The Phoenix Newspaper - August 2015

Celebrating 5 Years Serving the Community

AUGUST 2015

Connecting Communities - Inspiring a New Generation

Kenya hails two of its greatest success stories

l Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta with President Obama

K

by Steve Williams

enya celebrated two ‘firsts’ together, which emphasised the strength and importance of the country, on the international stage, when President Barack Obama became the first US leader to visit the country, whilst in France, Chris Froome made his mark in the history books

being the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France twice.

The east African country had good reason to mark President Obama’s visit with delirious celebrations as it marked a ‘coming home’ for the president, whose father is Kenyan, and they doubled their collective delight, for ‘one of their own,’ as Froome, riding for UCI ProTeam Team Sky dur-

ing the gruelling three-week trek, was born in Nairobi.

As both icons in their field made their respective marks in history, Kenya, lying serenely on the coastal line of the continent, along the equatorial line by the Indian Ocean, had good reason to say that, as a country, it is coming out of the ‘dark’ and into the ‘light’ as a world force.

Having gone through trau-

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matic experiences in recent years, with the US embassy bombing, in 1998 and the attack by Islamist militants on Nairobi's Westgate shopping centre, in 2013, Obama and Froome were shining lights for a nation hearing to be on the top table when it comes to world affairs.

“This is personal for me,” the president said.

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The Phoenix – August 2015

Arise - Get Up And Honour Our Slaves: Says Passionate Reverend

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telephone

everend Canon Eve Pitts is nothing if not passionate about her everything she talks about, represents or does.

The first Black woman ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England, she is a pioneer in church history and, further more in herself and her heritage.

Reverend Pitts, of Holy Trinity Church, in Birchfield, Birmingham, is embarking on a mission that she feels will ‘right the wrongs’ of history books, as we know it.

Not afraid to express pride of ‘self,’ she’s on a mission to hold a special service to honour the slaves who died that the generations to follow them can live.

Well-known for her fearless confidence and conviction, she’s holding the service, during Black History Month, because: “There seams to be a ’veil of shame,’ when it comes to our history, and I have this vision of commemorating the death of the millions of our forefathers who died so that we shall live.”

About this vision, the Reverend continues: “This is something that has been nurturing in my head for years.

Other communities honour their dead, yet we (Black) don’t. And I want to put that right. We are one of the most religious groups of people, yet most of us are disconnected.

Furthermore, too many people, generally, have the mindset that our history only goes as far back as 500 years. There’s a cultural abis before slavery - It’s as if we didn’t exist before that traumatic period in our time. It’s as if our minds have been ‘cuffed,’ shackled and chained.”

Known for her honesty and integrity, Eve, a native of May Pen, in Jamaica, holds the likes of President Obama, Bob Marley, Martin Luther King and novelist, James Baldwin, as just some of the people she admires, especially their struggle, against insurmountable odds, to reach the elevated positions they did. And on her mission of ‘discovery,’ she too is finding obstacles which, yet not impossible, are very difficult to overcome.

“I found it very difficult to come to turns with our failure to work together,” she says. Diffidently, though, she says: “We can change the division in our community - but,

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we have to get to the root cause.

There’s a lack of self-knowledge and that is why we have to have this service. The past, for any nation, is vitally important that’s why I see the service as a simple lesson where the lack of ‘self’ is a deep shame because we came from slaves. How else do we make sense of who we are and where we come from?

We come from a lineage of kings and queens, before we were enslaved and then dying in the most barbaric, undignified way.

Well known for her sense of humour and honesty in her sermons, Reverend Pitt felt propelled to doing something to honour the fallen - just as other nations do theirs and want everyone to remember them.

"God is not apolitical, nor is he colour blind,” she says. “I do get cross with Him and have ‘barnies’ as I, at times, wonder about the results of some of our prayers.

The dehumanisation of slaves must have been traumatic and unbearable, so we must bring a sense of dignity to their terror.”

She is proud that the history of Black people is steeped with pride and believes that forgetting the past, as it manifests itself today, is painful. As her emotion overflows and tears stream from her eyes, she says: “Blackness appears as shameful today.

We are always frightened to step out in fear of our ‘bed-fellows.’

It’s as though we are frightened to stand up and take sacrifices.” As a re-buff, she continues: “We need to be prophetic and fight fear. We all have to put our heads above the parapet as we need that inner freedom.”

Themed: ‘I Live…Because You Did,’ the service of remembrance, on October 25, will include readings from Birmingham Poet Laureate, Adrian Blackledge, as Rev.

Pitts proclaims: “Amidst the clammer of words, we need to stop and commend them. We all must arise and get up as many of us are on our knees.

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The Phoenix – August 2015

Inspired By...

I should like to help everyone if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that.

We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone.

And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you!

You, the people have the power - the power to create machines.

The power to create happiness!

You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work that will give youth a future and old age a security.

By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise!

Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance.

Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

Excerpts from Charlie Chaplains speech in ‘The Great Dictator’

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NEWS

A Special Message from Marcia McLaughlin, Founder & Managing Editor of The Phoenix Newspaper

I

would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your valued support over the last 5 years.

It has been an honour and a privilege to support the community that we are all a part of, highlighting the positive contribution we all make.

The Phoenix Newspaper cuts across cultures with a truly multicultural slant.

For this reason, we hope that you continue reading the Phoenix Newspaper as part of your 5-a-day routine to give you the overall feel good factor.

It is a very special time for us as we celebrate 5 years of serving the community. To celebrate this landmark occasion we will be staging a whole day of buzzing excitement.

The day will start with the official launch and grand opening of the PhoenExpo exhibition, perfect

for Business to Business, and Business to Consumer.

This is a unique day, in celebration of the Commonwealth and its rich cultures.

As a mark of respect for those that have given themselves so that we are able to celebrate oneness, we will honour them on the day.

People including Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and many more great people who left a great legacy.

We will promote: • Health & Wellbeing, • Travel & Tourism, • Communication, • and Community Safety & Education These are categories that exhibitors at the expo can showcase themselves in for you.

We’ve got a very special treat in store for you that reminds me of my childhood, and that is the Christmas Caribbean Grand Market. Look out

for it on the day!

The Phoenix Newspaper has been running for 5 years, and we look forward to celebrating it with you, the reader.

We are expecting 10,000 people to walk through the Expo throughout the day.

The Bethel Convention Centre was chosen for its capacity, location and understanding of events of this magnitude.

With a total capacity of 5,000 this is the perfect venue to hold our fifth anniversary - All praise is to our God! There are still sponsorship opportunities available, including Award Sponsorship, as well as a number of sponsorship packages for the whole day events.

Thank you in advance if you want to get involved or partake in this event. Please feel free to contact the event team on 0121 231 3235 or 07948 155 192.

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I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have A Dream’ Speech We have a beautiful history, and we shall create another in the future that will astonish the world.

Marcus Garvey Until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes, me say war. That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race me say war!

Haile Selassie

Rewards exceed industry standard for people who deliver over and above industry standard.

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The Phoenix – August 2015

The Hidden History that Britain wanted to forget

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or the longest time, Britain has hidden behind a veil of half-truths when it comes to its history of slavery.

Focusing mainly on the abolitionists in the early 19th century

whose actions led to the ending of slave trade across the empire in 1807, and to the abolition of the institution in 1834, there has always been that feeling of giving ourselves a pat on the back.

This is where David Olusoga’s Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners which was shown in 2 parts over 2 weeks on BBC2 aimed to set the record straight, showing us the true reality of that era, warts and all.

The abolition of Slavery in 1834 spawned one of the biggest compensation packages in British history. More than £20 million was paid out in

the scheme, over £17 billion in todays money, and quite rightly so you may believe.

The truth of this payout however, was that it was not paid out to the slaves themselves, but to the owners of said slaves, some 46,000 people across the British Empire who received payment for the loss of their ‘property’.

Olusoga was able to paint us this vivid truthful picture, albeit uncomfortable for some, thanks to the work of a team of historians at University College London, who have been combing through the 46,000 entries in the Slavery Compensation Commissions accounts books, in an effort to shed more light on the topic.

Included in the research were thousands of letters from slave owners trying to get the most out of the situation, maximising their potential claims on their slaves.

One such letter comes from widow Dorothy Little, 70, who inherited 14 slaves in Jamaica after her husband died. Part of it reads:

"I am anxious to ascertain if there is any prospect of me getting a full and fair compensation for my unattached field labourers.

"I am fearful they will be put down as inferior labourers because out of all of their number, 14, ten are female. But from that very circumstance they have been more valuable to me than strong men, they have more than doubled their original number and therefore doubled my income."

Most disturbingly in the documentary, was when David was shown the instruments of tor-

Continued from Front Page

“There's a reason why my name is Barack Hussein Obama. My father came from these parts.”

He was encouraged by the economic drive forward by the country and the entrepreneurial spirit of the people there, saying: “Entrepreneurship offers a positive alternative to the ideologies of violence and division that can all too often fill the void when young people don't see a future for themselves.”

He said: “Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions of the world. People are being lifted out of poverty... What happens in Africa is going to affect the world.”

Obama also spoke optimistically of the country, tweeting: 'Proud to be the first American President to visit Kenya. Happy to see family, and to talk with young Kenyans about the future.'

Kenyans themselves responded to the president with an enthusiasm which equalled his.

One onlooker summed up the occasion saying: “The effect of

ture, there is really no other word for it as the term used, ‘restraint’, seems far too polite for what these devices did.

These pieces discouraged slaves from resisting or escaping through shackles, neck braces and many other instruments that wouldn’t look out of place in an upcoming horror film.

Olusoga tracked down the 1661 Slave Code document stating how to deal with disobedience.

‘For a first offence; a slave was to be whipped; for a second offence he was to be severely whipped,

his nose slit and face burnt with a branding iron. Presumably, no one ever offended a third time.’

There are many that feel that it would have been more humane to take someones life rather than the torture that they endured.

For most of Britain watching, the feeling that the Germans must have when the Holocaust is mentioned is one that we can now sympathise with in some way.

A part of our shameful history, however far detatched in the present day we are from it, that will live with us all.

Kenya hails two of its greatest success stories the visit will not necessarily tell today, but his impact will take effect, and be remembered, in years to come.”

Back in France, Nairobi-born Froome was a one-man Kenyan team, doing it all for himself in the same way that he had made himself a Kenyan national champion.

He joins an elite group to have won two Tour de France races, as the 2015 edition concluded with the traditional procession down the Champs Elysées.

Over-awed by his achievement, he remarked that: “Riding in the front with the yellow jersey on is what dreams are made of.”

A special video; ‘Chris Froome: Made in Kenya,’ highlights his rise to cycling dominance, from his early days growing up in Africa.

Kenya proudly lays claim to two of the world’s greatest leaders, who is celebrated by all, simply for being beloved winners.

A sign of things to come for a continent steeped in history and riches…in every form.

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The Phoenix – August 2015

P

Twenty senior promotions at PwC in the Midlands reflects major investment in regional team

wC in the Midlands has strengthened its senior regional team, with six new partners and 14 new directors, reflecting a major investment to support further growth for the firm in the region.

45% of the senior promotions are women, reflecting the company’s commitment to workplace gender equality which was recognised earlier this year when PwC was named in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2015 in conjunction with Business in the Community (BITC).

The professional services firm has admitted a record 57

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

new partners to the UK partnership, 44% of which are in the regions. This reflects the significance that PwC places on UK regional growth prospects and the importance of supporting clients at a local level.

New partners at PwC in the Midlands include: Alison Breadon – Assurance, Andrew Taylor - Tax (Value Chain Transformation (VCT) / Transfer Pricing), Cat McCusker – Consulting, Nick Hatton - Tax (M&A), Rob Moran - Deals (BRS), Will Dowsett - Tax (Private Client) PwC Midlands also welcomes partner Ruby Parmar to Milton Keynes, relocating from

London to head up the office’s private business team, and Steve Smith who returns to the Midlands to focus on the provision of tax services to private equity backed businesses.

Mark Smith, regional chairman at PwC in the Midlands, said: “I’m extremely pleased to announce these promotions, which reflect our commitment to further growth in a more buoyant economy. They are all incredibly well-deserved and reflect the hard work and commitment shown by each individual over an extended period of time.

l L-R: Alison Breadon, Nick Hatton, Rob Moran, Stephanie Hyde, Cat McCusker, Andrew Taylor, Will Dowsett

Aston Manor Cider Invests In New Head Office And Logistics Hub

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ston Manor Cider, the UK’s largest independent cider maker, has moved into a new office space and warehouse and logistics hub in Witton, just three miles from its production site in Aston, Birmingham.

The conveniently-located suite of offices, have been designed by specialist company, Workbox UK and configured precisely to the needs of the business.

Housing the management and support functions of Aston Manor, the contemporary office design includes modern white walls and green soft furnishings reflecting the colour of the orchards.

The multi-million pound investment has also enabled the business to develop a dedicated warehouse and logistics facility.

The facility is the first of its kind for the Midlands-based business, and will ensure warehousing and transport operates efficiently and effectively with a much lower carbon footprint.

Commenting on the new site, Gordon Johncox, managing director of Aston Manor Cider, said: “We are delighted to have a working environment that sup-

ports and improves our performance.

“The logistics hub in particular increases the capacity and capability of that part of our operations as well as improving our environmental performance.

“The offices are bright, comfortable, modern – a flexible space which will ultimately boost staff morale and productivity. We have a replica apple tree in reception that looks incredibly realistic and is a great conversation starter with any visitors.”

Aston Manor Cider has made considerable capital investments in recent years at all its sites including the warehouse and distribution centre in Witton. It also increased production, warehousing capacity and jobs at its production and packaging facility at Tiverton in Devon.

The UK’s largest independent cider maker was recently given the coveted award for the Best Manufacturer (Large) at the West Midlands Business Masters Awards 2015 and won four medals, including one gold, at the prestigious International Cider Challenge 2015.

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MoneyGram

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A 1HeartTV Launch Flip to the Centre Pages for the launch coverage!

SS Arandora Star See the Memorial on Page 34

Neville left unable to return to the UK after attending Funeral in Jamaica

Simmer Down

resident of Stockwell, London since December 1962, Neville McKenzie went to Jamaica in November last year to attend his aunt's funeral. Upon his attempted return to England in June of this year, he was issued with a refusal of entry clearance.

The situation is now becoming untenable, and the 68 year old is living in what he describes as 'very uncomfortable' conditions in Waterhouse, Kingston "The UK's visa policy regime is extraordinary and circular. Even though there has never been a requirement for persons who lived in the UK before January 1973 to show any kind of residence permit.”

“These persons are practically being excluded from the country they have called home for over half a century, simply because they can't provide a permit, something they weren't required to have then or even now but still being asked for," declared his lawyer Jennifer Housen, a barrister-at-law in England and Wales, and an attorney-at-law in Jamaica and the United States.

She pointed out that there is a lot of ambiguity on the part of the United Kingdom (UK) government, as there is nothing in law that makes it mandatory for persons who have settled in the country before or on January 1, 1973,

to get a British visa.

"No one ever hears of cases like these in relation to the USA or Canada, and the UK must treat its residents better and not have a one-size-fit-all approach to immigration and border issues," she said.

She pointed to a letter that McKenzie received from the UK Visas and Immigration before he left the country, after approaching his MP in England, to confirm that he was clear to travel to Jamaica.

The letter stated, "The Immigration Act of 1971 came into force on January 1973. Under Section 1(2) of that Act, anyone who was present and settled in the UK on 1 January 1973 and did not have the right of abode, or who was not exempt from immigration control, is to be treated as having been granted ILR on that date.”

“This was automatically acquired and people benefiting from this provision were not formally notified of their status at that time ... " "A person deemed to have ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) under this provision will retain their settled status provided that they can show that they have resided continuously in the UK from before 1 January 1973, with no absences of more than two years and have not had their ILR cancelled or revoked."

