Category Archives: Philanthropy & Society

Peter Aspden & Bettany Hughes debate luxury & culture at the V&A Museum

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 Thursday 6th September, 3.45pm
 V&A Museum
What does it take to create something of note? 

That is what Frost went to find out.  Arts & culture commentator Peter Aspden and award-winning historian Bettany Hughes were a great match together. The bounced off each other perfectly. Peter noted iconic moments in history – Elvis Presley singing Hound-dog to an actual hound dog, Michael Jackson – and Bettany, just back from a trip to Albania funded by Lord Rothschild,  certainly knows her stuff. Things I found out from her during the debate: it took 18 years to build the pyramids and they were made not by slaves as is popularly thought, but by citizens of Egypt for the gods.

While Peter said we should not be beholden to the past, Bettany said: “we live with the past, it is in everything we think and do”.

It was a lively debate with lots of good questions being asked. Chivas Brothers hosted the event at the beautiful Victoria & Albert museum. Chivas Brothers certainly know about good things taking time. Their whiskey takes 20 odd years to make. I saw one bottle which was thirty years old. They started making whiskey in the 1800s. They are now in the top 3 whiskey makers in the world.

The debate also raised the point that one of the reasons a 21-year-old whiskey is such a luxury is that the moment you drink it 21-years is gone.

If whiskey does not have an age statement then it is three years old, as whiskey has to be at least three years old.

Other things I learnt:

“Did you know that most of us only live for 800 months?” A.C Grayling.

The Taj Mahal took 25 years to build

Alcohol is an Arabic word.

Symposium  means “drinking together”.

What do you think?

Get smart for hearts with Alfa Romeo charity pocket squares, support Heart Research UK

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–          Alfa Romeo and fashion house PPQ create limited edition charity pocket squares for Heart Research UK

–          The Italian-made silk accessories were designed by Alfa ambassadors, including Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones, Chris Tomlinson and fashion label PPQ

–          On sale for £14.99 each from www.alfaromeo.co.uk/pocketsquares and participating Alfa Romeo dealers

–          Tweet this: @AlfaRomeoUK & @PPQClothing with @DragonJones design pocket squares to support @HeartResearchUK bit.ly/P3utV8 #GetSmartforHearts

 

Alfa Romeo has launched a new campaign in aid of Heart Research UK, encouraging fashion conscious members of the public to ‘get smart for hearts’ by wearing one of six specially designed pocket squares to support the charity’s fight against heart disease.

 

The limited edition pocket squares, priced at £14.99 each, are handmade in Italy using 100% Italian silk and designed by some well-known faces from the worlds of sport, business and fashion.

 

Design contributions have come from Dragons Den star and entrepreneur Peter Jones CBE; Team GB long jumper Chris Tomlinson and actor Tom Ellis,  together with fashion label PPQ and 2012 Alfa Romeo Young Designer of the Year Janine Clark.

 

Marking a landmark anniversary for Alfa Romeo, a sixth pocket square design celebrates 50 years of the Giulia. Launched in 1962, the Alfa Giulia was renowned for its style, performance and innovation, selling over a million examples during its 15 year production run.

 

Pocket squares, the fashion accessory à la mode among the sartorially inclined, have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity thanks to the likes of the Mad Men wardrobes and dapper Brit style icons such as actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Matt Smith, and musician Tinie Tempah. Major fashion labels including Dolce & Gabbana, Dunhill, Hermes and Louis Vuitton have all produced pocket squares as part of their recent collections.

 

Percy Parker, co-founder and designer at PPQ, says; “Pocket squares add colour and individuality to any formalwear. From business suits to black tie, they’re a must-have accessory for any well-heeled gentleman. With these limited edition Alfa pocket squares, now you can look the part, whilst benefitting a great cause.”

 

Just 6,000 Alfa pocket squares have been produced, going on sale from 3 September and available online from www.alfaromeo.co.uk/pocketsquares in participating Alfa Romeo showrooms. September will also mark a dedicated month of fundraising for the campaign, with nationwide support from Alfa’s dealer network.

 

Peter Jones CBE says; “This is a great project to be part of and I’m delighted with how my design has turned out. These accessories are beautifully made, stylish, sophisticated and they benefit a fantastic charity. So ‘tailor your ticker’ and show some heart for the great causes being helped.”

