25/07/2015 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Good Vibrations choir brings joy to hospice community

Posted on 25/07/2015 by Gary Hart

The Martlets Good Vibrations choir has been performing at open gardens around Brighton & Hove to raise money for the Martlets Hospice.

The forty strong choir is made up of hospice patients, family members, staff and volunteers singing under the musical direction of local singer and voice coach Aneesa Chaudhry.

For many members it has been a chance to find a voice they never knew they had.

For Sally Sprinthall the choir came at a time when she needed it most. Her husband Mark had been battling cancer for 3 years, it had been a very long and sad journey for them both but the choir gave them something to feel happy about.

Sally said: “I was a little unsure at first but it turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done, as it was an amazing experience. I found that singing along with everyone else gave me such a feeling of joy, happiness and a real sense of care and support. I left the choir that day feeling so uplifted and realized that I was smiling for the first time in a very long while.”

Two of Sally’s sisters and her niece have now joined the choir.

Her sister Shirley Alston, said: “Sally joined the choir in her darkest moment, and found great comfort. For me taking part in this choir has lifted my soul, given me more confidence and put a smile on a very sad face, and since I have been singing my blood pressure has reduced so not only have my spirits been lifted my health has improved too.”

Ann Borg, Choir Coordinator at the Martlets Hospice, said: “Our choir feels like a real community with all of us coming together from such different places and on such different journeys. We have patients and carers, nurses and office staff and people with no previous connection to the Martlets at all.

“It doesn’t matter how you are feeling when you come to a rehearsal. If you are feeling happy or sad you will always feel ‘held’ by the choir. It’s the support and understanding that people give to each other which makes this a really special choir.”

Formed in March this year the hospice has been inviting anyone living locally who has ever wanted to sing to go along to musical workshops.

They are always looking for new members, no experience is necessary, all you need is enthusiasm and a love of music.

Rehearsals take place on Friday afternoons and Tuesday evenings at the Martlets Hospice in Hove.

The choir is free to join but staff at the Martlets suggest a £3 donation per session to help cover costs.

To book your place call the Good Vibrations choir Martlets Day Services on: 01273 273400

For more information about the Martlets, click here:

Charity Commission’s actions to be subject to Judicial Review

Posted on 25/07/201526/07/2015 by Gary Hart

High Court rules in favour of an application by CAGE for a Judicial Review of Charity Commission’s actions.

CAGE is an independent advocacy organisation that works to empower communities affected by the War on Terror and to highlight abuses of due process.

In a landmark decision, the High Court has granted permission to proceed with a Judicial Review of the Charity Commission on the grounds that it may have acted outside of its remit in pressuring charities to stop funding and associating with CAGE.

Lawyers for CAGE will argue at a hearing in October that the Charity Commission overstepped its powers and acted outside of the law in seeking assurances that charities should cease funding CAGE and never to do so in the future.

CAGE launched the Judicial Review following letters sent out in March by the Charity Commission to the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Roddick Foundation, pressuring them to commit to never funding CAGE again.

The Charity Commission also contacted several other charities to pressure them into not associating with CAGE.

CAGE maintain that not only did the Charity Commission spread false information based on media reports about CAGE, but it also assumed the role of counterterrorism police, rather than a charity sector regulator in reacting to CAGE’s decision to question the role of the security forces in radicalising Mohammed Emwazi prior to him leaving for Syria.

Dr Adnan Siddiqui, director of CAGE, said: “We are pleased at today’s decision. The rule of law remains an ideal worth striving for in the interests of good government and peace at home and abroad.”

“The Charity Commission’s actions against CAGE have sent a chill through the charity sector, and this is a welcome step in the right direction for all members of civil society.”

Zoe Nicola of HMA Solicitors, representing CAGE said: “We are grateful to the Court for granting permission to pursue the Judicial Review against the Charity Commission, on the basis that there was an arguable case that they acted beyond their statutory powers in seeking assurances that, in essence, prevented the provision of future charitable funding to CAGE.”

“The case raises major constitutional issues on whether the Commission can require assurances from charities not to spend private money in support of controversial causes. We welcome the Court’s decision that the Judicial Review raises sufficiently important matters that the full appeal should be unusually determined by a full Divisional Court.”

“Given that this matter is going before the full Court, we cannot make any further comment at this stage.”

Brunswick Festival: August 15 & 16

Posted on 25/07/2015 by Gary Hart

Brunswick Festival is a voluntary organisation which produces an annual festival in celebration of the diverse community of Brunswick, Hove.

