02/12/2014 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Report says local CAMHS put young people in vulnerable position

Posted on 02/12/2014 by Besi

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove has published a report on people’s experiences of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Brighton and Hove.

THE REPORT shows that the complexity of the service and lack of information is putting young people in a vulnerable position.

Young people and their carers have said that they did not know what they could expect from CAMHS, what their rights were within the service, or where they could go to for extra support in a crisis situation. In addition, due to the complex relationships between local CAMHS organisations, some people have experienced multiple diagnoses, or not been informed about their diagnosis at all.

The report also revealed that some GPs are confused about the referral pathways and where to send young people once they near the age of transition between services. This could result in some young people never reaching the services they need to contact. It was also felt that some GPs had little understanding of autism and mental health, which made referrals and diagnosis more challenging.

Not only have young people found it difficult to engage with CAMHS, but parents have also often reported feeling blamed for their children’s behaviour and condition through general staff attitudes towards them, or because they were asked to complete a parenting skills course. They were also labelled by CAMHS staff as being over-protective or attention-seeking.

With local A&E waiting times under pressure, and other resources such as the Sussex Mental Healthline orientated around adult mental health and signposting, some parents felt that they did not know where to turn when there was an emergency.

Frances McCabe, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove Chair said: “Identifying and supporting troubled children is the top priority for families and society. That the services do not succeed for so many children and young people is not acceptable. Delays drift and diagnostic problems in young lives lead not only to great distress for the child and their family, but can affect their whole life in the future. When CAMHS services succeeded, children’s’ lives were transformed.”

Healthwatch has contacted the Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) to voice local people’s concerns and share some recommendations highlighting the importance of providing relevant information to CAMHS patients, their carers and health practitioners.

For the full report along with responses from the CCG and BHCC click here:

European Court of Justice rules, no more gay asylum tests

Posted on 02/12/2014 by Besi

The European Court of Justice today issued a judgement that refugees who claim asylum on the grounds that they are gay should not have to undergo ‘tests’ to prove their orientation.

In this latest ruling, the court found that determining a refugee’s sexual orientation had to be consistent with EU law.

Jean Lambert, is the Green MEP for London and Rapporteur on the revision of the Qualifications Directive – one of the Directives being examined in the older version of the judgement.

In response she said: “Today’s judgment is welcome, if overdue. It indicates to Member States that the methods they use to assess applications for asylum based on sexual orientation must be in line with the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Charter, such as the right to respect for human dignity and the right to respect for private and family life. Crucially, these assessments must be made on an individual basis so these are much-needed improvements.”

This judgement is within the context of a report from October this year, by the UK independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, which found that ten percent of interviews involved questions of an “unsatisfactory nature”.

The case is significant across the EU because of increased numbers of sub-Saharan African people seeking asylum in Europe. Most African countries, along with some other countries, regard homosexuality as a crime, punishable with imprisonment or even by death.

PREVIEW: Final arena tour of The War of the Worlds

Posted on 02/12/201406/01/2015 by Besi

Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage! returns to the Brighton Centre on December 14 and 15.

ONE OF THE most ground-breaking arena tours of all time, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage! is to return for the sixth and final time in 2014.

Conducted by Jeff Wayne, this most ambitious production yet will also feature Oscar Winning actor Liam Neeson in 3D holography as George Herbert, The Journalist PLUS Live on stage -Jason Donovan as Parson Nathaniel, Westlife’s Brian McFadden as The Sung Thoughts of The Journalist, X Factor 2005 winner Shayne Ward as the Artilleryman, Les Miserables’ Carrie Hope Fletcher as Beth, Parson Nathaniel’s Wife, X Factor 2013’s Joseph Whelan, as The Voice of Humanity, the 36-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings and the 9-piece Black Smoke Band.

The show, which is mixed live in Surround Sound, also features remarkable special effects, including the incredible 3-tonne 35-foot tall Martian Fighting Machine landing on stage while firing its real flame Heat Ray over the heads of the audience, a 100 foot wide ‘animation wall’ with 2 hours of enhanced cutting edge CGI, the incineration of a cast member in front of the audience’s eyes, a ground-breaking levitation effect PLUS the debut of the first new song since Jeff’s original recording was released.

Adding a new dimension and marking a spectacular finale, HG Wells, the author of The War of The Worlds, will be brought to life being seen and heard in three riveting scenes within the show – aged 33, 53 and 79 – spanning the end of the 19th century and two subsequent World Wars.

HG Wells will be played by Scottish actor Callum O’Neill, who is best known for his role as ‘Wee Dingwall’ in Disney Pixar’s 2012 Summer Blockbuster Brave. In 2013, Callum also played Angus in Jamie Lloyd’s Olivier nominated Macbeth, at Trafalgar Studios in London’s West End.

Event: Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds: Final Arena Tour

Where: Brighton Centre, King’s Rd, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2GR

When: Sunday, December 14 and Monday, December 15

Time: 8pm

Tickets: £43.50 and £65.00

To book online, click here:

PREVIEW: ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ with the Actually’s

Posted on 02/12/201406/01/2015 by Besi

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the streets people were waiting for Actually’s Christmas treat.

