The annual Jamboree takes place outside the Brighton Tavern every year around April time and involves a home-baked cake sale, a tombola and a second-hand book store.
The choir relies on the generosity of its members and supporters through donating their time, effort and baking skills to raise money for charity.
Chris Sarson, a trustee for Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, said:“We had an amazing amount of cakes this year so a big thank you to all the wonderful bakers we have in the Chorus and also the many friends of the Chorus who have donated cakes and other items to us this year.”
Charlie Bedson, who is a member for the Chorus and helped with the organisation of the Jamboree, added: “On top of everything, we would particularly like to thank Eclipse Foods, Raise and the Pelican On Port for their generously proportioned and rather delicious cakes”.
The funds raised will help the Chorus, a registered charity, pursue its charitable activities and objectives.
The Chorus is next performing as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival on May 2 & 3 at St. George’s Church in Kemptown with their latest show Nautical But Nice.
For more information and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE:
A new campaign to get young gay men thinking, talking and taking action about HIV and sexual safety.
In response to the increasing number of HIV infections amongst gay men in their teens and twenties, GMFA has launched a new campaign focused on raising awareness of HIV. The campaign invites young gay men to start thinking again about their sexual health and reconsider some of the things they think they know about HIV.
In 2012 there were more gay men diagnosed with HIV than in any previous year, and a third of these men were in their teens or twenties. GMFA conducted a number of focus groups with young gay men to see why infection rates were so high in this group and found that many young gay men thought that HIV was something that was unlikely to affect them, with some thinking that there was already a cure for HIV.
Matthew Hodson
GMFA’s Chief Executive, Matthew Hodson said:“If we are going to avoid a generation of gay men getting infected it’s important that we persuade young gay men to think again about HIV, to reconsider some of the things that they think they know, to arm themselves with the information and the skills they need to prevent transmission.”
Effective HIV treatment now means that someone with diagnosed HIV has a good life expectancy, but will be reliant upon daily doses of medication to maintain health. For most people, receiving an HIV diagnosis remains traumatic and HIV remains more stigmatized than other infections. Improvements in treatment also mean that fewer people have visible symptoms of infection and this can lead to people having less awareness of HIV.
Adam was diagnosed with HIV after having had unprotected sex with two guys that he was seeing. “My whole world collapsed. Up until these two guys, I’d always had safe sex. HIV was not something I ever considered I could get. Because they didn’t look like they had HIV, I didn’t know where I could have possibly picked it up from. Looking back, I cannot blame anyone. It’s just as much my fault as it is the guys I barebacked with. In fact, it’s probably more my own stupidity. I wasn’t educated. It’s my health and I was the one that had something to lose.”
Adams’ story, and others, can be found at the ‘Think Again’ webpage at: www.gmfa.org.uk/thinkagainHIV. ‘Think Again’ posters will be distributed to gay pubs and clubs and will also appear on bus shelters near gay venues in London, in areas including Vauxhall, Clapham, Shoreditch and Soho.
The models used in the campaign are all young gay men in their late teens and early twenties. All of them share GMFA’s passion for raising awareness of the disease and aiming to reduce HIV infection rates among gay men.
Matthew added:“From the research that we did it was clear that what young gay men need from HIV prevention and information campaigns is different from what some other groups of gay men need. With HIV prevention, just as with condoms, it’s not the case that one size fits all. GMFA’s next campaign will be targeting men who are involved in the sex party scene and we’ve got exciting plans to do work with other key groups too.”
GMFA currently receives no financial support from local or national Government funding for its HIV prevention work. The Think Again campaign, GMFA’s website and FS Magazine are all funded by the support and generosity of individuals from the gay community, and the men and women who value this community. This support is vital in enabling us to continue providing gay men with the information they need to live happy, healthier lives.
Horsham-based charity launches campaign to bring HIV treatment to 20,000 people in Malawi.
Workers in Malawi at the Umunthu Foundation
HIV and AIDS charity AVERT has set out to raise £6,000 by July 1, to purchase the equipment needed to allow their partner organisation in Malawi, the Umunthu Foundation, to provide access to life-saving HIV treatment. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with one of the highest HIV prevalence rates – 10% of the population are living with the virus. Despite this, thousands of people in Malawi are currently unable to access HIV treatment due to poor coverage of services.
