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Kemptown MP urges Council to rethink Christmas day swimming ban

Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, urges Brighton and Hove City Council to rethink its recent decision to cancel the traditional Christmas Day Sea Swim on “health and safety” grounds.

Brighton Christmas Day Swim

THE ANNUAL swim has taken place on Christmas day in Brighton and Hove for decades and has grown in recent years with hundreds of people taking part or watching from the breach.

Simon said: “In the past, the “Santa swim” has been called off due to particularly harsh weather conditions or high tides and this is entirely appropriate. There are clearly some genuine safety issues to be considered when entering the sea, but this blanket ban seems draconian. I would rather see the Council working with swimmers to ensure that this popular community event can take place safely, rather than penalising everyone who may want to carry on the traditional swim.”

The MP suggested a number of measures that could be considered, including:

Using another stretch of the beach for the swim, with a less steep gradient, making it easier and safer for people entering and leaving the water

Moving the event to Boxing Day or Christmas Eve if it proves too problematic to ensure safety on Christmas Day itself

Scheduling the event to always take place at low tide to reduce the dangers

Agreeing a backup date in the event of rough seas on the day

Simon continued: “It does strike me as a case of health and safety gone slightly mad. What is needed is some common sense. I am not sure how practical it is to try and enforce such a ban anyway. The cost of this would have been better spent on facilitating a safe community event for people to continue to enjoy, as they have done for over a hundred years!”

“Swimming in the sea at any time of the year poses safety issues and of course people should not swim if they have been drinking. Sadly, I suspect that the Council’s ban will not deter these people anyway and so it will only be the responsible swimmers that are penalised.”

 

Carousel needs Volunteers

Carousel is a charity who work to promote the active involvement of people with a disability in the arts.

CarouselAs a small charity with big ideas, Carousel relies on the support of volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to develop creatively.

During April to July 2015 they are looking to train five new volunteers to work with them as part of their team, working with The Carousel Singers.

If you are interested in music, working with people who have learning disabilities, and would benefit from their unique training course, get in touch. The deadline is March 2, 2015.

For an application pack telephone Carousel 01273 234 734.

Or email: 

For more information about Carousel, click here:

 

 

Pooches on the Prom – sponsored dog walk in support of the Martlets

WEB.300The Martlets Hospice in Hove, is looking for four legged friends of all kinds and their walkers to join their sponsored dog walk on Sunday, February 8, 2015.

Pooches are asked to raise as much sponsorship as they can and every penny raised will help the Martlets provide end of live care to adults who are affected by terminal and life limiting illness, as well as caring for their families and loved ones.

For many patients having their pets visit them at the Hospice makes a huge difference to their wellbeing, and it is just one of the ways the Martlets Hospice enables people to live well. All the sponsorship raised from Pooches on the Prom will go towards patient care.

Registration is now open and entry is £5 per dog. The walk starts at the Hove Lawn Café and will go to Brighton Pier and back. Or for pooches who like a longer walk, to the end of Maderia Drive and back. Both routes will set off at 11am.

At the end of the walk all the pooches taking part will be rewarded with a doggy bag and a medal.

To register your pooch online, click here:

Or you can call the Martlets Fundraising team on 01273 747455.

 

PREVIEW: McBusted announce new arena tour for 2015

Just one year on from their formation, McBusted are returning to the live stage in Spring 2015.

McBusted

McBusted announced their debut eleven date tour for 2014 last November, with the initial shows selling out in an hour. Due to phenomenal demand from fans and the general public, it swiftly became the UK’s largest arena tour of the year, played to a staggering 350,000 people across 35 sold out arenas, culminating in a show stopping headline performance at Hyde Park to 60,000 people.

