The Phoenix Newspaper - August 2014

AUGUST 2014

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A Respectful Farewell to Bob Jones ... Page 3

World Exclusive

Coming together as one in the Commonwealth l Keith Stokes-Smith, Chair of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association.

by Daniel Riley

Production Journalist

T

he Phoenix Newspaper caught up with the Chair of the Birmingham Commonwealth Association (BCA), Keith Stokes-Smith who is on a mission to extend the representation on the association to reflect the diversity of the 53 nations which make up the Commonwealth.

The Birmingham Commonwealth Association was created as part of the Leader of Birmingham City Council, Sir Albert Bore’s, vision for a more joinedup, co-ordinated approach to international activity in the city.

Four ‘geographical’ groups have been established to cover Europe, China, The Americas and the Commonwealth.

Keith, a Magistrate and Consul for Lithuania in the West Midlands, embraced the challenge of getting the Commonwealth Association off the ground back in January this year. The initial meeting showed that to aid the Association, the creation of smaller focus groups was the best way forward. These would include ‘Education’, ‘Trade & Business’, ‘Culture & Sport’ and a ‘Community’ group.

“Bringing people together with commonalities; i.e. ‘the Commonwealth’, to create ‘joined up thinking and co-ordination with them defining the objectives

they would wish to see the focus group achieve and then prioritising those objectives to successful outcomes” Keith enthuses.

With help from the Jamaican Consul, Wade Lyn, the South African Consul, Avi Lasarow , Peter McClintock from Mills and Reeve law firm, Proff Melvyn Pryer from UCB and support from the Council’s international team, background work went into launching the Communities group, the Trade & Business group and the Education group, and attracting people to attend the initial meetings.

Continued on Page 6

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Page 2

The Phoenix – August 2014

NEWS

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Legacy of Jamaican Governor living on in great nephew Sean

T

he death of Governor General Sir Howard Cooke ON, GCMG, GCVO, CD, K. St.J was deeply felt not only in Jamaica, but in the UK, where his great nephew, Sean Deer, is a prominent figure in the development of education for children underrepresented in society.

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socially and economic disadvantaged backgrounds, he has, in his own way, continuing the legacy created by his great uncle, putting people first before self.

An elected member of the West Indies Federal Parliament in 1958, and a member of the first Parliament of Independent Jamaica in 1962, Cooke previously was a teacher, becoming president of the Jamaica Union of Teachers, and also worked in the insurance industry before becoming a member of the parliament of the West Indies Federation.

Sean, a resident of Nottingham, is the epitome of what was created all those years ago as a young Howard always put education first, for almost everybody.

43-year-old Deer, who studied Human resources at Temple University, in Philadelphia, USA, worked as a management consulting, for MNC’s such as SHELL (Caribbean), Lucent Technologies, AT&T, Comcast, GM and GlaxoSmithKline was also a Director of Human Resources at Pathway Technologies Limited, which at the time was one of the Caribbean’s largest

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ll Bar One, famous for its stylish food menu and great tasting cocktails, is the latest brand to arrive at Birmingham Airport, as two

new bars open their doors to passengers.

The first bar, located in the South departure lounge, launched back in April and has been quickly followed by an ad-

telemarketing companies servicing clients such as CapitalOne and AOL Time Warner.

“My great uncle,” he says, “was an incredible inspiration on our family, as a whole, and myself, in particular. l Governor General Sir Howard Cooke ON, Uncle Howard was GCMG, GCVO, CD, K. St.J always unpretentious, benevolent and always showed can Governor General; “I always great humility. A trait that I also saw Uncle Howard at family getgained from my father who, togethers. Family always came when he first came to Britain was before state people, of any level. the first Black student from the Family meant everything to him Nottingham immigrant commu- which is testimony of his great nity of the 50’s/60’s to be accept- humility.”

With his commitment to Exed at a British university when he cell3, Sean is making sure that was accepted at Manchester (Salford University in Manchester).” generations to come will be afDeer, who is also Managing forded the very best to raise asDirector at his import/export pirations and have the same opcompany, Yahweh Distributors portunities as anyone else when Limited, in Nottingham, is an ex- it comes to getting the very best pert in Human Resource strate- level of education.

“I can do all things through gies, particularly recruitment and Christ who strengthens me.” selection and is certified in the (Phillipians 4:13) area of Psychometrics.

A true legacy of great uncle Sir Recalling the impact Sir HowHoward Cooke continued relentard made on his then very young life, Sean recalls his experiences lessly by Sean Jeremy Deer.

Sir Howard died at the age of of regular visits to Kings House, the state residence of the Jamai- 98 on July 11 in Kingston. ditional unit in the North landside area of the terminal, which opened for business last month.

The two locations mean that both passengers and visitors to the Airport can meet, relax and unwind on their travels.

There are close to 50 All Bar One bars nationally, all offering a busy, cosmopolitan city vibe and serving continental beers, champagne, wine and cocktails.

The stylish bars will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a wide range of meals for all tastes, including the best in light bites, tapas, sharing plates, sandwiches and delicious mains.

Both bars will also incorporate a tasting table where guests can book wine and cocktail master classes.

Susan Chappell, All Bar One Brand Operations Director, comments: “We are delighted to be launching our second All Bar One within one of the country’s most vibrant and expanding air-

ports.

It follows on from the recent success of Euston station, representing another step forward for the brand into the travel sector.”

Birmingham Airport’s Head of Commercial, Richard Gill, added: “The arrival of All Bar One to Birmingham Airport is great news for our passengers, who can now enjoy their delicious menus and extensive bar choice before they fly.

We now boast two All Bar One units, one located in the South departure lounge and another located in the North landside area of the terminal.

The two locations mean that passengers and visitors to the Airport can meet, relax and unwind, all within a lively and chic environment.

We’re confident these stylish bars will prove to be tremendously popular, whether that is for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.”

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The Phoenix - August 2014

Page 3

NEWS

Respectful Farewell to a Great Man of the City

A

cting Police and Crime Commissioner Yvonne Mosquito shared her tribute as hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to tragic police commissioner Bob Jones.

At a memorial in his honour, officers formed a guard of honour as mourners remembered the ‘wonderful life’ of late West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner who died last month.

Political leaders from across the region joined friends and family in paying their respects to the 59-year-old, who died suddenly on July 1.

People attending the service wore an item of red clothing to symbolise Mr Jones’s connections with the Labour party.

Chief Constable Chris Sims also saluted Mr Jones’s coffin

as it arrived at Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall for a celebration of his life.

“Bob worked tirelessly” to meet the “almost impossible” demands imposed by his role,” Said Mr. Sims.

“He remained absolutely unchanged by high office.

Bob will be a very tough act to follow and I will miss him.”

“There is a biblical phrase “a mans pride will bring him low but the humble retain honour,” said Yvonne.

“He wanted to ensure the many voices of the West Midlands were heard and he set up structures to do that.

Those structures were inclusive, they were cross party, ethnicity and gender balance. They included competing voices.

He also wanted to hear the voices of young people and established the 14 youth commissioners.

Bob had this overwhelming desire to embrace everyone who wanted him to help,” she said.

The congregation also included local members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), of which he was a member.

Paul Flint, 42, from Wolverhampton, said he had known Mr Jones for 10 years, after meeting him at a beer festival.

“He was a very likeable, very popular man and he will be

missed by a lot of people around Wolverhampton,” he said.

Mr Jones served as a Labour councillor in Wolverhampton for 33 years and was also a member of the West Midlands Police Authority. In 2010 he was awarded a CBE for services to policing.

He courted controversy when he called for PCCs to be scrapped, but also lent his support to several campaigners while occupying the role.

Like walking in an empty room and catching the scent of someone’s perfume…Bob’s impact will continue long after he has gone,” Yvonne said. “I have quite simply lost one of the best people God has placed in my life.”

West Midlands Police said flags were flying at half mast on all its buildings as a mark of their respect.

Words : Joan Hunter

Legion’s moving poppy tribute to those who died in conflict l Royal Signals veteran Chris Collier, British Legion Secretary and Poppy Appeal Organiser (Penn and District Branch) Phil Robinson and Friends of Woodlands Walk member Barbara Cairns.

P

oppies are blooming in Penn in memory of Wolverhampton residents who gave their lives serving their country.

Seeds were sown by members of the Royal British Legion and the Friends of Woodlands Walk in Penn earlier this year.

And the poppies are now in full bloom, paying a moving tribute to “all who gave their lives in the First World War and all other wars”.

Gary Price, Wolverhampton City Council's Parks Development Officer, said: “The seeds were sown in March and they

have produced a really nice display which makes a fitting tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in conflict over the years.”

The Friends of Woodlands Walk are seeking new members to help support future activities at Woodlands Walk.

Page 4

SPECIAL FEATURE - CAMILITA - MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

The Phoenix - August 2014

World-Leading Motiva

Camilita Nuttall "If you don't ask, you don't get..."

by Steve Williams

A

Journalist

n entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, Property Investor, Author, educator and philanthropist, Camilita Nuttall, is the epitome of all that is success, at the highest order, against the most impossible odds.

From her beyond humble beginnings in her native Trinidad & Tobago, to regularly flying around the world, she now rubs shoulders with some of the biggest names in international business.

Camilita has lived in Spain, Germany, Caribbean, Netherlands and the UK and has travelled to over 60 countries with business interests in over 27 countries.

She has proved an inspiration to whomever she speaks. Described as a "force of nature," Camilita leaves you mesmerised, and imbued with a determination to succeed.

If you don't ask, you don't get

A Public Speaker, running a very successful network marketing business in gourmet coffee, she's constantly in demand, whether it be in the UK, Europe, USA, Mexico, Asia, Australia, or in the Caribbean, sharing her ever evolving success story with thousands of people, at varies socio-economic levels, always leaving an air of inspiration, aspiration and positivity.

Currently on her way to an engagement in San Diego and Mexico with Oasis of Hope, and her coffee business, www.andrewnuttal.organogold. com, Camilita took some of her valuable time out to tell her life story to The Phoenix Newspaper.

"If you don't ask, you don't get" was her mantra as we began our interview.

She then took me back to the beginning of her story and her raison d'être.

"Where I am today and where I aim to be, I owe to my mother, Felicia Vialva, and sister, Lynette Thomas, who have both been a constant rock which

my 9 other brothers and sister, still cling to today," she said.

"Growing up in Trinidad was a constant struggle for us. Dad and mum did everything they could for us, but, it was never enough. Like so many others there, we just got by.”

“Money was always a major problem for us and, from the age of five, I knew we were poor. Mum always talked about other people with money, and I knew that the only way to get out of that situation was education. That was the key."

Law and Politics

Going to school was the start for her.

She had 'arrived,' passing exam after exam, with flying colours. But she knew she had to do more.

With the youngest child left at home, Camilita’s parents didn't have enough funds to further her education, so the young Camilita, along with her mother, took to foraging in large mounds of waste and rubbish, looking for empty bottles to sell to earn the money that way.

"My mother did whatever she had to do to get my books," she recalled.

"I was determined to go to school. In fact, I had a friend who was in the same situation as me so I foraged for her too, just so that she got a high enough education also. She's now a senior police officer on the islands."

Camilita signed up for A Levels in Law and Politics but again, money was a major issue. She was doing community work with children and young people, "To make sure what happened to me wouldn't happen to them," she recalled.

“Because of that selfless work, I was introduced to the Local Gov Rep, The MP and Major of Port of Spain in Trinidad. I visited the Major to get any assistance he could give and while with him, a gentleman came in to see him - he was the CEO of TSTT (Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago).

To remain strong herself, she thought; 'If you don't ask, you don't get.’" So,

The Phoenix – August 2014

Page 5

SPECIAL FEATURE - CAMILITA - MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

ational Speaker she asked for help, at the very top; The TSTT CEO for a job.

After some resistance, she got a job in the accounts department, then corporate sales while studying IT along the way.

Network Marketing

She then went further still and asked her MP, Eulalie Williams, and then leader of Opposition, Mr. Patrick Manning, for help to get to the UK to study: "I remember saying, 'Who do I know who has money?' I remembered - the CEO of TSTT he's got money. I called him up and said, 'I want to go to England and I need money.'”

“He asked, 'Why are you asking me?' I said, 'The Lord told me to ask you because YOU HAVE MONEY!' He gave me £1,000 cash. I never managed to see that man again. I'm still looking to thank him."

"I arrived in London, where in the local Dalston market I met a woman, a total stranger, who was a minister of a local church, Mrs Christmas Baptiste.

She took me to her church and helped me get my Students Visa which allowed me to study with the University of London through London Academy of Law. To her I will be eternally grateful.”

“While in London, I became the Secretary of Enfield UNA where we met with local MP and MEPs on European and local issues. I was so happy. I was on my way. But I wanted more.''

Desperately short of funds, she was reluctantly introduced to network marketing where she saw hordes of people from different backgrounds, all with the same goal “to get rich.”

She was comfortable at Law School; "But no one was rich,"

Camilita said. She left Law School going into her third year and took up marketing full time: "My motivation was to help my mother. I had to make something happen quick!"

Hawaii

It was at one of the network meetings where she met her husband, Andrew. "If you don't ask, you don't get," remember.

So, she asked him: ''Tell me, cause I don't have time to waste.... are you married?

He said, ‘No.’ Do you have a house? He said, ‘Yes.’ Are you a Christian? He said, ‘Yes.’ Are you single? He said, ‘Yes.’ Are you gay? He said, ‘No.’ Can I be your girlfriend then?...I'm going to marry you!"

“If you don't ask, you don't get.” At this time she was also introduced to Jett, one of the pre-eminent network marketing celebrities (as well as being a major 7 figure income earner), who, in awe of the forthright Camilita, invited her and Andrew to his home in Hawaii.

That trip would change their lives forever. She recalled Jett saying, with great humility, "For things to change, you have to change. Rich people work hard and invest wisely."

"What he imparted to me has made me the person I am today.

I worked sometimes up to 16 hours a day to get to where I am now. But, that's in my DNA. Jett noticed my persistence and it was that which made him invite us to Hawaii.”

“I launched that business in 2003 and in 2 years I had developed a team of over 4,000 distributors in the UK, Europe, Canada and Caribbean; and, Andrew and I traveled to over 60 countries together doing amazing things, meeting amazing people and motivating

generations of wannabe millionaires.”

Camilita shares with people the best way to achieve their goals and, many who have been in her presence, have done just that.

House fit for mum

"I've reached one of my goals," Camilita said emotionally. "That was to build a house fit for my mum. Now she too is mixing with people of the highest echelons.”

“Whenever I go to Trinidad I take my mom all over the country and to the Hilton Executive Lounge and suites where she enjoys sipping teas and cocktails with the hobnobs of high society, because she deserves it."

What Camilita is doing NOW…

In 2011, after not hearing from Jett for 4 years (he retired in his late 40's), Jett

introduced Camilita to Organo Gold Coffee, one of the fastest growing Network Marketing companies in the world.

Today Camilita and Andrew have over 7,000 distributors in their current business, trading in over 27 countries and doing well over $3 Million dollars in sales a year.

She is NOW looking to partner with like-minded people who want to expand and build a global business and who want to develop their lives.

She is currently expanding

her Property Investment business and has recently set up Nuttall Foundation with her husband Andrew to help children, who were like her, to learn and experience the opportunity to attend school and live their dreams. Please donate at: www.nuttallfoundation.com or partner with us, thank you.

In SEPTEMBER 2014, Camilita launches - CamilitaNuttall.com - her Motivational Speaking and Personal Development Business, on a Global Scale.

Camilita says, “My goal is to share HOW I went from The Rubbish Dump to a Global Business Leader and help YOU realize YOUR destiny by

changing YOUR daily vision.”

“She has 6 Success Principles that has propelled her to greatness and those same principles CAN Help YOU too!''

Do you want more out of your life? You don't like where you are? You want to live an extraordinary life? You want to truly live your dreams?

Then book to see Camilita in September, ask more about her global coffee business or book for a private coaching session, you will be eternally transformed!

