HEALTH takes centre stage this summer at one of the North East’s biggest free festivals.
Newcastle Pride 2014, one of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) festivals in the country returns on Friday, June 18 for three days of parades, live entertainment and events.
In response to demand, its Steve Paske Health Zone will be extended to house around 30 stalls and provide space for workshops and health testing facilities.
Along with information on health issues specific to the LGBT community, there will be the chance to try complementary therapies and obtain advice on everything from nutrition and food issues to weight management and mental health, drug or alcohol abuse.
The zone, sponsored by MESMAC North East – a gay and bisexual men’s sexual health project – will also house a designated testing area for a range of sexually transmitted infections, from chlamydia to HIV.
Mark Nicholls
Mark Nichols, Chairman of Northern Pride which organises the event, said:“While the festival is about fun, entertainment and celebration our focus is also very much on the mental and physical health of members of the LGBT community.”
“Last year, the Health Zone team carried out STI tests on around 260 people and handed out thousands of free condoms to visitors – and we plan to build on that this year.”
On Sunday, July 20, the Health Zone will also play host to Sports Gay, when volunteers will be able to take part in a range of light-hearted races and challenges.
This year’s Newcastle Pride has been extended beyond one day for the first time in its seven year history and other highlights this year include a parade through Newcastle city centre on Saturday, July 19 and the Paws with Pride pet show on Sunday, August 3.
For more information about Newcastle Pride, CLICK HERE:
On the eve of this weekend’s Birmingham Pride Festival, the Southside district has introduced a Rainbow Rooms kitemark for hotels that positively welcome LGBT guests.
Photo by Sam Bagnall
Southside Business Improvement District (BID) has brought together seven hotels under the Rainbow Rooms umbrella, representing a range of taste, specification and budget. Southside BID and the Rainbow Rooms hotels have signed up to a list of declarations supporting LGBT tourists visiting Birmingham.
All participating hotels are committed to treating all guests with the same courtesy, dignity and respect; to contribute actively to local LGBT projects; to create a work environment of respect and tolerance; to offer guests information about the LGBT scene and participate in Southside’s LGBT information days.
Julia Chance, Southside BID Manager said:“Rainbow Rooms marks an unprecedented collaboration between some of the city’s best known hotel brands. The Southside area is already Birmingham’s most welcoming area for anyone from any background – now, we can proudly say our Rainbow Rooms hotels are committed to assuring a warm welcome to LGBT tourists staying in the district.”
The hotels, who will all prominently display their Rainbow Rooms kitemark online and within the hotels themselves, are Radisson Blu, Holiday Inn, City Quarters, Stay City Birmingham, The Wellington Hotel and the Ibis chain’s Birmingham Centre New Street and Budget venues.
Lucy Clarke, Sales Manager, Stay City Birmingham, added:“We always look forward to Pride weekend, both in terms of the boost to guest numbers and in the wonderful mix of people it attracts to the area. Therefore, signing up to the Rainbow Rooms agreement demonstrates our commitment to actively encouraging an inclusive environment, as well as making good business sense.”
Birmingham Pride takes place in Southside’s Gay Village on Saturday 24 and Sunday May 25.
To find out more about Southside and Rainbow Rooms, CLICK HERE:
For more information about Birmingham Pride, CLICK HERE:
London will play host to the UK’s first ever women-only night cycle event on Saturday, May 31.
Over 2,000 women have registered to take part in Women V Cancer Ride the Night, in support of Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.
Aiming to raise over £750,000 for women’s cancer in a single night, the 100km cycle starts and finishes at the Royal Windsor Racecourse, with the first group of cyclists setting off at 9.00pm. The course then follows a circular route taking in some of the capital’s most famous landmarks including Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace
A competition for ‘best dressed bike’ will ensure the London skyline is awash with fun and colourful bicycles through the night with the winner taking home a brand new Pendleton bike.
Ann Frampton
Ann Frampton, Director of Action for Charity and Dream Challenges, said:“In the UK 55,000 women and men annually are diagnosed with breast cancer whilst every day three women die from cervical cancer and 12 lose their lives to ovarian cancer. Ride the Night provides a fantastic opportunity to both raise funds for three amazing charities but also awareness of these diseases which devastate the lives of thousands of families every year.”
To date just over £4.2 million has been raised by Women V Cancer which is divided equally between Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action. It is expected that the Women V Cancer franchise will have raised £5 million for the women’s health charities by the end of 2014.
Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and Actually Gay Women’s Chorus are teaming up with anti LGBT bullying champion and homophobic bullying survivor Shaun Dellenty to raise money for Inclusion For All (IFA).