AVERT are in desperate need of your help.
If you are you an individual, business, school or college in the Sussex area, get involved and support this life-saving campaign by fundraising or donating to the cause!
WHAT IS THE CAMPAIGN GOAL? AVERT is making a push to close this treatment gap, launching a campaign to bring HIV treatment and monitoring services to 20,000 people in rural Malawi. AVERT and the Umunthu Foundation have been working together in this area since 2010. They already provide free counselling and testing for HIV, support groups for people living with HIV, youth groups and initiatives to educate people about HIV and sexual health.
CD 4 count testing machine
In order to provide life-saving HIV treatment, the Umunthu Foundation needs a CD4 count testing machine to monitor whether people living with HIV need to begin or change their treatment. AVERT is raising money for this machine through the crowdfunding website buzzbnk.org, an initiative to mobilise large numbers of people to come together to support a project. The target of £6,000 must reached be reached by July 1 or funds will be returned to donors.
WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE? This machine will have a huge impact on local communities – access to HIV treatment and monitoring services will ensure people start and change treatment on time, enabling people living with HIV to live long and healthy lives and reducing the risk of the virus being passed to others.
To get invovled contact AVERT’s Fundraising Officer anisa.ahmed@avert.org for more information about fundraising for, and getting involved in, this campaign.
David Odali, Umunthu Foundation Director, said: “We really appreciate your noble efforts to fundraise for the purchase of our CD4 count machine. The equipment will go a long way in creating a huge positive impact in our HIV/AIDS service delivery.”
A new LGBT support group network will meet for lunch this Saturday, April 26.
Community Works, (formerly the Community Voluntary Sector Forum) is setting up a support network for small local LGBT groups.
The network will meet throughout the year to help groups get to know each other, keep updated with news and information, share peer support and useful advice.
The network has a special focus on groups with lower income (sometime no income at all) and those which are often mainly run by volunteers. The network will be facilitated by Community Works volunteer representatives Gary Pargeter and Chris Cooke.
Gary Pargeter, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for our grassroots LGBT groups to get together, to become stronger through knowing each other and sharing peer support. With regular meetings there will be useful opportunities for groups to talk about what is needed to carry out their work and to flourish and find all sorts of advice, information and support which is available.
This new network will be led by the needs of its members and organisers are calling out to as many LGBT groups as possible to get in touch and be involved.
The network will start with an LGBT Groups Open Space Meeting and buffet lunch on Saturday, April 26 from 12.30 – 2.30 pm at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Dorset Gardens Brighton, BN2 1RL.
If you organise or run an LGBT group get in touch to confirm your place at the meeting. You’ll be sent further information closer to the date.
Actress and singer songwriter Heather Peace is to appear on this years Brighton Pride Festival main stage.
Heather Peace
A welcome addition to the Pride line-up, the star of TV’s London’s Burning, Ultimate Force, The Chase, Lip Service,Waterloo Road and ITV’s forthcoming Prey with John Simm, will be performing tracks from her much anticipated second album The Thin Line, a soulful, organic pop gem that incorporates Heather’s love of 60’s girl groups, Motown and 80’s pop.
Heather said of the album:“I love Dusty Springfield and 60’s girl groups and from the beginning my producer James Lewis (Arctic Monkeys, Superfood) and I knew we wanted an album that was recorded in homage to Spector’s Wall Of Sound. We wanted big songs with passion and grit and lots of harmonies”.
The cult Lip Service star has spent the past three years performing sell out tours in Australia and the UK, and has played shows with KT Tunstall, Rebecca Ferguson,Deacon Blue, Brian May, performed with her idol Alison Moyet and headlined Sydney Mardi Gras Fair Day.
Brighton Pride goers can look forward to a performance rich with roaring vocals, lush pop strings, melodic piano riffs and fat basslines and a very proud Heather who’s very excited to be playing on the Pride Festival’s main stage. She said: “It’s always a thrill to perform in my home town and this will be the first time I’ve played at Brighton Pride which makes it extra-special. I look forward to seeing you all there!”
In order to build excitement for Pride 2014 the eagerly anticipated main stage artist announcements will be staggered over the next few months running up to Pride. Watch this space!
