Limelight Winter 2015

WINTER 2015

A lifestyle magazine, for young people, by young people, in London

top tips!

Expert advice On how to pick THE RIGHT UNI COURSE

LIMELIGHT IS PUBLISHED BY RISE MEDIA LIMELIGHTMAG.CO.UK

PLUS...

Katy B union j make-up The girl band on their debut album and future plans!

COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE

LIMELIGHT IS SPONSORED BY

GREAT BRITON!

Limelight profiles the creator of the internet, Sir Tim Berners-Lee Limelight.indd 1

AWard winner!

Limelight’s publisher scoops top prize in prestigious community competition

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Childcare Playwork Hospitality Catering

Your Career Starts here!

Traineeships • Apprenticeships • Short Courses

Courses start every month.

Apply now!

Business Admin Customer Service Health & Social Care

Youth Work

Tel: 0845 241 7738 E: apprenticeships@jace-training.co.uk 2 | Limelight

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Why should you join Limelight, the magazine for young people, by young people, aged 11-25?

• It’s fun – and free!

• Stands out on your CV • You’ll get a chance to meet and interview famous people from popstars to politicians!

• Looks impressive on your university application form • You’ll boost your communication and teamwork skills!

Gives you an opportunity to make • Gi new friends!

• You’ll get a chance to go to concerts, lm screenings and much more – for free!

• It could boost your chances of getting a job!

We need writers, editors, social media experts, administrators and an advertising sales team. If any of these roles appeal to you and you’re motivated, hardworking and bright, then ll in our contact form at: limelightmag.co.uk or email: adeline@risemedia.org.uk

Terrelle Iziren, a 16-year-old Harris Sixth Form pupil

Kamara Anderson, a 23-year-old customer service assistant for Duty Free at Gatwick

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Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major, both 16 and pupils at Limelight Carshalton High School for Girls

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THE CONTENT

Rise Media, Croydon Business Venture, 23 Whitestone Way, Croydon, CR0 4WF

5 - Faces Going Places

15 - Katy B

26 - Reviews

Check out some inspiring young people!

Limelight interviews the girl On A Mission

27 - Notting Hill Carnival

For work experience opportunities and more

Limelight pays its respects to war heroes

6 - News You Can Use

7 - Limelight’s Double triumph!

Our rising magazine wins awards!

8 - Neon Jungle

The girl band on fans, fun and fame!

10 - Journalism Academy

Limelight writer learns from the crème de la crème

12 - Beauty Must-Haves

The fabulous make up items you have to get your hands on

16 - Remembrance 17- ORder!

Limelight visits the mother of all parliaments

19 - Talking shop

Limelight’s one-to-one with the boy band’s George Shelley

22 - Picking the right degree course Expert advice on how to do so!

14 - Craig stuart

24 - London’s Top Attractions

The busy busker on working hard for a living!

Brooke-Sara Clark checked them out!

Hi readers!

Editor’s Letter

With exciting reviews, sporting highlights and so much more, what are you waiting for? Turn the page!

And as always, happy reading!

From Barbara Bielecka and Roxana Hall

The Limelight team at the Hilton

DISCLAIMER Limelight is a lifestyle magazine for 11 to 25 year olds. The views within the publication are not those of the publisher - Rise Media - but of the writers. All information was correct at the time of going to press.

The ‘LIMELIGHT’ logo on the front cover was designed by Biljana Biki.

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28 - Celebrating A Great Brit!

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web!

29 - Fault in Our Stars 30 - Football Mania!

20 - Union j

For this special anniversary issue we have exclusives from the louder than life Neon Jungle, the charismatic Union J and the very lovely Katy B. Here at Limelight we seek to empower and inspire our readers and so why not delve into our News You Can Use page, Faces Going Places write-ups, Talking Shop feature and then follow the journey of the man who created the internet - Sir Tim Berners Lee, on page 28? And be sure to sure to check out Brooke’s beauty tips, before picking the brains of top careers adviser Brian Heap, who’ll advise you on how to pick the right university course!

Yanet Beyene met the people who make it happen!

Find out stats on book sales, YouTube hits and more!

Limelight interviews top dance ground Peridot

How time has flown! Just 10 issues back we had a humble beginning as a team with the ambition to create an informative lifestyle magazine for the youth of Croydon. Now we have flourished into a London-wide publication filled with inspiring celebrity features and careers and education tips to help you soar!

Find out what’s hot!

Terrelle Iziren offers his Premiership predictions

/LimelightTeam /LimelightMagazine

The Team

Assistant Trainee Editor: Barbara Bielecka Chief Sub-editor: Roxana Hall Designer: Ellena Major Sports Editor: Terrelle Iziren Writers: Brooke Sara-Clark, Ellena Major, Imaan Wright, Makeda Newman, Sophia Wright, Janisha Perera, Yanet Beyene, Ellie Hurley- Simister, Jade Pope Editorial Director: Adeline Iziren A Big Thanks To: Our sponsor Croydon College, plus funders and advertisers, including Croydon Commitment, the CVA, The BRIT School and Jace Training

Limelight is published by Rise Media,1st prize winner of the Croydon Advertiser Heart of the Community Award 2014

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Faces Going Places! was given a chance to audition, even though I was considered too young for the catwalk,” recalled Kiane.

Kiane, now 17, displayed a natural talent for the catwalk, wowing the casting director.

YOUNG AND FABULOUS! Season 8 of Top Model Of Colour returned last May and crowned a much deserved new winner – Kiane AshmanSwaby.

Kiane stole the show, despite being the youngest contestant and was described by judge Andrew Patterson as possessing “immediate potential”.

“I had no experience on the catwalk; I did it in my ugg boots!” laughed the stunning model.

The model has not had an easy ride in her career. “I’ve been told I am too short, to try again next time, and a couple of years ago I was rejected by Brighton Fashion Week.”

Despite these knocks, Kiane remains determined to keep modelling and one day plans to open her own modelling agency.

By Sophia Wright

At 13 Kiane heard about an opportunity to do catwalk modelling. “I

BURSTING WITH AMBITION Singer and actress Bess Naidu has begun climbing the music industry ladder with unfaltering dedication!

A student from Glyn School, in Epsom, Surrey, Bess takes her inspiration from the likes of Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw, whom she believes “tell stories through their songs”.

At the start of high school Bess recalls “hating the arts”, but after being dragged to a drama class by a friend the spark was lit and the academic Bess was gradually transformed.

Balancing singing, dancing, acting, modelling and A levels into her busy routine, this singersongwriter not only takes her inspiration from personal experiences, but also fairytales and spur of the moment events.

“If I am on the bus and I see a situation I write about it!”

With The X Factor season well underway, a chat with an up and coming singer would not be complete without mentioning the hit TV show, but Bess made it clear that this route is not her cup of tea. “I would like to work to build myself up independently,” she said.

When asked about her ambitions for the future, she humbly replied: “I just want to be successful and happy; being able to entertain people is what I love to do.”

With countless songs under her belt, as well as a performance at the shopping centre, Westfield London, last year, Limelight hopes this promising star enjoys a very

bright future!

By Barbara Bielecka

CASE STUDY

www.brit.croydon.sch.uk @TheBRITSchool www.facebook.com/thebritschool

Imogen wanted to work in the arts but she didn’t know IMOGEN EDWARDS in which capacity. Her warm personality and tendency Future Theatre Practitioner to help empower others led her to apply for the Post 16 BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts called Community Arts Practise. Imogen facilitated workshops with a host of community and charity partners from Age UK to Chickenshed, and performed at Camp Bestival which was a highlight. Believing that the arts have the powers to transform lives, Imogen is now studying at The Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, which has long been associated with The BRIT School. Central’s prestigious BA Hons Drama, Applied Theatre and Education degree is a natural follow on for students on the Community Arts Practice course.

5 | Limelight Want to join The BRIT School?

Apply now for Key Stage 4 and Post 16 courses.

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News you can use

he National Careers Service

Are you unsure which A-levels to pick? Are you undecided which job to choose? Would you like to know how to earn more money? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then check out the National Careers Service website. It is here to help everyone of every age get on the track of training, employment and promotion!

With countless tools and webpages on everything from how to write a winning CV to useful interview tips, this easy to use, clean cut and colourful website is indispensable!

