Students at De Montfort University are being urged to get involved in the electoral race for the Leicester West constituency.
Voters will be given the chance to quiz the prospective parliamentary candidates (PPCs) from each of the three major parties, at a ‘Question Time’ event, Tuesday March 23. Also present will be the PPCs from the Green Party and the Trade Union & Socialist Coalition (TUSC).
DMU Politics Society Politics Active Coordinator, Jamie Jordan said: “Myself and Matt Bennison, the Communications Coordinator, came up with the idea of having the event take place at DMU.”
“It’s important because Leicester West has an extremely large student population and they have a vested interest in the outcome of this seat to ensure that someone is elected who represents their views.”
Long term incumbent, Patricia Hewitt – the former Secretary of State for Health – is stepping down, meaning the race is more open than it may previously have been.
Mr Jordan said: “The event is a good opportunity for people to hear the points of view of three new people who are all contesting for what is now, a more open seat.”
There are now two-million students in the UK, in the past this block were highly politically active, however there are now growing concerns over apathy within the student community.
Mr Jordan said: “The engagement of young people in politics although low with high levels of apathy is nonetheless important and there must be a greater effort made to ensure that this section of society does not become disenfranchised from a decision making process that has continually been centralised under this government. We are simply trying to create an avenue for this expression to be made whilst creating something that is entertaining.”
The debate will cover a broad range of topics, including, local Leicester issues, student issues, hot election topics (such as tax increases and spending cuts) and the process of our political system.
Liberal Democrat PPC, Cllr Peter Coley said: “Unfortunately there are many people who do not vote and probably many different reasons why so the challenge is surely to talk, and of course listen to people to try and get some understanding of their concerns not just write them off as non-voters. ”
“Students will inherit the outcomes of decisions we make now on transport, pollution, climate, third world debt etc so it is vitally important that the political process is mended and that there is positive engagement of our young people.”
Conservative PPC Celia Harvey said: “I am hoping that by encouraging students to engage with the political process through Question Time, they might take the opportunity to vote this year.”
“Politics is as much about the person as the Party and although leaflets can easily be thrown away, listening to and watching a person will give a much greater impact as to whether you trust them or not to improve your situation and that of the country.”

Significant strides to engage more Leicester youngsters in squash have just been announced by Leicester Squash Club.

The London Road based sports venue, which was established in 1936, already boasts over 300 members and has recognised the necessity to maintain strong numbers well in to the future.

In addition to the Leicester Squash Club Head Coach, Olli Clay, and his work in building the club’s 50 strong Junior Section from beginners to county players, a new trainer has been drafted by Leicester Squash Club (LSC) to work with children in the area to get them interested in the discipline.

Linda Taylor, a Leicester based squash coach, has already gained plaudits across the East Midlands for her skill for nurturing new generations of would be squash players – as well as for her work in conjunction with the English Federation of Disability sport.

Steve Harvey, a committee member, said: “We’ve brought Linda in as a consultant to hopefully develop the relationship with schools – primarily those in a close proximity to the club. She will go in and complete a fun programme of squash orientated activities with the kids which will then finish off with a session here.

“Linda has a great track record for doing such things. For example, in Loughborough she has run very successful squash clinics.”

These developments will also add to the hope and expectation to the already highly prestigious club.

The men’s team, having only this season returned to the Midlands League after a 20-year hiatus, are two matches away from securing winner status and the club has a burgeoning list of nationally recognised talents among its ranks.

These names include youngster James Wright who is ranked second in the county and has been England Under 21 champion, along with the Taylor sisters – Mari and Lily.

They have both already competed for their country, at Under 15s and Under 13s respectively, and are hotly tipped for ‘big things’ in the years to come.

Having taken these factors into consideration, the reasons for taking such an active step to engage youngsters were made clear by fellow committee member Pete Buckingham.

He discussed how starting individuals early would lengthen the odds of them continuing with squash beyond their teenage years – especially if it was made to be fun.

