Want to join a choir? Brighton’s Actually choirs are looking for new singers.
Actually Gay Men’s and Actually Gay Women’s Choruses will be holding an ‘open rehearsal’ on Thursday, April 17.
The choirs are staging the event to give anyone interested in joining a singing group or chorus, or anyone who has not had the opportunity to hear either choruses, the chance to see and hear what they do.
Perhaps you’ve just not been around at any of their performance dates or couldn’t afford to go to one of their concerts. This is a great opportunity for you to hear them up close and live.
On the evening there will be lots of information available about joining either chorus – no singing experience is necessary – they like to give everyone a chance!
The choirs are also looking for non-singing members as well to help in any of their teams such as PR/marketing, fundraising, production, lighting, helping out at rehearsals, the list goes on and on.
The choirs always need the help of skilled members, or volunteers if singing is not for you.
If you are thinking about joining a singing group or chorus, or want to be involved in a flourishing communtiy group then this is a great opportunity to see and hear what they do, and meet some of the members of both choirs.
They’re a sociable bunch of people from all walks of life, who have had a lot of fun together over the years and have even more planned in the coming years (Watch this space!)
The Actually Choruses are very music focused, and their repertoires are very varied. They give people the opportunity to do, (and discover they enjoy), pieces of music they would never have imagined singing.
If you just want to go and have a listen, your very welcome also. All they ask is for a donation on the door – whatever you can afford, which will go to Actually to help them continue to grow, giving more of you the opportunity to get involved in the organisation, and enjoy that wonderful tonic: singing!
If you can’t make it, or just want more information about membership, non singing membership, volunteering etc, then email: or check out the choirs websites.
For more information about Actually Gay Men’s Chorus, CLICK HERE:
For more information about Actually Gay Women’s Chorus, CLICK HERE:
Actually Gay Men’s Chorus and Actually Gay Women’s Chorus will be opening their doors to you at 7.50pm, Thursday, April 17 at St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo St, Hove. They will be done by 9pm. Actually CIC is a not for profit Community Interest Company, registered in England No. 06845768
Your next chance to see the Actually Gay Men’s Chorus in concert is at One Night Only on Friday, May 9 at St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Street, Hove.
There is still time for groups and organisations to apply for grants from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Safer in Sussex Community Fund.
Katy Bourne
Launched last year the fund provides financial support to innovative local projects that aim to make our communities safer.
Applications are considered on a quarterly basis and there’s still time to submit your bid before the first deadline on March 31.
Katy Bourne, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, said:“I welcome applications from all local groups and organisations that can demonstrate how they are tackling the issues in their area that support the priorities set out in my Police & Crime Plan. These include commissioning initiatives that tackle crime, reduce reoffending and address community priorities such as alcohol, drugs, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse and road safety.
“I want to help communities work together to come up with ways of tackling crime and disorder and I am keen to support projects that demonstrate strong partnership working. I will be working with local partners and agencies to ensure this support complements existing activity.”
For more information about the Fund and how to apply CLICK HERE:
Police appeal for witnesses after a gang beat a man unconscious, then stamped on his head.
The 40-year-old victim was with a female friend in St Mary’s Place, Kemp Town, Brighton, at 11.45pm on Saturday (March 8) when two boys and a girl approached them and demanded they give them their money.
The gang then attacked the man and knocked him unconscious. While he was lying on the ground one of the attackers stamped on the victim’s head. The group then ran away west along St James’s Street.
Officers responding to another incident were flagged down by a member of the public and arrested a man and a girl. A second boy managed to escape.
A 17-year-old boy from Brighton was charged with attempted robbery and assault. A 17-year-old girl from Hove was charged with attempted robbery.
Both were ordered to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on March 18.
Detective Constable Chris Hike said: “This was a brutal attack on the victim made even more sickening by the stamp when he was knocked out.
“He is lucky to have escaped with only cuts and bruises.
“I need to speak to anyone who saw or heard the attack or who saw the attackers running away afterwards. Please contact me if you know anything at all.”
Anyone with information about this incident should call 101 quoting serial 1655 of 8/3
Norman Baker receives the Lib Dem Minister of the Year award at the Asian Voice Political and Public Awards.
The award winners were nominated by the readers of Asian Voice, Britain’s oldest and leading ethnic newsweekly reaching over 200,000 British Asians in the UK over the last 40 years.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges including Keith Vaz MP who praised Norman for bringing “vast knowledge and new ideas to the Home Office.”
