evidence which drills down to economic and access problems in very local areas which can be masked by standard national government statistics.
The evidence shows that currently 25 per cent of rural jobs are in the public sector. This is a major concern for some rural communities, especially when linked with poor access to alternative work.
Rural areas contribute 33 per cent to the region's economy. Some 80 per cent of West Midlands land is rural, with 35 per cent of the region’s population living in rural areas and 34 per cent working in them.
People working in urban areas tend to have higher salaries - up to £8,000 a year for a Bromsgrove commuter compared to someone working locally.
Other challenges are the lack of affordable housing, some areas with low skills bases and the fact that West Midlands farms have lower business productivity and levels of diversification when compared to English averages.
Market towns are seen as key to rural employment but some of these have been hit by the closure of national companies such as Woolworths.
A report on the evidence gathered, called the Rural Evidence Base 2010, provides a comprehensive analysis of rural issues and includes the Rural Disadvantage Indicator which builds on the national Index of Multiple Deprivation. Together, they review the current state of the rural economy, housing affordability and the level of acces to services.
Mark Pearce, Corporate Director Economic Regeneration at AWM, said: “Rural areas are important to our economy. More than a third of our residents live in rural areas and contribute a third of the region's economic outputs.
"Rural areas face significant challenges of low wages, high levels of public sector employment, poor broadband availability and affordable housing. Future regeneration of rural areas will need to address these issues.
“The Rural Evidence Base 2010 has been shared with partners to influence their future investment plans to benefit the rural economy using limited resources. This provides them with an invaluable resource, identifying key rural issues."
Related Links
Rural Evidence Base - http://collateral.newsflashconnect.co.uk/RemoteStorage/Advantagewm/Releases/185/Rural%20Evidence%202010_tcm9-32216.pdf
Rural Disadvantage Indicator - http://collateral.newsflashconnect.co.uk/RemoteStorage/Advantagewm/Releases/185/Rural%20Disadvantage%20Indicator%20(2010)_tcm9-31653.pdf
Ned's Atomic Dustbin at HMV Institute
Play their seminal album 'God Fodder' at HMV Institute, Digbeth - Saturday 25th September 2010
Formed in 1987, Ned's Atomic Dustbin is synonymous with the Stourbridge sound that became the soundtrack for a generation of people in the early 90s.
On Saturday September 25th the newly opened HMV Institute will be playing host to a back to back rendition of God Fodder followed by a set of the band's other hits.
For Ned's Atomic Dustbin, God Fodder was that album, their Indie Classic - the one that catapulted them out of Student Union bars the length and breadth of Britain into the skies, crossing the indie-rock globe at a frightening pace.
Fast forward to 2009 and now reformed, Dan, Mar, Alex, Rat and Jonn - all 5 original members of Neds decided, following December 2008s rammed-out Astoria and 2009s sold-out hometown Re:United whos, it was time to celebrate the record that made it all happen.
Neds singer, Jonn Penney says "Back when we first toured God Fodder, we didn't play in Birmingham and that's something we'll be very happy to address all these years later. We can't wait to christen the new venue and set a new bar-takings record!"
This will be Ned's only club show of 2010.
Purchase tickets here
Oh! What a Night! Coleshill’s 12th Fire & Brass concert
Saturday 28th August Fire & Brass Coleshill's very own proms night took place. This was the 12th year Coleshill Town Band have put on the show and every year it gets bigger!
The crowd were entertained early on in the day by Coleshill Beginner Brass before the show starts on the main stage with the arrival of Coleshill Town Band- fresh from becoming the first fourth section band in the UK to perform Messiah with choir and organ. The first part featured a varied mix of brass-band favourites with something to please everyone.
The music didn’t stop here as Coleshill Youth Band, the reigning National Training Band Champions of Great Britain, kept up the tempo with tales of pirates and intrepid explorers.
Coleshill Town Band then returned for the third part of the show where there was a strong 'last night of the proms' feel to the rest of the evening as darkness drew in and the flags started waving. The band was joined by soprano solost Li Li from Birmingham Conservatoire who led the patriotic singing with the likes of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia
Last but not least the concert drew to a close with a spectacular firework display synchronised to the sounds of 1812 Overture with tubular bells sounding out across North Warwickshire.
A fantastic evening was had by all!
The crowd were entertained early on in the day by Coleshill Beginner Brass before the show starts on the main stage with the arrival of Coleshill Town Band- fresh from becoming the first fourth section band in the UK to perform Messiah with choir and organ. The first part featured a varied mix of brass-band favourites with something to please everyone.
The music didn’t stop here as Coleshill Youth Band, the reigning National Training Band Champions of Great Britain, kept up the tempo with tales of pirates and intrepid explorers.
Coleshill Town Band then returned for the third part of the show where there was a strong 'last night of the proms' feel to the rest of the evening as darkness drew in and the flags started waving. The band was joined by soprano solost Li Li from Birmingham Conservatoire who led the patriotic singing with the likes of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia
Last but not least the concert drew to a close with a spectacular firework display synchronised to the sounds of 1812 Overture with tubular bells sounding out across North Warwickshire.
A fantastic evening was had by all!
Back of the net! Three footballing greats coming to Solihull
Three greats from the world of football are coming to Solihull next month for an evening of fascinating anecdotes and stories from the game.
The Sporting Legends tour features sports broadcaster Gary Newbon, England’s most capped player Peter Shilton OBE and fans’ favourite commentator John Motson OBE and comes to the Arts Complex on Tuesday 28 September.
Gary Newbon, who lives in Solihull, boasts a forty-year career in sports journalism and is well-known for his role as a roving reporter on ITV sport and also as a sports presenter on Central News. He currently works for Sky Sports.
Peter Shilton kept goal 125 times for his country and played in three world cups. He has a wealth of amusing stories from his career, including from when he played under legendary manger Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest.
John Motson has been perhaps the most famous voice of BBC football coverage since he started on Match of the Day in the early 1970s. Motty is many fans’ favourite commentator and has a bank full of stories from some of football’s greatest occasions.
As well as having a host of tales to listen to, there will also be an opportunity for the audience to put questions to the three legends and there will be a book signing session afterwards.
Also appearing will by Kevin Connelly, a top sports impressionist from TV and radio’s Dead Ringers.
The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15 and can be booked by calling Box Office on 0121 704 6962.
The Sporting Legends tour features sports broadcaster Gary Newbon, England’s most capped player Peter Shilton OBE and fans’ favourite commentator John Motson OBE and comes to the Arts Complex on Tuesday 28 September.
Gary Newbon, who lives in Solihull, boasts a forty-year career in sports journalism and is well-known for his role as a roving reporter on ITV sport and also as a sports presenter on Central News. He currently works for Sky Sports.
Peter Shilton kept goal 125 times for his country and played in three world cups. He has a wealth of amusing stories from his career, including from when he played under legendary manger Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest.
John Motson has been perhaps the most famous voice of BBC football coverage since he started on Match of the Day in the early 1970s. Motty is many fans’ favourite commentator and has a bank full of stories from some of football’s greatest occasions.
As well as having a host of tales to listen to, there will also be an opportunity for the audience to put questions to the three legends and there will be a book signing session afterwards.
Also appearing will by Kevin Connelly, a top sports impressionist from TV and radio’s Dead Ringers.
The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15 and can be booked by calling Box Office on 0121 704 6962.
International Conference for Women's Rights - Real or Scam?
Normally I spot spam emails straight away and delete them fairly ruthlessly, but an email this morning caught my eye because it appears on first reading very legitimate, concerning two international conferences in October around women's rights and domestic violence.
The email is from Mary White of the Right For Women Organisation and invites women's organisations to apply to attend this "forthcoming combined conference with Theme “Violence against women and children” taking place in the United States and the United Kingdom".
The aims of the conferences seem very legimate and well informed and also appear to use all the terminology one might expect:
"We aspire amongst other things:
1. To discuss the root causes of domestic violence, abuse and neglect in order to help in eradicating these social ills.
2. To re-educate and enlighten adults about these social vices and also promote community to organize as a tool to re-connect people to each other with a common goal of building safe, supportive and good communities.
3. To create spaces for the women of the world to acquire the power of collective action, critical dialogue and community organizing to undermine violence against women
4. To equip the adult participants with vital tools and know-how. that will aid them in conducting such workshops amongst themselves in their various countries.
We have noticed that this is an incredible means of interacting with different organizations of the world on a particular issue as it affects mankind."
There is also what appears to be an offer of funding to assist small women's groups wishing to attend:
"Moreover, funding maybe provided for individuals from qualifying organizations. Provisions have been made for all delegates to this event, all round tickets, feeding and accommodation in USA by our sponsors. All delegates will take care of their feeding and accommodation in the UK as our resources do not cover that."
I wasn't even initially concerned that there wasn't a conference programme or application form attached as I know from my knowledge of local organisations who support women experiencing domestic violence the need for discretion, sensitivity and confidentiality to protect staff and victims of violence. So one might easily assume there may be screening processes in place to identify genuine delegates.
However, my suspicions are always aroused by the use of grammar and spelling in emails and in this case the name of the organisation, Right For Women Organisation, just doesn't look right (for instance the use of Right in the singular, not Rights) and has the definite ring of a name made up by a scammer/spammer. Having Googled this organisation I have drawn a blank and neither does anything come up for either of the two very plausible sounding venues at which the conferences are said to be taking place:
I may be totally wrong here, I would email Mrs White for more details but, again, that is often a trap to identify genuine email addresses to receive more spam, but if this is a scam to get money out of concerned and/or potentially vulnerable individuals and small groups then it's about as cynical and well thought out as these things go. Also the fact they've specifically targetted my email address possibly knowing I post up issues and news concerning equality and social justice indicates some level of planning.
If anyone has more details about the organisation or the conferences then please let me know on editorialgazette@googlemail.com. But in the meantime I would just issue this word of warning, the scammers may be becoming more sophisticated so check things out carefully before responding to this or similar emails in good faith.
