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Home is where the Pride is!

Five of the North East’s leading housing providers are proving there’s no place like home by sponsoring one of the region’s largest events.

Northern PrideGENTOO, South Tyneside Homes, Places for People, Gateshead Housing Company and Riverside are all backing Newcastle Pride 2015.

The LGBT festival, which returns to the city’s Town Moor from Friday July 17, will be offering three days of live music and entertainment for all ages to celebrate 45 years of world Pride.

B*Witched
B*Witched

South Tyneside Homes and Gentoo, recognised as a Stonewall Star Performer in light of its work to promote equality, are joining forces to co-sponsor the festival’s iconic Parade, which will see more than 7000 people marching from Newcastle Civic Centre to the Town Moor on Saturday July 18.

Places for People and Gateshead Housing Company, which has sponsored Pride since 2008, will both have stalls at the Town Moor throughout the weekend, coinciding with Main Stage performances by stars including Belinda Carlisle and B*Witched.

Belinda Carlisle
Belinda Carlisle

And Riverside, which provides social housing nationwide, will be sponsoring Newcastle Pride’s silicone wristbands, which will be sold at the event to help ensure it can remain free for years to come.

Steve Ward, Director of Riverside, said: “Pride really raises awareness of LGBT issues facing our tenants and employees and it’s great to see just how many people in our city celebrate diversity.

“I am proud to work for a company that is committed to nurturing equality and I was pleased to see Riverside improving its position in Stonewall’s 100 best employers list.  We are equally delighted to be involved in this year’s Newcastle Pride and I know it’s going to be a wonderful event.”      

Newcastle Pride is one of the largest free, LGBT festivals in the UK, attracting more than 65,000 visitors in 2014.

Highlights at this year’s event will include live music at the Town Moor on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as themed zones, including a family and youth area, cabaret tent, Steve Paske Health Zone and women’s zone, open throughout the weekend.

Mark NIchols
Mark NIchols

Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, which organises the annual event, said: “Newcastle Pride has a huge impact on the North East economy and the community as a whole.

“This year we’re running a One Love theme, so it’s extremely apt to see so many of the region’s leading housing providers coming together in support of a single event.”

Newcastle Pride 2015 is free to attend, though a limited number of Gold Circle and VIP tickets are also available, priced from £10 and £25 respectively.

For more information about Newcastle Pride, click here:

 

Bear Patrol abseil down Spinnaker Tower for Rainbow Fund

Bear Patrol organiser Danny Dwyer and entertainer Jason Sutton,  joined 17 friends and Bear Patrol members at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth at 8am this morning to abseil down the 560 foot high Spinnaker Tower.

Danny Dwyer and Jason Sutton arrive at Gunwharf Quays at 6.30am this morning
Danny Dwyer and Jason Sutton arrive at Gunwharf Quays at 7.30am this morning

THE purpose of the early start was to raise funds for the Brighton based Rainbow Fund, who make grants to LGBT/HIV organisations delivering effective front line services to LGBT people in Brighton and Hove.

After six months in the planning, more than 50 members and friends of Bear Patrol reported for duty at 8am this morning, Saturday May 30 to receive safety training before nineteen of them descended from the viewing deck platform into the heart of the Gunwharf Quays shopping centre, 328 feet below.

On the way there were a few tears and some worried faces as one by one the abseilers realised the enormity of the task in hand. However, once the jump was completed any sad expressions turned to smiles as one by one each fundraiser punched the air in relief and joy.

Danny Dywer who organised the jump, said: “I have jumped out of airplanes but that was the most frightening thing I have ever done.”

Entertainer Jason Sutton thought it would be a good idea to return next year and repeat the exercise with Dave Lynn, Sally Vate, Davina Sparke, Lola Lasagne and Drag With No Name, Jason Lee, Jennie Castell and Krissie Ducann coming down the wire.

The final woman to abseil down was Charleen Wood who brought Gunwharf Quays shopping centre to a stop as hundreds of shoppers cheered her onto a successful landing after she had experienced a few wobbles on the way down.

Colin Blanchflower aka The Pianoman was among those to complete the jump and he alone expects to raise in excess of £1,000 if everyone pays up their promised sponsorship.

The Spinnaker Tower, a world-class visitor attraction soars 170 metres above Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent and is taller than the London Eye, Blackpool Tower, Big Ben and is now well established as an iconic British building.

It offers amazing 350º panoramic views of Portsmouth Harbour, The historic Navel Dock Yards, the South coast and the Isle of Wight, with views stretching out for up to 23 miles – breathtaking by day and a glittering sea of lights by night.

There are three viewing decks to explore including the Cafe in the Clouds at 105 metres above sea level, plus a gift shop and Waterfront Cafe on ground level.

Skinnaker Tower at 8am. Fundraisers get ready for their safety briefing
Skinnaker Tower at 8am. Fundraisers get ready for their safety briefing
First abseiler celebrates getting down safely
First abseiler celebrates getting down safely
Second thoughts for Charles Chay?
Second thoughts for Charles Chay?
He did it!
He did it!
Never again!
Never again!
The Pianoman, Colin Blanchflower complete his jump safely
The Pianoman, Colin Blanchflower complete his jump safely raising more than £1,000 for the Rainbow Fund
Jason Sutton is clearly apprehensive as he waits his turn.
Jason Sutton is clearly apprehensive as he waits his turn.
Bear Patrol members offer some helpful advice
Bear Patrol members offer some helpful advice
They came down two by two
They came down two by two
Danny Dwyer is almost there.
Danny Dwyer is almost there.
Danny celebrates!
Danny celebrates!
Miss Jason swings in the wind
Miss Jason swings in the wind
A relieved Miss Jason waves to her fans
A relieved Miss Jason waves to her fans
The Team are all safely down having raised thousands of pounds for the Rainbow Fund
The Team are all safely down having raised thousands of pounds for the Rainbow Fund

For more information about the Spinnaker Tower, click here:

 

 

Brush up for ‘National Smile Month’ at Food Festival

Christina Chatfield
Christina Chatfield

TePe, the experts in interdental care, teamed up with the Dental Health Spa on Queen’s Road, Brighton to host a Brushing Booth to educate children and their parents about good oral care and to help raise funds for Mouth Cancer Awareness during the Brighton Food Festival which closes tomorrow.

Christina Chatfield, Hygienist and Clinical Director at Dental Health Spa said: “We are excited to be a part of this event and look forward to meeting everybody over the weekend. We are inviting anybody who would like advice and information on the best way to look after their teeth to come down and have a chat with our team of experts and learn all about their teeth.”

Elaine Tilling
Elaine Tilling

Elaine Tilling, TePe’s head of clinical education, added: “Oral care is a very important part of everybody’s daily routine, so  we feel this is a fantastic opportunity for us to meet lots of people to demonstrate best practise in helping to keep their teeth and gums, healthy.

“We will be supporting Christina and her team by sharing advice and tips on good oral care as well as showing people how clean their ‘feasting fangs’ are. Our team of dental professionals from Dental Health Spa and the British Dental Health Foundation will be on site to offer advice on how to encourage your children to brush regularly and effectively; providing samples of disclosing tablets which help identify plaque build-up in the mouth as well as sending everybody away with a goodie bag full of tools to help them on their way.”

The Brighton Food Festival coincides with the British Dental Health Foundation’s National Smile Month (May 18 – June 18) and the Brushing Booth will be taking donations to support Mouth Cancer Awareness.

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