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Issue 21 May 2014
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Bury st edmunds
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Dispatch Has a Sister East Anglia’s Children’s FineCity Magazine re-launches in Norwich. I am delighted to confirm Spider Media Solutions, who are the publishers of Dispatch Magazine, have successfully obtained the Norwich based magazine ‘FineCity’. FineCity Magazine has been published in Norwich for the past few years, before its previous owner wound the title down last year. Spider Media Solutions has now taken over the title and will relaunch FineCity as a Community Lifestyle Magazine with effect from the May 2014 edition. FineCity will remain an A4, full colour, gloss lifestyle magazine, but will adopt a community feel based along the same lines as Dispatch Magazine which we have been publishing for the past 14 years. Dispatch Magazine’s ethos has always been to promote local events, clubs, organisations, charities and businesses. This will remain our sole focus with FineCity who already have a fantastic reputation in Norwich.
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FineCity will initially have a 10,000 print run, and will be available via collection points at: Theatre Royal, The Forum & Library, Waitrose at Eaton, John Lewis, CinemaCity, The Maddermarket, Norwich Airport and Castle Mall. We will also have Door to Door delivery in the Cringleford and Eaton area of Norwich which will increase by about 3,000 each month as we expand the area of delivery around the city. This is great news for existing Dispatch Magazine customers and rural businesses who wish to be promoted in our Fine City as we can now include you in this new publication as well as our family of Dispatch Magazines.
Hospices (EACH) The Suffolk Villages Charities Bike Ride East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is a charity which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The charity relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income and needs to raise almost £6 million to deliver their services this year. Spring is the air, so what better time to get outside, get fit and support your local children’s hospice!
For more informaton on FineCity please contact us at:
If cycling’s your thing, then why not take part in ‘The Suffolk Villages Charities Bike Ride’ run by The Stowmarket Lions Club.
Tel: 01953 456789 Web: www.FineCity.co.uk Email: Office@FineCity.co.uk Twitter: @FineCityMag Facebook: Facebook.com/FineCityMag
Taking place on Sunday 22nd June 2014, EACH is one of the chosen charities to benefit from the event, and will see cyclists travelling through Suffolk’s beautiful countryside with a choice of
three different routes; 25km for families, 45km Intermediate and 75km Challenge. The bike ride starts and finishes at the Blackbourne Centre in Elmswell and entry fees range from £15-£20 for adults and £5-£8 for children .For an entry form, call Stowmarket Lions on 0845 833 5114, email bikeride2014@stowlions.org.uk or visit www.stowlions.org.uk There are so many more ways you can get involved – just visit www.each.org.uk or contact the Suffolk team on: Tel: 01473 276196 Email: treehouse@each.org.uk or Tweet: @EACH_Suffolk to find out more. EACH registered charity number - 1069284
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bury st edmunds
Jazz Up Your Routine Fashion Fusion In Try a new class that will ensure you have as much fun as possible whilst getting fit at the same time. Maxine Rustern runs Bury St Edmunds Jazzercise classes at St Benedicts School and County Upper School, with the times and days to suit everyone. So there is no excuse not to come! It’s a great way of meeting people and working out, for all ages, shapes and size. Offering fun, interactive and very effective body workout Jazzercise group classes have work-outs choreographed to all the latest music, with her ever changing routines so that you will not get bored. We promise you will leave our class wanting more. Don’t worry if you are not the most coordinated person in the world, and don’t enjoy jumping around, we also offer Body Sculpting classes at some of our locations. So ring for more information, no need to give up on exersice altogether, as these classes are great for maintaining bone density. For older people who are suffering with the normal aches and pains that go
with age the weight bearing and muscle toning of Body Sculpture is a very useful form of exercise. All Jazzercise classes are run by professional instructors. Maxine and her team will do everything to help you get that new year body whilst enjoying the workout, exercise really doesn’t have to be a chore! So give Maxine a call and book your first class for only £5. Telephone her on 07943 161246 www.jazzercise-uk.com
Fabulous Fourth Year 20 shops and designers to take part in fashion and style extravaganza. Fashion Fusion is making a fabulous return for 2014. It’s the fourth year on the catwalk at The Apex, with all proceeds from the event going to St Nicholas Hospice Care.
will be modelling chic second hand items to promote their new retail stores, and not to forget the latest range of sleepwear to encourage sign ups to this years Girls Night Out.