What:Pride Brighton & Hove 2014: Freedom To Live
Where: Pride Festival Preston Park
When: Saturday August 2, 2014
Time: Noon – 10pm
Tickets: Discounted £15 advance (first release) until end of May. Then £17.50 in June /£20 in July and more on the day.
Brighton Events Live is a brand new public and corporate events company providing tailor made events and bespoke productions.
Each project is individually designed for every occasion, venue, client and is suitable for either corporate entertainment, public events or private functions.
Using a pool of local actor-singers/artists, Brighton Events Live produce themed revue/concert/cabaret events for your individual needs including weddings, civil partnerships, birthdays anniversaries, hen nights, Valentines day/Mothering Sunday/Halloween and Christmas.
Events manager David Rumelle said:“With over 20 years experience of providing high quality events to a wide range of clients –we can make your special occasion an event to remember”.
In addition the company provides tailored murder mystery evenings, quiz nights and team events for every occasion.
Brighton Events Live in collaboration with the Regency Tavern currently present a series of Sunday night revue/concerts that are available for hire.
Future dates include:
May 4/June 8 – The Magic of Jerry Herman Parts 1&2
With the European Parliamentary elections due to take place on Thursday, May 22, Brighton & Hove City Council is urging voters to make sure they are registered to vote in time.
Penny Thompson: Brighton and Hove City Council registration officer
Brighton and Hove City Council registration officer, Penny Thompson said: “People are talking about the elections, but you’ll only be able to have your say on who represents you in the European Parliament if you’re registered to vote by the deadline of Tuesday 6 May.”
“It only takes a few minutes either by phoning the council or printing off the online form.
“Even if you think you’re already registered, it’s really important to double check. Many people think they are automatically registered because they pay council tax, but this isn’t true. If you’re unsure, you can call the council to check.”
This initiative came off the back of a suggestion by Labour Councillor Emma Daniel, floated the suggestion on facebook and twitter over the weekend.
Cllr Emma Daniel
Emma said:“I think we as a local authority should be doing everything we can to support the excellent work of FareShare locally in providing essentials for those most in need. That’s why I called for the receptions of council buildings this week to be opened for donations to our city’s foodbanks and I am glad this has now been done.”
Further information about FareShare in Brighton & Hove, CLICK HERE:
Food banks now at Council Customer Service Centres
Brighton & Hove City Council is collecting non perishable food items in support of FareShare.
Customers and staff will be able to donate items at the Customer Service Centres in Brighton and Hove until Friday 3rd May.
Further information regarding FareShare in Brighton & Hove can be found at http://www.faresharebrightonandhove.org.uk/
Outcomes from last year’s funding by the Rainbow Fund have highlighted the value of grants to local LGBT and HIV community groups.
Working with Brighton Pride, the Brighton Bear Weekender and other fundraising groups and venues to maximise the money available to give out, community organisations such as GEMS, who work with gay older men in the city, have been able to increase their frontline work with men suffering from isolation and loneliness.
Robert Douglas from GEMS, said:“Firstly we wish to thank the Rainbow Fund for supporting us when we are in need of financial assistance as a group whose sole aim is to take older gay men in Brighton and Hove out of isolation. The gay community is getting older and increasing in numbers here in Brighton and Hove which makes our support group even more important. We cannot do this without financial help from organisations like the Rainbow Fund even despite all our admin team being unpaid volunteers.
“The grant received from the Rainbow Fund in 2013 has enabled us to extend our services and reach out by way of a new website and printed literature. In the past we have had to accept that we could not afford printed literature and used photocopy leaflets and cards.
“Now we can have details of the services we offer put into public areas, doctors receptions and with other Brighton and Hove groups. Reaching gay men in isolation has always been very difficult through lack of funding.
“With the financial help received from you we have been able to extend the services in the group to include more visits outside Brighton and Hove by coach. We can now give assistance to those guys whose only income are low pensions, the chance to go to swimming baths once a week for much needed exercise. We can now afford to get speakers to our group who can inform them about medical problems, social services available in Brighton and Hove and many other subjects to improve the health and security of our members.
“Without your funding we would have had to cut back all our services which in this difficult time of cuts in social services would mean a greater number of Brighton’s gay men being thrown into depression and more isolation.”
