Lady Rollers swop their skates and rink for trainers and mud

A group of Wolverhampton ladies have opted to ditch their skates and don their trainers to face the gruelling challenge of the five-mile JCB Mud Run in aid of The Haven Wolverhampton.

Representatives from The Wolverhampton Honour Rollers will be heading down to the JCB Mud Run on Saturday 5th July at the JCB estate in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside.  The JCB Mud Run is definitely not for the feint hearted – it is a physical, muddy and very challenging course that will see people trudging through a series of obstacles including a mud slide, a hay stack and a giant concrete pipe buried in the undergrowth.

The group facing the challenge is made up of ladies from a range of professions, but all with one common aim in mind – to raise funds for The Haven Wolverhampton.  Some have experienced the Mud Run before, whilst for others this will be their first time.  Though none of them are strangers to a challenge or tough competition.  The Wolverhampton Honour Rollers Derby team is the City’s first and only flat track roller derby league team and over the past few months have taken part in Roller Derby matches across the county to raise funds for The Haven.   

On supporting The Haven, Nik Sephton commented, “The Wolverhampton Honour Rollers Team is a community in itself and we want to contribute something to a local cause within the wider Wolverhampton community.  We chose The Haven Wolverhampton for this very reason – they are a Wolverhampton based charity that help so many people across the city to escape domestic violence and abuse and with the threat of funding cuts to such vital services fundraising efforts are needed more than ever."

The team has a target of £500 to raise and is making good headway in reaching this target.  Anyone wishing to sponsor them can donate on-line at https://www.justgiving.com/WolverhamptonHonourRollersMudRun2014/.

Hayley Edwards, Marketing and PR Officer for The Haven said “The Wolverhampton Honour Rollers never cease to show us their commitment.  Over the past few months they have demonstrated a huge amount of support to The Haven by selling our merchandise at bouts as well as donating funds from cake sales to name a few.  The JCB Mud Run is an incredibly tough course but we are sure that they will do us proud and finish in great style.”

Child Mentors Required in Wolverhampton

Fun-loving and dedicated individuals required to work on city-wide project

Could you be a child mentor volunteer working with children across Wolverhampton?

Wolverhampton city-wide initiative “Wolverhampton Improving Futures” works with children between the ages of 5-11 years old with a primary aim to prevent them from developing anti-social behaviour and instead steer them in the direction of achieving their full potential.

Working with a number of agencies across Wolverhampton, including The Haven, the project offers children the support and life skills they need to increase their self-esteem, self-confidence and improve their behaviour and achieve their full potential. Each child is offered an individually tailored one to one mentoring programme with a carefully screened, trained and supervised adult volunteer mentor.  Volunteer mentors work on a 1-2-1 basis, spending between 2 – 4 hours per week over a 12 month period on a programme of activities. 

Jennifer Edwards, Improving Futures Officer at The Haven said “Mentoring a young person is a fun, rewarding and at times challenging experience, but we ensure that volunteers access training, regular supervision and 1-2-1 support so that they get the best experience possible.  We carefully match all our volunteer mentors to children who need someone who can listen, support and most importantly engage them in a range of fun, creative, varied activities.”

If you think that you could offer a few hours to help a child to improve their future call now more for information or to sign up to the next Training Programme.  This 3 day course covers relationship building, boundary setting, solution focused techniques and safeguarding and offers a comprehensive introduction to the mentoring programme. 

For more information on the Wolverhampton Improving Futures project contact Mandy Smith, Wolverhampton Improving Futures - Programme Manager at asmith@wolverhamptonvsc.org.uk    / 01902 328977 or jennifere@havenrefuge.org.uk   / 07738764669.

Dust the BBQ off and get cooking for charity

Dust the BBQ off and get cooking for charity

With summer virtually here and long warm summer nights on the horizon, now is the time to brush the dust off the BBQ and get grilling all in the good name of charity.

Summer is just one reason to have fun and have a BBQ but we can give you lots more reasons – 185 in fact.  That’s the number of families that The Haven Wolverhampton is currently working with who are or who have experienced Domestic Violence.

To raise awareness of this as well as vital funds we are calling to the people of Wolverhampton to dust off their BBQs, don an apron and cook up treats for friends and family. There are many things that people can do – for instance, asking people to make a donation for their food and refreshments, if there are children why not paint their faces for a small charge or people can simply TEXT BBQS14 to 70070 followed by the amount they wish to donate? All funds raised will help us continue to deliver our vital work supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse and homelessness.

Michaela Hodges Donor Development Assistant said “Getting involved in The Haven’s Summer BBQ Appeal is a great reason for a get-together with family and friends.  There are lots of ways that people can get involved and they can make it as easy or as innovative as they wish.”

It really is easy.  Register now for your free Big BBQ Fundraising Pack and we will send you everything you need to make yours a success.  The pack is filled with information, advice, tips and materials to help make your BBQ a success. To request a fundraising pack just get in touch - email donordevelopment@havenrefuge.org.uk or call 01902 572126 for more information and to request materials.

