Join the Rainbow Chorus on June 29 at St George’s Church Kemptown, for a sumptuous selection of songs for a summer’s eve!
THEY have a true smorgasbord for you this season, from beautiful classics (Time to Say Goodbye, Shenandoah) to classic standards (Pie Jesu) and soothing melodies (Seal Lullaby) to stirring anthems (Bohemian Rhapsody) and many others—there really will be something for everyone.
Whilst the Rainbows cannot guarantee what the weather will be doing outside, inside they promise all the warmth and sunshine you’ve come to expect from the 80-strong members of Brightons only LGBT+ Chorus.
A Rainbow Chorus concert wouldn’t be complete without a drink from their well-stocked bar and, of course, a chance to win a fabulous summer hamper generously put together by the chorus members.
So, get your tickets now for your own slice of summer rhapsodies and rhythms!
Event: Rainbow Chorus presents: Rainbows in Summer
Where: St George’s Church, 93 St George’s Rd, Brighton, BN2 1ED
When: Saturday, June 29, 2019
Time: Doors 6.30pm: starts at 7.30pm
Cost: Tickets £15 / £10 concs / £7 children under 12
Martlets encourages people along to its Volunteer Open Day on Saturday, April 27.
THE day will showcase the different opportunities available, how volunteering impacts on the services that Martlets can provide and the additional benefits to individuals from volunteering.
The Volunteer Open Day will take place at the hospice on Wayfield Avenue between 10am and 3pm and Martlets will be welcoming everyone from all ages, backgrounds and experience as there are many different roles available to volunteer.
On the day there will be opportunities to meet key members of staff, take a tour of the hospice and participate in activities. Current Martlets volunteers will be also be available to discuss what they do and how volunteering has helped them to learn new skills, make new friends and create a stronger connection with their communities.
Martlets is aiming to show local people how easy it is to get involved in volunteering with roles available to suit everyone’s talents and interests.
Volunteers could be doing anything from helping at a fundraising event, tending to the hospice garden, running art and crafts activities, driving patients to appointments or volunteering in Martlets shops or distribution centres.
Volunteers are vital to the care and support that Martlets give people with terminal illness and their families in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. Whether people are able to offer a few hours once in a while or a regular weekly shift, anyone who becomes part of ‘Team Martlets’ plays an important role in helping to keep the hospice running smoothly.
Georgia Ellick from the hospice’s People Services Team said:“We are so grateful to our amazing volunteers for giving us their precious time to help in so many different ways across Martlets.
“We offer a very welcoming friendly environment where people can develop skills and enjoy new experiences. Many volunteers may have had a personal experience of our hospice, others may just have heard about us and want to help a local charity. We’d welcome everyone to come and see us at our Volunteer Open Day and come and find out more.”
Trish Rendel
Trish Rendel, a gardening therapy volunteer, added: “I’ve met some really nice people whilst I’ve been volunteering at Martlets. Everyone is so friendly here and you feel like you are appreciated and valued.
“When I heard that the hospice was setting up a horticultural therapy Sow and Grow group; I used to have my own gardening business, so I said that I had experience and signed-up straightaway. The group meets regularly to sow seeds, transplant seedlings and talk about plants, it’s all very social so there’s always lots of chat going on and we finish with a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake!”
Alex Mahoney a keen gamer who spends two days a week testing donated computer games and checking games consoles for Martlets said:“It’s probably one of the more unusual volunteering roles. However, we get all sorts of games and consoles donated to us and we need to know that they work before we can sell them on to raise money for the hospice.
“I play games a lot at home, so I know when something’s not working properly and it’s great to be able to use my gaming knowledge in a good way to help a charity. Volunteering is helping me to gain experience of working and it’s shown me an area of work that I might like to try in the future, which I hadn’t thought of before.”
LGBT+ radio station Gaydio, launch ‘Proud to be Me – Together let’s Just Be’ a season of unique programming running from May to November 2019 in partnership with Sky.
