The Leicester Mercury has a 11 strong team on the ground and the camera teams have burly protection covering their backs.

Email pictures to editor@citizenseye.org

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@leicspolice

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http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester

As Leicester’s three MPs we are proud to represent the most diverse multicultural city in the United Kingdom outside of London. Over many years Leicester’s communities, faith groups, voluntary sector, City Council, local public services and businesses have all worked hard to build community cohesion in Leicester.

While Leicester is diverse we are also united as a City and we will not let extremists divide us.

In recent days we have spoken at length with the City Mayor, community leaders and the Chief Constable. The Chief Constable has told us there is not sufficient legal basis for applying for a ban.

We do not want the racists and fascists of the EDL coming here to cause trouble, spread fear and trying to stir up hatred and division. They are not welcome in Leicester and should stay away. Leicestershire police should do whatever they can to ensure that this message is made very clear to the EDL and above all ensure the protection of the public.

Untold Stories – Capturing LGBT Memories

Exhibition and Launch Events

23-29 February 2012

Schedule of events at the Central Library, Bishop Street, (Town Hall Square), Leicester, LE1 6AA*

Thursday 23rd February – 6pm – 8pm – ‘The launch of ‘Untold Stories’’

We invite you to join us for the launch of the ‘Untold Stories’ Oral History Project. The Leicester-shire Rainbow Voices will begin our evening’s celebrations as we introduce you to the Project, to the Pilot Exhibition and to the week’s events. Helping us to celebrate, we are delighted to be joined by our guest speaker Sir Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester City, who will be speaking at 7pm. �
Friday 24th February – 2pm – 4pm – ‘LGBT focused Bibliotherapy’

Let us help you recall those books that meant so very much, as the Central Library’s Book Doctor, Alison Dunne, leads a special LGBT themed Bibliotherapy Session.

This is the chance for you to ask those nagging questions as we invite you to join the audience for our ‘Question Time’ style panel discussion ‘exploring change’.  Four informed speakers from each LGBT community group will be taking the stage to respond to questions from the chair and the audience about LGBT life in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland from 1945 to the present day.

Sunday 26 February – 2pm – 4pm ‘Food for thought’

Venue: LLGBT Centre, 15 Wellington Street, Leicester LE1 6HH 

This special event invites Black, Minority and Ethnic LGBT community members to help us to celebrate diversity. We will provide a tasting menu from around the world to bring us together and to prompt our recollections.
Monday 27 February – 6.30pm – 8pm – ‘Professor Richard Sandell’

We are thrilled to welcome our guest speaker – Professor Richard Sandell, University of Leicester, Museum Studies Department, who will be helping us to understand ‘LGBT culture, its representation in the public sphere (in museums and galleries) and the importance of this for LGBT human rights’. Join us for this revealing talk as this is one not to be missed. 

Tuesday 28 February – 7.30pm – 9.30pm ‘Pinng…k’

Venue: Red Tent, 8 Pocklingtons Walk, City Centre, Leicester, LE1 6BU 

A favourite night out in town and a favourite event, organised in partnership with the Red Tent, this fabulous Pinng..k LGBT friendly Poetry event promises to bring out the Bard in you.

Wednesday 1^st February, 6.00 – 8.00pm, LCB Depot, free/£5*

Chaired by Francois Matarasso, leading researcher and writer on the impact of the arts, a panel of speakers from Soft Touch community arts, Creative Leicestershire and Leicestershire’s Open Museum programme talk about how and why they measure social impact of participatory arts projects. This session will be of interest to anyone really looking to make a difference with the participatory arts work they do and proving the case to local authorities, health agencies and other public and private funders.

* The event is free if you are based in Leicestershire/Rutland, £5 if based elsewhere. Book at http://socialimpactarts.eventbrite.co.uk/

 The launch was due to take place on Sat 4 Feb but has been postponed due to the EDL march. ‘Lets Do Saturdays’ aims to make the Cultural Quarter the destination of choice for families for the first Saturday of every month. Local venues including LCB Depot will be open and putting on a host of family-friendly activities and events. Further info will follow – to get involved contact Jed Spittle: jed@manicmusicproductions.co.uk

The English Defence League and Leicester United Against Facism plan to march through Leicester city centre from 12.30pm. It’s estimated that the marches will be over by 2pm.

There will be a small number of road closures and changes to city centre bus stops while the marches take place.

Deputy city mayor Cllr Rory Palmer who is responsible for transport said: “We want people to be able to visit the city centre as usual this Saturday, but they need to be aware there will be some disruption while the marches are under way.

“We will have to close some roads on the routes affected, and for safety reasons there will be no parking allowed on them from 6am on Saturday, but as the marches pass through our aim is to lift restrictions as quickly as we can.

“I hope that people will come into the city and enjoy the shops and restaurants as they usually would. They just need to be aware there will be some disruption for a short period in the middle of the day, and to plan for this.

“Some bus stops will have to be moved for a while because of the road closures, but information will be available at the bus stops and our city wardens will be on duty to give advice and help people to find where they need to go.

“Our aim is to make sure city centre on-street parking and roads are open as usual for late afternoon, in time for the opening night of the Leicester Comedy Festival.”

St Margaret’s Way will be closed inbound from 9am on Saturday morning until the demonstration has ended. Businesses will still be able to access their premises, and alternative routes will be signed.

King Street will also be closed from 9am until the LUAF march has ended. Access to businesses will be maintained. There will be parking restrictions along the march routes from 9am to 6pm, although the council will lift this restriction sooner if possible.