To Contact Camilita directly, leave your comments or book a coaching session, visit her website: www.camilitanuttall.com Phone: (UK) 00 44 7830 308 272 Social Media: Youtube, FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, G+ or Instagram: Camilita Nuttall Skype: camilitanuttall Email: camilita@camilitanuttall.com

Page 6

BIRMINGHAM COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT

The Phoenix - August 2014

Birmingham Commonwealth Association Communities Focus Group 1st Meeting l L-R: Heather Law and Mike Murray - BCC, Steve Williams - Phoenix, Richard Francis - First National Bakery, Garry Peal - BCC, Keith Stokes Smith - Hon. Consul Lithuania, Marcia Lewinson – Waits Action, Wade Lyn, CBE – Honorary Consul Jamaica, Beverly Lindsay OBE, OD, DL – Association of Jamaican Nationals, Walter James & Angela Denton - Walter James Photography, Marcia McLaughlin - Phoenix, Satpal Hira - BCC, Bentley Cunningham – Jamaican Cultural Association

T

he first meeting of the newly established Birmingham Commonwealth Association Communities Focus Group took place on 14th July, with influential names from communities across Birmingham in attendance.

The focus group, while backed by the Birmingham City Council, is not a City Council owned body, and as such the agenda is with that of the people. There will also be BCA focus groups for Business and Trade, Education and Sport & Culture, which also met this month.

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 53 independent countries, home to 2.2 billion citizens and over 60% of these are under the age of 30. The Commonwealth includes some of the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions.

The focus group discussed how the idea of the Commonwealth could be relayed back to

the people of Birmingham, and to create awareness for events run by individuals or groups from these communities across Birmingham as a whole. The group would like to see more interaction between the diverse communities, to attend events from every community group, and to inform, and gain a greater understanding of what is going on.

The recently created Dis-

tinctly Birmingham website at www.distinctlybirmingham. com will hold information about the focus groups, including agendas and minutes, as well as event information from all corners of Birmingham. If you are organising an event that you would like promoted to the wider community, there is a submission form on the Distinctly Birmingham website.

“Cooperation, collaboration and working together in the spirit of friendship of the Commonwealth” Continued from Front Page

It has proven challenging to get a broad spread of people from across the Commonwealth to attend the initial ‘Trade and Business’ and ‘Communities’ group meetings; Australian, Canadian, Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani representatives especially, but the focus groups needed to be launched and ideally before the school holidays.

Keith mentioned in relation to the Communities group, “We are

ideally looking for leaders of community groups which have wide agenda, not individuals.” This is to facilitate a better flow of information, as well as to maximise links to large sections of the Commonwealth communities within Birmingham.

While Keith is heavily involved with each of the Focus Groups at the moment, once they are up and running he will take a step back and work on the BCA as a whole and

shape its direction, while providing a voice between the groups.

If any local community groups, from any area of the Commonwealth, wish to become a part of the BCA Community Focus Group, please get in contact via the links below. The sooner these groups get on board, the better, as it will allow them to help mould the direction of the association. Make sure to note who you represent, your email/face book contact details, your telephone numbers and your name, and your details will be

There is also a Twitter feed to keep everyone up to date and informed on the goings on across the Commonwealth and beyond.

While meant to be indicative of the Commonwealth communities that make up Birmingham, it was unfortunate that a number of representatives from most notably the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities were unable to attend the focus group, but attendance will increase as more people are informed about the newly created group.

The next meeting is scheduled for September, where the group will look at how the actions in this meeting have panned out, and what more can be done as we move into a new year. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for the Community Focus Group, please email us at newsdesk@ thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject of Commonwealth Community Focus Group.

added to the database.

If you are part of a community group and have an event that you would like publicised to increase attendance from all of the communities across Birmingham, you can also submit those via the website.

Keith continued, “We also want to know what everyone is doing, a calendar maybe 2/3 years ahead so that we can have it all down in one place.”

Please log onto www.distinctlybirmingham.com, email distinctly@birmingham.gov.uk or telephone 0121 303 4670 to find out l L-R: Heather Law of Birmingham City Council & Keith more and to get in touch.

Stokes-Smith.

The Phoenix - August 2014

Page 7

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

Columnist Intro : Dr Christopher Johnson

A

ward-winning journalist, editor and publisher Dr Christopher Johnson started from a humble background in the formerly British Guyana.

Born to a father of Scottish and Amerindian heritage and a mother of African ancestry, this polyethnic man grew up during British colonial rule, and saw Guyana become an independent nation in 1966, then a Republic in 1970.

“I wanted to change the world” beams Christopher, as he recalls the beginning of his publishing career. “My father was a public servant, my mother healthcare worker and politician, I wanted to fuse their personalities and traits.”

His first two publications were ‘Times of our Age’ in 1981, followed by ‘Age of our Times’, both were combinations of narratives and poetry based in human nature.

One thing led to another and Dr Johnson started publishing a magazine called ‘Young Blood’.

Young Blood helped young people and small businesses to gain exposure until about 5 or 6

years later, the British Council recognised his work and offered him a Commonwealth Press Fellowship to Wolfson College, Cambridge.

After consultation with his mentor, his father, he accepted the fellowship and was so excited, just wanting to excel.

“I went on to study an MBA in Marketing Management and continued studying to complete a Doctorate in Business Management.”

In 1999, having looked at the political, economic and social terrain, Dr Christopher looked at the British Caribbean community as a microcosm of society as a whole, and at the contributions, migration history and the political confluence and impact these communities were making.

After a period of writers’ block between 2003 and 2006, during which time he published articles in the Guyana Gazette while increasing his consultancy, by 2008 the book was completed, and then launched in Birmingham at The Drum after being headhunted to Birmingham from London by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Preparing Young Minds For Real Challenges

E

ach year, thousands of young learners complete their GCSEs and A-levels.

They are expected to do well and hopefully go on to university to read for subjects in the sciences –natural or social.

This progression route is supposedly an entry to some form of employment or other jobbased occupation.

The aspirations of young people require other high-order ‘competencies’ such as: social etiquette, ethics, patience, tact, decorum, presentation and cultural sensitivity or ‘emotional fitness’.

In the main, formal institutions cannot teach or instruct these values since most have their genesis during one’s formative years.

Employment Conundrum

Although the relative decrease in employment makes ‘welcome news’, growing claimant rates for 18-24 year olds including ‘NEET’ categories, are concerning.

Over 50% of employers recommend viable work-based programmes as conduits for youngsters’ pre-work activities.

The other scenario is where only 30% of colleges tend to offer career guidance support for post-16 citizens. This is a travesty since young people are the ‘leaders of tomorrow’.

They will be asked to care for older members of society partic-

ularly those retired or unable to work due to ill-health and other conditions.

Democratic Deficit

Another hiatus is the ‘democratic deficit’ where less than 40% of under-40s appear disinterested in politics and civic affairs altogether.

Recurring studies by think tanks, trade unions and other institutions, point to the ‘disconnect’ between civic society and young people.

Recent US elections and their subsequent events, illustrated the confluence of a changing electorate according to age and demography.

This situation has implications for other western democracies that appear unable to find practical solutions on youth participation in the process of development and change.

For example, stereotypes or caricatures of youth deviance should be replaced by case studies of progressive youths.

A fine example

The sluggish recovery has not dented the incredible creativity, zeal, enthusiasm and class of swathes of youngsters’ attempts at enterprise start-ups.

Patchy support means that growth potential is stunted and this causes frustration and contemptuous attitude on the part young ‘employers’ who see opportunities but are unable to maximise them effectively, because of inherent deficits in the

and Industry to look at 300 different businesses to work with them and Business Link, the City Council and Loughborough University.

Dr Christopher is a father of 4, and a Buddhist, which has allowed him a wonderful influence with people. “Buddhism is about empowering yourself as an individual as well as empowering other people, while maintaining balance and harmony, and a sense of equilibrium. Spirituality is at the heart of what I do.”

Dr Christopher’s Column aims to be thought provoking and reflective, with an analytical view of current issues, being underpinned by the cardinal principles of journalism and professional writing; that is, to inform, educate and entertain. enterprise support regime.

Other examples show young people combining fellowship, respect and investment to practically redefine principles of collective self-help.

Their idea is to encourage and promote vocational diversity to cultivate ‘seeds’ of industriousness via gainful employment or business start-ups.

Perhaps what is exceptional, are some youth agencies’ high regard for knowledge, experience and ‘respectful’ intervention including partnership links.

Civic Role

Young people must be encouraged to participate in other areas of society. Civic groups; namely the Lions, Jaycees, Rotary, the Toastmasters/Mistresses Club and the Scouts among others, have dwindling youth membership.

The constant lament that ‘young people are disinterested’ in politics or civic activism, is virtually untested. Apart from the US, successive administrations in other parts of North America and Europe including the British Isles, are struggling to ‘sell’ their ‘democratic credential products’.

Some say the ‘message’ is wrong, while others say, it might be ‘off-key’. Yet when there is an informed understanding of people’s shared cultures, faith, social typology and heritage, there is a likelihood of a realignment of progressive forces combing our youth and their ‘elders’, for the betterment of universal society.

Dr. Christopher A. Johnson

Page 8

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT - CLUB UMOJA

Club Umoja

maica, who, after his a typically community-spirited upbringing, in Spanish Town, wanted to deliver the same level of togetherness he experienced, right in the heart of Birmingham; "Club Umoja is about celebration of self," he proudly says.

"It's all about creating a sustainable facility where people of all ages can feel free as they enjoy the very best of an uplifting lifestyle, on an ongoing basis."

A qualified Social Worker, Childcare Consultant and Foster Care Agent, Brown sees himself as an example for others to follow.

He says: "You have the opportunity to do something for yourself and with a good education and great idea, you can do exactly that.

No one should be able to stop you and your dream. The first, and main, obstacle to overcome is ourselves."

Club Secretary, Dayliah Clarke, says: "Club Ujoma is all about uplifting the community. It's about togetherness and sharing ideals, all of which have a common goal.

We intend to uplift the lives of people in and around Birmingham who want to enjoy the best that life can bring-all under one roof."

Lydia Watson, Chair of the Management Committee, adds: "I've been here, in this building-under its previous guise as the 'Spade Hammer and Pen Society,' for 30 years

l L-R: Dayliah Clarke, Clifford Igbinidu and Lydia Watson

B

irmingham has been introduced to a new kind of club life with the launch of Club Umoja, bringing the heart and soul of Africa and Caribbean to the heart of Erdington in the city.

Situated on Slade Road, it promises to bring a new style of nightlife, which will follow a newer, more committed delivery of daytime activities that will make the members-only Club Umoja unique as it stands out above all that preceded it as well as those that will, almost inevitably, follow it.

A New Kind of Members Club Bringing the very best of African and Caribbean music, popular street food, and traditional cuisine to its members and guests, Club Umoja is under new management, managed and operated by volunteers under the leadership of businessman, Clive Brown.

Obtaining a Gold Membership at Club Umoja offers you a Private Meeting Room, a first class restaurant and social club for all the family.

There is an exhibition kitchen where your food will be prepared right in front of your eyes, an African and Caribbean Savoury

Club Umoja Birminghams most exclusive African and Caribbean private members club, bar & diners club. at 202 Slade Rd, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 7RJ

A strict entry policy applies: No membership no entry Free gold memberships now available until 1st August 2014.

Pre-opening registration for new members start on 20.6.14

Club Umoja www.clubumoja.com Birminghams Birminghams most most exclusive exclusive

Don’t be disappointed, apply for your free gold membership now at 202 Slade Rd, Erdington, or by visiting us at:

VIP and Platinum club memberships are also available.

African and Caribbean private members club, bar & diners club.

48 hours approval of all memberships applies, a utility photo ID is required.

African and Caribbean private members club,bill barand & diners club. at 202 Slade Rd,and Erdington, Birmingham, B23 7RJ Spade Hammer Pen Society registered charity No. 511275 at 202 Slade Rd, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 7RJ

A no A strict strict entry entry policy policy applies: applies: No No membership membership no entry entry st Free gold memberships now available until 1 st August 2014.

Free gold memberships now available until 1 August 2014.

Pre-opening registration for new members start on 20.6.14

The Phoenix – August 2014

and I know that with the level of honesty and integrity shown by the people here now, Club Umoja promises to quickly grow into a very prosperous and rewarding Club.

Finance Manager, Clifford Igbinidu, enthuses: "Club Umoja is all about bringing unity to workseeing unity at work and seeing people happily working together, sharing a common goal and moving forward as one. I for one will go above and beyond the call to see it in action here."

Services on offer at Club Umoja include an Education/Training programme, Health & Wellbeing, care for the elderly, children and young people, overseas aid, advocacy, advice and informationeconomic, community development and employment and much more.

Umoja is a Swahili word, taken from the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) and is the first principle, meaning a commitment to unity, togetherness, and harmony. The foundation principle on which to build.

It's the principle with which Clive Brown lives his life. And at Club Umoja, he wants to share it with like-minded people.

Club Umoja invites you to share in the true spirit of unity, togetherness, and harmony.

For more information on Club Umoja, visit them at 202 Slade Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 7RJ, or check out their website at www.clubumoja.com

Suya Spice Grill, separate wine bar area, a games room, outdoor seating and cooking for that hot summers night.

You can enjoy Afro beats, reggae, calypso, soca, slow jams, and R‘n’B, with WiFi facilities throughout, or simply catch your favourite shows, news and sport on wide screen TV in a safe, secure, warm and friendly environment.

VIP and Platinum club memberships are also available, with all profits generated being reinvested into the Club itself.

It's a dream come true for the personable Brown, a native of Ja-

Mama Africa Exclusive at Club Umoja

Private members and diners club African and Caribbean Suya Grill and Barbecue

Served alongside traditional meat, chicken, fish & vegetable dishes Come eat, drink, meet & greet new friends, enjoy & share in Umoja

For more details visit

www.clubumoja.com

The Phoenix - August 2014

The Phoenix has reached

Over 350,000 online views!

Page 9

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

T

he Phoenix Newspaper is proud to announce that since the launch of our daily website in February 2014, we have now had an astonishing 357,000 views and still growing every day.

This is exciting news for our readers and advertisers as we continue to provide you with the type of news to make you proud.

Don't forget, we provide daily news online via our website, as

well as a monthly printed publication! If you are interested in reaching our diverse and multicultural readership both online and in print, get in contact today to advertise on 0121 240 7310 or email advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com.

If you have a story that you would like to submit, or would like us to cover an event, please call 0800 009 6909 or email your information in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper. com

Business group launch project to own major banqueting suite

A

group of enterprising businesspeople have moved a step closer to owning their own banqueting suite after a project moved a step closer to reality in Birmingham.

The Parkland Project, named after the Parkland Banqueting Suite, in Hockley, is the target for the group of Black business and community leaders who are looking to people to invest in a building that they can call their own.

Parkland, a 500-capacity centre, already widely used by the community, for a variety of functions, is up for sale and the group is looking for community investors, offering shares on a co-operative basis.

Not to be seen as just asking for handouts, the pioneering project is looking for investors to take up shares in a the 'one member one vote' system and not just membership fees.

Parkland Project board member, Ken Ivey, said: The Project is an achievement for the community. To own something that we've already spent thousands (£) on over the years.

The legacy our parents created is diminishing so we want the next generation to see that we own our own. The concept of ownership has never been brought in before.

The vision is to own it, sustain it and create work on something that's not attached to funding.

We’ve had buildings and centres for our community for years but we’ve never owned them.

This time it will be different.”

Project chair, the Reverend Canon Eve Pitts, said: “The com-

munity must build its own economic base so this is an initiative which must be embraced. We cannot ignore the opportunity we have before us.

This it is a vision we in the community must all embrace.

We want to slay the beast that says we cannot work together as a community. We can and we will and we will all share in this vision.

We see this project as giving us a new sense of economic power.

This is a very exciting project.”

Parklands Banqueting Suite seats up to 500 people, with a bar area, kitchen, and facilities upstairs for business units.

The Parkland Project, which also include Winnie Adams-Bell, Dr. Gregory John Roberts, Mark James and Jacynth Brown, has already seen more than 200 people registering their interest in buying shares.