Chris Jessop from Actually and Shaun Dellenty
IFA is an award winning training strategy working to prevent homophobic,biphobic and transphobic bullying and language in schools across the UK.
Through joint fund raising endeavors over the next twelve months, money gathered by Shaun and both Choruses will support ongoing work, helping to reduce negative damage to the lives of countless children and making schools safe places for all children.
Shaun Dellenty, already an ward winner for his anti-bullying work in schools, has also been nominated Positive LGBT Role Model in the National Diversity Awards 2014 and the Excellence In Diversity Awards 2015. In both 2012 and 2013 Shaun featured on the Independent On Sunday Pink List of 101 most influential LGBT people in the UK.
Shaun, who is very excited to be working with the Choruses this year, said:“Through the privilege of working with the choruses I hope to draw attention to an issue which continues to damage the lives of so many young people in our education system. The vast majority of schools lack the training to be able to make children safe from bullying related to sexual orientation and gender; the funds kindly being raised by Actually will enable IFA to provide vital teacher training across the UK. I am extremely grateful for this partnership, Actually!”
The partnership kicks off at the Actually Gay Men’s Chorus Pride performances of I Feel Love on Friday 18 and Saturday, July 19 with Shaun addressing the audience on the Friday evening. Shaun will also be available after the performance to chat about the important work which he does.
For further information regarding ‘Inclusion For All’, CLICK HERE:
Manbar, the iconic independent gay bar on Charing Cross Road, has been granted it’s regulated entertainment privileges back by Westminster City Council.
All its nights including the DJs and entertainers return starting tonight.
In April 2014, Manbar lost a £50,000 court appeal against a Westminster City Council tribunal decision which resulted in two conditions attached to its licence including: “There shall be no regulated entertainment at the premises until the noise nuisance at the premises has been investigated, diagnosed and resolved to the the satisfaction of Environmental Health.”
As a consequence all of Manbar’s nights were cancelled including DJs, entertainers, singers and drag acts. Staff numbers were reduced as Manbar fought for financial survival as revenue fell by 40%.
As of today, Manbar is back with a full entertainment programme and the show goes on!
Manbar owner Chris Amos says:“I would like to thank all those who have supported Manbar. I am so thrilled for Manbar, for our amazing team and most of all, for the gay community and entertainers. We work very hard at Manbar to provide entertainment every day of the week, so there is always something to do late night in Soho. I am grateful to Westminster City Council for allowing us this opportunity to demonstrate Manbar can provide good quality entertainment and keep peace with our neighbours.”
Manbar is located at 79 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0NE. Below are Manbar’s weekly events.
Director, Andrew Keates bravely reveals his own true story about HIV.
A celebrity-studdedWest End Eurovision returned to the Dominion Theatre this week for its seventh and final year in support of The Make A Difference (MAD) Trust. Mamma Mia! and Les Misérables jointly took the Winners Trophy.
With over 200 performers, West End Eurovision is one of the biggest and most exciting late night events in the West End and the evening was a huge success.
The most profound part of the evening for many came in a speech given by multi-award winning director Andrew Keates, about his experience directing a revival of the first ever AIDS play, As Is by William M. Hoffman and how this affected his own life:
He said: “My cast and production team wanted to know why I wanted to do this play. I explained I thought it was a beautiful story of one person reaching out to another and asking them to take to accept them “as is”.
“Secondly, I wanted to respect all those that we had lost, and lastly, I wanted the younger generations (who didn’t live through the horrendous 1980s AIDS epidemic), to be inspired enough to get tested. Then, if one person did find that their status was positive, they could receive treatment in good time.
“You can imagine my surprise when, after the show, I discovered that actually I was that person. I was HIV+… Anyone who knows me, would know that I have never been anything more than proud of who I am. And why shouldn’t I be? Tonight isn’t about raising money for ‘those with HIV’ but raising money for our friends, colleagues and fellow artists that may fall on hard times. One day that could be me. One day that could be you.
“In many ways I feel like I am coming out for a second time… The best advice I can give anyone, whether they work in theatre or not, is to get tested, stay safe and not to be ignorant of those of us who are positive. This business is hard enough. Let’s all look after each other.”
Andrew’s honesty marked the night like nothing else. Celebrity judges – TV and radio personality Graham Norton, X Factor favourite Rylan Clarke, comedy actress Caroline Quentin and Birds of a Feather’sLesley Joseph – plus host Richard Gauntlett also made the evening a night to remember. I’ve attached a press release about the event and it would be great if you’re able to post a news story.