The email is from Mary White of the Right For Women Organisation and invites women's organisations to apply to attend this "forthcoming combined conference with Theme “Violence against women and children” taking place in the United States and the United Kingdom".
The aims of the conferences seem very legimate and well informed and also appear to use all the terminology one might expect:
"We aspire amongst other things:
1. To discuss the root causes of domestic violence, abuse and neglect in order to help in eradicating these social ills.
2. To re-educate and enlighten adults about these social vices and also promote community to organize as a tool to re-connect people to each other with a common goal of building safe, supportive and good communities.
3. To create spaces for the women of the world to acquire the power of collective action, critical dialogue and community organizing to undermine violence against women
4. To equip the adult participants with vital tools and know-how. that will aid them in conducting such workshops amongst themselves in their various countries.
We have noticed that this is an incredible means of interacting with different organizations of the world on a particular issue as it affects mankind."
There is also what appears to be an offer of funding to assist small women's groups wishing to attend:
"Moreover, funding maybe provided for individuals from qualifying organizations. Provisions have been made for all delegates to this event, all round tickets, feeding and accommodation in USA by our sponsors. All delegates will take care of their feeding and accommodation in the UK as our resources do not cover that."
I wasn't even initially concerned that there wasn't a conference programme or application form attached as I know from my knowledge of local organisations who support women experiencing domestic violence the need for discretion, sensitivity and confidentiality to protect staff and victims of violence. So one might easily assume there may be screening processes in place to identify genuine delegates.
However, my suspicions are always aroused by the use of grammar and spelling in emails and in this case the name of the organisation, Right For Women Organisation, just doesn't look right (for instance the use of Right in the singular, not Rights) and has the definite ring of a name made up by a scammer/spammer. Having Googled this organisation I have drawn a blank and neither does anything come up for either of the two very plausible sounding venues at which the conferences are said to be taking place:
- The Fareham Centre in Hampshire
- The Madison Auditoreum in Seattle, Washington
I may be totally wrong here, I would email Mrs White for more details but, again, that is often a trap to identify genuine email addresses to receive more spam, but if this is a scam to get money out of concerned and/or potentially vulnerable individuals and small groups then it's about as cynical and well thought out as these things go. Also the fact they've specifically targetted my email address possibly knowing I post up issues and news concerning equality and social justice indicates some level of planning.
If anyone has more details about the organisation or the conferences then please let me know on editorialgazette@googlemail.com. But in the meantime I would just issue this word of warning, the scammers may be becoming more sophisticated so check things out carefully before responding to this or similar emails in good faith.
FRIENDS’ AUTUMN PLANT HUNTERS’ FAIR at BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS
10.00am – 4.00pm
BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS & GLASSHOUSES, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham B15 3TR T: 0121 454 1860
FRIENDS’ AUTUMN PLANT HUNTERS’ FAIR - for that special plant
The annual Autumn Plant Hunters’ Fair, organised by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, attracts ‘hunters’ from far and wide to the stunning specimens on display for sale by a wide range of specialist growers. There are many unusual plants as well as the cottage garden favourites, herbs, shrubs and alpines – with a stall selling terracotta pots.
A special admission price for the day - £6.50 for adults and £4.75 for concessions – includes an opportunity for visitors also to explore the 15 acres of peaceful gardens. Late summer displays, herbaceous border, themed gardens, woodland walks all await the visitor looking for inspiration and tranquillity.
There are also four Glasshouses to explore as well as the Japanese Garden, which houses the National Bonsai Collection.The Discovery Gardens and Playground await the children and the Growing Schools Garden has seasonal plants and its own pond. The Gallery, Gift Shop and Pavilion Tearoom round off any visit nicely.
More information: James Wheeler at Birmingham Botanical Gardens
T: 0121 454 1860
ROTARY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL AT BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS TO SET FEET TAPPING
11.00 am - 4.30pm
BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS & GLASSHOUSES, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham B15 3TR
ROTARY COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Country music for a good cause, this event has been organised by the Rotary Club of Edgbaston Convention. Artists appearing include: Lass Vegas & Steve Lovett plus Rick Wise Disco.
Advance tickets (24 hrs) £6.50 adults and £4 concession available from Birmingham Botanical Gardens 0121 454 1860 or 01527 882416.
Admission on the day £7.50 and £4.75.
More information: James Wheeler at Birmingham Botanical Gardens T: 0121 454 1860
Monday, 30 August 2010
Cadbury are helping to improve Sydonia Park in Leominster
The project is supported by the Herefordshire Council, Groundwork UK, Halo and Cadbury.
Residents are invited to a public consultation on Friday, September 3 at Leominster Leisure Centre any time between 1pm and 5.30pm. They are urged to come and find out more and have your say on the project plans.
Stuart Poole, (Environmental Manager) from Cadbury Marlbrook, says: “We are part of the Leominster community and want to ensure that the local community is involved in this exciting fun project.”
Cadbury has recently launched a campaign to get the entire country divided into two teams, Spots and Stripes and getting them to play games in the run up to 2012. Find out more via the Spots v Stripes website: http://www.spotsvstripes.com/
For further details contact Fran White on 01432 260411.
Steve King Big Band bringing their birthday celebrations to Solihull
An evening of big band, swing and jazz is coming to Solihull Arts Complex next month.
The Steve King Big Band are stopping off in Solihull on Sunday 12 September as part of their 40th anniversary tour, bringing with them a mixture of music from the likes of Stan Kenton, Count Basie and Ted Heath.
Handling vocal duties for the band is US singer Lynn Dawes, whose singing is the icing on the cake that is the band’s performance.
The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £15 (£13 concessions) for adults and £7.50 for children. To book, call the Box Office on 0121 704 6962.
The Steve King Big Band are stopping off in Solihull on Sunday 12 September as part of their 40th anniversary tour, bringing with them a mixture of music from the likes of Stan Kenton, Count Basie and Ted Heath.
Handling vocal duties for the band is US singer Lynn Dawes, whose singing is the icing on the cake that is the band’s performance.
The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £15 (£13 concessions) for adults and £7.50 for children. To book, call the Box Office on 0121 704 6962.
Warwickshire at War
Family salvaging possessions after bomb damage in Telford Avenue, Lillington 1940.
Permission has been granted to use this image with the attached press release only - Acknowledgement: PH(N)600/280/18 Courtesy of Warwickshire County Record Office
The first event, Warwickshire at War, on Saturday 11 September from 2pm to 4pm is a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Record Office offered FREE as part of Heritage Open Days Weekend.
Members of the public can learn about the work of the Record Office, meet some of the Friends of the Record Office and view some original documents with a World War Two Theme.
The second event, Make Do and Mend, takes place on Wednesday 15 September from 7pm to 9pm. Maggie Wood, Keeper of Social History for the Warwickshire Museum Service, will lead the session which looks at the imaginative ways people responded to rationing and shortages during World War II.
Related records from this time will also be available for participants to view to help them understand more about wartime life. This event costs £5.00
For those with an interest in researching family members who were involved in the military, the third workshop, Family History: Military Records on Saturday 25 September from 9.15am to 12.15pm will be a popular choice.
This workshop is run by family historian Jennifer Cranfield and looks at the types of military records available to the family historian and how to access them. This workshop costs £12.00
Finally, the last event of the series reminds us that not everything of historical importance is always held in museums and archives. Shirley’s War is held on Monday 27 September from 2pm to 4pm. Shirley Davies, now President of Wootton Wawen Women’s Institute, gives a very personal account of her memories of wartime Britain, including memories of school, rationing, family life, evacuees and friendship.
Personal wartime ephemera belonging to Record Office volunteers will also be on display, including parts from a Type X Rotor (the British version of the ‘Enigma’ machine) and a Merlin engine magneto from a Spitfire engine. This event costs £5.00
All events take place at Warwickshire County Record Office, Priory Park, off Cape Road, Warwick. Booking is strongly recommended, by calling 01926 738959 Tuesday to Saturday.
A small photographic exhibition accompanies all these events and community groups are invited to contact the Record Office if they are interested in borrowing the exhibition to display at their own venues.
Rowan Fisher, Learning and Outreach Officer at Warwickshire County Record Office, said: “We have an interesting collection of World War Two records, including photographs of a Spitfire paid for by Atherstone Rural District Council and accounts in school log books of what life was like for evacuees. We hope that our programme of events this September will prove to be stimulating and enjoyable.”
Warwickshire County Record Office is involved in safeguarding, managing and developing Warwickshire's archives so that they can be accessed, interpreted and enjoyed by all those with an interest in Warwickshire's past and its people. We hold records dating from the twelfth century up to the twenty first.
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/countyrecordoffice for more information on general opening times, directions and other useful information.
The Sounds of Simon are coming to Solihull
The Sounds of Simon are in town on Thursday 16 September and the show will feature all of the duo’s hits, from the early harmonies of Wednesday Morning 3am and The Sound of Silence to later numbers like Hazy Shade and Mrs Robinson.
The tribute will also play songs from Paul Simon’s successful solo career, making it the perfect evening for all die-hard fans.
The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £15, or groups can buy ten tickets for the price of nine. To book, call Box Office on 0121 704 6962.
Light House listings for The Met: Live in HD and National Theatre Live
THE MET LIVE IN HD
Light House is pleased to announce that from this autumn Light House visitors can join the Saturday audiences at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 12 live high definition transmissions from the 2010-11 season.
DAS RHEINGOLD (WAGNER) – NEW PRODUCTION
Sat 9 Oct, 6pm
Two unparalleled artists join forces to create a ground breaking new Ring for the Met: Maestro James Levine and director Robert Lepage. The cycle launches with Das Rheingold, the prologue to Wagner’s epic drama. “The Ring is not just a story or a series of operas, it’s a cosmos,” says Lepage, who brings cutting-edge technology and his own visionary imagination to the world’s greatest theatrical journey. Bryn Terfel sings the leading role of Wotan for the first time with the company, heading an extraordinary cast.
