National Black Supplementary School Week

A series of workshops, seminars, talks and events that will specifically look at issues pertaining to education of Black children, and Black supplementary schools and the role of Black parents is part of the organised plan for a conference all black parents should attend.

The National Black Supplementary School (NBSS) Week, especially here in the UK, will be a historically momentous week. Prominent members of the Black community who have already confirmed their support for the week, includes Prof Gus John, Paul Obinna, Twilight Bey (Hogarth Blake), Andrew Muhammad (The Investigator), Lez Henry (Nubeyond), Toyin Agbetu (Ligali), Nubian Jak and many more.

A spokesperson for The NABSS said they are standing up and dealing head on with the statistics about the under achievement of Black children. "We are challenging an educational system in which disheartening terms such as 'disproportional representation', 'institutional racism', 'failing', 'underachievement', 'stereotyping', 'violent behaviour' and 'exclusion' are synonymous with young people of African descent."

They regard the National Black Supplementary School Week as "taking the education of our children into our own hands, and giving a more prominent position to Black supplementary schools, and stressed that "as centres for our children's learning they must be highlighted, collectively valued and brought to the forefront".

To attend the National Black Supplementary School conference (running from 2nd-7th August 2010) at The Bruce Grove Youth Services, 10 Bruce Grove, Tottenham, London N17. 11am-5pm, contact Marchu or Mark on 07958 671 267 / 07956 554 642. Info: www.nabss.org.uk or email: info@nabss.org.uk

The Boomerang Pets Party

Calling everyone on four legs do long as they attend with someone on two. Yes, it's all about the dogs!

The Boomerang Pets Party is a fun-filled extravaganza for families and their pets to enjoy with top entertainment, great activities and a whole host of furry friends all day long.

Ever planned a family day out and wished you could bring Fido and Felix along? Then look no further than this Regent's Park event where kids' TV channel Boomerang will be hosting the UK's biggest Pets party.

The Boomerang Pets Party is a free, open-air picnic extravaganza with a whole host of ‘pet-tacular' activities for families and their pets to get involved with. This is a unique event which allows families to bring their pets along to join in with the fun rather that being left home alone. Highlights will include:

• Garfield's Kitchen - We all know Garfield is crazy about his food, particularly his favourite dish lasagne! Why not head down to his very own Pet Kitchen pulled straight from Garfield's set and be wowed by a whacky chef who will definitely put the fun into cooking.
• Pink Panther's Pet Salon - Join The Pink Panther and friends to discover all of the fabulous ways to style your furry friend. There will even be the chance for little ones to make their own bespoke pet collars, making sure their kitty is the best looking in town!
• Pet celebrities - Pet heroes from around the country will be present at the event, so don't miss your chance to meet them in the flesh.
• Petting zoo - For those who don't have a pet to bring along, there's a chance to come and spend some time with some of the cutest animals around.
• A special surprise for dogs - A tasty treat will be on offer for dogs to tuck into. Turn up to find out how to tantalise your pooch's taste buds!

The Boomerang Pets Party will be held on Friday 24th July 2010 at Regent's Park, London 12pm - 5pm. Adm: Free. Info: http://animals.boomerangtv.co.uk/pet-personality-awards/

Wow! That's a big lunch!

Everyone likes a street party. The problem is that there are enough of them. Back in the 50s and 60s any excuse would lead to a street party, due to the onset of social changes and technology people tend to stay indoors more for fun - missing so much.

The Big Lunch is calling on all neighbourhoods and communities across the UK to come together; to sit down and have lunch, giving the public the opportunity to get to know their local community and neighbour in a different light.

Any group or people can participate from wherever you live in the UK. Participants can host a Big Lunch anywhere, from simple back garden barbecues to full-on street parties with entertainment, games, food, music and bunting with fun for the whole family. This year, The Big Lunch is encouraging millions of people to join forces and knock on the door of their neighbour, say hello and invite them for lunch.

The event is led by the Eden Project, with the support of a family of partners - The Big Lottery Fund, MasterCard, EDF Energy and the Department of Communities and Local Government, who all want to break down barriers and build bridges within neighbourhoods.

Described as “the Biggest ever Lunch around, last year, in the first-ever Big Lunch, there were millions of registered lunches which was a good start on a rainy summer Sunday. Here hoping for millions more the join this year!

This year they are encouraging millions more people to pull up a chair for the second Big Lunch on Sunday 18 July.

The Eden Project is wholly owned by the Eden Trust, an education charity. Eden uses exhibits and educational programmes to remind people of what nature gives us and to help them learn how to look after it in return.

To either get involved in a local Big Lunch event or register your very own Big Lunch visit http://www.thebiglunch.com/ for more information.

