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Celebs including Harry Styles and Rita Ora show their support for Stonewall

Stonewall launch App and Instagram campaign to celebrate 25th anniversary.

Harry Sykes
Harry Sykes

Stonewall and SNOG Frozen Yoghurt have launched a joint campaign to celebrate 25 years of the lesbian, gay and bisexual equality charity and look forward to the next 25 years.

The #FirstSNOG campaign, an online interactive photo exhibition, will celebrate Stonewall’s 25 years of campaigning so that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are free to love and be loved.

The exhibition, already features famous supporters of Stonewall including Harry Styles, Rita Ora, Sam Smith, Nick Grimshaw, Calvin Klein, Florence Welsh, Boy George and Katy B.

To view the exhibition, CLICK HERE: 

An exclusive SNOG app, designed by Carri Munden of Cassette Playa, is available to download for the general public to voice their support as well as upload their own #FirstSNOG picture.

To download the app, CLICK HERE: 

Speaking about the collaboration and the brands support of Stonewall, SNOG founders Rob Baines and Pablo Uribe said: “This year has been an exciting year for SNOG, we launched our first range that you can enjoy at home and we wanted to mark this by supporting a cause personal to our hearts – people’s freedom to SNOG who they want. You never forget your first SNOG and it should not matter who that is with. We admire and respect the work of Stonewall and are proud to be part of the 25th year celebration. We commissioned Cassette Playa as we loved the freedom and vibrancy of Carri Munden’s graphic sensibility and we are thrilled so many of the SNOG fans have got involved in the campaign.”

Ruth Hunt
Ruth Hunt

Ruth Hunt, Acting Chief Executive of Stonewall, added: “In our 25th year we know that there’s still so much work to do. Around the world in countries like Russia, Nigeria and Uganda, LGBT people are being oppressed and persecuted simply because of who they are. We’re excited to collaborate with SNOG to help us continue to campaign for LGBT equality around the world.”

As well as raising awareness, SNOG is helping Stonewall to raise funds via their London based shops where a special Stonewall serving, featuring a selection of rainbow coloured fruits, will be available for the duration of the Stonewall 25 celebration. A donation of £3 can be made to Stonewall by texting ‘SNOG’ to 70300, with proceeds going towards the charity’s continued international work.

To view Stonewall’s new website to celebrate everything that has been achieved over the last 25 years: CLICK HERE:

 

Council brings in over £2 million to help disabled residents adapt their homes

Brighton & Hove council’s Housing Adaptation Service spent almost £1.2 million in the last financial year, adapting council homes for disabled residents.

Brighton CouncilThese grants enabled disabled residents to stay in their own homes and maintain independent lives for as long as possible.

These included almost 800 minor adaptations, such as fitted hand rails and raised electrical sockets, and 329 major alterations costing over £1,000 each, such as replacing bathrooms with wet rooms, fitting stair lifts and ramps.

As well as helping council tenants the council also helps those who rent privately and own their own homes. Major housing adaptations in the private sector are largely funded through the Disabled Facilities Grant, (DFG), which made awards totalling £962,826 to the service to deliver adaptations last year.

In total 107 grant applications were completed, with the average amount of grant awarded being just under £9,000.

Cllr Bill Randall
Cllr Bill Randall

Councillor Bill Randall, Chair of Housing, said: “These adaptations drastically improve quality of life, allowing people to stay where they want to be: in their own home, in their own community, remaining independent, as well as near family, friends and familiar support networks.

“The team has worked really hard to ensure the service we offer has speeded up, with priority cases allocated within 2 weeks. This means that the whole household, the disabled resident, and those who care for them will gain the fullest value from the improvements to their home.”

The council’s Housing Adaptation Service has been working with the Tenant Disability Network, (TDN), to improve and update the information for council tenants about the service.

Alison Gray, Chair of the TDN said: ”It has been a great experience to collaborate with the council on this project. I am delighted that we have had our say and our knowledge and experience will make all the difference in making the information as ‘user friendly’ and informative as possible.”