As a dedicated National Careers Service user, I find the pages on Job Profiles to be the most helpful. With over 800 different careers

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to choose from and with each comprising information on role description, hours of work, income and qualifications needed, the National Careers Service website helps you to make wise choices.

Even if you’re still at school you can use the website at Start Your Career Journey, where you can take an expedition through the different steps you will encounter on your route to full time employment.

So what are you waiting for?

Go to the website today and start building, elevating and enhancing your career!

Visit: nationalcareersservice. direct.gov.uk or contact the organisation directly on 0800 100 900!

By Barbara Bielecka and Roxana Hall

earn to lead!

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) offers teenagers an opportunity to gain a qualification which teaches leadership skills and is equivalent to a quarter of a grade B at GCSE level.

The qualification costs schools £300 for each pupil and so it is costly, but money well spent. So, encourage your teachers to sign up for this course that will boost your academic and career prospects.

After this course you will be able to describe the roles and responsibilities of a team leader, understand the role of a team leader and be able to construct a personal development plan.

Rachel Lambert, the Director at StudyFlex, the delivery partner for CMI in schools, said: “Our aim is to help young people improve their skill levels, aspirations

G

o Think Bigger!

Every day, young people struggle to find the relevant work experience that will help them secure their dream careers, yet very few know about Go Think Big, a fantastic online digital careers hub, dedicated to providing young people exciting work experience opportunities, as well as invaluable careers advice.

Go Think Big can help you in many ways. “We’ll share useful, simple tools to help you identify your talents and passions, develop new skills and kick start your career,” said a Go Think Big spokesperson. “We’ll reveal exclusive jobs,

internships, cool work placements and skills days that you won’t see anywhere else.”

Recent opportunities include work experience at Channel Four, FHM and an insight day at IBM, the leading technology company.

Go Think Big was launched in 2012 by O2, the mobile phones provider and Bauer Media, the company behind top brands such as the magazine Heat and radio station Kiss FM. For more on the opportunities you can secure through Go Think Big, visit Gothinkbig.co.uk

210m

By Brooke-Sara Clark

and opportunities by gaining one of the Chartered Management Institute qualifications.”

Many institutions are looking for more than just academic qualifications. Including this qualification on your [university] personal statement will help to demonstrate your range of personal qualities, including your ability to work well with others and commitment to obtaining a professional qualification, while still at school.

What are the benefits?

- Enhance your CV - Boost your opportunities in the job market - Stand out from the crowd - Demonstrate your skills For more information encourage your teacher to visit: studyflex.co.uk

By Jade Pope

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Limelights’ Double Triumph !

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hursday September 11 2014 from greater funding. turned out to be a night to Rise Media came out on top with the remember, as Limelight’s publisher first prize of £2,500, a victory, its coRise Media won £2,500 worth of founder, Adeline Iziren, described funding to continue its work of equipping young people with the skills they need to find employment.

Hosted by the Croydon Park Hotel, the big night was the Croydon Advertiser’s first ever Heart of the Community Award ceremony, sponsored by the Croydon Partnership and UK Power Networks.

The turnout was tremendous, with a wide range of charities, including youth and health-related, in attendance. A public vote decided [ABOVE: The Limelight team at the the top three award winners, after Hilton] the Croydon Advertiser received 210mm xover 148mm 1 07/11/2014 12:42 as Page 1 5012007.qxp_Layout applications from local an “absolute miracle”. organisations who wanted to benefit A total of 11 organisations walked

away with grants – six won £500 each and two £1,000. Among the winners were Timebridge Youth Club and Croydon Youth Theatre.

Heart of the Community host and Croydon Advertiser editor Glenn Ebrey said: “It was a great night, genuinely humbling and eye-opening, due to the large number of groups and volunteers doing outstanding work across Croydon.”

This was a sensational follow up from July 2014’s success for Limelight.

Competing with 30 Croydon-based organisations who had applied for funding from corporate charity Croydon Commitment earlier in 2014, Limelight were one of seven organisations privileged to receive a share of £25,457 at an awards ceremony hosted by the Croydon Hilton Hotel on July 2 2014.

Full and part-time courses available in Animal Care, Arboriculture, Countryside Studies, Floristry, Garden Design, Horticulture, Saddlery and Outdoor Adventure

Discover your natural potential with Capel Manor College Learn about the world we live in on a course that will bring your career to life

Call 08456 122 122 today to take your first step to discovering your natural potential. To find out more, visit www.capel.ac.uk. @capelmanor

/capelmanorcollege

Centres at: Crystal Palace, Enfield, Gunnersbury Park, Newham and Regent’s Park 08456 122 122 | enquiries@capel.ac.uk Limelight.indd 7

7 | Limelight Combining qualifications with experience

APPROVED

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Asami

jessica kate

amira shereen

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A RUMBLE IN THE JuNGLE W

ith a massive debut album, four singles in the UK Top 20 and a performance at the glamorous Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York, Neon Jungle are set to be bigger than ever! The cheeky foursome’s infectious tunes and larger than life characters have been grabbing attention from both sides of the Atlantic, and with so much of their potential still to be reached, Limelight’s Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major just had to find out what they’ve got planned next!

Limelight: What is it like being able to work with your best friends?

Shereen: It’s one of the most amazing things about my career!

It’s such an amazing feeling being a team, especially when we’re all on stage, where you can feel the group vibe.

Limelight: That sounds brilliant.

What do you like most about each of your bandmates?

Shereen: What I like most about Asami is that she’s very spontaneous . We were bored one evening and so we just decided to dye our hair random colours!

Amira is great when it comes to fashion; she’s so on key and so we always end up asking her what she thinks of our outfits! Jess is so loving and caring; whenever you need a chat she’s always available.

Limelight: Where do you get the inspiration for your songs?

Shereen: Personally, the music of Motown inspires me, but as a group we find go through our laptops and find loads of memories and base some songs on those.

Limelight: What is your favourite song from your album, Welcome to the Jungle, and why?

Shereen: On the upbeat side of

things I love Bad Man, as it’s just one of those songs that makes me feel like I’m Rihanna! I often find myself walking to the beat of the song when I’m walking down the street. I also love Fool Me because I feel as if I can just relate to it a lot.

Limelight: What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Shereen: Performing at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show was amazing; it was one of the best experiences ever!

Limelight: Who inspired you when you were younger and why?

“I’ve been knocked down so many times, but that’s just a part of life and so I just keep going!”

Shereen: Definitely my dad; who inspired my love of Motown music.

I grew up in a very musical house, every time I came home from school music was always playing!

Limelight: What can your fans expect from Neon Jungle in the near future?

Shereen: We’ve already done an album and so it would be great to

do a tour too. We really want to get out there and let more people see us. We’re also thinking of doing another album.

Limelight: What advice would you give to young people who would like to follow in your footsteps?

Shereen: Keep going for your goal.

Also, make sure you stay grounded.

I’ve been knocked down so many times, but that’s just a part of life and so I just keep going!

Limelight: What would you like to achieve within the next five years?

Shereen: As well as having a top selling album, we’d love to crack America and tour the world! A number one would be amazing too!

Limelight: If your fans wanted to get your attention at one of your gigs, what would their banner have to say?

Shereen: We were at a gig a few weeks ago and a girl had a banner up saying: “Drown out the Simpsons.” This is because in Louder I sing, “drown out the symptoms”, but because of my Scottish accent I sound as if I’m saying, “drown out the Simpsons”.

So that banner really caught my eye and made me laugh!

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS

Lucky number? Six… It’s not really, but I didn’t know what else to say!

KFC or McDonald’s? KFC Jennifer Lawrence or Miley Cyrus? Miley Cyrus Tea or Coffee? Tea Celebrity Crush? Taylor Lautner all the way!

Neon Jungle’s debut album!

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Limelight Writer Learns From The Best!

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hanks to his school (Harris Academy Crystal Palace), Terrelle Iziren spent a week improving his writing skills at the Young Journalists’ Academy, a unique programme organised by The Times.

Read on for a summary of Terrelle’s eventful week!

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ay One – Saturday August 9 2014

Strolling into Canary Wharf on a sunny Saturday morning, I was excited about the events ahead, as I was set to receive a real insight into the life of a professional journalist and move a step further to fulfilling my dream of becoming one.

As I made my way to the temporary base of the Young Journalists’ Academy (YJA), housed in the grand glass building of One Canada Square, I was taken aback by this 235m tall, £625 million mammoth structure, home to many multinational companies.