Check out entertainment, gadgets, big screen, fashion and more in the Street Cred Entertainment section starting on Page 13 SPECIAL STREET CRED SUPPLEMENT IN THE PHOENIX NEWSPAPER

AUGUST 2014

www.streetcredmagazine.com

FESTIVAL FEVER

with wireless, simmer down and global gathering

Page 10

AZUZA STREET WITH ROLAND JOSEPH TETTEH

G

REETINGS F RO M G H A N A TO THE BELOVED PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. My name is Roland Joseph Tetteh. I am your brother in the Lord.

I was born in October 3, 1966 in Ghana. I now work as a logistics manager at William Pitt construction in Accra Ghana.

I love the lord and the lord loves us all, every month I will be bringing to you God’s News from various different perspective.

R

eligion is basically defined as a belief in, or the worship of, a god or gods or the service and worship of God or the supernatural.

The belief in a god or in a group of gods. Religion could also be defined as an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence.

Many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that are intended to explain the meaning of life and/or to explain the origin of life or the Universe.

From their beliefs about the cosmos and human nature, people derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle.

Many religions may have organized behaviors, clergy, a definition of what constitutes adherence or membership, holy places, and scriptures.

The practice of a religion may also include rituals, sermons, commemoration or veneration of a deity, gods or goddesses, sacrifices, festivals, feasts, trance, initiations, funerary services, matrimonial services, meditation,

Religion

prayer, music, art, dance, public service or other aspects of human culture. Religions may also contain mythology.

The development of religion has taken different forms in different cultures. Some religions place an emphasis on belief, while others emphasize practice.

Some religions focus on the subjective experience of the religious individual, while others consider the activities of the religious community to be most important.

Some religions claim to be universal, believing their laws and cosmology to be binding for everyone, while others are intended to be practiced only by a closely defined or localized group.

In many places religion has been associated with public institutions such as education, hospitals, the family, government, and political hierarchies.

The Philosophical Approach

What is religion? This question, and many of the other questions which arise out of this question, can be answered in two ways.

One way is to inquire into the meaning of religion, into the question of whether or not it is true, and into its value for human life.

This way of examining religion is often referred to generally as the "philosophical" approach to religion. The philosophical exploration of religious beliefs and practices is evident in the earliest recorded philosophy, east and west.

In the west, throughout GrecoRoman philosophy and the Medieval era, philosophical reflection on God, or gods, reason and

faith, the soul, afterlife, was a predominant theme of philosophy.

Christianity And Western Scholarly Approach

Anthropologists John Monoghan and Peter Just state that, "it seems apparent that one thing religion or belief helps us do is deal with problems of human life that are significant, persistent, and intolerable.

One important way in which religious beliefs accomplish this is by providing a set of ideas about how and why the world is put together that allows people to accommodate anxieties and deal with misfortune."

or "ethnic" religions scattered throughout the rest of the world, expanding the teleological project of Schleiermacher and Tiele to a worldwide ideal religiousness.

Due to shifting theological currents, this was eventually supplanted by a liberal-ecumenical interest in searching for West-

by the concept of "religion" as a worldwide practice.

This caused such ideas as religious freedom, a reexamination of classical philosophy as an alternative to Christian thought, and more radically Deism among intellectuals such as Voltaire.

Much like Christianity, the idea of "religious freedom" was exported around the world as a civilizing technique, even

Social Constructionism

One modern academic theory of religion, social constructionism, says that religion is a modern concept that suggests all spiritual practice and worship follows a model similar to the Abrahamic religions as an orientation system that helps to interpret reality and define human beings.

The social constructionists argue that religion is a modern concept that developed from Christianity and was then applied inappropriately to non-Western cultures.

Daniel Dubuisson, a French anthropologist, says that the idea of religion has changed a lot over time and that one cannot fully understand its development by relying on consistent use of the term, which "tends to minimize or cancel out the role of history".

"What the West and the history of religions in its wake have objectified under the name 'religion'", he says, " is ... something quite unique, which could be appropriate only to itself and its own history."

Dubuisson prefers the term "cosmographic formation" to religion. Dubuisson says that, with the emergence of religion as a category separate from culture and society, there arose religious studies.

The initial purpose of religious studies was to demonstrate the superiority of the "living" or "universal" European world view to the "dead"

ern-style universal truths in every cultural tradition.

Asad argues that before the word "religion" came into common usage, Christianity was a disciplina, a "rule" just like that of the Roman Empire.

This idea can be found in the writings of St. Augustine (354– 430). Christianity was then a power structure opposing and superseding human institutions, a literal Kingdom of Heaven.

It was the discipline taught by one's family, school, church, and city authorities, rather than something calling one to selfdiscipline through symbols.

These ideas are developed by S. N. Balagangadhara. In the Age of Enlightenment, Balagangadhara says that the idea of Christianity as the purest expression of spirituality was supplanted

to regions such as India that had never treated spirituality as a matter of political identity.

The Reality Of Religion

Since religion does not only deal with supernatural entities but is intertwined with culture and customs, and relates more to humanity than any entity requiring believe to substantiates its existence, and the fact that every aspect of human life can be deliberately linked up with religion, most importantly culture, it becomes apparent that religion could be used for the good or ill of society.

It becomes a detrimental tool for mind control, for manipulation and exploitation, propagation of untruth, fulfillment of hidden agenda.

The Phoenix – August 2014

It could be used to virtually justify anything evil. It can hold people at ransom and at the mercy of the rich, the influential, the powerful.

It could be used to keep people in the dark. Forever riddled by superstition and ignorance.

Historical events which kept humanity in the dark, perverted humankind, retarded social and intellectual progress, created division and disunity, crimes against humanity, famine, wars which reduced the worlds population by half, fostered illiteracy and fear, created false image of the world and peopled it with imaginary beings, raised one race above other human race are still very much with us in modern times.

The religious stranglehold is tightening every minutes in ever widening circles.

The most curious and interesting thing about religion is the fact that it could be a tool the few elites who control a given society adopt from individuals who are initially regarded as a threat to the very fabric of that society.

In fact, many of the great world religions appear to have begun as revitalization movements of some sort, as the vision of a charismatic prophet fires the imaginations of people seeking a more comprehensive answer to their problems than they feel is provided by everyday beliefs.

Charismatic individuals have emerged at many times and places in the world. It seems that the key to long-term success – and many movements come and go with little long-term effect – has relatively little to do with the prophets, who appear with surprising regularity, but more to do with the development of a group of supporters who are able to institutionalize the movement.

From the above, it is obvious that religion per se is a human creation which was made to look as if it has a divine sanction.

But subsequent events both historical and present unequivocally points out the apparent fallacies inherent in religion and the destruction its projects on human psyche.

Religious emphasis is no longer on spirituality, and that is the missing link in religion. Cultivation of spirituality is totally different from religion.

Religion was made to look as if it was the only way to achieving spirituality. Spirituality in essence is total adherence to universal laws.

It is the total reverse of what religion stands for today. Spirituality is been in tuned with the universe while religion is an attempt to divert the mind from inherently natural laws.

So religion has left a massive heap of problems that only spirituality can supplant.

Until humankind realizes that religion is the very adversary of spirituality, religion will lose its stranglehold and spirituality, which is the ultimate, will gain ascendancy.

The Phoenix - August 2014

A

My Meeting With God

times he didn’t think it would ever end and if it did he thought he would be dead. At times he wanted to die so he could stop being a burden on his family.

After visits to his local hospital, in Kettering, the then very young frail and fragile Darren was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where, after many surgeries, it was believed that he wouldn't live past the age of seven.

Darren, now 33, recalled: "Many times in my childhood I spent in hospital, just fighting to stay alive when all I wanted to do was be a normal child playing football instead of been stuck in hospital for long periods of time but everything happens for a reason, even though at the time I was angry at it all, I really felt like giving up even to the point of dying where enough was enough.

When I lost my third transplant just after 12 hours this was

a horror story because I went to theatre expecting things to be all over but I remember waking up and seeing my mother in tears and from there I knew there was a problem, the Kidney failed and right there I lost the will to live.

I didn’t want to live and nothing made any sense to me at all.

Losing his will to live, it was a visit from a very special person in British history who would change his whole outlook: From such an early age I had to start dialysis treatment which took a lot of my time, but I had the upmost privilege of meeting the late Princess Diana who opened the new dialysis centre in Great Ormond Street, that was a life changing moment because for those few minutes I was able to forget the pain and smile," he recalls.

"I knew I would need God by my side to help me to get back up. All I had was my family to whom I am very close and my faith, my belief in God and after a few months I felt myself coming back to normal. I gave myself a talking to, knowing that the God who brought me this far won’t leave me now. My life didn’t change I was back on dialysis but my attitude had to dramatically change."

He suffered 5 major heart convolutions which took his eye sight and paralysed him from the waist down, and if it wasn’t for his father, a Senior Pastor of Faith Dimensions Ministries, who believes in the power of prayer and miracles, he feels that he wouldn't be here today:

Page 11

AZUZA STREET WITH ROLAND JOSEPH TETTEH

From Death to Life

s he walks along the streets of Milton Keynes, happily doing his regular shopping chores, proud husband and father, Darren Ferguson, appears, on the surface, to be just another regular man, doing just another thing, in, what seemingly is, just another regular life.

His is, however, a story of a lifelong fight against life-threatening adversity as, from a very young age, he has been in and out of a variety of hospitals throughout Britain.

His struggle against the onslaught of Chronic Kidney Renal failure meant 30 years of sickness, setbacks, battles (mentally, physically & emotionally) with so many unanswered questions adding to his frustration.

He had no idea what he would have to endure before this nightmare would come to an end. At

"He is, and forever will be, my hero and I am sure not even he understands why but words fail me to express how I feel not only about him but my mother, Lu and brother Lee. The support they gave me growing up is what kept me going. There was no way I could of got through it on my own," Darren says.

Although he was happy to be married he was not yet complete as he had go to dialysis, knowing though, one day, it would come to an end... after a life of so much pain, surgery, 4 failed transplants, blood transfusions, in early 2011, close friend Lee Ferrigon, who lost his wife to cancer, wanted to be tested to give Darren his kidney. In August that year, after 30 years of pain, he got his life back. "I am so grateful because all I went through has made me who I am today," he says.

Today a proud Darren has his wife, Amanda, to whom he is incredibly grateful and daughter, Imani, who he loves hugely.

"I want to encourage you right here no matter what you are going through to never give up and get to know this God I am talking about who is able to bring you out of any situation.

I feel so complete. I have never had such joy and peace. This can only come when you have Jesus in your life.

There are plenty of reasons to give up... if you choose to, but there are also so plenty of reasons to live. As my father always tells me... “LIFE IS ALL ABOUT CHOICES.”

Page 12

COMMUNITY NEWS WITH LJ

LJ’s

ity n u m Com Slot

Smiling In The Face Of Adversity

E

veryone can speak from personal experience or from real stories they know of.

And it’s often the children who wear the battle scars.

For one young girl who made it to British Army can look back and say; ‘I Was A Solider’ and she can now acknowledge that her battle to survive began way before she entered the army.

The third eldest of six children, Necola Hall remembers that her childhood was not easy, an absent father and money being an issue which impacted on

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

T

hree years after the death of Kingsley Burrell his family were dealt a further devastating blow.

On July 3 they were finally given the answer they should have received from the Crown Prosecution Service in April, answering the question; ‘Who would be charged for the death of their loved one?’

A press release held at the African Caribbean Millennium Centre, led by Kedisha BrownBurrell, sister of Kingsley and supported by community activists, Maxie Hayles, Charlie Williams and Desmond Jaddoo.

They faced the public to let them know that after 3 long years they were told by the CPS they

have found no case to answer in their investigation of 4 police officers and the 6 NHS staff who came into contact with Kingsley shortly before his death.

Kedisha said: “Kingsley’s death was untimely. We are deeply disturbed and to have lost Kingsley in this tragic way is hurtful.

“But not to get justice would be unbearable for the family and the community. It is obvious that we are up against a police force that has been stigmatized, due to institutional racism and corruption hence making them intractable.”

“This has been demonstrated in the Stephen Lawrence case, the Hillsborough disaster, the plebe gate scandal, the shooting

whether she went to school or not.

Born in Bull Bay, St. Thomas, Jamaica, her recollection of school was basically that she went when her mother had the money to send her, making it difficult when she did attend, as clearly missing any time from school left her lagging behind.

Necola says she did like school and did all she could to attend, ending up at Don Quarry Secondary school which was again a struggle as she needed money for school fees and exams, With childhood dreams of being a nurse, she soon found part time employment to aid her way. I saw similarities with me as I could see my life was a struggle, but I knew I was going to be somebody.

I Was A Solider’ is a compelling story of Necola’s journey, her marriage, to husband Michael, her family, her life in the army, her service in Iraq and the segregation and discrimination she faced and how she overcame her struggles.

Life in the army became a difficult place for Necola and in

of Mark Duggan and the over 3,600 people who have died in custody since 1969.”

The families pain of having to wait 18 months before they were given their loved ones body to lay him to rest, they then had one week to bury him.

They constantly had delays of updates they should have been given, at each junction of the case there has been delays without apology.

Kedisha Brown-Burrell does not mince her words as she states: “Corruption is entrenched in the police force and I am of the opinion that corruption is endemic in British society that it even allow doctors with criminal convictions to practice. To me, it seems as if the CPS, Police,

January 2013 she was granted a medical discharge.

For the first time it was being identified as part of her struggle, with her exams and passing her tests.

At 36 year old, she, for the first time, was diagnosed with Dyslexia.

Whilst interviewing Necola in her home, her 3 children running around and about us, I would get little versions of their views of their mom.

At one point Moriah (3) piped up with: “My mom was in the army.” Her two elder children, Michael, age 7, and six year old Makayla attend the local school.

They spoke of their mom attending their school fate with her books and with eyes beaming with pride, Makalya said: “Everyone was buying a book and she was very keen to let me know everybody know ‘that’s my mom’.

Just over 12 months in ‘civvy street’ Necola has written and published her book in 7 months and resumed life as a full-time wife and mother, for now, as her hope is to become a coun-

NHS and IPCC all collude to cover each other’s back, after all they are state agents.”

The family vowed to fight on and organized a static protest outside the CPS office every other Monday which commenced on July 14.

Kedisha has vowed to fight on for justice for brother Kingsley until her last breath; “I have good memories of my brother and those are the ones I’ll keep.

I am too strong to fear them and will not be intimidated by their tactic.” The community requests that if anyone can offer support to help print the flyers please contact Maxie Hayles or Desmond Jadoo by sending them a facebook message.

sellor and a motivational speaker.

She is definitely proof of that old Caribbean saying; ‘What don’t kill will surely make you stronger.’

She speaks lovingly of her family life and realises that her mother did her best. Necola said she would still encourage people from the Caribbean community

The Phoenix - August 2014

to join the army and if this was her children’s choice she would support them.

Her only wish would be that they join the army not at the rank of a Private, and hence recognising a better qualification is what is needed to help anyone taking this step.

Reviews so far say the book is a compelling page-turner with a great contrast of emotion and inspiration of how to face your battles and overcome them.

This is now available on www. necolahall.com at £11.99 also available at www.amazon.co.uk in paper back or kindle or why not pre order your copy from www.waterstones.com for the 1st October.

COMPETITION

Necola Hall has kindly given us a signed copy of her book,”I Was A Soldier” to give away to one lucky reader.

For your chance to win the book, all you need to do is answer this simple question:

What was Necola diagnosed with at the age of 36? a) Dyslexia b) Colourblindness c) Arthritis

Just email your answer, along with your name, address and contact number to competitions@thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject “I Was A Soldier Competition”. Competition closes at 23.59 on 1st September 2014.

There is no cash alternative.

The Phoenix - August 2014

Page 13

SPECIAL STREET CRED SUPPLEMENT IN THE PHOENIX NEWSPAPER

www.streetcredmagazine.com

AUGUST 2014

FESTIVAL FEVER with

Page 14

ENTERTAINMENT

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Editors Note

W

hat an incredible year so far! The main highlight for me has to be Street Cred magazine going weekly.

At first I was scared because it’s obviously double the work and having to keep on top of what is out there a lot more and my god its so far been a fun experience.