OVER the next six months, Gaydio will be recording stories and conversations with people across the UK to broadcast on their on-air and digital platforms.
Sky will also be given the chance to contribute to the content by sharing their own stories and harnessing their relationships with organisations and charities across the UK.
The programming has been created to help highlight under-represented groups that can most benefit from the exposure that this campaign will give, as well as helping to empower listeners to be proud of who they are.
Content will take the form of themed weeks, with content spread throughout the broadcast output in these weeks.
The planned themes and dates are:
May 13 – 17:LGBT+ and Mental Health
July 8 – 11:LGBT+ and BAME
August 12 – 16:Identity
September 23 – 27:Bi Visibility
October 8 – 11:Coming out and Supporting Young People
November 11-15:Trans Awareness
Nima Baniamer
Nima Baniamer, Co-Chair of the LGBT+@Sky Network, said:“We’re extremely excited about this new partnership with Gaydio. Here at LGBT+@Sky, we’re entirely committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all our colleagues, while recognising that as a global media company, we have the opportunity and responsibility to change hearts and minds in wider British society. This partnership will help shine a light on stories often ignored and we’ll hopefully encourage everyone to #JustBe.”
Toby Whitehouse, Station Director at Gaydio added:“This new partnership with will allow us to really explore some of the issues affecting LGBT+ people in 2019. We’re looking forward to working with Sky’s staff networks and sharing stories both inspirational and challenging from across the UK.”
The partnership continues throughout the year and all content will be made available digitally online.
University of Brighton students promote a new app allowing people to give food and shelter to the homeless.
Dan Bennett (forefront) with marketing students
‘POCKET Angel’ will allow people to buy vouchers for a meal or accommodation by generating a six-digit code that a homeless person can use for food or a night in a shelter.
Vouchers are printed at home and given to a rough sleeper or shared on social media.
The app will be available to download in Brighton next month for testing before it goes nationwide later this year.
Marketing students at the University of Brighton, led by Dan Bennett, Undergraduate Programme Leader, are helping with marketing and PR.
Dan Bennett said:“We are supporting the organisation of the launch event at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on May 21, recruiting local businesses to sign up to the campaign, doing the press relations for the event and app, running all the social media, promotional material design, and reaching out to social media influencers.
“This is a fantastic and worthwhile project and I hope people will download the app. Homelessness is a massive social issue, especially in Brighton, and we are delighted to have the chance to support this important development working.”
Pocket Angel was the brainchild of technical consultant Alcia Loch who sees homeless people every day as she commutes to work. She spent two years researching her idea and is using a crowdfunding platform to raise £5,000.
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline will be the beneficiary charity for the third year running, for the sales of special Pride Skittle packs.
AS Jubilee Pride celebrations for 2019 getting into full swing, Skittles have once again given up their rainbow to show their support for Pride – because “during Pride, only one rainbow matters”.
This year, Mars Wrigley Confectionery have developed four unique rainbow-less packs of the flavoursome confectionery.
The four individual packs were designed by prominent members of the LGBT+ community; Thomas Wolski, Kate Moross, Maia Boakye, and Switchboard patron Fox Fisher, all showcasing what Pride means to them.
Last year the Skittles brand raised over £31,000 for the London based, Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline. This year, you can help spread the love even further by supporting and purchasing these unique packs from Tesco stores.
Family size packs (196g) are available NOW, with larger more to share (350g) packs available from June.
Dan Newell, Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Fruity Confections Marketing Director, said:“As a major brand we have a responsibility to use our voice and the power of our reputation for good, and supporting Pride is a great example of this.”
Switchboard Co-chair Natasha Walker added:“We are honoured that Mars Confectionery have chosen Switchboard to benefit from their celebratory packages, particularly with artwork designed by one of our charity patrons. It’s fantastic that people can not only taste the infamous rainbow, but support the great causes reflected in the Rainbow flag through the work of Switchboard.”