MOBO goes to Liverpool

After many years of having the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) in London, then Scotland, the acclaimed award ceremony is moving on to Liverpool and X-Factor winner Leona Lewis was on hand to make the announcement.

The Multi-platinum selling artist and MOBO ambassador Leona Lewis joined MOBO Awards founder, Kanya King MBE, recently to proclaim Liverpool as the host city for the 2010 MOBO in October.

The annual awards will this year be celebrating their 15th birthday - in association with Lebara Mobile - at the Liverpool Echo Arena on 20th October.

"I'm the proud owner of two MOBO Awards and am delighted to be here in Liverpool as a MOBO ambassador to help commemorate their 15th year. I think Liverpool is the perfect choice for this year's MOBO Awards," says Leona.

Over the last fifteen years MOBO has showcased and honoured some of the music industry's finest talent with performances from diverse UK and international artists including Rihanna, Tina Turner, Jay Z, Destiny's Child, Amy Winehouse and Sade.

Last year's event, which saw the Awards transfer out of London for the first time, featured appearances from among others JLS, N-Dubz, Alexandra Burke, Kelly Rowland and Jermaine and La Toya Jackson.

Now the City of Liverpool is being passed the MOBO baton for the first time and gearing up for a sensational Awards ceremony in October.

Kanya King is excited about taking the Awards to Liverpool, a vibrant city often recognised for its outstanding contribution to music, culture and creativity. She says, "We have some incredible plans for this year's event and we're particularly looking forward to working with the City and implementing the BeMOBO Award as a regional initiative for the first time to honour some of the region's unsung local heroes."

The confirmation of Liverpool as host city comes as welcome news, following the campaign by one enterprising 17 year old, Ben Osu, who has tirelessly campaigned on Facebook to bring the event to the North West - and has now been rewarded for his efforts.

Councillor Joe Anderson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, is equally delighted.

"Staging high profile events like the MOBO Awards, or bidding to be England's first UNESCO City of Music, is all part of our ambition to build on the legacy of European Capital of Culture and to internationally showcase what Liverpool and its diverse music scene has to offer," says Anderson. "I've no doubt the MOBO Awards in Liverpool will be a huge success and being in October they will also add a special dimension to our Black History Month celebrations."

Open Society tackles youth unemployment

Youth unemployment is one of the most enduring problems society faces: today nearly one in five people under 25 are jobless. Facing an incredibly competitive job market, even work experience is difficult to find. A situation has been created where hundreds of thousands of educated and skilled young people looking to enter work find themselves unemployed, damaging their confidence and causing their skills to stagnate.

Rather than waiting for the job market to improve, Open Society, a community of 18-25 year olds, prefer to create their own enterprise and find their own solutions. Working together, Open Society members create and deliver independent projects, developing their skills and experience in the process.

If someone has a project they'd like to pursue, Open Society has the manpower, skills and infrastructure to help bring it to life. If someone's looking to gain first-hand work experience and develop their CV, Open Society has a diverse range of projects that they can become a part of.

Open Society is looking to tackle the problem of youth unemployment head-on with Slumpwise, their first project. Focusing on relevant youth issues, Slumpwise combines an interview video channel, an online magazine and a live two-hour Q&A session with a panel of 15 selected experts to generate discussion and positive action. The topic of the first Slumpwise online event is 'Creative Solutions To Youth Under Employment'.

The message of Slumpwise is that the options available to a young person out of work or under employed are changing. Innovative entrepreneurs are achieving success, often very young. A new breed of recruitment companies is transforming the graduate job hunt. Shared work spaces and collaborative networks are developing, encouraging people to improve their skills and experience by working together. Increasingly for young people, you don't have to have a job to be working; under employment, once a problem, is becoming an opportunity. Slumpwise will demonstrate just how this is happening.

Rob and Dom from 'Escape the City' says, "Young people often suffer proportionally more than other age-groups at times like these and an initiative like Slumpwise that supports them in doing something different should be applauded."

Open Society's projects vary greatly in scale and type: there is a traveling multi-arts event, an online publication showcasing talented young writers focusing on local news, a summer film festival. The thing that connects them is that they're all thought up and carried out by 18-25 year olds sharing skills, ideas, contacts and resources.

The philosophy of Open Society is best exemplified by their initiative, Opportunity Maps. By searching their local communities and speaking with local business owners, positive relationships have been forged between the young project teams and members of the community: the project teams gain experience working with local shops and businesses, and the shops and businesses benefit from the help of enterprising and skilled young people.

Opportunity Maps are about realizing the opportunities that are on our doorstep, and creating enterprise and work where before there appeared to be none. This is central to Open Society's mission: helping young people to gain work experience and develop their skills by working together.

Find out more about Open Society at www.open-society.co.uk and join the Slumpwise debate on Saturday 12th June 2-4pm at www.slumpwise.co.uk.