It is the first time in its history that LASS has sought the support of a patron and the acceptance of this position by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu reflects the extensive variety of challenges that working in HIV presents.  Jenny Hand, CEO of LASS, explains:

“For LASS to be supported and valued by a man of such international stature is incredible.  The Archbishop’s untiring work in human rights, particularly in Southern Africa, and in the field of HIV/AIDS, together with his extraordinary ability to reach across communities, inspired LASS to approach him.  His patronage reflects the diverse range of communities LASS works with and gives us a new sense of purpose and energy.  We could not have asked for a better way to mark the launch of our 25th Anniversary Year and embolden our service users, staff and volunteers as we face the challenges that lie ahead.”

In approaching Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu LASS described the charity’s journey, from starting as a struggling telephone help-line in June 1987 for people affected by HIV and AIDS, to becoming Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s  leading cross-community HIV charity today, currently supporting over 500 people affected by HIV; leading the way with its innovative community Rapid HIV Testing initiative; delivering education and training in sexual health in schools and community settings and challenging the stigma and ignorance that is still attached to HIV.�

In accepting the invitation Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu explained that, as a retired octogenarian, he had been reducing his commitments.  However, he was touched by LASS’s story and has decided to make an exception, agreeing to be the charity’s International Patron.  Patrick Bowe, Chair of the LASS Board of Trustees comments:

“This is also a very positive reflection on our home of Leicester, which the Archbishop is already familiar with through the University of Leicester.  The extraordinary diversity of the city’s communities, the work done in the city to maintain community harmony and LASS’s commitment to working across faiths and communities were also drawn to the Archbishop’s attention.  It is for these reasons also that LASS believes no better figure could have been welcomed as our International Patron than Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.”

LASS will be launching its 25th Anniversary Year with an Anniversary Boat Race in Humberstone Gate, Leicester City Centre, on 9 June.  This event will reflect the fact that in 25 years the reality of HIV in the UK has changed enormously and it is possible, with early diagnosis, to live a long, healthy and active life with HIV.  It will be the first in a number of initiatives throughout the coming year.  The Anniversary Boat Race will also reflect the fact that HIV affects everyone, no matter which community or world continent they are from, and is something to address rather than shy away from.

www.leicesterspeaks.org

 Clinics times from 10am -12pm where we give 20 minutes free consultation in:· Employment Relations· Equality/Discrimination Issues· Family Disputes Ring us to book an appointment on 0116 340 0229

Saturday 7^th July 2012 – 2pm – 10.30pm

We need your help …

We are currently recruiting:

Performers: artists, dance and drama, bands, mc’s, in fact anything that is either creative or culturally diverse

Volunteers: to help out with marketing/PR, event management and artists to help run art activities.

Stall holders: to sell anything relevant to the event or might be of interest to the general public.

This exciting Leicester event will feature live bands on stage all day, dance performances, arts activities and workshops in arts and dj’ing, including an ‘Art Off’ competition, large scale film projections, fire performance, comedians, a magician, open mic for budding mc’s not to mention a carnival procession and much more….

Interested…..?

Manor House Community Centre, Haddenham Rd, Leicester, LE3 2BG, off Narborough Road.

For more information call Amanda on 07952 993 306 or email kaleidoscopeartsltd@gmail.com

Thousands of children living in the UK without legal immigration status are at risk of destitution and exploitation because of contradictory rules and regulations, a report by the University of Oxford has claimed.

See more at:http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1073257/immigration-rules-leave-thousands-children-destitute-university-oxford?utm_content=&utm_campaign=160512_SocialCareNews&utm_source=Children%20%26%20Young%20People%20Now&utm_medium=adestra_email&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cypnow.co.uk%2Fcyp%2Fnews%2F1073257%2Fimmigration-rules-leave-thousands-children-destitute-university-oxford

By Janaki Mahadevan, Tuesday 15 May 2012, published in Children and Young People Now:

As well as being fun, the performances are a powerful teaching tool, stimulating a wealth of classroom activity across the curriculum.  Spark school shows are supported by resources for teachers and some offer practical workshops led by the performers.

The Spark shows bringing fun into the classroom this year range from Hare and Tortoise a show with live music and wonderful physicality from tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal, the fabulously funky interactive storytelling treat Anansi the Spider from Yaaba Funk, Hip Hope Hero featuring dance, poetry, animation, original music and cool puppets from Moving Hands Theatre Company in Association with Birmingham Rep, and beautiful shadow puppetry and movement for pre-schoolers in Blown Away from Birds Nest Theatre.