"There is no requirement for a

person in this position to make an application to UK and Immigration, since they already have ILR.” “However, it is open to them to apply for a biometric residence permit to confirm that they have no time limit on their stay in this country and l Jennifer Housen, barrister-at-law in England and Wales, and attorney-at-law in Jamaica and the United States. which would act as evidence bigger issue is education which to show that they had previously clearly is lacking.” been granted ILR." “I get at least one of these cases Housen is encouraging Jamaic- every year, and now I have to be ans to get it right and educate doing the best I can in ensuring themselves on new regimes that that persons get it right and adapt," are being employed by countries. she said "I do a lot of talks in the UK at In the meantime, the father of the churches and whichever func- seven, who grew up in the partion I can go, informing persons ish of Clarendon noted that it has that they have to try and adapt.” been a challenging time for him.

“I often say to young persons, if "I made sure I checked to ensure your older family member is going that I was safe and my MP gave to Jamaica, even if they are going me clearance. I came for a funeral to live, please check that they are and was planning to stay for six not going on Jamaican passport," months, only to be told that I could she said. not return. "... Unlike the US where you are "I didn't prepare for this and required to have a green card, the where I am now the accommodaUK doesn't deal with green card. tion is not very good," he lamenNow England is introducing the ted. residence permit regime but the

Call For Local Businesses To Make A Mark In The Birmingham Postcode

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n celebration of its 10th anniversary, best-selling board game Destination Birmingham, is calling for local businesses to feature on a special edition of the game.

Local businesses that are keen to sponsor the game, will feature in their very own spot on the board game, offering a current representation of the local area, and giving businesses the opportunity to make a mark in their own postcode!

The 10th anniversary game is already set to be stocked in stores including John Lewis, Debenhams, WH Smith, Waterstones, Argos online and Amazon.

Destination Birmingham is an award-winning board game,

which sees players compete to race through the streets of Birmingham in their very own mini cab and was set-up by extaxi driver, and ‘mumpreneur’, Rachel Lowe MBE. The Destination board game has come a long way in ten years; set up by Lowe, Destination London launched successfully despite being rejected for investment on BBC’s Dragon’s Den. The game went on to launch in one of the UK’s leading toy retailers - Hamley’s, even outselling Monopoly!

The game has since then been developed into several other formats including a range of regional versions, Destination Great Britain and Downton Abbey. Additionally, founder Rachel Lowe recently featured as the board game expert on the BBC’s much-loved TV show, The Apprentice: You’re Fired.

Rachel hopes to hear from a variety of local businesses and said: “When we launched the original version of Destination Birmingham ten years ago, we had a wealth of fantastic businesses and attractions feature on the board.”

“Now that so much time has passed we want to celebrate the success of the game

The Phoenix – August 2015

One-year-old has passport blocked over security fears

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couple, from Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands, were left apoplectic with range after their son’s passport application was delayed, for over three months, because of ’security concerns.’

The couple’s son is 20-months old.

Angry mum, Latoya Anderson, says her son, PrinceDaniel Chambers, was treated like a “suspected terrorist” as the youngster’s application was stalled, with no viable reason given, whilst father, Donovan, got his passport through in a week.

Both parents feared the delay would scupper a dream £4,500 family holiday to Jamaica they had planned for, for some time, with Latoya saying: “It feels as if our baby was treated like a suspected terrorist. How can there be any security concerns about a baby?

He’s 20 months old and it feels like he’s already been criminalised.”

Donovan and Latoya’s nineyear-old daughter Shanice’s passport application also came through - without issues.

The angry parents have approached Birmingham community activist Desmond Jaddoo and Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell to help clear up this ugly mess and save embarrassments made to this point. alongside the existing local businesses and get them involved in what we’d like to be an honest representation of the local area.”

For sponsorship enquiries please contact sales@destinationboardgames. com and to buy the game at destinationboardgames.com.

COMPETITION

To be in with a chance of winning a one of 2 physical copies of Destination Birmingham, just answer this simple question!

Which ‘Destination’ game was the first to be launched? a) London b) Birmingham c) Downton Abbey Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to competitions@thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject “Destination Birmingham Competition”. Competition closes at 23.59 on 4th September 2015. There is no cash alternative.

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The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 7

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CAMARA’S SPOTLIGHT

COLOUR MY WORLD, DONATE BLOOD Welcome to ‘Camara features’ a new column where I will be spotlighting some of the most amazing charities, organisations and people I have had the privilege of working with. Be a part of my journey and learn and enjoy about being inspired. that most commonly affect people within the Black, Asian, Greek and Ethnic Minority community.”

These conditions are excruciatingly painful.

Looking back, it was almost like I was oblivious to the fact that the majority of people in the UK could actually give blood but don’t!

I could give blood and I did!

There isn’t a secret society of people donating, you aren’t chosen… It’s a matter of knowledge and choice.

Once you make a conscious decision to save lives and check you are eligible to become a blood donor, the rest is pretty much a breeze.

I say take the plunge! Each time I have donated, I have felt ex-

The Phoenix – August 2015

tremely comfortable. The nurses are very experienced and take good care of you, and they are friendly.

What also helped me relax was the fact that I’ve donated in a local town hall and a local church, not a dreaded hospital.

The atmosphere is strangely liberating and the donation is fairly short, including the health checkup/restoration of snacks at the end of the session, the process is only about an hour long.

Most people can give blood. As long as you are fit and healthy, weigh over 7 stone 12 lbs (50kg) and are aged between 17 and 66 (up to 70 if you have given blood before) you should be able to give blood.

If you are over 70, you need to have given blood in the last two years to continue donating.

However, If you are female, aged under 20 years old and weigh under 65kg (10st 3lb) and are under 168cm (5’ 6”) in height, they will need to estimate your blood volume before donating.

I will be featuring a follow article next month so would love to hear from those of you who haven’t donated yet and from those of you who have, including those of you that have had a transfusion. Let me share your stories.

Get in Touch with Camara

M

any of the charities that I have worked with share together the terrible toll of death in those so close to us.

The process of trying to save lives by organizing blood transfusions in order to keep someone alive that has been brutally attacked, in an accident or even problems arising during child birth.

My worries take a new dimension when I hear that many people in our communities are afraid of giving blood and some even being superstitious!

I thought that if I was to encour-

age you all, I would share with you the importance of giving others this life saving gift.

I gave blood a few months after I turned eighteen. I wasn’t quite sure on whether I was comfortable with the idea of “giving blood”.

Scared of the thought of needles taking so much blood, what from my arm! No thank you.

It was when I became further involved with The Angel Foundation which was in the starting process of shipping a Mobile Blood Bank Unit to Jamaica that would travel across the island collecting blood donations.

I decided then that I must over-

come this fear and think of how others would benefit from it.

I did some research on the internet reading countless stories and testimonies from people and families who benefited from blood donations.

The information and help lines are there to help you. I made an appointment with my local NHS Blood service www.blood.co.uk It is such a wonderful feeling being a link in the chain of saving lives.

Blood we donate is also divided into various components according to the needs of patients.

Many newborn babies may be-

nefit from a single blood donor as their blood requirements are smaller.

Every time we donate blood you can help up to 3 or 4 individuals.

You can donate blood if you are fit enough to do so.

Before every blood donation process, a series of health checkups are performed on the donor totally free of cost.

This is of course great benefit to you as your blood pressure is tested for any abnormalities. The blood donated and blood products that are derived from them are screened for certain infections.

You can also choose to be informed if they find any abnormality in those screening tests.

These frequent blood donations are good free health check-ups that will help you stay healthy.

I am especially appealing to my people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities as we are very much needed as some blood groups such as O Rh positive and B Rh positive are more prevalent among donors from outside the white community.

Donations are vital to ensuring all patients always get the treatment they need.

Patients with disorders like Thalassaemia or Sickle Cell know exactly how important blood donors are because regular transfusions are needed to keep them alive.

Both Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell are examples of disorders

camara@thephoenixnewspaper.com www.camaraofficial.com www.youtube.com/camaraofficial www.linkedin.com/CamaraFearon

Camara (aka mizzcamara for websearch)

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 9

Page 10

The Phoenix – August 2015

COMMUNITY NEWS WITH LJ

LJ’s

ity n u m Com Slot

T

he Black and Asian Police Association Police an Community Inspirational Awards were held earlier this month, and to hear a group I'm proud to be a part of, had been nominated for an award was a humbling delight for all the group.

I am therefore proud to boast that Caribbean Reference Group won the award for their contribution to the West Midlands Police.

The nomination was based on work done in 2012. This was a memorable year for Birmingham who hosted the top two athletic teams in the world Jamaica and the USA for their preparation training for the 2012 Olympics.

This was also a special year for the Jamaican community who would celebrate 50 years of independence.

With Birmingham boasting the largest Jamaican community outside of London, a week long celebration showcasing Jamaican culture was planned for outside the landmark Council House in Victoria Square, the event would close with a civic ceremony with the raising of the Jamaican flag on the front of the council house for 'Jamaica In The Square'.

With approximately 150,000 people expected to flock to the city, this event would need policing. It is fair to say that relationships between this community

and the police has had its issues over the years.

The police therefore decided they wanted to try a different approach to policing this event.

Discussions with then Chairman for the police Derek Webley MBE and Beverley Lindsay OD, OBE a proud Jamaican (who was the brainchild behind this week of celebrations) both now Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands, suggested an inclusive approach such as a community group to advise and work with the police would be the way forward.

Members of the community were invited to a meeting and as they say the rest is history. The group was formed from members of the community who had various knowledge and input in different community aspects, and felt they would like to give their time to represent the feelings of the community.

In January 2012 the 'Jamaican Reference Group’ was formed. l Representing the Caribbean Reference Group on the evening. Left to Right: Everton Burke (Chair), Fortnightly meetings in open dis- Chester Morrison, Elaine Clough (Vice Chair), Desmond Jadoo and Harold McKenzie cussion with the police addressThis group are so deserving of ing points that would sometimes vised and worked with the police members from other Caribbean to accomplish a successful week communities have joined the this award, after devoting selfbe hard to hear were conducted. less man hours, and devotion to The police representative in the of celebrations that are still being group. talked about to this day.

The group meet on a monthly positive direction for our comgroup was PC Michelle Ugwueze One of the things we felt was basis and with different ranked munity's future generations. who worked tirelessly to build the trust of the group whilst encour- key to the event being a success, officers and other professionals CONGRATULATIONS TEAM!! aging them to share their experi- was that there was no visible who work along side the police ences and that their voices would police presence at the event, this from West Midlands are reguwe felt would create a better at- larly invited to discuss ongoing be heard.

Also part of the group was mosphere and keeping the crowd concern and educating officers on community expectations.

Chief Inspector Mandy Platt who relaxed.

There had been no long term The group had been invited to advised the group on the correct personnel to engage with to en- plan for the group to continue past a front line officer training day to sure a successfully week of cel- the 2012 celebrations, however share their views on ways to foster ebrations, and other issues that such had been the success of the better relationships between the could be addressed concerning input of this group, the police felt police and the Caribbean comit right to ask the group to con- munity, as well as being involved the community in general.

The groups input was to prove sider remaining in a advisory role in the recent recruitment drive.

The group have advised on isinvaluable as the the celebrations for the Caribbean community for the West Midlands. sues you have heard recently on were a great success. In fact it The group adopted the name the the news i.e deaths in custody, was said that Birmingham had the best Jamaica 50 celebration 'Caribbean Reference Group' in and police accountability for their November 2012, with our nom- conduct/behaviour which they are worldwide.

As a member of this group I inated chair Everton Burke and truly proud to see things begin- l PC Michelle Ugwueze - an share the pride in how well we ad- vice chair Elaine Clough; new ning to take shape. instrumental part of this success

W

Corner with

Rachel Toussaint

Caribbean Reference Group awarded for Do You contribution to the West Midlands Police Know Your Immigration Status?

School's Out For Summer!!

hat's your plans for your little lovelies for the summer holidays? Here's a few tips, 'Park Lives" are promoting 'FREE' open park space near you. If you are fortunate enough some of these will have tennis courts and outside gym equipment also FREE. Lots of sports club have taken advantage of this "FREE' space organising sports sessions i.e football, rugby, rounders sessions in these spaces.

I’ve even witnessed Tai Chi sessions taking place in this open space, so there is something for everyone.

Why not take advantage of your museums - all for free .

Don't forget you local libraries are also FREE, why not plan a trip to Birmingham Central library and team up with spotting the decorative owls around the city as part of the 'BIG HOOT'.

89 giant owls have been placed

IMMIGRATION

to be at different locations across the city since 20th July 2015 until 27th September 2015, these are 'Inspiring, Fun and FREE'.

Their educational partner is the schools of King Edward VI who have a long history with Birmingham Children's Hospital who want to promote their 'open door' campaign at their five free schools for children from disad-

vantaged backgrounds.

These owls that are set to be sold at the end of the campaign to raise money for Birmingham Children's hospital and are the cumulative work of different artists from Birmingham and beyond.

As well as taking pictures for

your album, why not encourage your children to make drawing of the owls or print ones younger children can colour in to share on the children's ward for children who cannot leave the hospital to see the owls for themselves.

For the children who are dubbed 'techies', there is the 'Festival of Code', this is a FREE national event across 70 centres up and down the country for all aspiring tech superstars.

The event in Birmingham will be held at the International Convention Centre.

The organiser has said with computer programming now part of the national curriculum this event for 5-18 year olds is expected to be bigger than ever.

For those who like then outdoors, at different Wellbeing centre across the city, there are FREE sessions to learn how to ride a bike.

Happy HOLIDAYS! !!

W

e’ve heard a lot of rhetoric from the main political parties in the UK about curbing immigration from outside the EU. There is talk of a crack-down on illegal immigration - commonly known as “Overstaying”.

What then are the options for people in this dilemma?

Firstly, there are funds and practical assistance available for those who have overstayed their permission to be here but who wish to return to their country of origin voluntarily.

However, many people may not be in a position to take up this option due to their personal circumstances and they may well have a human rights claim to be here.

Despite the climate in the UK the government must fulfil its human rights obligations when making immigration decisions.

In this regard, the government has set out certain situations whereby it is more likely to grant someone permission to remain in the UK. Such as if a person has a British or European child who lives in the UK; if the child is not British or European but has lived here for at least seven years; if the person is married to a British or European citizen or in a significant relationship with such a person. Single people who have no children, may be able to get permission to stay depending on the length of time spent here.

So we can see there are options available for those wishing to be proactive in regularising their immigration status.

For advice specific to your case, contact Rachel Toussaint for your free initial telephone consultation on 0121 448 9255 or 07895327049.

Rachel Toussaint is a Solicitor who specialises in Immigration, Family & Human Rights law.

She believes strongly in the right to family life for all. She accepts instructions nationally & internationally.

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 11

PHOENEXPO 2015 AND NOMINATIONS UPDATE

Nominate!

The Phoenix Newspaper Awards The Phoenix Newspaper is proud to formally announce the Award Categories for 2015. Your nominations will shape these awards, so please send your nominations in. Some nominations have already come in, see below the category for details. If you can’t see your favourite, there is still time to nominate them!

We need YOU to nominate people, groups, organisations and businesses that you think deserve these awards.

Email your nominations through to nominations@thephoenixnewspaper.com stating clearly the name, address and contact number of the nominee, as well as which category you are nominating them for, and why. Check out the website for more information.