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story - Wolverhampton Grand

Rating *****

Buddy Holly is seen as one of the most important players in the history of music, his contribution to rock and rock changed the face of pop music forever. For someone with such an important roll to play Buddy was only working professionally for less than two years and died at age 22 in a tragic plane crash between concerts that also took the lives of Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, which is on it's 25th anniversary tour follows Buddy's rise to fame and his career until his death, in the original and most successful jukebox musical.

Buddy is performed by an incredibly talented cast led by Glen Joseph as Buddy with Jason Blackwater as the Big Bopper and Will Pearce as Valens. It includes all the Buddy favourites such as Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, Why Do Fools Fall In Love and Chantilly Lace.

Buddy once said that he did not wish to be rich, he just wanted people to remember his name. As this play shows the Buddy legacy means that his name will never be forgotten.

Ladies In Retirement

SHIRLEY ANNE FIELD AND KAREN FORD TO STAR IN LADIES IN RETIREMENT

Directed by Ian Dickens, the first of 3 plays in the season -  LADIES IN RETIREMENT stars the iconic film and television actress Shirley Anne Field with respected stage and television actresses Karen Ford (Grange Hill) and Érin Geraghty (Angels). The ladies are at the theatre from Tues 3 – Sat 7 June.

LADIES IN RETIREMENT is a nail-biting Victorian melodrama with thrilling twists and a taut plot-line that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats throughout.

Set in the 1880’s, based on a famous murder that took place in a remote Country house, LADIES IN RETIREMENT promises an evening filled with suspense, eerie mystery and excitement. 

Shirley Anne Field last appeared during the 2012 season in a production of THE CEMETARY CLUB and Karen Ford in last year’s A MURDER HAS BEEN ARRANGED. Érin Geraghty’s TV appearances include The Bill and Last Of The Summer Wine.

Individual play tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01902 42 92 12 or online at www.grandtheatre.co.uk. Subscription packages for all three plays priced at £49.50 per person.

Red Card to Domestic Violence

As football fever starts to sweep the nation the Haven Wolverhampton gives Domestic Abuse a RED CARD this World Cup.

With the 2014 World Cup imminent The Haven Wolverhampton has launched a campaign to encourage people not to tolerate Domestic Violence of any nature and to use its 24x7 helpline should they experience domestic violence or abuse.

The World Cup final matches are scheduled to take place between 12th June and 13th July when pubs and bars will be allowed to stay open for longer to accommodate for the time-delay during matches in the host country, Brazil.  With longer opening hours come longer drinking times and alcohol-fuelled violence increases.  Situations get out of control and before too long, violence takes place – very often with children being witness or being caught up in the crossfire.

It is believed that sporting tournaments and events add to the increase in Domestic Violence regardless of the outcome, win or lose.  During high profile football matches and tournaments there is an increase in the number of calls made to police and helplines from people who suffer Domestic Violence.  Research suggests that during the 2010 World Cup, Domestic Violence rose by 29% when England lost out to Germany in a 4-1 defeat.  With this in mind, Wolverhampton based Domestic Violence charity The Haven is asking people to consider their actions and not be a part of this statistic and seek help if needed.

Hayley Edwards Marketing and PR Officer at The Haven said “Domestic violence already affects 1 in 4 women within the UK and numerous reports have been published that point to a further increase during high profile sporting events.  This campaign is intended to raise awareness to people that win, lose or draw, there is no excuse for violence and taking frustrations out on partners.  Our helpline is there for people at all times if they feel they are in a vulnerable state.”

The Haven Wolverhampton operates a 24x7 helpline to people across the city and urges people affected by Domestic Violence not tolerate the abuse but instead contact them for advice and support.

Sister Act - Wolverhampton Grand

Performed by West Bromwich Operatic Society

Rating ****

If you're going to see this expecting to see a stage version of the film, you'll be disappointed. However it was such an amazing show and I forgot that this was an amatuer production. I was honestly surprised at how many people seemed to be disappointed that it wasn't a remake of the jukebox musical missing how good it was in both its own right and the production.

Local mother of two Tasheka Coe, who is known to many from the 2010 series Over the Rainbow where hopefuls auditioned for Andrew Lloyd-Webber's version of The Wizard of Oz, plays nun on the run Deloris Van Cartier.

Despite Curtis, and his henchmen Joey and Pablo being the baddies they got a lot of laughs and cheers.

Nicholas Sullivan’s depiction of Monsignor O’Hara was brilliantly funny, with a performance that could be straight out of your favourite comedy.

‘Sweaty’ Eddie was very sweet and lovable and you really felt for him during "I Could Be That Guy"

The choir's transformation from tone deaf to beautiful singers was done very well, it's never easy for someone who can sing to sing badly.

Well done WBOS can't wait to see what you come up with next!