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Kemptown MP Kirby keeps up pressure for hospital funding

Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven is urging residents across the city to sign his petition to secure funding to develop the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Simon Kirby MP hands over petition to Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP
Simon Kirby MP hands over petition to Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP

Today he promised to continue to put pressure on Treasury officials to invest £420 million to redevelop the Hospital located in his constituency which serves residents city wide.

To sign the petition, CLICK HERE:

Simon said: “I have been actively campaigning for a long time now for the £420 million funding to redevelop the Royal Sussex Hospital. I would urge everybody who supports my campaign for this money to sign my hospital petition at www.simonkirby.org

“It is right and proper that there is detailed scrutiny before the Government commits such a huge amount of money, but through my repeated efforts I have left the Chancellor, Prime Minister and Health Secretary in no doubt as to the importance of this money for patients and staff here in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven.”

Simon has been pushing this issue since being elected. Last October he handed over a petition signed by over 1,000 local residents to the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP, he has questioned the Prime Minister about the proposed investment and has personally accompanied Cabinet Ministers around the hospital.

He continued: “Residents can be assured I will continue to push for this money to get the hospital that Brighton and the surrounding area deserves and will continue my lobbying efforts right up until a decision is made. The current facilities predate Florence Nightingale and I am working hard to secure the 21st century facilities that patients and staff deserve.

“Contrary to what some would have you believe, the money was never earmarked by the previous Government and, if approved, will represent a very sizeable investment in much improved NHS facilities in the area. As keen as I am for the work to start immediately, I am aware that it is taxpayers money and therefore the case for the money must be water tight.”

 

Pride Arts and Film Season 2014: First event announced

After the success of the ‘ICONS’ exhibition last year, artists from the LGBT sector (and their supporters) will return to the Jubilee Library this summer for another creative extravaganza.

Pride Arts Exhibition

The event will bring together a collective of artistic talent to raise funds for Pride and the Rainbow Fund who they support with their fundraising.

Last year saw an auction of rare posters donated by The Keith Haring Foundation in New York City raise over £1300 for The Rainbow Fund, a Brighton and Hove based grant-giving fund for local LGBT and HIV/AIDS organisations. A further £600 was donated to Pride raised via art sales and the private view event and was used to benefit the LGBT community in Brighton.

This years exhibition is titled Freedom To Live and will feature some outstanding artists from the South East.

Other events, to be confirmed, will feature as part of an expanded Arts & Film Festival launching on July 17  at the Freedom To Live Private View at Jubilee Library. The Festival will cover multi-aspects of LGBT arts, culture and lifestyle.

Organiser Hizze Fletcher, says: ”We were overwhelmed by the public interest that was generated around this event and it has motivated us to expand the Arts & Film festival this year. It will enable us to showcase the talents of the LGBT creative community (and their supporters) to a wider audience as part of a new community-driven Pride organisation.”

Director of Pride, Paul Kemp, says: “2013 was a groundbreaking year for Pride with over 20 umbrella events contributing to the first Pride Arts and Film season. With this year’s Freedom to live campaign we really would love to see even more LGBT artists getting involved and help us develop the cultural offering. We’re thrilled that Hizze Fletcher has agreed to come on board once again with Pride this year to produce the Pride Arts exhibition at the Jubilee Library, which was one of the keystone events last year.

Anyone interested in submitting to the ‘Freedom To Live’ exhibition or getting involved in the art side of the Festival via their own event should email Hizze: hizze@brighton-pride.org

To view a short film about last years ICONS exhibition, made by award winning Lucky Tooth Productions, CLICK HERE:

What: Freedom to Live Exhibition

Where: Jubilee Library, Jubilee St, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1GE

When: From July 18 – August 3

Brighton shines in Boyz Scene Awards

Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp

Brighton Pride, Paul Kemp, Wild Fruit and Legends all came out top of the class at the 22nd Annual Boyz Scene Awards staged at the Two Brewers in London last Thursday (February 13).

Legend won the Best Out Of Town Venue while Brighton Pride received the award for the Best Pride, Festival or Outdoor Event in the Country.

Paul Kemp director of Brighton Pride CIC Company also received a long term achievement award for his nationally recognised Club Night Wild Fruit which has been running for the last 23 years.

Paul said: “It is a great honour to receive these two awards but more importantly it puts a national spotlight on Brighton once again and hopefully will encourage more LGBT tourists to visit this fabulous city.”

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped deliver Brighton Pride and the Wild Fruit team who have worked tirelessly over the years to bring first class, cutting edge clubbing to Brighton and have helped shape a Pride event with an international reputation for excellence while still respecting its political roots.”

For full list of winners, CLICK HERE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Fund appoints local activist to fundraising role

Community activist Chris Cooke has been appointed to chair the Rainbow Fund’s fundraising sub-commttee.

Chris Cooke
Chris Cooke

Chris has a wealth of experience in the local LGBT voluntary sector, including previously at the Sussex Beacon and currently as an LGBT rep for Community Works.

Community Works helps organisations and individuals across the city make as big a difference as possible to local lives and issues. This can be anyone from community groups, voluntary organisations and volunteers to businesses and public sector organisations. In fact anyone who wants to give their time, expertise and energy towards making Brighton & Hove a better place for everyone.

In his new role at the Rainbow Fund, Chris will co-ordinate the smaller fundraising activities of the Fund, such as collections at the bars and venues. He will also manage the volunteers who support the Rainbow Fund.

His appointment to help the Rainbow Fund is entirely voluntary. The Rainbow Fund has no paid staff and no expenses. 100% of money donated to the Rainbow Fund is distributed to deserving LGBT organisations provide a front line service to the LGBT community in Brighton & Hove.

Paul Elgood
Paul Elgood

Paul Elgood, Chairman of the Rainbow Fund said: “We welcome Chris to the team, and hope that he will play an active role with our fundraising.

“Few people have the experience that Chris has working in the local LGBT community, which makes him ideal for this fundraising role.”

Chris said: “I am delighted to be joining the Rainbow Fund at this exciting time in its development.  I hope my wealth of experience in the voluntary sector and my extensive network of contacts in the LGBT community will be put to good use.  I have long admired the great work the Fund does and am thrilled to be part of the team as it moves forward”

 

 

 

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