This weekly concept is definitely the trend we needed and as I write this I am thinking what to

NIKKI RELEASES ANACONDA ALBUM PICS ON TWITTER

give you next week!

My exciting grows daily being the journalist for this section.

Take a look at what we have been up to this festival period; with amazing turnouts for Global Gathering, Wireless and Simmer Down festivals, and there are still more to come.

The weather hasn’t been to bad this summer ei-

/markdwaynemdg /streetcredmag

The Phoenix - August 2014

NELLY AND SHANTEL ther which makes a huge change!

Lots of exciting news in this edition as always...

Enjoy Street Credders and keep smiling - it feels good even if your down.

No its not Ashanti although many would say was the perfect match, now its all about Nelly dating Floyd Mayweathers’ ex girlfriend Shantel and here they are totally in love.

Mark Dwayne MDG

@MarkDwayneMDG1 @StreetCredMag

www.streetcredmagazine.com

There is no one that likes promoting on Twitter more than Nikki and my god does she use it to her advantage Her career is supper promising with her brand new shoe line and the hype for her new album has created a massive viral impact.

God she is looking GOOD!

No make up selfie pic from Ashanti Well done for being brave but to be honest you look better with make up!

HOT PIC OF THE WEEK! Waaaay to Go Usher is keeping in with the new acts of the game

COME AND TALK TO ME!

A

classic tune by one of the hottest R‘n’B boy bands of the 90’s and also a pleasant chat up opening, albeit kind of demanding!

In an ideal world the opposite sex would allure you with a cheeky yet sweet smile then advance towards you with a respectful, maybe humourous, but definitely attention-gaining one liner.

Instead of ‘YO’ or some kind of ‘complimentary’ adjective defining a body part or worse yet ‘OI!’ It’s MAD disrespectful!

Men, young men, women and young women DO NOT holler at someone you like in that way and also DO NOT respond to that in any way!

Does chivalry no longer exist? Or have women become too independent to accept it.

When a man opens a door for you to walk through or pulls out a chair for you to sit on, how do you respond?

Do you accept, smile and thank or scowl and retort with ‘I can do it myself thanks!’ Are we not allowing men to treat us like the princesses/queens that we are!

Or are we not acting like princesses/queens in order to receive said treatment?

The point I’m trying to enforce is that chivalry, respect, creative and pleasant greetings seem to have escaped from the lips and brains of some of our men!

Chantelle’s

Spot

My advice is to go out there and find wherever they went and bring ‘em back! And ladies, if a man wants to treat you like a prince/queen, LET HIM!

The Phoenix - August 2014

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Page 15

ENTERTAINMENT

Rudy’s Rare Records ‘White Dee’s’ Column @ Birmingham Rep I

Get in touch with her by emailing whitedee@streetcredmagazine.com

L

enny Henry stars in world premiere of comedy Rudy’s Rare Records at Birmingham Repertory

Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre will kick off its new Autumn & Winter season with the world premiere of Rudy’s Rare Records, a brand new stage adaptation of the successful BBC Radio 4 series starring Lenny Henry, which plays from 4 – 20 September.

The hilarious and poignant play follows the story of owner Rudy Sharpe (played by Larrington Walker) and his son Adam (Lenny Henry), who moves back home in the throes of a mid-life crisis but struggles to cope with the chaos and eclectic characters he meets.

Soon Rudy’s love of mayhem and Adam’s need for order collide and the shop becomes a battleground – but when the threat of developers looms, father and son must put their differences aside as they battle to keep the music alive.

The cast will be led by Lenny Henry, who will take to the stage in Birmingham and at Birmingham Repertory Theatre for the first time in an acting

role. One of the country’s best-loved personalities, he has established himself as a formidable actor, having won the Evening Standard Best Newcomer Award for his leading role in Northern Broadsides’ Othello and completed an acclaimed tour and West End season in August Wilson’s award-winning Fences.

He will be joined onstage by Larrington Walker (The Winter's Tale, King Lear for the Royal Shakespeare Company) in the role of Rudy, Natasha Godfrey (Death On a Yellow Page for The REP) as Tasha, Jeffery Kissoon (Julius Ceasar for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Waiting For Godot for West Yorkshire Playhouse) as Clifton and Joivan Wade (Mandem on the Wall, Youngers) as Richie.

Co-created by Lenny Henry and writer Danny Robins, Rudy’s Rare Records is directed by Paulette Randal, who has previously directed plays for the Royal Court and in the West End, including Fences with Lenny Henry.

Tickets are available now and can be booked by calling the Box Office on 0121 236 4455 or online at Birmingham-rep.co.uk.

t’s that time of the month again - time for me to chat away a year older than the last time I did my column, happy birthday to me :-) and to hope you still find the time to read my column.

Well what’s happened this month that you may or may not find interesting - every mothers nightmare - yep its prom time.

As the mom to 16 year

old Caitlin I just knew it wasn’t going to be straightforward haha! Dress, hair, nails, make up, transport, teenage tantrums and as the kids say it ‘the good old bling’.

Whoever thought up the idea of bringing prom over to this country? Well it definitely wasn’t me and when i left school, we just left and that was that.

Obviously there are things that can be planned in advance, but the day of the 17th July turned Caitlin into prom zilla haha.

But all things said and done, it went off well, and as beautiful as she looked, it didn’t cost a fortune. Being a single mom you always want the best in life for your children, the best doesn’t always cost the most. Caitlin looked like a princess who did go to the ball.

A big big thank you to Maria for doing her hair, Eclipse Hair & Beauty Salon, Dudley Road for the nails, l My lovely daughter and a special shout out to Caitlin on her Prom Night with personal escort Dan-Dan Tyson Leon, Leon Security

Group for providing the transport and the personal escort in the form of Dan-Dan, as a person born and bred in Birmingham, I understand how we need to support our local business and try to get them the recognition they deserve.

After the stressful planning and hoping that it would be a night Caitlin would never forget the look on her face was totally priceless, and the constant crying done by myself at the transformation into a stunning young lady was worth it. Bring on her wedding day haha.

Finally a great big congratulations to the DRUM for an amazing Simmer Down festival which took place last in Handsworth Park. The festival highlighted loads of homegrown Birmingham talent, past and present, I wasn’t feeling very well so could only stay for a couple of hours, but the feedback has been fantastic.

Musical Youth, Apache In-

dian, Diego Flex, some of the cutest dancers you have ever seen, and the legends that are Steel Pulse, played, sang and interacted with a crowd estimated at about 20,000.

Stalls for all occasions, plenty of food, good atmosphere, once again fantastic security (Leon security group erm 2 mentions in 1 column!) and the event in true Birmingham style went trouble free, people came from all parts of the country to attend.

Its at times like these that i can honestly say - IM PROUD TO BE FROM BIRMINGHAM. Thanks to everyone who took part in celebrating the DRUM’s 20th Anniversary heres to many many more.

So once more I say ‘bye for now’ and see you next month (or will I??)

4 TO 20 SEPTEMBER Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and Hackney Empire present

By Danny Robins

Starring Lenny Henry

The brilliant new stage show based on the hilarious BBC Radio 4 series Book Online: birmingham-rep.co.uk Box Office: 0121 236 4455 Follow us online birminghamrep @birminghamrep

Photograph by Nobby Clark RRRecords Advert 180x270.indd 1

Registered in England 295910 Charity No.223660

17/07/2014 13:09

The Phoenix – August 2014

Page 16

ENTERTAINMENT

T

he CRUISE Show is Europe’s leading event dedicated to discovering a world of voyages – perfect for both those new to cruising and needing help to plan their first voyage, and experienced cruisers looking for inspiration for their next holiday at sea.

After an extremely popular show in London’s Olympia earlier this year in March, The CRUISE Show now moves on to visit Manchester Central, Birmingham’s NEC and Glas-

www.streetcredmagazine.com

gow’s SECC once again this autumn.

Every type of cruising will be there to be uncovered from small ship adventures and all inclusive ultra-luxury sailings to cultural river cruises and modern resort style ships perfect for the whole family - this is your chance to meet with the major cruise lines and specialist operators under one roof - and have a great day out!

By visiting the annual Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow shows you could save thousands of pounds with ex-

clusive show-only offers and upgrades, plus get up-to-date insider tips and advice from the experts, attend the informative FREE talks and ask those all important questions directly to the cruise lines, discover different ship styles and incredible destinations, and also find out what’s new for 2014/2015!

The CRUISE Show takes place in Manchester Central on 13-14 September, Birmingham’s NEC on 20-21 September and then Glasgow’s SECC 11-12 October. Make sure you add the dates to your diary!

COMPETITION

The CRUISE Show visits Birmingham this autumn and will be packed with inspiration and information to help you discover your perfect cruise.

This show is your chance to save money when booking your next cruise with the exclusive show-only offers and upgrades available from the exhibitors, plus you can meet the world’s leading cruise lines and specialist operators all under one roof to ask those all important questions face-to-face, you can hear directly from the cruise experts about what’s new for 2014 / 2015 and gather impartial advice you won’t find in the brochure.

For more show information, talk timetables and a full exhibitors list please visit www.cruisingshow.com.

BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

August 01 Catapult Club 01 Propaganda 02 Respublica 06 Kingsland Road 07 Catapult Club 08 Propaganda 11 Orchard Hill 14 Propaganda 15 Propaganda 15 Catapult Club 20 My Ruin 22 Propaganda 22 Catapult Club 23 Bassman Birthday 2014 26 Mordred 29 The Janoskians 29 Propaganda 29 Catapult Club 30 Kataleptic 30 StakeOut

BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE

August 02 Tarrus Riley Live + Alaine 09 The All New Flyin’ Squad Presents: GANGSTER SQUAD 15 Pissed Jeans + Youth Man

Which of these places will the Cruise Show NOT visit? a) Birmingham b) Manchester c) Stoke

To have a chance of winning one of 10 pairs of tickets to the Birmingham event, Just email your answer, along with your name, address and contact number to competitions@thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject “Cruise Show Competition”.

Competition closes at 23.59 on 1st September 2014.

There is no cash alternative.

The CRUISE Show are also offering you reduced price advance tickets to the show! Get your tickets for only £4 (that’s saving £6 off the door price!) by quoting ‘PHOENIX’ when booking tickets online at www.cruisingshow.com or when calling 0871 620 4024. (Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras).

LG ARENA

August 09-10 Ant and Dec’s Takeaway on Tour!

TOWN HALL

August 03 National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain: Under 12 Orchestra 04 London Schools Symphony Orchestra - The Great Animal Orchestra 08 Project SoundLounge Festival 09 Midnight Oil Finale: Exchange 12-24 The Gruffalo 24 The Gruffalo: Relaxed Performance

NEC

August 07-10 Festival of Quilts 10-12 Moda 16 The Color Run Birmingham

CIVIC/WULFRUN WOLVERHAMPTON

August 01 Championship Boxing (Civic Hall) 09 Sufi Tour of Kanwar Grewal (Civic Hall) 22 Detonation Teen Club Night (Wulfrun Hall) 23 VIP Music Fair (Wulfrun Hall)

A Night With Scooby Doo

T

he Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton played host to the new stage version of Scooby Doo, entitled “Scooby Doo: The Mystery of the Pyramid.”

Despite being 45 years-old this year, Scooby Doo continues to be incredibly popular with young children; a quick scan of the audience revealed that – apart from the parents - it was dominated by an estimated age range of 5-10 year-olds.

When the curtain went up, we were greeted by 4 scary, but very funky dancing mummies. The gang then entered the stage in the famous Mystery Machine.

What followed was a fun-filled 90 minutes of singing, dancing, comedy and mystery, featuring all the main Scooby characters and a great supporting cast.

Of the main characters, Daphne and Fred are good and Velma is great, but the real star of the show was Shaggy. The actor Danny Stokes captures Shaggy’s look, voice and mannerisms perfectly – and adds a little extra to a dynamic performance with a few hip-hop streetdance moves. It’s really surreal watch-

ing a hippy performing backspins!

Another great character is Ben Sief (played by Stuart Vincent), who doesn’t speak, but instead sings every word, dances brilliantly and is the focus of a couple of great jokes aimed mainly at the adults.

Something usually gets lost when a cartoon is translated into a live action play and in this case, it’s Scooby himself; it was difficult to get used to a 6ft dog walking around on two feet – although, judging by their reactions, the young audience members had no such reservations!

The plot is the usual Scooby Doo mystery romp, this time

What’s On Union J Telford Festival/Fusion Festival 30th/31st August 2014

Pop heartthrobs Union J are back and set to release their brand new single ‘Tonight (We Live Forever)’ on August 17th.

The track will be the first song to come from their second album scheduled for release later this year. Catch them at the Telford and Fusion Festivals at the end of August!

SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON

August 01 MVP Clubnight 02 Exposure Live 13 Reel Big Fish 14 Theatre of Hate 16 Hellyeah 23 The Black Hounds 28 Rose Redd 29 Liberty Lies 30 Twisted Wheel

SYMPHONY HALL

Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular.

The NIA, Birmingham 26 May 2015

August 02 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt 08 Jazzlines - Summer School Showcase 09 Musical Picnic: Kosmos Ensemble 09 National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain 23 Lucky Ali - Live in Birmingham 25 CBSO Wagner and Elgar

l Reel Big Fish @ The Slade Rooms, Wolverhampton

based in Egypt, with the customary madcap chase being set inside a pyramid. Catchy songs, spooky effects and great audience interaction all make for a wonderful evening’s entertainment.

Of course, the mystery gets solved in the end and yes, the baddie does utter the immortal lines “…if it wasn’t for you pesky kids!”

In all, a great show for young and old and at the end of the night with a very satisfied 5-year-old.

“I loved the play, the singing and dancing and jokes. We had a really good time” said Maya.

Words : Michael Barrows

The European premiere of the hugely popular Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular is coming to Birmingham in 2015!

The live show, which was a sell-out on its world premiere in Australia, will enjoy a limited run of twelve UK performances

including one at Birmingham’s NIA on 26 May 2015.

It features over 100 performers and is conducted by Ben Foster, who conducts and orchestrates the musical scores for the TV series.

Music will be performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and members of the BBC National Chorus of Wales.

The Phoenix – August 2014

www.streetcredmagazine.com

I

t was the most anticipated event to ever happen in Birmingham for urban music - 3 days of nonstop international live acts on stage together.

International and local stars performed at Perry Park Stadium who would have thought that something of this magnitude would happen.

If only the lineup was like last years event in London, with the

likes of Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, and Rihanna, as good as it was I just couldn’t help think that it could have been loads better if there were better artists.

You’re always going to want to see the pioneers, but even the new generation know that the old skool is best.

Now lets talk about the artists.

Obviously the stand outs were the headliners, but surpprisingly out of all the acts, it was Tinie

Tempah that was the one that blew it out of the water, he was so ready for the festival.

Track after track there was never a dull moment! He’d had thousands rocking out, and it must be because he’s been a performer at Wireless for the last five years which he made a point of and finally he was on the main stage.

He also said Birmingham was the best one - yeh we loved that!

You can just imagine Pass Out, Miami 2 Ibiza, Drinking from the Bottle, Frisky and Written in the Stars had everyone jumping and roaring constantly.

It was also great how Tinie gave inspiring words to people

saying enjoy your life wishing us to have fun and amazing careers. He was very in touch with the crowd.

Then there was Pharrell Williams who came out with no introduction and it must be said as a headliner he started off quite boring, singing his least popular songs which ended up dragging.

When he went into the old skool Pharrell and N.E.R.D. tracks, that’s when it got live. All the classics were dropped from Jay Z’s Excuse Me and Frontin, to Snoop Dogg’s Beautiful and Drop it like its hot to name a few.

Fast forward to the final act on the Sunday which was Kanye West. Word had reached Birmingham that he was booed on the last two shows he did in London because of his 20 minute rants.

This didn’t stop him from ranting again, though this time it was about the media how they treat him unfairly and that they said he was booed when it wasn’t true.

In Birmingham he didn’t get booed and it must be said he tore the roof off with his classics, blasting out track after track.