Switchboard is a charity, originally founded in 1974 and formerly known as Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. It provides a one-stop listening service for LGBT+ people on the phone, by email and through Instant Messaging.
There’s something on my mind. It’s been on my mind since 2012 but it’s only something I’ve recently started feeling comfortable with.
I’M coming out. Again. But this time it’s different. This time I’m putting myself up for all kinds of scrutiny. You see, I’m disabled.
It feels weird saying it out loud. Some of you may not actually think it’s a problem or something that you have to ‘come out’ about but my disability is hidden. By opening up and calling myself disabled, I’m opening up to those who think that because I’m not in a wheelchair, I’m not disabled.
I’d been having what I was calling frequent blackouts for years but in 2012 the doctor diagnosed me with dissociation. My blackouts mean that I lose time from my shortest of 3 minutes to my longest of 6 hours. My brain clocks out and I enter a dissassocitave state. It’s hard to explain what this feels like but it’s like a really foggy day with someone in the distance but you can’t see them and you’re squinting so hard but the fog is so thick.
I also got diagnosed with bipolar disorder and severe anxiety. These things together mean that everyday, I’m scared when I wake. Sometimes I can’t leave the house for fear of people watching me. Some days I physically can’t leave my bed. Some days I can’t walk 100 meters without throwing up because that’s how my body deals with anxiety and some days I can’t trust myself holding kitchen knives. Some days I lose hours and end up somewhere I don’t know, often without my shoes.
Talking about my disability is hard when people tell me in a shocked voice “what you’re disabled?” Or the judgement I get when I use my disabled railcard as the inspector looks me up and down to check I’ve not stolen it. I suppose they’re looking for the wheelchair or crutches but it always hurts.
Talking about something isn’t easy when it’s not so obvious to all. We need to start talking and opening up this conversation without the scrutiny that’s attached to it.
Everyday I, and the rest of my community, live a battle that’s laid out for others to decide our fate whilst we sit there and hope they’ve actually listened. From the demeaning ATOS interview (where you have to ‘prove’ your disability in front of someone who isn’t qualified to assess you in order to keep your benefits) to Piers Morgan preaching to the morning crowd that if you’ve got legs, you’re not disabled and perpetuating the myth that we’re scroungers and lazy. Oh for him to live my life for one week.
And that’s why I’ve made my new theatre show, How disabled are you? The show asks 3 disabled people who have never performed before (some with hidden disabilities, some who claim benefits) to take to the stage and read 3 interviews I collated over a 7 month period.
These interviews are filled with pent-up aggression towards those who are reading them. It explores real attitudes towards people who claim benefits, drink out of Sports Direct mugs and have disabilities that are often hidden from the eye.
But this is just the beginning of a very long conversation that needs to be had. It’s taken me 7 years to be OK with the fact that I’ll always be disabled. It’s really tough to write that. We need a community of people behind us, a group of disabled people to make our conversation louder and if How disabled are you? is the start of that crescendo for one person, then my work here is complete.
Event:How disabled are you?
Where: Junkyard Dogs: The Doghouse @ Brighthelm Centre
When: May 3, 4, 17 and 18
Time: 4.30pm
Cost: £9.50/ £8 (concession) use gscene as the code and get 25% discount
The Grand Brighton Half Marathon has launched entry for its 2020 race, which will be the 30 year anniversary of the major half marathon.
The 30th Brighton Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2020 and organisers say they have some surprises up their sleeves for their big birthday, including a commemorative anniversary medal.
An early bird offer is currently available on entry, and runners have a few weeks to take advantage of the opening offer.
Martin Harrigan
The Grand Brighton Half Marathon’s Race Director, Martin Harrigan, said: “Planning for the race is always exciting, but this year it is even more so as we mark the 30 year anniversary of the event. Running has changed dramatically since the first Brighton Half Marathon and we’re enormously grateful to everyone who has taken part or contributed to the event over the years. 2020 looks to be our biggest race year yet and we’d encourage anyone who is keen to run and help us celebrate the race and running more generally in Brighton and beyond to enter.”
