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Trans project celebrates 15th anniversary

Clare Project celebrates fifteenth anniversary with a reception at Marlborough Theatre.

Clare Project 15th Anniversary Party

The Clare Project started in 2000 and the first meetings took place at the Shadi Danin clinic on New Church Road, Hove.

Shadi, a specialist in treatments for skin and hair, had a number of trans people attending her clinic for treatments and so she encouraged them to meet up, get to know each other and offer support to each other.

She offered a room at her salon in Hove for the first meetings of the new group to take place. The Clare Project was born and it was good to see Shadi at the anniversary 15 years later.

Birthday cake baked by Wendy Byrne
Birthday cake baked by Wendy Byrne

The evening was compared by Clare Project secretary Kim Curran who stood in for current chair, Dr Sam Hall who was ill.  Speeches were given by Clare Project facilitator Rosemary Allix, backbone of the groups weekly Tuesday drop-ins at the Dorset Gardens Methodist Church; author and founding member Alice  Purnell OBE; former Chair Steph Scott and poet extraordinaire Alice Denny.

The Clare Project is a self-supporting group based in Brighton and Hove open to anyone wishing to explore issues around gender identity.

Their main activity is a weekly drop-in every Tuesday, which aims to provide a safe and confidential place for people to meet with others to share their life experiences, and find information, support and companionship. A facilitator and a psychotherapist are at the drop-in each Tuesday.

Whilst the group is mainly attended by transgender, transsexual and gender dysphoric people, they aim to be all-inclusive as they recognise the complexities surrounding the issue of gender identity. The project has no religious affiliation.

Wendy Byrne baked a celebratory fruit cake to mark the special landmark occasion and photographer Stella Michaels took pictures of the event for a planned exhibition.

Clare Project

For more information about Clare Project, click here:

 

 

Government approves final funds for Royal Sussex County Hospital

Government approves the final business case for £484 million redevelopment of Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Jeremy Hunt MP and Simon Kirby MP
Jeremy Hunt MP and Simon Kirby MP

The Hospital originally put forward an outline business case for £420 million which was approved by the Government last year.

Following this, due to an increase in the costs of the scheme Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven lobbied both the Chancellor and the Health Minister for an additional £60 million to complete the redevelopment.

This additional £60 million was announced in February 2015, taking the total set aside for the redevelopment to £480 million.

Preparatory works started but although the money had been set aside, the full business case still needed to be approved.

Chancellor, George Osborne, said: “Simon has worked very hard over long period of time to help make the case for Brighton’s hospital redevelopment. He has been a loud voice for his constituents and I share his delight that the final business case has been approved. I do not think this would have happened without him.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, added: “Simon has been a constant champion for the redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital and this approval of the final business case is a testament to his hard work on behalf of all his constituents. The changes will secure the future of services in Brighton for local people – I look forward to working with Simon to improve healthcare here further.”

Simon said: “The redevelopment of the Hospital is something very close to my heart having lobbied both the Chancellor and the Health Secretary for a long time. Some people were worried that it wouldn’t happen after the Election but I am absolutely delighted at the announcement.

This redevelopment will enable the hospital to provide the very best facilities that the patients and staff deserve. This is great news for our city and the wider area.

I would again like to pay tribute to the hard-working staff at the hospital for putting together such a strong case.”

New Chair for Brighton Bear Weekend

September was a busy month for Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) organisers.

Graham Munday
Graham Munday

Original founder, Chris Murphy was appointed as Patron, a new website was launched, new committee members appointed and Graham Munday was appointed chair of the organising committee for the 2016 event.

Graham says: “It is exciting times here at BBW and my appointment as chair is an honour. However, BBW is much more than one person. It is truly a team effort.

“It’s great to have David Harvie and Matt Brooks back on the committee bringing all their experience from organising previous BBW weekends and events.

“We are pleased to welcome new members Jon Goodacre, Lee Miller and Mark Barbeary to the organising team. They bring exciting new ideas and experience in other fields that is important to us all and soon we will be launching next years logo.” 

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From left to right: Jon Goodacre, Mark Barbeary, David Harvie, Lee Miller, Graham Munday, Matt Brooks and the dog is called Guinness.

For all information and updates on BBW, click here: 

Fantastic auction lots at the Beacon Halloween Ball

With five days to go there are just a few tickets available for the Sussex Beacon Halloween Horror Show at the Grand Hotel.

Sussex Beacon Halloween Show

The Ball on Saturday, October 31 will be hosted by actress Lorraine Chase and Olympic figure skater, Robin Cousins, to raise funds for the Sussex Beacon who support people living with HIV across Sussex.

