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Contribution of international students to local economy recognised by Hove MP

Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, has backed a Parliamentary Motion which recognises the significant contribution made by international students studying in the UK and calls for university students to be removed from any target to reduce net migration.

Mike Weatherley MP for Hove and Portslade
Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade

Early Day Motion 739 (International Students and Net Migration Targets) highlights the importance of students who study in the UK, to both our society and the economy. Mike believes that in any drive to reduce net migration, it should not be an unintended consequence that student numbers are restricted as a result of certain targets.

He said: “Our city is a huge beneficiary of international students who choose to come and study in our country. It is of course important to have a sensible immigration policy, which is why I hope that the Government will exclude university students from any drive to reduce net migration.”

Cllr Graham Cox
Cllr Graham Cox

Cllr Graham Cox, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Hove and Portslade, added: “Hove and Portslade are very welcoming to international students and it would be a great loss to residents, and the students, if numbers were affected in order to meet targets for reducing net migration.”

Early Day Motion 739 – INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND NET MIGRATION TARGETS

That this House recognises the enormous cultural, academic and economic contribution that international students studying at UK universities make to the country; is concerned at the dramatic drop in students enrolling to study at UK universities from some of the UK’s major international trading partners; believes that the public does not generally view international students to be migrants and does not wish to see their number reduced; and urges the Government to exclude university students from efforts to bear down on immigration including by removing university students from any target to reduce net migration.

 

Kemptown MP reaffirms opposition to repeal of hunting ban

Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, took the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the hunting ban last week to reaffirm his opposition to any repeal of the current ban on hunting.

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

HE has confirmed that if there is a vote on the matter, he will not vote to repeal the ban.

Since before his election in 2010, Mr Kirby has been vocal in his consistent opposition to hunting, and has made his position on the matter very clear. He has also been involved with groups such as Blue Fox, who are a group of Conservatives against fox hunting, as well as being a champion of many other animal welfare causes.

February 18 marked ten years since the hunting ban was introduced, and to honour this, Mr Kirby joined with other Conservative MPs and Conservatives Against Fox Hunting to call on the party leadership to guarantee that the new 2015 party manifesto will not include any pledges to undermine the act.

Commenting on the campaign, Simon Kirby said: “I have been consistently opposed to any repeal of the Hunting Act (2004), and I would like to assure everyone that this remains my position on the matter. I am a strong champion of animal rights, and I am proud of my track record in standing up for animals.

“Today I am marking 10 years since fox hunting was banned by joining with fellow MPs and important groups such as Conservatives Against Fox Hunting to make sure that repealing the Hunting Act will not be in the Conservative manifesto for the 2015 election.

“I am proud to stand up for this important issue, and to take any opportunity I can to defend the rights and welfare of animals.”

The Founder of Conservatives Against Fox Hunting, Lorraine Platt, added: “Simon has been a leading voice in the campaign opposing fox hunting, and has been an active champion of this cause.  We are so grateful to him for his consistent support for the ban on hunting.

“I look forward to working alongside Simon as we continue campaigning to make sure that hunting remains firmly in the past, and on future campaigns promoting other important animal welfare issues, which I know Simon cares greatly about.”

FOOD REVIEW: Jimmy’s World Kitchen

Jimmy’s World Kitchen in Brighton Marina celebrated its official opening at the end of January with a VIP evening for local celebrities and footballers from the Brighton and Hove Albion football team.

Jimmies World Kitchen

THE 500-seater restaurant is the largest in Sussex and brings dining on an American scale into the heart of Brighton Marina. The venue is stylishly decorated in line with the American concept and there is nothing quite like it in Brighton and Hove.

Jimmy’s have chosen Albion In The Community as their charity of the year and pledged to donate 10p in every £1 spent in the restaurant between January 11 and 17.

Brighton and Hove Albion’s mascot Gully was in attendance for the VIP evening and entertainment was provided by Chinese Lion dancers and a talented Bollywood dance troupe.

Gary Townsend, Chief Operating Officer of Albion in the Community, said: “The evening has been a great success – great service and great food. We are privileged that Jimmy’s has chosen to support Albion in the Community and look forward to an exciting relationship.”

Jimmies World Kitchen

Albion In The Community is the not-for-profit charitable arm of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club and uses the power of sport and football to deliver programmes in the areas of sports participation, health and well-being, education, disability and social inclusion.

Jimmy’s is an American-style buffet restaurant where you can eat as much as you want from over 100 dishes from multiple cultures including Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Japanese and Italian as well as a seafood bar, a sushi bar and a starters bar, and everything is available for one single price.

If you’re looking for fine dining this might not be the place for you. However, if you want a good night out with good-value food, a great ambiance and loads to eat, Jimmy’s is ideal, a restaurant with personality and very attentive staff.

I loved the sushi selection and the Mexican dishes were very tasty and, more importantly, authentic.