I felt privileged to be in such a famous building and couldn’t wait for the YJA programme to start!

After meeting fellow aspiring journalists, I joined them for a quick tour of the ninth floor, featuring lavish offices and a fun interactive model map of London.

After the tour, we were shown our base for the week at level 39, which mainly contains early stage businesses. Making ourselves comfortable, we were mesmerised by the views outside our window, views of the 02, The Gherkin and other London landmarks.

Speechless and gazing into the horizon, we took out our phones and posed for selfies!

After an hour long lunch break at Canary Wharf ’s shopping centre, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth delivered an inspirational talk to the group.

He shared about some of the highlights of his career so far and the numerous setbacks he’s endured on his climb to the top, including missing out on several promotions. As an aspiring journalist I was fully engaged throughout his talk, but after he mentioned the challenges he encountered in his career, my mind focused on the difficulties a journalism career can bring at times. Once the lengthy talk and quizzing session had ended, we were put through our paces and assigned to create a storyboard on England’s recent World Cup Cup demise. My group’s story focused on England manager Roy Hodgson who was looking distraught at a press conference.

Canary Wharf tube station, for a visit to Thomson Reuters, a multi-national media company. After we emerged from the station we were given a rude awakening when confronted by torrential rain, as the weather had been warm and sunny for days.

At Thomson Reuters our task was to interview Gabrielle Fonseca Johnson and her colleague Russell on their jobs as photo-journalists and how non-journalists have been playing their part in photojournalism since the 7/7 London bombings in 2005. After the interview we put our teamwork and photography skills to the test by looking at a selection of photos of the Rio 2014 World Cup and cropping out parts of the photos we didn’t want.

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ay Three – Tuesday August 12 2014

The third day was less intense that the previous two days, but was still just as inspirational. On that day Paul McCarthy, the former Sky sports presenter and director of PR company Macca Media shared about his 25 years’ experience of journalism with the group.

A lively character, who was once sports editor of The News of The World, Paul struck me as a wise man, with a passion for his work.

In an animated fashion, Paul mentioned the unforgettable moment when Luis Suárez sank his teeth into the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanović and on a large screen up popped an image of the incident. We began to write an article on this shocking moment in football history, attempting to be concise, yet humorous too. I was determined to write a quality article as a week’s work experience with The Daily Mail was up for grabs. A girl named Coco

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ay Two – Monday August 11 2014

After a day off, I met fellow YJA participants in

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The YJA team

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Kirton went on to win this much coveted prize.

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ay Four – Wednesday August 13 2014

On day four we visited the London office of Bloomberg, the business news channel, to meet Mark Gilbert, the London bureau chief of Bloomberg News. We were privileged enough to interview Mark and he put our interviewing and reporting skills to the test by getting us to quiz our fellow YJA participants. “The key to writing an interesting story is to include a surprise,” Mark repeatedly informed us. The whole surprise theme went down a treat and we soon found ourselves writing stories about our peers. My story was about fellow YJA member Emilia Luyindula and her aspiration to become a teacher in the US and make documentaries about her experiences.

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ay Five – Thursday August 14 2014

Day five saw us back at Canary Wharf where we spent just a few hours in the company of The Sun’s TV critic Ally Ross. Ally not only talked about the fun aspects of his job, but the challenges of opinion writing. “You will come across opposition a lot.

Don’t let it deter you from doing what you are doing,” advised the outgoing writer, after telling us about a backlash he endured on Twitter from singer Jessie J and her fans, after he criticised the star’s performance as a judge on The Voice.

which reveal the popularity of certain topics around the world, including politics, sport and celebrities.

After searching for a particular topic a graph will reveal which countries have discussed that topic the most in recent years.

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ay Seven – Saturday August 16 2014

It wasn’t long before the final day arrived, making everyone reflect on what had been a truly remarkable week. The closing session opened with a motivating talk from last year’s YJA graduates on future opportunities for the current participants, including apprenticeships. Later that day, Jonny Ensall, the deputy editor of the magazine Time Out, held a final session on review writing. We were tasked with writing a review on UK chart topping band La Roux and their recent tune Tropical Chancer. It’s fair to say few people thought much of the single, but we did spend a bit of time chatting about Elly Jackson’s recent split with producer and former band member Ben Langmaid.

My YJA summer school week was a superb, once in-a-lifetime experience, where I learnt from and met inspirational journalists, while working with young people who share my passion for writing.

The experience was the highlight of my summer as I learnt so much and had a lot of fun while doing so. If you want to be in my shoes this time next year, then sign up to YJA’s 2015 summer school at: yja.org.uk

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By Terrelle Iziren ay Six – Friday August 15 2014

The penultimate day of the YJA programme was spent at spent at the headquarters of Google, in London, an opportunity which many of us will savour for years to come. The visit kicked off on the ninth floor, which left many YJA participants amazed not only because of the fantastic panoramic views of London, but the fantastic facilities it boasted such as a spacious gym, a library and even a cinema!

After our amazing tour, Google’s PR representative Stephen Rosenthal gave his opinion on freelance journalism and the pros and cons of his job. “PR can make or break your career, but freelance journalism allows you to interview whoever you wish for various publications, while getting paid.”

Stephen also informed us about the new online tools made from Google, such as Google Trends, Terrelle with The Sun’s Ally Ross

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Beauty Must-Haves

“My favourite? Benefits They’re Real! Mascara”

Searching for the perfect look? To help you look stunning whatever the weather, Brooke-Sara Clark, has narrowed down the best of the best make-up. Follow her top tips and you’ll look great all year round!

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NCHANTING EYES

Benefit World Famous Neutrals is a best-selling eye shadow kit, which comes in a fabulous box, with a variety of colours and tips to achieve the perfect look! At under £25 for the complete kit, this is definitely a must-buy item!

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ABULOUS FALSIES

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara emphasises your eyelashes, giving a lift and leaving beautiful fanned lashes that could be mistaken for falsies! Luckily, the long wearing formula never smudges and the brush is specifically designed to reveal the lashes you never knew you had! The wand allows you to create defined and volume lashes.

A winner of several awards, this item is definitely a must-buy for your handbag!

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LAWLESS FOUNDATION

True Radiance Foundation SPF 15 evens, illuminates and perfects your skin! It provides 24 hour hydration, gives anti-pollution action, radiance boosting action and enhanced make-up hold! With both make-up and skin care benefits, what’s not to like about it?

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USCIOUS LIPS

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is “a delicious treat for your lips”, according to a specialist Clarins make-up artist. It makes your lips look smooth, shiny and even fuller!

With extracts of shea butter and mango, the lip perfector softens and protects your lips and features a 3D radiance pigment to create a natural gloss finish. There’s something for everyone with six different shades of subtle colours to choose from: rose, apricot, nude, petal, candy and rosewood.

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ERFECT PRIMER

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch base leaves your skin with the perfect, immaculate and smooth touch. Now you see them…. now you don’t, as your skin becomes instantly smooth and small imperfections magically disappear! It evens and enhances your skin by brightening facial shadows that make you look tired. What’s more, the gliding texture comforts your skin and is easy to apply.

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RETTY POLISH

Max Factor Gel Shine Lacquer Nail Polish has a high shine and intense colour that lasts. It adds instant glamour to your world in an array of colours, from patent poppy to sheen merlot!

Max Factor’s make-up artist Caroline Barnes said: “Nail polish is jewellery for your fingers and toes.

Rich, glossy fingertips instantly brighten your look and mood!”

Top Tips 1. Use your fingertips to spread Clarin’s Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch sparingly over your skin.

It can be worn on its own, or with a day cream, foundation or powder.

2. Blush adds colour, and contours and defines your cheek bones. To get the most flattering look, find out your face shape: oval, long, heart, square or round!

3. For even more luscious lips, make a home-made exfoliator (there are lots of recipes online) and use lip balm often too!

4. Find out your eye shape online; this way you can apply your shadows and liners to look even more gorgeous!

5. For the flirtiest lashes, heat your lash curler up with a blow dryer for around five seconds: the heat works like hair curlers!