 

Damien Dally, Head of Brand, Alfa Romeo UK says; “Alfa’s brand strapline is ‘Without heart, we would be mere machines’ and that’s a poignant message for this campaign. We’re delighted to be supporting Heart Research UK’s important cause with a project that raises money and awareness through fashionable style. So get smart for your heart and wear a pocket square with pride this year.”

 

For more information on Alfa Pocket Squares, visit www.alfaromeo.co.uk/pocketsquares

 

To find out more about Heart Research UK, visit, http://www.heartresearch.org.uk/

DISPAIR London and Depaul UK unite to create limited edition product with a difference.

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Innovative men’s footwear brand DISPAIR London has embarked on an exciting new collaboration
with Depaul UK, the largest national youth homelessness charity in the UK, to offer the opportunity
for one young person to be a guest designer of a limited edition DISPAIR London shoe.

A competition to submit design ideas was opened to the young people helped by Depaul UK with
100% of profits from the winning design going directly to Depaul UK.

With inspiration originating from the laid back streets of Spitalfields, DISPAIR London fully endorses
individualism, and is ideal for those who don’t feel the desire to conform, who are comfortable to lead
their own way in fashion.

Depaul UK helps young people who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged, and has helped
over 50,000 people since it was founded in 1989. While Depaul UK offers an immediate solution to
homelessness, Depaul UK protects young people who have become homeless, helps them to
progress beyond homelessness with training and employment schemes, and works with families to
prevent youth homelessness from happening in the first place.

The design competition proved to be hugely popular with well over the expected number of entrants.
The winner was chosen, a former resident of Depaul UK’s Simonside supported Newcastle
accommodation, with the design being put onto DISPAIR London’s most popular style, the
Winston, a loafer shoe with monk strap detailing.

DISPAIR London has since worked closely with Depaul UK and the competition winner on every
step of the process, offering the young person work experience in the fashion footwear industry and
being fully involved in the design process along the way.

The shoe will be part of DISPAIR London’s AW12 collection, available in navy, grey, off-white and
black. Hitting Topman stores in time for Christmas.

Squatting Becomes Criminal Offence

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Squatting will become a criminal offence in England and Wales on Saturday. Squatting in a residential building would mean squatters could face six months in jail or be fined £5,000, or both.

This would bring better protection for homeowners Ministers said, and “slam shut the door on squatters once and for all”.

At the moment squatting is considered a civil matter and homeowners have to go to civil court and prove that squatters trespassed before they can be evicted. After the 1st of September squatting will become a criminal matter and homeowners can complain to the police. If the police think the claim is genuine they can arrest the squatters.

The new law will also protect vacant residential properties.

The law will also apply to existing squatters to “stop trespassers rushing to occupy residential buildings before the offence comes into force”.

The housing minister Grant Shapps said: “For too long, hardworking people have faced long legal battles to get their homes back from squatters, and repair bills reaching into the thousands when they finally leave.

“No longer will there be so-called squatters’ rights. Instead, from next week, we’re tipping the scales of justice back in favour of the homeowner and making the law crystal clear: entering a property with the intention of squatting will be a criminal offence.”

Campaigners have criticised the new law saying it does not fix the fact that squatters have nowhere to go but Justice minister Crispin Blunt said homelessness was at the lowest level for 28 years and the government was spending £400m on homelessness and £164m on bringing about 10,000 empty homes back into use.

In Scotland squatting is already illegal. Homeowners in Scotland have right to eject squatters without serving notice or applying to a court for an eviction order.

Shadow justice minister Andy Slaughter said: “Homeowners around the country are concerned about squatters and rightly want assurances from this Tory-led government that their properties will be protected.

“The distress squatters can cause to families, as well as the financial damage they do, is completely unacceptable.”

Kate Middleton Tops Vanity Fair Best Dressed List

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Kate Middleton has Topped Vanity Fairs Best Dressed List again. Katie Nicholl has also written an in-depth story on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. According to Vanity Fair.

