Searching for big, beautiful talent

A search has begun to create the biggest girl band in the world. Media company, PRHQ, has teamed up with Just As Beautiful magazine and The Official Guide to International Women's Mag to launch a girl band made up of big beautiful women.

To qualify for an audition potential band members have to be female and at least a size 16 or more. The band's working name is Plus.

The agency, run by celebrity media consultant, Kizzi Nkwocha, placed a number of ads online asking for aspiring singers to get in touch. The ad said: "Are you a big girl with big talents? We're looking for girls /women with musical ability for the world's first girl band of real women: women who are at least a size 16. If you've ever wanted to be a star please send a biography and picture to the email address below.

Nkwocha's female clients have included Cyprus beauty queen, Demetra Eleftheriou, officially voted the sexiest woman in the world by an internet poll, multiple mum Mandy Allwood, Masai wife Cheryl Mason and female boxing champ Jane Couch. He said: "There are thousands of female singers out there who have been turned away by the music industry simply because of their weight."

Nkwocha, who has handled PR for celebrities ranging from Chris Eubank's to mistresses of President Clinton, added: "The music industry has a definite bias against any female singer who is over a size 12. For some reason the powers-that-be are convinced that, for a woman to be attractive and talented, she must also be a stick insect. We don't think that's right and we don't think that's true."

He said a lot of these singers are beautiful, talented and have all the qualities of stardom. "We want to give these women a chance to shine. Plus will change the way the music industry regard women who are not Victoria Beckham clones. The industry is so far behind public opinion that somebody really has to point this out in a very definite way. The public wants to see big girls onstage because big girls are normal. It's the wafer-thin stick insects that are abnormal."

According to the British Medical Council, female images in the media are becoming thinner at a time when women are becoming heavier, and the gap between the ideal body shape and the reality is wider than ever. There is a need for more realistic body shapes to be shown on television and in fashion magazines.

Experts also agree that the risk of an eating disorder also increased among girls who spent a lot of time reading magazines targeted to young girls or listening to the radio. Mass media may have its influence on a young girl's life by affecting her sense of what is beautiful and how her body compares to others'.

"The fashion and music industries constant depiction of pencil -thin feminine beauty can quite easily send young females --particularly those who place great importance on their appearance--into an immediate tailspin of increased anger and body dissatisfaction," said Nkwocha. "We say its time for real women to stand up and say 'I'm big, beautiful and talented'. "

PRHQ said since it posted the ads it received applications from female singers all over the United Kingdom. This is a national talent search. Singers who are shortlisted will be asked to audition in front of a panel of judges.

If you'd like to take part in the auditions and win yourself a place in Plus send a biography with pictures and any audio recordings to: PRHQ, PO Box 3013, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 9DB. Or e-mail prhq@publicist.com. Closing date is May 01 2007.

Sponsored by:
Just as Beautiful Magazine - www.justasbeautiful.co.uk
The Marquee Club - www.marqueeclub.co.uk
PRHQ - www.prhq.co.uk
The Official Guide to IWM magazine - www.iwmm.co.uk

Shelter opens multi-lingual housing advice centre.

Recent findings published by housing and homeless charity, Shelter, disclosed that many people from black and minority ethnic communities (BME) are challenged with difficulties when accessing housing advice.

Even though the BME community are statistically more likely to suffer homelessness or bad housing, Shelter's research report The Advice Gap demonstrates that many BME communities face trust and language barriers, which prevents them from accessing the expert advice they need.

To overcome these obstacles, Shelter has now launched a new centre in Stratford, East London which provides free, independent and multi- lingual housing advice targeted to people living in the boroughs of Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets.

"People from BME households are more than twice as likely as white British households to become homeless and more than six times as likely to live in overcrowded conditions, but our research shows they are less likely to get expert advice," says Shelter's chief executive Adam Sampson. "Shelter's new service is working to overcome the barriers to people accessing the right guidance by providing advice in languages including Bengali and delivering services in accessible places where people feel comfortable."

Shelter believes everyone should have a home. They help more than 170, 000 a year to fight for their rights, get back on their feet and find and keep a home. They also tackle the root cause of Britain's housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions. Bad housing robs children of their health, education and a fair chance in life.

To make an appointment at the Shelter Housing Advice and Support Centre (SHASC) call 0207 505 2216, or drop in week days until 5pm at Burford Business Centre, 11 Burford Road, Stratford. Alternatively, check your local press, Connexions or Citizens' Advice for details of advice sessions.

By Lauren Ho

Funny Women celebrating five years of Awards

Five years on and there are more women than ever before working the live comedy circuit thanks to the Funny Women Awards which were set up to develop and showcase female comedy talent.