Now armed with a superb debut album, and a massive new single ‘Air Guitar’, the six piece supergroup will play the following arenas next year:

March 12             Glasgow The SSE Hydro

March 16             Newcastle Metro Radio Arena

March 18             Leeds First Direct Arena

March 21             Manchester Arena

March 22             Manchester Arena

March 24             Sheffield Motorpoint Arena

March 28             Birmingham Barclaycard Arena

March 29             Birmingham Barclaycard Arena

March 31             Liverpool Echo Arena

April 4                  London The O2

April 5                  London The O2

April 7                  The Brighton Centre

April 9                  Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

April 10                Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

April 13                Bournemouth BIC

April 15                Bournemouth BIC

April 18                Nottingham Capital FM Arena

April 21                Dublin 3 Arena

April 22                Belfast Odyssey Arena

To book tickets, click here:

New video tackles homophobia in sport

Stonewall the LGB equality charity have teamed up with community club, FC United of Manchester and Homeless FA to continue tackling homophobia in football.

Rainbow Laces Campaign

FC UNITED of Manchester, the popular non-League football club, has created a video in collaboration with Stonewall to support the successful Rainbow Laces campaign. The video talks about the impact of homophobia in football and discrimination in sport.

The short film features interviews with women’s team goalkeeper Mary Priestner and first team striker Matthew Walwyn, and focuses on the story behind FC United’s involvement with the Rainbow Laces campaign.

Andy Walsh
Andy Walsh

Andy Walsh, FC United of Manchester General Manager, said: “FC United is proud of its record in not discriminating against anyone and promoting the cause of equality. Supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign and encouraging others to do the same was something we were pleased to do. Hopefully it will make a difference in football and help to change attitudes across the game.”

Homeless FA, the national homeless football association, has also been working with Stonewall around their Rainbow Laces campaign. They feature as part of the players’ programme around perception change and tackling discrimination in football.

Gareth Parker
Gareth Parker

Gareth Parker, Head of Homeless FA, said: ‘There are any number of reasons that can lead to a person becoming homeless, and we know that sexual orientation is one of them.”

“The football is an important part of our work but it’s what happens off the pitch that matters most. Homeless FA’s job is to tackle the negative stigma around people who experience homelessness, and promote the positive self-perception of our players. That is why we wear Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces with pride at all of our events, including at the recent Homeless World Cup in Chile.”

Juliet Chard, Campaigns Officer at Stonewall, added: “We’re extremely pleased and excited to be working with such diverse clubs and organisations such as Homeless FA and FC United of Manchester to tackle homophobia in sport. While we value the huge support the campaign received in September, we’re absolutely committed to tackling these issues throughout the year with individuals and clubs right across football.”

Rainbow Laces received official backing from the Premier League and high-profile support from Thomas Hitzlsperger, FA Cup winners Arsenal and Premier League champions Manchester City and aims to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in sport: homophobia in football.

For more information about the Rainbow Laces campaign, click here:

To watch the video, click here:

REVIEW: Aladdin in Worthing

Oh Yes It Is! Why you should make the trip for Panto to Worthing by Craig Hanlon-Smith.

Aladdin in Worthing

THE FLOOD of Pantomimes on offer at this time of year can sometimes leave me petitioning to the national council for theatrical quality control – were such a think tank to exist. My first referral would be to The Connaught Theatre in Worthing for the current PHA production of Aladdin to show the world of Pantomime exactly how it should be done, as this is a benchmark production that all others should seek to aspire to.

With an appropriate cast cake-mix of local talent from the Heart Radio breakfast team to The Brighton Belle, Lola Lasagne – here Stephen Richards takes on the role of Widow Twankey, experienced professional actors, dancers alongside local children and a suitable starry draw in S-Club-7’s Jon Lee, himself a seasoned West End Wendy, you won’t find a tighter, more energetic fun filled seasonal night out anywhere across this our green and pleasant land.

From the off the ensemble deliver a show that is faithful to its Aladdin-lite plot line but still packed full of chart-topping crowd-pleasers reimagined as West-End set pieces adults and children alike cannot fail to be out of their seats to whether Reach-ing for the stars! Or bouncing in the aisle to a cracking Car Wash which opens the second half.

Of course it’s packed full of groan-worthy ancient gags but even these are knocked into the audience park with such polished panache that we in the audience are happy, nay thrilled to be taken along for the ride.

