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3/26/2007 The Fellowship of the WingThe Fellowship of the Wing:
The dove of peace needs two wings to fly. We are looking for people who are willing to be the feathers that, together, form one wing. In fellowship a party of approximately twenty people who represent a faith, age and cultural cross section of Gorton folk are to go on a journey together during 2008. Each member of the party will act as an ambassador for their own family, school, faith, professional ethic. They will each take with them on the journey something which represents an aspect of their personal life and giftedness – poetry, a work of art, a photograph – which they will leave behind at journeys end as a gift to the host community. The wing we become will represent the whole of Gorton. Between us, we will share the story of Gorton and the place of ourselves and the people we represent in that story.
The journey will take us to a distant land. Our charge is to bring lessons, ideas and wisdom from a very different community to our own back to Gorton, in exchange for what we ourselves take to the sharing place. On our return, we will in turn share what we have learned with classmates, work colleagues, friends and family.
Our fellowship may be made up a little like this:
Six adults: - who may be a faith leader; a teacher; a street cleaner; a mother / father; someone out of work; a law enforcement officer; an artist; other or any combination of these …..
Fourteen Young People: - with leadership experience who are confident and mature enough to play an important part as members of a team and who have the enthusiasm and willingness to engage with the purpose of our quest. As well as the schools and communities they are rooted in, they may represent refugee / asylum families; children in or leaving care; British Travellers – a real cross section of Gorton life. From among the young people mentors will be identified who are able to support and encourage their fellow travellers. All the young people can expect to return with the ability and confidence to become mentors and role models to other young people in their own community. For reasons that will emerge, all participants will need to be fit and healthy.
2.
The Physical Destination:
Our destination will be Mar Musa Syrian Catholic Monastery, which is located at the top of a mountain:
We will stay for about a month, sharing the lives of the monks and nuns, who live in separate parts of the monastery, and the Christian / Muslim community around them. We will discover their passion for conservation, which is translated into practical action, and their commitment to peace and human relations – especially between Christians and Muslims.
3.
Our quest, which will be supported by Manchester University, arose out of a conversation between myself and Dr. Emma Loosley following a meeting between The Monastery of St. Francis & Gorton Trust, MMU, Mancat and the Learning and Skills Council. Dr. Loosley has spent much time at Mar Musa and carries the place and its people in her heart and mind wherever she goes.
While the language of the community is Arabic and some of the services are held in Syriac, an Aramaic dialect, their second language is English, so there will be little difficulty communicating.
Accommodation and Food will be free in return for a willingness to share in the daily tasks of cooking, cleaning and generally helping out with the work of the community.
We are looking for sponsorship from local businesses to help pay for flights and other aspects of the journey and are asking local schools to support through projects linked to the journey we will make. We will also be approaching TV documentary makers with a view to making a film record of the adventure that could form part of the feedback to both communities and offer a record of the quest to a wider, international audience.
We welcome enquiries from people who may wish to take part. All adults will need an enhanced CRB check and all participants will be nominated by and enjoy the support of their school, employer, faith, cultural and family members.
4.
The Spiritual & Community Destination:
For too long, outside influences such as the media have had unwarranted ability to define the reality and world view of local British communities like Gorton. Like Britain itself, we are a community enriched by the diversity of those communities that make up Gorton as a whole. There is much we have learned through our diverse and shared journeys that we may not ourselves recognise as precious, but which may in the sharing place prove to be of great value to other people. Likewise, there will be nuggets of wisdom to be gleaned from the everyday life of Mar Musa that will in return benefit our own communal life.
The Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have far more in common than some people realise. They share a regard for the ability of the desert places and wilderness moments of life to spiritually nourish people and form eternal character. They also share an emphasis on hospitality, that willingness to welcome the stranger that is a mark of strong communities everywhere.
5.
At the start, I spoke of the two wings of the dove of peace. While our Gorton group will represent one wing, Mar Musa itself will be the other. Between us, we hope to show that human relationships are able to soar to new heights of interest, insight and mutual regard by bringing what we are to the sharing place ready to listen to each others stories.
www.deirmarmusa.org www.gortonmonastery.co.uk
Pax, Salam, ShalOM.