The annual event will take place on Friday 9th May and will showcase the exciting new Spring and Summer ranges from Bury St Edmunds’ retailers including Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Joules and Nicola Sexton to name a few. Local stylist Loraine Callow will also be on stage providing valuable information on how to dress for your size and shape.
Julie Warren, Marketing Manager at The Apex said “our aim is to raise as much as possible for the Hospice – last year we achieved £5,803.64. This year we will be changing the format a little to keep the momentum fast paced and exciting and delivering more of a ‘Fashion Week’ style atmosphere. So do come along and enjoy this fun event for a good cause.”
Over 20 shops and designers will take part in the style extravaganza, which will be split into two parts to showcase ‘young fashion’ and ‘exclusive fashion’. Lively music, continuous catwalk models and video footage will create an exciting atmosphere and with a mix of independent shops and high street stores, there will be something to suit everyone’s taste.
All tickets include a welcome drink and interval refreshments, all seat numbers will be entered into a raffle with one lucky fashionista winning a day pass for Center Parcs!
West Suffolk College will be appearing on the catwalk too, with students strutting their stuff in their very own creations including a range on ‘Bury In Bloom’ outfits. The outfits will also be on display at Elsey’s Gallery, off Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds from 14th May. Plus volunteers from St Nicholas Hospice Care
Start: Drinks reception starts at 7pm, show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets: Front row tickets £15, all others £13.50. Venue: The Apex For photographs or more information contact Julie Warren: julie.warren@theapex.co.uk 01284 758015 Twitter @fashionfusion_ www.facebook.com/FashionFusionapex
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Bury st edmunds
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Suffolk Cinema Network Vision 2031 Celebrating 10 Years With A Fresh Rebrand To celebrate 10 years of running successful community film events, the Suffolk Cinema Network has launched a brand new website www.suffolkdigitalcinema.org Members of the network thought it was time for a refresh and an ideal opportunity to create a new website which now includes features such as a What’s On event calendar, updated film programming advice and easier to use online booking system to book the four sets of kit. Running as a non-profit organisation, the Suffolk Cinema Network currently has over 60 member groups across the county running regular film screenings in community settings such as village halls and as part of community festivals. Highlights of the past ten years include Film Flurry, children’s film festival running over two years, an archive film festival and two years of The Wider Picture Project, an international film festival bringing the best of foreign cinema to rural Suffolk.
“Our members have been loyal to us for the past decade so we’re thrilled to be bringing them a new website to help celebrate a special anniversary” says Sue Wigglesworth, Chair of the Network and Co-ordinator of Polstead Village Hall Film Nights “Film is an excellent way of bringing a community together and provide real social gatherings. We’re pleased to be able to still continue to support new and existing films clubs with access to kit, film and licensing advice and how to get started.” Network members can borrow one of four sets of digital projection equipment stored at venues is Stowmarket, Mildenhall, Sudbury and Eye. There is an annual membership fee to the Network of £30, but use of the kit is free or people can become affiliated members for £15 if they have their own kit. To find out more please visit www.suffolkcinemanetwork.org or contact the Network Secretary on 01638 719257
The Planning Inspector has issued his recommended modifications to St Edmundsbury’s draft Vision 2031 plans for public consultation. The modifications are proposed changes resulting from the Planning Inspector’s consideration of representations made on the Vision 2031 documents, including those which were followed up at an eight day public hearing which considered representations from a wide range of individuals and organisations. The public are invited to comment on the changes in an online consultation lasting seven weeks, between 14 April and 30 May. Cllr John Griffiths, Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council said, “Vision 2031 is a comprehensive plan to help the borough to manage change over the coming years.” “We need it both to protect our way of life, wonderful heritage and environment, and to ensure our future prosperity with the right kind of desirable development, alongside the necessary safeguards and infrastructure.”