BORIS GODUNOV (MUSSORGSKY) – NEW PRODUCTION
Sat 23 Oct, 5pm
Boris Godunov is given a new production conducted by Valery Gergiev and directed by Peter Stein, in his Met début. Rene Pape will undertake the title role for the first time at the Met, and will lead a strong Russian cast, including Ekaterina Semenchuk, Aleksandrs Antonenko, Evgeny Nikitin andVladimir Ognovenko in a work that is also a breathtaking showcase the Met’s formidable chorus.
DON PASQUALE (DONIZETTI)
Sat 13 Nov, 6pm
Anna Netrebko revives her sensational turn in this sophisticated bel canto comedy, opposite Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien, and John Del Carlo in the title role. Music Director James Levine conducts. When Otto Schenk’s production premiered in 2006, the New York Times called it “brilliant” and “wonderful.”
DON CARLO (VERDI) – NEW PRODUCTION
Sat 11 Dec, 5.30pm
Director Nicholas Hytner makes his Met debut with this new production of Verdi’s profound, beautiful, and most ambitious opera. Roberto Alagna leads the cast, and Ferruccio Furlanetto, Marina Poplavskaya, Anna Smirnova, and Simon Keenlyside also star. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, back after his triumphant debut leading Carmen, conducts. “I think Don Carlo is the quintessential Verdi opera,” Hytner says. “Right through this opera there is, on the one hand, an implacable expression of impending doom and, on the other hand, a succession of the most gloriously open-throated arias, the most fantastically determined music.”
Cost:
2010 performances £17.50 Adult / £12 Under 15s
Light House, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT
t: 01902 716055 f: 01902 717143
e: info@light-house.co.uk
http://www.light-house.co.uk/
Light House is pleased to announce that from this autumn Light House visitors can join the Saturday audiences at the New York Metropolitan Opera in 12 live high definition transmissions from the 2010-11 season.
DAS RHEINGOLD (WAGNER) – NEW PRODUCTION
Sat 9 Oct, 6pm
Two unparalleled artists join forces to create a ground breaking new Ring for the Met: Maestro James Levine and director Robert Lepage. The cycle launches with Das Rheingold, the prologue to Wagner’s epic drama. “The Ring is not just a story or a series of operas, it’s a cosmos,” says Lepage, who brings cutting-edge technology and his own visionary imagination to the world’s greatest theatrical journey. Bryn Terfel sings the leading role of Wotan for the first time with the company, heading an extraordinary cast.
BORIS GODUNOV (MUSSORGSKY) – NEW PRODUCTION
Sat 23 Oct, 5pm
Boris Godunov is given a new production conducted by Valery Gergiev and directed by Peter Stein, in his Met début. Rene Pape will undertake the title role for the first time at the Met, and will lead a strong Russian cast, including Ekaterina Semenchuk, Aleksandrs Antonenko, Evgeny Nikitin andVladimir Ognovenko in a work that is also a breathtaking showcase the Met’s formidable chorus.
DON PASQUALE (DONIZETTI)
Sat 13 Nov, 6pm
Anna Netrebko revives her sensational turn in this sophisticated bel canto comedy, opposite Matthew Polenzani, Mariusz Kwiecien, and John Del Carlo in the title role. Music Director James Levine conducts. When Otto Schenk’s production premiered in 2006, the New York Times called it “brilliant” and “wonderful.”
DON CARLO (VERDI) – NEW PRODUCTION
Sat 11 Dec, 5.30pm
Director Nicholas Hytner makes his Met debut with this new production of Verdi’s profound, beautiful, and most ambitious opera. Roberto Alagna leads the cast, and Ferruccio Furlanetto, Marina Poplavskaya, Anna Smirnova, and Simon Keenlyside also star. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, back after his triumphant debut leading Carmen, conducts. “I think Don Carlo is the quintessential Verdi opera,” Hytner says. “Right through this opera there is, on the one hand, an implacable expression of impending doom and, on the other hand, a succession of the most gloriously open-throated arias, the most fantastically determined music.”
Cost:
2010 performances £17.50 Adult / £12 Under 15s
Light House, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT
t: 01902 716055 f: 01902 717143
e: info@light-house.co.uk
http://www.light-house.co.uk/
CIVIC HALL & WEST BROMWICH TOWN HALL JOIN FORCES!
West Bromwich Town Hall
Two of The Black Country’s finest entertainment venues have joined forces to ensure that the region retains and expands its excellent programme of live entertainment.
The team of experienced events bookers, organisers and marketers at Wolverhampton Civic Hall are to lend their expertise to West Bromwich Town Hall and assist in bringing big names to the hall.
Mark Blackstock, Civic Halls General Manager says: “With Birmingham just up the road, we were concerned that The Black Country could start to miss out on some of biggest names, so we’re joining forces with our friends at West Bromwich Town Hall to ensure that the very best in entertainment continues to come to the region. The Civic Hall has been lucky enough to keep the stars rolling in to Wolverhampton over the years, and we see no reason why our team can’t help to bring a similar quality of programming to West Bromwich too.”
Civic Hall bookers have already secured three well known comedians in the shape of Jim Davidson, Roy “Chubby” Brown and fast-rising contemporary character-comedian Lee Nelson, and there are many more shows from a broad range of entertainment forms in the pipeline.
Cllr. Ann Shackleton, Sandwell Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture & Leisure said:"Building on Wolverhampton's excellent reputation for attracting high profile stars into the Black Country, Sandwell welcomes the benefits of a partnership approach and look forward to hosting the very best in entertainment at our very own West Bromwich Town Hall"
All shows are featured on http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/ and tickets are available through Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online.
Currently on sale:
Jim Davidson – Live!Saturday 16th October 2010 – West Bromwich Town Hall - £19.50
Doors 7.00pm
Lee NelsonFriday 29th October 2010 - West Bromwich Town Hall - £15.00
Doors 7.00pm
Roy “Chubby” BrownSaturday 27th November 2010 - West Bromwich Town Hall - £20.00
Doors 7.00pm
Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Move An Guh Weh - Wolverhampton Civic Hall: Sunday 26th December 2010
Their intention is to work hard and earn enough money to return to Jamaica with enough funds to make life more comfortable for their families back home.
Their expectation of England is much to be desired as they struggle with settling in with the locals.
This is a hilarious gospel comedy with a real message, suitable for families of all ages.
A MUST SEE PRODUCTION!
Official Website:
Earlybird Tickets (until 30th September), priced £17.00 (Adults), £14.00 (O.A.P. + 6-12 years), £6.00 (0-5 years) are available from Midland Box Office: 0870 320 7000 or online at http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/
SEWM: Weekly round-up w/e 27 August
SEWM Announcements
Identifying partnership opportunities for social enterprises in the West Midlands
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) want to work more closely with social enterprises as providers of services to them. In order for this to happen, NOMS need to know more about social enterprise in this region, particularly the size of the potential market for business with them. As an example of the opportunities emerging for social enterprises, the Ministry of Justice has commissioned organisations to prepare bids to provide ‘Pathways into Employment’ type programmes for (ex) offenders. Social enterprises are in a strong position to act as deliverers of these services, sub-contracted to the organisations that emerge as the successful contractor for this region. We want to be able to identify and link social enterprises to these contractors at an early stage. If you have an existing service or programme or have an idea for one that you believe will assist NOMS to achieve their objectives, we want you to let us know about it by completing the attached proforma.
For more information, contact Kevin Maton, SEWM Network Director at: k.maton@socialenterprisewm.org.uk.
8 Sep: Good Practice Forum - Marketing your Social Enterprise, Smethwick, 9.30am - 12.45pm *free event* (see attached programme)
This series of Good Practice Forums are facilitated by SEWM as part of the Trading Know-how project. The forum is aimed at social enterprise staff responsible for marketing and communications activities. The focus of this September meeting will be Social Enterprise Day 2010 (18 November). It will be an opportunity for you to find out how others are planning to mark the day, develop ideas, be inspired, and possibly identify ways of working with others to have a greater impact in your area. We will also be running two workshops on free online marketing resources and events promotion. We’ll be ending the meeting with a marketing case study from North Smethwick Development Trust, our host for the meeting.
For more information and to reserve your place, email Rupinder Kaur Drew on: r.drew@socialenterprisewm.org.uk
Birmingham Central Library would like to hear from you!
We at SEWM have been working with Birmingham Central Library to ensure that social enterprise is represented and embedded within the plans for the new Library of Birmingham (LOB), however with this not due to be completed until 2012, Central Library would like to host a range of events which are useful to social enterprises. For current library offers, visit: http://bit.ly/bs7YsU. If there is a particular topic or subject that you would like to see hosted at Central Library, please email your suggestions to: teresa.manning@birmingham.gov.uk.