 

Views wanted on the original Brighton Park

Queen’s Park was once the playground of the rich and upper classes but for over 100 years has been owned by the people of Brighton & Hove.

Queens Park

The local community now has the opportunity to help shape future improvements and preserve the park’s heritage for future generations.

Brighton & Hove City Council has been working with the Friends of Queens Park, residents and local landscape architect Tom Hardiment to develop proposals for the park through a Masterplan.

People can comment on the Masterplan and contribute their views from now until July 23. The completed Masterplan will inform decisions around the day to day management and maintenance of the park and will form the basis to apply for external funding to complete some of the more significant works.

As well as a wildlife garden which includes medicinal herbs, a well-used playground, scented garden and tennis courts, the Grade II listed park also has a large wildlife pond and a clock tower with nesting boxes for swifts.

The Masterplan makes suggestions for carrying out restoration work, opening up views and upgrading lighting and seating. Views will be collated and be put in the final plan for publication in January 2015.

People will also be able to give their views in Queens Park at the ‘Bark in the Park’ event this Sunday, June 15 and ‘Picnic in the Park’ on June 29.

To contribute your views through the website, CLICK HERE:  

Cllr Pete West
Cllr Pete West

Councillor Pete West, chair of the environment and sustainability committee, said: “Queens Park is extremely popular and it is important that we develop a Masterplan with the community who play such a big part in looking after it. Residents feel passionate about the park and their input will ensure this special place continues to be a haven for both people and wildlife for years to come.”

Property owner Thomas Attree bought the land, then known as Brighton Park, in 1825 and developed it into a residential open space with villas, inspired by Regent’s Park in London. A spa opened there the same year. Attree renamed it Queens Park after Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV, as she was a regular visitor to the spa. That site is now occupied by the Royal Spa nursery school.

 

Sussex Beacon ‘Garden Gadabout’

Private gardens in Brighton & Hove open to public to support local charity starting June 21.

Beacon Garden gaddabout

More than 40 private gardens and community spaces will be open to the public on June, 21-22 and 28-29, for the Garden Gadabout 2014.

Gardens will be open from 11am – 5pm each day. From small city courtyards to expansive open spaces, there are gardens to discover in Hove, Montpelier, Fiveways and Roundhill, Preston Park and Surrenden, Stanmer, East of Brighton, and coastal areas.

Visitors can get green ideas to take home or simply enjoy the cakes, lunches and refreshments that many of the gardens will be offering.

To find out more about gardens open near you CLICK HERE: 

The annual event raises money for The Sussex Beacon, a charity for men, women and families affected by HIV. Almost 20 years ago a few local gardens opened their gates to raise money for the Beacon. Since then, the Garden Gadabout has blossomed into one of the largest open garden schemes in Sussex.

Among the highlights for 2014 is The Garden House at 5 Warleigh Road in Fiveways and Roundhill. This former market garden is brimming with wildlife and brings together an eclectic mix of garden design; from bohemian to formal.

Local celebrity Chris Steed, from the Channel 4 programme Googlebox, is opening his garden at 70 Dale View in Hove. This surprisingly large space includes many features with gravel pathways leading you past a herb garden, rose garden, attractive vegetable plots, wild flower meadows, mixed borders and a summerhouse.

New gardens open for 2014 include 42 Brittany Road, Hove. A contemporary garden on two levels, the lawn is surrounded by borders with lots of interesting plants and combinations, perennials, annuals and shrubs to encourage wildlife. A large collection of succulents are displayed in original and creative ways.

Another new garden for this year is 25 Florence Road, Fiveways. This coastal front garden has informal planting of fruit, vegetables and flowers loosely based on the principle of forest gardening. Plus, a garden studio with ‘green roof’ seeded with downland and meadow flower mix. Tea, coffee, cakes, terracotta irrigation pots (Ollas) and plants will be for sale.

Simon Dowe
Simon Dowe

Simon Dowe, CEO of The Sussex Beacon, says: ‘The Garden Gadabout gives people the opportunity to gather inspiration and ideas for their own gardens, as well as raising money for vital local services for people living with HIV in Sussex. Every year we have to raise 1.2 million pounds to keep our services running and the Garden Gadabout helps us to reach our target.”