We all know Kanye is an amazing performer and the rants

Page 17

ENTERTAINMENT

weren’t what we wanted to hear at a festival.

It’s clear he has his fans as when he was on the whole park filled up it was amazing to see.

The main stage became Kanye West and everyone else was forgotten.

The Givenchy mask he wore was the talk and god knows how he performed in what looked like such hot material.

He did take it off from time to time which was a good thing, because if he didn’t, people might have wondered if it really was Kanye West!

So what did Street Cred think of the festival? It is a great concept that needs to happen again

that’s for sure. It was a great start but we would love to see heavy acts in hip hop like say Busta Rhymes, Run DMC, LL Cool J, DMX and Method Man - artists that could really get a festival hype!

But we must big up the Wireless Festival. I also think they should get more of the underground promoters, DJ’s, and artists involved in the show and get all who have helped bring the urban scene and lose those who don’t represent it.

Words - Mark Dwayne Photo Credits Stuart Hateley & Gobinder Jhitta

Live Life Living Album review

W

ith two number one hits and thousands of album sales to his name, Example has become a pop sensation in the UK. His fifth studio album ‘Live Life Living’ is a continuation of his unique style with a slightly different approach (a bit less rapping) over a collection of 90’s influenced club bangers and house productions which will get you in the mood to paint the town red.

If you are a fan of actually listening to the song lyrics then you will be disappointed but if you are someone who loves to rave at all times of the week then this is the album for you.

The album has the potential to provide a further several singles for Example, as already released tracks ‘All the Wrong Places’, ‘Kids Again’, ‘One More Day’ and ‘Say Something’ could easily be joined by ‘Next Year’ which is a great kick-starter for the

album as well as ’10 Million People’, ‘Seen You’ and the album Title Track itself ‘Live Life Living’.

So in all, a predictable album that will keep his fans very happy and provide some great club nights and concerts but I don’t think Example will be gaining too many new fans from this record.

Words : Stuart Hateley

The Phoenix - August 2014

Page 18

SIMMER DOWN

Over 20,000 fill Handswo roars to greater heights w

N

ow in its fifth year, Simmer Down, returned to the beautiful surroundings of Handsworth Park to celebrate Birmingham’s rich heritage and cultural diversity.

With last year’s event, up until July 19, seen as the best ever free open-air music festival in Birmingham, this year’s prodigious showcase proved to be even bigger, even better.

This year’s headline acts, led by international reggae band, Steel Pulse, plus equally famed Musical Youth and Apache Indian proved the perfect ‘main course’

to a day that was filled to bursting with not only the best in music that Birmingham has to offer, but also the best demonstration of Britain in free-spirited multiculturalism that is the bedrock of the city.

With the afore mentioned performers steeped in world recognition and accolades, it was more than apt that they were to head a day where sun, family fun and an array of rum were in abundance.

This was Handsworth’s day with all the stars on show born, and/or bred in Birmingham. It was a celebration of Handsworth; A Handsworth homecoming.

Simmer Down 2014 was an overwhelming success as it uniquely fused all corners of the city, attracting people of too many nationalities to mention, showing the world yet again that Birmingham is the thriving metropolis to be in right now.

“We’ve toured throughout places in Europe, US, Caribbean, Virgin Island, Hawaii and Guam, but this was always going to be one of our greatest experiences.”

“To play in front of this many of our home crowd was awesome,” said Steel Pulse’s David Hinds.

For the Grammy Award winners, this was a ‘Handsworth

Revolution’ of a very positive force. Or, at least it should have been.

Musical Youth singer, Dennis Seaton, said: “It was fantastic to play in our home city. And the crowd came out, as the sun did, in force too. This was a great feeling for me. Playing in front of a hometown crowd was a real blessing.”

Apache Indian, just back from the United States, and just before going on to tour Kenya, Dubai and Sri Lanka, said: “This was fantastic. It was a very very special gig for me, as I’m from here.

I was born right there, on Holly

The Phoenix – August 2014

Page 19

SIMMER DOWN

orth park as Simmer Down with legends returning home

Road. I’ve been around the world 7 times now, but to come here and see this kind of vibe and atmosphere makes me very very proud.”

Monique Mehra proved to be the biggest Apache Indian fan there as he recalls; “I played Middlesbrough a few weeks ago, and there was this girl who was there hitting us up on Twitter, saying “I’m in a wheelchair, but I’d love to come and see Apache!” So when I got there, I got her up on stage, she was like “You won’t be able to get me on stage!” and I said “I do what I like in my set” so I got her up to watch it, and

she’s made her way here today too. All it takes is a little effort to include people, and a little goes a long long way.”

Apache is working in conjunction with South and City College Birmingham where he runs AIM (Apache Indian Music) Academy which encourage people to work closer together.

“Times are tough,” he says.

“We have a responsibility to give back to the younger people, and the younger people are responsible for stepping up and taking these opportunities. It’s free for all young people, whether you’re at the college or not, between

16 and 24. Come to the college and ask for me, and you will get helped.”

“It’s my way of saying ‘thank you’ to Birmingham and Handsworth for all that it’s given me.

I’m always trying to help communities. You can’t change the world, you can’t change the country, but you can definitely try to change Birmingham.”

A host of other live performances and workshops took place across several stages, with fun activities for all the family, craft stalls and a range of cultural cuisines showcasing the wealth of talent that exists.

The Drum’s CEO Charles Small said: “The fact that I’ve been able to enjoy Simmer Down and actually relax at an event run by The Drum is testament to our brilliant team who organised the day so well.”

Because of stringent time restrictions, headline act, Steel Pulse, wasn’t able to perform their stand-out hit song, “Handsworth Revolution.” Not of their doing, they apologised profusely.

The fact that Handsworth’s biggest sons were there, in Handsworth Park was a revolution in itself.

The Phoenix – August 2014

Page 20

ENTERTAINMENT

S

ince taking 5th spot in the BBC’s Sound of 2014 poll, George Ezra has undoubtedly found a spot on the radars of many music lovers’ playlists.

With two EP’s (Did You Hear The Rain and Cassy O’) both hitting the top 10 on the UK iTunes charts, a number of sold out shows and a 22-date debut UK tour under his belt by the age of 21, Ezra is on course to become a force to be reckoned with.

“I keep being told that this is my year,” he says. “Which is nice, but problematic because I’m planning to be around in 2015 and long beyond.”

After first posting Wanted On Voyage’s second track, Budapest, online as a free download last autumn, the song has been streamed more than 10 million times on Spotify, and five million times on YouTube.

Wanted On Voyage, George’s debut album has charted highly so far across Europe, taking high spots in the UK, Scottish and Swiss charts, and with good reason too.

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Projecting a voice that sounds like it was stolen from a 1920’s blues veteran, Ezra pulls you in from the very beginning of the album.

‘What are you waiting for?’ asks first track ‘Blame It On Me’ in the refrain, which will also be stuck in your head for the rest of the day after hearing it.

With Budapest and the catchy Cassy O’ coming after, it can feel like a topheavy album when you’ve listened through it, although it doesn’t detract from the sharp wit, brilliant arrangement and stunning voice that is present throughout.

Be it laid-back and balladish (Barcelona), pop-esque (Stand By Your Gun) or just that voice and a guitar, Ezra has songs in styles that can suit most ears.

If you’ve heard Budapest and liked it, or are a fan of good British talent, Wanted On Voyage is a definite to add to your collection.

Words : Daniel Riley

REVIEW

E Album review

stablished as the UK's most cutting edge and forward thinking electronic music festival, the multi award winning GlobalGathering festival played host to the biggest and best live artists and DJs. Spanning the genre with a lineup that read like a who's-who of stadium stars, up and coming UK talent, world-beaters and industry insiders tips, alongside some of the most exciting promoters around.

GlobalGathering combined awe-inspiring music with a super honed and slick production operation, bringing experience and innovations from the international festival circuit to the UK, for a truly unique festival experience.

50,000 people gathered onto Long Marston Airfield in Stratford-Upon-Avon with the aim to

hear Birminghamborn DJ Hannah Wants, one of the most talked-about female DJs in Britain and a particular highlight, in the UKF tent.

For the first time ever 10:31 and FACE had their own designated area after the huge success in Digbeth’s Rainbow Complex.

The only down fall was The Bunker which my personal favourite DJs: Tom Shorterz, Jamie Trench and

have the most amazing time of their collective lives.

A mixture of music from drum and bass to trance music to house had the crowd bursting with excitement. For GlobalGathering virgins, it proved a mind-blowing experience.

The Paradise tent saw the Martinez brothers playing their set, which was great but the issue was that you could still

Cause & Affect played. The heat in there was unbearable!

If there’s one gripe, then it is that you couldn't see, or hear everybody. You had to prioritise and accept the fact that you were going to miss some acts.

I was fully satisfied on stumbling on to Duke Dumont who had everyone dancing for a good ninety minutes while people were

trying to find the little shade there was, to prevent them from joining others who had either

Manchester put its wet foot forward to celebrate Carnival

D

espite relentless rain, Manchester’s Carnival got underway with a colourful parade throughout the south of the city.

The annual event, which took place in Platt Fields Park, was a celebration of the 40th anniversary of independence for Caribbean island of Grenada, saw the traditional parade starting later than expected, but still saw floats, dancers and carnival troupes making their way from the carnival’s spiritual home, in Alexandra Park, through Moss Side and Hulme, to its base in Fallowfield.

With three stages hosting live music throughout, the inclement weather was not going put a dampener

on the weekends’ proceedings as an array of live music was on offer, including Calypso, traditional African and latin.

Leading international money transfer company, MoneyGram and Lebara, one of Europe’s fastest growing mobile companies were prominent with their presence throughout the two-day fest.

A family friendly event where all ethnicities came together to take a look into the Caribbean culture, though drenched in Manchester rain, this was a very diverse carnival which the city embraced.

l Claire & Talisa

passed out in the field or would fall ill on their way to the next act.

Summing up GlobalGathering: We Came, We Saw and We Raved! Would I go back? I probably would.

Words : Talisa Barnett See more images in Street Cred Magazine weekly!

The Phoenix – August 2014

www.streetcredmagazine.com

SMALLScreen Captain America The Winter Soldier - Out 18 August on DVD & Blu-Ray

B

S

et two years after ‘The Avengers’ (2012), the film follows superhero Steve Rogers aka Captain America (Evans) who is now living in Washington where he is trying to adjust to modern society.

When a fellow S.H.I.E.L.D. agent is attacked he teams up with Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Johansson) to uncover a conspiracy and, with the help of the Falcon (Anthony Mackie), defeat a powerful

enemy known as the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan). The cast also includes Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Redford, Cobie Smulders, Dominic Cooper and Emily VanCamp.

Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary 4K Restoration

G

hostbusters is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a new 4K restoration screening across Cineworld Cinemas for one day on 28 October and further shows taking place across the UK for Halloween.

With Bill Murray starring opposite a host of New York's undead, an infinitely quotable script from Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, and a soundtrack that hasn't left audiences' heads since they were first asked "Who ya gonna call?", Ghostbusters is set to be a Halloween blockbuster.

BIGScreen

Three university parapsychologists lose their research grant and their credibility when the Dean decides that their theories, methods and conclusions have no place in his august institution.

Out of a job, they decide to go into business for themselves, setting up as professional paranormal eliminators. Starting out with only a converted fire station and a beat-up ambulance to their name, the Ghostbusters quickly become local heroes when the city sees a dramatic rise in supernatural activity and a giant marshmallow threatens its very existence.

on Phone Tablet PC Mac

egin Again is a beautiful little movie. Part romance, part comedy and part musicaldrama; all of the individual pieces come together to form this engaging and emotionally involving adventure.

Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave are college sweethearts and song writing partners who move to New York when Dave lands a record deal with a major label.

Unfortunately, his new found fame changes him and leads him astray, leaving Gretta heartbroken and alone in an unfamiliar city.

However, a chance encounter with a disgraced, alcoholic record label executive (Mark Ruffalo) triggers a partnership that promises to change both of their lives forever.

Written and Directed by Irish filmmaker John Carney, he once again proves that he is right at home in this particular hybrid of genres, as evidenced by his 2006 hit, Once.

He is able to perfectly balance the cinematic elements with the musical elements, meaning that you’re never distracted by the sudden change in tone.

There’s one scene in particular that really sticks with you and that’s when Dan (Mark Ruffalo) is watching Gretta sing one of her original songs on stage.

It’s just her and her guitar; very simplistic, very pretty. However, as Dan watches, his musical mind goes to work and the stage comes to life as he begins transforming this quaint little song

into a chart topping hit.

The instruments that surround Gretta take on a life of their own and begin playing along with her, making her song sound like something completely different.

It’s a difficult scene to describe, but it is intelligently and beautifully constructed and is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.

The performances from the entire cast are fantastic. Keira Knightley is believable and sympathetic as the lovelorn Gretta, making it easy to identify with her and engage in her story.

James Corden is hysterical as

Gretta’s comic-relief best friend and fellow singer/songwriter, Steve – who is nowhere near as good as he thinks he is – and Hailee Steinfeld brings a certain level of sass to the role of Mark Ruffalo’s rebellious daughter, Violet.

However, her character is a complete carbon copy of her character from 3 Days to Kill starring Kevin Costner.

She plays a misunderstood and defiant teenager with daddy issues who dresses far too provocatively for her age.

You could literally take her scenes from 3 Days to Kill and edit them into Begin Again and you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference; it’s very odd, but she gives a strong performance nonetheless.

However, the standout performance here comes from the always brilliant Mark Ruffalo as Dan. He is a virtuoso of alcohol, energy and foul language and he gives a performance that is sure to garner some recognition as soon as awards season rolls around.

I honestly believe that Ruffalo’s character is single-handedly responsible for the film’s 15 certificate, as he never passes up an

Look out for the new WEEKLY

ONLINE every FRIDAY

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Page 21

BIG SCREEN

Review wORDS by antony brown

opportunity to cuss his way out of a situation, or in to one for that matter.

In fact, his language is so foul that he would be right at home in a Quentin Tarantino movie and nobody would question it.

Begin Again is a “feel good” movie of the highest standard.

It is a simple, engaging and thoughtful piece of cinema that makes you think about the beauty of the world around you and the importance of the relationships we share.

It is sweet without being too schmaltzy, It is funny without trying too hard and it is uplifting without being too “in your face” about it.

It is the kind of movie you’ll put on to cheer yourself up when you’re feeling low and if that isn’t a compliment, I don’t know what is.

Seth Rogen recently tweeted about Begin Again and his tweet says more in 140 characters or less than I could in an entire review, so I will sign off by sharing with you his thoughts on the movie; “Please go see the movie Begin Again! But only if you like joy and laughter. If not – run!

See something else!” Well...you heard the man!

Gossip Fashion Gadgets Big Screen and more!

The Phoenix – August 2014

Page 22

GADGETS AND GAMING

www.streetcredmagazine.com

W

ith the recent impressive performances of 2D and 3D 8-bit inspired games across all platforms, it was no surprise that one of the most popular games of the 90’s - the skateboard simulator has made it’s way to the 8-bit arena.

OlliOlli is a PC port of a PSVita game that was first seen at the start of this year, and is being ported to PS3, PS4, Mac OS and Linux in the near future.

As a 2D side scrolling 8-bit skater, OlliOlli is so much more than that one sentence can ex-

plain.

The colours, backgrounds, and level design of this fast paced game really come into their own, never affected by motion blur,

and always crisp and interesting.

Controls are simple on their own, but devilishly difficult to combine together. Ideally played with a controller, with spins separate to grind and grab moves with swings of analogue sticks, you’ll find it relatively easy to combo your way through a level, but to reach those higher scores will take a lot more practice and finger coordination.

