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Day: January 30, 2015

Heritage Lottery Fund backs restoration of historic St Mary’s Church in Kemptown

Posted on by Besi

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given initial support for the restoration of the historic exterior of St Mary’s Church on the corner of St James Street and Rock Gardens.

St Mary's Church
St Mary’s Church

THE church has received £17,000 to enable it to investigate problems in the building’s fabric and develop its application for a full grant of £228,700.

The grant would see major work carried out in 2016 to restore its west-facing elevation along Upper Rock Gardens.

The red brick neo-Gothic church, which is listed Grade-II, was built in 1878. It occupies a commanding position at the top of St James’s Street, on the corner with Upper Rock Gardens, in the Kemptown area of Brighton. An active Anglican church, it is also one of the most innovative and affordable performance venues in the city and is especially popular with LGBT groups as a performances space.

Priest-in-charge Fr Andrew Woodward said: “I’m very happy that the Heritage Lottery Fund has agreed that St Mary’s is worthy of restoration. Ten years ago we were threatened with closure. Now we have a bright future and every day we’re finding new ways of sharing our beautiful space with the wider community.”

The grant will also lay the ground for several heritage activities in 2016, including a public art project on the scaffolding hoarding that will run the church’s length on Upper Rock Gardens and community-led exhibition about people’s memories of the streets and buildings around the church, many of which were demolished in the 1960s and 70s.

Stuart McLeod, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South East, added: “There is a place of worship in almost every ward, village and town across the South East region, providing a very powerful visual connection with our past. Not only will our awards secure the immediate future of these particular buildings, they will also empower congregations to find new ways to use them and new ways to engage communities in the heritage they offer.”

St Mary’s Venue Manager Katherine Prior, said: “It’s very exciting. A facelift for the church means a facelift for the neighbourhood, which is good news for everyone who lives and works around us. And our public art project and community exhibition will be a great way of encouraging local people to engage with each other and their surroundings.”

 

 

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

Posted on by Besi

The Martlets Hospice, 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 on the Prom

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

Clem Hunnisett, Community Fundraiser, said: “Our sponsored dog walk is a fun way to help support the Martlets Hospice.

“Everyone who took part last year had a great time. We had over 150 dogs take part, which helped to raise over £10,000 for the Hospice.”

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 Madeira 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 call the Martlets Fundraising team on 01273 747455.

 

Lib Dems choose local Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown

Posted on by Besi

Brighton & Hove Liberal Democrats have chosen Brighton resident, Paul Chandler, to stand for election to Parliament in his Brighton Kemptown constituency.

Paul Chandler
Paul Chandler: Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

PAUL HAS lived in Kemptown for over 12 years and, in that time, has been an active member of the community helping to shape the plans for the new hospital and, for the last three years, he has given his time to support the voluntary sector.

Speaking following his selection, Paul, a former councillor, said: “I am excited and honoured to have a chance to represent the constituency in which I live. From Kemptown in the west to Peacehaven in the East, this constituency consists of varying conditions and people from all walks of life.

“I have explored it on foot and on bicycle and appreciate that there are many and varied responsibilities that face its Member of Parliament.

“I believe I am qualified to do that job and by bringing Liberal Democrat values to the task can live up to the challenges it presents.”

Kemptown MP presents traveller petition in Parliament

Posted on by Sarah Green

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, presented his traveller petition in the Chamber of the House of Commons on Monday night (January 26).

Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven
Simon Kirby MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven

MR KIRBY has raise the issue of unauthorised encampments in Brighton Kemptown on many occasions, following

The issue of unauthorised traveller encampments in Brighton Kemptown is something that the Mr Kirby has raised on a number of occasions, following repeated incursions at sites such as Happy Valley, Black Rock, East Brighton Park, Saltdean Oval, Wild Park and he held a public meeting in Woodingdean on the issue, which was attended by hundreds of concerned local residents.

Simon said: “Unauthorised Traveller encampments remain a major issue in my constituency and across the wider city area of Brighton and Hove. Many constituents feel that the City Council does not have a robust plan in place to move on Travellers on unauthorised sites quickly, and that too often the needs and wishes of the existing settled community appear to be ignored.

“A large number of residents believe that the City Council, after years of trying to manage the issue, should be more actively using the powers available to it.”

The petition has been signed by thousands of local people, with a similar online petition attracting the support of 2,000 local people, which calls on the City Council to use the powers available to them to deal promptly with unauthorised traveller encampments in Brighton & Hove.

Simon concluded, saying: “These unauthorised encampments often cause disruption for local people who lose the use of valuable community facilities. Sports fixtures are jeopardised and the Bill for the regular, costly, clear up operations inevitably falls on local taxpayers. It is time for the Council to act on this issue and I hope they will listen to the voice of the residents who took the time to sign my petition.”