Lorraine and Robin will play the roles of a ghostly film director and their assistant. Guests will be taken on a Haunted Hollywood themed musical journey directed by west end director Carole Todd. The cast will include members of The Brighton Academy as well as all girl singing group The Sundaes.

Main Auction highlights include:

Lot 2: London Fashion Week Package

Spot the celebrities and get insider fashion knowledge and style advice with 2 tickets to the Antonio Bernardi show at London Fashion Week in 2016. Arrive in style after a haircut at Trevor Sorbie’s Brighton Salon, where the team have been handpicked by Trevor and trained to meticulously high standards. The package also includes a new suit up to the value of £300 from Debenhams menswear, a chef’s selection menu for two plus bottle of wine and cocktail at Brighton and Hove’s most exciting new restaurant, MARKET, and 2 open tickets to a show at the illustrious Brighton Dome. Donated by Hugh Devlin, Trevor Sorbie’s Brighton Salon, Scott Ford, MARKET, and The Brighton Dome.

Lot 7: A Commons Lunch with Brighton and Hove’s MPs

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A unique opportunity to have lunch in the House of Commons, where many great figures from this country’s rich political history have dined, accompanied by all three of Brighton and Hove’s MPs. You will also have the opportunity, as a member of the public, to tour the Houses of Parliament. Also included in the package is a bottle of Commons Champagne signed by MPs Peter Kyle, Simon Kirby, and Caroline LucasDonated by Peter Kyle MP, Simon Kirby MP, and Caroline Lucas MP.

Silent Auction Prizes include:

A Week’s Stay in Paris Apartment for 4 People
Say au revoir to England for a week, with friends or family, and enjoy a classy, Parisian holiday. You’ll be staying in a luxurious apartment situated in the 8th arrondissement, a stone’s throw away from the Champs-Élysées. Donated by Duncan Spence.

Grand Spa Day, Dinner and Overnight Stay for 2
Explore the comprehensive array of pampering options available at the prestigious Grand Hotel in Brighton. Afterwards you’ll enjoy a succulent meal, and traipse back to your room for some well-deserved slumber. Donated by The Grand Hotel.

To purchase tickets for the Halloween Ball, click here:

Brighton Dr Martens raise £570 for Rainbow Fund

Sonny and Nicole from Dr Martens, the iconic footwear brand and retailer handover £570 to Chris Gull the chair of the Rainbow Fund.

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The money was raised during Pride when staff at the shop sold raffle tickets to win various pairs of unique Dr Martens boots specially designed for the Rainbow Fund raffle.

You can find Dr Martens at 15 Prince Albert Street, Brighton, telephone: 01273 734147. Open Monday-Saturday 9.30 – 6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.

For more information, click here:

Marc Almond joins line-up for Equality Ball

Marc Almond
Marc Almond

Marc Almond is joining the line-up for the Equality Ball 2015, on November 28 along with singers Ronan Parke, Heather Peace and the Delta Band.

 

The Ball entitled Baubles & Bling is a fundraiser for the Peter Tatchell Foundation and Sir Ian McKellen will be guest of honour for the evening.

Old Town Hall, Stratford, London
Old Town Hall, Stratford, London

Baubles & Bling will take place at the palatial Old Town Hall, 29 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 4BQ on Saturday, November 28 from 7pm-12.30am. Dress to impress!

Celebrity invitees include Peter Tatchell Foundation (PTF) patrons: Lord Waheed Alli, Baroness Joan Bakewell, Baroness Liz Barker, Lord Michael Cashman, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Paul O’Grady and Pragna Patel.

Marc Almond, Ronan Parke and Heather Peace will be attending the whole event, including the dinner.

Order of the night:

♦ 7pm for 7.30pm drinks

♦ 8pm buffet dinner

♦ 9.30pm Marc Almond, Heather Peace and Ronan Parke

♦ 10pm The Delta Band

All proceeds from the Ball will fund the human rights work of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

Delta Band
Delta Band

Event: Baubles & Bling fundraiser for Peter Tatchell Human Rights Organisation

Where: The Old Town Hall, 29 Broadway, Stratford, London E15 4BQ

When: Saturday, November 28

Time: 7pm for 7.30pm start: buffet dinner at 8pm,

Ticket: £50 per person, table of 10 £475 includes welcome drink buffet dinner and entertainment

To book tickets online, click here:

To make a donation to the PTF, click here:

For more information about the Peter Tatchell Foundation’s human rights work, to receive their email bulletins or to make a donation, click here:

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