News
West Midlands
Birmingham LEP reveals to-do list (26/08)
Midlands Business Insider
Businesses and council leaders are drawing up a list of actions for Birmingham and Solihull’s proposed Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has been formerly approved by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Top of the agenda were regeneration plans for Longbridge and North Solihull and advancing the high-speed rail plans. The maintenance of early infrastructure developments - including the extension to the airport runway - was also outlined on the list of actions for the first few months of service. Encouraging more interest in enterprise in schools and a "virtual boardroom" to increase business mentoring have also been cited as priorities for the new authority. More than 70 businesses heard the outlined plans when they attended a workshop held by the Birmingham Chamber group to provide feedback on the plans to create a combined LEP.
http://bit.ly/beAsyt
Trainees get catering off to a 'tea' (25/08)
Midlands Business News
A newly-opened waterside café staffed entirely by catering industry trainees has been given the green light by Birmingham's 'knights of the road.' ....The café is the result of a pioneering collaboration between ENTA - a social enterprise of 33 years standing that helps some of the city's most vulnerable communities - and Birmingham Hotel and Catering Academy (BHCA).
http://bit.ly/9b9M0H
Staffs social enterprise trebles apprenticeships (24/08)
Chrisanthi Giotis, Social Enterprise magazine
A Staffordshire social enterprise is set to treble the number of apprenticeships it delivers after benefiting from the coalition government’s commitment to on-the-job training. PM Training has been awarded an additional £250,000 from the Skills Funding Agency, taking its total budget from that agency to £575,000 and allowing it to provide 150 apprenticeships in Stoke-on-Trent every year – growing from 54 every year.
http://bit.ly/cqAyxu
Virtual trade comes to Shropshire (25/08)
Midlands Business Insider
Shropshire Council and Telford and Wreckin Council are hosting the region’s first virtual trade event. Businesses interested in showcasing their products to a global audience are being invited to attend the V-Trade forum in Shrewsbury in September. The scheme is part of a European funded project and is designed to develop new ways of bringing products to market through a virtual trading space. The free event is being held in collaboration with the Serious Games Institute and Coventry University. Attendees will hear about the potential of virtual trading solutions beyond the traditional e-commerce for businesses. The event, which is being held in the Food Enterprise Centre, will take place on 23 September.
http://bit.ly/dwtftL
Other items of interest (national)
Union starts legal action against DH’s social enterprise plans (25/08)
Gemma Hampson, Social Enterprise magazine
Unison is taking the Department of Health to court over its refusal to consult on the recent white paper, which stated the department wanted to create the ‘largest social enterprise sector in the world’. The action follows a letter from NHS CEO Sir David Nicholson, which Unison claims told NHS bosses to implement the white paper’s proposals immediately. Sir David reacted by telling NHS bosses not to make changes until there had been a consultation, but Unison is arguing the consultation will be on how the proposal should be implemented, not whether they should be implemented.
http://bit.ly/9UTXLX
Social Enterprise shorts (25/08)
Social Enterprise magazine
A paper on the role of social enterprise in Big Society has been published today by the NHS Alliance. The paper, Semantics of the Big Society, is the first in a series on social enterprise and its role in the NHS. This first paper is a guide which explains the difference and similarities between the social enterprise, mutual and co-operative models.
http://bit.ly/9JUUTA
Homeless people give an alternative guide to London (25/08)
Anita Pati, the Guardian
Homeless tour guides have been signed up to give visitors to the capital an alternative view of London's landmarks.....Having expanded the network to around 400 volunteers over the internet, the organisers launched Unseen Tours as a social enterprise, Sock Mob Events. In February, they received £4,000 funding from UnLtd, a charity that supports social entrepreneurs.
http://bit.ly/93LVp0
Sector sets out vision for ‘new Bura’ (25/08)
The British Urban Regeneration Association’s anticipated replacement must have a strong focus on local people and communities, continue a knowledge sharing function and embrace new technology, according to leading figures. Following an announcement that the association was being wound up, a Bura spokesperson confirmed that ‘a new, fit for purpose vehicle’ is likely to be launched in September. Regeneration figures say any new incarnation must be inclusive of smaller, local projects, continue to showcase best practice and adapt to new technology.
http://bit.ly/cBFdpR
School for Social Entrepreneurs set to expand (25/08)
David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online
The School for Social Entrepreneurs is planning to extend its services in England and move into Wales, as well as opening schools in New Zealand and Canada. The school, which provides training for potential social entrepreneurs, operates 10 franchises in England and Scotland, but currently there are none in Wales or in some English regions. Nick Temple, director of communications at the school, said the programme had grown rapidly in 2009. The organisation was developing a school in Suffolk and was recruiting staff for it, he said. "It will open either in December this year or early next year. We’ve also had provisional discussions with groups in New Zealand, who’ve started to raise funding, and we’ve carried out feasibility studies in Canada."
http://bit.ly/d6e0KI
Social network keeps patients in touch with relatives (21/08)
Nursing Times
A social networking website designed specifically to help patients keep in contact with carers and relatives while they are in hospital is proving popular with nurses as well as their patients. The Justvisiting.com website was set up as a social enterprise scheme with the support of NHS North East. It has been piloted at Gateshead Hospitals Foundation Trust since December. Nurse and ward manager Elaine Shanks said: “We have had a very good response from patients.”
http://bit.ly/dcsZ4d
‘Invaluable’ best practice must continue post-Bura (24/08)
New Start magazine
The British Urban Regeneration Association’s ‘invaluable’ role as a champion of best practice must be salvaged, according to leading figures. A social enterprise or mutual model could also help to strengthen Bura’s ‘fit for purpose’ replacement which is expected to be launched next month. The association informed members today that it was starting voluntary liquidation proceedings, after its board agreed the time was right to ‘draw a line under Bura’.
http://bit.ly/bMXjkh
157 Group to slash exam fees by launching own awarding body (24/08)
Times Educational Supplement
Association of large colleges sets up John Lewis-inspired social enterprise to save £50m-plus examining costs A group of the largest colleges are planning to band together to form their own awarding body and slash the growing costs of exam fees. The initiative by the 157 Group has also been chosen by the Government as one of the pathfinder projects to encourage the creation of new social enterprises and employee-led mutuals - meaning they will get advice from companies like John Lewis.
http://bit.ly/bAf9jI
Black Training and Enterprise Group offers grants for groups that work with young black men (23/08)
Sophie Hudson, Third Sector Online
The Black Training and Enterprise Group, an umbrella organisation for black and ethnic minority voluntary and community organisations, is offering small grants of £500 for organisations that work with young black men. The Reach Programme: Community Engagement Project will award grants to 40 groups to put on events aimed at inspiring 13- to 25-year-old black men to achieve in education and professionally. It is the second phase of the grants programme, which started in July 2009. The Communities and Local Government department has provided funding for the project.
http://bit.ly/caJINe
Father of venture capital confirmed for Good Deals (19/08)
Chrisanthi Giotis, Social Enterprise live
The father of venture capital in the Europe and a key proponent of social investment, Sir Ronald Cohen, will be speaking at the third annual Good Deals conference. Good Deals 2010, run by Social Enterprise, is this year taking place in London over two days – Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 November – and is set to bring together a wider group of social investment experts than ever before. As well as Cohen, confirmed speakers include the UK CEO of Deutsche Bank Colin Grassie, managing director of Investment Banking UK at Triodos Bank James Vacarro, head of sustainable business at Marks & Spencer Mike Barry and CEO of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Dawn Austwick.
http://bit.ly/9wxz8l
Misc.
Are you a social entrepreneur looking for investment?
UnLtd Advantage is an intensive investment readiness programme dedicated to scaling up high impact social ventures. It helps you to develop a robust growth strategy and build relationships with social investors. UnLtd Advantage is part of UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs. They encourage applications from social entrepreneurs with established ventures, so if you meet the below criteria, you can apply for the support and service:
· Are you seeking at least £250,000 (possibly in several stages)?
· Is your social enterprise scalable and ambitious to grow?
· Is it financially sustainable?
· Have you got good management in place?
If you can answer yes to all of the above, visit: http://bit.ly/a5KpWG to apply for support.
Shell LiveWIRE Awards - Now open for entries
If you're aged 16-30 and have been running your own business for more than 3 months but less than 18 months, this annual competition could see you walk away with a £10,000 cash injection plus support from top PR agency Blue Rubicon at the Shell LiveWIRE LIVE! award final, taking place in London on 13th October 2010. For more information on how you can get involved, go to: http://bit.ly/b9PPEB. The deadline for entries is 5pm on 6 September.
BBC Children in Need grants scheme
BBC Children in Need are inviting third sector organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people 18 years and under, living in the UK, to apply for grants of up to £10,000 through their grants schemes. BBC Children in Need run two grant schemes; small grants of £10,000 or less per year for up to three years and main grants over £10,000 per year for up to three years. BBC Children in Need can only fund projects that focus on the differences made (outcomes) to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. Grants can be used to cover both, capital and revenue costs.
For more information, go to: http://bbc.in/aGJHMW
The next deadline is 15 October 2010.
Freelancers needed!
Purple Patch Communications, Coventry's first social enterprise specialising in marketing, PR and design is looking for skilled copywriters, graphic designers, PR writers, photographers and web developers to become freelance workers. Freelancers will be contacted for additional support when major projects are commissioned by clients. For more information email: amelia@purplepatchcommunications.com
Blog
Where will the Big Society live? (20/08)
Jonathan Schifferes, New Start magazine
The Big Society project seeks to 'give increased power to people to solve problems closer to where they live'. Under the current economic climate, meeting housing needs is increasingly difficult for people and governments. The need for affordable housing is stark: if the price of chicken had increased as fast as house prices since 1971, we’d be paying close to £50 for a roast dinner. The coalition says it wants more affordable homes. They have introduced a series of reforms to localise decisions around new housebuilding, but there are fundamental challenges in this approach. Home-owners make up 70% of adults in the UK: investors in homes as assets that appreciate greatly in conditions where demand is growing faster than supply.
http://bit.ly/diCQUw
Events
7 Sep – 19 Oct: What does the Big Society mean for the third sector? *Free event*
RAWM, in partnership with SEWM and the West Midlands European Network are running a series of round table events to look at the implications the Big Society agenda has for the voluntary sector and local communities. The 7 events are being held in venues across the West Midlands and are aimed at the voluntary sector, community groups, social enterprises and local authorities.
For more information on how you can get involved, go to: http://bit.ly/d7MdjZ or email: RukhsanaK@rawm.co.uk.
14 Sep: Future Challenges for Supported Housing, Birmingham, 9.30 - 3.30 *Free event*
The West Midlands Supported Housing Network invites you to their meeting where four networks within the region will come together to meet and discuss Care and Supported Housing issues. Guest speakers on the day will be: Deven Ghalani from the Centre for Social Justice, and Veronica Monks from the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act team at the Department of Health. For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/9fs3YF.
The booking deadline is 8 September.