“There’s a happiness in the House of Windsor generally at the moment for the first time ever,” a royal pal tells Vanity Fair contributor Katie Nicholl in the September issue. “Charles and Camilla are genuinely happy. William is happy because Charles is troubled less, and he has Kate to share his future with,” the friend adds. And while the pair have dazzled Britain and Olympic watchers the globe over with their Games-related appearances—Kate’s fashionable turn in Christopher Kane at the opening ceremony only confirms her status atop the 2012 International Best-Dressed List—they innately prefer a life out of the spotlight, one categorized by homey activities like cooking and walking puppy Lupo three times per day. Nicholl gets their friends and those in their orbit talking for a those in their orbit talking for a blockbuster piece on Kate’s married life—revealing, among many other details, that:

Despite their lean physiques thanks to deerstalking, tennis, and Buckingham Palace swims, Will and Kate are foodies, and tuck in regularly to homemade roast chicken (Kate does the cooking and shopping, and employs no cook at their home on the Welsh island of Anglesey). They also own a sausage-maker (!) to make their own links, and for the holidays, Kate puts away jars of homemade strawberry jam and plum preserves to dole out as gifts. On the average day off, the pair just potter around, “making tea and toast,” per a family friend who recently swung by to find them living a simple home life on Anglesey.

They splash out for DVD box sets. Right now, the royal couple are obsessed with The Killing, which they recently devoured in a marathon session—and they often stay in to binge on various new series rather than hit up society events.

The duchess’s schedule requires up to five clothing changes per day. The rigorous outfit swapping attendant to royal protocol is said to stress out the duchess—not that the stress shows.

And even though the bill for her couture and jewels was printed in the tabloids with raised eyebrows earlier this year—$55,000 for six months of duties—Kate defrays the cost by bargain-shopping. The duchess also continues to decline the services of a royal dresser, preferring to personally shop for herself at chains like Topshop.

Harrogate mum sets up celebrity football match

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Harrogate mum sets up celebrity football match with local club to raise money for vulnerable babies and children

Harrogate mum, Manraj Sanghera, who set up a Bliss Family Group in Harrogate last year, is now raising her game and has joined forces with Harrogate Town AFC to set up a celebrity football match on Sunday, 30 September 2012 at Harrogate Town AFC, in Harrogate.

The Bliss Select XI and Harrogate XI teams will be made up of ex-premiership footballers, Emmerdale cast members, Leeds United Legends and five local Dad’s of premature babies in aid of Bliss, for babies born too soon, too small or too sick, and Shine, which provides practical support to help individuals and families affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Every year around 80,000 babies are born premature or sick and in need of specialist hospital care, money raised will enable Bliss to continue its vital work to help premature and sick babies and their families across the UK.

Gareth Southgate (retired England player and ex-manager of Middlesbrough FC) will be the Bliss team Captain and Danny Mills (former-England and Leeds United player) also playing for Bliss, are just some of the household names set to play in the charity match in the autumn.

Danny says: “I am really proud to be taking part in the charity match for Bliss and Shine this autumn. Ever since I lost my son Archie to Spina Bifida ten years ago, I have worked closely with, and fundraised for Shine, who launched the first memorial challenge in my son’s name. Having experienced tragedy and the worry of two premature babies but getting through it by the amazing support we received from staff on the unit, I cannot think of two better causes. Any bit of fundraising and raising awareness I can do for these charities that provide care for sick babies and children, makes me feel I am doing my bit for Archie. Anyone can give something back, no matter how small, it really does help.”

Manraj was inspired to raise awareness of Bliss, after her three children were born premature and sick. Her first child Raj-Arjun was born at 37 weeks. He is now severely disabled after suffering a massive brain haemorrhage at birth. Her second child Simran was born at 29 weeks, weighing a mere 1Ib 11oz and her third child Priya was born at 34 weeks.

Manraj says: “I am really pleased to be organising this match in aid of Bliss and Shine. Since the birth of our son Raj-Arjun nine years ago, and two premature daughters Simran and Priya, we have spent many weeks in and out of neonatal intensive care and special care units in Harrogate and Leeds. If it were not for the dedication and support of the staff our children would not be alive.

‘Charities such as Bliss and Shine allow for a wider support mechanism for parents in such traumatic circumstances. We have received this vital support and feel it is time to give something back. It is for this reason we dedicate this match to everyone who has worked tirelessly to support us. It is also a great way to get dads involved who can sometimes be forgotten, when lots of the support is offered to mums and babies.

