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Written by J Kennedy
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Friday, 28 November 2008 11:27 |
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100 Black Men of London honoured the work of Black Mental Health UK by awarding its director Matilda MacAttram, a community service award, during their annual fundraising gala.  The star studded event at the salubrious Institute of Directors on Pall Mall, was hosted by acclaimed actor and playwright Kwame Amah who presented the award the night.
Described as one of the most memorable events of 2008, this black tie affair was attended by hundreds of 100BML supporters from across the capital.
Guests paid premium rates for tickets to support the work of this charity and mark the successes of the last 12 months, which is part of the work which has seen over 100,000 men, women and children benefit from their work since the London chapter was established.
100 BML are a national charity, working in the heart of the community, running mentoring, education and self development programmes with the support of educated successful young black professionals who give up their time and talents for free to support this work.
This year the charity presented a community service award to Matilda MacAttram, director of Black Mental Health UK, for her part in the work of the raising awareness about the treatment and care of people from African Caribbean’s who come in contact with mental health services.
‘Those on the margins of society very rarely have a voice at the decision making table when the law or policy changes are being discussed.
In the arena of mental health this is unfortunately is often the case for black people and yet it is this group that continue to be over represented in medium and high secure wards. They have the longest stays in hospitals with the poorest outcomes.
The death of David Bennett makes it clear that this is a dangerous dynamic which needs to change. The acknowledgment of BMH UK’s work by 100 BML is a great honour and confirms the need to have an agency that works at raising awareness about the treatment of one of society’s most marginalised groups,’ Matilda MacAttram said. |
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Written by Julia Toppin
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008 23:05 |
London – 25 November 2008. At 3pm on Thursday 27th November, the Damilola Taylor Trust will host a memorial service for all the children lost to youth violence over the last eight years and the families left behind. The service, which will be held at Southwark Cathedral, will be led by The Very Reverend Colin Slee, the Dean of Southwark in the presence of senior politicians from all parties of State and a number of celebrity role-models. The Archbishop of York the Most Reverend Dr John Sentamu, will preach at the service and the Right Reverend Dr Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark, will pronounce the blessing.
C ontributors to the service include; Sir Trevor McDonald, Dame Kelly Holmes, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Walters and Leona Lewis. There will also be a choir from Damilola’s old primary school, Oliver Goldsmith performing.
Thursday 27th November 2008 will mark the 8th anniversary of Damilola’s death on the North Peckham Estate. This pointless murder and its subsequent investigation touched the hearts of the British public.
Although the service is being held to commemorate the tragic loss of a young, talented and intelligent child; the service will be a moving tribute to all children that have lost their lives or been seriously hurt in violent crimes perpetrated by their peers. |
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Written by Will Harris
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Monday, 24 November 2008 15:38 |
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On World AIDS Day (1st December), HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) will launch the first issue of a new health and lifestyle magazine for African communities living in the UK.  The glossy magazine is called MAMBO (a Swahili word meaning ‘current affairs’), and aims to provide readers with news and features on how to live a healthy lifestyle without putting their health, and in particular their sexual health, at risk. Cover girl for the first issue is Primrose Mutsigiri, a former Miss Africa UK and the recently-crowned Miss Malaika UK, who gives her views on how important it is for those within African communities to be aware of HIV and how to maintain good sexual health.
Other stories in this issue include: a young person’s views on how to deal with peer pressure; a woman’s story of life in a violent relationship; a Londoner’s experience of living with a long-term health condition; and advice on regular sexual health check-ups. MAMBO also features a round-up of relevant news and developments from the African continent, recipes and competitions. World AIDS Day, which has been running every December since 1988, is a day of remembrance for those who have died and celebration for those living with HIV today. African communities within the UK have been identified as a group at high risk of HIV; in 2007, there were 2,691 new HIV diagnoses among these communities, representing around 35% of all new diagnoses in the UK that year. Joseph Ochieng, Editor of MAMBO, said “HIV is currently the UK’s fastest growing serious health condition, so it is vitally important that information on good sexual health is available to African communities, a key at risk group. What better time could there be to launch the first edition of MAMBO than World AIDS Day. I hope that people from many different backgrounds will be encouraged to pick up the magazine, and to discuss with each other the issues within it.” The launch of Mambo is just one aspect of THT’s ongoing work with African organisations. This year also saw the introduction of a programme which is currently delivering free support to African community groups working in London, including: • Organisational needs assessments.
• Group training in areas such as Finance, Fundraising, and Strategy and Planning.
• One-to-one professional mentoring for organisation managers.
• Consulting support.
MAMBO magazine is funded by the Pan-London HIV Prevention Programme, and will be distributed through a range of participating African organisations. For more information on where to pick up a copy, please contact THT Direct on 0845 1221 200. The second issue will be available by March 2009.
For more information on THT’s other work with African communities, organisations should get in touch with Sam Cunningham at THT on 0207 812 1693. |
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Written by Joanna Marcella
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Sunday, 23 November 2008 15:12 |
On Saturday 25th October Fashion Designers’ & Craft Makers’ Network held the annual, innovative 2008 Young Designer Awards and Gala Showcase, these exciting awards were established by knitwear designer Joanna Marcella with the aim to help raise profile of exceptionally gifted avant-garde young designers from multicultural backgrounds aged between 15 – 25 years, The brief this year is to produce an Avant-Garde outfit based on ‘Old Hollywood Glamour’.
 The aim was to discover this year’s innovative, cutting edge ‘FDC young designers’ of the future. Families, friends, fashion lovers and the press alike gathered together at The Novotel London Hotel St. Pancras 100 Euston Road London NW1 for what was an impressive and exciting award ceremony.