What PHA in Worthing at have managed to nurture is a company who clearly love what they’re doing but with an absolute commitment to its audience as that vital component who without, let’s face it, you’re screwed.

Accompanied by two not-uncritical under 10 year olds, we had a blast from start to finish and I for one at a fine 42 shall be returning with my coachload of adult friends. It’s great. Oh yes it is.

5 STARS!

For best availability request dates after Christmas and in January.

Aladdin in Worthing

 

Dressed for Success – your last chance to vote

Last few days to vote for your favourite shop window this Christmas.

Dressed for Success

THERE ARE just a few days left to vote for your favourite shop window in Brighton & Hove’s Dressed for Success competition. Voting closes at noon on Tuesday December 23.

Around 30 independent retailers across Brighton & Hove have received expert advice on how to make the most of their window displays, as part of a package of support for small businesses from Brighton & Hove City Council in the run up to Christmas.

Shoppers can follow a trail of participating shops around the city and vote for their favourite Christmas window display via the council’s Facebook page.

For more information on how to vote, click here:

 

 

A review of Brighton & Hove Labour in 2014

Warren Morgan, Labour councillor for East Brighton Ward and Leader of the Labour and Cooperative Group on Brighton and Hove City Council looks back on 2014.

Cllr Warren Morgan
Cllr Warren Morgan

A LOT has happened since I wrote my review of 2013. Every year has its ups and downs, and if you are an Albion season ticket holder like me you’ll know what I mean. Yet every time I walk on the Downs, in view of the sea and the city centre, I’m reminded of how lucky we are to live here.

Of course, our location between the sea and the South Downs National Park make building the homes we need very difficult, and being so close to London makes housing increasingly expensive. One of the tough choices we faced this year was on our City Plan; deciding how best to build homes for local families without losing our open spaces. Others involved opposing the Greens 5% council tax increase, their £36 million loan to the i360, and recently their council tax benefit proposals.

One of the highlights of 2014 was May’s European elections. Labour in the city doubled its vote on the last elections in 2009, from nine thousand to over twenty thousand, pushing the Greens into second place and helping to elect our fantastic new MEP Anneliese Dodds. Our positive offer to the electorate and strong local campaigning paid off. Despite topping the poll nationally, UKIP came fourth in Brighton and Hove.

Opinion polls have continued to show Labour in pole position to beat both the Greens and the Tories next May. We are not complacent though, and have worked hard in the past twelve months to put the foundations in place for success at the elections next May.

Over the course of this year I’ve spoken to over fifty key organisations and leaders across the city, whilst colleagues have knocked on thousands of doors from Portslade to Saltdean, the seafront to Patcham.

Labour's 10 point contract

We have put what we learnt into our ten key pledges; our Contract with Brighton and Hove, which will form the foundation of our offer to voters next May.

Beach candidatesWe have chosen over forty of the fifty four people needed to fight the local elections; a great team to stand alongside our three excellent Parliamentary candidates Purna Sen, Nancy Platts and Peter Kyle.

Together we have campaigned for new rights for tenants in the private sector, for our local firefighters, for new play area facilities, for more local GP surgeries, for a safer city and for an end to violence against women, for a Live Wage, allotments, foodbanks, payday loans and much more.

Throughout the year we have urged the Greens to do better on keeping our streets clean, collecting the city’s refuse and reversing the decline in recycling.

We’ve pledged to set up a Fairness Commission to tackle poverty and inequality in the city during our first year in office. Our team is in place, our priorities are clear, our campaigns are stronger than ever.

WEB.600.2

2015 will be a very challenging year for Brighton and Hove, but also one of opportunity to put our co-operative values into practice. As our local politics becomes more polarised between the Greens on the left and the Tories and UKIP on the right, and despite the huge financial challenges Brighton and Hove faces, my New Year’s Resolution is to try an offer our city hope for positive change in May.

We will deliver a fairer, better Brighton and Hove.

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

Warren.