Lifetime Achievement Award Willard Wigan Bob Warman Bing Cecil Morris Mykal Brown Tony Owens Dr Saroj Duggall

Charity of the Year 2015

Acorns Childrens Hospice John Taylor Hospice ACLT NSPCC Birmingham Childrens Hospital

Special Achievement Award 2015

PhoenExpo2015

Dean Alexander Justice Williams Deb Leary Clint Dunkley a.k.a. Beva HRH Theodora Ibekwe-Oyebade Mykal Brown Teswal White Theo Paphitis Kanya King

Community Outreach/Volunteer Award 2015 Amrick Singh Ubhi Mykal Brown Mukhtar Dar HRH Theodora Ibekwe-Oyebade

Best Eatery 2015

Stall BOOKING Each room will have a theme, including: • Travel & Tourism • Health & Wellbeing • Communication & Education The events of the day time will be centred around the PhoenExpo 2015 Business Expo, which will run from 10am til 4pm.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to advertise your business to the massive, diverse readership of The Phoenix Newspaper who will be attending the event, not to mention the Special Guests and VIPs who have also been invited.

While this will be primarily a Business to Consumer event, there will also be Business to Business opportunities available.

There are a number of stalls available, including special positions in the Foyer area as you enter the building.

DON’T WAIT - BOOK NOW! CALL 0121 231 3235

Pushkar Turtle Bay Miller & Carter Wildmoor Oak Akamba Golden Fish Big John Mellows Catering

Best Place of Worship 2015 GNNSJ St Chad’s Cathedral Birmingham Christian Centre The Rock Church

Beauty & Lifestyle Award 2015 in association with Street Cred Magazine & Fabulosayou MAC Cosmetics Mary Kay Pamela Liburd Vivid Ink - Andrew Gough New Look Estilos Beauty In U

Best Financial Institution 2015 HSBC Barclays RBS Lloyds TSB Santander

Best Presenter/Radio DJ 2015 DJ Len DJ Countryman Ed James and Rachel New Little Richie Dean Alexander Noreen Khan Malverine Cole John Simmit Wayne Irie

Business & Enterprise Award 2015 Carl George Tony Sealey Indi Deol Ed James Ammo Talwar Lee Elliot & Juanita Carmichael Steve Walker Dipak Shelat H.S. Tank & Sons Eric Ho Yvonne Kerr Inprintz - Simon Brade Teswal White Joel Blake Simeon Thaw Shushana Davis Fenky Janes Patties

Sports Achiever 2015 Annie Zaidi Ellie Simmonds Brendan Batson Steve Hollinsworth Garry Peal WBC Womens Boxing Club K-Star Thai Boxing Amir Khan Rushian Hepburn-Murphy Gabriel Agbonlahor Daniel Sturridge

Best Retailer 2015 John Lewis M&S Harvey Nichols Debenhams Selfridges Primark

Page 12

BUSINESS AND POLITICS

How will the EU Referendum impact British business?

H

ow will the EU Referendum impact British business?

That was the question posed by British Influence, the pro EU Membership advocacy organisation in conjunction with Eversheds, to a panel of high profile guest speakers.

Panel members included Pat McFadden, MP, and Shadow Minister for Europe, Richard Halstead, EEF Region Director Midlands, Ken Wigfield, FSB Regional Chairman, Jason Wouhra, Director of East End Foods & Chairman, IOD West Midlands, Malcolm Harbour CBE, Member of Council, University of Birmingham, with the panel chaired by David Beswick of Eversheds.

This Thought Leadership meeting, in a ‘Question Time’ format saw some thought provoking and brilliantly worded questions from the audience, which included local business people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, forcing everyone to really weigh up the pros and cons of a “Brexit” from Europe.

“The EU is responsible for 40 odd percent of our exports, and in this region alone there are just over 2000 companies, which last year exported about £11.3 billion of goods to the rest of the EU” stated Pat McFadden, “The EU is also responsible for about half of the inward investment that comes into the UK. Being a part of the Single Market can help us.”

The Phoenix – August 2015

Businesses to support HS2 plans

B l L-R: Richard Halstead, Ken Wigfield, Pat McFadden, David Beswick, Jason Wouhra and Malcolm Harbour CBE From business owners, to organisations and individuals, by the end, most if not all attending were of the opinion that a ‘Brexit’ from Europe would be detrimental to the UK, not just to the economy, through trade routes, but also to the general public, with potential barriers to travel, work and live in Europe.

Explaining why this business meeting was important, Peter Wilding Director of British Influence stated “The Midlands is full

of businesses who show leadership, which is why this concept of Thought Leadership is important, because much like throwing a pebble into a pond, from this the arguments and discussions will spread.”

That is now our job, to ensure that everybody from the streets to the boardrooms fully understands what is at stake if Britain were to leave the EU, allowing them to make a fully informed decision as to their vote.

A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM

usiness leaders have pledged their “wholehearted support” for plans to take advantage of the opportunities that HS2 will bring to the West Midlands.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of commerce (GBCC) said: “HS2 will offer unprecedented opportunities in Birmingham and the West Midlands in job and wealth creation.

“The private sector looks forward to playing its part fully in vastly improving the connectivity of the Midlands with HS2 at the centre of those developments.

“The region’s businesses are ready to maximise the opportunities afforded by the arrival of the biggest infrastructure project in Britain for decades and give it their wholehearted support.”

The unprecedented opportunities that the arrival of High Speed Two (HS2) will bring to the The Midlands Growth Strategy, developed by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), outlines how developing skills and access to training, ensuring supply chains are prepared and improving the connectivity of the region, will put the Midlands at the heart of the UK’s economic future.

With correct immigration status in the UK, there is no limit to what you can do and achieve lawfully for yourself, family and community There is no better time than now to seek professional advice and assistance to deal with your immigration problem.

Immigration Rules are changing on a regular basis, making it harder for cases to succeed or to remain in the UK illegally.

If you do not have an application with the Home Office or an appeal with the Court waiting for a decision, you can expect to be detained or removed with or without notice. It’s the law.

If you truly value and respect your human rights, seek professional help today. It’s the right thing to do!

CALL US NOW FOR A CONFIDENTIAL FREE CONSULTATION Tell a friend or a relative you know who has immigration problem

Telephone: 020 7738 3898 Emergency: 07739 985 447 or email: chris@ccsolicitors.com London: 49 Effra Road, Eurolink Business Centre, London, SW2 1BZ Nottingham: NBV Enterprise Centre, David Lane, Nottingham, NG6 0JU

i10 Hitting New Heights l (L to R): On top of the new i10 building are Lee Hopewell (Balfour Beatty Site Manager), Brandon Garbett, Will Morris (both Balfour Beatty apprentices), Marie Bintley (Wolverhampton City Council Head of City Development), Councillor Peter Bilson (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets), Peter Fennell (Balfour Beatty project manager), Mark Eubank (Balfour Beatty Design Manager), Steve Parry (Neptune Developments Managing Director), Rob Mason (Neptune Developments Development Director) and Dave Ronan (Balfour Beatty Operations Director).

T

he multi-million pound regeneration of Wolverhampton’s transport hub area is hitting new heights with the roof on the showpiece Interchange 10 (i10) building nearing completion. i10 will provide the only top grade office accommodation in the city and is a key component in the council’s £10.6million office, retail and leisure development.

Wider development will include a new railway station and relocation of the Metro stop.

Plans have been passed for the extension of the station car park and the new bus station is already in use.

The Interchange will become the gateway to the city for

people arriving off the national rail network, by bus or Metro.

Councillor Peter Bilson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Assets, said: “The i10 building is now beginning to stand out as a beacon in the city landscape. This is a major development for the City of Wolverhampton and is being delivered on time and on budget. i10 will provide the first top grade office accommodation and other business units close to the station.

The project is being delivered with Neptune Developments and Balfour Beatty, who are working with the council to also help a number of apprentices gain new skills on site.

Peter Fennell, Balfour Beatty Site Manager, said: “We are

very pleased to mark this significant milestone in the construction of the i10 project, a key element to the Wolverhampton Interchange development.

Balfour Beatty is also working alongside Wolverhampton City Council and local colleagues to provide real work experience opportunities for local students and apprentices.”

Steve Parry, managing director of Neptune Developments, said: “The excellent progress being made with the I10 building is proving really useful in helping with our efforts to deliver future phases of the Interchange scheme, including the new railway station.”

The project should be completed by the end of 2015.

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The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 13

SPOTLIGHT - DIPAK SHELAT

Dipak Shelat: A Man of the Community

D

ipak Shelat, currently the Business Development Director for the Soho Road Business Improvement District (BID), has been a hard working pillar of the community in Birmingham for well over half of his life, albeit mostly behind the scenes.

Early Life

Born in India in 1956, Dipak, along with his mother and 2 brothers, followed his father to the UK in 1961 a few years after he came over in 1957 and set up the first Asian grocery shop in Wednesbury.

After leaving Turves Green School with one A Level and 9 O Levels, he attending Bournville Grammar-Technical School, to do his A Levels, but despite taking some time to settle into the much higher pace at the Grammar School, he came out with 2 A Levels and an O Level pass in another.

Taking up a Merchant Navy position as a trainee cadet with Cunard, Dipak saw the world during his first voyage, before realising it wasn’t for him. “Was it the wrong decision entirely?

I’m not sure. If it was the right decision at the wrong time, I’ll never know.”

Accountancy

Upon returning from his voyage, Dipak gained a few more A Levels at Bournville College, before he took up a year long Accountl Dipak through the ages - After being appointed Manager of the IAB, the first IAB Board Photograph, and as a Merchant Navy Trainee Cadet ancy Foundation Course at Birmingham Polytechnic which eventually led him into Appleby English and Partners with an Articleship to become a chartered accountant. he UK’s Luck was on his side, and he l e a d i n g landed a position later as a part-qualsupport orified audit senior at Clement Keys, ganisation which at the time were the biggest for Asian businesses independent firm of chartered acbased in Birmingham countants in the West Midlands. is to change its name.

The IAB The Institute of After working as an accountant in Asian Businesses private practice, and working in the (IAB), founded in field for a number of years, Dipak 1987 in the wake of was approached by the lamentably the Handsworth riots, no longer with us Omkar (Om) Singh will now be known Parmar to take up the position at the as the Asian Business IAB, part of the then Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Industry & Commerce, (ABCC). believing him to be the perfect man The move has been for the job, and trusting him to do so made to emphasise with passion and vigour. the close association Dipak ensured that Om’s trust was the organisation has in no way misplaced, and found that with Greater Birmhis new position suited him better ingham Chambers of than he could have ever hoped for. “I Commerce (GBCC), a l New logo: GBCC personnel with the new ABCC logo L-R: Paul Faulkner (GBCC chief executive), Anjum Khan (ABCC director) and Russell Jeans (GBCC actually looked forward to going in relationship forged 28 every single day. years ago by the late business services director) I’d be going in early, I’d be staying Om Parmar, who bethe original principles of its an increasingly important role came honorary president. formation to meet the needs in the development of the local late, going to all sorts of events and Paul Faulkner, chief execut- and aspirations of member economy as the demograph- functions,” said Dipak, proudly stative of the GBCC, said: “The companies and to develop their ics of the region shift towards ing; “It was more than a job, it was a committee decided that the full potential.” those with an ethnic back- passion to serve the community, and I gave it 100%.” change of name was needed to “The ABCC will continue to ground.

So in 1988, Dipak was appointed emphasise the organisation’s support the Indian, Pakistani “Asian businesses are diverse close association with the and Bangladeshi communit- and as such membership of the to the position of the first Manager GBCC. ies, ensuring we have a good ABCC includes everything of the Institute of Asian Businesses “They have been part of the cross section of the Asian com- from solicitors and restaur- (IAB), a position he cherished from Chamber for 28 years so it munity.” ants to training companies and the IAB’s formation in the previous year under the chairmanship of Om seemed a natural progression.

Anjum Khan, the ABCC’s wholesalers.

Parmar, a man who Dipak praised The ABCC will still stick to director, said: “We now play and noted as a gentlemen of great

IAB to become ABCC

T

vision, to the day he left last year.

The IAB (recently renamed Asian Business Chamber of Commerce at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Com- l Dipak with his family; Wife Meena, Son Dhanesh merce) is now prob- and daughter Devi ably the leading ethnic Dipak is now in a position business organisation in the Midlands, and a key such body to push the Soho Road BID (www.sohoroadshoppingcentre.co.uk) in the UK. “When you find your niche, forward alongside Craig Buckby whatever that is in life, you’re never (Senior Management Director), enreally working,” beamed Dipak, abling it to help build and grow the fondly recalling his time at the IAB, team to better serve the area and its “The IAB was that for me. Being in- levy payers, a task that he is jumping volved with it for 26 years, it was a into headfirst, and already his wife is noticing her husband working longer position and job that I loved.”

Although holding such a position and more often than he should be!

“I am immensely grateful to The for so long, Dipak has never been one for taking to the limelight, only Phoenix newspaper for affording me this opportunity to tell my life story ever coming forward when needed.

“It was strange to me, meeting so far, and wish to thank most heartpeople who in most situations would ily Marcia and her fine team, along never want to see me! I had the pleasure of once meeting Princess Anne, because the IAB supported a local Charity, and I was asked to come along, because I was the one who had supported and driven it.”

Family

About 10 years ago, as his son, Dhanesh (29), and daughter, Devi (27), started to move on with their lives and out of the family home, Dipak, along with his wife Meena, started looking into fostering children.

“We fostered over 20 different little ones from newborn to 3 years old, with a couple of children having challenging conditions,” explained Dipak as emotion overcame him, “We had one little girl for 3 and a half years, from when she was only 2 days old, and we’re grateful that even now we get an update at least once every year from her adoptive parents.”

New Beginnings

At the beginning of last year, Dipak had decided that it was the right time to move on with his life, and stepped down from the IAB as well as making the difficult decision with Meena to stop fostering. After about 6 months though, he started to get feelings that he had made the wrong decision in leaving the IAB. It was around this time that he received a phone call from the Soho Road BID Chairman Dipak Patel, offering him a position as Business Development Director.

The BID Team wanted to tap into Dipak’s corporate knowledge and experience as well as his marketing, promotion and PR knowledge to benefit the businesses which they serve.

A BID (Business Improvement District) is where businesses within a defined geographic area agree to pay a small levy, so that the collective funds can be used to deliver improvements agreed by the businesses that promote and support the businesses within the area and contribute to the regeneration of those areas.

There are currently 10 BID teams in Birmingham, 4 in the City Centre, and 6 in the outlying areas.

l Dipak at an event for the IAB with all the numerous people and organisations that had supported me in the past.”

“Finally, I’d just like to say, that sometimes life gives you the option to make a life-changing decision, sometimes not. But at the right time, a right decision will come along, and so just do it and don’t look back in regret.”

Even when he is meant to be taking a step back, just as when he was working for the IAB, Dipak can’t help but contribute to the community, and to give back to many what he has been fortunate enough to receive.

He truly is both a man of, and for the people.

Marcia would like to personally thank Dipak for his non-biased attitude towards her over the last 25 years, and we are proud to be able to publish this on behalf of a man whose heart is right with his community.

l Dipak with Daniel Riley of The Phoenix Newspaper

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 14

The Phoenix – August 2015

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 15

SPECIAL STREET CRED SUPPLEMENT IN THE PHOENIX NEWSPAPER

AUGUST 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

NAOMI LEGEND CAMPBELL

Page 16

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

How much do you really want it?

TV - Online - MAGAZINE

Editors Note

S

ummer Holiday’s are here and this is the time where all the hot parties concerts and festivals take place.

So far we have been to a few shows and they have all been jamming, something about the summer that makes you want to party hard even if the weather isn’t great.

In terms of sunshine I am still waiting but honestly it wouldn’t surprise me if it snowed at this

time of year it really wouldn’t. I mean so far we have had rain and storms so that’s our summer.

I see a lot of you have gone on holiday too, as I scroll down my notifications on Facebook I see so many of my friends taking beach selfies and tagging me in the picture.

Ha I do envy you all but I tell you this when I go abroad I will make sure you all wont hear the last of it. ha.

/streetcredmag

OWN IT. So yes welcome to the summer Street Cred Magazine supplement and check out FabulousAYou fashion section which focuses on the wedding season.