16 Sep: Business Opportunities Workshop, Coventry, 8.45am - 12.30pm *Free event*
Over £400m-worth of contracts have already been awarded to businesses based in the West Midlands as a result of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the UK. With just under 2 years to go there is still £500m-worth of contracts to be awarded in a huge number of areas and the bulk of these contracts will be awarded over the next 12 months, so time is limited if you want to be in with a chance of accessing these opportunities. This workshop is run by Business Link West Midlands and organised by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. It will help businesses to find out what opportunities are still available and how they can be accessed. Places are limited. To reserve your place, call 0247 665 4108 or email: chriss@cw-chamber.co.uk
27 Sept: Tendering training event, Stoke-on-Trent, £155 + VAT
Vision Training and Support is organising tendering training events for SME's, social enterprises and voluntary and community organisations across the West Midlands. The training will assist with the capacity building of organisations with a view to gaining public sector, as well as private sector, tendering opportunities to access new markets and sell services. Interested entities will be able to access DDP (Directors Development Programme) funding subject to terms and conditions to enrol for free training.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/aD3jvQ or email: azad.s@visiontrainingandsupport.co.uk
29 - 30 Sept & 6 - 7 Oct: Four day social enterprise course, 9.30am - 3.30pm *Free event*
This training course, run by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA, is targeted at groups/organisations of 2 or more people based in Coventry & Warwickshire. The number of delegates per organisation will be limited. The benefits of the CDA‘s training is that several people from each group can attend, which will help them to spend time together and plan ahead to identify new ways of becoming more sustainable. The training is recognised by Coventry University and, uniquely, the delegates can gain an accreditation for developing and managing their own social enterprise. There are limited spaces still available.
For more information and to book your place, email Kate Launchbury at: k.launchbury@cwcda.co.uk or call 024 76 633911 ext 102.
15 - 16 Nov: Good Deals 2010, London
Good Deals 2010 is the third annual UK social investment conference held in association with both National Ethical Investment Week and Global Entrepreneurship Week. This year the conference will be held over 2 days and the programme has been expanded to bring in speakers from the worlds of mainstream investment and corporate business, as well as looking at leading examples of innovation in social investment from around Europe. Good Deals is delivered by Social Enterprise magazine in partnership with NESTA, the Royal Bank of Scotland, CCLA, Triodos Bank, UKSIF and Investing For Good. Delegates are currently offered an early bird discount. If you book your ticket before 5pm on 30 September, you will receive a £50 discount off the standard ticket price.
For more information and to book your place, go to: http://bit.ly/VA1XZ
9 Nov: Build Win-Win Corporate & Voluntary Partnerships, London, book before 23 Sep. & save £75
Third Sector’s 6th annual Corporate & Voluntary Partnerships conference returns for 2010, welcoming corporates and charities to showcase exemplary partnerships that have gone beyond simple financial donations and short-term relationships to create collaborations that are entrepreneurial, innovative and sustainable, to achieve mutual benefit.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/atwGf4
Jobs
Community Worker (£19,500 - £22,000)
Kings Norton, Birmingham, 12 months fixed term contract
Are you enthusiastic about community development? Do you want to see the local residents experience a better quality of life and make a real difference? If so, you should consider applying for this position. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the major issues concerning resident involvement in a community and neighbourhood management context.
For more information on how to apply, email: t.colville@newman.ac.uk or call 0121 476 1181 ext. 2518.
The application deadline is 12pm on 27 August.
Part Time Project Administrator (£15,392 - 19,240 pa pro rata, 20hrs pw)
Birmingham, fixed term contract until May 2011
Growing Up in the West Midlands is seeking an experienced Project Administrator to provide comprehensive administration for the G:up (Growing Up in the West Midlands) project and staff.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/cZmeKm.
The application deadline is 5pm on 8 September.
Got a newsworthy story? Email Shemaine Rose, SEWM Communications Officer on: s.rose@socialenterprisewm.org.uk
Identifying partnership opportunities for social enterprises in the West Midlands
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) want to work more closely with social enterprises as providers of services to them. In order for this to happen, NOMS need to know more about social enterprise in this region, particularly the size of the potential market for business with them. As an example of the opportunities emerging for social enterprises, the Ministry of Justice has commissioned organisations to prepare bids to provide ‘Pathways into Employment’ type programmes for (ex) offenders. Social enterprises are in a strong position to act as deliverers of these services, sub-contracted to the organisations that emerge as the successful contractor for this region. We want to be able to identify and link social enterprises to these contractors at an early stage. If you have an existing service or programme or have an idea for one that you believe will assist NOMS to achieve their objectives, we want you to let us know about it by completing the attached proforma.
For more information, contact Kevin Maton, SEWM Network Director at: k.maton@socialenterprisewm.org.uk.
8 Sep: Good Practice Forum - Marketing your Social Enterprise, Smethwick, 9.30am - 12.45pm *free event* (see attached programme)
This series of Good Practice Forums are facilitated by SEWM as part of the Trading Know-how project. The forum is aimed at social enterprise staff responsible for marketing and communications activities. The focus of this September meeting will be Social Enterprise Day 2010 (18 November). It will be an opportunity for you to find out how others are planning to mark the day, develop ideas, be inspired, and possibly identify ways of working with others to have a greater impact in your area. We will also be running two workshops on free online marketing resources and events promotion. We’ll be ending the meeting with a marketing case study from North Smethwick Development Trust, our host for the meeting.
For more information and to reserve your place, email Rupinder Kaur Drew on: r.drew@socialenterprisewm.org.uk
Birmingham Central Library would like to hear from you!
We at SEWM have been working with Birmingham Central Library to ensure that social enterprise is represented and embedded within the plans for the new Library of Birmingham (LOB), however with this not due to be completed until 2012, Central Library would like to host a range of events which are useful to social enterprises. For current library offers, visit: http://bit.ly/bs7YsU. If there is a particular topic or subject that you would like to see hosted at Central Library, please email your suggestions to: teresa.manning@birmingham.gov.uk.
News
West Midlands
Birmingham LEP reveals to-do list (26/08)
Midlands Business Insider
Businesses and council leaders are drawing up a list of actions for Birmingham and Solihull’s proposed Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which has been formerly approved by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Top of the agenda were regeneration plans for Longbridge and North Solihull and advancing the high-speed rail plans. The maintenance of early infrastructure developments - including the extension to the airport runway - was also outlined on the list of actions for the first few months of service. Encouraging more interest in enterprise in schools and a "virtual boardroom" to increase business mentoring have also been cited as priorities for the new authority. More than 70 businesses heard the outlined plans when they attended a workshop held by the Birmingham Chamber group to provide feedback on the plans to create a combined LEP.
http://bit.ly/beAsyt
Trainees get catering off to a 'tea' (25/08)
Midlands Business News
A newly-opened waterside café staffed entirely by catering industry trainees has been given the green light by Birmingham's 'knights of the road.' ....The café is the result of a pioneering collaboration between ENTA - a social enterprise of 33 years standing that helps some of the city's most vulnerable communities - and Birmingham Hotel and Catering Academy (BHCA).
http://bit.ly/9b9M0H
Staffs social enterprise trebles apprenticeships (24/08)
Chrisanthi Giotis, Social Enterprise magazine
A Staffordshire social enterprise is set to treble the number of apprenticeships it delivers after benefiting from the coalition government’s commitment to on-the-job training. PM Training has been awarded an additional £250,000 from the Skills Funding Agency, taking its total budget from that agency to £575,000 and allowing it to provide 150 apprenticeships in Stoke-on-Trent every year – growing from 54 every year.
http://bit.ly/cqAyxu
Virtual trade comes to Shropshire (25/08)
Midlands Business Insider
Shropshire Council and Telford and Wreckin Council are hosting the region’s first virtual trade event. Businesses interested in showcasing their products to a global audience are being invited to attend the V-Trade forum in Shrewsbury in September. The scheme is part of a European funded project and is designed to develop new ways of bringing products to market through a virtual trading space. The free event is being held in collaboration with the Serious Games Institute and Coventry University. Attendees will hear about the potential of virtual trading solutions beyond the traditional e-commerce for businesses. The event, which is being held in the Food Enterprise Centre, will take place on 23 September.
http://bit.ly/dwtftL
Other items of interest (national)
Union starts legal action against DH’s social enterprise plans (25/08)
Gemma Hampson, Social Enterprise magazine
Unison is taking the Department of Health to court over its refusal to consult on the recent white paper, which stated the department wanted to create the ‘largest social enterprise sector in the world’. The action follows a letter from NHS CEO Sir David Nicholson, which Unison claims told NHS bosses to implement the white paper’s proposals immediately. Sir David reacted by telling NHS bosses not to make changes until there had been a consultation, but Unison is arguing the consultation will be on how the proposal should be implemented, not whether they should be implemented.
http://bit.ly/9UTXLX
Social Enterprise shorts (25/08)
Social Enterprise magazine
A paper on the role of social enterprise in Big Society has been published today by the NHS Alliance. The paper, Semantics of the Big Society, is the first in a series on social enterprise and its role in the NHS. This first paper is a guide which explains the difference and similarities between the social enterprise, mutual and co-operative models.
http://bit.ly/9JUUTA
Homeless people give an alternative guide to London (25/08)
Anita Pati, the Guardian
Homeless tour guides have been signed up to give visitors to the capital an alternative view of London's landmarks.....Having expanded the network to around 400 volunteers over the internet, the organisers launched Unseen Tours as a social enterprise, Sock Mob Events. In February, they received £4,000 funding from UnLtd, a charity that supports social entrepreneurs.
http://bit.ly/93LVp0
Sector sets out vision for ‘new Bura’ (25/08)
The British Urban Regeneration Association’s anticipated replacement must have a strong focus on local people and communities, continue a knowledge sharing function and embrace new technology, according to leading figures. Following an announcement that the association was being wound up, a Bura spokesperson confirmed that ‘a new, fit for purpose vehicle’ is likely to be launched in September. Regeneration figures say any new incarnation must be inclusive of smaller, local projects, continue to showcase best practice and adapt to new technology.