Ariel view of 2009 Brunwick Festival: Photo: Toni Tye

Through the hard work and efforts of a small team of local residents and volunteers, this vibrant community festival has grown over the years from being a low key picnic on the green, and now encompasses 2 whole weekends of outdoor events.

Brunswick Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the city, and this year is celebrating its 34th year!

Highlights of this year’s festival include:

Sunday, August 9 2015 – Rural Day at St Ann’s Well Garden featuring Scruffs dog show.

Bringing the countryside to the city and raising awareness of the environment.
Featuring the ever popular ‘Scruffs’ Dog Show, with creative and nature activities for children, puppet shows, arts and crafts, conservation and charity stalls, home made jams and chutney, rural craft stalls, strolling players and a brass band. Take a picnic or sample snacks and home bakes from the lovely tea tent.

August 15 & 16 2015 – Brunswick Festival in the Square.

A fun filled family weekend with a FREE programme of live music, dj’s, dance groups, circus skills, healing area, children’s activities, arts and crafts.

A bustling market area with bric-a-brac, home made goods, vintage clothes, charity information stands and other wonderful stalls galore.

A world food area with tasty delights and healthy snacks. A tea tent with the best home made cakes on earth! The ‘Brunswick Tavern’ tent with real ale, cider, wine, beer and jugs of refreshing Pimms.

Thanks to a £7,000 grant from the Big Lottery, Awards For All scheme, this year the popular Willowisp family area is being extended. On offer will be arts and crafts for all ages, circus skills, puppetry and magic shows !

There is a fantastic line up of DJ’s and bands confirmed who will be playing a wide range of music from Louisiana swamp, blues, jazz, rock n roll, psychobilly, country, folk, indie pop ska and surf including:

♦ The Bikini Beach Band (closing band on Saturday)

♦ The Long Tall Texans (Closing band on Sunday)

Red Raucus, Dollar Bill, Little Victor Trio, One Flight Up, Pearl’s Lion, Bent Cousin, The Real Si-B, SkavooVie!, Bmore McVowty’s World Music Express, Calling Curtis and Oscar Arnell.

There is also a show case of young talent and emerging bands from BIMM, Pacho, Dakota, Silver Dime, Frankie Furlow, singers from Vocademy and Brighton School of Singing. The Cascade Creative Recovery Choir, Masmoudi Belly Dancers, Brighton Urban Arts Academy, magic from the magnificent Mr. Velcro, giant calligraphy art by Takako Higgs, childrens parade with Maracatu musicians and dancers..and much, much more!

Trans*Pride March starts at noon

Posted on 25/07/201525/07/2015 by Besi

The Trans*Pride March will start from outside the Marlborough Pub in Princes Street at noon today, Saturday July 25.

People wanting to take part in the march should meet outside the Marlborough at 11.45am. The march will move off at noon, turn left up St James Street and left into Dorset Gardens where the main event will take place in the gardens

During the afternoon there will be speakers, performers, community stalls to look at and plenty of room to sit and have a picnic.

It is advisable to take something to sit on following the torrential rain yesterday.

To celebrate Trans*Pride organisers have released a series of photographs of people from Brighton and beyond whose images will be projected onto Brighton Town Hall this evening after dark.

Photos by Fox Fisher and Alonglines Photography.

‘Pete’s Kitchen’ introduces new menu at the A Bar

Posted on 25/07/201521/07/2015 by Gary Hart

Pete’s Kitchen, a tasty new addition to Brighton’s LGBT community scene has recently introduced a delicious menu at the A Bar.

WEB.600.2 — Stephen Mcqinn and Peter Sharkey

The franchise arrived in April and is now serving a new menu full of good quality home-made food.

The kitchen serves classic favourites including Sausage and mash, scampi and chips, and Pete’s popular Homemade Burgers. For those that would prefer a lighter option, there is a selection of salads and sandwiches and breakfast dishes are served all day, including a traditional Scottish breakfast complete with haggis prepared, by a real Scotsman.

Franchisee, Peter Sharkey said: “I’ve worked in kitchens for many years, so it’s nice to be serving my own food that I hope people will enjoy.”

Diners have already been impressed with Pete’s effort as he managed to win second place for ‘Best Sunday Lunch’, at this year’s Golden Hand Bags Awards within weeks of opening.

The new kitchen serves a traditional Sunday lunch starting at £12.50, with a choice of Roast Lamb, Roast Beef, Pork Belly, Half Roast Chicken, or a homemade Nut Roast all served with seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, and crispy roast potatoes.