Gracing our cover is the amazing Naomi Campbell god doesn’t she look hot for her age she still has those luscious lips.

Check our review on the legendary soul diva Karyn White who did an amazing show at Birminghams Jam House and so much more.

Street Cred, The Eye of Entertainment

@StreetCredMag

www.streetcredmagazine.com

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Bit Like Christian Mase is back to being Murda Mase...

If you’re reading this advert, then thousands of others have too.

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0121 231 3235

Boxing champ Khan, a knock-out with fans in the Bullring, Birmingham

T

wo time world champion, Amir Khan, was a knock-out when he visited Birmingham, as he made a special beeline for the Argeela Lounge, in Digbeth.

The boxing, still the youngest British Olympic boxing medalist, winning silver at the 2004 Athens Games at the age of 17, was in the city's Bullring where he was happily stopping and posing for pictures with his fans, before heading off to the shisha bar and restaurant for some mocktails and relaxation.

The 28-year-old - who has won the WBA, WEA and IBF Light Welterweight titles - was in Birmingham for his own AK Foundation charity campaign, which he set-up to raise money to build an orphanage and school in Gambia.

Argeela Lounge owner, Abid Hussain, said: "With Amir Khan being in Birmingham and for him to visit Argeela for some relaxation enjoying our mock-tails and desserts was a real honour.

After spending some time at Argeela Lounge, he then visited renowned British Asian Kitchen, My Lahore, for Sehri (close of

fast).

Khan was in the city as part of a nationwide tour to promote his AK Foundation.

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Page 17

DEDICATED TO RAI SINGH OF PUSHKAR

Karyn White - Still the 'Superwoman' of soul

O

n a rare visit to these shores, soul star Karyn White gave a stellar performance as she brought years of staying at the top of her game to an audience - those who've been following her since she first broke onto the scene, as well as a new breed of music connoisseurs - who were doubly keen to hear quality music and a quality voice. And they were not disappointed.

At the Jam House, in Birmingham, she gave the kind of show which many have been baying for, for years, as she made it clear from the off-set that she was all about the music.

No gimmicky images, no excessive bling, this naturally stunningly beautiful California soulstress gave it with both barrels as she blasted out some of the classic tracks, which brought her to the fore in the first place, as well as a taste of newer tunes which were fresh, deep and very soulful.

An accomplished singer/songwriter, who rose to fame working

with the legendary L.A. Reid and Babyface, Karyn’s sultry voice was a pleasure to here as she gave a performance that was packed with energy, emotion and a great rapport with an appreciative audience, many of whom, of course, who were there to hear her belt out her ‘anthem.’

And, as she delivered with her all-time classic, 'Superwoman,’ that was it. The women in the crowd were screaming along - verbatim - as the men, well, showed immense appreciation of the 'better half' in their lives.

This was a class show, from a class act who made it clear from the off that, as she is all about the music, you were never going to be disappointed.

A mention goes out for local artist, Ricardo Williams, who, as the warm-up act, before the Superwoman wowed her baying audience, gave a great account of his talent, performing some of his latest, Luther Vandross-influenced tracks, which got the crowd in the mood for what was to come.

One to look out for.

l Ricardo Williams

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Drake is Punch in the face worthy

D

rake is always in some confrontation with celebrities if it isn’t Chris Brown or Meek Mill its now Diddy.

Apparently he punched Drake in the face for using the 0 to

100 track which apparently Diddy owns.

Sadly there isn’t any footage of this event taking place but there is enough proof that it did happen.

It is not the first time Diddy

has been violent towards people.

Rapper Lord Jamar in an interview says Diddy will only punch people who he knows he can, he says that Diddy would have seen drake punch in the face worthy.

Millarde

0121 373 4834

FASHIONS www.millardefashions.co.uk

396 Birmingham Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1YJ

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 18

ENTERTAINMENT

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Look out next month for an interview with Chronixx How much do you really want it?

OWN IT.

Naomi: The Legend

H

aving got into her role on the hugely successful US television show, ‘Empire,’ supermodel Naomi Campbell has now checked in at the fifth season of Ryan Murphy’s horror anthology TV series, ‘American Horror Story: Hotel.’

The 45-year-old model, who plays a cougar for guest re-accering episodes in the hit show, will be feeling more at hope, in her latest venture, as she will be

portraying a fashion editor who pays the ultimate price for her critique of a character which will be played by singing superstar, Lady Gaga.

The ‘Born this Way’ singer is reported to have a murderous role in the series and be involved in the fashion industry as real-life fashion icon Campbell’s character set to have major conflicts with the ‘Born This Way’ singer’s character.

London-born Campbell is film-

ing as part of her multi-episode arcn and is the third ‘American Horror Story: Hotel’ newbie who will be featured after Lady Gaga herself and New Girl’s Max Greenfield.

Producers of the show have confirmed that joining the three rookies are AHS alums Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, Finn Wittrock, Wes Bentley, Chloe Sevigny, Denis O’Hare, and Matt Bomer.

Has Kanye actually calmed dowN now?

I

n an interview with Charlamagne the God and DJ Envy Kanye showed his human side and said that it’s important that rich people give to the underdog and the poor.

So what happened to

‘You are now watching the greatest rockstar on earth’ and ‘bow in the presence of greatness’ quotes from this same man?

Well done Kanye.. looks like you’re back!

If you’re reading this advert, then thousands of others have too.

Get your company into the next edition of The Phoenix Newspaper to reach out to over 800,000 readers in print Call now

0121 231 3235

Dear Edith...

D

ear Miss Edith, I Just wanted to say, this new beauty section is amazing and love how the paper is hitting all communities.

Miss Edith just one

question. Why don’t you set up a weekly Dear Miss Edith online, where you could answer more than one question?

I just think you’re hilarious and would love to hear more.

Edith Says...

Between going to my yoga class and seeing my personal trainer plus meeting with my ‘besties’ (as the young people wud sey) for lunch or breakfast.

No sah dis weekly ting online wouldn’t fit in a my busy schedule. Anyway I will try and consider it and si how best a could fit it in. But for now is only monthly I can spear in di paypa.

My advise really is just pray that Miss Edith find time to even consider it.

Well first of all tank yuh. It sure is a pleasure to know that someone out der love what is happening and want to see more.

I not sure I could deal wid unu on a weekly basis plus I just about know how to use emailing. Unu tink all I do is just read people misery and enjoy it. I actually have a social life surprising as it may sound.

Miss Edith is hear to ansa all a unu questions. Just ask me anyting and I will sure to ansa unu. Just send unu questions to

dearedith@thephoenixnewspaper.com Mi would sey call mi but a nuh all di time mi in di mood to chat!

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

BIG SCREEN

www.streetcredmagazine.com

BIGScreen P

lagued by a very public and very troubled production, which saw the departure of Writer/ Director Edgar Wright (who had been attached to direct the project for many, many years) mere weeks before production, leading to a desperate scramble to find a replacement and frantic re-writes of the screenplay, everything spelt disaster for Marvel’s latest outing.

Fast-forward to now and the movie is out in theatres performing rather modestly at the box office when compared to the other films in Marvel’s arsenal.

This may lead one to believe that everything they feared is true; that Ant-Man is Marvel’s first genuine misstep in a series of films that range in quality from “just okay” (Iron Man 2) to “absolutely phenomenal” (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) but you’d be wrong...very wrong.

To put it simply, Ant-Man is fantastic. In-fact, Ant-Man sits

quite comfortably in the Top Five movies in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe; hanging with the likes of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers Assemble, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Peyton Reed, a man best known for directing teen-comedy Bring it On (2000) steps in as Edgar Wright’s replacement. Don’t worry, it’s understandable if you just rolled your eyes, but fear not!

For Mr. Reed brings it (pun-intended).

He handles everything surprisingly well here; from the action to the smaller, more dramatic moments, he really delivers.

Of course, Reed is backed up here by one of the best visual effects teams in the business and they deliver some of the most inventive and dazzling uses of CGI I’ve seen in a very long time.

Due to the nature of the powers on show in this movie, we are treated to some hilarious sizegags, with some action sequences

Gfinity eSports Extravaganza set to take place at EGX 2015

E

GX, the UK’s biggest games event, and Gfinity, the leading eSports organisation formed by gamers and with the backing of successful investors, is thrilled to announce they will be hosting two tournaments for more than $100,000 at this year’s EGX, running at the NEC, Birmingham from 24th to 27th September 2015.

The Gfinity stand will give EGX attendees a comprehensive eSports experience, allowing them to meet some of the top pro-gamers in the world, plus see them in action competing

for more than $100,000 in prize money across Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and StarCraft 2, the largest prize pot

in EGX history.

The $100,000 Gfinity Champion of Champions event will see the top four teams from previous Gfinity events - fnatic, Ninjas

REVIEW

looking huge and spectacular upclose, but small and insignificant when we zoom out.

It’s hysterical. Another area in which Marvel seem to shine is in their casting and Ant-Man is no different. Casting Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man was a stroke of genius.

He’s cheeky and sarcastic while at the same time being completely vulnerable and lacking any self-belief. He’s an everyman, which makes him easy to relate to.

Acting legend Michael Douglas in Pyjamas, Team EnvyUs and Virtus Pro - compete on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th for the coveted title of Gfinity CS:GO Champions 2015.

Prior to the weekend, the final Gfinity Summer Masters for StarCraft 2 will see eight of the world’s best players compete live from the show floor.

“We are very excited to announce that we'll be partnering with EGX to bring elite level eSports to the event for the first time”. Said Martin Wyatt, Head of Partnerships at Gfinity. “Following our successful debut at the show in 2014 we have decided to bring the culmination of our CS:GO and Starcraft 2 seasons to the NEC and 80,000 people.”

“With over $100,000 to play for and the very best playing talent in the world in attendance this is an amazing opportunity for the EGX crowd to witness world class eSports live and in person".

David Lilley, Managing Director of Gamer Events, added, "eSports is exploding worldwide and we're delighted to be working more closely with Gfinity to bring the UK's premier eSports experience to EGX.” “Visitors will see the world's finest gaming stars compete at the highest level and may even pick up a trick or two to help them win next year's prize pot".

wORDS by antony brown

is also onboard as scientific genius and original Ant-Man, Hank Pym and his presence alone is enough to bring some extra credibility to the film.

He is a tortured individual and there is some fantastic world-building involving his character.

Lost alumni Evangeline Lily plays Hank Pym’s daughter Hope Van Dyne, who plays an integral part in the movie.

It’s great to see another strong female character introduced into

the MCU. Corey Stoll is fantastic as the movie’s villain, Darren Cross.

He has clear motives, he’s just the right amount of insane without being too over the top and he poses a genuine threat not only to Scott Lang/Ant-Man, but the world.

I’d even go as far as saying that Darren Cross is one of the most memorable villains Marvel have put to film since kicking off their cinematic universe with Iron-Man (2008).

What’s On OPM The Cavern, Exeter 22nd September 2015

OPM is back at it again! On the 15 year anniversary of the release of “Menace to Sobriety”, OPM will be back to kick ass in Europe for 26 shows throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Germany and Slovenia. The Tour starts off in England on August 28th.

OPM has also been back in the studio and are set to release a new EP: The Minge Dynasty in

The always loveable Michael Pena plays Scott’s best friend Luis and steals absolutely every scene he is in.

He is absolutely hysterical and will leave you and the rest of the audience in fits of laughter.

Ant-Man shouldn’t work. It is a live-action film about a superhero that can shrink down to the size of an insect and command an army of ants to help him in his fight against evil.

The whole concept of Ant-Man is absolutely ridiculous, yet somehow...it works.

Once again, just as they did with Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel and company have shocked the world by delivering a truly great superhero movie from source material that simply shouldn’t work on the big screen.

They know the concept is ridiculous and they embrace it by delivering their silliest and downright funniest movie to date.

If you’re a Marvel fan, you’ll love it. If you aren’t a Marvel fan, you’ll probably love it anyway.

It’s a film filled with heart, wit, comedy, action and a clear love for the genre.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that matter the most (Get it? Do you see what I did there?) Personally, I cannot wait to see the future adventures of Ant-Man!

BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY

August 05 Hollywood Ending 06 Kate Voegele and Tyler Hilton 13 A Wilhelm Scream 20 Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats 20 The Fratellis - Album Launch Show 21 Bailey McConnell 22 Smart Casual 29 Gehtika 29 Marcia Griffiths & Friends

BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE August 05 Bad Religion 10 The Avengers 12 Don Broco 13 Break Even 21 Eric Martin (Mr Big) 22 Bassman Birthday Bash 2015 26 Dylan Evans- GET IN THE BIN 28 90’s Night Ibiza Foam Party

TOWN HALL

August 07-09 Project Soundlounge

summer 2015. Once again bottling up the SoCal lifestyle with fun, catchy hooks and infectious rhythms in an original style that defines the OPM sound.

Don Broco Temple, Birmingham 12th August 2015

Don Broco have announced a series of intimate headline shows, returning to the early venues of their career. The seven-date tour will kick off with a hometown show in the first venue the band ever played at Bedford’s Esquires, before working its way through the country and finishing at Glasgow’s King Tuts on August 14th.

They have also revealed the video for their brand new single ‘Superlove’, taken from the band’s upcoming album Automatic released on August 7th through Epic Records. Set at a dining table that would make the Mad Hatter think twice, Don

Page 19

SYMPHONY HALL

August 07 Sir Mark Elder and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain 15 Musical Picnic: Andy Isherwood 29 Atif Aslam Live in Concert 30 Gateway to Divine Mercy 2015 Conference

NEC

August 06-09 The Festival of Quilts 15 The Color Run Birmingham

BARCLAYCARD ARENA

August 26 Bangla Beats Promotions

CIVIC/WULFRUN WOLVERHAMPTON

August 03 Freddie Flintoff: 2nd Innings (Civic Hall) 15 Folk-Stars 2015 Bhangra Competition (Civic Hall)

Broco entertain some outlandish dinner guests in the gluttonously amusing video for ‘Superlove’.

SLADE ROOMS, WOLVERHAMPTON

August 01 Funeral for a Friend 04 Death Angel 13 Teenage BottleRocket 14 Amped Local Band Night

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 20

ENTERTAINMENT

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

One Love I BASS 2015 TEN UNMISSABLE LIVE EVENTS THROUGHOUT OCTOBER

n the stunning surroundings of the Jamaican High Commission in London, the launch of the bran new Caribbean inspired TV channel, 1HEART TV took place on Tuesday 21st July, bringing together an array of guests to celebrate the launch of a truly pioneering channel dedicated to the Caribbean and all of its greatness.

With special guests including Capital Extra DJ Jade Avia, former Miss Jamaica UK Gemma Feare, MOBO award winning saxophonist Yolanda Brown, Jamaica Tourist Board Managing Director Elizabeth Fox and of course Jamaica’s High Commissioner herself, Her Excellency Mrs aloun

Ndombet-Assamba, the night proved to be a huge success with everyone attending thoroughly enjoying themselves.

“I’m pleased to see that this idea of sharing a positive side of the Caribbean with the world is growing. I’m looking forward to seeing us on television here in the UK in a way that some people may not realise or understand.

We can’t wait on people to tell our stories so we should tell themourselves.” said Jamaica’s High Commissioner Her Excellency Mrs. Aloun Ndombet-Assamba.

With delicately flavoured patties from Port Royal Patties, tasty nibbles from The Kings Room Catering and decadent cakes from Cakes

by Kals, guests were kept

BASS MARKS ITS 10TH EDITION BY CELEBRATING THE ICONS OF BLACK MUSIC AND ART PLUS DEDICATED FM RADIO STATION LIVE ALL MONTH For more info visit

www.punchbass.com punchrecords

0121 224 7444

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Page 21

ENTERTAINMENT

for 1Heart well fed, while Dub Jam and Ravissant drinks kept the exotic Caribbean beach cocktails flowing the whole night long.