All of the city’s car parks will be open as usual. Drivers using the Haymarket car park should expect some delays entering and leaving the car park between noon and 1.30pm.

Any cars parked on the march routes after 6am on Saturday will be towed away.

Full details of the bus stop changes and road closures, and
more information about the demonstrations are on the council’s website at www.leicester.gov.uk/demonstrations

The EDL will begin their march at St Margaret’s Pastures. They will walk along St Margaret’s Way, onto Burleys Way, turn right onto Abbey Street, and right again onto Belgrave Gate before heading down Church Gate and back towards St Margaret’s Pastures.

Leicester UAF will begin their march on Welford Place, heading along Pocklingtons Walk and right into Millstone Lane, turning onto Horsefair Street and Halford Street. They will then turn right for a short distance on Charles Street before heading right along Belvoir Street and back to Welford Place.

The council’s youth centres, children’s centres and leisure centres will be offering a wide range of activities for all ages.

Families will be able to enjoy free swimming all day on Saturday at all of the council’s pools. And to mark national libraries day, city library members will be able to borrow a CD, DVD or talking book for a week, free of charge.

Ten of the council’s children’s centres will open on Saturday to provide fun activities for young children and their parents, from stay and play sessions for the under-fives to family story times.

And youth and community centres will also be offering sports and other activities at venues across the city.

Asst city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “We are working with the police to make sure that anyone who wants to spend their day shopping or enjoying other activities in the city centre can do so as usual.

“For those who want to stay nearer to home, we have put on lots of other activities for families and young people to enjoy.”

More information is on the city council’s website at www.leicester.gov.uk/februaryevents

Supporters of the English Defence League and Leicester United Against Facism are set to march in Leicester City Centre on Saturday afternoon. Full details are at www.leicester.gov.uk/demonstrations

New funding to tackle female offending: http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/features/feature240112a.htm

How Will You Benefit From The Olympics, The Queen’s Jubilee
and Mothers Day this year?
Wednesday 29th February 2012 from 10.00am till 2.00pm
With Leicester Business Women’s trainer Lou Gimson
2012 is going to be a BIG year for the UK with the Olympics and the celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee, so how are you going to make it Your Year?
Have you thought how you can be a leader and beat the rest in your sector or even your competition?! How can you use any of these years’ events to benefit your business? There is going to be a lot of focus on the UK and plenty of tourists, it is estimated that there will be 500 000 extra people coming over to the UK for these events, what will you do to make your business stand out and make the most of this amazing opportunity? And trust us – it will be an absolutely fantastic opportunity to promote your business and services.
The festivities will be taking place across the UK, so you will have plenty of opportunities to
develop your business. So how are you going to get started? What is your next step to
achieving your dreams?
We hope that you will start with step one:
Attend this fantastic event and gain some focused action points with your trainer Lou Gimson’s help and advice, you can begin to plan how to make this year Your Year! Lou will go through a number of key points that you should be considering, giving you ideas to get started, helping you plan your ideas and marketing around key dates and festivities this year and most importantly ensuring that you go away with the most appropriate action
points for your business!
Can you afford to really miss this one???

Finance refresher
Learning from our mistakes
Wednesday 21st March 2012 from 10.00am till 2.00pm
With Leicester Business Women’s advisor and trainer Jim Hewitt
Remember your financials from the programme? No??? Then this is a must attend networking event for you.
A review of the financials, and a chance to share understanding and practise the skills. Elements such as
sensible pricing for your products or services, forecasting your profit, calculations and formulas for the
frightened, a practical look at book keeping systems – keeping track of your income and expenditure plus a chance to get any answers to any questions or queries you may have.
“Who do I already know? Use contact and ask for help”

HMRC workshop. Registering your business
Bartering and Negotiations—A How To Session
Wednesday 25th April 2012 from 10.00am till 1.00pm
With the HMRC and Leicester Business Women advisor and trainer Jim Hewitt
This event will include a presentation delivered by the HMRC who will be advising on aspects of business start up such as the process of registering your business, information and advice on TAX and VAT, which record you should be keeping etc plus a chance to get any answers to any questions or queries you may have.
Have you mastered the art of successful bartering in your business? Does the thought of asking for a discount or reduced rates terrify you? Find out how to barter successfully with Jim who will focus primarily on this topic and help you with useful hints and tips so that you leave feeling more confident in your own negotiations.
“Clarity in what I need to do next in my business” Sarah Johnson

Social Media
Wednesday 23rd May 2012 from 10.00am till 1.00pm
With Leicester Business Women ambassador
Help, support and advice to ensure you make the most of the FREE opportunities Social Media can offer you and your business. Advice on marketing, networking and blogging etc.
Call Leicester Business Women today to book you place on 0116 251 8730

Just a quick reminder of a fun social event coming up this Saturday:

Community Harvest Whetstone will be celebrating a 2nd year of local vegetable growing at its AGM on Saturday 4th February, which will be followed by a 70s/80s disco.
Come along to find out about the project and opportunities for getting involved, and for a good ol’ bit of fun and food.

The AGM (6 till 7) will be followed by dancing to 70s and 80s favourite hits, interspersed with bring and share food and drinks (see attached poster).
Venue: Stoneygate Baptist Church, 315 London Road, Leicester, LE2 3ND.
Tickets are £7 or £4, under 18s free. You can pre-buy them by ringing 0116/2571897, 07860388525 or emailing Keith: flykeith@ntlworld.com

Hope to see many of you there

Dani Pattuzzi
Transition Leicester and Community Harvest Whetstone