“It’s like most things – you have to get in there as early as possible. You see it time and again that there is generally a big drop off between the ages of 13 and 17 in all sports,” Mr Buckingham said. “With kids you have to introduce an element of fun so they don’t switch off.”

With the newly implemented school squash initiative soon to begin LSC is hoping future success is well within reach.

Over a 1,000 clubbers are expected to take part on Saturday for what is to become one of Leicester’s news fads, a secret warehouse party.

People from all over the Midlands will be ushered to Leicester to get involved in the weekend frolics hosted by the Ministry of Sound.

Guy Briewin, event co-coordinator for Entourage promotions, said: “We got in contact with Ministry of Sounds to ask if they wanted to hold any events in conjunction with us and we came up with this concept together. It’s a joint effort, they provide the entertainment and we provide the people.”

Coaches from Nottingham, Northampton, Oakham and Loughborough will arrive throughout the night.

Another service included in the package will see people partying in some of the free entry pre-bars such as Varsity, Loaded dog and R Bar, be collected and driven to the ‘secret’ location they have all purchased tickets for.

The location was revealed last night to the public at 7pm through the social networking site facebook and by text message to all tickets holder.

The old 30,ooo Sq Ft SWT warehouse on Belgrave Gate, will be transformed into a two arena night club with Leicester University bar staff on call to serve drinks to the clubbers of the night.

“The night is fully licensed. We have had inspection by the police, by the fire brigade and the council. They have all been supportive and given us the go ahead for the event”, added Guy.

The line up will include some of Ministry of Sounds most loved DJ’s such as Al Taylor, Jluv, Richie P and Gotti.

Highlights of the night will include a mix of C02 and UV cannons, lasers, flame machines and podium dancers. There will also be a chance to get your hands on a mix of free giveaways such as Ministry of Sound CD’s.

The tickets retail at £7, there are currently only 100 tickets left.

For more information visit www.mos.fatsoma.com.

The major new development of a five-storey apartment block for students threatens to tarnish the ‘gateway to Stoneygate’, according to a conservation society member.

Plans were unveiled at the turn of the year to turn a derelict London Road site, near the Mayfield Road roundabout, into a building to house 120 people.

The application would see a modern building among classic examples of Victorian architecture and has been slammed by vigilant community group Stoneygate Conservation Area Society (SCAS) for a lack of planning consideration.

SCAS committee member Nick Knight said: “The proposed site is considered to be the entrance to Stoneygate, but the plans don’t reflect anything about the area. The building itself is impressive, but it should be impressive elsewhere.

“All around the proposed site are classic examples of subtle Victorian design, with trees and houses away from the road. There’s nothing subtle about this, they’ve just tried to cram so much into the space.”

The application is set to be reviewed by a Leicester City Council planning committee in May and will be assessed in terms of impact on the neighbouring Conservation Area and opposition from Stoneygate people.

Council spokesman Jon Evans said: “ The main aspects that will be considered are visual appearance, how it would fit in with the conservation area, the impact it may have on Victoria Park opposite and on any buildings of importance such as listed buildings.

“There are also design policies and residential amenity policies that will be applied,” he confirmed.

A national family-run pub and brewery chain has returned home to roll out a new type of pub experience in Knighton.

The Cradock Arms, Knighton Road, re-opened last week after a £350,000 refurbishment to create a ‘traditional family pub with a modern twist.’

The pub is one of many owned by Everards whose founder, William Everard, heralded from Knighton.

Robin Sherwood, retail-marketing manager for Everards, said: “We’ve been family owned since 1849. This means we have an idea of what works and what doesn’t, although we were keen to discuss our final product with the community. To that extent we had meetings with local customers to gauge their thoughts.”

After these discussions it became clear to the owners that an emphasis on playing an integral part in everyday community life would help maximise the pub’s potential.

With this in mind, a monthly book club has been instated, family board games can be borrowed on site and there are hopes to utilise the newly landscaped garden for barbeques in the summer months.

“It’s not just a pub anymore it’s an asset. We want to see the Cradock Arms play an important role in people’s day to day lives,” Mr Sherwood added.