http://bit.ly/cBFdpR
School for Social Entrepreneurs set to expand (25/08)
David Ainsworth, Third Sector Online
The School for Social Entrepreneurs is planning to extend its services in England and move into Wales, as well as opening schools in New Zealand and Canada. The school, which provides training for potential social entrepreneurs, operates 10 franchises in England and Scotland, but currently there are none in Wales or in some English regions. Nick Temple, director of communications at the school, said the programme had grown rapidly in 2009. The organisation was developing a school in Suffolk and was recruiting staff for it, he said. "It will open either in December this year or early next year. We’ve also had provisional discussions with groups in New Zealand, who’ve started to raise funding, and we’ve carried out feasibility studies in Canada."
http://bit.ly/d6e0KI
Social network keeps patients in touch with relatives (21/08)
Nursing Times
A social networking website designed specifically to help patients keep in contact with carers and relatives while they are in hospital is proving popular with nurses as well as their patients. The Justvisiting.com website was set up as a social enterprise scheme with the support of NHS North East. It has been piloted at Gateshead Hospitals Foundation Trust since December. Nurse and ward manager Elaine Shanks said: “We have had a very good response from patients.”
http://bit.ly/dcsZ4d
‘Invaluable’ best practice must continue post-Bura (24/08)
New Start magazine
The British Urban Regeneration Association’s ‘invaluable’ role as a champion of best practice must be salvaged, according to leading figures. A social enterprise or mutual model could also help to strengthen Bura’s ‘fit for purpose’ replacement which is expected to be launched next month. The association informed members today that it was starting voluntary liquidation proceedings, after its board agreed the time was right to ‘draw a line under Bura’.
http://bit.ly/bMXjkh
157 Group to slash exam fees by launching own awarding body (24/08)
Times Educational Supplement
Association of large colleges sets up John Lewis-inspired social enterprise to save £50m-plus examining costs A group of the largest colleges are planning to band together to form their own awarding body and slash the growing costs of exam fees. The initiative by the 157 Group has also been chosen by the Government as one of the pathfinder projects to encourage the creation of new social enterprises and employee-led mutuals - meaning they will get advice from companies like John Lewis.
http://bit.ly/bAf9jI
Black Training and Enterprise Group offers grants for groups that work with young black men (23/08)
Sophie Hudson, Third Sector Online
The Black Training and Enterprise Group, an umbrella organisation for black and ethnic minority voluntary and community organisations, is offering small grants of £500 for organisations that work with young black men. The Reach Programme: Community Engagement Project will award grants to 40 groups to put on events aimed at inspiring 13- to 25-year-old black men to achieve in education and professionally. It is the second phase of the grants programme, which started in July 2009. The Communities and Local Government department has provided funding for the project.
http://bit.ly/caJINe
Father of venture capital confirmed for Good Deals (19/08)
Chrisanthi Giotis, Social Enterprise live
The father of venture capital in the Europe and a key proponent of social investment, Sir Ronald Cohen, will be speaking at the third annual Good Deals conference. Good Deals 2010, run by Social Enterprise, is this year taking place in London over two days – Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 November – and is set to bring together a wider group of social investment experts than ever before. As well as Cohen, confirmed speakers include the UK CEO of Deutsche Bank Colin Grassie, managing director of Investment Banking UK at Triodos Bank James Vacarro, head of sustainable business at Marks & Spencer Mike Barry and CEO of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Dawn Austwick.
http://bit.ly/9wxz8l
Misc.
Are you a social entrepreneur looking for investment?
UnLtd Advantage is an intensive investment readiness programme dedicated to scaling up high impact social ventures. It helps you to develop a robust growth strategy and build relationships with social investors. UnLtd Advantage is part of UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs. They encourage applications from social entrepreneurs with established ventures, so if you meet the below criteria, you can apply for the support and service:
· Are you seeking at least £250,000 (possibly in several stages)?
· Is your social enterprise scalable and ambitious to grow?
· Is it financially sustainable?
· Have you got good management in place?
If you can answer yes to all of the above, visit: http://bit.ly/a5KpWG to apply for support.
Shell LiveWIRE Awards - Now open for entries
If you're aged 16-30 and have been running your own business for more than 3 months but less than 18 months, this annual competition could see you walk away with a £10,000 cash injection plus support from top PR agency Blue Rubicon at the Shell LiveWIRE LIVE! award final, taking place in London on 13th October 2010. For more information on how you can get involved, go to: http://bit.ly/b9PPEB. The deadline for entries is 5pm on 6 September.
BBC Children in Need grants scheme
BBC Children in Need are inviting third sector organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people 18 years and under, living in the UK, to apply for grants of up to £10,000 through their grants schemes. BBC Children in Need run two grant schemes; small grants of £10,000 or less per year for up to three years and main grants over £10,000 per year for up to three years. BBC Children in Need can only fund projects that focus on the differences made (outcomes) to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people. Grants can be used to cover both, capital and revenue costs.
For more information, go to: http://bbc.in/aGJHMW
The next deadline is 15 October 2010.
Freelancers needed!
Purple Patch Communications, Coventry's first social enterprise specialising in marketing, PR and design is looking for skilled copywriters, graphic designers, PR writers, photographers and web developers to become freelance workers. Freelancers will be contacted for additional support when major projects are commissioned by clients. For more information email: amelia@purplepatchcommunications.com
Blog
Where will the Big Society live? (20/08)
Jonathan Schifferes, New Start magazine
The Big Society project seeks to 'give increased power to people to solve problems closer to where they live'. Under the current economic climate, meeting housing needs is increasingly difficult for people and governments. The need for affordable housing is stark: if the price of chicken had increased as fast as house prices since 1971, we’d be paying close to £50 for a roast dinner. The coalition says it wants more affordable homes. They have introduced a series of reforms to localise decisions around new housebuilding, but there are fundamental challenges in this approach. Home-owners make up 70% of adults in the UK: investors in homes as assets that appreciate greatly in conditions where demand is growing faster than supply.
http://bit.ly/diCQUw
Events
7 Sep – 19 Oct: What does the Big Society mean for the third sector? *Free event*
RAWM, in partnership with SEWM and the West Midlands European Network are running a series of round table events to look at the implications the Big Society agenda has for the voluntary sector and local communities. The 7 events are being held in venues across the West Midlands and are aimed at the voluntary sector, community groups, social enterprises and local authorities.
For more information on how you can get involved, go to: http://bit.ly/d7MdjZ or email: RukhsanaK@rawm.co.uk.
14 Sep: Future Challenges for Supported Housing, Birmingham, 9.30 - 3.30 *Free event*
The West Midlands Supported Housing Network invites you to their meeting where four networks within the region will come together to meet and discuss Care and Supported Housing issues. Guest speakers on the day will be: Deven Ghalani from the Centre for Social Justice, and Veronica Monks from the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act team at the Department of Health. For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/9fs3YF.
The booking deadline is 8 September.
16 Sep: Business Opportunities Workshop, Coventry, 8.45am - 12.30pm *Free event*
Over £400m-worth of contracts have already been awarded to businesses based in the West Midlands as a result of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the UK. With just under 2 years to go there is still £500m-worth of contracts to be awarded in a huge number of areas and the bulk of these contracts will be awarded over the next 12 months, so time is limited if you want to be in with a chance of accessing these opportunities. This workshop is run by Business Link West Midlands and organised by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. It will help businesses to find out what opportunities are still available and how they can be accessed. Places are limited. To reserve your place, call 0247 665 4108 or email: chriss@cw-chamber.co.uk
27 Sept: Tendering training event, Stoke-on-Trent, £155 + VAT
Vision Training and Support is organising tendering training events for SME's, social enterprises and voluntary and community organisations across the West Midlands. The training will assist with the capacity building of organisations with a view to gaining public sector, as well as private sector, tendering opportunities to access new markets and sell services. Interested entities will be able to access DDP (Directors Development Programme) funding subject to terms and conditions to enrol for free training.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/aD3jvQ or email: azad.s@visiontrainingandsupport.co.uk
29 - 30 Sept & 6 - 7 Oct: Four day social enterprise course, 9.30am - 3.30pm *Free event*
This training course, run by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA, is targeted at groups/organisations of 2 or more people based in Coventry & Warwickshire. The number of delegates per organisation will be limited. The benefits of the CDA‘s training is that several people from each group can attend, which will help them to spend time together and plan ahead to identify new ways of becoming more sustainable. The training is recognised by Coventry University and, uniquely, the delegates can gain an accreditation for developing and managing their own social enterprise. There are limited spaces still available.
For more information and to book your place, email Kate Launchbury at: k.launchbury@cwcda.co.uk or call 024 76 633911 ext 102.
15 - 16 Nov: Good Deals 2010, London
Good Deals 2010 is the third annual UK social investment conference held in association with both National Ethical Investment Week and Global Entrepreneurship Week. This year the conference will be held over 2 days and the programme has been expanded to bring in speakers from the worlds of mainstream investment and corporate business, as well as looking at leading examples of innovation in social investment from around Europe. Good Deals is delivered by Social Enterprise magazine in partnership with NESTA, the Royal Bank of Scotland, CCLA, Triodos Bank, UKSIF and Investing For Good. Delegates are currently offered an early bird discount. If you book your ticket before 5pm on 30 September, you will receive a £50 discount off the standard ticket price.
For more information and to book your place, go to: http://bit.ly/VA1XZ
9 Nov: Build Win-Win Corporate & Voluntary Partnerships, London, book before 23 Sep. & save £75
Third Sector’s 6th annual Corporate & Voluntary Partnerships conference returns for 2010, welcoming corporates and charities to showcase exemplary partnerships that have gone beyond simple financial donations and short-term relationships to create collaborations that are entrepreneurial, innovative and sustainable, to achieve mutual benefit.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/atwGf4
Jobs
Community Worker (£19,500 - £22,000)
Kings Norton, Birmingham, 12 months fixed term contract
Are you enthusiastic about community development? Do you want to see the local residents experience a better quality of life and make a real difference? If so, you should consider applying for this position. The ideal candidate will have an understanding of the major issues concerning resident involvement in a community and neighbourhood management context.
