22/02/2014 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

The green grass of Venice?

Posted on 22/02/2014 by Roger Wheeler

Roger Wheeler pays a visit to South West France and finds a little paradise.

Venise Verte or green venice is the phrase used to describe one of the most beautiful parts of France that I have ever visited. Down in the south west in the department of Deux Sevres lays this stunning area of water meadows and canals that hardly anyone ever visits.

It is basically a large area of marshland called Marais Poitevin with its centre in the lovely little town of Coulon. We knew about the area but found it almost by accident.

The EU has awarded it its European Destination of ExcelleNce – yes that’s crazy EU spelling for you but it gives the acronym EDEN to the Marais Poitevin. It’s quite close to La Rochelle but the nearest large town is Niort.

This labyrinth of waterways, lined with tall and dense vegetation, is worth exploring as it is the largest wooded marshland on the Atlantic coast (49,000 hectares) and has one of the richest natural habitats in France. The long winding paths can be explored on foot, or by bike. When we arrived it was living up to its name of green as it was raining, heavily. But even the awful weather could not distract from the sheer beauty of the place.

We stayed at the Hotel au Marias, right on the riverside, parking was free, the staff exceptionally friendly and the price was very reasonable at 80€ per room. From Coulon you can hire one of the little traditional barques either by yourself or have a young man take you round the many canals and little rivers, it really is very beautiful.

This area of France is not on the traditional tourist routes and is really very quiet but there are several very interesting places to see. Not least is the little 13^th century walled town of Parthenay. One of its main claims to fame is that it lies on one of the many medieval pilgrimage routes ‘El Camino de Santiago’ to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Even today people have been known to walk for weeks along this route. The old centre of Parthenay is very atmospheric but nowadays the town is surrounded by a major by-pass which has just about every major shop that you can ask for. The comparison between the 13^th and 21^st centuries could not be more stark.

Wandering around this region is fascinating; we just drove wherever the roads took us, much to my navigator’s alarm. We ended up near a little town called Vasles (pronounced Val), with one shop, one bar and one church and as it was getting late we realised that we had nowhere to stay.

This region is full of great surprises and we literally stumbled, across a tiny hamlet called Les Tranchees. Some years ago we stayed in a gîte in Brittany and weren’t very impressed so when we were told that there was a gîte right here that was available we were cautious.

We quickly discovered that there was no need for caution as this gîte – called Les Tranchees – is quite fantastic. Run by an ex-pat English couple, Suzanne and Keith, we were welcomed like long lost friends. The accommodation is part of an old farmhouse, they weren’t too certain quite how old, but they have modernised it to a very high standard of comfort with modern facilities. We had a huge sitting room with TV, fully equipped kitchen and great bathroom. The bedroom on a mezzanine overlooking the sitting room was spacious and very accommodating. Our hosts were exceptionally friendly but we had complete privacy. There were large gardens at the front and rear with sun loungers which we were welcome to use. A small outdoor pool is planned for next year.

We were there in June when the weekly rate of 395€ was exceptional value for money. This proved to be a great location to explore the local region and enjoy the local hospitality, which was very agreeable.

There is a local drink Pineau des Charentes which they seem to drink quite a lot of and so did we. It is a kind of sherry and very drinkable and you can now get it in the UK. The area does have quite a number of ex-pat Brits so although we were in the middle of truly rural France an English accent was not unusual.

Not to visit Deux Sevres would be to miss one of the most fascinating parts of France, there is a lot to see and enjoy.

For information, view:

www.lestrancheesgite.com/

www.discover-poitou-charentes.com/

www.marais-poitevin.com/

Eating disorder charity celebrates fifth Birthday

Posted on 22/02/201422/02/2014 by Besi

Men Get Eating Disorders Too is to hold their fifth year celebration event Stand Up To Eating Disorders at the Latest Music Bar in April.

The charity was founded in April 2009 by recovered bulimia sufferer Sam Thomas from Brighton. He wanted to use his own experience with an eating disorder to help and support others with similar conditions.

He said: “The event will be a showcase the work of the charity and future developments. It’ll be attended by a mix of special guests, our valued supporters as well as interested members of the community. We plan to make this event to remember for a charity that is growing from strength to strength!”The host and main act is Dave Chawner – a rising star on the stand up comedy circuit – who will be sharing his experience of anorexia in a sketch.

