The Abseil, a sponsored challenge in aid of the Martlets Hospice, will be taking place at the top of Peacehaven Cliffs on Sunday, July 28.
Absolutely no experience is needed to for the 115ft descent; just a good head for heights and a sense of adventure. All equipment will be provided and experienced instructors will ensure that it’s a safe and enjoyable day.
Clem Hunnisett, organiser, said:
“We are delighted to be able to offer this fundraising challenge. We have never offered an abseil before and although it is a physical event, it is open to all ages, so potentially it is something that people could sign up for as a family. We also have a lot of teenagers who want to raise money for us so we hope this will be something that will appeal to them.”
Registration is £20 and the Martlets are asking everyone who takes part to raise a minimum of £100. The Martlets receives less than 30% of its funding via the NHS and relies on fundraising, including adventurous challenges, to provide its services.
Get ready for a large dose of camp and glam as Brighton Pride’s main stage gets set to feature two of the biggest hits from TV’s Britain’s got talent, 2013. Both the outrageous Clubtown Freaks and the camp Glambassadors and set to appear at Icons on the park on Saturday, August 3.
The 7 piece dance troupe The Glambassadors lit up the Britain’s got talent stage this year in their cheeky hot pants, crop tops and sequinned cat suits. They earned themselves a standing ovation from judge David Walliams who said: “I love them, my favourite act” and they received 4 big ‘yes’ votes from the judges that saw them through to the live finals.
A quarter of a million youtube hits later the boys then wowed 13 million TV viewers becoming instant household names and bringing a healthy dose of glam and camp to the sitting rooms of Great Britain.
One act that has got tongues across the UK after their startling Britain’s got talent appearances were the incredible Clubtown Freaks featuring club legend Chrissy Darling. This talented and outrageously styled group where a huge and immediate hit with TV viewers across the UK.
Clubtown Freaks
Clubtown Freaks are set to take over Brighton Pride’s main stage this year and bring a taste of what sets them apart from every other act in Britain with their spot-on vocals and fantasy costumes.
Clubtown Freaks Chrissy Darling, said:
“Appearing on Britain’s Got Talent was a fantastic thrill, but we are even more excited about playing Brighton Pride’s main stage on the same bill as legends like Alison Moyet, bands like Stooshe and artists such as Paloma Faith. It’s going to be one amazing day!”
Event: Brighton Pride 2013: Icons on the park Where: Preston Park, Brighton
When: Saturday, August 3, 2013 Tickets: £12.50, going up to £17.50 in July
Animal welfare officers from Brighton & Hove City Council are appealing for dog lovers to consider giving a home to a stray as Council kennels are currently full with dogs desperately in need of new homes.
Senior animal welfare officer, Sue Watson, said:
“We have dogs to suit a range of owners.
“They include Elsie a young white staffy and gentle giant Daniel who loves his walks.
“We even have a pair of beautiful huskies Alaska and Dakota who would be perfect companions for keen runners!”
Dakota
The officers would particularly like to find a home for George, a friendly four year old, who has been in kennels since February.
Sue said:
“He’s been treated for a skin condition but is now well and truly recovered and ready for a new home.”
To find out more about these and other stray dogs needing homes, telephone animal welfare on 01273 292446
The St James Street Community Action Group (SJCAG) campaign to bring investment and support to Kemp Town and St James Street continues to gather support from local businesses and residents.
Volunteers from SJCAG, one of Brighton’s fastest growing Local Action Teams (LAT), have visited more than 60 local businesses in the last month in the St James’s area to explain the ramifications of the proposed Edward Street Quarter development planned on the site of the old AMEX Building and the implications of the introduction of the new Better Bus Scheme on Edward Street. All businesses visited expressed opposition to both proposals which they claim ignore St James Street residents and businesses.
David Spafford, Vice Chairperson of SJCAG wants the three local Green Councillors to listen to the views of the electorate rather than follow the predetermined agenda established by AMEX and Council Officers and is calling for the scheme to be paused until the needs of those who work and live in the St James Street are taken into consideration.
Mr Stafford, said:
“It is only fair and logical for Councillor Bowden to consider the economic and environmental needs of St James Street.”
The draft planning brief for AMEX/Edward Street states the aim is “to create a dynamic commercial district which is attractive as a first class business and residential destination” and yet ignores St James Street entirely, exposing residents to even greater pollution in the absence of investment in improving its environment.
The Better Bus Areas proposal reinforce this lack of vision by ignoring the pollution and congestion currently endured by residents and business owners in St James Street and even proposes changes that will increase the bus traffic on the streets, particularly St James Street where more than 600 buses a day drive up the street each day already.
Mark Stacey
Mark Stacey, local celebrity and antiques expert has joined the SJCAG in lobbying the Council.
Mark said:
“Whilst agreeing improvements are needed widely throughout our city, I would like to strongly oppose these proposals for an Edward Street development. Whilst we all want safer roads and less car use this proposal in my opinion will have huge detrimental effect on St James’s street. Why is there no mention of cleaning up St. James’s street, looking at the huge volume of buses using this street, the abuse of the pavements and one way system by cyclists there? As a shop owner here this proposal seems to provide huge investment and opportunities for Edward Street and nothing for our long established shopping street.”