Rev. David Gray - Community Coordinator, The Monastery of St. Francis & Gorton Trust, The Angels, West Gorton, Manchester - M18 8BR
Tel: 0161-223 3211 Email: david@theangelsmanchester.com
Chair: Gorton Community Development Trust
Faith Action Northwest Regional Partner - www.faithaction.net
Pax, Salam, ShalOM - FN4M
Gorton Restorative Justice Networker / GMP – IAG ALL FM's Community Show
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3/12/2007 ALL FM's Community ShowWednesday March 14, 2007
3/9/2007 Carnival rivals declare truce Carnival Rivals Declare Truce
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ALL FM's Community Show
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ALL FM's Community Show
Wednesday 21 February, 2007
Community Showlive this Wednesday, 11am-noonrepeat to make sure you didn't miss anything - Thursday, 3-4pm.Hello all,
This week's Community Show is live this Wednesday, February
21st, 11am-noon. Check the repeat to make sure you didn't miss
anything - Thursday, February 22nd, 3-4pm.
This week...
* Anthony Kearns from the Prince's Trust.
* Information about a fundraising event for the British Heart Foundation.
* plus your weekly events diary, announcements, jobs, training etc.
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Also on ALL FM this week...
* Thursday 10-11am :The Hulme Tune - Paul Ridyard presents news and views from
the communities of Hulme.
* Friday 4-5pm :
The NBD young people's show.
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To be a guest, or to send information for our bulletins,email: community@allfm.org
Best wishes,
David Armes
Community Development Worker
(ALL FM) 96.9
community@allfm.org
www.allfm.org
0161 248 6888
EXHIBITION By The ANGELS VISUAL ARTS GROUP
Dear all,
Angels Artist, Ian McKay, has asked me to let local people know about an exhibition coming up at The Angels based on St. Georges Church, Abbey Hey and to circulate the attached poster. Would you be kind enough to print off and display the poster in your premises?
DETAILS:
St. GEORGE’S CHUCH (ABBEY HEY)
EXHIBITION
By The ANGELS VISUAL ARTS GROUP
At:
The Angels
Endcott Close
(Opposite Gorton Monastery gates)
West Gorton
Manchester – M18 8BR
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PREVIEW NIGHT: Thursday 22nd March 2007
6.30 – 8.30pm with refreshments
The Exhibition will continue until 1st June 2007
Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm
Many thanks,
David.
Rev. David Gray - Community Coordinator,
The Monastery of St. Francis & Gorton Trust,
The Angels,
West Gorton,
Manchester - M18 8BR
Tel: 0161-223 3211
Email: david@theangelsmanchester.com
Vice Chair: Gorton Community Development Trust
Faith Action Norethwest Regional Partner: www.faithaction.net
Pax, Salam, ShalOM - FN4M
Gorton Restorative Justice Networker / GMP - IAG
Talking about ALL FM's Community Show
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ALL FM's Community Show
Wednesday 31 January, 2007Community Showlive this Wednesday, 11am-noonrepeat to make sure you didn't miss anything - Thursday, 3-4pm.Hello all,
This week's Community Show is live this Wednesday, Febrary 14, 11am-noon.Check the repeat to make sure you didn't miss anything - Thursday, February 15, 3-4pm.
Guest;
- Sarah Roche & Gillian Robinson from Manchester Social Care
Workforce.
- Estelle Harrison who is running a poetry night called PoetryIs in
Levenshulme.plus your weekly events diary, announcements, jobs, training etc.
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To be a guest, or to send information for our bulletins,email: community@allfm.org
Best wishes,
David Armes
Community Development Worker
ALL FM 96.9
community@allfm.org
www.allfm.org
0161 248 6888
The Peace Week Launch 2007
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The Peace Week Launch 2007
The Peace Week Launch 2007"The Next Generation"Lifting The Spirits of The Communityhas now been confirmed to take place on the25th February 2007at theZion Arts Centre,Hulme, Manchester,The event will start from4pm - 8pm.FeaturingDancers, singers, poets, rappers and mc's.for more infophone: 227 9776 or 07903390882
email: info@carisma.me.uk or peaceweek@carisma.me.uk
Website: www.carisma.me.uk
Peace Week 2007 Feb. 25 - Mar. 4, 2007 Peace Week 2007
ALL FM's Community Show
This week's Community Show is live this Wednesday, January 31st, 11am-noon.
Check the repeat to make sure you didn't miss anything - Thursday, February 1st, 3-4pm.
- guests tbc
- plus your weekly events diary, announcements, jobs, training etc.
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Also on ALL FM this week, a new show...