The Sussex Beacon’s own hill-top garden will also be open. This tranquil space is managed by a volunteer gardening group who are committed to making the garden look great all year round. Colour and texture are abundant and the space features a sizeable pond. Visitors can relax on the patio and enjoy cream teas, ploughman’s lunches, children’s activities and plant sales.

How to Buy Tickets:

• Advance Day Tickets cost £6 / £7 on the day.

• Advance weekend tickets are £10 / £12 during the weekend, under 12’s go free.

To buy tickets online CLICK HERE: 

Tickets are also available from The Sussex Beacon charity shops on St James Street and London Road, Brighton.

 

Katy B joins Pride main stage line-up

Queen of the dance floor, Katy B will be appearing at Brighton Pride on August 2.

Katy B
Katy B

Katy B, a singer songwriter on a mission, will perform numbers from her Mercury Award nominated 2013 album, Little Red and her critically aclaimed 2011 debut album On a mission.

She will be bringing her unique mix of all things dubstep, r’n’b, funky, soulful and UK garage to the Main Stage at Pride on Preston Park.

Expect euphoric thrills and dub-fuelled spills as she delivers from her stunning repertoire of tracks including Lights On, Easy Please Me, Witches Brew, Crying For No Reason, Perfect Stranger, 5AM, Still and the NME Dancefloor Anthem award-winning Broken Record.

Katy established her live credentials touring with Tinie Tempah at Lovebox, iTunes Festival, V Festival, Wireless and Glastonbury. There is little doubt that her performance at Brighton Pride 2014 will be one of the highlights of this years festival.

What: Pride Brighton & Hove 2014: Freedom To Live

Where: Pride Festival Preston Park

When: Saturday, August 2

Time: 12noon – 10pm.

Tickets: £9 /£12.50 Early Bird & £15 first release advance tickets have sold out. £17.50 advance second release available in June /£20 in July and more on the day.

‘David Hill Experience’ to raise money for Sussex Beacon

The David Hill Experience now in it’s third year has six events under their belts raising huge sums money for children’s hospice Chestnut Tree House.

Dave Hill Experience

For one special night the team behind the project are raising money for the Sussex Beacon.

To be held on the evening of June 18, the star of the show, David Hill, a former chair of Brighton Pride, will also be celebrating his own birthday and has gone all out to ensure that the line-up of entertainment reflects both the charity and it’s supporters, the vibrant nature of the Brighton gay scene and his own tongue-in-cheek style of performance.

Alongside David, there will be performances from Krissie Ducann, Dolly Rocket and Jason Lee, supported by the incredibly talented newcomer, Jenna Hall. Stealing the show (by grabbing the headline slot in both act one and act two so she can fit in a change of frock) will be global superstar and Brighton legend, Masie Trollette.

For those who’ve not attended before, expect an evening of glitzy showbiz and comedy, stunning vocal performance and money-can’t-buy prizes in both a silent auction and raffle, all set in the beautiful Proud Cabaret Brighton, Kemptown, a venue donated free of charge for the event by it’s management and staff.

Tickets are just £10 and every penny goes to the charity. None of the acts get paid, nor do the event staff, and all the prizes are donated by supporters of the David Hill Experience.

Prizes range from Golden Circle tickets to Brighton Pride (donated by Brighton Pride CIC), to unique Build-a-Bear donated by National Student Pride, to the ‘star lot’, a framed photograph of Adele signed by the songstress herself.

To book a seat/table EMAIL: with your requirements.

What: The David Hill Experience Sussex Beacon Fundraiser

Where: Proud Cabaret Brighton, 83 St Gearges Road, Brighton

When: Wednesday, June 18

Time: Doors open at 7pm show starts at 8pm

Tickets: £10 telephone 01273  719759

Wednesday 18th June 2014

Proud Cabaret Brighton,

83 St George’s Rd,

Brighton & Hove,

BN21EF

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