Cllr Geoffrey Bowden
Ward Councillor, Geoffrey Bowden caused a furious reaction from the local business community after writing a letter to the Argus, supporting the AMEX development. The City Council issued a similar release ignoring the concerns of Kemptown residents and businesses.
In his letter Councillor Bowden said:
“There is nothing in the draft planning brief for the AMEX site in Edward Street which represents a threat to St James’s Street or its traders (The Argus, June 1) – in fact, quite the reverse.
“A redevelopment of the former AMEX building would bring more than 1,000 office jobs to the location. There could also be more than 60 homes. These new residents and workers can only boost St James’s Street.
“Some shops or commercial premises may be acceptable as part of the redevelopment of the AMEX site. However, the brief makes it clear this would be limited with public spaces designed to encourage activity. The brief also calls for better links and access to the wider area.
“Rest assured nobody at the council has any interest in diminishing the vitality and commercial viability of St James’s Street.
Following the negative reaction to the publication of his letter, CllrBowden sought a meeting with local hotelier Nick Head, who leads on Pedestrian Priority and Shared Space for SJCAG in St James’s Street.At the meeting Cllr Bowden expressed his support for SJSAG’s community mandate for a Shared Space scheme for St James’s Street to reduce pollution and improve the viability of St James’s Street including the re-routing of buses. Councillor Bowden undertook to arrange a meeting between Nick Head for the SJCAG Shared Space initiative for St James’s Street and the Bus Co to open up discussions to find ways forward. That meeting has happened on June 11 and the bus company maintained they were serving “the needs of their customers” by running buses up St James Street.Councillor Bowden said he took on board and understood the concerns of residents and business owners in the St James’s Street area regarding the inclusion of retail and leisure proposals in the redevelopment of the old AMEX site and suggested the SJSAG formally submit to the Council consultation as an LAT.
Nick Head asked if Brighton & Hove City Council planners would be prepared to include a maximum limit to retail and leisure retail permitted in the outline planning permission for the new development. Cllr Bowden said he encouraged such a submission by the SJSAG LAT to the City Council, he also suggested that the Better Buses Scheme in Edward Street could present an opportunity to re route buses away from St James’s Street. He gave his full support and promised to assist the SJSAG to work with officers and others to further develop and find means and ways to progress a Shared SpaceScheme for St James’s Street.
A SJSAG general meeting to discuss the two proposals is to be held on Wednesday, June 12 at the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church starting at 6.30pm.
The Bishop of Chichester, Dr Martin Warner, will be the preacher at this year’s Service of Welcome for Pride at the Church of St John the Evangelist in Preston Park, which takes place at 2pm after the Pride Parade.
St John’s has held a Pride service for many years but this is the first time the Bishop of Chichester has officiated. His willingness to be the preacher is highly significant and represents a very welcome shift of attitude in the Anglican hierarchy.
Dr Keith Sharpe, Chair of Changing Attitude Sussex, commented:
“It is marvellous news that the Bishop of Chichester will preach at the Pride’ Service of Welcome’. In the past the church authorities in Chichester did not openly support this event. But now that the new bishop, Dr Warner, is going to be the preacher we are hopeful that there will be a sea change in the attitude of the Church of England towards LGBT events such as Pride. We hope that many Anglican clergy and their congregations will feel able to march with us in the parade and come with us to the service to hear what the Bishop has to say. We are really grateful to Dr Warner for his courage in taking this step, and we hope that he will be well supported in the church. It is always a beautiful and moving service, but short so there is always plenty of time to enjoy the activities in the park afterwards. All are welcome and we encourage everyone to come along.”
For more information about Changing Attitude Sussex, CLICK HERE:
MindOut, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) mental health project has been awarded £87,450 over the next two years as part of a national anti-stigma campaign.
The funding is part of a £3.6m Big Lottery Fund grant awarded to the Time to Change campaign, which is also supported by Comic Relief and the Department of Health and is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness.
The additional funding will deliver targeted work to drive major social change by challenging the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health problems face.
Helen Jones
Helen Jones, Director of MindOut, said:
“We are delighted that MindOut is part of this major national project. We will be providing some LGB&T specific mental health anti-stigma initiatives as part of a very successful partnership. This funding will enable us to recruit an Anti-stigma Coordinator and to provide lots of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in creating social change. We will be launching our anti-stigma project at Pride this year, look out for us in the park.”
If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, CLICK HERE:
A new funding initiative from the Government means homeless people will receive better help once they leave hospital. The £10 million programme has received the backing of Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove & Portslade.
It is estimated that currently 70% of homeless people are discharged from hospital back onto the street without their health and housing problems being properly addressed. The funding pot will support voluntary organisations to work with the NHS and local authorities creating services to ensure that homeless people receive the best possible support and care after leaving hospital.
Mike said:
“It is encouraging that the Government is addressing this serious issue with £10m in additional funding. Adequate aftercare following medical treatment is entirely logical from a health point of view but also just the right thing to do. I have no doubt that local homeless charities will welcome this funding, as it aims to help improve the health of some of the most vulnerable people in society.“
The Abseil, a sponsored challenge in aid of the Martlets Hospice, will be taking place at the top of Peacehaven Cliffs on Sunday, July 28.
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