Leading from the front was Patrick Campbell of 1HEART TV, sharing the grand vision for the channel, stating, “Somebody, somewhere, is going to build a global £100 million company, that reaches a 100 million people, based on celebrating the Caribbean. I truly believe that 1HEART could be that company. At 1HEART TV we believe in the ‘4 Cs’. We Create, Curate, Connect and spark Conversation. This is the driving force behind what we do and where we do it is simply on TV, Online, Social and Digital.”

Vidal Juba, OH TV Station Director and OH TV CEO Akin Salami also greeted guests and gave them an insight into the partnership between 1HEART TV, OH TV and UN1TY, before British comedienne Angie Le Mar and 1HEART LIVE presenter Leah Charles took to the stage to present teasers of the flagship show Home Sweet Home Jamaica... with Angie Le Mar and a sneak peak of the content coming soon to the channel.

1HEART TV launched officially on OH TV Sky Channel 199 and the UN1TY app on Tuesday 28th July 2015, and will continue weekly every Tuesday from 7.30pm to 10pm.

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 22

ENTERTAINMENT

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

‘White Dee’s’ Column

The Benefit Street and Big Brother star writes EXCLUSIVELY for The Phoenix Newspaper.

Good Food Show Winter

V

isitors can indulge their passion for delicious food, exciting new flavours and be inspired by the best chefs in the business at one of the BBC Good Food Shows, sponsored by Lexus, up and down the country.

All advance Super tickets include a seat in the Supertheatre, sponsored by Kenwood, where visitors can watch their favourite chefs create recipes live on stage, including Paul Hollywood, James Martin, Mary Berry, and Michel Roux Jr. Enjoy live cookery demonstrations, interviews and book signing sessions at all events, plus the chance to discover a wide range of food, drink, appliances and gadgets, and sample a selection of local delicacies from independent and artisan producers who bring a regional flavour to each show.

The BBC Good Food Shows really are the tastiest days of the year!

The flagship BBC Good Food

Show returns to the NEC, Birmingham to set guests up for the perfect festive, foodie season from 26-29 November. Guests can watch chefs create delicious seasonal dishes live on stage, and stock up on all the treats and tipples needed to see them through the winter.

Plus the largest cheese compet-

ition on the planet, The World Cheese Awards, are returning to the BBC Good Food Show Winter.

Visitors can watch the judging take place on the first day of the Show, or join one of the tutored tours across the weekend to sample and discover more about the world’s best cheeses.

COMPETITION

To be in with a chance of winning a one of 5 pairs of tickets for any day except the Saturday, just answer this simple question!

Which of these is a highlight of the Good Food Show Winter? a) The World Cheese Awards b) Sausage Sampling c) Liquor Lane Just email your answer, with your name, address and contact number to competitions@thephoenixnewspaper.com with the subject “Good Food Show Winter Competition”. Competition closes at 23.59 on 30th October 2015. There is no cash alternative.

Email: whitedee@streetcredmagazine.com

H

ey everyone - well what could I possibly talk about this month.

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh yep thats right - its here and its driving us all crazy already - what could it possibly be I hear you all ask.

Well let me fill you in.

Do you remember the good old 6 weeks summer holidays well this year its the good old 7 weeks holiday - so what on earth are we going to do with our kids for a whole 7 weeks.

I don’t suppose it helps that for everyday since they have broken up, it has rained and poured constantly and yayyyy a great reminder that yep its nearly August haha. Roll on September.

Again all I can say is whatever happened to the good old days, when summer was summer and winter was winter.

You could almost guarantee when the kids broke up from school it would be a fun filled time of shorts and t-shirts and suntans and paddling pools, day trips and BBQ’s or picnic at the park or the reservoir - but NOPE not this time.

Instead we have windows locked, heating on, woolly jumpers and raincoats haha a constant yell of MOMMMM are we going out - MOMMMM what we doing today - MOMMMM why cant we play out - can I have this, can I have that.

On the plus side - I’m so glad that on the rare occasion the sun comes out - all the kids do too to hear them all playing together,

S

o it was a great surprise to know that Puff Daddys empire Bad Boy Records is now 20 years old. My god is it that long since he burst on to the music scene and totally saturated the market with a new style of R&B and hiphop?

When we found out that Diddy was bringing the old artists back it was interesting that most of them he fell out with. Lil Kim, 112, Faith Evans, Mase, Lox, and Mario Winans were a few of the bad boy acts that made it for the 20 year tribute.

If you were a part of that era you would have definitely felt the goosebumps. Was sad not to see Biggie but watching the show just made you appreciate the legacy created by Diddy.

Although he may not get on with the artists but it was good that put their differences behind them just for the fans and money of course, all the acts need it.

whether it be football or tig or just sitting on the steps having a good old chat - it reminds me of how it used to be.

How even if they haven’t got much, they have each other and can put the world to rights in their own little 8yr old way, way into the night haha its just such a lovely thing to hear and to listen to - maybe we should all think more about listening to our little ones, as in reality they are our future, and we should cherish this.

On the other hand, I am blessed to have a 17 year old baby girl (who is normally mortified when I refer to her as that), who is on summer break from

college, and what has she decided to do with her time - well she has taken herself out there and got herself a job.

How proud am I, that she doesn’t want to sit around in her room day and night on the phone or computer, but that she is motivated to go out there and experience the real world, and earn her own money.

I would like to wish my baby girl all the best in her new job, and I know she is going to have an amazing future - because that’s what she wants!

Go get em Caitlin.

Dee x

Massive talk about the BET Awards

Did You Hear?

Did you hear about the plane a few months ago that had to turn around 30 minutes into its flight to Dubai from Heathrow due to a smelly poo?

‘Liquid faecal excrement’ was the of-

ficial reason, causing a 15 hour wait til the next flight.

Terrible for all involved, we’re sure.

The real question is, who did it, and would you have owned up if it was you?

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

FASHION

www.streetcredmagazine.com Volume 4 August 2015

Page 23

IT BEGINS WITH A DREAM

I

t begins with a dream!

What an exciting time!

It’s still wedding season, couples are celebrating one of the most important days of their lives at this time of the year.

FABULOSAYOU is pleased to show some of the latest trends and tips for this

wedding season, which I hope would be inspiring for you our readers.

Talking about inspiring our cover features the very inspiring Naomi Campbell, how fantastic does she look?

Definitely my style icon a woman who doesn’t age at all, she’s definitely who I want to

be when I grow up.

FABULOSAYOU is still hot on bringing you exciting fabulous up to the minute styles, looks and trends.

If you feel you can contribute to this, we have 3 months voluntary contracts available.

Send in your ideas, comments and suggestions to fabulosayou@thephoenixnewspaper.com or ring us on 0121 231 3235

FABULOSAYOU MAKEUP TRANSFORMATION African Queen Royal Blue Wedding PRODUCTS USED: Eyes

Ardell Natural Style Lashes - Demi Wispies Blue, Black and Brown Eyeshadow – 120 Palette

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Rockin’ Curves Mascara Collection 2000 Black Liquid Eyeliner

Lips

L’Oreal Dazzle Lip Gloss 210 – Disco Ball Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter - Crème Brulee

Face

Before

Switch Your Lips From Boring To Diversity

W

OW! Now you can turn your lipstick into more shades!

When I first heard of this product I was like " I've got to get this, what a great idea this

could be in my makeup bag."

Let me introduce you to Kiss Cosmetics new exciting product called Colour Switch.

Colour Switch can completely change the way your lipstick

MAC Matchmaster Foundation - 8.0 MAC Mineralize Natural Skin Finish – Dark MAC Powder Blush Raizin LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer - Fawn

by Chantelle Gillespie

looks. Apply Colour Switch to your lips then apply your favourite lipstick on top.

It's so easy to use, I think I'm in love. I used 'magnetic melon'

by Kiss Cosmetics a rich orange colour, used colour switch underneath and got a lighter more subtle coral look which was really lovely.

So now you can apply Colour Switch underneath your bright or dark lip colours and tone that shade down giving you a lighter more subtle colour on your lip.

No more carrying around two or three lipsticks at the same time. It's cute white packaging is adorable.

Colour Switch retails at £9.00 and is available online at the Kiss Cosmetics website.

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 24

BRIDAL FEATURE

Top 10 Tips For The Big Day 1. Avoid drinking wine or eating dark-coloured that may stain your teeth.

2. Drink plenty of water to help keep skin glowing and polished.

3. Start washing your face using a cleanser and a weekly exfoliator.

4. Think about when you’re having your wedding and plan accordingly. Wear sunscreen ahead of a summer wedding to avoid looking too flushed in the snaps, or avoid the usual onset of winter skin by introducing moisturiser well in advance.

5. Practise makes perfect stubble. Work out which day stubble you prefer.

6. A straight razor gives the cleanest shave, so get a professional lather at your barber.

7. Trim your beard weekly prior to your wedding to get it into great shape.

8. Pluck stray hairs between your eyes to avoid a uni-brow at least 48 hours before. Avoid plucking over the brow or inside the inner or outer eye lines. Ditto on ridding any rogue ear or nose hair.

9. Put the man in mani-pedi and book an appointment a few days before the wedding.

10. The scent of a man is important, just keep it light.

www.streetcredmagazine.com 1. Avoid drinking wine or eating dark-coloured that may stain your teeth.

2. Don't tan, a too dark tan against a white dress is not a good look.

3. Don't get your first-ever bikini wax just before your wedding.

Start these three months prior to your day.

4. Don't change your contraception, skin-care program, washing detergent, etc., less than six weeks before the wedding as you will not know how y o u r skin

will react.

5. Facials, brow wax, or cut and colour should be done no less than 48 hours before your wedding.

Ideally a week before, giving you time to resolve any problems.

6. Avoid excess sodium the week before the wedding. This encourages water retention and bloating.

7. Don't straighten your hair before a trial or on your big day, if you want big bouncy curls.

8. Avoid wearing a bra the morning of your wedding, this helps avoid unsightly indentations in the shoulders.

9. Drink plenty of water to help keep skin glowing and polished.

10. Don't forget your beauty emergency kit. Include different sized safety pins, double-sided sticky tape, a small sewing kit, a small pair of scissors, a bleach pen, bobby pins, hair spray and anything else you think you might need.

!

K O O L E GET TH Wedding Day Must Haves

by Leonie Henry

L

adies, your wedding day is going to be fabulous but be rest assured you probably won’t have the time to top up on your make up, as you will be too busy being the centre of attention for the day.

Keep your skin fresh and oil free with Mary Kay’s Oil Mattifier. For only £13.50 this genius product absorbs oil, helps to control shine for up to eight hours and will keep your make up looking flawless for longer.

Tip: Use as a base before your apply your make up to keep your skin looking fresh and ‘picture perfect’.

M Makeup Artist; Wavenney Wallace-Sims Hair & Makeup; Wavenney Wallace-Sims Look created using airbrush makeup from Total Pro-Cosmetics and Urban Decay 'On the run' palette.

The Phoenix – August 2015

en, are you feeling a bit hot under the collar? Then why not invest in a sweat proof under shirt?

You want the wedding day to be perfect and the anticipation

of it all may get you a little nervous and we all know nerves creates perspiration.

The last thing you want on your wedding day are visible sweat stains, besides feeling fresh all day long is a bonus not only for you but for your bride.

The Thompson Tee from America has hydro-shield sweat proof technology which helps blocks unpleasant odours and sweat.

Priced at only $24.99 and available in white, black and grey this is definitely worth the investment.

Tip: Avoid spicy foods on the day of your wedding.

Spicy foods can increase the amount of sweat you produce.

by Selina Besley

Tips on saving

££££££

at your wedding

A

by Selina Besley

ccording to experts the average wedding costs £22,000, but who said you can’t have a budget wedding that is fabulous. Here are 5 tips on how to banish those unnecessary pounds:

1. Wedding dress frenzy

This definitely has to be at the top of the list because every bride wants to look like a princess on her special day. However, sometimes money can be an issue when purchasing that ultimate dress. Be rest assured there are plenty of high street stores that sell beautiful wedding dresses at affordable prices such as House of Fraser, Debenhams and BHS. Check it out, you may be pleasantly surprised. Another option worth considering is hiring a wedding dress for the day.

not save on money and create your very own DIY invites?

However, if creativity is not your forte then try Vistaprint.

They are very reasonable pricewise and have lots of templates to choose from.

4. Don’t over invite

Be careful when inviting guests. It can be tempting to invite as much people as the venue will allow but it’s also important to be logical and wise. Have a budget in mind and write a guest list as a guide.

Try and stick to c l o s e friends and family members.

2. Cut down on the tiers

Finding that perfect wedding cake can be just as stressful as finding that perfect wedding dress. Why not have less tiers on the cake which can considerably reduce the cost? You can always provide supplement cupcakes and other fancy sponge cakes just in case there isn’t enough wedding cake to go around.

3. Handmade invites

Rather than getting those expensive companies to design and print your wedding invitations, why

5. Ditch the expensive photographer

Having a photographer for the day can literally put a hole in your pockets. To avoid this an option worth considering is to hire a photographer for a few hours rather than the whole day, this means less spending.

However, if you do want a professional photographer be prepared to haggle, haggle, haggle.

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Top 5

Bridal

Romantic Ruffles www.houseofbrides.com

Ruffles are a great way to make a statement as you glide down the aisle.

BRIDAL FEATURE

Dress Trends

by Chantelle Gillespie

Flawless Fishtail www.houseofbrides.com

Design Detail

www.houseofbrides.com

This style of hem or train creates a striking effect. This type of dress will definitely accentuate your figure.

Barely There www.verawang.com

These translucent dresses are one of the hottest new trends for the season, but are you bold enough to wear one?

Page 25

Sparkling diamantés, feathers, beads, crystal and lace are fantastic for taking your bridal assemble to a whole new level.

Tasteful Two Piece

www.verawang.com Two is always better than one. You may even be able to wear part of your bridal outfit again by mixing it with another outfit.

WORLDWIDE BRIDES Mrs INDIA

Mrs Pakistan

Mrs Africa

Traditional Wedding Eye Makeup

Traditional Wedding Eye Makeup

Traditional Wedding Eye Makeup

Wedding Traditions

Wedding Traditions

Dowry – This is usually in the form of gifts or money. These items are given to the bride’s family from the groom.

www.sonascouture.com

Deep flattering tones.

Haldi Ritual – The bride is cleansed at her home with turmeric powder before the wedding.

Mrs INDIA

Mrs Pakistan

Mrs Africa

Sangeet Ceremony – An enjoyable musical event for women with dancing. This takes place before the wedding.

www.sonascouture.com

Gorgeous intense tones.

Mehndi Ceremony - Guests apply henna on the bride.

Dholki - A percussion instrument that is played while the guests dance and sing.

www.tk-designs.com

Gorgeous intense tones.

Wedding Traditions

Kitchen Party - (Tanzanian bridal shower) The bride to be receives wisdom and tips regarding different areas of marital life.

Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 26

FASHION

A

t the beginning of July, Ask Bhabi a bespoke Sikh matchmaking service launched in Leamington Spa. The brainchild of founder Saranjit Kandola, Ask Bhabi, (Bhabi meaning brothers’ wife), the service aims to help Sikh men and women find a partner.

The idea came to Saranjit, a businesswoman who owns another company called Skin Haven also based in Leamington Spa, when she was working at Skin Haven, talking to women about their

The Phoenix – August 2015

www.streetcredmagazine.com

Launch

troubles in finding a partner.

There are 2 tiers of membership available, with the standard costing £299 to join, then £20 per month, and the VIP Premium package at £449 to join and then £30 a month.

If you join between now and the end of October this year, Ask Bhabi will waive the monthly membership fees, saving you £20 or £30 per month.

Following initial interviews, either in person or over Skype or Facetime, you then receive personal regular updates on potential matches and support

during your first meetings with your dates.