During the short time he has been at the Home Office, Norman has been working on combating violence against women, eradicating Female Genital Multilation, reducing the use of animals in scientific research and improving the effectiveness of the country’s drug policies.
The award is the latest in a series of awards. Since becoming an MP in 1997 he has been named Channel 4’s Opposition Politician of the Year and The Spectator’s Inquisitor of the Year as well as last year’s Outstanding Contribution to Transport, presented to him at the National Transport Awards on his leaving the Department for Transport to become Minister at the Home Office.
Norman said:“I am very honoured to be given this award and it is very gratifying to receive such recognition for my work in the Home Office, despite having only been there for less than six months. I hope that the work I am doing, and continue to do, will make a real difference to people’s lives, especially to the most vulnerable in society and those who have suffered as the victims of crime.”
Brian Ralfe producer of the Alternative Panto hands over cheque for £2,880 to the Sussex Beacon fund raising team.
The Alternative Panto has been running in Brighton for the last eleven years. After every performance there is a bucket collection and this year the proceeds have been shared between the Sussex Beacon and the Alzheimer’s Society. This years production was Cock Robin and his very merry men starring Lee Tracey, Phil Harliqueen, Simon Grant and Scott Virgo.
Bucket collections this year raised £2880 for the Sussex Beacon.
Brian, the producer was joined on his visit to the Sussex Beacon today, Tuesday, March 11 by local entertainer Jason Sutton aka Miss Jason to hand over the Beacons share of the money collected.
The Sussex Beacon charity offers specialist care and support for men, women and families affected by HIV. Open 365 days a year, they help people manage the everyday realities of living with this life-long condition that has no cure. Their inpatient and outpatient services help people living with HIV related illnesses, initiating new drug therapies or struggling with extreme side effects of HIV medication. The Sussex Beacon supports the whole person by addressing the physical, mental and social impact of HIV.
City Deal will unlock £170 million investment in the city.
Deputy Prime Minister: Nick Clegg
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Minister for Cities Greg Clark have today unveiled a historic plan to unlock over £170m of investment in Greater Brighton to create 8,500 jobs and help grow its technology businesses.
The Greater Brighton City Deal, to be signed for the Government today by Greg Clark MP, leaders of local authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership, will expand the technological base at New England House to make it a major centre for creative and digital businesses – giving the city the chance to compete with other major tech clusters around the world.
The City Deal will also unlock cheaper and faster broadband for Brighton’s tech companies by creating a Digital Exchange in the heart of the city, where companies collaborate to use combined buying power to get faster broadband at lower prices.
This is made possible as the Government has agreed to provide flexibility over how money from the Superconnected Cities fund is spent, meaning that if you are working in a tech startup in Brighton, there will be more space in this exciting new hub for you to grow your business, to collaborate with other exciting young companies, and take advantage of advice and support available at New England House.
As well as measures to create jobs and growth in Brighton itself, the City Deal will also unlock key regeneration and employment sites in Shoreham and Newhaven by providing certainty over the future of key flood defences.
In Newhaven, this will allow the development of a Clean Tech Growth Centre, building on investment in the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm and a new University Technical College.
The site in Shoreham is earmarked as an Environmental Technologies Growth Centre, building on Ricardo UK’s new £10m Vehicle Emissions Research Centre on the site.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “We’re giving Brighton the freedom, power and tools to be really innovative and design whole new ways of building a stronger economy and fairer society. This City Deal puts power in the hands of local people who know best what skills are needed in the area to give it a real chance of changing the fortunes of thousands of people in and around Brighton.”
Greg Clark, MP
Greg Clark, Minister for Cities, added: “Brighton’s tech cluster has grown from very little 10 years ago to having 1,500 businesses today. It’s already making a huge impact on Brighton’s economic performance, and this City Deal will help accelerate its growth by ensuring that it can provide the space and infrastructure for high-value creative-technological businesses to grow. It can help turn Brighton into one of the most prosperous cities in the UK.”
The £170 million of investment consists of £6.7m from central government, £9.8m from the local public sector and at least £155m of private investment.
The deal gives local partners the opportunity to guarantee the start dates for key flood defence works at Shoreham Harbour and Newhaven, in return for local contributions to enhance the value of these defences. These defences would protect hundreds of homes and businesses, and by guaranteeing a start date for the protection works to begin, the deal will help secure private sector investment and create thousands of jobs along the coast. If flood defence spending is included, Government’s total commitment to Greater Brighton will exceed £30m.
The city of Brighton & Hove is currently home to around 1,500 technological companies – the same number as London’s Tech City, also known as “Silicon Roundabout” – and has one of the most highly-skilled workforces in the country.