The MAD Trust works with the British entertainment industry and its audiences to raise funds to offer care and support to people living with HIV, AIDS and other chronic illnesses, who are unable to work and are facing hardship.
To support The MAD Trust all people have to do is text MADT £3 to 70007 to give just £3.
Final accounts show that West End Eurovision 2014 raised in excess of £66,000 for MAD, enabling them to continue expanding their support network to those living with, and affected by, HIV.
David Pendlebury
David Pendlebury, chairman of The MAD Trust, said: “We are so grateful for the continued support of the theatre industry; so many people giving their talent and their time to Make A Difference. We would also like to thank Andrew for a lesson in being positive about being HIV positive. It highlights the importance to getting tested and proves we’re all in this together.”
Following todays European elections, Green MEPs will be stepping up the pressure on shale extraction and calling for a Europe-wide ban on fracking.
Keith Taylor, MEP
The move comes following the UK government’s blocking of European Commission proposals – in January – that would have introduced a degree of regulation for the fracking industry.
Keith Taylor, Green MEP for the South East of England and candidate for re-election, said:“The UK government is heavily in support of fracking, with noisy encouragement, new legislation and tax breaks, not to mention attempts to block perfectly reasonable European regulation.
“But the British people do not agree. The more they learn about fracking, the less they like it. And here in the South East, with fracking sites on our doorsteps, opposition to fracking is growing every day.”
Cllr Alex Philiips
The Greens’ No 2 European candidate in the South East, Alexandra Phillips, added:“We’re hearing worse and worse news from the Antarctic about the effects of climate change. We could be very close to a major rise in sea levels. But what’s happening at home? We simply cannot afford the UK government’s unprincipled dash towards a whole new, very dirty fossil fuel industry. Nor do we want to turn the South East’s countryside into a wasteland of fracking towers and oil wells.”
Keith added:“Green policies in Europe are the solution not only to the threats posed by fracking but to the clean opportunities offered by tried and tested renewable energy technologies.
“While other political parties loudly support fracking or refuse to speak out against it, the Greens already represent the wishes of the majority of Britain in opposing fracking. A Europe-wide ban on fracking would speed up the much-needed transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”
Proposals have been tabled to make this years St James’s Street Village Party a ticketed event, managed and delivered by Pride CIC.
The post Preston Park event started out as a small grassroots celebration supported by both the LGBT and business community organised independently of Pride by a group of local businesses, most recently under the name GVP (Gay Village Party).
However, over the last few years, as the event has grown, justified concerns have been raised by local businesses, Pride, the police, fire and ambulance services, the Council and, most importantly, local residents about its future. As a result it is now widely accepted that it can no longer continue in the current format unless a formula is agreed to make the Street Party a safe and welcoming event with Pride and community fundraising at its heart.
To achieve this numbers attending need to be controlled and, with the agreement of the statutory authorities, Brighton Pride CIC is proposing to make entry to the area by wristband only, for which there will be a small charge.
As was shown when the festival at Preston Park introduced an entry charge, Pride can become a safe and enjoyable event for the LGBT community and its supporters, while, at the same time, becoming a successful fundraising event benefitting local LGBT charities and organisations.
It is proposed that for a one-year trial The Pride Village Party will become part of the two-day event on St James’s Street and be extended down to Marine Parade. It will take place from 6pm on Saturday with entertainment after the Park starting from 8pm and on Pride Sunday between 2pm and 8pm.
For the first time ever, the seafront road, Marine Parade, will be closed to traffic for the event, creating a unique and vibrant gay village for the Pride weekend with various entertainment areas including zones dedicated to cabaret, bears and disco.
Following the leads of Manchester and Birmingham, this approach will allow Brighton Pride to fundraise from the event for local organisations while reflecting the needs of the wider LGBT community.
A ticketed event will ensure a safe and secure weekend that visitors, local businesses and St James’s Street’s residents can enjoy.
Paul Elgood
Speaking about the new proposal, the chair of the Rainbow Fund, Paul Elgood, who supports the proposal said:“Thanks to the success of Pride, the Rainbow Fund is able to support a wider range of local LGBT and HIV volunteer-led community groups. If the Village Street Party can add to this, then the community benefits greatly by increasing the amount available for grants.
“The Pride team have a strong track record of delivering high profile and sustainable events, and a successful village Party will be a big win for both the community and local businesses.”
James Ledward
James Ledward editor of GScene commented: “Now that Pride is a paid for event, each year the Gay Village Street Party comes under ever increasing pressure from numbers attending, attracting a rough, noisy and especially on the Saturday night, a not too LGBT community crowd to St James’s Street.
“In order to guarantee safety and long term sustainability the present proposal on the table is as good as it gets.