The launch event, hosted by Noreen Khan went down very well, and the night included a special launch cake, as well as a chance for people to mix and mingle.

? ??

MODELS R US!

W

e are looking for models for photoshoots, exhibitions, events and much more, including The Phoenix Newspaper’s 5th Anniversary, Launch and Gala Awards Ceremony.

“If you think you have the sophistication, the right look, and the right attitude to become a part of our team at FabulosaYou, get on board and drop us an email.” modelsareus@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Stunning Scents

J

o Malone London brings us two new products, a unique Mimosa & Cardamom Cologne and a Geranium & Walnut Body Scrub designed to not only prime the skin, but perfectly compliment any fragrance.

The Mimosa & Cardomum

collection spans cologne, hand wash, body creme and candles, and both are available from all good stockists now!

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 27

SIMMER DOWN ROUNDUP

Simmer Down proves to be the ultimate in family festivals

by Steve Williams

T

he consummate headliner, at the ultimate in summer festivals, reggae legend, Maxi Priest really stole the show, at Simmer Down, now Birmingham's No.1 outdoor showcase.

The fastest growing and most diverse of its kind in the city, saw how the singer, best known for hits such as: 'Should I (Put My Trust In You),' 'Some Guys Have All the Luck,' 'How Can We Ease The Pain?' and 'Wild World,' certainly knew how to work the massive crowd in Handsworth Park as he led a wide range of live performances.

Together with an array of arts participation activities which took place across the sprawling park, at this, the sixth instalment of the annual music and fun fest.

“Birmingham is my second

home,” said an energetic Maxi, as he made reference to his time in the city when managed by the late Erskine T, former presenter on the then Radio Birmingham – now Radio WM 95.6FM

– and well renowned DJ. In fact, he loves the city so much, that: “I talk about Birmingham everywhere I go throughout the world,” he emphasized.

A phenomenal turn-out who witnessed a full day of music and dance, featuring Beniton the Men-

ace, plus Michael Prophet, Rod Taylor, Earl Sixteen, Surj Sahota, D'Aggro, Gambimi, Vital, Dere Marie, Beeniice, Lesher, Break Mission and more, it was Maxi who really indulged the park with his crowd-pleasing 'Priest-anthems' which had everyone there singing along to.

Maxi Priest had Handsworth Park eating out of the palm of his hand and the crowd loved everything he had to offer.

In addition to the vibrant music, the free all-day event had a large number of fun activities for all the family and the alluring smells of jerk chicken and fried dumplings tempted droves to sample some of the best of Caribbean food and drink to keep on keeping on.

Simmer Down Festival, like no other, truly depicted diverse, multi-cultural Birmingham at its best and you'd have to go a long way to better it. It really was a 'Wild World' of fun in Handsworth Park.

O

n Sunday 19th of July were you one of the approximately 15 to 20,000 people who filled Handsworth park for the annual Simmer Down festival that just keeps growing?

Generations of families and friends packed the park in the glorious sunshine to enjoy the largest Reggae festival in Europe.

It also gave me chance capture a few happy faces also gave the chance to spread the 'Phoenix

Love' with the star of the show, the legend Maxi Priest.

I also caught up with his brothers the celebration also gave business a chance to showcase themselves one such business with her colourful team was Tia's Hairdresser Mukthar Dar who has announced the event will be independent as of next year, was happy to say that that will be the only change to this successful annual event next year.

By LJ

l LJ with Maxi’s brothers. L-R Trevor, LJ, Allan and Martin

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 28

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Baroness Amos makes history as UK gains first-ever Black female university leader

Pupils celebrate school’s 50th anniversary in style

P

upils stepped back in time as a Wolverhampton school celebrated its 50th anniversary with a tea party.

Head of School Jo Jones said: "Everyone had a wonderful time as we marked St Alban's 50th anniversary, and it was great to see the children getting so involved in the celebrations.

"They prepared much of the food themselves as part of their

Food Technology, Mathematics and Science classes.”

Representatives of the Diocese of Lichfield and the Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Ian Brookfield were on hand to join in with the celebrations.

Councillor Brookfield, said: “I was delighted to be invited to help St Alban’s celebrate their special anniversary, and it was lovely to meet the pupils who were a credit to their school.”

T

he UK has gained its first-ever Black female university leader in the form of Baroness Valerie Amos, who will be taking charge SOAS (School of oriental Studies), University of London from September.

The new leader, who hails the school’s “vast repository of knowledge and expertise on its specialist regions,” said: “SOAS is uniquely placed to inform and shape current thinking about the religious, political, cultural, security and economic challenges of our world.”

Born in Guyana, the Baroness was educated at Bexley Technical High School for Girls (now

Townley Grammar School) in southeast London.

She went on to earn a BA in Sociology from the University of Warwick and an MA in Cultural Studies from the University of Birmingham.

She also undertook cultural studies at the University of East Anglia where she investigated the transition from school to work for black girls.

As an advocate of higher education, Baroness Amos is co-founder and Patron of the Amos Bursary which promotes higher education

The Phoenix – August 2015

Ethnicity and educational inequality: The role of aspirations

T

opportunities for young men of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK. Since it was founded in 1916, it has forged a global reputation for research and teaching with a focus on the three places as mentioned

by Baroness Amos.

Baroness Amos will be replacing Professor Paul Webley who is retiring from SOAS due to ill health.

he role of aspirations in understanding educational inequality has been the focus of many studies over the past few decades.

The debate whether these aspirations vary by ethnicity, class and gender, especially when it comes to converting aspirations into educational attainment and entry into higher education is ongoing.

A one-day conference to present leading-edge research focussing on the role will be taking place at the University of Bristol to provide an excellent opportunity for academics, professionals and practitioners to present and discuss their research, exchange ideas and promote collaboration across-disciplines and between scholars working on similar questions.

Confirmed speakers, on August 19, include Professors Lucinda Platt, Yaojun Li, plus Drs.Vikki Boliver and Michela Franceschelli.

Who was Mfumu Kimbangu?

I

by Kesa Nkulu

think it’s fair to say that everyone has heard about the legendary figurehead of the A.N.C. movement, Nelson Mandela, who served 27 years of incarceration during the apartheid era in South Africa.

However, few know the story of the ‘spiritual’ forerunner to the liberation struggle, Mfumu Kimbangu.

In this short biopsy we will explore the hidden history of Mfumu Kimbangu, one of central Africa’s most iconic prophets who served a 30 year prison sentence, from 1921 – 1951 for combatting the injustices suffered by Black People under the rule of the Belgium authorities.

Congo had previously been in the hands of Leopold II, who in the early nineteenth century was considered at one point to be the richest man in the world with a personal fortune of around $500 million dollars.

This was amassed by the trade in rubber; however the severed limbs and inhumane acts inflic-

l Kesa Nkulu

ted upon the Congolese people would cause an international outcry and eventually the Belgium state gained control of Congo region.

Who was Mfumu Kimbangu?

He was born in the Ba Kongo Province of Kinshasa Congo, in October 1887, the same year as The R.H. Marcus Garvey.

Many years later Garvey’s worldwide vision would influence Kimbangu, who would begin his ancestral mission.

The two men never met, but both would leave a legacy that would transform the perception and attitude of the African at home and abroad.

An abundance of information can be found on the internet or other literature regarding the ‘miracles’ of Mfumu Kimbangu.

Here I have reproduced an interesting eye witness account of the events that took place before his incarceration.

“Kimbangu cured the sick, raised the dead back to life and his ministry developed a large following, causing suspicion amongst the Belgian authorities.

His ministry of preaching and miraculous healing lasted from April to September 1921. Within a short time he attracted large crowds.

According to Melbourne both the Protestant and the Catholic religious establishments became alarmed and appealed to the colonial authorities who sought his arrest.

He was placed before a military court, without the benefit of a legal representative, and found guilty of undermining public SECURITY and disturbing the peace.

On 3 October 1921 he was sentenced to death. King Albert commuted his sentence to life imprisonment.”

“During his thirty years of imprisonment, he continued to be regarded as a spiritual leader, despite being denied contact with his followers, and also became a symbol of Congolese nationalism. Van Reybrouck stated that Kimbangu never committed a single act of violence.”

The adepts of ‘Kintuadi’, the spiritual name of Kimbangu’s group, recount that in 1921, just before Kimbangu handed himself in to the authorities, to begin a 30 year jail sentence, he stood before a crowd of thousands and prophesised: - African Independence.

- The rise of a New Black People - Freedom of Black People all over the world - The coming of a New Instructor (Un Longhi) who will write a secret sacred book, for the Black People of the World!

The Teacher, The Instructor who will prepare Black People spiritually and physically for their final and total Independence!

Representing the 3 primary colours, and their representation: - Spiritual Independence (Kinzambi) Colour Blue - Technological and scientific Independence (Kimazayu) Colour Yellow - Political Independence (Kimayala) Colour Red - Kimbangu prophesized about a Great King (Mani Kongo) who will come, but before this event Black People must be prepared Spiritually and Physically.

- Kimbangu also prophesized of the Diaspora returning to the Homeland.

The teacher spoke of by Mfumu Kimbangu is Ne Muanda Nsemi.

In 1986, he began his public mission with the official launching of (BDK) BUNDU DIA KONGO, a dynamic action-oriented spiritual reflection group, which he himself defined as a spiritual school, an Academy of Sciences and a formative Religious Party.

BUNDU DIA KONGO is a cultural and spiritual group for the world at large, which is working to revive Africa, the renaissance of the Solar Religion, Advanced Technology and Enlightened Politics based on knowledge and Divine Justice for the well-being of the greater number.

An essential aspect of his actions concerns the psychological, cultural and material rehabilitation.

Present day Democratic Republic of Congo is estimated to hold $40 trillion in untapped minerals which has fuelled wars and corruption within this region

for half a century.

Ne Muanda Nsemi the founder of Bundu Dia Mayala, has just been granted permission to function as a political party in the next elections due between 2017-2019.

The prophecies of Mfumu

Kimbangu are being fulfilled.

Ingetta. Ibobo, ibobo, References:David van Reybrouck. Congo: The Epic History of a People. HarperCollins, 2014. p. 142ff.

“Kimbango History”. Kimbangodiscoveries. com.

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The Phoenix – August 2015 Page 29

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT

Pupils take centre stage for musical celebration

H Memorial Dinner in memory of Beloved brother Melville

P

amela Grey explained; "Nearly two years ago my brother was in a desperate place and I did not know how to help him the unthinkable happened and he decided the only way to re-

lieve his pain was to commit suicide. This, as you can imagine, had a devastating effect on the whole family."

The family have channeled their grief into setting up a foundation in honour of Melville Almond

Stratten Grey the MASG foundation raising funds for and raising awareness to prevent more people from losing their lives in this tragic way.

undreds of pupils from Wolverhampton schools took part in musical celebrations as part of the city’s first Visitor Week.

More than 200 children presented a samba performance using a range of percussion instruments in Queen Square from 11.30am12.30pm – and the same evening 500 children took part in a musical concert for parents and guardians at the Civic Hall which will include performances of Zadok the Priest by Handel and Let it Go from the hit movie, Frozen.

The project was led by Wolverhampton's Music Service as part of CBBC’s Ten Pieces scheme, which aims to open up the world of classical music to children and young people, inspiring them to develop their own creative responses to individual pieces through music, dance or digital art.

Councillor Claire Darke, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Education, said: "This is a very exciting opportunity for hundreds of our children and young people to show off their musical talents.

"I'm delighted they have been able to play a part in the Ten Pieces project, which is teaching them all about the works of great

composers and how to go about composing and performing music."

Children from 13 primary schools and eight secondary schools had been rehearsing individually and the performances on the day were the first time they have come together as one to perform.

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Page 30

AZUZA STREET

The Third Eye

G

REETINGS FROM GHANA TO THE B E L O V E D PEOPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. My name is Roland Joseph Tetteh. I am your brother in the Lord.

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

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

by Roland Joseph Tetteh

O

ur consciousness is then less concerned with our “physical” state. According to many ancient traditions, this is when our “third eye” begins to exhibit special powers.

The Third Eye is a natural part of every person, but it’s a “meta” organ. In other words: it consists of all the senses and mind working

together as a larger more powerful sensory organ.

The Third Eye is a very clever bit of natural evolution: a meta organ designed to sense, connect to patterns and then relay that data back in overlays of information on top of your other senses.

Once opened it’s a very powerful ability, powerful enough that it literally can drive people insane if not understood, accepted or developed correctly.

Also due to lack of understanding more people than not mislabel, run away from the ability or take it to strange descriptions… which further muck the waters of what the Third Eye truly is.

The Third Eye as a sense can be used in many different ways.

It opens up our senses to patterns around us. It’s used by seers to make connections and answer questions.

It’s used by energy workers to feel the energy and then manipulate that energy. It’s part of empathy where a person can touch and feel the emotions of others.

Many other applications exist for how people have used the Third Eye. Let’s look at one use. It’s possible to use the Third Eye to learn

how to sense and visually interpret energy around us.

This helps people work with the process of Motion, Activity and Interchange more easily and completely.

Energy instead of being an abstract concept then becomes a tangible property of life to work with once you learn how to sense it and interact with it.

The Third Eye can develop the ability to process information and then overlay that information over our other senses in such a way we can then interpret and interact with energy in a more precise manner. In this way, we can “see” energy.

The brain has the ability to process visual information, and it has the ability to use all that circuitry to pump back information in the form of visual response: which doesn’t have to be from the eyes.

The mind and sense organs form a larger more sensitive “antenna” to pick up on energy and patterns.

The mind then has the problem of how to send that information back to you. It has to use what it already has access to: the 5 normal senses.

For example: at times in energy work, it can send back the images for you as an “aura” to then interpret.

In reality what you are seeing is slightly different than that: but it’s the best method the “third eye” has to relay the information back to you. This becomes the “aura” as the translated result.

CONCLUSION

The third eye makes it possible for us to plunge into the spiritual platform. Contrary to what some religious sects and subscription hold, it is not a door which opens the chakras for demonological activities, but a connecting point to the divine.

Since it is in the nature of men to pervert and channel pure energy various forms for evil purposes, it is not beyond comprehension if some people ascribe evil connotations to the only bridge that leads to spiritual awakening.

The Third Eye is not some magical power, it’s a part of our human nature which anyone with time, patience, training and acceptance of their nature can use.

All too often people rush ahead and their own inner unbalance disrupts and skews the third eye ability with bad habits and false perceptions.

The Phoenix – August 2015

Interfaith contribution – the solution to reducing poverty

I

t is a pleasure sharing with you what faith is doing about poverty and how we work together to alleviate it.

I want to share with you nishkam sewa – the practice of serving others without expectation of any reward or recompense.

Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal Guru of the Sikhs, begins with ‘Ik Onkar’ - explicitly emphasising that there is but only one God responsible for the entire creation.

‘The whole of the human race is but one large family’ states Guru Gobind Singh Ji, our tenth Guru. Furthermore, Sabh mei jot, jot hai soi… ‘In all creation dwells the divine light; it is the light of the creator Himself.’

We all aspire to be better human beings wishing for happiness, prosperity, success and peace.

Social action movements are working to challenge and rise up from the inequalities and injustices which characterize our

present era.

It is spiritual values which define the character of social action. Should we be talking about social compassion, social selflessness, social courage and social forgiveness?

We need to cut across faith and traditions, we need to look beyond difference, we need to corroborate and help eradicate poverty in all its guises. We, as people of faith, must help those in situations that would be defined as “poverty situations.”

Earliest Quran fragments found at UoB– ‘news to rejoice Muslim hearts’

W

hat is believed to be the world's oldest fragment of holy text, the manuscript of the Quran, found at the University of Birmingham library, is causing a stir amongst leading clerics and historians as the search is on to find the most accurate time from whence it came.