We had to queue for steak, so remember that when filling your plate. If you stand and wait with a full plate while your steak is being grilled, your food will go cold. If you want a steak, make a special journey just for that.

Lunchtime prices start from £9.99 and dinner starts from £12.99 – eat as much as you like for one price. Lunch is £9.99 from Monday to Friday and £12.99 on Saturday. Dinner is £14.99 from Monday to Thursday, £16.99 on Friday and Saturday and £12.99 on Sunday. Children aged 11 and under are half price and those aged four and under are free.

Two-hour seating applies on Friday and Saturday. For the lunch menu, tables must be vacated before 3.30 p.m. on Monday to Friday and before 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.


Jimmy’s World Kitchen: 1-5 Palm Drive, The Waterfront, Brighton Marina, BN2 5WA. Reservations: 01273 696688                                                                      www.jimmysrestaurants.com

Opening times:

Lunch: Monday–Friday: noon–3 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: noon–5 p.m.
Dinner: Monday–Thursday: 5–10.30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 5-11 p.m.; Sunday 5-10.30 p.m.

Sexological Bodywork

James Ledward gets up close and very personal with an old friend.

Sexological Bodyworks

DURING my 60 years on this earth I’ve enjoyed all manner of pleasures and experienced many naughty moments along the way. However, I was somewhat nervous when I went along for my first Sexology Bodywork session, especially as the person who would be giving me pleasure was someone I knew personally.

Sexological Bodywork is a fully legal profession and was founded by Joseph Kramer in the United States in 2003. Working practically and manually, Sexological Bodyworkers create a safe space for you to explore and learn about your body and what it is capable of, rather than offering you a sexual service.

My first hurdle to overcome was that I knew the Sexological Bodyworker personally! Here I was taking my clothes off in front of someone my ex-partner used to play football with. It was odd and slightly surreal, but we chatted about my aches and pains before I lay down on the bed, went through some breathing exercises and relaxed. In fact, I relaxed very quickly and the 90-minute session, which gave me great enjoyment, began.

Sexological Bodyworkers remain in close contact with you throughout each session. They remain fully clothed, wear gloves and offer one way touch only. Within their professional protocol your Sexological Bodyworker will be open to anything and will never judge you. During your pre-chat you will have discussed what you want to experience during your session, be it masturbation coaching, an intimate massage or even having your prostate massaged. Don’t feel at all embarrassed, your Sexological Bodyworker is unshockable and is there to help you deal with any anxieties you may have.

There are many reasons why people consult a Sexological Bodyworker. These include: experiencing difficulties with orgasm; sexual anxiety; erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation; pelvic tensions/aches/cramps or anything related to anal pleasure.

Some people experience issues relating to anal shame, body dysmorphic disorder or sexual problems due to self-image, sexual trauma and abuse issues. Some couples visit a Sexological Bodyworker together to improve their erotic experience and transcend their routine, discover something new, or simply deepen and strengthen their sexual relationship with each other.

Sexological Bodywork is great for trans* people looking to discover a new sense of embodiment throughout their transition, especially after gender reassignment surgery, as well as for people with scar tissue remediation following an operation or childbirth.

Jason stresses the significant and transformative impact Sexological Bodywork sessions can offer to the elderly, people with disabilities and people with mental health issues. But in fact anyone wanting to explore different sexual techniques or enhance their sexual self-awareness and capacity for pleasure could well benefit from a session on the Sexological Bodyworkers couch.

Jason Hall and Nico Timmerfrouw both qualified as a Sexological Bodyworkers at the International Institute of Sexological Bodywork in Switzerland and have their practice here in Brighton.

Jason says: “On an interpersonal level, many of the patterns that hold us back from experiencing the full spectrum of our erotic possibilities are deeply rooted in our autonomic nervous system. By allowing ourselves to experiment with different states of arousal and sexual ecstasy, we gain increasing awareness for the biochemical and physiological processes happening in our body, and can gently learn to modulate and synchronise our own erotic functions.”

A standard session lasts two hours. After a relaxing chat you proceed to a 75 minute block of bodywork when you are massaged all over your body with coconut oil and explore the elements of your session that you have discussed with your Sexologist in advance. You remain in charge at all times and once you conquer any inhibitions you will learn to explore different parts of your body in ways you have never done before.

He continues: “For me, Sexological Bodywork is primarily about touch, touch on a physical and emotional level, to deepen self-awareness and understanding. Society doesn’t teach us to understand ourselves sexually. I provide a space for people to truly explore and work through whatever they need to.”

“Being pansexual, I’m very sympathetic to the needs of our community. I believe we’re just at the beginning of an intimate self-discovery. Stepping out from the dark, we are emerging with a new self-confidence, to be truly ourselves. Understanding our own bodies must be a part of that confidence.”

