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Day: November 25, 2017

Bear-Patrol raise over £9,000 at Hibernation

Posted on by Besi

Hibernation Community Lunch raises £9,193.04 with George Michael painting by local artist Lez Ingham reaching £3,300 at auction.

Tickets for this year’s Hibernation Community Lunch, organised by Bear-Patrol at the Old Ship Hotel towards the end of October, sold out months in advance, raising a magnificent total of £9,193.04 for local good causes.

Danny Dwyer and Bear-Patrol have donated £5,000 to LGBT mental health service MindOut, to help towards the set up costs of their new counselling service, and £4,193.04 to Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum, to help with their innovative approach to community development.

Graeme Atack, on behalf of Bear-Patrol, welcomed the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Mo Marsh, to the sixth annual luncheon before inviting everyone to take their seats in the surroundings of the magnificent Paganini Ballroom for a very impressive four-course lunch and community fundraising.

Mysterry Shaw hosted the afternoon’s entertainment, which included vocal sets from Jennie Castell, Krissie Ducann and a stunning show from headliner Miss Hope Springs who captivated the room for a full 50 minutes with her unique patter and original songs.

Excitement reached fever pitch during a bidding war for the main auction prize: an original painting of pop icon George Michael by local artist Lez Ingham, resulting in partners Mark Halloran and Chris Dangerfield bidding against each other to secure the painting, which had been commissioned and painted especially for the occasion, raising an impressive £3,300!

Specials thanks to professional Toast Master Mr Dan Hale and auctioneer Jennie Castell assisted by Graeme Atack who brilliantly handled the auction, making sure the bidding was clean and fair on all the lots which had been donated by supporters and local businesses.

Special mention for the technical crew of Carole Todd – director, Budge Magraw – lighting, Sam Eddison – sound and Mandie Brame from Fabricate Décor who decorated the room and of course Lez Ingham who kindly produced and donated the painting.

Next year’s Bear-Patrol Hibernation community lunch will once again be at the Old Ship Hotel on Sunday, October 21. To book your ticket email: info@bearpatrol.org.uk they are already selling very fast.

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Mr Gay Europe helps keep Brighton’s homeless warm and fed this Christmas

Posted on by Besi

Mr Gay Europe asks for your help to make the lives of the homeless who live on the city’s streets a little better this Christmas.

Matt Rood: Photo Manel Ortega
Matt Rood: Photo Manel Ortega

Matt Rood, the current holder of the Mr Gay Europe crown, will be helping the homeless and their dogs on the streets of Brighton & Hove this Christmas, and asks people to offer their support by donating goods they no longer need for him to hand out via the Sussex Homeless Support Project.

Matt needs flasks, camping gear, sleeping bags, blankets, rolling mats, warm clothing, jumpers, socks, toiletries, dog blankets and dog treats.

You can take your donations to the Sunday Kitchen at the Clock Tower every Sunday between 1-3pm, where the 15-20 regular volunteers from Sussex Homeless Support will distribute them, along with Matt, to those in need, and where the homeless can get something warm to drink and eat.

You can also drop off your donations at the project’s offices at Unit 7, 196 Old Shoreham Road, Hove.

For more information check out their Facebook page:
Sussex Homeless Support CIO/ Sussex Economic Support.

Football shows united support for Stonewall’s rainbow laces campaign

Posted on by Besi

Ahead of todays Rainbow Laces campaign the EFL, Premier League, PGMOL, and The FA joined together to produce a unique rainbow photograph to show football standing together in support of LGBT+ inclusivity in sport.

All 92 League Clubs will be supporting Stonewall’s rainbow laces initiative which runs from November 25 – December 3 with various promotional opportunities including rainbow-coloured captains’ armbands, laces and programme adverts.

In a first, EFL Clubs will also be displaying rainbow-coloured corner flags at matches this weekend. In addition, England Women’s televised World Cup qualifier against Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Banks’s Stadium last night (November 24) saw all players wearing the rainbow laces.

The Premier League has introduced bespoke rainbow branding to its ball plinths, pitch flags, handshake boards, and timing boards. PGMOL will also be showing their support across the four divisions, with all match officials wearing rainbow laces.

Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign aims to make sport everyone’s game with national teams, leading clubs, professional players, fans and grassroots players from across football showing their support for LGBT+ people in sport.

To purchase your rainbow laces online, click here:

Bar Broadway raise £300 for Royal British Legion

Posted on by Besi

Bar Broadway in Steine Street marked Remembrance Sunday last month (November 12), with a fundraising benefit, raising £300 for the Royal British Legion.

Jennie Castell hosted the evening, singing standards from the 30’s and 40’ from her wartime show, to a very appreciative audience.

Some of the staff and customers dressed in military costume which added to the ambiance of the evening.

Michael McGarrigle, one of the owners of Bar Broadway has worked as a costume supervisor on the TV show Benidorm for the last five years. He raffled off some memorabilia from the show given only to the crew, including a large beach towel with the Benidorm logo on it, a sarong with the Benidorm logo and a limited edition bottle of Cava which staff were given to celebrate the shows 50th episode.

Michael, said: “It was a brilliant night and I would like to thank everyone for coming along and supporting such as great cause.”

 

MindOut celebrate their achievements in 2017

Posted on by Besi

Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Mo Marsh joins service users and supporters of MindOut the LGBTQ mental health service at their annual celebration event on Wednesday, November 15 at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church.

 

MindOut were celebrating their sixth year being a successful independent charity and their eighteenth year providing services to LGBTQ people with mental health issues in Brighton & Hove.

Director Helen Jones gave a roundup of the charity’s achievements and work plan during the previous twelve months highlighting the importance of their new counselling service which is funded by Bear Patrol and the Rainbow Fund.

Other services she mentioned included the Advice and information service, Advocacy project, Peer support groups, Peer mentoring project, Suicide prevention, Wellbeing project, Online chat and Online support.

Service users gave testimonies to what MindOut means to them, leaving no-one present in any doubt of the effectiveness of the services being offered.

Following the annual MindOut awards being announced and presented everyone tucked into a delicious buffet produced by Lunch Positive, the HIV Lunch Club.

MindOut have a couple of free places on the Brighton Marathon for people who want to run and raise money for them.

For more information, click here:

For more information about the services that MindOut provide, view: 

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