Other footballers set to play include: Colin Cooper, Nigel Quashie, Nigel Martyn, David Prutton, Colin Hunter and local Radio Presenters from Stray FM.

Tad Nowakowski from Harrogate Town AFC says: “Harrogate Town AFC are delighted to be involved in supporting Bliss and allowing our facilities to be used to host this charity soccer match. We are looking forward to seeing local dads playing on our new pitch which is being levelled and re-seeded later this year.”

Chief Executive Andy Cole from Bliss says: “The celebrity football match is set to be a really successful fundraising event. We are extremely grateful to Manraj for organising the event and the money raised will help Bliss’ work to support babies and their families during an incredibly difficult and stressful time.”

Tickets are now on sale, £12.50 for adults, and £7.50 children (Under 12) Under 3 free. For further ticket sellers’ information, log onto www.harrogatetownafc.co.uk or www.bliss.org.uk or e-mail: first4charityevents@gmail.co.uk all proceeds will go to Bliss, Shine, Harrogate SCBU and LGI Peter Congdon Unit (NICI).

Kate Middleton Has To Curtsy To ‘Blood’ Royals.

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Kate Middleton may now be the Duchess of Cambridge, but she has been told that she must bow to ‘blood’ royals when her Prince is not around.

Middle-class Middleton has come a long way but the Queen has updated the Order of Precedence to account for the Duke of Cambridge’s wife.

Kate must curtsy to the “blood princesses”, the Princess Royal, Princess Alexandra, and the daughters of the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie when Prince William is not around as she does not have any blue blood in her veins.

When her husband is with her she only has to curtsy to the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

If Kate thinks she has it bad then give the Countess of Wessex is probably even less happy, she has to curtsy to Kate even when William is not there.

The last time the order was updated after Prince Charles married Camilla the Countess of Wessex then had to curtsy to Camilla. According to a courtier: “She didn’t like it one bit,”

The Queen has changed the Order of Precedence “on blood principles”

What do you think? Would you curtsy to The Queen or another member of the Royal household?

National campaign to suit-up the homeless unemployed receives over 1000 donations

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National campaign to suit-up the homeless unemployed receives over 1000 donations

With nearly 80% of homeless people wanting to get a job and support themselves, this spring tailoring company A Suit That Fits teamed up with three homelessness charities to help their members get back into work.

In a climate with 2.63 million people unemployed in the UK, the pressure is on to impress at interview and studies have shown that first impressions, like what you wear, affect your fundamental judgement of a person.

For seven weeks, suits were donated to the Suit for Success campaign and donators were rewarded with a £50 tailoring voucher. Donated suits were gifted to homelessness charities Amber, Broadway and Emmaus, who all work with their members to help them support themselves.

Each charity offers work and learning outreach programs to their members to equip them with the skills and confidence they need to get a job and be able to fully support themselves. But they regularly find their members have nothing to wear to their interview, which affects their confidence and impacts that all-important ‘first impression’. By providing them with a smart suit we are making the process just a little bit easier.

F1 analyst and Amber supporter Eddie Jordan and television presenter Rick Edwards backed the campaign.

Paul Wilson is a trustee at Broadway – he is 57 and came to Broadway in 2008; Paul benefited from Eddie Jordan’s suit and is currently looking for work

In 2003, Paul was married with two children, and living in London, where he owned his own construction business with a childhood friend. When he caught his wife having an affair with his business partner, not only did his marriage breakdown, but it also signaled the end of his business. When he approached the council for help, he was informed that he was not a priority for housing, and he ended up sleeping on the streets. Due to the trauma of this, Paul started drinking heavily as a coping mechanism. After a long process of rehab, social services put Paul in touch with Broadway. Paul is now an incredibly active member of not just Broadway, but homelessness services throughout London. He is now living completely independently, and looking for a job.

A Suit That Fits’s co-founder, Warren Bennett says of the Suit for Success campaign, ‘wearing a suit has a massive effect on confidence – especially when looking for work. If we can help individuals to feel more confident when going to interviews, and therefore increase their chances of getting a job – then the campaign will have been a resounding success.’