“In fact it is possibly our ‘last chance saloon’ to ensure that the Village Party continues each year delivering a bumper end of season boost to the many and varied LGBT businesses in the Gay Village.
“An added bonus is the fundraising element to the proposal, which will guarantee extra grants can be given to local LGBT organisations.
“If we want tourists to continue coming to Brighton Pride each year we must guarantee them a safe and enjoyable experience. They did not get that last year when the Saturday night crowds were too large and rowdy for the confined space in St James’s Street. While some people oppose the principle of charging for the event at all, with ever increasing visitors coming to the city for Pride, this is not realistic in 2014.”
Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp Director of Pride CIC said:“Traditionally the Village party has not been organised by Pride, however after safety concerns being raised that could ultimately jeopardised the future of the event, Pride has agreed to work in partnership with the City Council and partners to reclaim the Village party for our community and to help ensure we have a safer and controlled event for visitors to Pride and our community to enjoy.”
“Brighton and Hove has one of the best Pride’s in the UK and not only do we want to be financially sustainable, but we also feel that we must have a Pride with purpose and raising even more funds to help our community groups must be a good thing.”
Cllr Geoffrey Bowden
Cllr Geoffrey Bowden, chair of the Economic Development & Culture Committee and a local ward councillor added: “Over the years the Pride Street Party has become more and more problematic – especially for residents. Uncontrolled access and irresponsible attitudes to alcohol have turned what should be a celebration into something of a headache and, for some, a nightmare. The old format was unsustainable and has to change if the Street Party is be transformed into a safe environment for partygoers, residents and local businesses.
“Everyone needs to get behind the new approach and fully support Pride CIC’s efforts to manage the Street Party effectively to return it to an enjoyable and unique event. I hope that this one-year trial proves to be a success. If there isn’t a hundred percent support, particularly from the business community, the whole of the Pride Festival in the future could be put in jeopardy. Without sounding too dramatic, the reputation of the city as a safe place to visit is at stake.”
In the proposal on the table wristbands for the two-day event will cost £5, with £1 going to the Rainbow Fund. Joint wristbands for the Pride Festival at Preston Park and St James’s Street party will also be on sale. Both will be available at participating venues, cabin box offices on Preston Park and through the Pride website. For safety reasons no alcohol or glass will be allowed to be brought into the Village Street Party zone. The many venues in the area have agreed to only sell alcohol to wristband wearers.
Paul Kemp concluded saying:“Wristbanding the event is essential to help pay for the significant infrastructure and security costs of the event, as well as helping to raise funds for The Rainbow Fund. Local businesses will be able to fundraise for The Rainbow Fund too.
“The new format has been carefully developed with the full support of the police, other blue light services and the city council. I am confident it will help deliver a safe and enjoyable event, which also respects those who live in the area. Importantly though, the Village Street Party will have a fundraising purpose, something we can all be proud of.”
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Betts from Sussex Police, said:“We have been working closely with the organisers of Pride, Brighton and Hove City Council and the traders in Kemptown to close roads for the Gay Village Party in St James’s Street on Saturday and Sunday (August 2 and 3).
“With this new wristband event, we hope that those attending the party, as well as residents and traders in the area, can enjoy the party in a safe environment. As always Sussex Police’s role throughout the weekend will be to work with partners in support of Pride, minimise disruption to the local community, prevent crime and disorder and provide a safe and secure environment for those attending Pride as well as the surrounding community.
“Pride is a great showcase for the city and is one of the biggest events in the city’s calendar – primarily celebrating our LGBT community but is open for everyone to enjoy. However it is always our priority to keep people safe and we hope this new approach to the street party will do this.”
Reclaiming the event for the community and the safety of all those attending it is at the forefront of organiser’s minds, and while Pride recognises making an entry change may not be welcomed by some, they believe it is the only way the event can continue into a proud, safe and fundraising future.
The proposals will be presented at a public meeting on Wednesday, May 28 at 7pm at Dorset Garden Methodist Church (upper hall) in Dorset Gardens.
Parade application are now open for the Manchester Pride Parade whose theme this year is LOVE.
The Coronation Street float
The annual Manchester Pride Parade, which will take place at 1pm on Saturday, August 23 2014.
The Parade will weave its way through the city centre, following a 1.3mile route, as thousands of visitors line the streets of Manchester. Past themes have included Heroes, Through the Decades and last year’s Acceptable in the 80’s .
Chief Executive of Manchester Pride, Mark Fletcher said:“2014 is the year where the LGBT community showed the world that love has no boundaries – we really are the ‘Love’ generation – and Manchester Pride will be celebrating this with the Manchester Pride Parade and our after party at the Big Weekend in our World Famous Gay Village.
