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MR GAY EUROPE TO HELP KEEP HOMELESS WARM AND FED THIS CHRISTMAS Help Mr Gay UK make the lives of the homeless who live on the city's streets a little better this Christmas. ) Matt Rood, the current Mr Gay Europe, will be helping the homeless and their dogs on the streets of the city this Christmas, and is asking people to offer their support by donating goods they no longer need for him to hand out via the Sussex Homeless Support Project. Matt needs flasks, camping gear, sleeping bags, rolling mats, warm clothing, jumpers, socks, toiletries, dog blankets and dog treats. MATT ROOD, MR GAY EUROPE: PIC BY MANEL ORTEGA
You can take your donations to the Sunday Kitchen at the Clock Tower every Sunday between 1-3pm, where the 15-20 regular volunteers from the Sussex Homeless Support will distribute them, along with Matt, to those in need, and where the homeless can get something warm to drink and eat. You can also drop off your donations at the project’s offices at Unit 7, 196 Old Shoreham Road, Hove. For more information check out their Facebook page: Sussex Homeless Support CIO/ Sussex Economic Support.
CHRISTMAS ON THE STREETS WITH MCC
) The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Cllr Mo Marsh, joined service users and supporters of MindOut, the LGBT+ mental health service, at their annual celebration event on Wednesday, November 15 at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church. MindOut were celebrating their sixth year being a successful independent charity and their 18th year providing services to LGBT+ people with mental health issues in Brighton & Hove. Director Helen Jones gave a roundup of the charity's achievements and work plan during the previous 12 months highlighting the importance of their new counselling service which is funded by Bear-Patrol and the Rainbow Fund.
) Metropolitan Community Church Brighton (MCC Brighton), the church that takes its worship onto the Old Steine every Wednesday, is holding its Christmas Eve service this year at the Clock Tower in the heart of Brighton on Sunday, December 24 from 4pm.
Last year, MCC Brighton gave away bags of gifts to the homeless at the Carol Service they hosted. This year they will be offering carols, communion and refreshments, and once again will have gift bags to give away.
MINDOUT CELEBRATES 2017 ACHIEVEMENTS
Other services on offer include an Advice & Information service, Advocacy Project, Peer Support Groups, Peer Mentoring Project, Suicide Prevention, Wellbeing Project, Online Chat and Online Support.
BAR BROADWAY RAISE £300 FOR ROYAL BRITISH LEGION ) Bar Broadway in Steine Street marked
Remembrance Sunday last month (November 12), with a fundraising benefit, raising £300 for the Royal British Legion. Jennie Castell hosted the evening, singing standards from the 1930s and 40s from her wartime show, to a very appreciative audience. Some of the staff and customers were dressed in military costume which added to the ambiance of the evening.
Pastor Andrew Ramage, says: “We believe that the church should have no boundaries, that Christmas is for everyone and so we bring church out of the building to where it was always meant to be, in the heart of the community. We believe that church should be accessible to everyone, whatever their situation. I’m inviting everyone to come along between 4–6pm by the Clock Tower on Sunday, December 24. Take a break from the frenzy of lastminute shopping and join us.”
Michael McGarrigle, one of the owners of Bar Broadway, has worked as a costume supervisor on the TV show Benidorm for the last five years. He raffled off some memorabilia from the show given only to the crew, including a large beach towel with the Benidorm logo on it and a sarong with the Benidorm logo on it, and a limited edition bottle of Cava which staff were given to celebrate the 50th episode of the show.
For more information about MCC Brighton, view: www.mccbrighton.org.uk/
Michael, said: “It was a brilliant night and I would like to thank everyone for coming along and supporting such as great cause.”
Service users gave testimonies on what MindOut means to them, leaving no-one present in any doubt of the effectiveness of the services being offered. Following the annual MindOut awards being presented, everyone tucked into a delicious buffet produced by Lunch Positive, the HIV Lunch Club.
MindOut have a couple of free places on the Brighton Marathon for people who want to run and raise money for them. For more information about the marathon, view: www.mindout.org.uk/brightonmarathon-weekend-2018/ For more information about the services that MindOut provide, view: www.mindout.org.uk