The charity is offering talented singers, bands and comedians the chance to perform at the event. Send your application via email linking to material on SoundCloud/YouTube to sam@mengetedstoo.co.uk

The deadline for applications is March 16. Acts will be chosen and notified before the end of March.

Tickets are available for £10. To purchase, CLICK HERE:

What: Stand Up To Eating Disorders

Where: The Latest Bar, Manchester Street, Brighton

When: Thursday, April 24

Cost: Tickets £10

Labour calls on Caroline Lucas to show her cards

Posted on 22/02/2014 by Sarah Green

Labour asks Green MP to get her councillors to stop their infighting for the good of the city.

Leader of Labour and Cooperative, Warren Morgan

The intervention follows news that once again the leadership of Green Convenor Cllr Jason Kitcat is coming under attack from colleagues within the Green group on the city council.

Leader of the Labour Group on the city council Cllr Warren Morgan said: “It is time Caroline Lucas said where she stands on how this council is being run. Jason Kitcat has lost a vote of no confidence and now seems set to face yet another coup attempt from within the Green Group.”

He continued: “Does she think it is a responsible way for her party to run the city she represents? Whose side is she on? What is her involvement in this latest plot?

“She spent most of last year distancing herself from the Council leadership – the public has no idea what her views are on many important local issues. She initially backed Kitkat’s call for a Council Tax hike of nearly 5% – now she has seen for herself how unpopular that is, does she now think it is time to ditch him as part of her increasingly desperate attempt to cling onto her seat in Parliament.

“If she still supports their council tax increase of £6 a month and £900,000 referendum, does she also back risking £38 million on the i360? We can get no clarity from her squabbling Green colleagues on the council, so will she explain to residents what is going on?”

Labour is opposing both the costly referendum on what they consider an unaffordable council tax increase, and the unacceptable risk they claim Greens are taking on the i360 project using taxpayers money.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, countered and said: “I’ve made my position crystal clear throughout. We’re in this terrible situation because of the Coalition’s callous and counterproductive programme of austerity – a programme Labour say they would stick to when it comes to spending on welfare. People in Brighton and Hove didn’t choose to have the services they rely on threatened as a result of the Government’s savage cuts. It’s disappointing that Labour aren’t focusing more on that, instead of joining forces with the Tories to add to the misery being inflicted on people.

“As MP for Brighton Pavilion, my job is to be on the side of my constituents and stand up for them. Part of that means challenging local politicians of every colour to come clean and put forward constructive solutions for dealing with the terrible situation we’re in. We’ve seen very little of that from Labour.

“I recognise that it’s a tremendously difficult decision that’s been forced on our city, but my postbag is full of letters and emails from people who are facing enormous hardship as a result of the government’s cuts. That’s why I support all those who are saying enough is enough, and would vote in favour of action to protect the vital services people here depend on.”

On I360, she said: “We need to know more about the funding arrangements for I360, and I’ll be scrutinising them when they’re available. This is a great opportunity to regenerate the seafront, boost tourism, and generate jobs, but of course we have to get it right and ensure minimal risk to taxpayers.”

Hove MP Weatherley criticises supermarkets

Posted on 22/02/2014 by Sarah Green

Following an investigation by consumer group Which?, Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade, says supermarket pricing not on side on consumers for facilitating opaque pricing on products.

Mike is concerned that competition is being hampered. He says in order for the free market to work effectively, competition needs to be fair.

The Which? investigation concluded that many of the offers which on first glance appear to be good value are, in many cases, in fact worse.

Mike said: “Supermarkets spend millions of pounds on advertising how they are on the side of consumers, yet the reality is sometimes quite different. A weekly shop is a big part of most people’s budget, so the last thing that is needed when trawling around with a trolley of food is a pricing structure that is deliberately designed to mislead.

“I have been amazed recently by the number of products that have changed in size, yet not in price, but still have the gall to print great value on the label. Consumers need to by savvy to the tactics employed by supermarkets, which often border on being unlawful. That said, just because something isn’t illegal doesn’t mean that it’s right.”

To read the full Which? report, CLICK HERE:

THT claim UK can turn tide of HIV by 2020

Posted on 22/02/2014 by Besi

Leading sexual health charity says England can be the first country in the developed world to turn the tide of HIV infection.

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, has outlined how England has a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to turn the tide of its HIV epidemic by 2020, making it the first country in the developed world to do so.