“Applications are now open to take part in the parade, so those who want to help us turn the streets of Manchester into a kaleidoscope of colour and jump aboard the ‘Love Train’ for an amazing experience they’ll never forget should apply now as spaces are limited.”
Online applications are open to everyone who would like to take part as both walking and vehicle entries in the Parade, from small community groups, to large commercial organisations.
Olympic Champion Jessica Ennis-Hill has launched a major new series of eight events called the Vitality Run Series, which will include the Brighton Half Marathon.
Featuring seven of the UK’s most prestigious half marathons and one 10k event during 2014/15, the Vitality Run Series will help to reinforce the Brighton Half Marathon as one of the country’s headline running events.
Expected to feature over 100,000 runners in its inaugural year, the Series aims to encourage participation for all runners, experienced and beginners, and to create a vibrant community based around many of the nation’s best-loved running events.
In her role as Vitality Ambassador for PruHealth and PruProtect, title sponsors of the Series, Ennis-Hill revealed a four and a half metre high female runner ‘Victoria’, positioned near the Millennium Arena in Battersea Park.
Ennis-Hill, the London 2012 Olympic Heptathlon Gold Medallist, called on Briton’s to don their trainers and sign up for one of the eight Vitality Run Series events.
Speaking as spokesperson for the sponsors, Jessica, said: “I am delighted to support the Vitality Run Series by revealing this giant sculpture which will be a memorable and inspiring feature at each of the events. There are eight fantastic events taking place over the next year starting with the exciting new Run Hackney half marathon on June 22 through to the famous Reading and Liverpool half marathons next March.
“It’s exciting for Brighton Half Marathon to be one of the eight races in the Vitality Run Series. Being part of a great series of half marathons and 10ks around the UK will really raise its profile nationally and make Brighton Half one of the big races to take part in on the UK running calendar. Whether you are a beginner, charity runner or on the hunt to set a new personal best you will be offered a brilliant racing experience.
“With the summer now upon us, this is a great time for runners of all standards to head outside, start training, and enter one of our events around the UK. Being a heptathlete, running is obviously a big part of my training regime and every day life and it is something I enjoy.”
As a Vitality Ambassador for PruHealth and PruProtect, Jessica is using her passion for living a healthy lifestyle to help motivate people, whatever their starting point, to make positive changes to their health and fitness and get rewarded for it.
Mark Whitehead, CEO of Series organisers Achieve Events, added:“The Vitality Run Series is all about inspiring many more people to make the step up to successfully to complete one or more of our leading challenge running events. Our races are open to all and our motivation is to help people achieve their goals by assisting them on every step of their journey, through the preparation months all the way through to a first-class event day experience which will live long in the memory. With the support of fantastic partners like PruHealth and PruProtect with Vitality and Laureus, we aim to build a lasting community around the Series which will enable members to share their experiences and enjoy access to unique content, offers and incentives. Look out for more announcements in this regard as the Series develops during its first year.”
Paul Bond, Race Director for the Brighton Half Marathon, concluded saying:“We are delighted to join the Vitality Run Series, alongside many of the UK’s most prestigious running events. This partnership, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of our event, is incredibly exciting and we look forward to welcoming 15,000 runners to the Vitality Brighton Half Marathon on 22nd February 2015, to celebrate with us. The Vitality Brighton Half Marathon is organised by the Sussex Beacon charity. It is our biggest annual fundraising event to support our specialist HIV care centre in Brighton.”
The Vitality Run Series calendar of events include:
Run Hackney, June 22nd 2014
British 10k, July 13th 2014
Oxford Half, October 12th 2014
Brighton Half Marathon, 22nd February 2015
Bath Half, 1st March 2015
North London Half Marathon, March 2015
Reading Half Marathon, March 2015
Liverpool Half Marathon, March 2015
The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is the Official Charity of the Vitality Run Series. Laureus’ target is for runners to raise funds to train 1,000 sports coaches who can change the lives of more than 100,000 young people across the UK. Laureus supports some of the hardest to reach and disadvantaged young people in communities across the UK.
The Vitality Brighton Half Marathon is organised by The Sussex Beacon, a care centre in Brighton supporting men, women and children affected by HIV that provides innovative services to meet the changing needs of people affected by HIV. There is a ten bed in-patient unit, Day Care and Health Management Services, including a women and families service.
For more information on the Vitality Run Series, CLICK HERE:
Newcastle Pride 2014, one of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) festivals in the country returns on Friday, June 18 for three days of parades, live entertainment and events.
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