Citizenseye

Highcross CSR Community Day

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:35:17 +0000

On the 24th of May 2013 Nicola Duffy who is a co ordinater from Highcross Leicester helped to organise a day of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Corporate Social Responsibility is when a group from a big organisation come together to help their local community doing things such as litter picking and cleaning up graffiti.

Nicola said I’m really pleased that Highcross as a company can help make the community better even though the weather is not very nice.

I thought that the Highcross did a great job of making the community better.

By Mia Northern

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On 24th may 2013 a group of kind staff from Highcross Leicester volunteer to a event called Highcross environmental CSR day where every member of staff takes part by litter picking and cleaning graffiti along leicester streets. The CSR stands for corporate social responsibility

Nicola Duffy who is the Environmental co-coordinator for high cross Leicester organized the event. 15 members of staff from the highcross worked with the city wardens along the canals and parks. The idea behind this event was to make a difference in the community and also making the environment better also to do something different from there daily jobs. This event was ran across the country by hammersons who own a lot of shopping centre’s across the UK and want to help their communities.

Even though the weather was cold and damp the staff carried on there mission also partners that helped and supported the highcross environmental day to happen are DMU Square Mile, Leicester City Council, the City Wardens who also took part and the Ace project also Junior DNO who came to the event and where reporting this.

Laura one of the staff members who was dedicated to this event says “Today we are making a difference by litter picking and graffiti cleaning the area. Laura also mentioned that this is a good way of getting out there and litter picking and would like to see more business across the uk to contribute to there communities.”

Daran who also took part and was happy to do this for the community he said that “ making the environment a better place is a good thing to do so this is a part of making the environment a better place to live also graffiti cleaning will make a better place to be in. the city wardens are coming in together and helping out as well.

This is an amazing thing to do for a community. Just making a better place to live in hopefully more business will get involved in there areas and making a better place for there communities.

By Brahmpreet Gulati

African Caribbean Citizens Forum News Update

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:29:57 +0000

News Update from African Caribbean Citizens Forum:

EMCCAN & Nottingham Carnival presents Rainbirds and Drumbeats The third annual regional Carnival Queen Show takes place at the Nottingham Playhouse on Saturday 1st June 2013 at 7pm.

Tickets are £10 -£12 (discounted family tickets available) to book call 0115 941 9419 or go to www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk Understanding Prevent Course at St Philips Centre

Understanding PREVENT course (Level 2 -2days) run by the St Philips Centre for Key public workers. The course aims to raise awareness about the Contest Strategy and in particular PREVENT Understanding of Islam, the terrorist narrative and the diversity and dynamics of Muslim communities so that public sector workers have a better understanding of the issues and are able to carry their roles more effectively.

Please find attached programme details.

The next available dates are:28/05/2013 & 04/06/2013 (Open to all)

10/09/2013 & 17/09/2013 (Only those working in the following sectors Education, Prisons, Probation, Health)

17/10/2013 & 24/10/2013 (Only for those working in the following sectors: Education, Prisons, Probation, Health)

If you would like to book yourself or your colleagues on to this course please contact Jessica Mistry Prevent Engagement Officer 7104 Prevent Engagement Team Email: Jessica.Mistry@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk Tel: 01162486771 VM No. 7104 Mob: 07595005768

Festival2Funky – Saturday 25 May 2013

Festival2Funky will be a massive celebration of urban music, scheduled for Saturday 25 May 2013. Taking place across four venues on Leicester’s Braunstone Gate, this free festival will encompass a variety of urban styles and exciting, high profile live performances, alongside open mic opportunities, master classes, DJ sets and an after-party.

Events will be hosted by Toucan, Vinnie Spice, The Music Café and Sumo.

Festival2Funky: Saturday 25 May 2013, Braunstone Gate, LeicesterFor updates on acts and gig times, visit: www.2funkyarts.co.uk, or contact info@2funkyarts.co.uk

Advert for Maternity Leave Cover

Two part time Receptionists are required to cover for maternity leave at Highfields Centre.

Please see attachment for more details, Closing Date: 31st May 2013

For informal enquires/application forms, please contact the Centre on 0116 2531053 *LAST CHANCE* PYCA Free Security Guarding – Course InfoPlease find attached the details for “Free Security Guarding Course”.