Taking a few pages from the infinity runner book, OlliOlli has that instant retry button waiting for the almost inevitable fail and bail, but with the excitement and speed that you fly through the levels once

Erma’s Jamaica Hospital Appeal Fund UK

Cordially invites you to our Silver Service

Annual Fundraising on

Gala Ball

Saturday 27th September 2014 The Centennial Centre

100 Icknield Port Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 0AA Silver Service ~ 7.00pm ~ 1.30am

Performances on the night

Pete Campbell Millicent Stephenson

Music: DJ Trevor Junior Roadshow

Prescilla Cameron

Supporting acts

Saxophonist Millicent Stephenson & Prescilla Cameron Host Major Glenville Lindsay

Host Nikki Tapper (BBC WM)

Guests: Jeremy Thornton of Biddle & Webb Auctioneers.

price £45 corporate table seating of Individual ticket 10

Ticket Outlets George & Helens 372 Court Oak Road, Harborne B32 0DY. 0121 427 2684 Sophia Hairdressers 105 Windmill Lane Smethwick 07983095867 M&M Studios 11 Birmingham Street Oldbury Warley B69

Dress Code: Black Tie / Cocktail Dress For more information contact

Erma Lewis on Tel: 0121 422 0184 / 07957 738 887 / 07930 335 683 or email: erma.lewis@btopenworld.com

Proceeds to assist Bethlehem Orphanage Down Town Kingston & Cardiac Unit Bustamante Hospital for Children Charity no 1094066

you start properly chaining your moves together into a large combo, you’ll be happy to go back again and again.

Taking the inspiration from Tony Hawks Pro Skater and Skate, chaining combos together through different grinds, the key to winning in OlliOlli is landing your tricks. Perfectly landing every trick is the difference between a tiny score, and a monster score.

Costing £9.99 on Steam at the moment, you’ll quickly find yourself saying “Just one more run” as you see your skater fly across the screen after missing a landing.

COMPETITION

To win one of 5 PC Steam Codes for OlliOlli, just answer this simple question!

Which of these is a Skateboarding trick? a) Laserflip b) Breadbox c) Badgerflip

Just email your answer, along with your name, contact number to competitions@thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject “OlliOlli Competition”. Competition closes at 23.59 on 1st September 2014. There is no cash alternative.

P

orted from Playstation, through PC and now iOS, Urban Trial Freestyle has been around the block when it comes to platforms.

The latest offering enables players to take to routes across a whole city including underground lines and construction sites.

While the controls are not as slick and precise as its console and PC counterparts, it manages to hold it together for the majority of the time, with only a few minor niggles here and there to detract from the gameplay.

Players have the option of on screen controls or tilt controls, but neither really relieve the frustration of the other.

The other thing that has taken a hit has been the graphics.

At first look they are pretty impressive for an iOS game, but on closer and continued inspection while playing, you’ll notice things aren’t quite as beautiful as first thought.

With over 40 tracks in 5 different environments, and a fully functional level editor built in, alongside 3 different game modes (Stunt, Time Attack and Challenges), UTF really packs a lot in for your money.

Challenges are the bit that will have you replaying this game, trying to get the highest, furthest and biggest scores to retain bragging rights!

While it may be tricky with the controls to attain the higher scores, especially in the later levels, there is a lot of game that is easily accessible and fun to play through.

Currently sitting at £1.49 on the App Store, UTF is great value for money and will have you retrying stages with your upgraded bikes to try to beat your high scores, and those of your friends too!

iOS VERSION

The Phoenix – August 2014

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Page 23

FASHION AND BEAUTY

CELEBRITY SHOELINE BONANZA

Nikki Minaj Releases Her Own Line Check It Out!

Kanye West Releases Yeezy Red October Line These Are Baaaaaad!!!

Lil Wayne Is At It Too....

Page 24

EATING OUT

The Phoenix - August 2014

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Milano Ristorante Italiano

M

ilano Restaurant has now been a prime restaurant within the city centre of Birmingham for the last 17 years.

It is situated on the upper floor of the Arcadian Centre opposite the Birmingham Hippodrome and a very short walk from the Alexandra Theatre.

Milano is a fine Italian restaurant which seats 100 people at a time and is a great venue where you can enjoy lunch or pre-theatre dinner.

The restaurant offers a selection of menus including an a la carte menu providing an immense choice of Antipasti, Pizzas, Pasta, Risotto, Carne, Specials Boards and much more, as well as a lovely Theatre 2 Course menu.

The décor is outstanding with elegant furniture, ornaments and

bar area as well as an attractive layout both inside and out. The moment you walk in, you’re welcomed by a friendly smile and immediately shown to a table.

Starting off at a high standard, it is my pleasure to say that the level of service from then on, did not falter.

The drinks came straight away, the order was taken promptly, with the waiter being very helpful, making suggestions and advising me through the menu.

The food was beautifully presented and more importantly delicious. I selected the Spaghetti Carbonara, which was the best I have tasted for a long time and I will have to visit many other Italian restaurants to find a Carbonara that can compete with it.

The manager made an effort to speak to every table in the restaurant to get feedback on the service and the food which was nice to see especially when he offered us complementary Limoncello at the end of our meal with our bill.

Overall, one great experience that I would recommend to everyone and I look forward to visiting again.

Milano Ristorante Italiano Arcadian Centre, Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TD 0121 622 3999

BBQ Tips From Pilgrims Choice And Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube

T

he choosiest cheddar brand, Pilgrims Choice, has teamed up with Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube channel to bring you exclusive tips for over the summer months.

DJ BBQ is a unique chef who is renowned for cooking over wood and coal to bring you super tasty recipes and introduce you to a whole new world of cooking.

Launched on July 8, this exclusive video shows DJ BBQ using Pilgrims Choice Mature Crumbles with Black Pepper to create a delicious Sweet Potato Quesadilla.

Created with the best melt in mind, Pilgrims Choice Crumbles are 4mm diced cubes of cheddar, which melt much more evenly, creating tasty meals in minutes.

Pilgrims Choice has teamed up with Jamie Oliver’s Food Tube to support the newly launched Pilgrims Choice Crumbles range and aims to showcase the transformation of everyday delicious dishes, using the innovative new product.

The Phoenix – August 2014

LEGAL SERVICES - SUPPORTED BY

E

ach month, we will bring you the latest legal news and advice, which is suitable to you with the full backing and support of the Birmingham Law Society.

We will present editorial from participating law firms who feel the need to share some advice on the options available to a person in particular situations.

It is hoped that this section will help to establish links between the legal profession and the wider public and break down barriers to legal advice for ordinary people.

Supported by

Page 25

Children get greater voice in family courts

C

hildren aged 10 and over caught up in family hearings will be able to tell judges their thoughts and feelings on the cases affecting them, the justice minister has announced.

Simon Hughes said the Ministry of Justice will work with family court judges, the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) and with young people themselves to implement the change ‘as soon as practically possible’.

The age of 10 was chosen to be consistent with existing policy and practice in this country and is the age of criminal responsibility for young people in England and Wales, the minister said.

The announcement followed calls from young people’s representative group, the Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB), that children have been 'pushed and pulled' through the

family justice system with little or no say on what happens to them.

Hughes said: "Children and young people must by law have their views heard before decisions are made about their future, and where decisions are made that will impact them."

At the moment, he said "it is still too often that their views are not heard.

The government will also work to ensure that children have appropriate access to mediators in cases that affect them.

Once I was able to meet the judge, it was a huge sense of relief. I felt as if my thoughts were being heard and taken into account, by who I understood to be the most influential individual in

family court proceedings."

Deputy chair of the Magistrates’ Association Malcolm Richardson welcomed the announcement but said: "There is a balancing act to be struck to make sure that no child or young person feels pressured into direct involvement, or that it might have a negative outcome."

He said the minister’s assurances that young people will be signposted to mediation are also welcome, but voiced concerned about the funding implications, given the vast majority of cases do not attract legal aid for the adults.

Claire Wood, international families’ solicitor at Kingsley Napley, said: "This government announcement exemplifies a growing move towards recognising children’s voices, giving them a right to be heard in matters affecting their wellbeing."

Empowering youngsters, she said is "compelling’, but added: ‘the extent to which their views are determinative will remain the preserve of a considerably older, more experienced and, probably wiser, judiciary."

l The Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP, Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties

We specialise in: Education Child Care Domestic Violence Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm Saturday & Sunday Closed

Employment Injunctions Harassment

Tel : 0845 475 1996 0121 270 1566 Fax: 0121 523 5295

SOLICITORS in England and Wales. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. www.sra.org

Branston Court, Branston Street, Birmingham, B18 6BA

T

he Birmingham Law Society is putting on a performance of the human rights play ‘The Exonerated’ showing the failings of death row in the US and how innocent people have spent years on death row, before being exonerated.

The Society is looking for a cast - ideally lawyers and hopefully members of the Judiciary for a one night only gala performance.

The good news is that the script does not need to be memorised, can sit in front of you during the performance and they would probably only need one or two read-throughs prior to the big night.

They are looking for a cast of up to 10 people and other than sit on a chair, read the script and perform, that’s about all that is required. No, really!

The performance, on the evening of September 5, should take about an hour.

Birmingham Law Society casting call for "The Exonerated"

Page 26

CAMARA’S SPOTLIGHT

THE ROBERT LEVY FOUNDATION

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et me introduce you to ‘THE ROBERT LEVY FOUNDATION’ a foundation born through the loss of a child who had everything to live for, and parents, family and friends who intend not to let Roberts death be in vain!

Robert Antonio Levy was murdered at just 16 years old on the 16th September 2004 whilst trying to prevent a fight between a young boy who was being threatened by another school boy with a knife.

Sadly, Robert suffered multiple stab wounds at the hands of the 15yr old and tragically died just yards from his home!

Robert was a bright young man who always thought of others.

He had dreams of becoming an architect having completed his GCSE’s and starting A’levels.

Unfortunately in the blink of an eye, his life was snatched away by a youth who felt the need to carry a knife without thinking of the consequences!

I was introduced to Robert’s parents Pat Levy, a lecturer in Fashion, and Ian Levy a lecturer in Mechanics through Rani King MBE FRSA at the time CEO of the charity Through Unity.

Rani has helped play a major role in helping to set up many charities and events it is due to her that I began the start of my close relationship with the two Charities.

Having attended a few RLF workshops, I came to notice just how warm and approachable Pat and Ian were towards the youth, along with Pam, Cecile, Marisa and other family members!

Our families have remained close and due to the nature of my charity work, we meet up and I know first hand of the immense work they do and the difficulties they encounter, trying to get funding.

When I decided to feature The Robert Levy Foundation I thought it was important to speak with Ian, Pat and Rani so I invited them to my home.

We discussed the role the Robert Levy Foundation has and what they are achieving in our communities, we also discussed what is still evidently a very painful subject.

I asked Pat and Ian how they and the family were coping with

l Ian and Pat Levy

Welcome to ‘Camara features’ a new column where I will be spotlighting some of the most amazing charities, organisations and people I have had the privilege of working with. Be a part of my journey and learn and enjoy about being inspired.

l The Levy Family at fundraising Gala their loss ten years on, “the pain does not ease, even when I think of him, the thought comes flooding in after and we wonder what he would be like now and would he have achieved his dreams.”

We spoke further on their mission statement which is what the family want in order to ‘right’ past mistakes.

These are openly available for all to see on their website but three basic points which stand out to me are: Every parent in the community should be a parent to every child in the community.

The private sector and other organisations help to provide alternatives for the young people in the community, either in terms of mentoring, work experience or

long periods to get answers to very basic questions.

Rani King MBE FRSA first met Ian and Pat when she set up Through UNITY, a Charity that supports those who had been bereaved through knife, gun, gangs and youth violence.

Rani explains how this occurred, “The Home Office suggested I meet alongside Ian and Richard Taylor who also lost his son Damilola to a fatal stabbing.

This meeting of the two inspirational fathers of victims became our first Trustees. They and their family are now dearly loved friends as we work to realise the same aim that young people need a moral compass, education and a supportive network of adults and educational opportunities to

l The Team other means.

This is one way they can invest in their company’s future with the view that the young people of today are the employees of the future.

Appropriate strategies and contingencies are put in place for immediate response to matters concerning child welfare and when such matters arise they are given appropriate attention.

It is inappropriate and unprofessional to have to wait for such

makes something of their lives and turn away from bad influences.

They have a friendship that is bonded by the same beliefs, love and passions in seeking to make a huge difference in helping guide young people onto better life choices. This in itself is unexpected yet immensely welcome.”

Many blue chip companies such as LCH.Clearnet, Holman Fenwick Willan, Baringa,

l Robert Levy

EDF energy, UKpower network, Trusthouse Charitable Foundation and Aggregate Industries to name a few, recognise the power of REAL social responsibilities.

Ian recalls having watched quite hardened managers, totally unprepared for the camaraderie and level playing field engender when working side by side with the spectrum of young people from different backgrounds, colour, age and religion.

However, these companies do see the youth as individuals with the same aspirations, fears, and hopes as themselves and they try their best to give the youth a helping hand on in their own life journey.

Donations have helped Pat and Ian Levy and RLF keep Robert’s name and presence burn brightly and inspirationally.

There are many people that have helped with the Robert Levy Foundation, to name a few: Mark Burley owner of Quantum Motor Sport, who volunteered to take on an apprentice in the West Country and also housing the summer project classes on his caravan site.

Company director Mark Whelehan who set up a football training programme integrating marginalised youngsters with older strong male role models.

Also an incredibly talented internationally famous Musician, Composer, Record Producer and Songwriter Guy Chambers, who willingly took on a group of young Hackney students mentoring and coaching, helping launch one fortunate young man called Labrinth to stardom himself.

Over 10 years, the main focus of the foundation has always been around education, believing that the only way to a successful future is through having the firm foundation on which to build.

This has been done through numerous means including summer projects run in conjunction with Hackney Community College in motor ve-

hicle studies, fashion and film production.

These projects have been so successful that participants have gone on to college on full time courses and have been fortunate in securing employment.

Mark 1 a young black BAFTA film director, and supporter of the foundation took participants through the various stages of the process of film, forming short films part of the annual showcase.

The groups are taken on visits to the relevant industries – the motor vehicle class visiting various garages and race teams, fashion students visiting fashion designers and guest speakers at major design houses and the film class visiting film studios, edit-

l Damce at tje Robert Levy Foundation

The Phoenix – August 2014

ganisations, to campaign for improved service and rights for the victims of gun and knife crime.

A major part of this campaign was Ian Levy being appointed Weapons Commissioners to look at gun and knife crime around the country including Scotland.

Speaking to witnesses directly affected and those helping to discover the issues and remedial actions, a final report was compiled and presented to government.

Various recommendations were made, including a violence unit specifically targeting these crimes placing solutions to significantly reduce them. Louise Casey former victims commissioner with the help of Ian Levy, presented that victims of crime should be at the centre of the process within the justice system.

The foundation work tirelessly with the help of local Hackney MP Meg Hillier to fight for the right for victims to have their voices heard in court allowing them to read their victim’s impact statement.

Prior to this, the statement would have been handed to the judge before sentencing.

The campaign to have the person convicted to be present at the parole hearing at the request of the victim still continues. The question remains, is it fair for the prisoner to have the right not to listen to a victims cry?

The struggle for the rights of victims is a long and arduous one, one that must continue to ensure victims of crime truly become central to the justice system and not merely ‘coincidental’ to it.

Our 90 minute working lunch turned out to be 3 hours, we could have gone on longer but the knowledge I received probably could have filled a book and not just an article.

Maybe Ian and Pat along with their family and friends could do just that! They thank all who have supported them over the past ten years.

I thank Ian, Pat and Rani for sharing The Robert Levy Foundation legacy. Saluting all who make a vast contribution helping those in the UK. Contact the Robert Levy Foundation via the website: www.robertlevyfoundation.org or get in touch by email info@robertlevyfoundation.org

ing suites and talks with those working in the film industry.

The Robert Levy Foundation also runs job fairs bringing employers to provide training opportunities, work experience and job prospects.

Mentoring, in schools and also another type of mentoring programme sponsored by LCH. Clearnet as part of the London Stock Exchange, their staff mentoring students for six months leading to their delivery of presentations to the director of LCH. Clearnet.

Lastly, there are the Met police projects tackling the delivery of crime awareness workshops.

The RLF also hosts annual events showcasing young talent including the likes of Jermaine Jackman, winner of the Voice 2014.

This year’s annual milestone event marks 10 years since Robert lost his life. It will be held in Hackney Empire on Saturday 20th September.