Friday, 10-11am
HEALTH MATTERS
This week discussing
- breast screening,
- stop smoking campaigns,
- the expert patients programme and the Primary Care emergency centre.
- Plus celebrity TV chef Brian Turner and Hazel's healthy recipes.
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To be a guest, or to send information for our bulletins,
Best wishes,
David Armes
Community Development Worker
ALL FM 96.9
community@allfm.org
www.allfm.org
0161 248 6888
Peace Week 2007
Generating Good News in the Community
Creating together a Movement for Peace against Guns & Gangs
We need Organisations, voluntary groups, businesses, faith-groups
...but most of all
people. Your ideas, talents, enthusiasmand help are needed so that together we can generate
some good news in our community.
To find out how you can get involved, make donations or even sponsor a part of Peace Week 2007
phone: 227 9776 or 07903390882
email: info@carisma.me.uk or peaceweek@carisma.me.uk
Website: www.carisma.me.uk
Feb. 25 - Mar. 4, 2007
World Aids Day & Black Health Agency
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Black Health Agency
“The Day I Changed My Life” .Positive Experiences and Black Communities
Black Health Agency is dedicated to improving the lives and changing the futures of Black and Minority Ethnic communities. For 16 years we have worked alongside our people to deliver better health and social outcomes. We have worked with thousands of people from Black, South and South East Asian, Middle Eastern, Eastern European and Refugee and Asylum Seeking Communities. So many of them, facing exclusion, stigma and discrimination, have decided to challenge this and change their lives and health for the better
> Now it is time to give those people a voice,
> We can proclaim just how far we have come.
> This is the concept behind:
“The Day I Changed My Life ”.
The campaign focuses on 3 key areas:
1. POSITIVE CHANGE
tackles the issue of HIV/AIDS from the personal perspective of people whose life has been affected by the disease. Positive in both senses, this is the theme that originally sparked the idea for “The Day My Life Changed.”
2. CHANGE AND CONTINUITY
acknowledges the unique perspective of people from emerging communities. The sense of disruption that can come from the refugee experience is often accompanied by a corresponding search for continuity, whether cultural or through some other way of making sense of life before and life after migration.
3. CHANGE-UP
One of the core aspects of our work is empowering young people. Change up is about exploring the ways young men and women build their strength and confidence through peer education, and make a real difference to their own lives and the lives of those around them
For World AIDS Day 2006, Black Health Agency is doing something a bit different!! We are launching our Positive Speakers campaign. Positive Speakers is part of Positive Change, BHA’s innovative approach to HIV and Sexual Health. Positive Change aims to give a voice to all those men, women and children from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities who have made, and are making positive changes to their lives in order to challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.
We are introducing the campaign by launching the Positive Speakers mini web - site.
Ø Listen to the stories of HIV positive service users
Ø Find out about our radio campaign on Manchester’s Community radio station ALLFM over the next 2 weeks
Ø See details of our Positive Speakers event on 9th December in Manchester.
Click on the link below to:
http://www.andrassydesign.co.uk/PositiveSpeakers/PositiveSpeakers.html
For more information on the campaign contact Phil Martin, Information Officer on (0161) 875 2052 or Julian Mushayi, Deputy Services Manager, Black Health Agency on (0161) 232 5393 or email us at
Timescale: November 27th - December 9th 2006
Element 1
Radio campaign
Week of Radio events in association with ALLFM (Manchester Community Radio station on and around during World AIDS Day 1st December. These events will includes live and prerecorded interviews, infomercials and vox pops. The infomercials will also be in several languages. These recordings will allow Positive Speakers, the opportunity telling how they have changed their lives and let BHA workers speak about the work they do
The week itself will see Interviews over the week 1-7th December on ALL FM’s with key members of Black Health Agency’s HIV and sexual health services involved.
Element 2
“Positive Change” e-campaign
Promoted via email to stakeholders all over the UK, this will link to an online resource featuring stories, poetry and testimonials from Positive Speakers and BHA workers, information on BME Communities and HIV/AIDS as well as details of BHA services such as Arise HIV service and African AIDS Helpline. The site will showcase audio files and information
Element 3
Positive Speakers event – 9th December 2006
This will take place on at the Manchester City Football Club Dome conference suite, Platt Lane, Rusholme from 4pm onwards. BHA’s HIV services have already trained several Positive Speakers who are able to speak fluently and powerfully to others in the community about their experiences living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. At this event they will have the opportunity to spread the message to a
The event will be followed by an evening of food and dancing with DJ Pedro.