The last two “Free” courses will be starting on: Monday 17th June 2013 (almost full) & Monday 1st July 2013. For more information contact PYCA directly on 0116 254 8012 or e-mail contact@pyca.org.uk

New Domestic Violence Service

The SAFE project is a new Domestic Violence service that is open to men and women affected by domestic violence including those affected as a third party. The SAFE service currently have a dedicated DV helpline, Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA’s), Outreach Officers and Domestic Violence & Housing Officers. We can also support clients who would like extra security in their property through our SAFE Sanctuary scheme.The helpline number is 0300 123 0918 and is open Monday – Friday 8am -10pm, Saturday 10-6pm, and Sunday 12-4pm

Adult Learning Courses at Highfields CentrePlease find attached details of new courses planned to start at Highfields Centre. You can obtain further information about the course by contacting Jeevan or Hafiza at Highfields Centre on Tel: 0116 2531053.

Leicester Cathedral opens book of condolence

Members of the public are being encouraged to show their solidarity with all those deeply affected by the barbaric act of murder which took place in Woolwich. The Cathedral invites people, from every community to unite in sympathy for the young soldier so brutally killed in Woolwich on 22 May 2013. Therefore, we are providing a condolence book for people to sign.

Leicester Cathedral will be open daily to members of the public from 9am-6pm.

Living History DocumentaryTwenty Twenty Television is making a new ‘living history’ documentary series about the welfare state for Channel 4.

The series will invite present-day benefits claimants to live by the rules that governed welfare and benefit provisions in 1949, the present system’s first year.

One of the stories that Twenty Twenty would like to feature is that of an individual who has come to the UK in the last eight years such as an Asylum Seeker or Refugee who now has leave to remain but is finding it difficult to find work. Anyone interested in finding out more can call Dwayne Eaton for a friendly, informal, no obligation chat on 07852374446 or contact him by email at Dwayne.Eaton@twentytwenty.tv

New Dawn New Day – New service for Leicester supporting young women affected by domestic and sexual abuse.

New Dawn New Day exists to inspire women and their families to change their lives and their communities by helping them to overcome the poverty, disadvantage and inequality they face so they can reach their full potential.

For more information about New Dawn New Day Ltd please see the following link www.ndnd.org.uk A new service is being introduced for young people who have or are experiencing domestic or sexual abuse – From May 2013 New Dawn New Day will be delivering a new gendered support service to young women (14-21) who have experienced domestic violence and sexual abuse. A Young Women’s Outreach Support Worker has been appointed who will provide holistic one-to-one support in the community to vulnerable young women, including young mothers and pregnant young women.

For more information on this new project please contact Glenys Powell on Tel: 0116 282 6918 Mobile: 07803146390 or email: Glenys.Powell@ndnd.org.uk

raDNO Interviews Dr Sharon Lockyer on Disability & Comedy

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:39:55 +0000

Hear a raDNO podcast of presenter and disability rights campaigner Andy Morris speaking with Dr Sharon Lockyer from Brunel University, London.

Andy hosted Dr Lockyer on the Down Not Out News Agency raDNO ‘Moggy Mobile’ show on Panj Pani Radio on Thursday May 2 2013.

Dr Lockyer is currently carrying out research in the area of disability and comedy.

Hear a podcast of the discussion on SoundCloud at:

http://soundcloud.com/radno/andy-morriss-interview-dr

Subjects include disabled comics, the treatment of disability in stand-up comedy and audience reaction to the material.