It is a free event that is on a first come first serve basis and it is hoped those who starred in it through the years will return to testify the guiding influence the l Rani King MBE FRSA Foundation has had on Hackney and its people.

Get in Touch with Camara Since its inception in 2005 camara@thephoenixnewspaper.com The Robert www.camaraofficial.com Levy Foundawww.youtube.com/camaraofficial tion has emwww.linkedin.com/CamaraFearon barked on a Camara (aka mizzcamara for websearch) journey, along with other or-

The Phoenix – August 2014

Page 27

ADOPTION AND FOSTERING

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ith a national shortage of Foster carers across the UK, there are more children than ever who need a caring and loving environment, which every child has the right to experience.

Whether a crisis in the family, illness or relationship difficulties could be some of the reasons why a child is placed in care.

There are already so many fantastic individuals who foster and adopt children into their families- but we need more!

At the Phoenix, all of our team are committed to raising awareness of fostering and adoption through our campaign not just for the month of May, but for an entire 12 months!

We will be highlighting the inspiring work of current carers, the extensive support and training that is available and the difference that you could be making in a young persons’ life.

If you feel that you can offer this, or even if you would like to find out a little bit more – don’t hesitate! It could make the greatest difference to a child’s life.

With support from

Another side of Fostering Being a Foster Sister.

Adoption & Fostering Our ongoing campaign to help the children in need in our communities

Foster carers are superheroes in disguise - say Dudley MBC

T

o meet the needs of looked after children Dudley provide different types of care, including:- Short term fostering: Traditional fostering placements for children ranging from birth to 18 years.

Children and young people either return home or move on to adoption or permanent fostering. Permanent fostering: A permanent home for children or sibling groups aged 6 to 12 years.

This provides support through childhood into their adult years.

Fostering of disabled children: Care for children of all ages with physical disabilities or learning disabilities.

Sibling group foster care: Placements that allow brothers and sisters of any age to stay together. Short break foster care: Children and foster carers sometimes need to take a break.

Short break carers provide overnight, weekend or longer stays for children in foster care and Flipside foster care: This is a type of short term care for young people with complex difficulties.

Flipside carers provide preventative special intensive care and therapy on a one-to-one basis.

Foster carers can be: single, married or living with a partner, male or female, people with or without parenting experience, unemployed or employed, a tenant or a householder, from any cultural background or religion.

As a foster carer you will need: time, patience, tolerance, energy, a genuine liking of children...and a sense of humour You can make a real difference in children's lives, help to keep families together, help to re-unite families, give children a positive experience of family life, help children to feel good about themselves and have an enriched experience of life The support that foster carers receive a dedicated fostering supervising social worker, skills training, opportunity to do National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ), links to other foster carers and support of the Dudley Foster Care Association, membership of the national Fostering Network, an allowance for the child or children, financial assistance with equipment (pushchair, cot, car seats etc) and 24 hour support.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council are looking for someone like you. Why not give them a call.

A

l Lydia Bright and her mother Debbie lot of people know me for my role in 'The Only Way Is Essex' and while I feel it shows a very accurate representation of me (even if I sometimes cringe) there are a few parts of my life it doesn't highlight.

Firstly, the fact that although I appear very slim I actually have an obsession with pie, mash and liquor (which is an east end tradition.)

Secondly while I appeared to cry every other episode throughout most of the series, I don't actually cry that much.

Thirdly that I am part of a crazy, massive, amazing foster family. My parents became foster carers when I was around two years of age so it is something I

am very used to.

When I was younger I didn't really understand what gifted parents I had. To me it was very normal to have six siblings that were always changing.

Going to sleep in my bunk bed with a five year old sister and waking up with a three year old brother was nothing out of the ordinary.

Along with knowing how to feed a baby, change a nappy and wind them by the age of five.

It wasn't until I hit my teenage years that I really appreciated what my parents had given me as a child.

This was an amazing and fulfilling childhood meeting new people and children from all different walks of life on a daily basis.

Teaching me the importance of sharing, caring for those who are not as fortunate as us and never to judge or stereotype people.

Along with giving me real life babies to play with whilst all my friends where stuck with dollies and Barbies.

But it also made me appreciate what they have given to hundreds of children's lives. Turning a journey of neglect, despair and unhappiness into a world of love, acceptance and joy.

My parents have always welcomed every child into our family as if they were their own.

They have always persevered with every low point in a child's journey to pull them through the other side.

I'm not saying it's an easy job made from rainbows and sun-

shine, because it is challenging.

Although isn't life about making a difference and feeling good in yourself? Fostering for me as a foster sister is the most rewarding job I have ever done.

Watching a child smile and laugh after years of confusion is such a great feeling.

For anyone to dedicate so much of their life to care and cherish the children of others is a magical gift.

I am fortunate enough today to have three birth siblings, three fostered siblings and many foster siblings from the past. I love them all dearly and through all the ups and downs, tears and tantrums I can still say I am forever blessed.

Page 28

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Phoenix - August 2014

Patient Voice Takes Centre Stage

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irmingham’s John Taylor Hospice has joined forces with Macmillan Cancer Support to give patients and their families a direct say in improvements to care.

John Taylor Hospice is using what is known as a ‘fishbowl’ or story-telling session where relatives can talk in detail about their experiences of John Taylor directly with those staff who helped provide care for their loved ones.

Named Every Story Matters, the sessions take place at the Hospice and use the Macmillan Values Based

Standards Framework ® and the Hospice brand standard “every moment matters”.

Hospice associate director Tracey Doherty, explained: “At John Taylor we are dedicated to making every moment matter for every person we care for and their families. To achieve this it is essential to have both quantitative and qualitative data and to hear from patients and their families about how they experienced our care.

“We wanted to try a new approach that had a basis in the research evidence about how to capture and act on patients’ and relatives’ stories.

The Macmillan Values Based Standards Framework and Every Story Matters, have proved an ideal way for us to do just that.”

The first story-teller was Christine Grew, aged 64, whose husband David received care from John Taylor’s inter-disciplinary team at his Erdington home and at the Hospice.

With the family having experienced so many of John Taylor’s services, Christine was able to give extensive feedback.

David was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2004 when he was 58. He continued working as a lithographic printer until 2009 when he became too poorly to continue to work.

After experiencing a period of severe pains, in 2012 David and his family were given the devastating news that he had developed a second cancer and this had spread into his hips and spine.

David visited John Taylor Hospice many times, becoming a regular at the Day Hospice and undertaking respite breaks. He also received support from the many different specialists from the Hospice’s care team including the social worker, the Hospice Macmillan nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists

and his GP and district nurse.

David and his family were determined that he be cared for at their home and, when his condition deteriorated further, John Taylor’s Hospice at Home team were there to provide specialist care, comfort, practical help and support to enable their wish to be fulfilled.

David died on 23 December 2013, aged 67, at his home with his family on hand.

Christine, who has also benefited from sessions with the Hospice’s Well-Being Team, was keen to be involved in Every Story Matters to share her family’s experiences of John Taylor Hospice.

“I can never say enough about John Taylor and their staff and all that they did for David and for me,” she said. “David got to know the staff really well and his face would light up when they arrived to visit. So many of the staff are like family.”

WMAHSN publish first report on health outcomes and wealth

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region-wide health network celebrated its first year by publishing annual report, the first ever from a West Midlands-wide organisation which aims to bring together healthcare, industry and academia to improve health outcomes and generate wealth across the local economy has been published.

The WMAHSN was authorised in 2013 following the government’s ‘Innovation, Health and Wealth’ review to bring together investment, expertise, knowledge and energy across the entire area, with the aim of radically transforming the way that healthcare is perceived and delivered.

The report details the progress made in meeting challenges and solving problems within the local healthcare economy during 2013/14. The WMAHSN has gone on to develop structures, establish its key clinical priorities and enabling themes and engage effectively with a wide cross-section of partners.

The AHSN has already com-

missioned 38 healthcare projects that have either started or will begin in the next few months, covering a range of themes and priorities.

The report features vignettes on some of these projects, with topics as diverse as the evaluation and eventual roll-out of a device to accurately measure diabetic foot ulcers, the STarT Back screening tool to enable GPs to deliver the right treatment to back pain patients, and a website which helps patients, carers, commissioners and clinicians find telehealth and telecare products to help people with long-term conditions live more independently.

Tony Davis, Commercial Director at the WMAHSN, said: “Over the past year, the WMAHSN has moved from an establishment phase to a delivery mode.

We have made thousands of interactions with business, academia and NHS commissioners and providers and already our projects are making a real difference to local patients and the economy.”

The Phoenix – August 2014

Page 29

CAREERS, TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Skunk Anansie Ace Starts New Academy

l VRQ Professional Cookery students show off their cupcake designs following the workshop at Wisemore Campus

Cupcake Designs Look Good Enough To Eat H

T

l Guitarist Ace from rock band Skunk Anansie

he Institute of Contemporary Music Performance is welcoming 12-16 year old students into the school for the first time through an innovative new programme, the Ace Academy at the Institute.

Pioneered by guitarist Ace of rock band Skunk Anansie, the Ace Academy is a three level programme broken into 10 week terms, which are mapped against the school calendar. Students will start at beginner level in guitar, bass, drums or vocals and learn to play proficiently within their first term. After an hour lesson every week students will be given the opportunity come together and perform as a band.

The programme has been designed around the Ace methodology, a contemporary hands-on playing approach, which enables young students to create their

own unique style whilst providing them with the ability to play in a band and with other musicians quickly and easily.

The course will be taught by students from the Institute BMUS in Popular Music Performance who have obtained a licentiate to teach as part of their degree. The Ace Academy will start the beginner’s course on September 27 with Ace using his vast wealth of knowledge and experience to give a unique take on tutoring which he developed for his Ace Guitar Academy Franchise.

At the Institute he will be adding bass guitar, drums and vocals to the mix to encourage students to learn to perform live with bands. With exceptional tuition and state of the art facilities kids will have the opportunity to learn an instrument and have a great time doing it!

ospitality students from Walsall College have added another string to their bow after taking part in a special Cupcake Decorating Masterclass.

Up to 11 students took part in the morning workshop where they were taught how to colour sugar paste, create handmade decorations and a variety of piping techniques in order to make mouth-watering cupcakes.

The College teamed up with charitable organisation Walsall Creative Factory (WCF) and lo-

cal business the Orchid Cake Company to deliver the masterclass in the training kitchens at Wisemore Campus.

Walsall Creative Factory was established earlier this year and aim to engage children, young people and adults in creative arts and culture activities.

Their three core themes include health, heritage and professional development.

A demonstration was performed before each student, studying Level 2 and 3 VRQ in Professional Cookery, was given three cakes to replicate a particu-

Hayley sets her sights on Brazil

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ngineering student Hayley Ramadhar is flying the flag for vocational education in the West Midlands after being confirmed as a UK Squad member for next year’s WorldSkills competition in Brazil.

The star of the Black Country University Technical College (UTC), sponsored by Walsall College and the University of Wolverhampton, is one of 98 young people to land a spot in the prestigious squad, offering them the chance to go on to compete at WorldSkills in Sao Paulo next year.

Hayley, 18, landed her opportunity following three days of gruelling tests in their different skill areas. She will now undergo 11 months of training

to bring her up to world class standard, before the final team for Brazil is picked.

The teenager, who studied a Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Engineering at the Black Country UTC, first caught the judges’ attention during the Skills Show at Birmingham’s NEC in November 2013 where she impressed in several technical competitions.

A delighted Hayley said: “It is a huge honour to have been selected as a member of Squad UK to represent the manufacturing industry. I know the next few months will be tough, as I fit my training around my university studies, but I’m determined to fight for a place in the team that will go to WorldSkills São Paulo in 2015.”

Gordon Mills, Director of

lar theme.

A fourth ‘competition’ cake then allowed the students to showcase what they had learnt and come up with the most eyecatching design.

Rabiyah K. Latif, Educational Programme Director at WCF, said: “I was very impressed with the standard of cupcakes the students produced and two designs in particular were exceptional in their quality.”

Steve Biggs, Commercial Chef and Trainer Assessor in Hospitality & Catering at Walsall College, said: “Sugarwork isn’t

something which is covered in the curriculum so this was a really valuable exercise for them and we thank Tahira and Rabiyah for coming in and delivering this training to round off our masterclass programme for this academic year.”

The College has teamed up with a number of businesses this year to deliver six masterclasses for students which has taught them a range of new techniques for the kitchen.

l Engineering student Hayley Ramadhar Business Engagement at the Black Country UTC, said: “Hayley’s success is due to her commitment, dedication and hard work throughout her time at the Black Country UTC. The opportunities that have arisen from this can only enhance her

future career prospects.

The 43rd World Skills Competition, which is considered to be the largest Vocational Education event in the world, will feature more than 2,000 competitors from 60 countries.

Page 30

PROPERTY

The Phoenix – August 2014

North Dakota joins the US elite moving one step closer to energy independence

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landmark in the US's energy production history has just been confirmed, with the North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC) announcing that the state finally surpassed the elusive one million barrels

of oil per day production figure.

"In April, North Dakota surpassed one million barrels of daily oil production for the first time, putting the state in an exclusive group of only a few countries, states, provinces and oilfields ever to do so."

North Dakota actually achieved the one million barrel mark in April of this year, but the figure has only just been confirmed.

It marks a significant moment in the US's

journey towards eventual energy independence.

According to the NDPC, the amount equates to 75% of the US's average daily imports from Saudi Arabia, or 13% of the nation's total daily imports.

Only five states have ever reached the one million barrels per day level of production and of those five only Texas and North Dakota are currently producing at that level. The rate positions North Dakota as one of the top oil producers in the world.

The effect on the state has been profound. Money has poured into the coffers thanks to the oil and gas extraction and production taxes.

According to the NDPC, one million barrels of oil will deposit more than $11 million per day in North Dakota's coffers, while contributing $50 million per day

First new council homes almost complete

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l Pat McFadden MP and Councillor Peter Bilson at the Thompson Avenue development.

scheme to build Wolverhampton’s first new council houses for 30 years is progressing well with the first homes almost complete.

Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East, joined Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Prosperity to see how the Thompson Avenue development was taking shape.

The scheme will see the creation of 120 new houses - 40 of which will be council homes, representing the first to be built in the city since the 1980s.

Last year, Wolverhampton City Council approved the plans

by Kier Partnership Homes to redevelop the site. And the first of these council homes is due to

be completed in September.

Cllr. Bilson said: “It is extremely exciting to see this hugely important scheme take shape. One of our key aims to regenerate the city is to increase the number of decent and affordable homes that are available in Wolverhampton and this scheme certainly helps us achieve that.

We are now looking forward to seeing these properties completed and occupied later this year.” Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East, said: “There is a need for more affordable good quality housing in Wolverhampton. This excellent new development is the first new council housing to be built in Wolverhampton for many years and will be one step towards addressing the shortage

we face.”

Chris King, Managing Director of Kier Partnership Homes, said: “We are delighted and proud to be working alongside Wolverhampton City Council to provide the first new council homes in 30 years. We understand that affordable housing needs and a sustainable design both play an important role in this development.”

The overall development will see a mixture of properties across the seven-acre site, ranging from bungalows to four bedroom properties.

It is anticipated that all 40 council properties will be completed by spring 2015 with the whole scheme completed in 2017.

to the state's economy.

Not a bad result considering the first oil well in the Bakken Formation oilfields wasn't drilled until 2006.

Since that time, US reliance on oil imports has reduced by 18.5%, reports the NDPC. Naturally, some challenges have accompanied such a rapid oil boom. Housing the tens of thousands of workers who flooded into the state to find their fortune has not been easy and, given the long-term nature of the Bakken oil play, will continue to be a challenge over the months and years ahead.

Robert Gavin, Group CEO of award-winning developer North Dakota Developments, explains: "There are towns in North Dakota which are almost unrecognisable today, compared with a few years ago.

Tens of thousands of workers have arrived in the state, many followed by their families once the longevity of the Bakken oil play was established.

They all need somewhere to live, somewhere to buy food, somewhere to shop for clothes

and other necessities, schools for the children - the list is endless.

The state has struggled to keep up in some cases due to the sheer numbers of new residents arriving."