“I am delighted that the Planning Inspector has reflected this in the recommended modifications he proposes and I would like to thank all those who have been involved in - and put so much work and thought into - this long process and who care so passionately about this lovely part of the country.” “I would also encourage everyone to look at the documents and take part in this consultation.” Cllr Terry Clements, St Edmundsbury Borough Council Cabinet member for Planning said, “The past three years have revealed the deep allegiance of our residents to all that is good in the borough, not least before the Planning Inspector.” “His recommended modifications address some of the representations made. We believe that the rigorous testing of Vision 2031 has made it a stronger plan.”
Suffolk’s Artists Open Their Doors Over 130 Suffolk artists will be opening their studios to the public over the weekends of June as part of the long-running Suffolk Open Studios initiative. Spanning a huge range of art, including oils, watercolours, acrylics, photography, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, glassware, sculpture, 2D and 3D mixed media, printmaking, mosaics and much more, the Open Studios event grows bigger each year with more artists participating and more members of the public visiting the studios. Chairman of Suffolk Open Studios Tom Lund-Lack, who will also be exhibiting his own artwork at his residential art and activity centre ArtActiv at Thornham
Magna, is passionate about the idea behind the initiative. “Art should be accessible,” he says. “This is a great opportunity for people to meet the artists, ask them questions about their inspiration and choice of medium. It’s welcoming, friendly and not at all pretentious. The whole point is that artists want people to come and visit them – artists welcome the chance to share their work with a wider audience.” Suffolk Open Studios has been running since 1993 and has grown from a group
of around 15 local artists in the Snape and Aldeburgh area. The network now covers the whole of Suffolk. More and more artists are collaborating these days to create a great experience for visitors, with artists trails incorporating several studios, some with refreshments provided. As Suffolk Open Studios covers such a big area, visitors are encouraged to use the guidebook and website in advance to check routes and opening hours, and to make a day of it, planning a route to visit a range of studios and a local pub or café for lunch. Tom says, “It’s a fun day out, and an opportunity to learn something new. There’s no pressure to buy, though many artists will have items available for sale or to commission if requested. Don’t be embarrassed to walk out of a studio with nothing in your hand, but with something in your head.” The Suffolk Open Studios committee is also keen to attract new artists to join. Tom says, “Creating art whether visual
Issue 21 2014
or written is usually a lonely experience with only one’s own company to keep and judgement to fall back on. Being part of an open studio network can perhaps give artists a sense of belonging and of being part of a group of like-minded individuals.” All members are given exposure via the Open Studios website, which also publicises upcoming exhibitions, and they have the option of participation in the Open Studios event. Unlike some regional Open Studio operations, Suffolk’s invites members to join without a committee selection process. Again, Tom is keen to stress the inclusivity of the scheme: “As artists we are often our own harshest critic. We don’t put potential members through a rigorous selection process – if they consider their work to be of a high enough standard, that is fine by us. The website offers members and the public the chance to see the sorts of art on display and make decisions themselves. Art is a small word that means different thing to different people. It’s subjective, so we don’t try to judge.”
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In mid December we launched a campaign on Facebook to spread the word about Dispatch Magazine. We invited people to ‘like’ our page in return for an entry into a competion to win a free quarter page sized advert in all of our magazines at every milestone. We are pleased to announce that our Second winner is Kevin Jarvis of Cleaning Doctor - your local carpet, curtain and upholstery cleaning and restoration specialist in the Norwich Area. We will announce the next winner once our page reaches the next milestone, their advert will then feature in the current magazine at that time. To enter your business/club/facilities/ect. into this competition please visit our facebook page and click ‘like’ at the top Facebook.com/DispatchMagazine
Facebook is here to stay and if you have a small business you cannot ignore it. For the present generation, who spend a lot more time on the internet than on the TV, brands need to change their approach. Research shows that mobile data users are spending about 75% of their browsing time on facebook. Websites now allow you to sign in using their Facebook connect option, just further adding to the level of involvement Facebook has with so many people now. It is not going away, so if you want to be taken as a serious business, you need to get serious with facebook. People can find your site online and they can also find your facebook page. More and more people are going to facebook as a sort of “check” to see how legit your business is.