Three Hundred HIV experts met in London last week to hear THT and the HIV Prevention England partnership launch their joint paper 2020 Vision: making England’s HIV prevention response the best in the world.

The paper outlines for the first time a series of hard targets the nation can aim for to slash new infection rates within the next five years.

These targets include:

A 125% increase in the number of HIV tests undertaken each year by people at greatest risk (an extra 250,000 tests a year)

A 50% reduction in the number of people with undiagnosed HIV (10,000 people)

75% of all people with HIV to be on HIV treatment and uninfectious

If these targets are met within the next five years, the partnership estimates that by 2020 the number of new HIV infections in England would be slashed by one-third, from around 6,000 cases to 4,000 cases each year, saving the public purse an estimated £560million a year in HIV treatment costs.

Paul Ward, Acting Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “England is now at a tipping point in its fight against HIV. Thanks to the NHS, we already lead the world in ensuring people with HIV are on treatment and uninfectious. Driving down undiagnosed infection is the final piece of the puzzle. With around two-thirds of new infections passed on by people who don’t know their status, the more people we test and treat, the fewer lives will be damaged by this entirely preventable virus.

“All that is needed to achieve this vision is an extra £20million a year investment in coordinated HIV testing programmes; a tiny fraction of the public health budget. There is no other health area where, for this size of investment, the State could bring a serious health condition under control.”

Dr Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance at Public Health England, added: “There are now more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, and around one in five remain undiagnosed. These individuals are more likely to present with advanced infection, and to pass on the virus. It is vital we invest in HIV prevention, to address the social and structural barriers that mean too many people are currently not getting tested, and reduce new HIV infections across the UK.”

HIV Prevention England is a partnership of community organisations headed by Terrence Higgins Trust and funded by the Department of Health to carry out national HIV prevention work in England among communities at an increased risk of infection.

To download: 2020 Vision: making England’s HIV prevention response the best in the world, CLICK HERE:

Council starts work on green wall at Dukes Mound

Posted on 22/02/201422/02/2014 by Besi

Conservation work has begun on one of the longest green walls in the country on Brighton seafront to protect a variety of coastal plants and repair the concrete wall.

Over 90 different species are growing on the Madeira Drive retaining wall on the north side of Duke’s Mound to the east of Brighton seafront. Up to 20 metres high and 1.2 kilometres long on a wall nearly 200 years old, Brighton’s green wall is one of the oldest and longest in the country.

Brighton & Hove City Council is working with the guidance of Brighton and Hove Building Green and the Ecology Consultancy, pruning back foliage and enlarging the bed at the foot of the wall.

This autumn the council will carry out repair work to the concrete wall itself to maintain the effectiveness of the wall and provide an ongoing habitat for plants and wildlife.

As well as an impressive display of Japanese spindle growing almost up to the upper promenade, the wall contains the nationally scarce hoary stock, a coastal plant most commonly found on the south coast.

The Japanese spindle was deliberately established in the early nineteenth century when the wall was built, as a means to improve the appearance of the seafront for visitors and local people. Originating from Japan, Korea and China, these hardy plants are amongst the oldest surviving plants of this species in the UK.

Work is being carried out now on a 400 metre stretch to avoid the bird nesting season.

Student Pride makes its debut in London!

Posted on 22/02/2014 by Besi

National Student Pride takes place in London this weekend.

Student Pride began at Oxford Brookes University in 2005 as a response to the Christian Union’s talk on Homosexuality and the Bible and has most recently been held in Brighton.

This year student organisers were forced to move the event from Brighton where it had been staged for the last five years through rising costs, and are staging it in London for the first time.

Students come from the four corners of the UK and Ireland for the event and organisers hope that by staging it in London it will increase attendances.

Tom Guy, National Student Pride President, said: “More than anything, our move to London is a sign of our growth and a tribute to all the students, sponsors, supporters and friends who have helped us develop from a one-off event to an essential part of the UK’s LGBT calendar”.

The weekend started on Friday with a screening of Call me Kuchu, a documentary about the LGBT situation in Uganda at Channel 4. The moving documentary follows LGBT activists in Uganda fighting against issues such as the Kill the Gays bill.

The screening was followed by a Q&A session with Tris Reid-Smith (Editor in Chief of Gay Star News), Peter Tatchell, Alistair Stewart (Assistant Director of the Kaleidoscope Trust), and Deborah Lane-Winter (Channel 4).

On Friday night the party moved to G-A-Y for registration and a club night.