“Nail polish is jewellery for your fingers and toes” 13 | Limelight

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Craigstuart

b u s y b u s k e r

When Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major spotted Craig Stuart busking in Piccadilly Circus tube station, they were so impressed they decided to interview him for Limelight! With a talent for art as well as music, Limelight just had to find out about this rising star’s greatest accomplishments, future plans and his recently released EP! Limelight: What inspired you to become a singer?

Craig: Listening to music while growing up, inspired me to become a singer. I then started playing the guitar in Year 10 or 11 and became obsessed with it.

Limelight: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

Craig: I’m not 100% sure, to be honest; I take every day as it comes.

I would like to be successful in whatever it is I’m doing, hopefully music... maybe have a wife, kids and a dog too?!

Craig’s EP cover

Bringing sunshine to London’s commuters Limelight: What is it like performing on The London Underground Busking Scheme?

Craig: It’s brilliant and great for monitoring reaction too, which really helps when deciding what songs to play at a gig. It’s also just mental that I’m standing in the underground with so many people listening to me sing!

Limelight: Who do you dream of Craig: Not being taken too seriously collaborating with?

Craig: Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro! because I don’t have a record in the charts that everyone knows about. Some people think I’m joking QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS when I say that I do music full-time Pepsi or Coke? Coke Limelight: What is the most valuable because I’m only busking at the TV or films? Films all the way lesson you’ve learnt in your career moment.

Laptops or tablets? Laptops so far?

What’s your best chat up line?

Craig: To work hard. Even if Hello is the best one - just go Limelight: What achievement are you think you’re working hard, straight in there! you most proud of and why? sometimes you’re wrong and you What is your phone background?

Craig: Going full-time with music, need to work harder. For me, I’ve because I am putting all my energy It’s a photograph of inside the achieved more in the past two Lego shop! I was out with my into something I love. years than I have done ever before housemate a few weeks ago and and I think that’s because I am when we saw the Lego shop we Limelight: Do you feel that the starting to focus on what I really couldn’t resist going in for a quick artwork you create is inspired by want and I’m working towards it. look! your music?

For me, working hard is the key to Craig: I’m quite creative and so if I achieving my goals. have an idea I let my imagination take over and get my creativity out, Limelight: You’ve released a new sometimes by helping friends make solo EP; what are you planning to short videos, as I have a degree in do next? film. I like to use Adobe Photoshop Craig: A lot of gigs and another EP, to create art too. I go out, take but with a few more songs. some photos, and create weird art!

When I was working with my band, Limelight: What do you least like for every song, I created a piece of about your profession? artwork to match!

“Even if you think you’re working hard, sometimes you’re wrong and you need to work harder”

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Katy B

With a new album and an upcoming tour, Katy B is set to be bigger than ever! Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major caught up with Katy to find out what’s happening in her world!

GIRL ON A MISSION! Limelight: What inspired you to name your latest album Wonderland !

Little Red?

Limelight: What was it like working Katy B: Originally, there was a song included on the with Tinie Tempah on your previous tour? album called Little Red Lights and I felt it would also

make a good title, but the track didn’t make it to the Katy B: It was amazing! It was back in 2011 and it really album in the end. So, as I’m quite little and I have red opened up my eyes to what it could be like for hair I decided Little Red represents me perfectly! Also, a me! Tinie is such a lovely person and we’re good lot of the songs are based on lust, love, passion, anger friends! and jealousy, which makes me picture the colour red.

Limelight: What was it like collaborating with various Limelight: How do you think Little Red compares to stars when you took part in the recording of England’s your debut album, On A Mission?

2014 World Cup song, Greatest Day?

Katy B: Unlike my previous album, my new album Katy B: It was really fun and a bit like stepping sounds like music you would expect to hear in a club. into my childhood because of all the singers and

sporting personalities there such as the Spice Girls and Limelight: Do you base a lot of your songs on personal David Seaman! experience?

Limelight: Do you feel The BRIT School helped you Katy B: Yes, definitely! I also get become the singer you are today?

“The most important inspiration from my friends and family.

Katy B: Definitely. The most important thing I learnt at The Limelight: How did you feel when your thing I learnt at The BRIT School was to song, Crying For No Reason, reached BRIT School was to surround myself with people who have the the Top 5, in the UK’s Top 40? same passions as me. surround myself with

Katy B: [I felt] great! It was so nice that Limelight: Who did you aspire to be like people who have the people wanted to listen and support when you were a child? the song.

same passions as me” Katy B: I used to play the piano and so Limelight: What inspired Crying For No Reason?

Alicia Keys was a massive inspiration; I wanted to be exactly like her!

Katy B: My friend rang me up one day and burst into

tears, but she couldn’t figure out why. It was only after Limelight: What else can your fans look forward to in thinking about it that she realised it was because she the near future? had gone through a break up and hadn’t been able to

release her emotions properly. I felt I could relate to her, Katy B: I’m going to be releasing more songs! They’ll because sometimes I might be going through a tough be on my SoundCloud as well as sent to fans who time but have no time to think my emotions through subscribe to my mailing list (go to Katy B’s website to and so bottle them up. subscribe!).

Limelight: What is your favourite song on Little Red and Limelight: What advice would you give to young people why? who would like to follow in your footsteps?

Katy B: I really like Tumbling Down because the lyrics Katy B: Believe you can do it, stay committed and never take me lose sight of what you want, no matter what that is! on a journey and make me feel as if I’m Alice in

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS McDonald’s or KFC? McDonald’s Pepsi or Coke? Coke Harry Potter or Lord Of The Rings? Harry Potter Starbucks or Costa? Costa Ed Sheeran or Jessie J? Jessie J

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Remembrance

Not only was August 3 2014 one of the warmest days of the year, it was also a day full of respect and remembrance.

Marking 100 years since the First World War began, on that day, a remembrance service was held at Carshalton Ponds, Surrey, to remember those who had fallen.

Lest We Forget When you’re asked to be silent you usually don’t want to, right? However, when it comes to Remembrance Day, it’s a completely different story.

With tales of the untold still unspeakable for those who had fought in the war, we will never

understand how awful the days and nights of World War One and World War Two really were.

At a remembrance service in Carshalton Ponds, Surrey, people gathered in their hundreds to show both respect and gratitude for all the men and women who served, fought and fell in World War One and World War Two. With bands, choirs and retired war veterans, August 3 was an outstanding day to have witnessed. As wreaths were laid by the British Legion and representatives of other soldiers, including local children, Hannah

and Joseph Herron - the descendants of World War Two veteran James F. Wyatt - the crowd stood speechless, taken aback by the power of the poppies.

As the ceremony came to a close, each attendee made their way towards the pond’s edge, where poppies were given out to throw on to the water. Before long the pond was a sea of red, every poppy representing a man or woman who had given their all for our freedom, and where would we be without it?

By Ellena Major

The JFK Assassination In November 1963 the world was left reeling in shock after the much loved US President John F Kennedy (left) was shot dead. Lee Harvey Oswald (right) is believed to have shot the president.

Charles Hall, a 17-year-old A level student pays a moving tribute to the late president with this great poem.

A man so great Who could lead the nation Little did he know now?

About his unexpected fate Lee Harvey Oswald In the apartment of the building The man with no shame Hid a man with the gun His hands soaked with John’s His intentions were so dark blood They were even blackened by His conscience feeling no blame the sun November 22, 1963 His finger pushed the trigger 12:30pm - the time chosen by And bang! John’s face was gone Lee No longer to be recognisable Three bullets loaded in a For everything had gone wrong Carcano rifle A president and a family man The danger’s proximity was A guy who really knew his enough to stifle people But was it really Lee who committed the deed?

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Or was it someone else who wanted his anger freed?

A man with probably a thousand enemies by now Was it really just Lee who had John on his prowl?

Fidel Castro, the KGB, FBI or CIA Was there more that one person whose role had come to play?

As life goes on for those who were close to John, will the truth ever be rewritten or forever forgone?

Artwork by Charles Hall

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limelight Tours the O

houses ofParliament

n a beautiful sunny day in August, the Limelight team travelled to the very heart of London, to visit the historic Houses of Parliament, situated by the bank of the river Thames. Strolling along the busy morning streets, we were excited about our tour with Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, who played a key role in getting Westfield and Hammerson, two of the UK’s leading retail developers, to invest over £1 billion redeveloping the main shopping centre in Croydon.

When we met the MP he seemed eager to begin the tour and tell us the history behind the world famous Houses of Parliament. The tour kicked off in the historic Westminster Hall, where Barack Obama, Her Majesty the Queen and Nelson Mandela have all given speeches.