The City Deal is focused on making the most of those skills to vastly increase Brighton’s contribution to national economic growth.
City Deal is expected to deliver:
· 1,300 jobs in the short-term, rising to 8,500 jobs and 361m in annual GVA over the medium-term;
· A £24.5m investment in the flagship New England House, with an extra 7,000m2 of floorspace for creative-tech businesses
· £173m of investment in the medium term, creating a network of Growth Centres across the City Region
· The unlocking of sites to deliver up to 2000 new homes over the medium term
· A 1.8m integrated business support programme across the Greater Brighton and wider Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership area
· Unlocking flood defences
Prime Minister: David Cameron
Following the ‘Silicon Beach’ City Deal for Brighton announcement, Prime Minister, David Cameron, said: “Today’s City Deal is great for Brighton, growing and harnessing the digital and creative skills that the city is rightly renowned for. With more power and freedom to run the local economy in the way they see fit, local people will be able to make decisions that directly benefit Brighton’s businesses. And by supporting new and innovative businesses, Brighton’s deal will help us secure the nation’s recovery and deliver our long term economic plan.”
Simon Kirby, MP
Simon Kirby, MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven, a long standing supporter of the Governments City Deal scheme,added: “I am a big supporter of the Government’s City Deal initiative and I have worked closely with Government Ministers to ensure that Brighton is able to benefit. I am delighted that the deal is being launched today, as it will bring thousands of jobs to the City and millions of pounds of private sector investment. I know that my constituents in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven will welcome the Government’s clear commitment to our city.”
Mike Weatherley, MP
Mike Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade was instrumental in petitioning the Government to unlock the £170m of investment, he said:“The City Deal is an excellent opportunity for Brighton & Hove and its neighbours. I know that a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes and I am grateful to everyone who has made this deal possible. Looking forward, I have no doubt that Brighton & Hove will establish itself further as a regional power house as a direct result of this game changing initiative.”
Cllr Jason Kitcat
Brighton & Hove City Council Leader Jason Kitcat, said:“Greater Brighton City Deal is just the beginning of a collaborative approach which will see the city and the surrounding region reach its potential. The ambition and commitment which have brought City Deal to fruition will also mean we can bring more jobs and better housing , better infrastructure and a more vibrant regional long term economy. This is the beginning of an exciting journey to devolving more powers and responsibility to our city region.”
Norman Baker, MP
Norman Baker the Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes whose constituency stretches to Newhaven, concluded: “This is a vote of confidence in the communities along the coastal trip, from Shoreham through Brighton and Hove, to Newhaven. The investment in Newhaven in particular is a shot in the arm for the town and adds to the growing confidence that the town is firmly on the way up.”
Supporters boost community radio station’s birthday fundraiser.
Kathy Caton
RadioReverb celebrated its seventh birthday with an all day birthday fundraising Reverbathon on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 of March which netted a cash boost for the community station of more than £2,000.
Saturday March 8 was also International Women’s Day, so RadioReverb featured only female presenters in a Women’s Takeover Day from 8am-midnight.
RadioReverb is a non-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers and is celebrating seven years of broadcasting full-time on 97.2FM.
The station is distinct from other radio services in that it aims to reflect Brighton & Hove’s diverse population, and does not broadcast any adverts relying on public donations and show sponsorship to run the station.
Listener feedback indicates that radio adverts are not popular with a large section of the audience, and a recent listener poll showed that 71% of listeners like the fact there are no adverts on RadioReverb.
For the Reverbathon, the station offered micro-sponsorship deals of one-off show funding, linking independent local businesses up with individual producers.
Shows included:
• The Albion Roar, a fan’s eye view of the Albion
• Live improvised experimental music
• A local business show
• Live acoustic sessions with local bands
• An International Women’s Day pub quiz
• Refugee Radio; Out in Brighton, the city’s only dedicated LGBT programme
• And genres including punk, electro, dance, grunge and funk and soul
RadioReverb is soon moving to new premises which will allow it to expand its service to local listeners, and to provide training in a range of radio-related skills.
Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, is asking all residents with interesting gardens and open spaces to support The Sussex Beacon’s annual open garden event.
The Garden Gadaboutsees over 60 private gardens and community spaces in Brighton & Hove and surrounding areas, open to the public during two weekends in June.
The event raises money for The Sussex Beacon, a charity for men, women and families who are affected by HIV. Open 365 days a year, The Sussex Beacon helps people to manage the everyday realities of living with this life-long condition.
The Garden Gadabout event is held on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June as well as Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June.