Along with the introduction of a community focus the pub has also installed a new thatch roof, as well as a platform lift to allow disabled access to the upper bar area. There has also been a new menu introduced, and a new kitchen in which to freshly prepare the food.

Licensee Nick Burrell said: “It’s been a long journey, but I’m delighted with the outcome. As it was only closed for six weeks it was a pressured job, but the team has worked hard. We’re finally going to be maximising the value of the pub, which hadn’t been used to its full potential in the past.”

An innovative springtime scheme will see a 16-acre Stoughton Road green-space transformed into an interactive outdoor classroom for school pupils learning about the natural world.

The University of Leicester Botanic Garden, which is normally used for research by biological science students, will welcome children on placements from primary and secondary schools across the county as part of an initiative to give youngsters a hands-on learning experience.

This year will see a new ‘Botanica’ exercise, involving young people aged 12-18 taking on the roles of citizens of a fictional developing country for a day and completing a number of tasks aiming to build team work and logical thinking.

Last year the centre welcomed more than 10,000 children who attended workshops and classes on wildlife, habitats and biology, which offered a ‘close up’ view of topics traditionally confined to the science lab.

Education officer at the garden Ruth Godfrey said: “This programme is all about giving children the opportunity to hands on with learning in an absolutely beautiful setting.

“We want the garden is to be used as an educational tool for everyone not just students at the university,” she said. “It’s all about giving children and young people a more complete understanding of the natural world around them.”

It is hoped the gardens, which contains a water garden, rock garden, and nationwide collections of several species of plant, will offer wider perspective for pupils in urban areas lacking in green space.

Barbara Brennan, former chief executive of children’s wellbeing charity Young Mind’s, said: “It is especially important for those children in city areas which often do not have large gardens or any green space to have the chance to enjoy and benefit from places like this.”

A Clarendon Park toyshop owner has helped to breathe new life into a children’s classic toys at one of the cities oldest venues.

This Saturday Abbey Pumping Station, corporation Road, is opening its doors to the public for the very first ‘Lego Madness’.

Ian Adcock, owner of Midway Models, which has served the community for 26 years, said: “Over the last six years this shop has specialised in Lego. Lego is still where I would say ‘in the unknown’. It has the ability to be enjoyed and to entertain people of all ages and such a great way for kids to get their imaginations working.”

“When the pumping station approached me I thought the idea of a Lego day for the city’s children was a grand idea and have helped to provide the Lego for them, and will be helping people to make different scale models.”

The free event is to be held in conjunction with British Science Week, and will include games, such as guess how many pieces on the model, a Lego trail around the museum and a range of stalls including one from Mr Adcock, making second hand Lego available to buy and displaying models he has previously made.

Volunteers will be running the event and as a bonus the museum will open up its steam train for the public to ride at the charge of 50p.

Minaxi Patel, operations officer for Abbey Pumping Station, said: “We are really looking forward to this event. In my eyes there is so much for children to learn from Lego, it allows them to be creative, and this event is very much about learning technologically.

“We’re going to give them the chance to build small to almighty objects, Lego is amazing you just have to look at the life size house that James May, the Top Gear presenter created.”

The event will run between 11am and 3pm, for more information contact Abbey Pumping Station on 0116 299 5111.

A popular toddler group held at a Clarendon Park Road library has been dubbed a ‘serious competitor’ to playgroups in the area.

The free, once weekly event –which includes storytelling and pupeteering from a regular hostess, and crafts – was first formed around six-years-ago for under-fives to attend with their parents in Knighton.

The group now accommodates a regular intake of 15 to 20 toddlers for the two-hour sessions.

Jon Paton, of Knighton Library, said: “It gets pretty wild with the number of children we have attending. We have definitely become an unofficial playgroup in this community.

“Here, everyone gets to make the most of a free service. It’s fun for the toddlers and the parents are able to chat and interact with one another – it’s a very tight-knit affair,” he added.

The sentiments of Mr Paton have been echoed by those who attend the toddler group with praise being heaped upon the service provided by the library.