We progressed from this immense room to the next – the magnificent St Stephen’s Hall, home to statutes of famous parliamentarians from centuries past, including William Pitt and John Hampden. We tried to take a selfie with John Hampden, but were politely informed that he was for our eyes only!

Right: The Limelight team at the Houses of Parliament Mr Barwell revealed that St Stephen’s Hall used to be the House of Commons before it was reestablished elsewhere, following the great fire of 1834, which was caused by two overheated chimney flues.

When asked, Mr Barwell confirmed that it is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament and that anyone looking anything less than peachy is quickly ushered out, as dying in the building entitles you to a state funeral.

Stunned by this fact we proceeded to the central lobby, where the public can request to talk to an MP, questioning them about any matter concerning the country.

Next stop was the House of Lords, embellished with a grand, spectacular, golden throne on which Her Majesty the Queen sits every year during the State Opening of Parliament. So brilliant is the throne that pop star Michael Jackson once expressed a desire to buy it when he visited the House of Lords in 2002, but was told it’s priceless!

After stroking the hardened red leather seats, which we were not allowed to sit on, we made our way to the last destination of the tour - the highly awaited House of

Commons!

Inside this home to many fiery debates, historic events and many accomplishments, we stood in awe. Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Clement Attlee, all stood in this very room making impactful decisions including the introduction of the NHS and the infamous poll tax – all of which have shaped Britain into the country it is today.

Mr Barwell told us that in order for the MPs to vote at the end of each debate, they involve themselves in a physical routine of meandering into the appropriate ‘yes’ or ‘no’ queues to cast their votes, after a bell is rung. This process must be over and done with in eight minutes.

Having the MPs visibly sorting themselves into their chosen corridor is done to ensure each party knows the decision their MPs make. Therefore if the MPs do go against their party’s wishes the “whips” step in. The job of the whips, (Mr. Barwell, is a whip) is to ensure that MPs follow their party’s wishes.

Such is the importance of securing votes, that there have been occasions where MPs who have been hospitalised with serious injury or illness have been put on a stretcher and driven by ambulance to Westminster to cast their vote, by the entrance to the Houses of Commons. Sadly, there was an occasion where an MP died 20 minutes after casting his vote.

Despite our best efforts, we could not find the Prime Minister, David Cameron, for an impromptu interview, but fortunately, Mr Barwell was happy to answer any of our questions. When asked if the voting age should be lowered to 16, he replied: “I think there are definitely some young people at 16 who are informed enough to absolutely deserve the right to vote, but I think there are quite a few that would say they are not ready at that age. So, this is something I to some degree have an open mind on, but I’m more interested at the moment in trying to encourage more and more people at 18 to use what they already have.”

Overall, Limelight’s trip was a success; not only did we tour one of the most influential buildings in Europe, but we also received a fascinating history lesson from an MP who made it both informative and very interesting!

By Barbara Bielecka and Roxana Hall

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ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR CROYDON COLLEGE!

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roydon College is celebrating being granted the most prestigious award a voluntary group can be given - The Queen’s Award for Volunteering.

proved so successful its pattern is now being taken forward by UNICEF UK for part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Games.

The College is the first further education (FE) college in the country to receive the honour, the equivalent to an MBE, which is awarded for excellence in services to the community.

Granted to groups, rather than individuals, it recognises their outstanding achievements striving to improve the quality of life for others in their local community.

Di Layzelle, Head of Student Life, says her work with the students is, both ‘exhilarating’ and ‘rewarding’, adding: “It should never be underestimated how much young people can achieve.”

Frances Wadsworth, Principal and CEO at Croydon College, said: “Volunteering supports our community and improves students’ awareness The College has been working hard to forge of others’ needs, but we recognise it develops positive relationships within its community and valuable employability skills too. Student encourages students to volunteer at Croydon College is on “I would encourage volunteering their time helping others through a remarkable, laudable and significant the Volunteer Pledge Award. Last scale, led by an inspirational manager, everybody to year alone, over 1,500 students Di Layzelle. I am incredibly proud of volunteer; it volunteered 18,000 hours the work that Di has achieved with lobbying, campaigning, fundraising, our students and the scope and levels is a precious awareness-raising and even of the support they have delivered to opportunity to representing young people at the benefit others. The Queen’s Award for UN. Volunteers is a wonderful recognition develop as an of exceptional work and we are very individual” One student who has really proud to receive it.” benefited from volunteering is A-level student Ryan Raghoo (17), he said: “Through my work

If you would like more information with UNICEF I have been involved with national about the Volunteer Pledge Awards and international campaigns, I have been given the or are interested in studying at the chance to go and teach human rights in Denmark. only Queen’s Award winning College, I would encourage everybody to volunteer; it is a please visit: Croydon.ac.uk precious opportunity to develop as an individual.”

Elizabeth Akindutire (19), who is studying Health & Social Care at the College agrees, she said, “There is incredible value in being at service to others, you truly find out a lot about yourself.” The Pledge has

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Di Layzelle (centre left) and Frances Wadsworth (centre right) with students

27/11/2014 08:50

Talking Shop with…

Peridot the Street Dance XXL Champions

T

hey synced, flared and head slid their way into the 2010 semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent, mesmerising not only the judges, but the whole nation with their slick moves and fast paced dance routines. More TV appearances, plus performances around the world followed for Peridot, who won the Street Dance XXL Championships in 2011. After bumping into the ten strong dance group, at a lively event in Croydon recently, Limelight’s Barbara Bielecka and Roxana Hall found out how they hope their prominence will help inspire young people to ditch the streets for dance lessons…

Limelight: What was the Britain’s Got Talent experience like?

Peridot: It was amazing. We were able to meet a lot of interesting people and it helped to make us public very quickly.

Limelight: What have you gone on to do since Britain’s Got Talent?

Peridot: We’ve done loads of stuff. We’ve flown to New York, Vegas and Abu Dhabi for dance performances, appeared in a Channel 4 documentary and performed at the Olympics!

“If you’ve got a goal, whether it’s dance or not, stick with it and don’t follow your friends”

Limelight: How did Peridot form?

Peridot: Some of us went to school together and some of us went to dance school together. We’ve all grown together and are all south London based (with most members from Croydon).

Limelight: What is your ultimate ambition?

Peridot: Our slogan is ‘aspire to inspire’ and so as long as the youths keep supporting us, we’ll show them dance and keep them off the streets, that’s our main goal. We started dancing originally for this reason. We’ve chosen this path and hopefully we can show this to other kids.

Limelight: How long are you planning to continue dancing?

Peridot: We go to the gym to keep ourselves fit and so as long as our legs keep going!

Limelight: Finally, what advice would you give to young aspiring dancers?

Peridot: If you’ve got a goal, whether it’s dance or not, stick with it and don’t follow your friends. So once again, if you’ve got a goal, stick with it and also work hard.

Limelight’s Barbara Bielecka (left) and Roxana Hall (right) with Peridot!

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Parties, Fans and Exciting New Plans, George Shelley Reveals All!

They say all great things come out of Britain, and it’s safe to say Union J is no exception. Since the band’s last single, Tonight (We Live Forever) reached a very respectable 9th place in the UK Top 40 Chart in August, members George, JJ, Jaymi and Josh have been busy working on a new album set to hit the shops before the end of the year. With an army of devoted fans anticipating Union J’s next single, Limelight’s Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major just had to catch up with the band’s gorgeous George to get the latest news!

George: When we recorded the song we were in Los Angeles. We Limelight: As a boy band you get George: We all warm up and have really enjoyed listening to the song honey, lemon and ginger drinks. to work with your best friends. which is why we decided it would We have massive group hugs What’s this like?

George: It’s never boring because be our next single. We had so before we go on stage too; it helps much fun in Los Angeles and so we all entertain each other; we us get into the zone, so we can we wanted to reflect that in the always do funny things to make smash it! video; which is why it’s so party each other laugh! based!

Limelight:You’ve already Limelight:You’ve already achieved completed one tour, can your Limelight: The Tonight (We Live so much since The X Factor. fans look forward to any Forever) video was directed by You’ve had sell out shows and upcoming tours?