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Issue 21 2014
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HOMES & GARDENS 11
Join The Club Says Sir Terry Wogan The Utility Warehouse Discount Club has recently teamed up with the legendary BBC celebrity, Sir Terry Wogan, to make a short video which explains all the benefits of the Utility Warehouse. As you might expect, Sir Terry does a fantastic job of showing that it makes perfect sense to take one of our Gold bundles so you save money every month. The Utility Warehouse provide over 500,000 customers throughout the UK with substantial savings on a wide range of utility services including landline phone, mobiles, broadband, gas and electricity. The Utility Warehouse has made a Price Promise: they guarantee you’ll save money when you switch all your services to them, or they’ll give you back ‘Double the Difference’.
in their services. They are a Which? Recommended Provider and scored five out of five for customer service. The video is just 5 minutes long and really is worth seeing, so you can make an informed decision and reduce your monthly utility bills. To view the Terry Wogan video go to: www.Utility-Bills.co.uk and then press the ‘Save Money’ button. To see just how much you can save, contact the Utility Warehouse local distributer Jonathan on: 07802 690589 or email him at: Save@Utility-Bills.co.uk
You may not have heard of the Utility Warehouse before; that’s because they don’t spend money on expensive advertising for TV. This saves them millions of pounds a year - savings they pass on to you! Even if you haven’t heard of them before, you can be completely confident
Issue 21 2014
12 ELDERLY
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Elderly Care Demand To ‘Outstrip’ Family Supply The number of older people in England needing care will “outstrip” the number of family members able to provide it by 2017. An Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) report estimates that by 2030 there will be more than two million people aged 65 and over with no child living nearby to give care if needed. The IPPR report estimates that, of the two million people it says will have no child living nearby to care for them in England in 2030, 230,000 will need more than 20 hours of care per week. The report also highlights the number of older people providing care. It estimates that the amount of “intensive” care provided by spouses and partners will rise by 90% over the next 15 years. It says the average annual cost for those who pay for care is currently £25,000 for home care and £36,000 for a nursing home.
The government said it was working to integrate health and council care services to ensure more older people received care at home. Helena Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK said it was “ absolutely critical” that the government took action to fill the “policy void” around elderly care. She added: “Our families, society and economy need reliable, affordable, quality care and support services and solid support and rights for those caring to ensure such breakdowns are prevented. “Support for working parents has transformed in the last decade; the same shift in attitude must now be adopted to dealing with the care of older, seriously ill and disabled loved ones.
Flexible Working Decreases As Older Women Frozen Out Of Work Say Age UK And Carers UK New figures show that the proportion of older women working flexibly has fallen over the last two years It coincides with a marked increase in the number of older women who have been unemployed for more than a year, according to an analysis of official labour market figures by two leading charities. While the total number of people working has grown steadily over this period, the significant fall in the number of older women in jobs indicates that many want to work but can’t find suitable employment. Caring commitments for ageing parents, children and grandchildren, prevent many older women from working traditional hours. Consequently, they find themselves locked out of the jobs market resulting in the fall in the numbers working flexibly. Age UK and Carers UK believe improving opportunities to work flexibly could help many of these unemployed women find work.
Issue 21 2014
Age UK’s analysis of the Labour Force Survey found that in 2012 36.8 percent of women worked flexibly, down from 38.3 percent in 2010. Long-term unemployment among women aged 50-64 in the same period rose from 34.5 per cent to 40.7 per cent – an increase of nearly a fifth. A recent TUC report found that almost half of women over 50 are in parttime work with average wages of less than £10,000. The report argued that many of these women could only take part-time jobs because of caring responsibilities which trapped them in low wage jobs. The Government has committed to extending the right to request flexible working to all employees in June 2014. The charities welcome this as an important first step, but believe that we should go further to encourage
employers to promote and encourage flexibility in the workplace. Flexible working can include a range of options, including working from home, doing flexitime or compressing hours, all of which can allow people to balance personal responsibilities with work. Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director of Age UK said: ‘We know that many older women especially are finding it impossible to hold down a full time job at the same time as fulfilling their caring responsibilities. In the end, many have to stop employment altogether or take a poorly paid part-time job, where their skills are often wasted and their income plummets.’ ‘That’s why we need ‘Flexible by Default’, so that everyone can work flexibly unless their employer can justify otherwise, to harness the wasted potential of many older women - and indeed older men.’
Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: ‘One in four women in their 50s and 60s have caring responsibilities, many struggling to combine paid work with supporting ageing parents or an ill partner. Unless carers can access flexibility at work and reliable care services at home they are at risk of being forced to give up work entirely, with serious costs not just to their family finances but also to their employer and the economy,’ Currently, only parents with children under the age of 16 and those with caring responsibilities can request flexible working.
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MOTORING REVIEW 13
Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI If you really like driving then a roadster is the sort of car you probably desire – unless there’s one in your garage already. There’s something intoxicating about two-up, open-top motoring. Traditionally, these cars are powered with petrol. But Mercedes-Benz has gone one further with its SLK 250 CDI Roadster and fitted a diesel engine into it. While oilburning drop-tops have been a premium manufacturer product for a few years now, this is the first two-seat, rear-drive convertible that runs on the stuff. The 204 bhp four-cylinder lump puts the Mercedes-Benz at the top of its class in several respects. With an average fuel consumption of 56.5 mpg it’s the most economical roadster in its sector. The frugal fuel drinking makes the SLK 250 CDI a car with superior long-distance qualities. It is for example quite possible to drive from the North Sea in the UK to a beach on the Mediterranean nonstop. Supportive sports seats, a decent suspension setup and the largest luggage capacity in this car category also do their bit to create the right conditions. I drove the 250 CDI AMG Sport model. Thanks to bags of low down shove and a 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, it accelerates from 0-62 mph in 6.7 seconds. This means the car has another feather in its cap: it’s the most powerful diesel model in its class. The result is
the same electrifying look for which all the SLK models are known. To be honest, there are so few areas for criticism. The motor is what it is: a two-seater sports car, so there’s little point moaning about lack of space for the dog and kids. Sure, I can see some petrol-purists turning their nose up at a diesel offering, but with the SLK 250 CDI’s pulling power and economy, it’s obvious why it’s such a good choice – even if you do need over £35k to afford a new one. PROS ‘N’ CONS dramatic driving enjoyment both on twisty country roads and motorway stretches. As it shares the same genes as other members of the SLK family, the 250 CDI combines its alert acceleration with stylish comfort, a stunning sports car design and day-to-day suitability. The SLK 250 CDI is available with a choice of three versions of the German motor-manufacturer’s famous vario-roof – one of them the panoramic vario-roof with Magic Sky Control. This glass top can be changed from dark to transparent at the touch of a button. It’s clever stuff – especially if the weather means you can’t drop the roof but you still want to feel natural light flooding into the cabin.
There are also three suspension versions available: a conventional steel suspension, a sports suspension with a stiffer spring and damper setup or a suspension with an electronically controlled, automatic damping system. The latter is part of the Dynamic Handling package, which also includes the Direct-Steer system and the Torque Vectoring Brake developed by Mercedes-Benz for particularly responsive and predictable handling characteristics. The SLK 250 CDI went on sale in 2012, yet it still looks like it’s just rolled out of the Mercedes-Benz design studios. Externally it’s no different in appearance from the petrol models. It even retains the twin exhaust system, and therefore has
• • • • •
Sporty √ Economical √ Good-looking √ Comfortable √ Costly X
FAST FACTS • Max speed: 151 mph • 0-62 mph: 6.7 secs • Combined mpg: 56.5 • 2143cc 4 cylinder 16 valve turbo diesel • Max. power (bhp): 204 at 4200 rpm • Max. torque (lb/ft): 368 at 1600-1800 rpm • CO2: 132 g/km • Price: £36,615
By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist / Follow Tim on twitter @carwriteups / www.carwriteups.co.uk
Issue 21 2014
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Issue 21 2014