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The Brighton Rainbow Fund presents grants to community groups and celebrates fundraisers

All photos by Michael Stone from Nick Ford Photography

On Monday, October 16, Ironworks Studios was the venue for the 2023 event to announce the grants that have been approved by the Brighton Rainbow Fund (BRF) independent grants panel.

BRF distributes funds raised within the community as grants to local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects. This year has been challenging for fundraisers, particularly for Brighton & Hove Pride. Attendance to Pride was this year severely affected by the double whammy of appalling weather and the decision by GTR, the train operators, to not run ANY trains on the Saturday of Pride weekend.

The BRF event was hosted once again by Lola Lasagne who generously returned to Brighton from their new home in Manchester to show their continued support for BRF.

Lola Lasagne

The first part of the evening was to recognise the fundraising achieved by community events and venues, which makes it possible for BRF to distribute as grants. Pride Fundraising Champion certificates were presented to Brighton & Hove Frontrunners, Legends, Club Revenge and Brighton & Hove Pride for fundraising over the Pride weekend, and Fundraising Champion certificates to Brighton Bear Weekend and the Fallen Angel for fundraising at Brighton Bear Weekend and through the year. These certificates were presented by Jane Pritchard, a trustee of BRF.

Lola presenting certificate to Brighton & Hove Frontrunners
Lola presenting certificate to Jane, who delivered certificate to Legends
Lola Lasagne presenting certificate to Jane, who delivered it to Revenge
Brighton Bear Weekend who also collected the certificate for The Fallen Angel
Brighton & Hove Pride

The grants were then announced. Each group were presented with a certificate, and then asked to give a short description of their supported project, and the benefits that the BRF grant will bring. Scene will be running a series of articles over the next few months showing how the grant money will be used by each project.

The first grants were presented by Persia West, a member of the BRF Independent Grants Panel.

Persia West

Radical Rhizomes: £7,500

Continued support for fortnightly QTIPoC affirmative activities.

Radical Rhizomes

Traumfrau: £1,000

Court fees for weekly queer basketball.

Traumfrau

HIV Hour: £1,600

Continued funding of core costs for weekly programme on Radio Reverb.

HIV Hour

Maria Baker, trustee of BRF, then took over presenting duties.

Maria Baker

Older & Out: £6,620

Continued support for a monthly LGBT Elders lunch club at the Somerset Centre. 

Older & Out and the Somerset Centre

Trans Pride Brighton & Hove: £7,500

Core funding for the Trans Pride Centre.

Trans Pride Brighton & Hove

Marlborough Productions: £5,000

To help kickstart a new LGBTQ+ heritage engagement project.

Marlborough Productions

Pathways to Health: £2,650

Support in delivering ear acupuncture at TransSober meetings

Pathways to Health and TransSober

Chris Gull, Chair of Trustees at BRF, then took the presenting reins.

Chris Gull

TONIC: £7,500

Capacity building for alcohol-free social engagement events for bi, gay and trans men.

Tonic

Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ Switchboard: £7,500

Extension of pilot Rainbow Neighbours project.

Brighton & Hove LGBTQ Switchboard

Socially Engaged Artists Salon (SEAS): £7,500

Ringfenced for when needed to support and promote the work of BPoC and LGBTQ+ visual artists.

SEAS

The final tranche of grants were presented by Jane Pritchard, trustee of BRF.

The Rainbow Chorus: £4,000 AND £850

Continued support for RC+ project and continued support for deaf awareness and outreach project

The Rainbow Chorus

The Clare Project £7,500 AND £7,500

Continued support for the NOURISH project and ongoing delivery and capacity building for a community engagement project.

The Clare Project

Lunch Positive: £7,500 AND £5,400

Continued support for the weekly HIV lunch club and continued support for the weekly drop in.

Lunch Positive

Friendship bench dedicated to the memory of James Ledward to be unveiled on Wednesday, September 20

The late James Ledward, founder of Gscene magazine (now Scene magazine), the Brighton Rainbow Fund, and responsible for commissioning the Brighton AIDS MemorialTAY’, is to have a ‘friendship bench’ dedicated to his memory installed right by the memorial in New Steine Gardens.

The bench will be one of a series forming a friendship trail organised by the Brighton & Hove Tourist Alliance, with other benches already placed by Hove Lagoon, White Street Gardens and on Brighton Palace Pier. Each bench has been donated by Brighton & Hove City Council, and decorated by a local artist, in this case Romany Mark Bruce – designer and sculptor responsible for the creation of TAY.

The Brighton Rainbow Fund was in talks with the council about placing a memorial bench alongside TAY before the pandemic, which was of course delayed. At the end of last year an unrelated application to the Pride Social Impact Fund from the St James’s Business Alliance had the same idea – great minds… -and Brighton Rainbow Fund was pleased to pass on the progress they had made to the Brighton & Hove Tourist Alliance, working with St James’s Business Alliance, and the Pride Social Impact Fund gave them a grant of £500.