Fatimah Goni, 27, has been bringing her son Yusuf, 20 months, for only a few weeks but has already recognised the impact of the sessions.

“I found out about what Knighton Library had to offer over the internet. My son is an only child and things like this really allow him to get used to other children.

“We go to other playgroups but we really enjoy this one as it is so interactive,” said Mrs Goni.

Another who has been left impressed with what the toddler group has to offer is Mrs Baria, 54, who has been attending for over six months with her two-year old grand-daughter, Amreeta.

Mrs Baria said: “Although we go to another playgroup in the week, this one is really good. The library staff provides us with all sorts to keep the children occupied and there is always something different going on.

“The story-teller is especially good. My grand-daughter has a lot of fun here,” she added.

For more information contact Knighton Library on 0116 299 5477.

A church congregation in Clarendon Park has turned a community challenge to aid the work of Leicester City of Sanctuary into much needed long-term support.

Stoneygate Baptist Church, London Road, decided to take part in the asylum seeker and refugee charity City of Sanctuary’s ‘Golden Giver’ scheme after a recommendation from Elizabeth Burley, a church attendee, from Somerville Road

The 12-month citywide project encourages community groups to donate 50 bags or boxes of food, toiletries and other essentials to the British Red Cross in order to help unsupported asylum seekers.

Groups who complete the challenge are then rewarded for their endeavours with recognition, including a certificate presentation, from the City of Sanctuary and the British Red Cross.

Ms Burley said: “We started off participating in the scheme just offering things like food but then it just snowballed and the congregation have donated ever since.

“Now it’s more or less a weekly act. It works really well.”

Steve Martin, a fellow member and helper at the church, also agreed.

Mr Martin said: “There won’t be a time when these people in society won’t need help and as long as the church membership continues to bring items in – we will continue to help.”

Mr Martin then explained how their Christian faith led them to continue collecting for asylum seekers and refugees.

“Within our religion we are obliged to support the whole community. There are refugees – outcasts – who rely on us,” he said.

Development worker at City of Sanctuary, Gill Buttery was keen to add that the Stoneygate Baptist Church was not the only one to continue with their generosity.

“It really captured people’s hearts and many have continued to donate – to the extent that they begin checking lists to see what the British Red Cross are most in need of at any particular time. For example, there’s a huge need for nappies and baby milk at the moment.

“It’s a great scheme for a great cause,” Ms Buttery added.

For more information about the ‘Golden Giver’ scheme contact City of Sanctuary, which is open to any community group, by emailing leicester@cityofsanctuary.com.

A centenary year for a Stoneygate tennis club has been reached and it has called upon the community to help it celebrate the landmark.

Victoria Tennis Club, situated on Park Lane, off Holmfield Avenue, first opened its doors in 1910 and has now planned a year of events to celebrate its 100^th birthday.

The birthday launch party will be held this Saturday, February 27 from 7.30pm and is hoped a total of 200 people – made up from the club’s current and past members, as well as friends of the club – will attend.

Karen Doyle, Victoria Tennis Club’s centenary coordinator, said: “The fact that as a small club we have been able to run for 100 years is amazing and we want to mark it by a whole year of celebration.”

The party will see the club’s history celebrated in an exhibition compiled from minutes of meetings collected at the venue since its opening. These will also be available to buy in the form of a book, retailing at £5.

The next event in the year long birthday celebrations will be held on Saturday March 20 and will see the club play 100 sets over its five courts and all money raised through donations will be given to Sport Relief.

Mrs Doyle said: “ We are particularly excited about this event as Barclays, the bank, have agreed to match every pound raised up to £750. That’s a significant figure.”

Despite these events, Mrs Doyle was keen to say that the highlight of the year will take place in May.

‘Centenary Play Tennis Day’ will see the whole community welcomed to participate in a day of ‘fun-filled activities and games’, along with a 500 strong balloon release race to mark the birthday.

“We welcome the whole community to join us and we will be doing everything in our power to make it a success,” added Mrs Doyle.