Today, Saturday 22 there was a free daytime event at the University of Westminster’s Marylebone Campus. One of the main attractions was a Question Time session, in association with Attitude Magazine. Attitude editor Matthew Todd was joined by Paris Lees, who recently topped the Independent on Sunday’s 2013 Pink List alongside Lord Waheed Ali (the first gay Muslim peer), John Amaechi OBE, Amy Lamé, and Milo Yiannopoulos.

Also this afternoon there was a Bake Off, hosted by The Great British Bake Off’s 2012 winner, John Whaite and comedian Zoe Lyons; live music throughout the day; and a job fair, where employers such as National Student Pride’s sponsors, EY, Clifford Chance, The Co-Operative and IBM, were exhibiting alongside companies such as BP, GE, 4Talent, RAF & Navy and Teach First.

Tonight the club night returns to G-A-Y where Eternal and Grammy award winning Foxes are performing.

Tomorrow, Sunday the weekend finishes with a Rocky Horror Picture Show sing-along at the Prince Charles Cinema in Soho, with tickets from just £3.

National Student Pride is platinum-sponsored in 2014 by EY for the fourth consecutive year.

Liz Bingham (Managing Partner for People, UK & Ireland at EY, and Student Pride ambassador) said: “We are very proud to support National Student Pride for another year. At EY we are passionate about enabling people to come together in an environment where they feel included and respected. National Student Pride enables LGBT students to do just that”.

Law firm Clifford Chance are gold sponsors, with IBM, The Co-Operative and Asda as silver sponsors.

For more information about National Student Pride, CLICK HERE:

Friends of St Mary’s appeal

Posted on 22/02/201422/02/2014 by Besi

St Mary’s Church are launching a new fundraising group The Friends of St Mary’s, Brighton on Tuesday, February 25.

Friends of St Mary’s would like to see the church restored and thrive as a community resource.

St Mary’s is a friendly, inclusive space with ambitions to grow and offer more to the people living in the local community around it in St James Street. It has staged the annual World Aids Day Concerts for the last few years and hosted the community funeral of Phil Starr.

The Friends group will raise funds for the restoration of the church building and to increase awareness of its heritage value and potential as a community resource and arts venue.

They hope, by mid-2016, to have built a new entrance with integrated toilet, kitchen and bar facilities on part of the block of Council-owned land immediately to the west of the church.

The aim is to secure better facilities without compromising the fine acoustic and aesthetic appeal of the church’ interior while at the same time improving amenities and the streetscape environment for everyone in the St James’s Street neighbourhood.

The launch is an informal, drop-in affair, with live music, refreshments, and a short presentation on the history of the church building. Everyone is very welcome, so please extend the invitation to your family, friends and colleagues.

For more information you can help, EMAIL:

Five years on at Doctor Brighton’s

Posted on 22/02/201424/02/2014 by Besi

Seafront bar pledges to raise £10,000 for charity this year.

Anthony van-Room, Charles Childs & Wayne Durrant

Five years ago Charles Childs bought Doctor Brighton’s and along with his two managers Wayne Durant and Anthony van-Room has created one of the most popular venues on the seafront attracting a mixed, up for a party clientele.

Charles has seen his business grow steadily each year, building a solid reputation around their regular Friday and Saturday nights featuring resident DJ’s, Tony B, Nick Hurst and Adam Rice. Last year they successfully introducd live music to the venue with Anna Sin and the Jukebox Bandits

Charles said: “My ethos has been always to provide a welcoming environment offering good quality service and a fun packed experience for everyone.

“Last year we refurbished the exterior of the bar which was long overdue. This January we refurbished both the gents and the ladies toilets and we have plans for more improvements in the near future.”

Charles has created a party function areas in the bar which includes both bay windows and the pool area where birthdays, anniversaries and wedding receptions are hosted. Balloons, banners and shots are all provided compliments of the venue.

To mark Dr Brighton’s five year anniversary Charles has personally pledged to raise £10,000 for charities close to his heart.

He said: “I really want to give back to the Brighton community which has given me so much support and also to Macmillan Cancer Sussex nursing.”

They start their fundraising ventures at their fifth birthday party on Saturday, March 8 starting at 6-30pm with live music from Anna Sin and then 80’s DJ Adam Rice. There will be a charity auction with donations from local businesses and then a further set from Anna Sin before DJ Tony B takes to the decks and gets everyone up and ready for late night dancing..

