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NEWS New Youth Police & Crime Commissioner for Sandwell
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Phoenix Collegiate Academy student is flying the flag for safety after being elected Sandwell’s new Youth Police & Crime Commissioner. Jardell Miller was elected to the role by members of the borough’s Youth Parliament and confirmed at a youth summit held by West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner David Jamieson. Youth Commissioners meet regularly to discuss issues affecting young people around crime and policing and challenge Mr Jamieson and West Midlands Police to take on board and address their concerns. The Youth Commission is made up of young people representing the seven West Midlands local authority areas. Jardell, aged 15, said: “I found out about this role when I met one of the superintendents from West Midland Police who explained what the role entailed and I did my own research to
The Phoenix – January 2015
TV chef Pascale to become first government fostering ambassador
l Jardell Miller find it was all about improving lives, making changes and meeting new people - immediately, I thought that this was a great opportunity to make an impact on the community so I decided to stand for election and was successful. As a Youth Commissioner, I can work closely with the police and local authorities to make Sandwell a better place to live in. I also want to work closely with the police to close the gap between them and youth groups; with this comes education, determination and commitment. I wish to join the police in the future and believe everything that I learn now will be carried through to my future career.” Sandwell has two Youth & Crime Commissioners. The other is Tasnim Miah.
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V chef Lorraine Pascale is to become the government's first fostering ambassador. Pascale, who was fostered herself as a young child, has spoken about her background on a number of occasions. She has also campaigned for more support for foster children and their families. The Department for Education said she would "champion fostering" in England and encourage more people to think about becoming carers. Lorraine said: "It's a cause that's extremely close to my heart and I know from personal experience how critical and important this work is." Children's Minister Edward Timpson said: "As someone who grew up as part of a large foster family, I know only too well that fostering can be one of
l Lorraine with John and Marion Bird, her earliest carers the most rewarding experiences life can bring, as well as having a life-changing impact on a child's life. Lorraine is an inspiration to many foster children and their parents." The government recently unveiled reforms to the adoption and fostering systems - including changing the rules to allow children to stay with their foster families until they are 21, giving carers powers to make day-to-day decisions about children in their care, and making the assessment process clearer and quicker.
l Community Champion Sharon Widdett outside Morrions The Hawthorns with the shopping donation.
Giving A Helping Hand
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orrisons The Hawthorns graciously donated Christmas food and drink to help local groups in and around Birmingham. Just before Christmas, The Phoenix Newspaper were guided around Morrisons by Community Champion Sharon Widdett, stocking up on festive meats, vegetables, and drinks. Ricky Dehaney from Prison
Link gratefully accepted the donation. Prison Link provides support services to offenders and their family units, primarily from the African Caribbean and Asian communities. “The food was distributed to ex prisoners that had been released in recent weeks. All they get when released is the £45 discharge grant. They were very grateful for the support.”
l Ricky Dehaney, Prison Link
To Advertise - Tel : 0121 240 7310 or email advertising@thephoenixnewspaper.com
The Phoenix – January 2015
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eeking to establish new attractions for what tourism stakeholders hope will be a growing base of U.S. travelers, the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism (VIDOT) is partnering with the St. Croix Landmarks Society to establish a “living museum experience” at the Estate Whim Museum, the island’s restored 18th century plantation. Demonstrations and interactive activities featuring “traditional Cruzan experiences” reflecting the island’s historic crafts, cuisine and lifestyle will be available to land-based, overnight vacationers, cruise-ship visitors and St. Croix residents under the new program. Activities will be based across the Estate Whim facilities, which include a great house, slave
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OVERSEAS NEWS
quarters, mill and factory complex. Estate Whim is described by VIDOT officials as the Virgin Islands’ sole remaining sugar plantation. The plantation’s central "big yard" will host an interactive community featuring fishermen, cooks, bakers, blacksmiths, basket weavers, seamstresses, laborers and goldsmiths practicing their trades and crafts. Interactive exhibits designed for cultural travelers, environmentalists and bird watchers are also planned. The living museum program will also engage “elder tradition bearers” as instructors in training targeted toward young adults and teens, said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, the Virgin Islands’ commissioner of tourism. "Working with local historians, tradition bearers and young
USVI launch 'Living Museum' Program on St. Croix
preservationists, the attraction will honor our traditions as we remember our past and envision our future," she said.
Sonia Jacobs Dow, St. Croix Landmarks Society’s executive director, said: "We embrace the challenge of bringing history
alive and will continually seek to develop our offerings to reflect the totality of our history."
Centra Taum Seminyak takes second Gold at Bali’s Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards
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entra Taum Seminyak Bali has been awarded a Gold Medal in the Tri Hita Karana Awards 2014 for the second time, which recognize hospitality operators for adopting Balinese Hindu philosophy on harmonious relationships between the community, environment and business. The awards were presented at a ceremony organised by Bali Travel Newspaper and Yayasan Tri Hita Karana at the Art Centre, at Denpasar in Bali.
Tri Hita Karana is the Balinese Hindu philosophy on life, which literally translates as the Three Causes to Prosperity, and whose doctrine explains that peace and liberty are obtainable in life only when humans respect and observe three harmonious relationships between humans and the gods, humans and nature and among themselves. “A key element of Centara’s corporate philosophy is to be both socially and environmentally responsible, and we have followed very closely the guidelines laid
down by Bali’s Tri Hita Karana doctrine,” says Michel Horn, vice president for operations at Centara Hotels&Resorts. “To be selected for the prestigious Gold Medal after just three years of operation is a very satisfying recognition of the work of our management and staff.” The awards were first implemented in 2000, and this year saw 116 hotels in Bali participating in the scheme. In 2004, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) endorsed the awards and
Caribbean Airlines celebrates fuel surcharge removal
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aribbean Airlines have announced the immediate removal of fuel surcharges on all routes between North America and the Caribbean, and within the Caribbean. George Reeleder, Vice President of Commercial and Customer Service said: “This is great news for Caribbean Airlines customers. With the reduction in jet fuel prices we have removed the surcharges as they were only ever planned to be of temporary nature.” The fuel surcharge was introduced to cover additional costs when the price of fuel was over $100 per barrel. We never wanted this surcharge to be a permanent feature of our fares. Thus, when our largest expense – fuel, came down, we wanted our customers to benefit Reeleder said. the Tri Hita Karana concept was included in Bali’s tourism law in 2009. The awards gained further support when in 2010 the philosophy became part of the Bali Clean and Green roadmap. Centra Taum Seminyak Bali is located a short distance from Petitenget Beach, and comes under our Centra value brand. The property has a distinctive architectural design that blends modern and traditional Balinese.