Said to be of the period

between 568CE and 645CE - around the time the Islamic Prophet Muhammad is believed to have lived - with 95.4% accuracy - the Muslim holy text is believed to date as far back as 1,370 years. Tests carried out by the University of Oxford places the parchment leaves as possibly the oldest surviving text of the Quran.

The manuscripts, consisting of parts of Suras [chapters] 18

to 20 of the holy book, written in an early form of Arabic script known as Hijaz, are part of the University's Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, held in the Cadbury Research Library.

Susan Worrall, Director of Special Collections (Cadbury Research Library), at the University of Birmingham, said: "The radiocarbon dating has delivered an exciting result, which contributes significantly to our understanding of the earliest written copies of the Quran.

We are thrilled that such an important historical document is here in Birmingham, the most culturally diverse city in the UK." Dr Muhammad Isa Waley, Lead Curator for Persian and Turkish Manuscripts at the British Library, described the discovery of the Quran fragments as "news to rejoice Muslim hearts."

The leaves were mistakenly kept with those of a similar Quran, which only dates back as far as the seventh century.

They will be on public display at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham, from October 2 until October 25.

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The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 31

AZUZA STREET

by Chantelle Gillespie

I

“

became a stripper and a drug addict at the age of 15. I used my bible to snort cocaine and I sat at the back of church high wearing sunglasses. The underworld had become my home, but a miracle happened that turned my life around.”

At the tender age of 15, while she was still attending senior school in Newark, Melinda was taken by a close member of her family to what she thought was a job interview.

She was forced to lie about her age and was coaxed into stripping. That night opened a sinister porthole of destruction which started a 10 year span of stripping which was driven by manipulation and mental abuse.

Melinda became a chronic drug addict who found a false sense of security in the deepest parts of the underworld.

One Born Again Every Minute

How to Advertise with

This Month the Phoenix Newspaper Talks to… Melinda Williams

If you want to showcase your business, here’s how

What was your turning point and how did you end up in church?

My support worker and her manager took a personal interest in me that went beyond their professional duty.

They both felt led by God to give me encouragement by providing me with gospel music and scriptures to reflect on.

When they invited me to church and I sat at the back of the service high on cocaine and intoxicated with alcohol.

I wore a pair of large black sunglasses to hide my eyes.

I decided to christen my children because I thought it was just another excuse for a party.

However, during the service, the Pastor asked the question: “Do you promise to bring these children up in a Godly environment?”

Right there and then, it sounded as if God was directly speaking to me and I just couldn’t shake off the voice that I had heard.

I eventually fell out with my friends one by one and the only close friend I had left was Mina, who had been my best friend for over 10 years.

God warned me that she was going to die but I didn’t take it seriously. Later on I had a disturbing dream about her being drugged, gang raped and murdered.

After a few days the police notified me of her death. When the inquest came out, everything was confirmed; God was definitely speaking to me.

I made a promise to the Lord

that I would stop taking drugs, but I went off the rails. I recall a few occasions where I used my bible to snort my cocaine.

How did your miracle happen?

In 2007, I felt my body giving up, I was just felt so tired. I was fed up of my addiction ruling over me.

I remember lying on my living room floor crying out to God from the bottom of my heart. I begged for my addiction to be taken away and I questioned if He really had the power to save my life.

The next morning, I suddenly became mindful that I had broken my promise to God when He asked me to stop using.

Instead of craving for drugs, I felt repulsed by them. I flushed away approximately £800 worth of cocaine, I was no longer addicted.

I asked God why He chose to save my life and He simply said; “You never asked me to take it away before with all of your heart.”

I have never felt tempted to go near drugs since. My addiction was replaced with an overpowering desire to know all about the God that had the power to break my life destroying habit.

I attended every church service

telephone that I could, I soaked up every instruction and promise that God had left for me in the Bible. The only way that I can explain it, is by saying that I fell in love with God.

How did you manage bringing up two children with your drug habit?

Even when my health visitor provided me with a Christian babysitter, I wasted the time that was meant to be used for resting.

However my children were always safe because I was blessed with a fantastic support system.

Despite my addiction, I took pride in taking good care of my family; my son was able to read by the age of one.

It was the power of God that allowed me to prevail in the way that I brought my children up. I really want people to know that even if they have been abused

or are struggling with an addiction there is absolutely no need to neglect your children.

Knowing God was the key to keeping my family safe.

What advice would you give to someone who feels that there is no way out from their addiction?

Talk to God about how you really feel; cry out to Him if you have to. If God can turn my life around then He can definitely do the same for you.

There is nothing too hard for Him. Read His words and digest what God says about you and who you really are supposed to be. Let God love you.

Your power to fight your addiction comes from Him. Try to find a church or someone who has a good relationship with God to support you.

Luke 5:32 – Jesus didn’t come to call righteous people; He’s calling for sinners to turn their lives around.

For more information contact:

www.melindawilliamsministries. com

0121 231 3235 email @

advertising @thephoenixnewspaper.com Contact us with your details, as well as the details of the advertisement, and one of our team will get in touch with you as soon as possible to secure your place in the paper.

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Page 32

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Phoenix – August 2015

What are we going to do about dementia?

Geoff completes ‘Le Tour - One Day Ahead’ for Cure Leukaemia

T A

n emotional Geoff Thomas insisted there will be no let-up in his fundraising mission for Cure Leukaemia after his ‘Le Tour – One Day Ahead’ challenge.

The ex-England footballer and his team of ten amateur cyclists brought their brutal 3,360km ride to an end when they crossed the finish line under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower via the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees.

Their superhuman efforts have pushed Geoff’s fundraising total for Cure Leukaemia close to the £700,000 mark.

‘Le Tour – One Day Ahead’ followed hot on the heels of the former Crystal Palace and Wolves player’s other major cycling challenge this summer, ‘London 2 Paris’ - both of which are flagship events in his bid to raise £2million for Cure Leukaemia inside two years.

Hundreds of bikers ride miles for children with cancer

260

cyclists rode the equivalent of five marathons last weekend, raising £30,000 (and counting) for children with cancer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

The Sikh Arts and Cultural Association (SACA) organised the sporting event – its largest to date – to raise money for QEHB Charity’s VIP Treatment appeal.

The team completed 130 miles in just 36 hours, setting off from the QE on the morning of Saturday 1 8 t h July, and com-

Dr Vendryes

pleting their journey in London on Sunday afternoon.

QEHB Charity Chief Executive, Mike Hammond, handed out medals at a special medal ceremony on the finish line, which was followed by a parade and fun day.

Laura Power, Fundraising Officer at QEHB Charity, said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you and well done to all of the SACA team and participants in this year’s ride.

“We are incredibly grateful for their generous support and thank them for involving us in what was a truly wonderful event!”

Are you digging your GRAVE? You are what you eat

W

ithout e v e n realising it, most of us are gravediggers! Yes the average person in today’s world is working hard at digging their own grave with their teeth.

The major causes of premature death are related to what you put in your mouth- what you eat. The American Medical Association has estimated that over 70% of all the visits to doctors in the US are for nutritionally related disorders.

Here in Jamaica the major killers - heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes are all diet related problems and as a society we are busy eating our way to an early grave.

To make things worse, millions of dollars are spent by the food industry each year programming our people, especially our children to become even more active gravediggers.

Then we spend millions more dollars treating the resulting illnesses. This is misguided and self-destructive behavior of the

worst kind. The harsh reality is that the typical modern diet of processed convenience foods promotes disease.

The Cellular Body

The human body is composed of trillions of tiny units called cells. Cells are the building blocks of the body.

Your wellness depends on your cells. When you are healthy, it is because your cells are healthy and when you get ill, your cells have become sick.

Amazingly, your body is never static or stuck in its present state.

Each and every m o ment o f every day, millions of the cells in your body die and at the same time millions of new ones are created to replace them.

By the time you are finished reading this article, your body will be different to the body that began reading it. It is estimated that in any given year your body will replace over 90% of its cells.

he number of people with dementia is steadily increasing. It is estimated that there will be 1 million people with dementia in the UK by 2025.

The financial cost of dementia to the UK is £26 billion per annum and 60,000 deaths a year are directly attributable the condition.

Delaying the onset of dementia by five years would reduce deaths directly attributable to it by 30,000 a year, but attempts to bring new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease to the market have been disappointing despite a high level of investment.

Professor Craig Ritchie, Professor of the Psychiatry of Ageing at the University of Edinburgh, presented a new approach to the problem of dementia at the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Conference in Birmingham.

Representing the European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia (EPAD) initiative, he outlined new approaches to preventing the development of dementia in those at risk.

“This is a genuine game changer in the fight against dementia.

By joining forces, scientists and pharmaceutical companies across Europe can deliver a real benefit to people at risk of this disease,” he said.

The new cells that your body is creating right now are made from what you eat.

If we simply provide the human body with all the nutrients it needs, it has the wisdom to heal, repair and balance itself while preventing many diseases.

Your body was designed to maintain optimal health and wellness, but you need to give it what it needs by proper nutrition.

The scripture puts it this way: “you are fearfully and wonderfully made”.

There is a healer within you capable of incredible things if you provide y o u r

cells with what is called “Cellular Nutrition”.

Simply put, this is a way to provide the over 70 trillion cells in your body with all the nutrients they need.

Over 22 years ago I heard about the concept of Cellular Nutrition for the first time even though I had been practicing medicine for over two decades.

The idea had never been mentioned in medical school. I had been having my own health challenges at the time and I decided to try the approach myself.

The experience changed my health and my approach to medicine forever. I discovered that the

body actually could repair itself when nourished appropriately.

The Cellular Nutrition Program

About 35 years ago experts in the modern sciences of nutrition, vitamins and minerals supplements along with specialists in herbs created a simple program, which provides the human body with all the nutrients it needs.

It is simple and convenient and I consider it the ultimate healthy fast food. Today millions of people worldwide use this approach every day with incredible health benefits.

It is a precise plan to supplement your diet so as to optimally n o u r - ish the cells of your body.

There are 3 elements to this program: A liquid meal: a protein shake that can replace or supplement one or more meal each day. The shake is a nutritionally perfect meal in a drink that is delicious and easy to prepare. Technically, it supplies your cells with all their macronutrients – protein, carbohydrates

and good fats. It is also a powerful weight management tool.

A tablet: containing a combination of vitamins, mineral and micronutrients to be taken with each meal.

A capsule: with a blend of herbs and nutrients that protects the cells, strengthens the immune system and facilitates the absorption and use of all the nutrients by the cells.

The simple discipline of consistently supplementing your diet with these nutrients can dramatically benefit your health and well being.

There is actually nothing magical about the supplements themselves. The real magic is in your body with its incredible God given potential.

This concept and this nutritional program is unique. It is patented, trademarked and owned by a US based company and is available here in Jamaica.

So, stop digging your grave with your teeth and start building a better body with cellular nutrition.

You may email Dr. Vendryes at tonyvendryes@gmail.com or listen to An Ounce of Prevention on POWER106FM on Fridays at 8:15 pm. Details of his books and articles are available on his website www.tonyvendryes.com.

To Advertise - Tel : 0121 231 3235 or email advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 33

Page 34

SPOTLIGHT - SS ARANDORA STAR

Tributes finally paid for victims of the SS Arandora Star at special service

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memorial to mark the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Arandora Star, condemned as an enemy vessel carrying alien subjects, was held as

many remembered the innocent Italian, Austrian and Germans who perished on the liner.

On way to a new life, in Canada, the ship was torpedoed, off the coast of Ireland, on July 2, 1940,

with over 800 people losing their lives, the majority of which being Italians, from the second city.

At St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, in Birmingham's city centre, family members, friends and worshippers gathered for a special mass, in honour of the victims of the Arandora Star, as remembrance of those, especially from the Little Italy area of the city, who lost their lives en-rout to a new, safer life.

Marked as one of Birmingham’s darkest wartime chapters, thanks to long-time campaigner, Dorothy Bradbury, the service of remembrance, the first memorial ceremony to mark the tragedy, was secured.

The service was launched with a special prayer and reading from the book of Genesis, by Monsignor Timothy Menezes, the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Birmingham and a then Mathew, from Father Marcin Kordel.

In the presence of Filippo Libra, Vice-Councillor at the Vice Consulate, a moment of ‘silence’ was observed before a very special ‘thank you’ given for the tenacity of Dorothy Bradbury, who secured the first memorial ceremony for those who perished on the Arandora as it took Birmingham/ Italians to internment camps in Canada.

Pensioner Dorothy said: “The Arandora Star was a ship of shame and those on it were treated shamefully.”

Dorothy campaigned for years

The Phoenix – August 2015

l Above: L-R: Father Marcin Kordel, Monsignor Timothy Menezes, Filippo Libra and Dorothy Bradbury at St Michael’s Church l Below: L-R: Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Ray Hassall, Dorothy Bradbury and Filippo Libra at The Woodman

to get a memorial to those who lost their lives on the SS Arandora Star, before finally seeing her hard work come to fruition.

With familial ties to those who died on board, and a stalwart heart and single-minded approach, she tirelessly worked to ensure the lost received the final rest they deserved.

These were people who had come to the UK to work, and still had to sign on weekly as ‘Aliens’.

Hard working people who produced high quality clocks,

watches and other timepieces, thermometers, and more from the area near Digbeth, who were forced to leave their families and board these ships, leading to their eventual deaths.

A plaque of remembrance was unveiled at St. Michaels Church, graciously donated by Thomas Fattorini of Birmingham Fattorini’s of the Jewellery Quarter, before a second, donated by Taroni’s of Birmingham at renowned The Woodman public house, in the Digbeth area of the

city - once called the Italian Quarters, or ‘Little Italy’ where, across the way, at Millennium Point, for the first time ever, the Italian flag was raised, as a mark of respect from the city as a whole.

When it was torpedoed, converted liner the SS Arandora Star, took 805 people to their deaths, including 470 Italians, with family members of those who so brutally perished still waiting for the UK government to say ‘sorry’ to the innocent Italian victims.

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 35

PRESENTS

NOTTINGHAM SAT 24th Oct 2015

3RD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

BIRMINGHAM SAT 31st Oct 2015

DJANOGLY CITY ACADEMY THEATRE

panya banjoko YUSSEF HAMED more culture

marcia calame spicy fingers MORECULTURE.UK

TICKETS £10

MAYOR lindsey

Page 36

ADOPTION AND FOSTERING

W

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

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

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

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

The Phoenix – August 2015

We will be highlighting the inspiring work of current carers, the extensive support and training that is available and the difference that you could be making in a young persons’ life. If you feel that you can offer this, or even if you would like to find out a little bit more – don’t hesitate! It could make the greatest difference to a child’s life.

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

OSTER CARERS WANTED BAAF welcomes £30 million

Where every child matters today : 0121 234 6210 tomorrow and in the future

F

urefamilies@futurehsc.com

uture Families Fostering Agency is a independent agency based in Birmingham.

We have a professional team of dedicated workers, who are commit(west midlands ltd.) ted to recruiting and approving a wide Future Families West Midlands Limited, Chamberlain House Future Families provides: 28-30 Hall Street, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6BS range of foster carers who are able to Tel: 0121 learning 234 6210 Fax: 234 6215 • Continued and0121 development contribute to achieving positive outEmail: info.futurefamilies@futurehsc.com opportunities Web: www.futurefamilies.co.uk comes for children.

• A generous weekly fostering allowFostering is a rewarding and meaningful way of giving a child/young person, who ance • Monthly home visits supervision Registeredfor in England and Wales. is unable to live with their birth family, the Registered Office: 2-4 Summer Hill Terrace, and support experience of ordinary family life.

Birmingham B1 3RA Company No. 06717949the • Out of Hours support service when A child or young person can be part of VAT No. 895869337 office is closed your family for a very short period such • Telephone contact in between home as a few weeks, but we are keen to recruit carers who can provide care for longer visits • Foster carer support group meetings periods or until the child attains the age • A calendar of social activities for the and maturity for independence.