The kitchen will serve cream tea and different homemade cakes and deserts each week, and will be serving food from 12pm – 8pm everyday.

Alex Matthews from The A Bar, says: “We’re very pleased to have Pete here, everyone loves his food, and the new menu has already shown great potential.”

For more information, click here:

‘Like’ Pete’s Kitchen on Facebook to receive a 10% Discount Card

You will find Pete’s Kitchen at A Bar, 11-12 Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TL. To book a table telephone: 01273 696691.

To enquire about private functions email: info@peteskitchenbrighton.com

National charity to run city’s rough sleeper service

Posted on 25/07/2015 by Gary Hart

St Mungo’s Broadway has been awarded the contract to run Brighton & Hove City Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Homelessness Service from September for three years.

Last April two well established, homelessness charities St Mungo’s and Broadway joined forces.

St Mungo’s has helped people sleeping rough since 1969, and has developed many ground breaking rough sleeper services including the first specialist project for elderly rough sleepers, a service for those addicted to alcohol and, more recently, they set up the first Recovery College in the homelessness sector.

Broadway was created on 1 April 2002 from the merger of two London charities that also supported thousands of homeless throughout the city for more than 20 years.

Over the last five years St Mungo’s Broadway has expanded outside London to support rough sleepers in Bristol, Reading and Oxford and South Essex as well as the Sussex Outreach service, which covers the whole of the county, except the Unitary authority of Brighton and Hove.

Petra Salva, Director for Street Homelessness and Outreach Services at St Mungo’s Broadway, said: “The starting point for our work is that rough sleeping is harmful and dangerous, and that no one should have to sleep rough in this day and age. We’ll be working with people to tackle the particular problems that lead to them sleeping rough and aiming to connect them with services as needed, from housing to health services and into skills and work opportunities.

“We are looking forward to working with local partners in Brighton & Hove to support people as they move away from homelessness and on with their lives.”

Cllr Clare Moonan sits on the council’s new committee for Neighbourhoods, Communities and Equalities and is lead spokesperson for rough sleepers.

She said: “Our city has long been under pressure from growing homelessness, particularly at this time of austerity. No one wants to sleep rough, and I am certain that St Mungo’s Broadway has the combined experience and expertise to work with the other partners across the city to support the many vulnerable people who live out on our streets to overcome their complex problems, and find the best way to rebuild their lives.”

St Mungo’s Broadway believes people can – and do – recover from homelessness. They provide a bed and support to more than 2,500 people a night who are either homeless or at risk, and work to prevent homelessness, helping about 25,000 people a year.

They support men and women through more than 250 projects including emergency, hostel and supportive housing projects, advice services, specialist physical health, mental health and skills and work services

Call us now

Day: July 25, 2015

Good Vibrations choir brings joy to hospice community

The Martlets Good Vibrations choir has been performing at open gardens around Brighton & Hove to raise money for the Martlets Hospice.

Charity Commission’s actions to be subject to Judicial Review

High Court rules in favour of an application by CAGE for a Judicial Review of Charity Commission’s actions.

Brunswick Festival: August 15 & 16

Brunswick Festival is a voluntary organisation which produces an annual festival in celebration of the diverse community of Brunswick, Hove.

Trans*Pride March starts at noon

The Trans*Pride March will start from outside the Marlborough Pub in Princes Street at noon today, Saturday July 25.

‘Pete’s Kitchen’ introduces new menu at the A Bar

Pete’s Kitchen, a tasty new addition to Brighton’s LGBT community scene has recently introduced a delicious menu at the A Bar.

National charity to run city’s rough sleeper service

St Mungo’s Broadway has been awarded the contract to run Brighton & Hove City Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Homelessness Service from September for three years.

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The Martlets Good Vibrations choir has been performing at open gardens around Brighton & Hove to raise money for the Martlets Hospice.

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High Court rules in favour of an application by CAGE for a Judicial Review of Charity Commission’s actions.

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Brunswick Festival is a voluntary organisation which produces an annual festival in celebration of the diverse community of Brunswick, Hove.

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The Trans*Pride March will start from outside the Marlborough Pub in Princes Street at noon today, Saturday July 25.

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Pete’s Kitchen, a tasty new addition to Brighton’s LGBT community scene has recently introduced a delicious menu at the A Bar.

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St Mungo’s Broadway has been awarded the contract to run Brighton & Hove City Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Homelessness Service from September for three years.

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