The result of all this collaboration will be unveiled by the Mayor of Brighton, Cllr Jackie O´Quinn, on Wednesday, September 20 at 5.30pm, and everybody is invited!

‘David at 90’ raises £5,000 for the Brighton Rainbow Fund

The concert, organised to celebrate David Raven‘s (aka Maisie Trollette) 90th Birthday, at the Brighton Dome on Sunday, July 23 raised £5,000 for the Brighton Rainbow Fund to distribute to local LGBTQ+ and HIV organisations as grants.

Chris Gull, Chair of Trustees of the Brighton Rainbow Fund, thanked “all the performers who gave of their time and talent, the Directors and Producers Allan Cardew and Carole Todd, the staff and crew from the Brighton Dome, and volunteers from the Ledward Centre, and of course the audience who were so generous in contributing to raising these funds.”

Ali Jay to bring Stand Up Sober Comedy Pride Fundraiser to the Ledward Centre on Thursday, August 3

Ali Jay is bringing a Stand Up Sober Comedy Pride Fundraiser to the Ledward Centre on Thursday, August 3, and raising funds for the Brighton Rainbow Fund to distribute as grants to local LGBTQ+ and HIV organisations and projects.

The Ledward Centre is at the forefront of a growing movement in providing social spaces for those that prefer a cafe environment, away from pubs and clubs.

Guests include: AJ, Alice, Finn and Katie, showcasing five-minute sets from the recent Stand up Sober Comedy Course; Brighton improv group HONK; south coast comedian of the year finalist, James Danielewski, whose show Rainbow Trout was a hit at this year’s Brighton Fringe 2023; and Hannah Brackenbury, winner of ‘Best Show’ at the Funny Women Awards 2019 and the Broadway Baby Bobby Award at Brighton Fringe 2018 for Victorious – a joyful and poignant musical tribute to the late, great Victoria Wood. Hannah recently wrote and produced her own eight-part musical web series called Everything’s Fine.

Bottom left to right: Alice. Clare, Helen, AJ, Finn, Ava Thomas, Katie
Top left to right: Carly-May, Rachel, Zoe Lyons, Andrada
Ali Jay
Hannah Brackenbury
James Danielewski
Honk

Stand Up Sober Comedy Pride Fundraiser at the Ledward Centre, 14a Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE on Thursday, August 3, doors 7pm, show 7.30pm.

Tickets from Eventbrite: £10 or £7 concs.

The Ledward Centre announces the return of Pride Family Day on Saturday, August 5

The Ledward Centre (TLC), Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ centre in Jubilee Street, is hosting a Pride Family Day, a perfect way for families to continue the fun after watching the Community Parade, over Brighton & Hove Pride weekend on Saturday, August 5 from 11am.

Jubilee Square and TLC will be filled with games, entertainment, refreshments, a carousel, face painting, pamper sessions and mini minute makeovers.

The centre will also have a Family Photo Booth and an Arts & Crafts area in Jubilee Libraryentry with ticket only.

Albion In The Community will be attending with one of their football coaches for kids’ activities and goal practice.

Pride Family Day will also be an opportunity to check out progress on TLC, and to discover the exciting plans as it grows and develops.

The Pride Family Day will be open from 11am – 5pm, and TLC from 11am – 6pm.

Tickets £2:50 or £1:50 for under 16s (plus a small booking fee) to help to cover the costs of staging the event.

Packed Lunches and “Pride Family Day Meal Deals” available from The Ledward Centre Cafe”

Ticket’s are also available without booking fee from TLC Cafe from Monday, July 31.

Cast for “David at 90” announced. West End and Brighton performers coming together for David Raven´s Birthday show

Throughout David´s long career he has made friends with, mentored and supported many performers, both inside and outside of the drag world. On Sunday 23rd July many will come together to sing their hearts out for him, and to raise funds for The Brighton Rainbow Fund to distribute as grants to local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects

Tickets: £15, £30, £45, £60 (with optional add on for after show Birthday party for £20) bit.ly/DAVID90

The Brighton Rainbow Fund is also asking for volunteers to help on the night, front of house duties, and volunteers will get free tickets for the show. Express your interest to info@rainbow-fund.org

Amongst those performing and presenting will be:

Jill Nalder (the real life inspiration for “Jill” in It´s A Sin)

Jae Alexander (“notorious” Musical Director of many West End shows),

Stephen Mear (Olivier Award winning, Tony nominated, Choreographer for Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid and many more).