For more information on how to apply, email: t.colville@newman.ac.uk or call 0121 476 1181 ext. 2518.
The application deadline is 12pm on 27 August.
Part Time Project Administrator (£15,392 - 19,240 pa pro rata, 20hrs pw)
Birmingham, fixed term contract until May 2011
Growing Up in the West Midlands is seeking an experienced Project Administrator to provide comprehensive administration for the G:up (Growing Up in the West Midlands) project and staff.
For more information, go to: http://bit.ly/cZmeKm.
The application deadline is 5pm on 8 September.
Got a newsworthy story? Email Shemaine Rose, SEWM Communications Officer on: s.rose@socialenterprisewm.org.uk
New on the BSSEC blog.... ŒPulse¹ says NHS bosses will reinvent themselves as social enterprise directors
August 27th, 2010 by Alun Severn
Following the government’s recent announcement that PCTs will be abolished by 2013, I had heard from a number of people working in the health sector that key workers — including as highly placed staff as PCT chief execs — are looking at how they can reinvent themselves as social enterprises, possibly to provide outsourced commissioning support to the proposed consortiums formed by GP commissioners. This interesting article in the GPs’ online mag PULSE makes it official.
http://www.bssec.org.uk/blog/?p=819
Following the government’s recent announcement that PCTs will be abolished by 2013, I had heard from a number of people working in the health sector that key workers — including as highly placed staff as PCT chief execs — are looking at how they can reinvent themselves as social enterprises, possibly to provide outsourced commissioning support to the proposed consortiums formed by GP commissioners. This interesting article in the GPs’ online mag PULSE makes it official.
http://www.bssec.org.uk/blog/?p=819
Mean Fiddler and High Voltage proudly present UFO
HMV Institute
Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands
True rock legends are characterized by the fact that they not have only added several classics to the rock history, but that their musical output, after many years, still takes place at a consistently high level and – beside all the routine – there’s always something new and fresh coming up.
UFO meet all these criteria: Alongside classic albums such as “Phenomenon”, “Force it” and “No Heavy Pettin”, with which the band was celebrating one success after another, PHIL MOGG, VINNIE MOORE, ANDY PARKER and PAUL RAYMOND after the millennium still sound vital and imaginative. With the upcoming album “Best Of A Decade” you can find out for yourself – this Best Of album will be released September 20th via Steamhammer/SPV.”
Buy tickets
Friday, 27 August 2010
West Midlands fights unemployment with 80 graduate jobs available
Over 80 full time graduate vacancies were on offer this week as a West Midlands graduate recruitment specialist helped tackle unemployment in the region head-on.
Grad Central organised the event to help both recently qualified and experienced graduates find their ideal job. There were a host of positions available, ranging from IT, sales, marketing, engineering and HR.
Jennifer Caswell at Grad Central, commented: “Despite the jobs market being extremely competitive, the perception that there are no jobs out there for graduates is not necessarily the case. The fact is that demand from businesses across the region for graduate level skills is constantly increasing. Companies of all sizes are recognising the value, fresh ideas and new perspectives a graduate can bring to their business are essential in helping them fight their way out of the current economic climate.”
300 graduates signed-up and attended the open day, which took place at Jurys Inn on Broad Street in Birmingham.
At the event, Grad Central’s expert team of recruitment specialists were on-hand to give graduates one-to-one consultations, consisting of interview advice, how to market themselves effectively to potential employers, along with the possibility of being selected for interview for one of the current opportunities.
For more information on Grad Central visit http://www.grad-central.co.uk/ or call 01675 461500.
Grad Central organised the event to help both recently qualified and experienced graduates find their ideal job. There were a host of positions available, ranging from IT, sales, marketing, engineering and HR.
Jennifer Caswell at Grad Central, commented: “Despite the jobs market being extremely competitive, the perception that there are no jobs out there for graduates is not necessarily the case. The fact is that demand from businesses across the region for graduate level skills is constantly increasing. Companies of all sizes are recognising the value, fresh ideas and new perspectives a graduate can bring to their business are essential in helping them fight their way out of the current economic climate.”
300 graduates signed-up and attended the open day, which took place at Jurys Inn on Broad Street in Birmingham.
At the event, Grad Central’s expert team of recruitment specialists were on-hand to give graduates one-to-one consultations, consisting of interview advice, how to market themselves effectively to potential employers, along with the possibility of being selected for interview for one of the current opportunities.
For more information on Grad Central visit http://www.grad-central.co.uk/ or call 01675 461500.
This December Arlene Phillips takes the lead as she becomes the head judge at this year's The Dance Show
The Dance Show, 3-5 December 2010, Birmingham NEC
This year, top television judge Arlene Phillips heads a world-class panel at this year’s The Dance Show to decide who should be crowned the Young Dancer of the Year 2010
The most exciting dance event to hit the UK, The Dance Show announces So You Think You Can Dance judge Arlene Phillips as the head judge for their brand new national dance award – Young Dancer of the Year - sponsored by Spotlight and supported by Dancers Inc, DanceXchange and The Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET)
Arlene has a wealth of dancing knowledge, making her the ideal candidate to decide who should be given this prestigious award. Arlene began her career as a jazz dancer before going on to choreograph a host of iconic Broadway and West End shows including Flashdance, Grease, Saturday Night Fever, We Will Rock You and Starlight Express.
Arlene Phillips said of her appointment as the lead judge on the judging panel: ‘‘It is such an honour to be the head judge at the first ever Young Dancer of the Year. I can’t wait to see the wealth of talent that will be gracing the stage. There is going to be such a variety of dancing styles and we will hopefully find someone with that ‘special something’ that will go on to be the next big thing in dance.’’
The Dance Show is set to be the most exciting and interactive live dance show in the UK and will run alongside the UK’s most popular fashion and beauty event, Clothes Show Live, from 3-5 December at Birmingham’s NEC.
• To enter the competition, visit http://www.thedanceshow.co.uk/ and download the application form. Once completed, send to Young Dancer of the Year, The Dance Show, c/o Idea Generation, 11 Chance Street, London, E2 7JB
West Midlands hedgerows: don’t cut them out!
New research released today (Monday) by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) finds that the number of hedgerow protected in the region has fallen to 16.7% a drop of 33% since CPRE’s last survey in 1998 which compares badly with the rest of England where 42 % are protected, an 18 per cent increase. The overall length of England’s managed hedgerows fell by 26,000 km (6 per cent) between 1998 and 2007.
In its report ‘England’s hedgerows: don’t cut them out!’ CPRE is calling for the current Hedgerows Regulations, which protect important hedgerows, to be improved. The charity wants the regulations to be amended to give local authorities more powers to protect hedgerows that are valued in their local landscape but may not meet the narrow qualification criteria to be deemed ‘important’ under the current regulations. A third of respondents to a CPRE local authority survey said that this was the most important improvement that could be made to the regulations. A further 42 per cent of local councils said that the most important change they wanted to see is for hedgerow protection rules to be made simpler.
Gerald Kells, West Midlands CPRE Policy Officer says: “Hedgerows are one of the most iconic features of the landscape and contribute to the character of our region, whether from the Vale of Evesham, through the Welsh Marches to the Staffordshire Moorlands and across the plains of Warwickshire. It’s important we do everything we can to halt and reverse their loss and degradation. Our survey shows that the Local Authorities believe Hedgerows Regulations have made a positive difference, but it also makes clear that improvements can and should be made.
“Local authorities have shown that, given the opportunity, they will protect these wonderful examples of our rural heritage. It’s over a decade since the introduction of the Hedgerows Regulations and the time is ripe for the new Government to make improvements that will give local authorities the power they need and want to better protect the great diversity of England’s hedgerows.”
Hedgerows lend beauty and character to the landscape, and provide many wider environmental benefits, including important habitats for a wide range of wildlife species. It is a criminal offence to remove an important hedgerow, with possible fines of up to £5000. However, as management of hedgerows has declined, many are being lost not only to removal, but as they degenerate into lines of trees and shrubs.
Hedgerows are the most widespread semi-natural habitat in England and are critical to the existence of numerous plants and animals. They are particularly important within areas of intensive farming, and for the survival of widespread but declining species which are dependant on woodland edge, scrub or rough grassland habitats.
Gerald Kells concluded: “The Hedgerows Regulations are helping protect the region's important hedgerows and with the right improvements they can be even better. As ready-made corridors for wildlife to move through the landscape, they should be a critical tool in the landscape-scale conservation of our natural environment that the new Government wants to see.
“However, regulations on their own, even with the improvements we would like to see, will not do enough to protect our hedgerows for future generations. We also need Ministers to continue funding Environmental Stewardship schemes that give landowners an incentive to preserve ancient hedgerows. These could be put at risk if cuts to Government spending fall in the wrong place.”
For full details on the state of hedgerows in England download: England’s hedgerows: don’t cut them out!
For the West Midlands regional summary of the CPRE research click on the following links; West Midlands
In its report ‘England’s hedgerows: don’t cut them out!’ CPRE is calling for the current Hedgerows Regulations, which protect important hedgerows, to be improved. The charity wants the regulations to be amended to give local authorities more powers to protect hedgerows that are valued in their local landscape but may not meet the narrow qualification criteria to be deemed ‘important’ under the current regulations. A third of respondents to a CPRE local authority survey said that this was the most important improvement that could be made to the regulations. A further 42 per cent of local councils said that the most important change they wanted to see is for hedgerow protection rules to be made simpler.