Jason’s co-practitioner Nico explains: “In our profession, we’ve been trained to offer and hold space for folks of all genders and sexual orientations to explore, deepen and enhance their embodiment as sexual beings. Some people come to us to have a fun and a safe environment where they can learn something new, like erotic anal massage, vaginal or anal fisting, sustained states of arousal or full body orgasms. Many seek to reconnect, integrate or rediscover their new sexuality during or after important physical changes, such as hormonal treatments, gender reassignment surgeries, following illness, hormonal shifts throughout the ageing process or for scar tissue remediation. Others may be overcoming limiting moral standards, simply inadequate education, traumatic experiences or a shameful self-image that limits their joyful sexual expression.

“As Sexological Bodyworkers, we offer hands-on work of somatic sexology: working in close contact with the client, through touch, breathing, intimate massage, body awareness exercises, masturbation coaching and erotic trance states. We are committed to an intimate learning setting that is safe, non-judgemental, playful, open and accepting, a place where people can grow through the experience and expression of their fullest capacity for pleasure and enjoyment of their body. I love to touch, share erotic aliveness, and accompany people on their journey towards joy, fulfillment and conscious sex. We’re all disembodied to a certain extent, and for most of us, setting a space and time dedicated entirely and without taboos to our sexuality is a very powerful tool for personal transformation.

“On a personal level, my involvement in the global network of Radical Faeries, gender queer explorers and sex activists brought me from Switzerland to Brighton, and I’m thrilled to be offering this work in this cauldron of queer r-evolution!”

Jason and Nico offer one to one sessions, four hand massages, sessions for couples and group workshops.

Contact information:
Nico Timmerfrouw: 07707 917 545
Jason Hall: 07791 503 088
Email: sexualbodywork@gmail.com

For more information and prices click here: 

PREVIEW: Fundraising mandolin concert in aid of the Martlets Hospice

Brighton’s mandolin orchestra – The Fretful Federation – will be hosting a fundraising concert in aid of the Martlets Hospice at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at St George’s Church, Kemptown.

Mandolin Orchestra

IN addition to the award-winning orchestra, the concert will also feature guest flute soloist Kathy Rogers playing ‘Balletto’, a modern suite for flute and mandolin orchestra by German composer Kurt Schwaen.

The Fretful Federation is a community orchestra of players from Brighton and the surrounding areas playing all manner of fretted instruments, including mandolins, mandolas, mandocello, mandobass and classical guitars.

The orchestra has performed at the Brighton Festival Fringe many times, regularly plays concerts around Brighton and has toured abroad.

With a colourful mix of Baroque/Classical works, contemporary and traditional mandolin orchestra music and popular pieces, their repertoire has something for everyone.

Domenica Lewkow, Orchestra Chair and mandolin player, said: “We perform several concerts each year across Sussex and have established a tradition of dedicating one concert each year to a charity nominated by a member of the orchestra. 

“The Martlets is such a worthwhile and fantastic local cause, we wanted to support it, and so all the profits from this concert will go to the hospice.

“For those who haven’t heard us perform before, we play a wide range of material including exciting contemporary music and classical and popular pieces and concertos, as well as traditional mandolin music.”

All money raised through the concert will go towards the Martlets Hospice’s work caring for adults living in and around Brighton and Hove who are affected by terminal illness.

The Hove-based charity receives less than a third of its funding from the government and must raise £9,000 a day to care for patients and their families.

Anna Morrissey, Martlets Events Administrator, added: “We’re really excited by this concert. It’s a simple way for people to support us, and a great alternative to some of our more sporty fundraising activities!

“The evening will be an entertaining concert with a little bit of everything, from light classical pieces and jazz tunes to reworked chart-topping hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody!”


Event: Fundraising mandolin concert for Martlets Hospice

Where: St George’s Church, St George’s Road, Kemp Town, Brighton BN2 1ED

When: Tuesday, March 10

Time: 7.30 p.m.

Price: Tickets are £10, including refreshments

To book online click here:

Or telephone the Martlets Ticket hotline on 01273 964200

For more information about the orchestra please, click here:

 

PREVIEW: The Lovers, an exploration of gender, sexuality and LGBTQ representation

The Lovers offers a multimedia theatre performance examining what makes us fall in love, and an exploration of what happens when we lose control of our senses.

Spun Glass Theatre

DRAWN into a visceral space illuminated by live animation, the audience finds itself immersed inside the world of the four lovers from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

A new take on a classic tale, Spun Glass Theatre’s production delves into themes of LGBTQ and unauthorised love. The Lovers follows Anthony and Theodore, a same-sex couple who plan to run away together in search of a more tolerant society. They are followed into the woods by Elizabeth, who is in love with Theodore – and she is followed in turn by Helena, who pines for Elizabeth’s love.