Director X! What was it like you’ve become chart toppers George: Definitely! Our new being able to work with someone album is coming out at the end of too! What are you hoping to so big in the music industry? achieve with your new album? the year, and we should be touring George: We were all so star George: Thank you! We would with the new album in January struck! Previously, he’s worked love to explore other countries 2015, which should be really with several huge acts such as and meet our international fans, exciting! and to be able to show the album Justin Bieber and Iggy Azalea! We were on our best behaviour, but to everyone across the globe Limelight: Which of your songs is by the end of filming we were all that would be amazing! your favourite and why? messing around with him! It was George: There is a ballad on the so cool!

Limelight: The Tonight (We Live new album that I love and think is Forever) music video is party amazing! I can’t tell you anything Limelight: You performed at many based and shows your wild side. yet, but you’ll know exactly which When writing and recording the concerts and festivals all over the one it is when you hear it! country last summer, how do you song, did you have that in mind? prepare to go on stage?

JJ

GEORGE josh

jaymi

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“We have massive group hugs before we go on stage; it helps us get into the zone so we can smash it!”

FOLLOW GEORGE ON TWITTER: @GEORGEUJWORLD Limelight:You’ve just been on Blue Peter, what is it like to have your very own Blue Peter badge?

George: [Laughs] Oh, it’s so cool!

We grew up watching Blue Peter and so to have our own badge and appear on the show felt like such an achievement!

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS Nando’s or Pizza Hut? Nando’s Spongebob or Patrick?

Spongebob Jessie J or Nicki Minaj? Jessie J What is your best chat up line?

Hey, is your name Wi-Fi because we’ve got a connection!

What is your phone background? It’s of a forest!

Who is most creative in the studio? We’re all creative when we’re together!

If you could dye your hair any colour, what would it be? Blue!

“We grew up watching Blue Peter and so to have our own badge and appear on the show felt like such an achievement!”

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HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY COURSE

I

visited a careers adviser for the first time, recently. The meeting began with me energetically reeling off my passion for music, my desire to attend an accredited London music college and then become a somewhat modern Billie Holiday. After gracing my careers adviser with a taste of the classic, And I Am Telling You, she said: “Well, Imaan, I’m not sure if your style will be appreciated by the music industry, perhaps singing is not your calling.” I curtly replied: “You wouldn’t know. Your ears have been covered the whole time, thank you very much,” and left the room, anticipating the day she’d be trampled underfoot by my true fans, fighting to claim the last copy of my CD, in HMV!

tuition fees at an all time high, the last thing students want to do is choose the wrong course and go through the hassle of changing it. The good news is that help is available. Limelight speaks to Brian on why exactly this problem occurs and how students can pick the right university course!

Limelight: In your book, Choosing Your Degree Course and University, you wrote that university tutors think students are ignorant as to which degree to pick. Do you think this is down to the careers advice they receive at school or do you believe it’s down to other factors?

Brian: There are some schools, quite a number of schools, I think, But after some solemn reflection I that do not provide sufficient decided my careers adviser wasn’t information on university entry so much of a villain. She was and in particular, degree courses. probably trying to keep me from Now there are an awful lot being the next victim of a shocking of degree courses and many statistic – one in five university contain a lot of information which applicants choose the wrong students ignore so that when course. This is according to Brian they do apply, they certainly find Heap, the highly respected careers themselves on a course they know adviser and ‘guru of university nothing about. For example, one choice’. student I know of wanted to be a dietician and she applied for a The news that one in five course in nutrition, but didn’t think university applicants choose the that it had anything to do with wrong course should come as science. Now that’s a pretty basic a wake up call to students sleep lack of knowledge. So that’s the walking through college and sixth first problem. The second problem form and casually flicking through is that students don’t start UCAS, seemingly sure of the researching courses early enough. course they would like to study.

They should start at the beginning Of course, many students are sure, of Year 12 because there’s a lot of but what about those who are in information about universities and two minds or think they’ve chosen courses that they need to know. the right course, but discover they haven’t? With university Limelight: What if students don’t

know what career path to take by the time they apply for university?

Brian: They need to have a knowledge of careers and courses in order to make a decision about university and finally they need to know themselves. A parent may unwittingly give them the wrong advice and so if their school has a careers department they should go there first. The school may know them better than anyone else.

Limelight: What advice would you give teens who find themselves in conflict with their parents when it comes to which course to do?

Brian: I know there are quite a number of parents who are very anxious for their sons and daughters to go into law or medicine and if they don’t want to do that, perhaps get a teacher to mediate between the student and the parent. The reason why they should mediate is that often teachers see students in a different light to their parents. One sixth form girl I advised years ago, said with tears in her eyes, that she wanted to be a lawyer, but her parents wanted her to study medicine. I told her parents that she was more of a thinker than a doer and they agreed. Now she is one of the most eminent property lawyers in London.

Limelight: Do you agree that attending summer schools are a good way of preparing for university life?

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BRIAN’s book, Choosing Your Degree Course and University, is available from Amazon and major book shops.

Brian: Well, preparing for university life means going to open days, doesn’t it? But the point is students can visit a university without waiting for an open day. I think they should contact the head of the department they want to apply to and ask if they can visit and perhaps talk to some of the students, because that’s really very valuable. I know one student who simply walked into a university, went to the student union to have a cup of coffee and started talking to some of the students about the university.

Limelight: What advice would you give young people who are aspiring to go to university next year on writing personal statements? What do you think they should include?

Brian: They should be trying to get work experience and in particular, visit people who are in a job they want to do, to find out what it’s all about. The experience and knowledge gained can be shared on the personal statement. They’’ve got to show an admissions tutor how interested they are in a course and how much research they’ve done. They need to do the research long before they sit down to write their personal statement, because if they haven’t done it, they will have nothing to put in the statement, which is going to be worthwhile.

“Students should start researching university courses at the beginning of Year 12 because there’s a lot of information about universities and courses that they need to know” Limelight: Apart from poor student decision making, what else inspired you to write your book?

Brian: Well, the book itself of course aims to provide a complete picture from A to Z. First of all, how to choose a course, which means looking at individual subjects

and alternative courses which are very similar and how to complete a UCAS form. It then goes on to indicate what offers are going to be made and what grades are going to be required, so the student can match their academic ability with the actual offer they’re likely to get. This way they don’t waste applications on universities whose grades they’re unlikely to achieve. So, instead of going through every website of every university to look at the offers, they’ve got it in one book. Finally, the book also provides information on graduate destinations.

Limelight: Finally, what advice would you give students who believe they are studying the wrong degree course?

Brian: Well, if they find they’re studying the wrong course then the only answer is to withdraw and think again about whatever course they would find interesting.

After speaking with Brian I decided that my careers adviser definitely gave me the right advice and that from now on I’m going to spare my supportive family the inevitable agony of having to listen to my renditions of Billy Holiday songs!

By Imaan Wright

To win a copy of BRIAN’s book please visit Limelightmag.co.uk!

Mr Brian Heap

For Brian’s Top Tips on choosing the right university course head over to the website LIMELIGHTMAG.CO.UK!

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L oTopnAttractions don’s T

HE SHARD

I felt sky high – literally, as I soared over London’s landscape along with the birds, the planes, and maybe Superman, if I looked hard enough! The staggering 1014ft glass shard, towers over London’s most historical, and beautiful buildings such as the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral, offering a perfect view of one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

Did you know The Shard is almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London and has 360 degree views for up to 40 miles? Looking down at the ant like people through the glass walls, a thin sheet of transparent nothing, my stomach flipped and adrenaline pumped, as I feared I could plummet to the ground at what felt like millions of miles below. The more I looked, the more I saw and with an affordable ticket price, wouldn’t you like to experience the spectacular views and adrenaline first hand?

For information on prices visit: the-shard.com

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ADAME TUSSAUDS Wouldn’t you just love to meet all your favourite celebrities, heroes and she-roes? Imagine meeting every single one of them up close and personal, in one building! From pop sensations to sports personalities and even those who have died, Madame Tussauds is a worldwide waxwork company with models of nearly every celebrity you can think of; even the Queen!

Madame Tussauds has waxwork models that are so realistic you have to look twice before realising they’re not actually the real deal!

Whether you’re a massive fan of Rihanna or crazy about One Direction, you’re able to get close enough to these celebs to get your very own selfie! Madame Tussauds is definitely an attraction you can’t miss. With extras too, there’s something for all the family!