 

Unique wife + wife business opens in North Laine

Two months after their marriage, wife and wife team Hizze Fletcher-King and Jojo King have combined their skills to bring a new concept in creativity.

Jojo and HIzze
Jojo and HIzze

 

BRUSH is their brand new independently owned boutique featuring an art gallery/shop and a one-chair hair salon in the heart of central Brighton’s historic North Laine.

The salon offers a high standard of hair cutting + colouring services, a fair and gender neutral price structure and is trans-friendly.

The artist run gallery represents Brighton’s mightiest emerging and established artists and makers, including LGBT artists Romany Mark Bruce, Kitty Finegan, Precious Murphy, Fox Fisher and more.

Jojo has always had a thing about cutting hair, travelling with her clippers and cutting anyone’s hair who would allow it. After an inspiring stint working in Australia with the WeirdSistas, an ethical + professional dreadlocking business, she decided to train to become a hairdresser.

Jojo now has over 5 years experience, she completed her training at The Bomb and Forde Hair before going solo in 2013. Hair By Jojo established itself as a one-chair salon in an emporium of self-employed businesses within a tattoo parlour in Brighton in October 2013. During her time there Jojo built up a loyal clientelle due to her fair price structure, consistent high standards and friendly manner.

Since graduating from Central St. Martin’s School of Art, Hizze has had a varied and extensive career in the creative industry spanning over 25 years involving her with the likes of Vivienne Westwood, MTV and BBC TV.

brush

After moving to Brighton in 2006 she formed her own company, Thirteen Art Productions, and has collaborated with the arts community organising group-art shows and events while helping to raise money for charities including The Sussex Beacon, The Terrence Higgins Trust and The Rainbow Fund.

Hizze is also a curator for Brighton Pride Arts & Film Festival and an independent grant panel member of The Rainbow Fund. Added to this she is a fine artist in her own right, exhibiting in the UK and internationally.

Venue: brush: hair + art

Where: 84 Gloucester Road, Brighton, BN14AP

Open for Hair: Tuesday-Saturday 10-6pm

Telephone Jojo: 07852220613


 

Open for Art: Tuesday-Saturday 10-6pm

For more information about brush, click here:     www.brushbrighton.co.uk

 

 

 

Kemptown MP secures protection for HIV prevention funding

Following an outcry over Government plans to cut HIV Prevention funding by 50% in the year commencing April 2015, Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS has lobbied Ministers at the Department of Health on the issue of funding for HIV prevention.

Simon Kirby MP

FOLLOWING HIS representations, Jane Ellison MP, the Parliamentary Under Secetary of State for Public Health has written to Mr Kirby to confirm that the Government is protecting funding for HIV prevention.

Jane Ellison MP
Jane Ellison MP

In her letter she says: “I want to make it absolutely clear that this Government will protect funding for HIV prevention. Suggestions we are going to cut this provision are unfounded. It will continue.”

She goes on to say the Government wants to be more ambitious in their plans to prevent HIV and intend to explore more and new innovative ways of doing things which may involve working with a broader range of organisations including charities who are experimenting with different ways of raising awareness of and preventing HIV transmission.

Simon said: “As the Vice-Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS I was very concerned to read the reports of a cut in HIV prevention funding. That is why I immediately made a number of representations to Ministers at the Department of Health to stress the importance of HIV prevention in the continued fight against HIV/AIDS.

“Whilst it is welcome that the Government has taken steps, beyond awareness raising and testing, for example by lifting the ban on home testing kits, however there is more to be done to help reduce the number of HIV infections, particularly in men who have sex with men.

“I am delighted that following my lobbying efforts, the Minister for Public Health has confirmed that the Government is protecting funding for HIV prevention and that it will not be reduced.”

In 2012/13, the Government committed £630 million on HIV treatment and care, but the MP believes more needs to be done to prevent people becoming infected in the first place.

Jane Ellison MP, Public Health Minister, added: “Your continued campaigning on these issues and other health matters continues to be warmly welcomed.”

 

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