Leicester LGBT Centre Self Esteem Workshop

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:39:32 +0000

The Leicester LGBT Centre is holding a Self Esteem Workshop on Tuesday 11th June from 7pm -9pm.
This workshop is based on developing and increasing self esteem, self worth and self value.
Using a variety of methods it will be an opportunity to work in a safe and supportive environment to explore how the key components of health start with psychological foundations.
The workshop is free to any lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans people or anyone questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity aged 18 or over from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Places are limited so please book early by contacting Andrew via email at andrew@leicesterlgbtcentre.org or call 0116 254 7412

Fetal Anti-Convulsant Trust Website

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:37:53 +0000

The Fetal Anti-Convulsant Trust (FACT) first opened its doors in April 2011 and was set up to help achieve financial and clinical support for victims affected by anti-convulsant medications while in the womb, and aim to provide relief and assistance for those born in the UK damaged as a result

Visit the website at: http://www.fact-uk.co.uk/

Get in the Top Forty: County Council Looks for More Foster Carers

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:37:25 +0000

Transform a child’s life – join the top 40.
‘Forty’ has countless meanings – a ruby wedding anniversary, the age life supposedly begins at – but for vulnerable children, it’s the number of new foster carers needed to transform lives.
Leicestershire County Council is launching a 12-month recruitment drive to find 40 extra carers able to offer youngsters a secure and loving home.
Foster carers transforms lives and although they’re needed for children of any age, the council is particularly keen to find more people who are keen to foster babies.
David and Kathryn Coulson from Enderby have fostered two babies and are awaiting the arrival of a third.
David said: “We started fostering around a year ago after two difficult births meant that we couldn’t have any more children. I was keen to have loads of kids – a football team if possible – and felt that through foster care, we could help a number of children over the years.
“You hear stories about foster carers being left in the lurch but we couldn’t have wished for more. Our social worker visits every four-to-six weeks and is always at the end of a phone.
“Babies are the best match for us because we have young children and just knowing that we’ve helped another family and repaired problems is so rewarding – we’ve got the bug and love it.
“We’d definitely encourage people to take up fostering – anyone from any walk of life can foster and it is such a rewarding experience.”
Children need foster carers following a family crisis, if their parents become ill or if their family home is unsafe. This could involving caring for them for anything from a few days right through to the rest of their childhood.
The move has been sparked by a 25 per cent rise over the past two years in the number of children in care in Leicestershire – this figure mirrors the national trend.
The drive coincides with Foster Care Fortnight which is a national awareness campaign running between 13th and 26th May.
Kerrie Scraton, Leicestershire County Council’s head of social care, said: “Fostering quite simply transforms children’s lives and given the national rise in the number of children in care, we need to recruit more people who can make space for a child.
“We find that often, it’s taking the first step that is the hardest so we’re encouraging people to pick up the phone and make that initial call to us.
“Anyone can be considered – whether you are on your own or in a relationship, working or not working, regardless of your race, religion, sexual orientation or financial situation – and we spend time matching children to families who can meet their needs.
“Fostering is challenging but one of the most rewarding things you can do and I hope we encourage people to find out more.”
To find out more, please visit www.spaceforachild.com or call 0116 305 0505 or freephone 0800 587 7767.
More information about Foster Care Fortnight is available at: www.fostering.net/foster-care-fortnight

Sparking the Imagination for Half Term at Phoenix Digital Playground

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:36:32 +0000

The Spark Festival takes place between 29 May and 9 June at venues across Leicester. During half term Phoenix presents a digital playground for families with free activities for all ages to enjoy in Sparking the Imagination.

Sparking the Imagination runs from Wednesday 29 May until Sunday 2 June with free drop in activities taking place between 10am and 5pm each day. The programme is packed full of amazing installations, interactive artwork and creative digital activities as well as a line up of fantastic films handpicked for the digital generation.

As part of Sparking the Imagination families can discover Book of Worlds. Book of Worlds is no ordinary book, as you turn the pages a tale comes to life around you with pictures, lights and sounds! This incredible interactive artwork takes you on a magical trip into a world where the imagination can become real. In Graffit! see your own digital artwork appear before your eyes in a wonderful interactive installation. Graffit! lets you spray colours and shapes across a huge virtual canvas with realistic effects. Book of Worlds and Graffit! have been devised by digital artist Luke Woodbury and commissioned by Phoenix for The Spark Festival. Also part of Sparking the Imagination is Boredbrands – The Digital Funfair – a trio of original, imaginative and very funny interactive artworks. Be a superstar DJ with The Beat Jigsaw, create awesome music and videos with the AV Arcade Table and take a spin on the Pacbike to save the earth from alien invaders! Sparking the Imagination is suitable for ages 2 plus and is free entry although some charges may apply to exhibits and screenings. Visit www.phoenix.org.uk or call 0116 242 2800 for more information.