The show was first developed as a scratch weekend, with four actors in Brighton. It now enters its research and development phase, with the generous support of the Arts Council England and their promotional partner, We Love Brighton. The Lovers will be available for touring in 2015/16.

The company has just launched a crowdfunding campaign via IdeasTap, to raise further support for the project whilst also offering rewards to backers including workshops with theatre and animation professionals.

Free Symposium events will be held at The Blue Man Café in Brighton, featuring a panel of representatives from the arts and various charities including Lunch Positive and Mind Out. Short previews of their work-in-progress will also be performed, followed by informal discussion.

By opening up their work and the rehearsal process to audiences across the country, Spun Glass Theatre hope to involve a large and diverse audience in the discussion of LGBTQ representation onstage. In live-streaming the symposiums through their Spun Glass Theatre YouTube channel, the company hope to engage people in the discussion of these issues, as well as The Lovers production.

Audiences can join in at home by asking questions and sharing opinions on Facebook and Twitter (@Spun_Glass) using #loversplay.


Symphonium 

Where: Blue Man Café

When: Thursday, February 26

Time: 7.30 p.m. (RSVP jessica@spunglasstheatre.com to attend)

Cost: Free


Work-In-Progress Performance

Where: The Marlborough, 4 Prince’s Street, Brighton

When: Wednesday, March 11

Time: 7.45 p.m.

For more information click here:

 

Celebrities go under the hammer for THT

Ben Cohen, Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry go under the hammer at a major Terrence Higgins Trust fundraiser.

THT Fundraiser

A private screening of BAFTA-winning movie PRIDE hosted by the film’s writer Stephen Beresford, stunning artworks by Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry and Jake and Dinos Chapman, and dinner with rugby heart-throb Ben Cohen are among the extraordinary lots confirmed for this year’s The Auction, in aid of Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).

Sponsored by Prudential plc, the annual fundraiser sees the HIV and sexual-health charity take over Christie’s auction house for a special night of fierce bidding on ‘money can’t buy’ items and experiences.

The event has been running since 1997 and is one of London’s longest-running and best-supported charity auctions, raising more than £3.5 million for people living with and affected by HIV over its history.

All lots have been donated by THT supporters, and this year include:

A special screening of the BAFTA-winning movie PRIDE for 20 people at The Soho Hotel, hosted by the film’s writer Stephen Beresford. Selected members of the cast will also be invited.

A large neon, Be Brave, by acclaimed British artist and Terrence Higgins Trust patron Tracey Emin.

An original ceramic sculpture, Spirit of the Internet, created exclusively for The Auction by Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry.

Dinner for four at L’Escargot with former England Rugby Union player and anti-bullying campaigner Ben Cohen.

A bespoke hat fitting with master milliner Philip Treacy, followed by an overnight stay, dinner and spa treatments at London’s Corinthia Hotel.

A fabulous dinner at Harry’s Bar with Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

Also under the hammer are five-star holidays to Courchevel and St Barth, luxury design pieces from Tateossian and Jimmie Martin, and a backstage tour of the London Coliseum followed by a performance of the English National Opera.

Sonya Trivedy, Fundraising Director at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “The Auction is one of the highlights of our fundraising calendar, not just because of the extraordinary lots on offer, but because of the stellar amount it raises for people living with and affected by HIV. Our catalogue this year is literally stuffed full of incredible lots, so we’re hoping our supporters dig deep and help us to raise an equally incredible total.”

To download The Auction catalogue, or to buy a ticket, click here:


Event: THT Celebrity Auction

Where: Christie’s, 8 King Street, London SW1Y 6QT

When: Thursday, March 12

Time: 7 p.m.

ABTA join LGBT Travel Network

Travel giants ABTA have become a partner in the new Travel Trade Gazette (TTG), LGBT Travel Network.

Mark Tanzer

THE new initiative aims to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in travel, and will run three national events during 2015.

ABTA (the Association of British Travel Agents) have been at the heart of travel for more than 60 years, offering expert guidance and financial protection schemes within the travel industry. In becoming a partner in the TTG LGBT Travel Network, they join Virgin Holidays and Holiday Extras, alongside headline partner Celebrity Cruises. All three partners are ABTA Members.

The first of three TTG LGBT events that are scheduled to take place in 2015 will be in London in April. As a partner, ABTA will help support and promote the events and initiatives. Additionally, ABTA will join TTG LGBT’s advisory board. The Travel Network will also be acknowledging and promoting ‘allies’ – those companies within the travel sector who are actively working on LGBT issues within their businesses.

ABTA Chief Executive Mark Tanzer said: “ABTA is delighted to be an ally of the TTG LGBT Travel Network. If we are going to attract the brightest and the best into the industry it is vital that everyone can be accepted on their own terms. Our industry is a fantastic community and initiatives such as this underline how we can all work together to champion and promote openness across the travel industry.”

 

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