They were also joined by a panel special guest Judges from the media and fashion world, who included: Des Cooke from Barnardo’s, (sponsor of the FDC Designer of the Year Award) Juanita Grey and Christie Dinham CEO of FashionHow International Designer Show (New York), Jennifer Williams-Baffoe, of Willbaforce Ltd, Lauretta Roberts Editor of Drapers Record, Gavin Douglas Award Winning UK Fashion Designer, Sue Foulston First year tutor across all the fashion pathways at Central St Martins College of Art and Design, Brenda Emmanus BBC Entertainment New presenter and Former presenter of the clothes show, Yvonne Thompson, CEO of (EFBWBO) European Federation of Black Women Business Owners.
This year’s entrants were certainly out to impress the judges and the standards were unbelievably high. In turn this made judging extremely challenging; nevertheless after much deliberation winners were finally selected from each category.
The awards was Split into two categories, the Young Designer Award was open to entrants from the ages of 15 - 20 and the Avant-Garde Award was open to entrants aged 21 – 25 this year.
Young Designer Award category
First place went to Catherine Mc Aleer aged only 19 she won the title Barnardo’s Designer of the year; she not only gave an excellent presentation to the panel of judges, her icon was Marilyn Monroe but also wowed them with her garment which was of exceptional standard for someone of her age. Her project was well researched from start to finish and she demonstrated great commitment to the project. This first place award was well and truly deserved.
Second place went to Samantha Lynch aged 18 whose inspiration came from Hollywood icon Lauren Bacall. Her garment was a great piece of work both close up and on the catwalk.
Avant-Garde Award 21 – 25 category
First place went to Flett Bertram aged 21 whose idea was influenced by Judy Garland this was a truly wonderful piece that captured the audience at the catwalk show.
Second place went to Lucy Jackson aged 22 who created a striking final piece which not only looked fantastic on the catwalk, but was made with high technical skill. Entitled ‘Lili of the lamplight’, her inspiration was drawn from icon Marlene Dietrich this was yet another remarkable piece that captured the audience.
A special FashionHow International Designer Award 2008 was presented by Christie Dinham CEO of FashionnHow and is also one of the founders of Caribbean Fashion Week in Jamaica. This year Lucy Jackson and 24 year old Jennivi Jordon are the talented designers who have won an opportunity to début their collection in Caribbean Fashion Week in Jamaica in June 2009. Fashionhow will also be inviting Lucy and jennivi to exhibit some of their work at New York Fashion Week in the FashionHow International Designer Show.
Chritie Dinham says “The Young Designer Awards is an excellent platform that gives young aspiring designers the opportunity to showcase their talent and an excellent vehicle that exposes these designers to an international arena. Our Companies FashionHow & Fashion Girls Production are extremely happy to continue to support The Young Designer Awards by sponsoring a designer to debut their collection at the International Designer Show.”
This design award is the only national awards in the UK that has given several young fashion designers, who are still studying for their fashion degrees, an opportunity to showcase in New York Fashion Week and Caribbean Fashion Week.
Designers get the opportunity to showcase to an audience of international Buyers, Fashion Editors, Press and Celebrities and work with a team of prominent fashion stylists, hair, make-up artists backstage, as well as, the same international models that walk the runway for the noted fashion houses such as Baby Phat, Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, Marc Jacobs, Luella Bartley and Tommy Hilfiger.
The founder of the awards Joanna Marcella has a vision to present an international platform for dynamic young designers who can find their niche as individuals and become a brand in their own right.
She says “I was amazed at how each of the 17 finalists embraced this year’s theme which was ‘Hollywood Glamour’. The Young designers this year exceeded all expectations and once again proved that very young designers have the potential to be top fashion leaders.”
Joanna continues “Our designers have been catapulted straight from the Young Designer Awards right on to the international fashion stage.”
Award winners will receive mentoring and support accessing resources, such as, public relations, marketing, advice and general business support, as they choose their next step into the fashion industry, launch and build their new fashion companies. They will be given an opportunity to participate on a year long UK tour and showcase, which is a new exposure and awareness initiative, launched in line with our vision.
“I truly believe that we have to encourage our young designers as much as we can; after all they are our future industry shakers and makers." Christie Dinham adds.
This year the Willbaforce Designer Award, a new award was added to the event this award was created to give business minded designers an opportunity to demonstrate their technical design skills and to express their creativity; whilst producing a commercial garment that could be sold on the high street. The winner received business support and development (worth £1000) and a prize of £200 to go towards personal development within the fashion industry from Consultant, Jennifer Williams-Baffoe. The winner of the Willbafoce Design Award was Rolana Redway.
Jennifer says “Overall the event highlights the importance of giving young people a voice to express their creativity and Willbaforce Ltd welcomed the opportunity to be involved this year and hence the reason for the Willbaforce award. We will be working with Joanna and her team to further develop the event and the award for the future.”
The FDC Young Designer Awards is set to thrive in the future as it moves into a new phase in its search for a European Young designer of the year. |
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Written by J Kennedy
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Friday, 21 November 2008 01:34 |
Channel 4 are in the process of making the second series of the ground-breaking documentary series “The Family” which aims to capture what it really means to be a family in Britain today.
 Firefly, the production company making the programmes, is searching for one special family who are willing to take part and share their lives with us for around four months.
We want to explore the ordinary things that become part and parcel of family life, whether it’s parental anxiety about getting children into the right school or how teenagers are coping on the tricky journey into adulthood.
We also want to be there for the important milestones in the family’s life; birthdays, anniversaries, weddings or a challenge the family will be facing together.
For one family this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: to capture an extraordinary four months of their lives on film.
If you think you could be that family, please email
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with your telephone number, address, and a brief description of your family or call 0207 033 2270 for more information.
Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.
The Family production team |
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