For this special night there will be a £10 entry charge on the door if you arrive at 6pm. You will get a mouth tingling chilli con carne with rice, and a glass of bubbly. Alternatively you can join them later in the evening for DJ Tony B when the entry fee is £5 and includes a free drink and a shot.

Charles will also be introducing and launching his team for Tough Mudder which is a hard core 10-12 mile obstacle course designed by special forces to test your overall strength, stamina, determination and camaraderie, with only 78% of entrants successfully completing each section. If you are committed and interested contact Charles at the bar along with any ideas for fundraising you have that will help him reach his target of £10,000.

Charles concluded: “I envisage that this year will be action packed with fun and lots of exciting events. I would like to say a massive thank you to all of our customers and friends for their unrelenting support over last 5 years and I hope that all our regulars will come and join me for a glass of bubbles on me to celebrate the past 5 years and help me kick off my fundraising adventure for the year.”

News from Lunch Positive

Posted on 22/02/2014 by Besi

Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide a healthy meal to positive people every Friday at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church has published its new calendar of visits from other voluntary and community organisations.

The HIV community space which is centred around the lunch club invites guests along who are available to provide additional advice, information and support to members. The visits are informal and inclusive. Guests join with members and volunteers for lunch and are available to talk and help where needed.

Gary Pargeter, volunteer project manager, said: “We’ve been working with guest visits for some time now, and the emphasis is on having friendly, approachable people available to help if needed. For many people simply being with peers at the lunch club addresses a whole range of needs. We also know that many people find themselves in crisis, are sometimes anxious about accessing other services, and also have an interest in finding out about what other support is available. Guests from other organisations have helped many people and getting to know their workers or volunteers in a community setting often feels much easier for people. One person recently told us “I can’t thank you enough – there’s nowhere I could go where I’ve been able to get involved in so many things”. We’re also grateful that guests from visiting organisations often support their own clients to come along to Lunch Positive for first visits.”

Details of guest visits can be viewed on the ‘What’s Happening’ section at www.lunchpositive.org

Call us now

Day: February 22, 2014

The green grass of Venice?

Roger Wheeler pays a visit to South West France and finds a little paradise.

Eating disorder charity celebrates fifth Birthday

Men Get Eating Disorders Too is to hold their fifth year celebration event Stand Up To Eating Disorders at the Latest Music Bar in April.

Labour calls on Caroline Lucas to show her cards

Labour asks Green MP to get her councillors to stop their infighting for the good of the city.

Hove MP Weatherley criticises supermarkets

Following an investigation by consumer group Which?, Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade, says supermarket pricing not on side on consumers for facilitating opaque pricing on products.

THT claim UK can turn tide of HIV by 2020

Leading sexual health charity says England can be the first country in the developed world to turn the tide of HIV infection.

Council starts work on green wall at Dukes Mound

Conservation work has begun on one of the longest green walls in the country on Brighton seafront to protect a variety of coastal plants and repair the concrete wall.

Student Pride makes its debut in London!

National Student Pride takes place in London this weekend.

Friends of St Mary’s appeal

St Mary’s Church are launching a new fundraising group The Friends of St Mary’s, Brighton on Tuesday, February 25.

Five years on at Doctor Brighton’s

Seafront bar pledges to raise £10,000 for charity this year.

News from Lunch Positive

Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide a healthy meal to positive people every Friday at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church has published its new calendar of visits from other voluntary and community organisations.

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Call us now

Roger Wheeler pays a visit to South West France and finds a little paradise.

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Men Get Eating Disorders Too is to hold their fifth year celebration event Stand Up To Eating Disorders at the Latest Music Bar in April.

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Labour asks Green MP to get her councillors to stop their infighting for the good of the city.

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Following an investigation by consumer group Which?, Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade, says supermarket pricing not on side on consumers for facilitating opaque pricing on products.

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Leading sexual health charity says England can be the first country in the developed world to turn the tide of HIV infection.

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Conservation work has begun on one of the longest green walls in the country on Brighton seafront to protect a variety of coastal plants and repair the concrete wall.

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National Student Pride takes place in London this weekend.

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St Mary’s Church are launching a new fundraising group The Friends of St Mary’s, Brighton on Tuesday, February 25.

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Seafront bar pledges to raise £10,000 for charity this year.

Share this:

Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide a healthy meal to positive people every Friday at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church has published its new calendar of visits from other voluntary and community organisations.

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