As well as offering performances in schools, The Spark encourages schools to visit festival venues and to make these visits as accessible as possible, venues offer one free ticket for every ten purchased.  This year The Spark is also delighted to announce that thanks to its new Transport Partner, Woods Coaches, the festival can offer a subsidy of £50 to schools in Leicester and Leicestershire travelling to Spark shows.

The Spark’s schools performances include the new epic visual adaptation of Gulliver’s Travels by Dragon Breath Theatre and Curve which has been developed with local schoolchildren, to explore the theme of transition in relation to Swift’s classic tale and in the context of moving from primary to secondary education (24 – 29 May and 30 & 31 May).  There are also outreach workshops in schools, an ‘Inside Out’ theatre day giving children the opportunity to work with the cast plus a literacy INSET for teachers exploring creative ways to develop literacy skills with students using the text.  Younger children will love the musical theatre fun in Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales from Scamp Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre at Curve (29 – 31 May), as Julia Donaldson’s celebrated stories are brought to life with music, songs and colourful puppets.  Perfect for pre-school children, White also at Curve (31 May – 2 June) is an ideal first-time theatre experience from Catherine Wheels Theatre Company (Scotland) in association with Brunton Theatre Musselburgh.  Under-fives will be mesmerised by the beautifully strange world of White where two friends keep everything ordered until colour starts to appear and everything changes.

The Spark is celebrating its 10^th birthday this year and runs from 28 May until 10 June with events for ages 0-13 at venues across Leicester. For more information visit www.sparkfestival.co.uk, call 0116 261 6893 or email admin@sparkfestival.co.uk or download the Spark Festival iphone App.

When their son Josh was born, Wendy and her disabled husband, Michael, began to plan how they would deal with Josh’s inevitable questions about his father’s wheelchair. Those plans developed into My Dad is Different.

“When Josh was three I read the story to him,” Wendy writes, “and he enjoyed reading about himself and his Dad. We emphasized that although his Dad couldn’t kick a ball, he was still loved very much and that there will be other things that he and his Dad could do together.”

Although much of the social stigma against disabled persons has dispersed, Wendy says, she discovered few if any books intended to help young readers explore their parents’ disabilities. Finding that lack, and having already discussed the same issues with Josh and Michael, she decided to publish her book.

“This book will appeal to all those disabled parents who have a young family,” Wendy says. “These parents might have been born with a disability or have had an accident or an illness. It helps children understand that there are many children who have a disabled parent. It will make them empathetic to the needs of others around them.”

About the Author
Author Wendy Desmet lives with her husband, Michael, and son, Josh, in Yorkshire, England. Her husband is disabled and wheelchair bound. When Josh was born, the question around Michael’s disability would eventually be brought up. This is when Desmet wrote My Dad is Different to help Josh understand his Dad’s disability.

AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is a leading provider of book publishing, marketing, and bookselling services for authors around the globe and offers the industry’s only suite of Hollywood book-to-film services. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service, AuthorHouse assigns each author personal publishing and marketing consultants who provide guidance throughout the process. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, AuthorHouse celebrated 15 years of service to authors in Sept. 2011.For more information or to publish a book visit authorhouse.com or call 1-888-519-5121. For the latest, follow @authorhouse on Twitter.

Register at http://www.leicestershirecyclechallenge.org.uk/home
Record your rides, recruit new cyclists and win great prizes!

Get ready and join us for the Challenge between:
Monday 25 June and Sunday 15 July 2012.

Online Tools – sharing skills, funding, acquiring assets, and more …

When:  20th June 2012
Where: Voluntary Action LeicesterShire

Please put this date in your diary. Entry is FREE but you must book your place to attend.

Free workshops about online tools: If you want to find out what great tools are out there in the virtual world to help you move your enterprise forward, then this is the event for you.

Outline Agenda

·     The launch of Social Enterprise Leicester

·     Sharing skills and Networking

·     Finding funding for your enterprise

·     Develop your asset base

·     Networking Lunch

Come to meet your fellow social entrepreneurs, share skills, forge new partnerships and get excited about making a difference to the communities you support.

Book your place today
Book your place through the VAL helpline on 0116 257 50 50 or by visiting http://www.valonline.org.uk/wise-booking