One of the added attractions is a ride called “The Spirit of London”, where you ride around in a taxi and interact with London’s past: from the Great Fire of London to World War Two and see everything as it happened. At the end of it all, you can meet all of your favourite Marvel characters, such as Spiderman! You can even see them in 4D at the exclusive Marvel Cinema.

Prices start at £15 if you’re over 16.

For more information visit: madametussauds.com/London

TOWER OF LONDON One of the most historic palaces in London is filled with facts about previous kings and queens and the horrors their victims encountered.

Even without the sea of ceramic poppies that recently surrounded the Tower in remembrance of fallen British and Commonwealth soldiers, this grand structure is still a powerful symbol of London.

As Beefeaters walk around guarding the castle and ravens soar in the sky above, the Tower of London is an amazing place to get a feel of the gruesome side of London’s history.

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Not only can you walk around the grounds and take various tours held by those who know all the facts, you will also be able to stare in amazement at the Crown Jewels.

Head over to hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon, to book your tickets and find out more information today!

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Z

SL LONDON ZOO*

Roar! Do you have a passion for discovering new habitats and creatures yet don’t have the time and money to travel the world? London Zoo alongside ZSL’s Whipsnade Zoo hold a huge collection in excess of 7,000 animals.

From tigers to zebras, there is lots to discover, creating a fun-filled adventurous day out!

Fancy experiencing the adrenaline of parrots swooping over your head? There are plenty of live shows daily to explore all the animals in action. Also, the food is well priced and so there is no need to bring a packed lunch. Make sure you don’t forget to buy a souvenir to complete your trip to the zoo (I chose the lion cub teddy). Or why don’t you come back to London Zoo as a keeper?

You can become a keeper for the day and spend time behind the scenes with the animals themselves! You can even enjoy up close and personal encounters with the animals – for an additional fee! With this much fun at a reasonable price, why wouldn’t you go to London Zoo? For information on prices, visit: www.zsl.org *London Zoo’s official name is ZSL London Zoo. ZSL stands for the Zoological Society of London and is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity, which owns London Zoo.

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IPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Did you know you spend an average of three years on the toilet?! Believe it or not, this is just one of the many crazy, weird and wonderful facts you’ll learn while on your adventure at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! With over 700 artefacts across six floors you’ll be spoiled for choice. From a four-metre long model of Tower Bridge made using just match sticks to the world’s tallest man, there is something that everyone will find interesting! There’s even a life-sized Ferrari someone actually knitted on display!

With so much more to see in the crazy collection, you won’t know where to start! With mind boggling facts that will blow you away, step into the weird and wonderful world of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! with illusions so odd you can’t even begin to imagine them!

Unlike many other London Attractions, Ripley’s is open 365 days a year and with your admission, you can also try to find your way around in Ripley’s Mirror Maze.

By Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major

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Reviews My, What I Call, Live Show, by Miranda Hart This year Miranda Hart embarked on a national tour of her “My, What I Call, Live Show!”

The show was full of typical Miranda style antics from galloping to hilarious attempts at dancing and singing, which kept the audience in stitches and sent so many galloping to the toilets during the interval!

Miranda even got some people to gallop around

The Chocolate Show Chocolate? Fashion?

Count me in! Once again, The Chocolate Show came to London to give chocoholics the weekend to indulge in their favourite treat!

The venue, Olympia West, was packed full of incredible chocolate companies hosting a range of activities from workshops providing opportunities to make your own chocolate bar to demonstrations of chocolate recipes by Great British Bake Off champions Edd Kimber and John Whaite. And yes, there were lots of opportunities to taste good quality chocolate!

the arena and tried her hand at love matchmaking members of the audience!

My, What I Call, Live Show was definitely an evening I’ll never forget. I’m simply relieved that I wasn’t one of the audience members who had to gallop around the arena! Miranda once again holds the crown for the award-winning Queen of Comedy!

By Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major

But best of all was a fashion show with couture outfits made entirely from chocolate.

Around the venue were 100s of stalls dedicated to promoting luxurious chocolate, including stalls with chocolate brownies (our favourite). Would you like to immerse yourself in a chocolate world? Make sure you attend The Chocolate Show London when it returns and make sure you bring lots of money to buy enough chocolate to last you the year!

For more info visit: salonduchocolat.co.uk

By Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major

Swingin’ With Tarzan!

Go Ape is the UK’s number one forest adventure park, where you can enjoy an adventurous day out with your friends or family. “It’s about getting in touch with your inner Tarzan, he’s in there, we promise,” a Go Ape representative said.

When I got to Go Ape, I was welcomed by an array of giant zip wires, Tarzan swings and challenges in Tilgate Park in Crawley, Sussex.

Picture Perfect!

Polagram is the new easy to use app which allows you to print images as Polaroids with captions!

Polaroid cameras are hard to get hold of these days and very expensive, however, Polagram is the new alternative with even better results.

From a beautiful gift box (our personal favourite) to an array of polaroid prints, Polagram has an assortment of several options for you to capture your perfect moments as memories.

You can even order your images directly from your phone- it couldn’t be easier!

I leapt off platforms, and climbed rope ladders and tried not to fall as I found myself suspended in midair!

Tilgate Park is just one of 28 Go Ape adventures based in forests throughout the UK and so there is bound to be one not too far from your home for you to explore!

If you’d like to Go Ape and have a swingin’ time, then visit: www.goape. co.uk today!

By Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major

With high-standard and high resolution images printed every time, alongside a short delivery time of a few days, Polagram is the perfect app to make photo gifts!

The app is available for Apple and Android devices. Download the app now by visiting: polagr.am

By Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major

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CarnivaL Fun Day! T

he Notting Hill Carnival was a fantastic event to liven up your summer, with quality music, wonderful food and the company of fun friends!

On the second day of the carnival, Sunday August 24, performers dressed up as different characters, including people who live on the fringes of society, struggling to make a living. Limelight’s Yanet Beyene spent time with some of these characters and interviewed Richard Gallimore, one of the founders of United Colours of Mass (UCOM), a carnival costume band.

Limelight: How did you get involved in the carnival Industry and how was UCOM created?

Richard: When I was 19 I met a friend who danced in carnivals and so I was like, “I want to do that”. I ended up wearing costumes and taking part, but eventually I wanted to know what was going on behind the scenes and how the costumes were getting produced. I joined a carnival band in 2005 and helped them out during carnival season for two years. After a while, I thought I can do this myself and so with my business partner and the help of a few friends I started the journey to form UCOM in 2007, with our first year at Notting Hill Carnival in 2008.

Limelight: What is difficult about owning a company?

Richard: Trying to balance my personal life with the company is difficult; it takes a lot of work to keep it balanced. And the set up was difficult because we knew how to produce and design costumes and had a vague idea of the logistics involved, but we didn’t have the knowledge or experience of how to run our own business.

We have a hard working production team and logistics team; without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.

UCOM’s Youth Band UCOM has its own children’s band. The oldest dancer in the children’s band was 15 and he carried a large bronze Arabian Cobra, which was as heavy as it looked, but when I spoke to him, he said: “It’s the heaviest thing I’ve ever carried, but I enjoy seeing people take pictures and smile!” He said his secret is to always smile and never show how tired he is to the crowd. UCOM has a website where you can buy its unique and colourful carnival costumes.

Visit unitedcoloursofmass.com if you’re interested.

Carnival History The Notting Hill Carnival is a three day annual event held every August (August Bank Holiday Monday and the two days before then) on the streets of Notting Hill, in west London. The carnival began in 1966 and is now the largest street festival in Europe, with visitors over the three days topping more than a million.

Before the Notting Hill Carnival began, a “Caribbean Carnival” was held on January 30 1959 at St Pancras Town Hall, in response to the Notting Hill race riots, Britain’s first ever race riots, which occurred the previous year. The 1959 indoor carnival was organised by Claudia Jones, editor of Britain’s first black newspaper, The West Indian Gazette.

Limelight: Who is in the UCOM crew?

Richard: The UCOM crew is made up of too many people to mention, but Paul O’Donoghue and myself own the carnival band. Paul O’Donoghue is the artistic director responsible for the design and production of the costumes along with designer Alfred Palmer, and Steve Clarke is the band leader.