Robert concluded:“Thank you to the Rainbow Fund and Pride for your much needed financial assistance and hope you will be there for us again in the future as the number of guys needing support steadily increase.”
Paul Elgood
Paul Elgood, Chairman of the Rainbow Fund, said:“This is exactly how the Rainbow Fund can best support LGBT and HIV groups in our community. This volunteer-led group for older gay men is making a huge impact amongst its beneficiaries. Loneliness and isolation can often be as much a killer as ill health, with a dramatic impact on life expectancy. Thanks to our funders, such as Brighton Pride, there is a very clear benefit to the community through funding such as this.”
For more information about Rainbow Fund, CLICK HERE:
X Factor winner Sam Bailey performs at first class fundraiser.
Manchester Pride 2014 kicked off this years fundraising campaign in style by raising £9,185.88 for the Manchester Pride Community Fund at its annual event held under the wings of Concorde.
Hundreds of people from Manchester’s LGBT community and their friends attended to hear the winner of The X Factor 2013, Sam Bailey perform live.
The evening opened with a performance by Twisted Tubes, a ten piece brass fusion band comprised of current students and graduates from the Royal Northern College of Music, who surprised guests by emerging from Concorde itself and delivering a fun and theatrical set from the airplane’s steps.
Sam Bailey
Sam, who counts Gary Barlow, Sharon Osborne and Michael Bolton amongst her celebrity fans, brought the audience to its feet as she belted out tunes including her number one hit, Skyscraper and the title track from her number one debut album, The Power of Love. Her set closed with a standing ovation from the audience.
The evening was hosted by comedian Lee Peart, who previously hosted Manchester Pride’s Big Weekend in both 2012 and 2013. He led the crowds through a charity auction, which saw attendees bidding on a number of lots, including a VIP experience for 14 people at Miley Cyrus’ forthcoming concert at Manchester’s Phones 4U Arena, a tour of the brand new Coronation Street set at MediaCityUK and a Disneyland Paris® Christmas Experience.
The red-carpet gathering which included a sparkling drinks reception and four course dinner, plus VIP tours of the Concorde airliner, was attended by celebrity guests including Bruno Langley and his son, BBC Breakfast’s Stephanie McGovern and former Hollyoaks star Nicole Barber-Lane with her Emmerdale husband Liam Fox.
Charity patron and Emmerdale star, Alicya Eyo, welcomed guests to the event telling them: “Young people need pride, to know that it’s not only OK to be gay, it’s actually really brilliant to be gay.”
Mark Fletcher, Director at Manchester Pride, said:“What a night it was. We’d like to thank our guests for giving so generously and enabling us to more than double the amount we raised at last year’s Supersonic event that we’re able to donate to the charitable causes we support through the Manchester Pride Community Fund.
“Last year we raised £4,149 at our inaugural event and increasing this figure to £9,185.88 in year two has kicked off our 2014 fundraising campaign in the style that we aim to continue.
“The evening was great fun and embodied the true spirit of Manchester Pride: charity, good fun, local talent and amazing acts. Sam Bailey was breathtaking and got most of the room on their feet, Twisted Tubes and Felix Hagan and the Family were fantastic and ‘First officer’ Lee Peart tied it all together perfectly.”
Supersonic exists to raise money for the Manchester Pride Community Fund. This fund provides support for LGBT and HIV charities and organisations in Greater Manchester.
There’s much more to Manchester Pride than the Big Weekend and, since 2003, the festival has grown to include the Pride Fringe which encompasses a series of art, culture, heritage, debate, sport, music and film events celebrating the great diversity of the LGBT community. The Manchester Pride Festival 2104 kicks off this year on August 1 with the Pride Fringe.
Chris Sarson, a trustee for Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, said: “We had an amazing amount of cakes this year so a big thank you to all the wonderful bakers we have in the Chorus and also the many friends of the Chorus who have donated cakes and other items to us this year.”
Gary Pargeter, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for our grassroots LGBT groups to get together, to become stronger through knowing each other and sharing peer support. With regular meetings there will be useful opportunities for groups to talk about what is needed to carry out their work and to flourish and find all sorts of advice, information and support which is available.
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