“We met with a lot of cynicism when we first launched the Awards in 2003, but we’ve earned our place in the comedy history book,” says Lynne Parker, founder and producer of Funny Women. “From scratching around for 70 entries in our first year, the contest attracted nearly 200 entries in 2006. Plus the recognition we have gained for female stand-up has made promoters of live comedy more aware of women. It’s still dominated by men but we are balancing the scales.”

A series of showcases will take place throughout the UK in spring 2007 with semi finals in London and Manchester during June and the charity Final at the world famous Comedy Store in London on 2nd July. Every event is open to members of the public who are encouraged to come along and support the new talent.

Suzy Bennett, winner of the 2006 Funny Women Awards has gone on to appear in other Funny Women events including Funny Women at the Fringe, which took place at the Edinburgh Festival in August, and work the circuit. She will also feature in Funny Women Stand Up, the annual charity celebration which takes place on International Women’s Day, 8th March 2007, alongside Jo Brand, Jo Caulfield and Jan Ravens.

Entrants for the 2007 Funny Women Awards must be over the age of 18 and cannot have been performing for more than three years. Entry forms and terms and conditions can be found on the website at www.funnywomen.com.

Funny Women also raises funds and awareness for a variety of causes that aim to help and heal women. Our beneficiary charity for the 2007 Awards is Ovarian cancer action which raises awareness and funds research into ovarian cancer, dedicated to defeating ovarian cancer. Visit: www.ovarian.org.uk for more details.

Quick Theatre for Kids

One of the UK's leading young people's theatre companies' plans to deliver a unique playwriting programme to boost the creativity of local primary school children.

Quicksilver Theatre, based in Hackney for 23 years and a founding member of HTP (Hackney Theatre Partnership), commissions and produces new plays and perform them to children the length and breadth of Britain and abroad.

Primary Voices is a unique three year new writing project intended to get the creative juices flowing, making children really excited about writing stories and plays.

Aimed at children aged 8 - 11 from Hackney and Islington schools, the project will bring together five new, established professional theatre practitioners and children, many of whom have English as a second language. This will increase self-confidence and boost the language skills of those involved.

The project, in association with Tiata Fahodzi, will culminate in a private showcase of the older children's short plays, which will be presented to their classmates, teachers, families and the professional writers in January 2007 at the Arcola Theatre.

Throughout the entire project, from the initial workshops until the co production of a new play, the children will play a vital part in contributing ideas, advice, inspiration and honest feedback. This is to ensure that both Quicksilver and the writers learn to grasp and understand the contemporary and underlying issues facing this age group.

The writers will then be invited to submit ideas for new plays, which will be presented to the children. The aim is that one writer will be commissioned by Quicksilver to develop their treatment in to a full script to be produced and toured in 2008.

By Hajira Pierre-Eugene

Christie leads Call for Carers

World-renowned athlete Linford Christie has stepped up to offer his support and services as one of the narrators of a new DVD for UK charity Shared Care Network.

The charity provides Short Break Care to almost 200 families in the UK, but there is at present a shortage of such care givers in black and minority communities.

The new DVD 'Welcome to the Family' contains interviews with children, parents and Short Break Care givers, and it is hoped that this will encourage community members to offer their much needed support to these grateful families.

Short Break Care involves ordinary people from within a community volunteering to look after children with special needs for short periods of time. In this way, the children are given a chance to experience new environments and interact with a greater variety people. This in turn builds their independence; allows them to discover interests outside of their homes and schools; and helps them to develop a sense of community.

Regan, one of the children who benefits from the Short Break Care scheme, says of the service: "Coming here has really helped me out, has made my life change. We go shopping sometimes, I go to college, I do loads of things here. I've got new friends now…I like being here really."

And Short Break Care has been a life-line for many parents of disabled children. The service gives them some time to rest from the daily care of their children, and allows them to get on with everyday activities which other people take for granted - a "chance to recharge their batteries," as Candy Smith, Joint Chief Executive of Shared Care Network explains.

Davereck, an eight year old child with complex disabilities, is cared for by a Short Break Carer during regular overnight stays. His mother Patricia says: "I don't know how I could go on, as a single parent, without the support I get from my Short Break Carers."

Narrated in ten community languages - with the English version narrated by Linford Christie - the DVD informs parents about the services offered by Shared Care Network, whilst also highlighting the way in which regular people are able to offer much needed and appreciated support to disabled children and their families. As Uzma, one of the Short Break Carers explains: "If you've got room in your heart, and room your home to bring someone into it, this is the most rewarding thing you can do."

Those who would like more information about Short Break Care, or who would like to order a copy of "Welcome to the Family" are asked to contact Jowyn Jenson of Share Care Network on Tel: 0117 941 5361, or via email: jowyn.jenson@sharedcarenetwork.org.uk Info: 0117 941 5361 / www.sharedcarenetwork.org.uk

By Sarah Duffett