Richard Gallimore with Limelight’s Yanet Beyene

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A NEW REGULAR FEATURE

I

Great Brit - Sir Tim Berners-Lee!

magine a world without the World Wide Web (www): a world where tweeting is left to the birds, where tumblers only hold orange juice and where the only walls people write on are made of bricks. The world probably sounds ideal if you’re over 60, but for millennials, (14 to 34 year olds), a world like this would be a dark and dismal place.

For many people the web has become an essential part of life and a world without it is too prehistoric to comprehend.

Believe it or not, the web has only been around since March 1989 and who is responsible for leading us into such light? Who created this revolutionary tool? Well, none other than a Brit of course - Sir Tim Berners-Lee. Birth Of A Genius It was on June 8 1955 that south west London saw the birth of the web’s brainchild. Tim was born as the eldest of four to parents Conway Berners-Lee and Mary Lee Woods, mathematicians and computer scientists who had worked on the first commercially built computer, The Ferranti Mark 1. With a family history in technology, it seemed an interest in science and mathematics ran in Tim’s blood. His parents regularly encouraged an interest in science and maths, highlighting their relevance in even small things such as baking cakes, which always “involved some calculations”, recalled Tim. In the absence of a television at home, Tim spent his time trainspotting and nurturing his interest in electronics by modifying model railways. Tim completed his A levels at Emanuel School in Wandsworth and later went on to receive a first-class degree in physics from the University of Oxford, in 1976.

Career Journey Tim landed his first job as an engineer at one of Britain’s leading telecommunications companies, Plessey Telecommunications, where he worked for two years. In 1978, he joined D.G Nash, where he designed typesetting software. He then went on to work independently as a consultant at CERN, the European Institute for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland. It was here that Tim first exercised his true potential, which would eventually lead to the creation of the web. Faced with the job of organising the numerous research from different teams and documenting them on incompatible systems, the software prototype ‘ENQUIRE’ was born. This allowed him to link documents on single-word associations. Although this software didn’t prove as popular as he had hoped, this young innovative software engineer had an impact at CERN, who offered him a permanent job in 1984.

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The Birth Of The World Wide Web In March 1989, while still with CERN, Tim saw an opportunity to create a system of interlinked hypertext documents, accessible via a global system of interconnected computer networks, now known as the internet. He used the internet to create a system which allowed information containing text, images, videos and other multi-media to be sent and shared on a global scale. He called this system the World Wide Web. The web was originally conceived and developed to meet the demand for information-sharing between scientists in universities. Tim said: “Creating the web was really an act of desperation, because the situation without it was very difficult when I was working at CERN.” Tim eventually realised the concept could be implemented globally.

On August 6 1991, the first website was launched, http:// info.cern.ch. It was a simple site compared to what we know today, featuring instructions on how to create a web page. To this day it can still be accessed! It didn’t take long for the web to become noted as revolutionary and unlike anything created before, as it was able to provide links to text documents, art, photography and audio. This worldwide revolution, eventually led to the websites we know and love today, such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

Arise Sir Tim! Naturally, such a notable figure in the world of technology would be recognised for his work. In 2004, Tim was knighted by the Queen for services to the global development of the internet. On June 13 2006, he received the Order of Merit, an honour personally bestowed by the Queen for distinguished services in art, science, literature and the armed forces. Tim is one of just 24 living members to receive the honour, including Sir David Attenborough.

Mr Berners-Lee is now director of the World Wide Web Foundation, launched in 2009, to coordinate efforts to further the potential of the web to benefit humanity.

By Imaan Wright

Sir Tim Berners-Lee

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The film’s budget was $12 million (nearly £7.5m)

The book itself has been translated into 46 languages including Spanish, French, Hebrew and Dutch

Over 10.7 million copies of the book have been sold since it was released in 2012

The World In Numbers The Fault in Our Stars is a novel by author John Green, which was published in January 2012. The story is narrated by Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old with thyroid cancer, who is forced by her mother to attend a support group, where she meets and falls in love with Augustus Walters, a 17-year-old exbasketball player and amputee. The book’s title is inspired by a scene in Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, in which a nobleman Cassius, during a conversation with Brutus says: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings.” A film version of the book was released in June 2014.

By Brooke-Sara Clark and Ellena Major The official YouTube trailer has more than 28,144,358 views*

The official trailer currently has 356,219* likes on YouTube

The official Twitter (@TheFaultMovie) has 755,004* followers

The movie has won a number of awards, including a prestigious Teen Choice Award

For your chance to win a copy of The Fault in Our Stars on DVD, head over to LIMELIGHTMAG.CO.UK! *Correct at the time of going to press

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T

Football fever!

he Barclays Premier League’s 22nd season kicked off to a pulsating start, with plenty of thrills and spills to keep football fans on the edge of their seats. So what will happen by the end of the season? Will Wilfried Zaha do Crystal Palace proud? Will Manchester City retain their title as Premier League champions? Sports editor Terrelle Iziren offers his predictions on what could be yet another fascinating Premier League campaign

T

op Signings The £32 million arrival of Spain’s Brazilianborn striker Diego Costa appears to have solved a frustrating problem for Chelsea chief José Mourinho and his side, whose 71 goals weren’t enough to win the Premier League last season. Diego could change all that, thanks to his great physical presence in the penalty area, accompanied by an enviable ability to score goals, which has seen him rise to the top of the Barclays Premier League’s goal scoring charts, with eight goals (correct on September 28 2014).

For that I’m backing Diego to score 27 Premier League goals this season – more than any other player.

My predictions for top signings wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the highly-anticipated home coming of Wilfried Zaha on a season long loan. The skilful winger didn’t make the Manchester United first team, but after scoring a last-gasp equaliser on his debut match for Palace against Newcastle, (which ended in an epic 3-3), it appears that home really is where the heart is for Wilfried. With the talented striker back at Selhurst Park, I see no reason why Crystal Palace can’t challenge for a place in the top ten and no they certainly won’t have any relegation concerns.

T

itle Challengers Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal have had relatively strong starts to the season, thanks to tremendous squads featuring some of the best players in the world. Chelsea splashed £91.3 million on new players last summer and the huge investment seems to be paying off with five wins and one draw from their first six games, propelling them to the top of the Premier League. I expect Chelsea

to be Premier League champions by the end of the season, in May. Why? They have such a talented squad and in José Mourinho, one of the greatest managers in the world. It may be hard for Manchester City to emulate the heady heights of last season when they won the Premier League for only the second time in their history, as they haven’t strengthened defensively as much from last year and so I predict they’ll finish in second place. For Arsenal, the FA Community Shield last August was a major coup and manager Arsène Wenger will surely use that victory as a springboard for their season. Despite spending £35 million on ex-Barcelona star Alexis Sánchez, I can only see Arsenal finishing third as injuries to key players such as Olivier Giroud always seems to hold them back.

C

hampions League Chase The top four teams in the Premier League all qualify for the Champions League, the elite European football competition. But if a Premier League team finishing outside the top four wins the Champions League, the team finishing fourth in the Premier League misses out on a Champions League place.

Just like last season, the race for fourth place and a final Champions League spot will go right to the wire. Spurs have managed to crack that nut twice, but it was a case of second time unlucky for them in May 2012, when Chelsea finished outside the top four, but won the Champions League, cruelly denying the club of that all-important fourth place.

It is hard to see a Premier League side winning the Champions League this year, due to the quality of players in Europe. I predict French giants Paris StGermain will be crowned winners of this prestigious football tournament.

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Open Events Thursday 2 October 2014 5:30pm–8:00pm Saturday 8 November 2014 10.00am–1.00pm Thursday 12 February 2015 5.30pm–8.00pm Tuesday 10 March 2015 5.30pm–8.00pm

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UCC offers a range of University level courses, most of which have degrees awarded by the prestigious University of Sussex.

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BUILT ENVIRONMENT (EDEXCEL) BUSINESS CRIMINOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE DESIGN FOR VISUAL COMMUNICATION EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES FASHION FILMMAKING HUMAN RESOURCES LAW (LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY) PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

T +44 (0) 20 8686 5700 E info@croydon.ac.uk www.croydon.ac.uk/open

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Original Responsible Ambitious

Apply now for September 2015 We have two intakes: Key Stage 4 (aged 14 –16) Post 16 32 |(aged Limelight 16 –18) 60 The Crescent, Croydon CRO 2HN Limelight.indd 32

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