Future Families firmly believe that every whole fostering family . Please do pick up the phone and find child/young person has the right to be out more about becoming a foster carer brought up in a safe family environment.

Our aim is for the child’s needs to be with Future Families.

Telephone: 0121 234 6210 paramount and for them to be placed with Email:info.futurefamilies@futurehsc.com committed foster carers, who will enable Web: www.futurefamilies.co.uk positive family experience.

.futurefamilies.co.uk

endent Fostering Agency

to support adoption efforts

T

he government announced in the Queens Speech that a Bill would be introduced into Parliament that would among other measures, empower the SecretaryRegistered of State to Charity no. 1056907 direct local authorities to combine their adoption services if they did not successfully do so through their own actions. This Bill is now making its way through Parliament.

The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) has welcomed the government’s announcement of a Bill that means additional funding designed to enable agencies to access

a full range of placements without financial pressures and enabling children to have access to a wider range of potential adopters.

In England there are 180 adoption agencies with the majority a part of local authority services.

These range in size from placing over 100 children for adoption to under a dozen.

The complexity of the system and the potential inefficiencies of scale are of concern although over the past few years the numbers of children who left care through adoption reached its highest figures ever at 5050 through the coalition government's reform programme.

Where an adoption agency places a child with adopters approved by another agency a fee is paid. This can be a disincentive to the placing agency.

Over the last two years the government introduced a requirement that the fee be paid in all circumstances to stimulate the recruitment of adopters and in effect create the stimulus of a market.

There has been no evaluation of the effect of this measure. With such an important issue, evaluation should have been a priority.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, declared: “I am determined to tear down the barriers to children in care

ere every child matters today, tomorrow and in the future’

being found loving adoptive parents.

The average time it takes to place a child with a new family has been falling and I am delighted we are able to offer this funding to try to ensure it falls further.”

The new money will be distributed to local authorities as soon as this year to help them fund the recruitment and assessment of adoptive parents outside their regions, and match the families found to suitable vulnerable children.

Other authorities or adoption agencies assist in locating prospective adopters from other regions.

FOSTER CARERS WANTED Tel: 0121 234 6210 info.futurefamilies@futurehsc.com

www.futurefamilies.co.uk Independent Fostering Agency

(west midlands ltd.)

Future Families West Midlands Limited, Chamberlain House 28-30 Hall Street, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6BS Tel: 0121 234 6210 Fax: 0121 234 6215 Email: info.futurefamilies@futurehsc.com Web: www.futurefamilies.co.uk

‘where every child matters today, tomorrow and in the future’ Registered Charity no. 1056907

Registered in England and Wales.

Registered Office: 2-4 Summer Hill Terrace, Birmingham B1 3RA

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 37

TROPICAL CONNECTIONS

UK pension changes create new property investors A s someone who loves to captain their own ship, I welcomed the pension changes that will see around 10 million British people who have reached the ripe young age of 55 between 2010 and 2020 being able to cash in their pension pots to do with as they please.

The sharks are circling

Press reports have disclosed that the sharks are already circling in an effort to lay their hands

on pension pots.

Without permission from the individuals, highly sensitive financial and personal data is on sale for as little as 5p for each person approaching retirement.

As a result, many beneficiaries of pension pots will come under pressure to part with their cash, with promises of returns which sound too good to be true and are therefore likely to turn out to be too good to be true.

3,000+ attend Manchester property exhibition

Britons are still willing to pursue the dream of owning property in sunnier climes.

That is if the Channel 4 TV show ‘A Place in the Sun Live’ overseas property exhibition that was held in Manchester on Saturday, 14th March 2015 is anything to go by.

The event was attended by over 3,000 people, making it the busiest day at an overseas prop-

erty exhibition in the UK for seven years.

Many of those attending the event took advantage of low property prices in Spain and the Mediterranean.

The Caribbean property world

Britons with lump sum pensions can look further afield – the Caribbean - for that holiday, second or retirement home.

Depending on your reasons for choosing the Caribbean as the

place in which to spend your pension pots, you’ll be bowled over by the diverse selection of properties for sale in this part of the world.

These include luxury villas, condominium units, detached homes and residential lots on which to build your own style of home.

If you’re an investor looking solely for income generating property in the Caribbean, then a boutique hotel, residential apartment block, commercial building or development land may suit you.

The choices of property for sale in the Caribbean are endless!

All that glitters is not gold

I could not end this article without a cautionary note to new pension pot beneficiaries.

There is no doubt that buying property abroad can be a truly

exciting and rewarding experience.

However, be aware that the stunning beachfront resort development with every amenity and facility that you could possibly want may never be completed.

Your real estate agent may be more incentivised and motivated by lucrative commission fees than the outcome of your property purchase.

Don’t allow the promise of a ‘to die for’ lifestyle or ‘too good to be true’ returns on your investment persuade you to part with your lump sum pension funds.

You can definitely invest in overseas property - just be diligent, vigilant and prudent every step of the way!

Maureen Smith, Caribbean Property Consultant, Tropical Connections Ltd.

Madeys, St. Patrick, Grenada

Cattlewash, St. Joseph, Barbados

A lovely and spacious 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom property in scenic and picturesque location.

Price: USD $225K Ref: GRE002

Small development consisting of six residential lots ranging in size from 4,066 sq. ft. to 7,119 sq. ft.

Price: USD $180K-$287K Ref: BAR034

Mollison, Manchester, Jamaica

Monier, Gros Islet, St. Lucia

Small manageable farmstead property in a rural and rustic setting in Jamaica.

Price: JMD $11M Ref: JAM074

For more information about Caribbean property contact Maureen Smith, Caribbean Property Consultant and Founder of Tropical Connections Ltd. on 0845 222 1413, 07506 354 902 or via email at info@tropicalconnections.co.uk.

You can also visit www.tropicalconnections.co.uk.

Minard Hill, St. Ann, Jamaica

Well presented 3-bed, 2-bath home in quiet residential neighbourhood.

Price: USD $222,846.00 Ref: SLU073

Moule la Chique, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia These are just some of the listings that are available for sale in Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and St. Lucia. We have access to many, many more listings, so please contact us with details of your specific property requirements and we’ll help you find it.

This 4.21 acre lot is ideal for a small residential development or farming project.

Price: JMD $5.5M Ref: JAM075

This gently sloping beachfront lot of approx. 29,578 sq. ft. in size is zoned for residential or commercial use.

Price: USD $250K Ref: SLU075

Page 38

OVERSEAS NEWS

The Phoenix – August 2015

Brides-to-be Combat Stress with Pre-Wedding Health Retreats

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ith the daunting task of wedding planning creating a nerve-wracking experience for even the most clear minded bride-to-be, Health and Fitness Travel, the leading specialists in healthy holidays worldwide, offer to save your sanity with their top 5 pre-wedding health retreats for stressed brides-to-be.

From Switzerland to St Lucia, banish bridezilla through a personalised health retreat of sleep enhancing spa treatments, healthy nutrition and energy boosting fitness classes.

Get back on the wedding planning wagon after a healthy dose of R&R, as you re-connect with yourself in these healthy hideaways and rediscover your bridal glow.

Dubai's Miracle Oasis in the Desert

D

ubai is known as a glamorous city of skyscrapers in the Arabian desert.

The idea of it also having the world’s largest natural flower garden doesn’t naturally spring to mind.

Defying the odds, this immaculate oasis of flowers and color opened its gates in February 2013 and the Dubai Miracle Gardens have been flourishing ever since.

This botanical feast is still only in its first phase of development and already features over-thetop displays of peacocks, flower falls, flower covered cars and upside-down houses. A butterfly garden is in the works.

The gardens boast over 45 million blooming flowers and 45 different flower varieties, from all over the world.

The heart-shaped walkway is one of the more popular attractions in the park. You won’t be

able to pass by without spotting people taking their pictures in this romantic archway.

This 18 acre garden uses 200,000 gallons of water a day (757,082 liters). Most of the water is recycled through a unique sub-surface irrigation system.

The garden has already earned itself a Guinness World Record.

It features the world’s largest vertical garden, with a 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) circumference.

To Advertise - Telephone : 0121 231 3235 or email us : advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com

The Phoenix – August 2015

Page 39

SPORT - WITH STEVE WILLIAMS

Wonder-kid, Zion, further recognised with major award

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dding to his ever-growing list, eight-year-old Zion Aserie was again recognised for his achievements in Sport when he received the Christina Edkins Memorial Trophy for his outstanding achievements in gymnastics.

The Christina Edkins Memorial Trophy was formed in memory the schoolgirl who was stabbed to death on a bus on her way to school back in 2013.

Each year since, her parents award a deserving pupil from her old primary school, St Edmunds and its sister-chool, St Patrick's both in Winson Green, Birmingham - for excellence in sport.

Zion, who trains with the City of Birmingham boys squad, at the GMAC in the city, has so far, had three major competitions, taking the podium each time, with a mix of gold and bronze medals.

Gaelic Football team on look-out to expand game

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Coventry Gaelic football club was on the look-out for help to win vital cash, in the Mars Milk Play Fund 2015.

The Four Masters Gaelic football club, based in the Holbrook’s area, were urging people in the city to get behind them by voting online to get their juvenile section, a £1,000 award.

Club Chair, Dave Greene, said: “We were just absolutely amazed

that we got through to the final ten, as we beat about 500 projects, which was just unexpected. We never thought we would get this far, because we are such a small club.”

The club, founded in 1955, by a group of men from Donegal, in Ireland, is made up predominately of home-grown talent and is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year.

Four Masters is one of only few

remaining Gaelic clubs of its kind in the Midlands, providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds interested in the game the chance to try their hand at the sport.

With the club putting an emphasis on developing its under-age structure - it currently provides volunteer coaches in three primary schools in the city, Green said: “Since Sky Sports has started to show live Gaelic foot-

ball we have seen a significant increase in interest in the sport and It’s not just people with Irish backgrounds either. We currently have players from a variety of backgrounds playing for us.

The team are always on the look-out for new players or volunteers to join in, and we always invite anyone interested to contact us.”

Early Prem start to get juices going

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ith the P r e m i e r League’s competition beginning on August 8, the season will be followed directly by the European Championship, and the Premier League's move to bring forward opening day could allow England

manager Roy Hodgson additional time to prepare his side, should they qualify for the tournament.

In a short Twitter posting, the Premier League stated: "The 2015/16 #BPL season will kick off on Saturday 8 August".

The date for the final day of the season has yet to be announced.

B.O.L.T. 2015 Hitting for 6 Continued from Back Page

We are looking to forge strong relationships between Birmingham and Jamaica through a whole range of activities driven by sport, cultural activities and including a Gospel Concert, Dominoes match and other well now cultural activities to be delivered in Jamaica.

There will also be a blood collection drive in support of hospitals, as “Jamaica is short of blood... “ at least that was the case earlier this year...even affecting pregnant women.

So, with the support from renowned policy implementation specialist, Rudi Page, the NHS and JLB Shipping, Jamaica National Building Society a blood-collection unit was delivered. To the Health Service in Jamaica” Community champion, Wallen, who organizes the Birmingham Annual Sports and Cultural Day which include the very popular Malcolm Marshall Memorial Cricket Cup in the city, added: “The response so far has been has been very positive and we are encouraging as many people as possible to join us on this amazing legacy journey.

It will be an ambitious tour with the chance for people to make pos-

itive contributions to Jamaica, and enjoy the goodness and fantastic initiative.

We want people to make suggestions of what they believe are good legacy ideas that we can deliver in Jamaica, so that they too can be consider Preparations are taking shape for B.O.L.T. 2015. The tour is open to all recreational cricket (aged 18+), domino players and gospel artists, from the Birmingham and surrounding areas, who can take on their Jamaican counterparts.

Are you ready?

Working with and in consultation with major partners in Jamaica,

such as the Jamaica Cricket Association, Jamaica Tourist Board in Jamaica and in the UK, The British High Commission based in Jamaica, various Government Departments and individuals, we have now put together a inspirational list of schedule activities that will be of significant benefits to Jamaica, Jamaicans and to the City of Birmingham.

The star-studded Birmingham Annual Sports and Cultural Day/ Malcolm Marshall Memorial Cup takes place in Handsworth Park, on Sunday August 30. For more information call: 07424 999 732

Have you got something to say? Send in your stories to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

Four Masters Gaelic Football - Page 39

B.O.L.T. Creating a Legacy Following London 2012

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fter successfully hosting the Jamaican 2012 Olympic track and field team, and with the City Council committed to delivering four Olympic legacy exchanges, the Birmingham Olympic Legacy Tour is well and truly up, and ready to take the best local cricketers, domino players, gospel artists and supporters to the Caribbean to take-on Jamaica’s best ‘up-and-coming’ giving the locals an opportunity to shine, on a grand scale and be part of

something really special.

B.O.L.T. 2015 is due to take place in September and will include a number of high profile competitive cricket matches, various cultural activities, professionally run cricket coaching clinic for budding young cricketers selected from various schools across the Island, blood collection at various sites where project activities are delivered via a blood collection unit working with Jamaica Health Service.

The project will also aim to deliver activities with schools, disabled people and provide ambassadorial opportunities that collectively will ensure a once in a lifetime experience to take part in possible the biggest sporting and cultural event, ever, between the two countries.

Project Co-coordinator/ Tour Manager, Sted Wallen, who has been working relentlessly in support of the legacy, since Birmingham won the rights in 2010 to host the Jamaica Pre -Olympic Training Camp in Birmingham, said: “The tour is, in essence, is

about building cultural, sporting, economic, trade, and strengthening the historical relationships between the City Of Birmingham and Jamaica, whilst providing opportunities to develop sustainable legacy links between Jamaica and the City Of Birmingham. The project will also promote Birmingham as a world class Sporting City, a strong multi-cultural city where approximately 70,000 Jamaicans now call Birmingham their home / away from home.

Having lobbied the Jamaican government and liaised with various sporting legends of the island like Don Quarry, Grace Jackson and others, and supported by the University of Birmingham, the city already sent out a school athletics team, to take part in the illustrious Gibson McCook Relay-the ‘birthplace’ of some of today’s Jamaican sprint superstars-in Kingston as well as invite the Jamaica National Netball Team to participate in netball matches in Birmingham.

With relationships cemented, in

IRB Rugby World Cup Drawing Close

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he Rugby World Cup is up on us next month and already the appetite is wetted with anticipation for what promises to be the biggest celebration of the oval ball ever.

With a strong history of staging major sporting events including Euro '96, the European Gymnastics Championships, Trampolining and Tumbling World Champions, the annual Great Birmingham Run and the All England Badminton Championships, Villa Park, home to Premier League side, Aston Villa, is ready to add to that tra-

dition next month.

The stadium will be hosting former IRB World Cup winners, South Africa, against Samoa before another mouth-watering contest which pits another former winner, Australia verses Uraguay.

To make sure that nobody misses out, here will be a big screen showing live matches and other Rugby content, as well as a Rugby activity zone, fairground rides, covered viewing areas and a range of refreshment stalls; everything that you need to get into the spirit of the Tournament.

Paul Faulkner, Aston Villa Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re delighted to be associated with this prestigious tournament and we look forward to hosting marquee matches involving two past winners in Australia and South Africa at Villa Park.

We look forward to putting on a show which will be remembered.”

The battle for the Webb Ellis Trophy starts on September 18, with the Final, at Twickenham, on October 31.

athletics, and netball, the Council has two legacies to deliver.”

In partnership with Warwickshire County Cricket Club, there will be 6 matches across Jamaica – a combination of the 14 parishes – two

coaching clinics to develop skills and give talented local youngsters the chance to impress, and perhaps forge a cricketing career.

Sted says: “This project will be going nationwide as we don’t want

anyone to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

The ‘Jamaica Here We Come Tour’ is more than a cricket tour.

Continued on Page 39