Emma Edwards (Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard)

Mark Inscoe (Phantom of The Opera)

Tania Newton (Mrs Potts in Beauty and The Beast)

Rebecca Wheatley (Amy in Casualty, Big Julie in Bad Girls The Musical)

Wain Douglas/Kara van Park (Miss Saigon, Singin´in The Rain)

Stephen Richards/Lola Lasagne (Boys In The Band, Ugly Sister ubiquitously)

Jason Lee together with The Four Harmonies

Cherry Bomb

Lovinia Belle

Abbalicious

The Actually Gay Mens Chorus (Fresh from singing for the King)

Sally Becker (The Angel of Mostar)

 

Fundraising season for The Brighton Rainbow Fund kicks off with Brighton Bear Weekend, and ends a month later with Brighton Pride. A Call Out to all fundraisers and donors.

The Brighton Rainbow Fund is the charity founded 13 years ago by James Ledward and Paul Elgood as a central hub for community fundraising, distributing funds raised in the community to Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ and HIV organisations and projects as grants. Grants are awarded in a fair and transparent way with an application process and consideration by an independent grants panel. This means that funds raised go where they are most needed, and that all projects and organisations, however big or small, receive the same consideration.

Around the time of Brighton Pride many businesses and individuals consider organising fundraising events or donating to LGBTQ+ charities, organisations or projects. Donating via The Brighton Rainbow Fund ensures that funds and donations go where they are most needed. BRF has very few overheads, no paid staff, no premises, so virtually every penny donated goes directly to support those most in need.

Considering raising or donating funds to BRF? Get in touch info@rainbow-fund.org, for collection tins/buckets, bespoke QR codes to collect donations by text, hi res logo for use on posts etc., and if you´re organising an event free listings on Scene Events page, and joining this list.

Brighton Bear Weekend 6thJuly to 9th July

The annual BBW runs from Thursday 6th July to Sunday 9th July, and is raising funds again for The Brighton Rainbow Fund (this year shared with The Sussex Beacon)

https://brightonbearweekend.com/

 

David at 90, Gala Concert and After-Show Birthday Party for David Raven (Maisie Trollette) Sunday 23rd July

Brighton Dome Concert Hall 6pm

The Brighton Rainbow Fund is organising this Gala Concert, raising funds to distribute as grants. Tickets £15  to £60, and optional add on for the after show Birthday party.

Details and bookings: https://brightondome.org/event/32939/david_at_90_a_gala_celebration/

 

The Brighton & Hove Rainbow Run. 5km run, raising funds for BRF. Friday August 4th. Hove Park

Details: https://brightonrainbowrun.co.uk/

 

Brighton Pride: Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th August

The UK´s biggest and best Pride in the UK, raising funds for BRF.

Preston Park

Pride Village Party (in and around St James Street) including Legends cabaret marathon fundraiser on Sunday 6th  August.

Details: https://www.brighton-pride.org/

 

 

Stand Up Sober comedy showcase at the Ledward Centre raises £600

Lead pic: Bottom left to right: Alice. Clare, Helen, AJ, Finn, Ava Thomas, Katie. Top left to right: Carly-May, Rachel, Zoe Lyons, Andrada

A beginner’s comedy course ran for six weeks where participants learnt methods and techniques to create a stand-up comedy set.

Ali Jay has worked in comedy for many years and volunteered their time to create the first stand up comedy course for LGBTQ+ women and those who are non-binary. It was important to Ali Jay to keep the course affordable – they offered bursary places due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Ali Jay

The course climaxed with a 60-minute graduation showcase in front of a live audience. The Ledward Centre is a sober space, and for any comic, writing and performing the first five minutes of material is a daunting experience. However, these wonderful funny humans not only smashed their first gig, they gagged their way in front of a live SOBER audience,. The event was sold out and in total the amount raised for the Ledward Centre was around £600.

Alongside performing stand -up, the participants have made a wonderful bond with each other, and the feedback has been amazing!

Special thanks to Zoe Lyons who kindly gave their time to take part in a Q and A with the participants.

For more info contact

standupsober@ledcen.org.uk

alijaycomedy@gmail.com

Clockem Rockem announce new butt carressing swimwear collection

CLOCKEM ROCKEM is a men’s fashion brand formed in 2022. This gay owned company launched a
fabulous butt-caressing swimwear range.

Established in Nottingham and the passion project of married couple Shaun and Paul Swift, the boys decided to have a pop at creating and making the kind of swimwear and clothing they love, admire and want to wear.

Shaun (L) and Paul (R) Swift..founders with a passion

Paul explains what motivates them,

I have always had a passion for swimwear. I have personal fetish for swim fashions, beach wear, tanning and water polo wear from ranges such as DSquared, AussieBum, and Aronik. The pair of us are sun and holiday whores, and I personally own an impressive collection of trunks and swimwear. Shaun has been in sales and marketing for some time and is often involved in the trading and advertising of swim and underwear ranges, men’s fashion and fetish gear. I’m also a designer. We could never shake the idea that we should try and develop and manufacture our own product. We decided to isolate all the pros, eliminate the cons of the swimwear that had passed through our hands, and then add fresh ideas to the mix we had not seen for sale.’ 