ACTUALLY GAY Men’s Chorus and Actually Gay Women’s Chorus present their annual Christmas Show Twas The Night Before Christmas at St Andrews Church, Hove on December 23 at 7.30pm.

The choirs will be conducted by Jason Pimblett and Dee Dee Ruddock and the evening hosted and presented by Gerry McCrudden.

This years concert promises to be a truly magical start to the festive season. Enjoy the power of Gloria and Oh Holy Night. Sing along to favourites like O Come all ye Faithful, and the Twelve Days of Christmas.

The chorus will be raising money for Inclusion For All (IFA), the award winning training strategy working across the UK to help prevent homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools.

Event: Twas The Night Before Christmas with the Actually Gay Men’s and Women’s Choruses

Where: St Andrews Church, Waterloo Street, Hove

When: Tuesday, December 23

Time: 7.30pm

Cost: £12/£10 concessions

To book tickets online, click here: OR click here:

Or available in person at Iron Duke Pub, Waterloo Street, Hove and The Bulldog, St James Street, Brighton

REVIEW: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus

Posted on 02/12/201402/12/2014 by Besi

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus staged their annual Christmas Show Putting on the Glitz at the Theatre Royal this year and the move proved to be a triumph.

THE PRODUCTION which was completely sold out had it all, great singing, stylish staging, funny segues and memorable solo numbers.

Previous Christmas shows at the Dome have suffered from sound issues but not this year. The sound was spot on but more significantly the theatre venue breathed fire, passion and drama into the sound the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus produced on the night and long may it continue.

More accustomed to the rather contained sound the choir have been trained to produce over the years, in the surrounds of the Theatre Royal they let their hair down and it was a relevation.

As the choir opened their hearts and lungs their trademark musical phrasing and sensitivities were not lost in the vast space of the Theatre Royal stage. In fact at times especially in On My Own from Les Miserables the ensemble singing was near perfection sending shivers down my spine. This was magnificent choral singing at its very best.

A great concert is not just about the singing, it is about the programming, the script and the staging. Nothing here was left to chance. The script was ingenious but not intrusive, the staging stylish and simple. The solo singers performed numbers that showed their talents off perfectly and the sophisticated humour and pathos injected by Stephen Tucker who always seems to be the bridesmaid, was heart warming and judged to perfection.

Musical highlights from the chorus included; a passionate and powerful rendition of Radio Gaga with soloist Andrew Williams touching the parts other singers fail to reach, his vocal captured the mood of the number perfectly and for me provided the musical highlight of the evening.

Baker Street presented the chorus at its technical best, a musical instrument singing at the end of the conductors baton to a very clever arrangement by the choirs accompanist and assistant musical director Tim Nail, whose arrangement of Adam Ants Prince Charming was also spot on. The Impossible Dream was the perfect finale number to bring a brilliant musical showcase to a close.

Special mention must be made of the musical and stylishly executed Do Wop Medley performed by Dean Cowlard, Andrew Farr, Tim Salter and Andrew Williams.

Great choirs don’t just happen they evolve and as they approach their tenth anniversary Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus are presently at the top of their game marshalled by their multi talented Musical Director Marc Yarrow and accompanist and Deputy Musical Director, Tim Nail who not only is a great accompanist but at times makes you forget the choir is being accompanied by just a piano. The two together make an impressive team.

With a back team of supporters and helpers including photographers, programme sellers and dancers, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus are the complete package and something the LGBT community and City can be immensely proud of.

If ever there was a case to highlight the pressing need for another live performance venue in Brighton, such as the Hippodrome it was this show. Traditionally staged at the Dome, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus had to take a 50% cut in audience numbers when the show moved to the Theatre Royal because there was no workable date available at the Dome and there was no other venue to stage a community concert for 1,500 people in the City. Shocking really as the outcome is that less money gets raised for the charity or good causes Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus are supporting on the night.

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Putting on the Glitz

Theatre Royal, New Road, Brighton

Sunday, November 30

For more information about Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, click here:

Call us now

Day: December 2, 2014

Report says local CAMHS put young people in vulnerable position

Healthwatch Brighton and Hove has published a report on people’s experiences of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Brighton and Hove.

European Court of Justice rules, no more gay asylum tests

The European Court of Justice today issued a judgement that refugees who claim asylum on the grounds that they are gay should not have to undergo ‘tests’ to prove their orientation.

PREVIEW: Final arena tour of The War of the Worlds

Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage! returns to the Brighton Centre on December 14 and 15.

PREVIEW: ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ with the Actually’s

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the streets people were waiting for Actually’s Christmas treat.

REVIEW: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus staged their annual Christmas Show Putting on the Glitz at the Theatre Royal this year and the move proved to be a triumph.

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Healthwatch Brighton and Hove has published a report on people’s experiences of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Brighton and Hove.

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The European Court of Justice today issued a judgement that refugees who claim asylum on the grounds that they are gay should not have to undergo ‘tests’ to prove their orientation.

Share this:

Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of the Worlds – Alive on Stage! returns to the Brighton Centre on December 14 and 15.

Share this:

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the streets people were waiting for Actually’s Christmas treat.

Share this:

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus staged their annual Christmas Show Putting on the Glitz at the Theatre Royal this year and the move proved to be a triumph.

Share this:

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