Gavin's company, North Dakota Developments, is at least able to take care of one element of the challenge - housing the oil and services workers in its innovative Great American Lodge executive hotel studios.

Investment in the sites has sold out almost as fast as the company can present them to the market. The company's fourth site, Great American Lodge Watford East, has just been opened up for investment, with superior studios available for $54,950,

with yields of 28.5%.

Investors from around the globe have been attracted by North Dakota's incredible story, which the Bureau of Economic Analysis has confirmed positions North Dakota as the top state for economic growth for the fourth consecutive year.

Indeed, last year saw the state's GDP increase by 9.7%. Growth over the past four years has averaged 12% annually, compared to the 2% national average. With such impressive figures being generated year on year by North Dakota, it really does seem as though the US dream of independence, certainly so far as energy is concerned, is becoming ever more achievable.

The Phoenix - August 2014 Page 31

MOTORING

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group of supercars cruised in to London on July 17th, heading for Potters Fields Park in front of Tower Bridge, to take part in the ultimate supercar showdown!

Journeying past Buckingham Palace and over Westminster Bridge, tourists and commuters were buzzing with excitement as they watched them roar their way through London.

For the previous two days, six supercars had toured from Liverpool to London – all in the hope of being crowned as the NEED FOR SPEED ‘convoy winner’.

Leaving Albert Docks and venturing through Media City and the M6 Toll (which saw them receive a police escort and closing down of the toll booths), fans had been voting for their favourite supercar via the @NeedForSpeed_UK Twitter.

Letting off some steam at PRODRIVE racetrack in Warwickshire, the cars hit London around lunchtime where they were joined by a host of other of supercars to help them celebrate the last leg of their tour.

Tourists, commuters and residents were sent in to a frenzy, when the cars cruised past London landmarks; when they ended up at Potters Fields Park, huge crowds had formed to look at million pounds worth of cars.

The event even drew the attention of celebrity guests; Ex On The Beach stars Ross Worswick (also a racing car driver, having driven in Formula Renault) and Joss Mooney were amongst the crowds – checking out all of the cars on show. Ross is also friends with one of the drivers from the convoy tour, Oliver Webb, who was driver of the BAC Mono.

The convoy is representative of the journey Tobey Marshall (played by Aaron Paul) embarked on in Need For Speed, where he too spent two days travelling across country to take part in the De Leon – a winner-takeall race (held in a secret location) where six supercars go head-tohead. The cars involved in the De Leon race include a GTA Spano, a Bugatti Veyron, a McLaren P1, a Saleen S7, a Koenigsegg Agera R and a Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.

Need For Speed - UK! The six supercars that participated in the ‘Need for Speed Convoy’ were: McLaren P1, Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari F40, Porsche 9FF Turbo, Ford

GT 720, and a BAC Mono All of the above drivers/owners are part of Supercar Driver – the ultimate club to be part of if you own a supercar in the UK.

Page 32

OVERSEAS SPECIAL

Nevis’ Mango Madness Street Fair

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hief Marketing Officer at the Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) Greg Phillip says the agency is committed to the first ‘Nevis Mango Festival’ which took place on the island throughout July.

“The festival added another dimension to our product beyond the traditional sun, sand and sea vacation and we at the NTA are happy for that,” Phillip stated.

“The NTA has come up with a number of initiatives to eliminate the ‘off season’ that occurs between May and November and the Mango Festival is one of the initiatives.”

“As the popularity of the festival built, it allowed hotels across the island to enjoy good occupancy levels during the period and the festival served to augment the country’s tourism product.”

“We have an abundance of mangoes on Nevis so this was an opportunity to use Nevis’ ‘sweetest resource’ to promote the island” he continued.

The mango festivities featured a wide range of products, ideas and of course the star of the show,

Yachting Trail Proposed to improve island experience

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the mango itself-a highlight of the activities being the ‘Mango Madness Street Fair’ that took place on Main Street, Charlestown, with a plethora of mango varieties for the attendees.

The fair had vendors showcasing different varieties of mangoes along with food dishes, chutneys and confectioneries all made from the fruit.

Mango Madness also featured a mango eating competition, cooking demonstrations along with other entertainment, with the island’s Agriculture Department hosting a grafting clinic on that day.

Restaurants across the island included mango dishes on their menus, providing the opportunity for visitors to dine around and experience a variety of mango dishes and mango cocktails for the month long festival.

Transformers Take Over Macau

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ransformers fever has hit with the release of the new Transformers film, 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' and to celebrate this and 30 years of Transformers, a giant exhibition has opened in Macau.

Running until 5 October 2014

At the Venetian Macau, the new 'Transformers 30th Anniversary Expo' showcases more than a thousand toys and collectibles in 10 different interactive zones.

Highlights at the expo include over 1,000 Transformers statues on display including a sevenmetre tall Optimus Prime and

The Phoenix – August 2014

Bumble Bee; the first ever twometre Transformers 3D hologram; a screening room showing Transformers Animations from Generation One to Prime Series; exclusive Transformers merchandise including limitededition figurines and Transformers themed game booths.

For movie buffs, Macau offers

further opportunities to meet film characters at the nearby Sands Cotai Resort with its selection of DreamWorks experiences.

These include 'Shrekfast', an amazing breakfast with fun dishes such as 'Dragon Eggs' sunny side up and 'Donkey Pop Cakes' to be enjoyed with Shrek and his fairytale friends, or the 'Dragons Viking Feast' - a delicious buffet dinner with Toothless the Dragon, Hiccup and Astrid from 'How To Train Your Dragon'.

There is also the DreamWorks All Star Parade which comprises a beautifully choreographed cast of

up to 32 performers including 12 characters, dancers, puppets and stilt walkers from hit films such as Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and Shrek. The parade takes place daily at the Shoppes at Cotai Central retail mall.

U.S expert in water resource planning, as well as protected areas planning and management has proposed the establishment of a yachting trail in the south eastern Caribbean to improve the yachting experience on the Windward Islands.

Dr. Glenn Haas, a professor emeritus in the College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University, presented the proposal for the Windward Islands Marine Trail at the first Caribbean Symposium for Innovators in Coastal Tourism.

The proposed trail would be a free web-based trail of information and services that yachters and other travellers would use to experience and enjoy the Windward Islands.

In addition to providing a number of services that would facilitate travel by yachters, the trail will enhance community benefits from authentic interactions of the yachting community with local citizens and communities, Dr. Haas said.

It will also engage the yachting community in the conservation and protection of marine resources and protected areas; serve as a financial engine for National Conservation Trust(s) and their conservation of protected areas and increase government efficiency; reduce costs and leakage and provide additional employment, he added.

“This trail will attract the yachting community because it would be a status symbol to say they have floated, they have boated this trail,” Dr. Haas suggested.

The Phoenix – August 2014

US PR Firm Expands To Travel Sales

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arketplace Excellence (MPE), a full service public relations, marketing and media company, is expanding its services to provide sales support to travel-related companies.

MPE President Bevan Springer said in addition to core public relations services currently being provided to an array of clients - from destinations and hotels to airlines and small businesses - MPE would now

l Jennifer Sena

provide sales and marketing services for travel-related clients.

Springer reported MPE was partnering with sales executive Jennifer Sena, of SENA Sales and Marketing, who will interface with travel agents, tour operators and meeting and event planners, providing specialized support for clients at trade shows and other events.

"Jennifer, whose sales and marketing experience flourished in the New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia markets where she promoted a wide-range of hotel products - from airport hotels to large convention properties, is a respected and goaloriented sales executive and we welcome her to the MPE family," said Springer.

MPE specializes in converting the gifts, talents and abilities of clients and team members into excellence and value in the marketplace; and delivers outstanding products and services to markets in the Caribbean, North America and across the globe.

HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL

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lastonbury might be over, but the Isle of Wight still has an amazing line-up of festivals still to come in August.

Known as the country’s festival capital, with some of the best weather in the UK, the Island is once again set to welcome a summer of music, fun, and sunshine.

From world music festivals to the Island’s famous Garlic Festival, there’s something to suit all tastes for a summer break.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, 2-9 August 2014

Page 33

Summer festivals on the Isle of Wight with Red Funnel

Cowes week, the biggest sailing festival in the UK, returns to the Isle of Wight once more for the first week of August.

As well as a dedicated Family Day on Sunday 3 August with children’s flag making, colouring and painting, and on-thewater spot prizes for families competing together, there will be a Red Arrows display, a firework show, and a range of other

events to keep visitors busy, with music, theatre, and races on throughout the week.

The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, 16-17 August 2014

Jack up the 80s, 9-10 August 2014

This family friendly 80’s themed festival offers a weekend of Frankie Says, Choose Life t-shirts, florescent headbands, legwarmers and, of course, great music.

This year’s line-up includes Ed Tudor-Pole, Tight Fit, Limahl, The Original Bucks Fizz, Hazel O’Connnor, The Blow Monkeys and more.

There will also be a big screen showing 80’s classics, a

retro fun fair, shops, and games.

What’s more, the money raised from the festival will go towards Wight Crystal – a charity that works alongside The Way Forward Programme, to provide a programme of activities supporting people with physical and learning disabilities.

The Garlic Festival has become an Island institution and returns 16 – 17 August this year.

Visitors can learn how to whip up a storm in the cooking demonstrations in the garlic marquees, browse hundreds of stalls with local produce and crafts, and catch live music and a variety of live entertainment and acts that the children will love, throughout the two day event.

London on course for another year of record-breaking visitor numbers

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ondon welcomed over 3.6 million overseas visits in the first three months of 2014, resulting in the best ever first quarter tourism numbers in the city’s history.

The figures published from the latest International Passenger Survey (IPS) show an 8.6 per cent increase on the same period last year, confirming that London is on track to welcome more visitors in 2014 than the 16.8 million that came to the city in 2013 – already a record-breaking year for the capital.

Tourist spending over the same period was £2.44 billion, a 14.6 per cent increase compared with the first quarter of last year. The total spend in London’s tourism sector has gone up every quarter

for the last two and a half years.

These promising figures come just one day after London was crowned the most popular tourist destination in the world by the respected MasterCard Global Cities Index report, putting the city ahead of Bangkok and Paris.

According to the report, London is projected to host 18.7 million international visitors in 2014 – 300,000 more visitors than the 2013 top destination city Bangkok.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, welcomed the figures: “After a record-breaking year for international visitors in 2013, London is on course to see even more people flock to our great city in 2014.

Yesterday London was crowned the most popular tourist destina-

tion in the world. These fantastic visitor figures underline the phenomenal destination that London is, combining world-class culture with constant innovation, and of course our stunning landmarks that are recognised around the world.”

Gordon Innes, CEO at London & Partners, the capital’s official promotional organisation adds: “We are delighted to see such strong figures in our first quarter of 2014 but London will not be resting on its laurels.

We are continually seeking out new ways to build and grow the city’s offer, deliver investment for the capital and capitalise on London’s tourist offer to help increase visitor numbers this year and into the future.”

Page 34

CLASSIFIEDS

The Phoenix – August 2014

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The Phoenix - August 2014

Page 35

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS

Lara XI To Take On Warwicks' 1990’s XI In Support Of RCSF

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team of cricketing stars will come together on September 14 under the leadership of former batting great, Brian Lara, who will captain a select XI which includes Ashes winning former England captain Andrew Strauss and former England women's captain and now head of women's cricket at the ECB, Clare Connor.

They will play a one day charity match against Lara’s old Warwickshire team mates, with whom he won 3 out of 4 domestic trophies and shared a number of his many records including the highest ever first class score of 501 in 1994.

The game will take place at the picturesque Wormsley Cricket G r o u n d on the Getty Family Estate in Buckinghamshire, in order to raise funds for the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (RCSF), a charity established to build an international cricket stadium in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

Brian is a patron of the char-

ity, and feels a strong link with Rwanda having enjoyed his greatest year whilst the country was suffering its worst ever period, the genocide of 1994 in which one million Rwandans died.

Twenty years later, Rwandan cricket is one example of the country’s incredible recovery from that conflict.

Many Rwandans who were exiled to neighbouring coun-

Birmingham's Sikh community embrace tennis fever at a grassroots level

l A mock up of the new cricket stadium to be built in Rwanda

l Rwanden child with very old and very basic cricket equipment

tries returned with a love for the game and in 2004 a national cricket team made its debut.

However, there still isn’t a single first class standard pitch in the entire country. As a result, most of the funds for Rwandan cricket are swallowed by

l Brian Lara, Patron for Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation

the costs for the team to travel abroad to games.

The RCSF was set up to solve this problem by raising funds to design and build an international standard stadium, with the aim of it being ready for play by September 2015, and sustainable for the long term.

The stadium will form the focal point for the ongoing development of both the men’s and women’s game in Rwanda, which is already burgeoning despite the lack of facilities.

Lara says: “I’ve seen the enthusiasm for the game in Rwanda, and there is plenty of natural talent. It’s vital that we support the Rwandan Cricket Association in harnessing that talent as we believe sport can help build the incredible progress the country has made in the last twenty years.

The stadium will create a lasting legacy for the game in this wonderful country.”

With support from patrons including the Prime Minister, David Cameron; Jonathan Agnew; Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP; Lord Chadlington and England cricket star Heather Knight the charity has already raised over £390,000 of its £600,000 target. The hope is that this all-star match will help bring the team much closer to their objective.

Club Legends Cup raises thousands Continued from Back Page Winning captain, Darren Purse, said: “It was a brilliant day. Thanks to everyone who took part and especially the fans who played. It was all about making the fans feel like leg-

ends for the day and to raise a fantastic amount of money for a truly great charity and I’m delighted Blues were able to lift the Club Legends Cup as well.”

Cure Leukaemia’s Chief Executive James McLaughlin said, “It was a phenomenally proud day for the charity and everyone

associated with Cure Leukaemia and I can’t thank everybody enough. Without the players, fans, volunteers and sponsors we would not have been able to put on such a great event and the £50,000 raised will directly help leukaemia patients around the region.”

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ritish tennis wants to prove the sport is accessible to all - that it's not just for 'the white middle classes' and as a result, the Tennis Activator coaching programme - a Tennis Foundation, LTA-backed venture - was created about two years ago.

Now, in eight locations across the country, more than 600 'Activator' coaches are taking tennis into communities that might traditionally miss out. They were able to do so after undertaking quick, low-cost, and easily-accessible training courses.

After encouraging signs, the scheme is set to be rolled out nationally.

Brian Lara for RCSF- Page 35

First Club Legends Cup raises thousands T he inaugural Club Legends Cup indoor football tournament raised £50,000 for Birmingham-based blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.

In front of thousands of fans, Birmingham City won the final on penalties against local rivals West Bromwich Albion to complete a thoroughly successful event.

Including former stars from Aston Villa, Coventry City, Walsall and Wolverhampton Wanderers, including Matt Murray, Lee Hendrie, Darren Purse, Darren Moore, David Busst, Jorge Leitao and current Coventry City manager Steven Pressley.

Youngsters representing Coventry City won the FootieBugs Little Legends Cup against Wolves and Wolves Women won the Ladies Legends Cup against Coventry City Ladies.

The fantastic figure was raised through ticket sales, shirt sponsorship, donations on

the day and fan auctions and once leveraged it will be worth £500,000 in potentially life-saving drugs for leukaemia patients around the region.

The fan auctions raised nearly £15,000 and over twenty supporters became legends for the day as they lined up next to their heroes.

Lee Jervis missed the crucial penalty for West Bromwich Albion in the final

l Club Legends Cup winners, Birmingham City but still enjoyed the experience: “That was a terrible penalty but what a great day, I’m still pinching myself.”

Michael Rhodes won the fan’s penalty shootout, at the LG Arena, saying: “I can’t believe I won those awards.

I scored in the fan shoot-out but missed in the final so I’m a bit gutted but what an experience.”

Cure Leukaemia Trustee and Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell played for his beloved Birmingham City and he said: "What a fantastic event. This was the first Club Legends Cup, imagine what it will be like second time around.”

Continued on Page 35

l Cure Leukaemia’s staff and volunteers with Darren Purse lying in front with the Club Legends Cup