Element 4
Launch of Crisis Fund
At the Positive speakers event BHA will launch the HIV Crisis Fund. This fund will enable us to provide emergency practical support to clients of BHA’s Arise HIV Support Project. Arise already provides advice befriending and advocacy, but there are times when clients need rapid assistance with essential items such as food, clothing, and help with travel costs.
The Crisis Fund will allow us to meet that need.
Black History Market
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VICTORIA BATHS CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Sunday 1st October, 12 noon to 4pm
@ Victoria Baths is on Hathersage Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, M13 OFE.
We are celebrating Black History Month this year with a multicultural event that is also part of
We will be exploring our collective heritage through the context of carnival and magic. There will be a wide variety of family friendly activities: performers, storytellers, workshops and music
Universal Connection Youthwill also be performing, there'll also be‘Soca’ Dance WorkshopSo Come on! Jump & energise yourself and enjoy the spirit of the Caribbean.
Get Active! Look Good! Feel Great!
audience participation section from 1pm - 2pm.It's going to be great! There's lots more going on - an Ideal family day out!!
www.victoriabaths.org.uk/blackhistory.htm
For more information or to book a stall at this event contact us at info@victoriabaths.org.uk
or Visit http://
Victoria Baths is on Hathersage Road, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, M13 OFE.
There is ramped access to the entrance
United Nations Small Arms Review Conference Blog
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Kath Locke Centre CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY Mon 25 – Thurs 28 September 06 A complete timetable of events is available from Kath Locke Centre 123 Moss Lane East, Hulme, M15 5DD Telephone 0161 455 0211 www.thebiglifegroup.com Join us to celebrate 10 years of the Kath Locke Centre Monday 25 Happy and Healthy 12pm - 5pm Events for Older People in our community Including indoor curling, exercise, art, poetry and drama sessions, a Health Marketplace and a buffet
Tuesday 26 The IT Factor 5pm - 9pm A chance for local young people to show how they can inspire those around them Includes dance and Chi Gong workshops and a Health Marketplace
Wednesday 27 Social Enterprise in the NHS 12pm - 6pm NHS workshop on social enterprise. Question Time with panelists from the local PCT: your chance to question the people who run the health services
Thursday 28 Health and Well Being 10am - 8pm Music, art and relaxation workshops, foot massage and Chi healing and a Health Marketplace
Join us for a celebration evening on Thursday 28 September Free Tickets are available from the Kath Locke Centre
A complete timetable of events is available from Kath Locke Centre 123 Moss Lane East, Hulme, M15 5DD Telephone 0161 455 0211
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Kath Locke Tribute
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Kath Locke
As a black, working-class woman, Kath’s life-long, unflinching commitment to the struggle for justice and equality has been a source of energy and inspiration to countless individuals, communities, campaigns and movements. That slightly prissy term ‘community worker’ cannot begin to encompass the powerful mixture of determination and warmth which has characterised Kath’s life and work. Few of us can have escaped the rigour of Kath’s scrutiny; none of us can fail to have been touched by her generosity. It was with trepidation that, as GMCVS’ training officer in 1985, I approached the formidable Kath Locke, a former WEA colleague, to tutor the first course I arranged on good equal opportunities practice. It was, inevitably and rightly, something of a bumpy interview – but, oh the confidence, the honour and the support I felt when she agreed to work with us at GMCVS. Not because she made things any easier, but because she helped us to learn that the attainment of truth, justice and integrity in a world of oppression and dishonesty cannot but be a long, hard-fought struggle. In reflecting on Kath’s life, the major problem is that all the rather clichéd hyperboles we tend to use on such occasions are quite literally true. In the world of anti-racist, socialist, feminist and anti-imperialist endeavour of the last 50 years, Kath was one of the undoubted ‘Greats’. At a time when so many of us, individually and collectively, are prone to a sense of defeat, confusion, tiredness, evasion, and retreat into the beguiling traps of privacy and soft-option pluralism, we can ill afford to lose Kath’s voice and presence. As the saying goes, all who have known, loved – and even feared her, are diminished by her death. We can best honour her and celebrate her life by continuing the struggle and keeping alive the spark she ignited in all of us. I can think of no-one to whom it is more fitting to say: “Do not mourn! Organise!” Julian Batsleer – chair GMCVS |
The death of Kath Locke, who the centre was named after, deprived us of one of our most redoubtable friends, colleagues and comrades.DIABETES AWARENESS IN BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC COMMUNITI
INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO DIABETES AWARENESS IN BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC COMMUNITIES
Poetry, music and 'Cook & Eat' events are just some of the methods community groups have been using to raise awareness of diabetes in black and minority ethnic communities in the North West.
