Todadiversity news AUTUMN EDITION 2013 £2.00 WORLD BARBADOS MENTAL AND FRIENDS HEALTH ASSOCIATION DAY READING RISING LONDON SUN ARTS SCHOOL CENTRE AND THE BLACK CHILD VOICE 4 CHANGE Frank Bruno MBE ON MENTAL HEALTH Todadiversity news Autumn Edition 2013 - Issue: 5 Publisher: Keith Seville Contents Associate Editor: Shirley Anstis Features Editor: Mehrunissa Khan Graphic Designer: Jovana Perzic Design Consultant: Raj KC Contributors: Ayshea Newsam Cecily Mwaniki Marketing Assistant: O’shane Clarke Admin Assistant: Shanice Medford 6 Voice 4 Change 32 The 4 Corners Of Truth Photographers: Making civil society work for everyone It’s time to fight back Dr Merle Collins © Mervyn Weir 7 West Indian Women’s Circle 36 Rising Sun Arts Centre Illustrator: Improving the lives of BME elders A place for classes, entertainment Mark Chandler and art... Today Magazine 8 Mary Seacole Abbey House Heroine of the Crimean War 38 Aqua Livi Arlington Business Park Reggae music pioneer Reading 10 Mencap Berkshire The voice of learning disability 40 2inspire Network RG7 4SA Hazel Chawapiwa promoting 13 Vox Pop entrepreneurship Tel: +44 (0) 870 414 5252 Youth on mental health... Fax: +44 (0) 870 414 5353 [email protected] 41 Mi-MEDIA www.todaymag.co.uk 14 Barbados And Friends Powering your creative vision Association Today Magazine is a wholly owned BAFA Reading 42 London School and subsidiary of Today Publishing the Black Child Limited. Views expressed in Today Magazine are those of their 16 Karen Roach Founder Diane Abbott MP respective authors and do not An inspirational story necessarily reflect those of Today 44 Travel Publishing Limited. The publishers 18 Dr Merle Collins Welcome Kenya - Karibu Kenya cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can Interview at Senate House they accept responsibility for the in London 48 World Mental Health Day standing of advertisers or editorial 10th October 2013 contributions. All prices and credits 20 Hári Sewell are accurate at time of going to press but are subject to change. Expert on BME mental health 50 Family Fitness Fun Reproduction in whole or in part Bethel United say without written permission is strictly 24 Frank Bruno anyone can do it! prohibited. Today Publishing MBE Limited cannot be held responsible for any unsolicited material. Story of a 52 Puzzles champion... Sudoku and © Copyright 2013 Today Publishing Crossword Limited. All Rights Reserved. 26 Fashion with Printed by: Premier Print Group House of Loulee 53 Horoscope Bow, London, 020 7987 0604 Children’s wear Check out your star sign Today Magazine 3 Our previous edition covered various social events and community organisations as pictured below. Welcome to Todadiversity news Shirley Anstis, associate editor Welcome to our Autumn edition of Today Magazine. Front cover - Summer 2013 October is a very busy month with World Mental Health Day and Black History Month being celebrated. Our cover star, former British and World Boxing Champion Frank Bruno MBE captures both of these themes. As a boxer Frank Bruno has experienced many highs in his career. However his retirement has been followed by many lows, particularly in 2003 when he was taken away by police under the Mental Health Act (1983). Frank was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and we can read his interview with mental health expert Hàri Sewell. It is a reminder that we all need to look after our mental health. World Mental Health Day is a reminder to do so by leading a balanced life, regardless of our age. All the advice is about healthy living to include diet, exercise, relaxation, maintaining good relationships and being part of a supportive network. It is good to see that the young people in our Vox Pop are already looking after their mental health. We spend time with the internationally celebrated author Merle Collins as she releases her first biography on the first female governor general in the Commonwealth. Diane Abbott MP celebrates the heights achieved by several Black students and we were pleased to witness their poise and optimism as they received their awards. We hear so much of black underachievement it is great to focus on the successes to get a more balanced view. Front cover - Spring 2013 We also celebrate achievement by interviewing House of Loulee designer Lucy Lee who has created a fantastic children’s clothing range from very humble beginnings. Follow Us: Tony Charles of Mi-MEDIA shares his route to success and his desire to do this for others. Both are examples of hard work and dedication. M.E. sufferer and marathon runner Karen Roach is an example of how we can give our best and care for others, even if we have been terribly unwell. She is making a difference to the lives of many. http://www.facebook.com/todaymag If you are dreaming of some winter sun then see our travel feature on Kenya. Enjoy! http://www.twitter.com/Today_Magazine Shirley Anstis MA, B.Sc, MBACP