New THT workshops

Posted on by Besi

Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) launches workshops to support people with HIV in Brighton & Hove towards volunteering, training or employment.

Terrence Higgins Trust

HIV and sexual health charity THT is working in partnership with City College Brighton and Hove to deliver a series of workshops aimed at people living with HIV who want to take positive steps into volunteering, training or employment.

The workshops will launch on Thursday, March 5, and will run for three consecutive Thursdays at City College Brighton and Hove’s Pelham Street campus.

Each workshop will run from 10am – 3.30pm, with breaks for coffee and lunch and are free to attend.

By attending the workshops, people living with HIV will have the opportunity to:

·         Develop their confidence and communication skills

·         Increase their awareness of local support and how to access it

·         Identify motivating goals and the necessary steps to achieve them

·         Develop skills they can use to feel more positive about the opportunities available to them

In the UK, around a quarter of people with HIV are currently unemployed. Thanks to modern drug treatments, many can return to work, but – if they have had a long period of ill health – they may lack confidence, or feel they no longer have the skills or stamina required to find a job in an increasingly competitive market.

Sue Peters, Regional Manager for Terrence Higgins Trust in the South, said: “A number of our clients have told us they are considering a move towards employment or volunteering, so it’s vital people living with HIV know what support is out there. These workshops are free to attend for anyone with HIV in Brighton & Hove, and we hope they will encourage people to take positive steps toward employment or volunteering.”

To book a place on the workshops, contact Tim Holt on (01273) 764200.

Or email:

 

 

Fundraising Gala for MindOut

Posted on by Besi

Bar Broadway in Steine Street are holding a Cabaret and Cocktail fundraising Gala this evening, January 30 to benefit MindOut, the LGBT mental health project.

Cabaret and Cocktails

ENTERTAINMENT WILL be provided by Lorraine Bowen, Boogaloo Stu and members of the Brighton’s Gay Men’s Chorus.

There will be a raffle with great prizes that include two nights at the Hotel Masia Sumidors in Sitges, Spain.

Entry is by donation on the door.

Event: A Cabaret and Cocktail Fundraiser

Where: Bar Broadway, Steine Street, Brighton

When: Friday, January 30

Time: From 8.30pm

Cost: Donation on the door.

 

 

Lorraine Bowen releases new single

Posted on by Besi

Singer, songwriter, performer, Lorraine Bowen, Queen of the Quirky Chorus, has come up with a great one! in her latest single, BEARS!

Lorraine Bowen: Bears

LORRAINE’S LOVE of BEARS and all things beary came after cuddling up to loads of them during a freezing cold holiday at the Yumbo Centre in Gran Canaria.

Scrolling down the lists of BEARS on Wikipedia, a song sprang out and she has spent a year honing the lyrics.

Lorraine wrote both the music and lyrics for the BEARS song and fashion/media composer/producer Nessim Molder, has produced the final MIX adding an ‘OOMPH’ to the production and bringing the song right up to date.

Lorraine recently borrowed a green screen from a facebook friend and invited two friendly BEARS to dance around her pad on a Saturday morning. The video ensued. They liked the green background and in the end couldn’t think of anything else to put in its place.

Lorraine is inviting any BEARS that would like to ‘fill in the background’ to do so.

Email her on info@lorrainebowen.co.uk and she will send you the file and look forward to your creative imput.

Lorraine says: “I love seeing what other people can do in their bedroom studios.” 

BEARS is available to purchase digitally on iTunes and Amazon and the video will be available on Youtube on Lorraine Bowen’s TV Channel. Youtube.com/lorrainebowenTV.

To download from iTunes, click here:  

To downland from Amazon, click here:

To view Lorraine’s website, click here: 

The BEARS in the photo and video are: Jonathan Cave and Jonathan Burns

You can see Lorraine live on stage tonight, Friday, January 30 at the MindOut Fundraising Gala at Bar Broadway, Steine Street, Brighton from 8.30pm. She will be appearing with Boogaloo Stu and members of the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.

 

Shadow International Development Minister visits the City

Posted on by Besi

WEB.300Purna Sen, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion, welcomed Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for International Development and her team to Brighton for a major speech yesterday.

Mary Creagh and Purna visited the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Sussex and the Shadow Secretary of State spoke at the University’s Fulton A Lecture Theatre followed by Q and A session in which Purna joined Mary Creagh in answering questions from the audience.

Purna Sen: Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion
Purna Sen: Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion

After the event, Purna said: “I am delighted that Mary Creagh MP made important policy announcments on international development, especially on health, here in Brighton. Promoting the best health care, that serves the poor and the marginalised, is a priority abroad as much as is it at home. A commitment to human rights continues to provide the backdrop for our work, whether on disability, LGBT rights, violence against women or health.”

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