Diabetes is more prevalent among people from black and minority ethnic groups with rates four to five times higher in South Asian and African-Caribbean communities.
Diabetes Meillitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes, chapatis, yams and plantains, from sugar and other sweet foods, and from the liver, which makes glucose.
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 (insulin dependant) diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. It is treated by insulin injections and diet. Type 2 (non insulin dependant) diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though often appears before the age of 40 in south Asian, and African-Caribbean people. It is treated by diet and exercise alone or by diet and tablets, or sometimes by diet and insulin injections
The main symptoms of untreated Diabetes are increased thirst, going to the toilet all the time – especially at night, extreme tiredness, weight loss, genital itching or regular episodes of thrush or blurred vision.
Type 2 diabetes is more common in people of Afro-Caribbean descent.
Concerned that these at-risk groups did not have access to information and resources, Diabetes UK North West obtained funding from the National Lottery Charities Board for the Diabetes Development Fund.
Grants of £100 to £5,000 were available to local community groups, enabling them to fund innovative ways to improve knowledge and management of diabetes. Each project was culturally sensitive because it was planned for a particular community, allowing healthcare professionals to reach people that might normally be afraid to ask for help or advice.
For more info visit the Diabetes UK website
Fostering and Adoption in Manchester
Fostering and Adoption
Fostering or adopting a child can be a very rewarding experience. You do not need to have special training but it does require skill, commitment, patience and a sense of humour as it can be quite challenging.
We need a variety of carers from different backgrounds and experiences as we aim to place each child where their individual needs can be best met.
We are looking for temporary foster carers, permanent and respite (part time) carers. We are also looking for adopters, particularly for groups of brothers and sisters, black children and children with special needs. Please see the information on fostering, adoption and link care for disabled children for more details. If you think you may be interested, the Procedure for Potential Applicants to Adopt and / or Foster Children will tell you the next steps to take.
We welcome applications from men and women, single people and couples, young or not so young, regardless of race, religion, disability or sexuality
If you require further help
Please contact the Recruitment and Assessment Team
Children, Families and Social Care
Chorlton Office
102 Manchester Road
MANCHESTER
M21 9SZ
Tel 0161-881 0911
familyduty@manchester.gov.uk
Manchester Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre
Manchester Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre
The purpose of our work at the Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Centre is to offer support and advice for those with Sickle Cell, Thalassaemia and similar red blood cell types.
The Team
The service is carried out by a multidisciplinary team comprising of:
Specialist Nurse Counsellors
§ Welfare Rights Advisor
§ Care and Assessment Manager
§ Community Development Officer
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are sickle cell disorders and Thalassaemia major?
A. They are serious inherited blood disorders.
Q. Why should I be tested for sickle cell and Thalassaemia?
A. Knowing that you do, or do not, carry sickle cell or Thalassaemia will help us to give you the health care that is right for you.
A. Nobody in my family is affected with a sickle cell disorder or Thalassaemia major. Why should I have a blood test?
Q. You could be a healthy carrier of sickle cell or Thalassaemia.
§ Most children with a sickle cell disorder or Thalassaemia major are born to parents who are both healthy carriers, and have no affected relatives.
§ People with a sickle cell disorder can have attacks of severe pain or sudden life-threatening infections.
§ People with Thalassaemia major need blood transfusions every month for life.
Q. What is my chance of being a healthy carrier?
A. Anyone can carry sickle cell or Thalassaemia.
§ Some Northern Europeans are carriers.
§ One in four to one in eight Africans and African-Caribbean’s are carriers.
§ One in six to one in thirty people from the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or the Far East are carriers.
Q. How can I find out if I am a carrier?
A. Ask your GP or practice nurse for a blood test "for haemoglobin disorders”. The test is free of charge, and the results are completely confidential.
It is possible to make an appointment for a blood test, counselling or general advice by contacting:-
Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre,
352 Oxford Road,
(Entrance on Denmark Road)
Manchester, M13 9NL.
Tel: 0161 274 3322
Fax: 0161 273 7490
Lloyd Frontline
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