Phoenix is also presenting a fantastic schedule of family films specially chosen for the festival during half term. Between Wednesday 29 May and Sunday 2 June charming animations from Japan and France will be showing throughout the day. Films include From up on Poppy Hill where two high school students develop a romance as they try to save their school’s clubhouse from demolition. Also being screened is Wolf Children which sees Ame and Yuki who hide a dark secret – they are wolf children and must decide whether to grow up as humans or wolves. The Day of the Crows features a boy and his father living wild in the forest with spirits as their only companions until the boy discovers a village and falls in love with a girl. Phoenix Spark Festival films are suitable for ages 8 and over. Tickets cost £5.90 for adults and £5.25 for children. For screening times visit www.phoenix.org.uk.

Over the weekend of 1 and 2 June, at 11am and 2pm Phoenix hosts a brilliant performance The Lost Child from Bigmix Theatre. When Rowan disappears, her father the tinker sets off on a magical journey to find her, encountering many strange and wonderful creatures along the way! Bigmix Theatre are an emerging company in residence at Phoenix. Their brilliant adaptation of this charming story blends traditional theatre with digital animation to create a delightful performance which is funny, wonderfully weird and just a little bit scary! The Lost Child is suitable for ages 3 – 10 and tickets cost £3.50 each. Contact Phoenix to book on 0116 242 2800 or visit www.phoenix.org.uk.

For more festival information visit www.sparkfestival.co.uk, call 0116 261 6893, email admin@sparkfestival.co.uk, find the festival on Facebook/sparkartsfest, follow on Twitter @sparkartsfest and download the Spark App.

Mental Health Awareness Week

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:35:47 +0000

Mental Health Awareness Week 2013 took place from 13-19 May. The theme was the positive impact of physical activity on your wellbeing.

Lots of people held events to promote the benefit of physical activity to boost your mental health.

ID Medical in Milton Keynes took part in a lunchtime aerobics session and raised £146 to support our work!

If you were involved in an event and you’d like us to add it to our activity map, please send us details.

If you held a collection during Mental Health Awareness Week, you can submit it online.

Read more about physical activity, and download the Let’s Get Physical booklet if you haven’t already done so.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/lets-get-physical-booklet-2013/

Bishop of Leicester on Murder of Lee Rigby

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:11:00 +0000

The Bishop of Leicester, Rt Rev Tim Stevens, has called on communities to remain calm following the horrific murder in Woolwich, London on Wednesday afternoon. The Bishop said, “I am deeply distressed by reports of this barbaric attack which took place in front of passers-by in a street in South London. It has been confirmed that the victim was a serving soldier and the Prime Minister has said that there were “strong indications that it is a terrorist attack”. The police now need to be allowed to do their job and ascertain the facts behind what took place. “Individuals who commit such crimes in the name of religion or politics stand at odds with the compassionate shared values which we stand for as a society. Such acts aim to divide our communities and I call upon everyone to remain calm and united. At this deeply tragic time, my prayers and thoughts are for the victim and those who knew him, but also those many ordinary people traumatised by this shocking and wholly unjustified event”.

Federation of Muslim Organisations on Murder of Lee Rigby

John Coster — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:57:32 +0000

Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO) condemns in the strongest terms possible the shocking and abhorrent murder of a soldier in Woolwich, London.

FMO PR Officer Suleman Nagdi said “This is a most truly appalling crime. Reports about the graphic nature of the incident with the use of a machete to commit murder in full public view, makes this case even more reprehensible. As the situation unfolds, our thoughts are with the family of the victim”.

The Prime Minister David Cameron has said that there are “strong indications that it is a terrorist incident”. Mr Nagdi added, “The FMO condemns violence for whichever cause in all its hideous guises and it is our sincere hope that the perpetrators of this horrendous crime are brought to justice. Muslims historically through the first and second World Wars and indeed today, have and continue to contribute to the defence of our country. I appeal for all communities to remain calm in the face of this attack and not to allow this evil crime to divide communities in our country”.