Today Magazine 5 West Indian Women’s Circle Community Community The West Indian Women’s Circle is a Registered Charity working to improve the quality of life of Elders. They have a particular interest in the needs of Caribbean Elders living in our local community area of Reading. The West Indian Women’s Circle Over the years the W.I.W.C. has W.I.W.C. host a range of different (W.I.W.C.) was founded in 1979 by a supported hundreds of individuals with events throughout the year: group of nurses who felt that the Black issues from health, housing, welfare, Feel Good Friday - Health Awareness and Minority Ethnic Groups (BME) arranging social and community events events e.g. raising awareness of Cancer, were missing out on a whole range and linking the community together Diabetes, Stroke, Sickle Cell etc. At these of social welfare services. The BME with news, information, support, events they provide relevant informative Elders appeared to be overlooked by encouragement and opportunity. literature, health professionals advise the statutory institutions although they W.I.W.C. has benefited from the on how to check for symptoms etc were amongst the poorest and the most involvement of Healthcare Professionals, and Health trainers help change your disadvantaged group of people in the an ex-Mayor, Fundraisers, Homemakers, lifestyle. There are also activities such community. This self help organisation Office Managers, Community Workers, as Creative Craft workshops where was born out of the needs of the BME Drivers, Accountants, Musicians and you can design your own bag, mug Community in the Greater Reading Area many other backgrounds. or t-shirt, a Nail Bar for the ladies to and set itself the task of providing a enjoy, complimentary hand massages, service to this special group. MISSION STATEMENT dominoes for the men to play, a Shirley Anstis spoke to CEO Kunle Olulode about the organisation, The W.I.W.C. is commonly The West Indian Women’s Cupcake Bar, along with tea and coffee. it’s purpose and plans. With a background in business, history, politics, art, referred to as ‘The Circle’, a name Circle’s aim is to work with the elderly West Indian Women’s Circle that remembers how the organisation within the community to provide Asantewa House, Fobney Street local government and the voluntary sector he is well placed to lead Voice4Change. started. Meetings were held around a opportunities to enrich their life with Reading, Berkshire, RG1 6BZ circular table in the kitchen of one of support and information on their health Tel: 0118 959 0525 Voice4Change has been in ‘In-work poverty, ethnicity and educational experiences. Kunle shared the founding members; Elsa Fenton. and wellbeing. Email: [email protected] existence for three and a half years workplace cultures’ with the Joseph that in some inner city areas such as but the ideas and discussions behind Rowntree Foundation and Heriot- Newham, refugee children had helped it began some seven years ago. Watt University in Scotland. You can to turn around the fortunes of failing Voice4Change is passionate about download the report from their website schools – not something we hear in voluntary organisations and black – www.voice4change-england.co.uk the media. During our conversation I and minority ethnic participation. Its The organisation works in became aware of a government fund of motto is “making civil society work partnership with many organisations £250 million (plus EU matched funding for everyone.” Voice4Change gives and receives funding from a range of of the same amount) to promote BME voluntary organisations a voice sources. Partners include government local enterprise development and put in government discussions by sitting boards, local councils, community communities in control. Voice4Change on the Department of Community and enterprises, Operation Black Vote, the sees its role as “enhancing peoples’ Local Government Board, reporting to Runnymede Trust, Voluntary Arts UK ability to come together and play a role Dan Foster, Minister for Community and the National Council for Voluntary in their community.” Across the country and Local Government. It is also the Organisations. Their targets are a this government fund has seen groups voice that can inform government of combination of that from funders and take over local pubs, community centres the day-to-day challenges that these a result of their own strategic thinking and arts centres. They will be looking organisations face in delivering their and evaluation processes. In the long- closely at the Black Cultural Archives community aims. More than just being term they would like to develop an anti- project in Brixton South London, and a voice, the organisation offers training racist network, and have an influence hope to use it as an excellent example of and policy development to help grow on discussions around immigration community asset and ownership.