Mike said: “The Garden Gadabout is a fascinating opportunity to explore interesting gardens around the city and help raise money for an important local charity. I hope that anyone who has an interesting garden or space and feels that they can help – even for a day – will get in touch with The Sussex Beacon.”
If you want to get involved, contact Cath Mattos at The Sussex Beacon on 01273 694222
As part of this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations, Brighton-based Thirteen Art Productions have organised a group-art exhibition featuring over 20 female artists from the South East.
FEMME is showing at Velvet Tattoo in Norfolk Square, Brighton which is an all female run cooperative offering a variety of services to all genders including tattoos, hairdressing, nails and lashes.
The exhibition opened on March 8, Women’s Day 2014, with a private view. 10% of art sales and profits from the Private View will be donated to Brighton Oasis Project.
Brighton Oasis Project aims to improve the lives of women, children and young people affected by substance misuse. They seek to prevent and reduce drug and alcohol related harm to women and their families by providing services which offer a continuum of support from harm minimization through to total abstinence, which are complemented by specialist services for children, young people and women working in the sex industry.
Involved in the exhibition are a selection of award winning and international selling artists including Caia Matheson, Maria Rivans, Jess Eaton, Michelle Mindenhall and Mandy Webb to name a few.
Hizzie Fletcher
Organiser Hizze Fletcher said:“With other gender and sexuality issues taking centre stage in the media at present it’s important that we don’t lose touch with the fundamental global issues faced by women. Women’s Day is an annual event that celebrates our gender and brings to light key issues associated with being a woman. Women are still fighting for true equality and exploited globally through, amongst other things, the sex industry, forced child marriage and female genital mutilation. It’s really important that women stand together to send a clear message that things must change. We’re really excited to have attracted so many talented artists and there will be a substantial variety of work on display at the exhibition”
What:FEMME Exhibition for International Women’s Day
Following the Government’s announcement that it is making available an extra £140 million to local councils to help repair the nation’s highways – Nancy Platts, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Kemptown and Peacehaven says the people of East Peacehaven are determined that some of this money must come their way.
Nancy Platts, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Kemptown & Peacehaven
Nancy says: “You could plant a tree in some of the pot holes in East Peacehaven! However, this fact is of no comfort to local residents, who are in despair about the state of their roads”.
She continues:“It has become a real challenge to drive or cycle in the area without damaging people or vehicles. So, East Peacehaven residents have mounted a campaign, called ‘The Big Fill’, to highlight their grievances”.
Local resident Peggy Madej, says: “No one cares about us around here.”
Nancys says that local residents claim that the state of the roads makes the whole area look run down, and contributes to a sense of hopelessness in the community – particularly since so many people in this deprived area of East Sussex are struggling to make ends meet.
A cyclist who lives on Downland Avenue complained: “I used to ride a bicycle, but it’s a no-go area for bikes now – one would be pitched straight off, seriously injured or killed.”
Nancy, said:“I have been meeting lots of residents in East Peacehaven and the hot issue on the doorstep is the state of the roads. Virtually every family complains about it. Of course, the roads come under the jurisdiction of East Sussex County Council, and East Peacehaven is represented on by two UKIP councillors. Dozens of people have complained to me that these councillors have done absolutely nothing about the pot holes.”
“It is worth noting that parts of Hastings, also within the East Sussex County Council borders, have similar problems to those of East Peacehaven, which include a comparable number of pot holes on their streets. However, their Labour councillor, John Hodges, has been extremely active on their behalf.”
Cllr JOhn Hodge
Cllr Hodges said:“Since May of last year, I have seen over 7,000 pot holes fixed in Hastings, with 1,300 being repaired already in 2014. Every one of these has been as a result of an email from myself or my fellow Labour councillors, and in some instances via a member of the public.”
Nancy concluded saying that through their campaign The Big Fill, the residents of East Peacehaven plan to follow the example of Hastings and demand East Sussex Council deal with their local roads – which, many say, have not been properly repaired for a decade.
Nancy says that in the absence of any support from their local UKIP and Tory councillors, local residents are delighted that she and the Meridian Labour group are spearheading their fight for proper attention to the Peacehaven pot holes.
To view a video of Peacehaven’s pot holes, CLICK HERE:
Perhaps you’ve just not been around at any of their performance dates or couldn’t afford to go to one of their concerts. This is a great opportunity for you to hear them up close and live.
The Actually Choruses are very music focused, and their repertoires are very varied. They give people the opportunity to do, (and discover they enjoy), pieces of music they would never have imagined singing.
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