Category: Uncategorised

Time to Change’s children and young people campaign launches in the West Midlands on 17 September.

Have a look at their website where young people share their tips for talking about mental health. The blogs are also a really interesting read: http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/youngpeople (Link No Longer Active).

On 5 September 2012 the House of Commons approved the Order containing exceptions from the ban on age discrimination in the provision of services, which had been debated the day before in Committee.

The ban will affect public and private organisations and means that treating people differently because of their age when providing goods, facilities or services will be unlawful unless it is covered by an exception or can be justified.

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The first World Alzheimers Month will take place during September 2012 with awareness raising events taking place worldwide.

Named after neurologist Alois Alzheimer, the disease causes progressive damage on the brain. The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month 2012 is ‘Dementia: Living together’. Activities will focus on reducining the stigma which is associated with dementia and making communities more dementia-friendly. Activities during the month will include educational seminars, workshops and social events for people with dementia and their carers.

The Alzheimer’s Society has organised mutiple ‘Memory Walks’ to raise money towards the work of the Alzheimer’s Society in that specific area. For more information see their website http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/.

The London 2012 Paralympic Games have begun in earnest and the University of Greenwich is playing a role at the heart of the action.

The Games, which include four days of equestrianism at Royal Greenwich Park, will see university staff and students involved from the start, helping the event live up to its billing as one of the most spectacular and inspirational sporting occasions to take place in the UK.

As an official host venue for the Olympics and Paralympics, the university continues to be at the centre of the sporting action this summer, with the Students’ Union providing facilities to support equestrian, running and shooting events in Royal Greenwich Park.

Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations are taking place all over the world during 19 – 21 August as Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan – the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Eid al-Fitr is a time of great merriment and thanks-giving. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing food, giving gifts and putting up lights and decorations in their homes. A common greeting during this holiday is “Eid Mubarak”, which can be translated as, “Have a blessed Eid!” or “may you enjoy a blessed festival”

The Guardian has compiled some beautiful images of Eid celebrations across the world:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/aug/19/eid-al-fitr-religion-in-pictures#/?picture=394920309&index=0

Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani was one of just two women competing for Saudi Arabia at the games, the first time the country has sent female athletes at all.

She was only able to compete in judo after a compromise between Olympic organizers, the international judo federation and Saudi officials that cleared the way for her to wear a modified hijab. Judo officials had said a headscarf could be dangerous because the sport includes choke-holds and aggressive grabbing techniques.

For Sarah Attar, the first woman from Saudi Arabia to compete in track and field at the Olympics, the principle was more important than the performance.

“This is such a huge honor and an amazing experience, just to be representing the women,” Attar said. “I know that this can make a huge difference.”

The 19-year-old Attar ran 800m in 2min 44.95sec but to her, the time wasn’t the point. Her mother is American and her father is Saudi. Attar wanted to represent Saudi Arabia at the Olympics as a way of inspiring women.

“For women in Saudi Arabia, I think this can really spark something to get more involved in sports, to become more athletic,” she said. “Maybe in the next Olympics, we can have a very strong team to come.”

This year, under pressure from the International Olympic Committee, Saudi Arabia broke its practice of fielding male-only teams by entering Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani in judo and Attar in track and field. Saudi Arabia is one of three Islamic countries, along with Qatar and Brunei, that brought female athletes for the first time, making this the first Olympics in which every national team includes a woman.

For more information on this and the games, see http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/ (Link No Longer Active).

The organisers of UK Black Pride are thrilled to announce that the seventh UK Black Pride festival will now take place on Saturday 18th August 2012 at the world famous Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, London, SE1 6DP from 12noon – 8:30pm.

Top DJs and artists will perform alongside cabaret, comedy, poetry, films, education and welfare workshops, community information stalls in the Ministry’s 4 distinct spaces that include an aerial walk way and outdoor area. There will be 4 licensed bars, lovely food and a luxury VIP area with cocktail bar, ensuring that the festival offers something for everyone.

UK Black Pride takes place on Saturday 18 August at Ministry of Sound.

Chris Powell, the manager of Charlton Athletic Football Club, received an honorary degree, Doctor of Science (HonDSc), from the University of Greenwich yesterday.

As one of only two black managers currently working in the English professional game, Chris is a key role model, and as a former player at the university’s local club, he is a key figure in the area.

Chris was chosen as League One’s manager of the year and was recently named as one of the most inspirational figures in the country by the Independent on Sunday. The newspaper selected Chris as one of the top ten “celebrities who inspire” in its annual Happy List, marking him as having the potential to be the first black England manager

He led Charlton to the League One championship last season, his first full season in charge. The club broke its points record for a single season, ending the campaign on 101 points, and were top of the league for almost the entire season.

Chris says: “This is a superb honour, not just for myself, but for my family and our wonderful football club. This is something I will really cherish. The university and the football club are both important parts of the local area and we try to help and contribute to the community. Charlton is very big on that and there have always been people doing great work at the club to stress the players’ responsibilities to the community.  

Chris enjoyed a long career as a left back, playing 270 games over eight seasons in three spells at The Valley. He earned five England caps after making his debut at the comparatively late age of 31.

He served as chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, the players’ union, for five years until retiring in 2010. In October 2009 Chris was named as one of 50 ambassadors for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

Honorary degrees are awarded to individuals of distinction who have made a major contribution to the work of the university, or who have earned prominence for activities associated more widely with education, business, culture, creative work and public service.