The race has become one of the most popular races in the UK since its first event in the 1990s. The 13.1 mile route takes runners from Brighton’s famous Pier through the centre of the city, before heading along Hove Prom, past Hove’s colourful beach huts and the British Airways i360 viewing tower on the seafront.
The Grand Brighton, the city’s iconic seafront hotel, is once again confirmed as headline sponsor and its famous building also features on the course route.
The race is popular with both beginners to half marathons and seasoned distance runners. As a February event, it is one of the first major half marathons in the running calendar and is a great training event for anyone embarking on a full marathon in the Spring.
The race has been organised by Brighton-based charity The Sussex Beacon since the early days of the event and the race is the charity’s largest annual fundraiser. The Sussex Beacon provides specialist support and care for people living with HIV through both inpatient and outpatient services and helps hundreds of people living with HIV in Sussex.
Bill Puddicombe
The Chief Executive of The Sussex Beacon, Bill Puddicombe, added: “The Brighton Half Marathon is one of the proudest and most important days of the year for The Sussex Beacon. The race helps us to raise the funds that we need to provide for people living with HIV, who face challenges on a daily basis.
“The 30th year of the event is a great milestone and we know that the race will once again attract runners of all ages, abilities and causes, combining to make this one of the happiest mass participation events in the calendar.”
For more information about the Sussex Beacon, click here:
Organisers call on cyclists across Sussex to take part in the Greater Brighton Cycle Challenge event on Sunday, May 19.
RIDERS can choose a 30 or 60 mile route taking in the beautiful world-class countryside of the Living Coast. People can ride just for fun or raise sponsorship if they wish.
Brighton Housing Trust and The Living Coast have created this event to celebrate cycling, give people the chance to experience the wonderful nature on our doorstep and help some great causes.
Brighton based not for profit business, CSS Events, has organised the rides, ensuring good signage, refreshment stops and support vehicles.
One of the Living Coast partners, The Railway Land Wildlife Trust has registered 3 riders who are all raising money for the Trust’s Wellbeing in Nature project.
Helen Meade, Programme Coordinator of the Railway Land Wildlife Trust said: “We are really looking forward to the ride and hope we can raise at least £500 for this project. There is so much evidence that shows that people who experience mental health problems gain huge benefits from being in nature. Our location in the heart of Lewes means that accessing this beautiful greenspace is so easy. We’d love it if a few more riders joined us though!”
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust is willing to pay the registration fee for those who raise sponsorship for them.
Brighton Housing Trust is the lead charity organising the event and hopes riders will raise vital funds for its First Base Day Centre. This offers a range of services to support people who are sleeping rough or insecurely housed in the city, to get off the streets, start realising their aspirations through work, learning and leisure and find a place they can call home.
Other charities taking part who are also seeking riders include:
♦ Chailey Heritage Foundation (East Sussex)
♦ The Friends Centre (Brighton)
♦ The Crew Club (Brighton)
♦ Independent Living (Brighton)
♦ GROW project (Brighton)
There is a £5 reduction for registration in advance.
Brenda Pollack, a volunteer who helps run the rides said: “This is such a great opportunity to see some of our best countryside – taking in the coast and beautiful scenery through Sussex. Riders get a warm welcome at the refreshment stops and the feedback we had last year was wonderful. We hope more people take the challenge this year.”
The rides start from Preston Park velodrome in Brighton where there will be a family-friendly event with entertainment all day and the opportunity to take part in Brighton Housing Trust’s Around The World cycle challenge – riding as many laps of the track as you can manage.
stories often ignored and we’ll hopefully encourage everyone to #JustBe.”
AS Jubilee Pride celebrations for 2019 getting into full swing, Skittles have once again given up their rainbow to show their support for Pride – because “during Pride, only one rainbow matters”.
The Grand Brighton Half Marathon has launched entry for its 2020 race, which will be the 30 year anniversary of the major half marathon.
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