Gerald Kells, West Midlands CPRE Policy Officer says: “Hedgerows are one of the most iconic features of the landscape and contribute to the character of our region, whether from the Vale of Evesham, through the Welsh Marches to the Staffordshire Moorlands and across the plains of Warwickshire. It’s important we do everything we can to halt and reverse their loss and degradation. Our survey shows that the Local Authorities believe Hedgerows Regulations have made a positive difference, but it also makes clear that improvements can and should be made.
“Local authorities have shown that, given the opportunity, they will protect these wonderful examples of our rural heritage. It’s over a decade since the introduction of the Hedgerows Regulations and the time is ripe for the new Government to make improvements that will give local authorities the power they need and want to better protect the great diversity of England’s hedgerows.”
Hedgerows lend beauty and character to the landscape, and provide many wider environmental benefits, including important habitats for a wide range of wildlife species. It is a criminal offence to remove an important hedgerow, with possible fines of up to £5000. However, as management of hedgerows has declined, many are being lost not only to removal, but as they degenerate into lines of trees and shrubs.
Hedgerows are the most widespread semi-natural habitat in England and are critical to the existence of numerous plants and animals. They are particularly important within areas of intensive farming, and for the survival of widespread but declining species which are dependant on woodland edge, scrub or rough grassland habitats.
Gerald Kells concluded: “The Hedgerows Regulations are helping protect the region's important hedgerows and with the right improvements they can be even better. As ready-made corridors for wildlife to move through the landscape, they should be a critical tool in the landscape-scale conservation of our natural environment that the new Government wants to see.
“However, regulations on their own, even with the improvements we would like to see, will not do enough to protect our hedgerows for future generations. We also need Ministers to continue funding Environmental Stewardship schemes that give landowners an incentive to preserve ancient hedgerows. These could be put at risk if cuts to Government spending fall in the wrong place.”
For full details on the state of hedgerows in England download: England’s hedgerows: don’t cut them out!
For the West Midlands regional summary of the CPRE research click on the following links; West Midlands
Brand New Monthly Comedy at Solihull Arts Complex
Barnstormers Comedy are coming to Solihull with a brand new series of stand-up comedy shows to cheer up the autumn evenings. Already firmly established across the south of England as one of the biggest names in comedy promotion, Barnstormers Comedy prides itself on finding the funniest, cleverest and maybe even silliest comedians out there, and they're usually Comedy Store regulars too.
For the opening night on the 11th of September compere Kevin Precious (pictured right) introduces chatty, charming and lovable Caimh McDonnell "downright hilarious ... laid back and relaxed humour" - Last Laugh Comedy; brilliantly inventive Marc Lucero "comic master" Chortle; and the very entertaining and supremely confident Ian Moore "Relaxed, laconic, hilarious." The Stage
Tickets are available from the box office - 0121 704 6962, and are £10 in advance and £12.00 on the night.
Doors open at 7.30 and the show starts at 8.00
Here's the line-up:-
Caimh McDonnell
"a standout act" - Daily Telegraph
"blessed with natural charm" - BBC
"superb" - Manchester Evening News
"chatty, charming and loveable" - ents24.com
"downright hilarious … laid back and relaxed humour" - Last Laugh Comedy
Genial white-haired Irishman Caimh (pronounced 'Queeve') McDonnell has quickly established himself as one of the circuit's most amiable and friendly acts. Equally at home performing a set or compering, Caimh is a regular at most major UK venues, and his gentle yet incisive humour makes any audience feel involved whilst playing with their expectations - sucking them in with his chatty, playful stage presence before metaphorically slapping them in the face with an unexpected punchline.
Caimh is to make his Edinburgh Festival debut in 2005, with his solo show 'Futureshock'. He will also appear as one fourth of the sketch group 'The Art Of Conversation" (with Hal Cruttenden, Zoe Lyons and Paddy Lennox).
Although rarely seen on the screen or on the air, Caimh is much in demand as a writer - from cult animated satire 2DTV (ITV) to his own childrens' sitcom currently in development. He has also written for the BBC ('The Crust'), Channel 4 ('Don't Worry') and RTE Radio ('Dead Air', nominated for the PJ O'Connor Award for New Radio Drama),
Marc Lucero
"comic instincts and high-quality material" -Chortle review
"a laugh a minute" The Times
"the brilliant Marc Lucero" DailyMirror
"brilliantly inventive gags, comic master" Chortle
"persuasively funny, a damn fine evening" EveningStandard
"really funny... the audience had a great night out" BBCRadio London
"sharp and funny... plenty of laughs" The Scotsman
Ian Moore
One of the country's top comedians.
The Guardian
Don't miss a single word ... Moore is a cultured comic.
London Evening Standard
Relaxed, laconic, hilarious.
The Stage
Very entertaining, enjoyable stand up.
Malcom Hay Time Out
A brilliant storyteller
The Boston Phoenix
felt as though he was talking to a single person and not a theatre of hundreds
punchlinemagazine.com
For the opening night on the 11th of September compere Kevin Precious (pictured right) introduces chatty, charming and lovable Caimh McDonnell "downright hilarious ... laid back and relaxed humour" - Last Laugh Comedy; brilliantly inventive Marc Lucero "comic master" Chortle; and the very entertaining and supremely confident Ian Moore "Relaxed, laconic, hilarious." The Stage
Tickets are available from the box office - 0121 704 6962, and are £10 in advance and £12.00 on the night.
Doors open at 7.30 and the show starts at 8.00
Here's the line-up:-
Caimh McDonnell
"a standout act" - Daily Telegraph
"blessed with natural charm" - BBC
"superb" - Manchester Evening News
"chatty, charming and loveable" - ents24.com
"downright hilarious … laid back and relaxed humour" - Last Laugh Comedy
Genial white-haired Irishman Caimh (pronounced 'Queeve') McDonnell has quickly established himself as one of the circuit's most amiable and friendly acts. Equally at home performing a set or compering, Caimh is a regular at most major UK venues, and his gentle yet incisive humour makes any audience feel involved whilst playing with their expectations - sucking them in with his chatty, playful stage presence before metaphorically slapping them in the face with an unexpected punchline.
Caimh is to make his Edinburgh Festival debut in 2005, with his solo show 'Futureshock'. He will also appear as one fourth of the sketch group 'The Art Of Conversation" (with Hal Cruttenden, Zoe Lyons and Paddy Lennox).
Although rarely seen on the screen or on the air, Caimh is much in demand as a writer - from cult animated satire 2DTV (ITV) to his own childrens' sitcom currently in development. He has also written for the BBC ('The Crust'), Channel 4 ('Don't Worry') and RTE Radio ('Dead Air', nominated for the PJ O'Connor Award for New Radio Drama),
Marc Lucero
"comic instincts and high-quality material" -Chortle review
"a laugh a minute" The Times
"the brilliant Marc Lucero" DailyMirror
"brilliantly inventive gags, comic master" Chortle
"persuasively funny, a damn fine evening" EveningStandard
"really funny... the audience had a great night out" BBCRadio London
"sharp and funny... plenty of laughs" The Scotsman
Ian Moore
One of the country's top comedians.
The Guardian
Don't miss a single word ... Moore is a cultured comic.
London Evening Standard
Relaxed, laconic, hilarious.
The Stage
Very entertaining, enjoyable stand up.
Malcom Hay Time Out
A brilliant storyteller
The Boston Phoenix
felt as though he was talking to a single person and not a theatre of hundreds
punchlinemagazine.com
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Joseph comes to Birmingham Hippodrome
Tim Rice & Andrew LLoyd Webber
Birmingham Hippodrome
Tuesday 24 August - Sunday 12 September 2010
Reviewed by Pete Millington
As familiar as we all are with the music and songs from Joseph, the live theatre production of Rice and Lloyd Webber's first yet arguably penultimate family musical has got to be seen at least once in your lifetime. For many it will doubtless be an often repeated experience.
My wife was fortunate enough to see the Jason version in the West End, though in the meantime Donny, Phillip, Gareth and Lee have passed us both by. So this was an opportunity to catch the show in Birmingham, where it is on stage for the next 3 weeks at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Yes, no need to dream any longer, this very special mother of the modern family musical is at the Hippodrome until 12th September. The production was directed by Bill Kenwright and stars Keith Jack as Joseph - the guy who came second in Any Dream Will Do, though on this performance he might just as well have won it.
In true Hippodrome style, the sets are opulent, the costumes gorgeous, the choreography fantastic and the music sensational and if you are looking for a treat as we approach the end of the summer then look no further.
There are some powerful solo performances, particularly from the charismatic and charming Keith Jack, what a voice, and Trina Hill the narrator who sparkles with talent. The eleven brothers bring the stage completely to life with their boisterous humour and flamboyant exuberance. The whole thing framed by an ever present seated pyramid of sweetly singing children from Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.
The darker moral messages of the original Biblical story are not lost in the musical: the tale of sibling rivalry and treachery, the cruelty of inter-racial slavery, the power and pathos of loss and rejection and the ultimate demonstration of redemption and forgiveness - these themes remain, yet the genius of Rice and Lloyd Webber was in bringing the whole story into the modern popular musical genre with lashings of feel-good singing, tongue-in-cheek characterisations and unashamed in-your-face Vegas style showtime glamour.
If anyone else had been asked to write the musical of Joseph, the idea of characterising the Pharaoh as Elvis and reinventing ancient Canaanites as cowboys, Calypso dancers and 1940s Parisienes might not have been the first thing that came to mind, but when Rice and Lloyd Webber came up with this formula as school boys, they set a standard for others to follow ever since.
What more can I say? The final 10 minutes were spectacular beyond words in terms of the high energy and high emotion connectivity between the people both on and off stage, with audience members rising to their feet throughout the theatre, singing, dancing and clapping as the whole cast went through a rousing medley of the best-loved songs. Just brilliant.
And as for the coat... it's well kushty ain't it?
Mr Spaghetti Gazetti he say, "get on the phone to the Hippodrome ticket office and grab some seats before they all go".
It's a thumbs up from me Andrew!
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