This passion project for CLOCKEM ROCKEM has been ten slow burning years in the  making. The process has been filled with trials, all of which helped them to learn and correct the product so that we developed a standard that we could be proud of. Their first range featuring premium men’s bikini swimwear, while small, is a perfectly formed range of swimwear available now and exclusively through their website.

Paul continues,

‘A high standard of physique was at the forefront of our inspiration. We have designed
for peacocks, the body proud, and those sculpted from granite, while not forgetting those with fluffier edges, who don’t give a **** what others think of them. All are welcome.’

‘OUR BEACHWEAR RANGE IS CUT, SHAPED AND DEVELOPED TO SHOWCASE AND STYLISE
THE MALE BODY SHAPE. OUR RANGE IS TIGHT, SHINY AND OFFERS SOMETHING
DIFFERENT FOR YOU TO FROLIC IN.’

CLOCKEM ROCKEM

The polyester swimwear fabric is quick-drying, has a high degree of durability, is colourfast, holds its shape when wet (and dry) and has a certain amount of stretch, but CLOCKEM ROCKEM have deliberately cut a tighter bias; the range is double-lined to hide any unwanted ‘when wet exposure’.
No unsightly labels are added that poke out to ruin your tan line. Cut to a bikini fit, light and small, to show off your greatest assets. Logos are sublimated, so there is no disappointing long-term peel away or fading, and the range has been fair priced for a high-quality product.

The boys at CLOCKEM ROCKEM promise excellent customer service, which stays with you through the shopping process. Both are training in customer care but are also freakishly chatty. They want you to have a great experience and help them with suggestions on where to pivot next.

It’s amazing how many straight
lads offered to drop them for a gay swimwear brand’.

Sexy local models have been sourced to showcase the first range.

 

 

 CLOCKEM ROCKEM are always on the lookout for models, and if you’re interested, you can reach them through their website. Paul has even put his money where his mouth is and will be stripping for the next range due later this year.

On top of this, CLOCKEM ROCKEM will upload your tasteful images of you wearing their products
and promote your social sites if you want the exposure.

Shaun tells us about their future plan,

‘We will expand our shop to create men’s underwear, jocks,
thongs, sportswear, wrestle suits, athleisure, casual wear, fetish wear and anything else we can wrap
our enthusiasm around. Our first range of underwear and our swim briefs range are in development.
Current production runs will have limited numbers to deliberately not saturate the swimwear market
and avoid awkward costume clashes and ‘who wore it better moments.’

Shaun continues,

‘We don’t have high expectations of being a major player in such a competitive
industry; we are doing this for pleasure. We’re doing this so that we can design for ourselves and our
followers and push the boundaries by providing items we want (as a disgracefully ageing perverts) but
cannot find.’ 

Nothing is more attractive than a wet pair of trunks caressing a tight peach. If you appreciate the male form and have a fetish for swimwear, why not join CLOCKEM ROCKEM on their journey?

They are open to ideas and your feedback. Their first range is online at www.clockemrockem.com, available in six butt-hugging, bikini-fit colours. With limited run numbers, why not take the opportunity to get your hands on a range that is truly beach unique?

Paul finishes our chat by telling us how much building strong customer relations means to them,
‘Come with us, we would really appreciate your company and support. We hope you love our work
and would really like to read what you think of what we are doing. We are available on most leading
social media sites; why not follow us, drop in for a chat, or share our content… we don’t mind. We will
update new content on a frequent, but hopefully not annoying frequency.’

Once you CLOCKEM, we know you’ll ROCKEM.

At Last..photographs for exhibition at The Ledward Centre are released by UPS.

Photographs by French photographer Romain Berger, (profile of Romain and his work) destined for an exhibition at The Ledward Centre due to open on May 15th were held up at a UPS distribtion depot for more than 3 weeks.

“Provocative and kitsch

are two of many ways

that you can describe 

Romain Berger‘s photography.”

 

Meg Brosnan, organiser of the exhibition, All You Need Is Love, said:

“Romain, who lives in France, and I were tearing our hair out, getting different explanations on a daily basis from UPS the couriers”

The crate with the images finally arrived last week, and the pictures have now been hung.

 

 

The exhibition is now open for viewing ( May 29th ) Everyday from 10am to 6pm at The Ledward Centre, Brighton & Hove´s new LGBTQ+ Community and Cultural Centre, with an official opening is on Friday 2nd June at 7pm, and all are welcome.

 

 

Quality prints of the photographs are available to buy.

 

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