Zesh Rehman's brother has claimed that the footballer made the right decision when he agreed to be transferred to a new club in Thailand.

Riz Rehman, who is the CEO of the Zesh Rehman Foundation – a charity organisation which operates in Bradford and Manchester, described to Manchester Mouth how his brother's transfer to Muangthong United came about and why it was the right move for the footballer.

Apparently the offer for Zesh, who was the first British Asian to play in the Premier League and was Bradford captain at the time, came as a surprise to both the player and his people.

“It was quite funny actually. He received a phone call on a Thursday night. 16 December think it was. And by Friday morning he was booked on a flight to Thailand,” said Riz, who used to play for Brentford.

“He went there for the weekend and they showed him the club, the city and the area. He was really impressed so agreed to sign for two years.

“The whole time he was there he was on the phone to our parents, to his agent and he even got some advice from (Bradford manager) Peter Taylor. When Zesh left he actually left the club on very good terms.”

Since moving to Bradford in 2009 Zesh, who has also played for Blackpool, Fulham and Brighton, has become a role model to many British Asian football fans and he was presented with the FA’s Player in the Community Award in 2010 for his charity work.

Despite the defender's achievements at City, Riz said that Zesh didn't have to think to hard about moving to the Thai champions.

“He was club captain and captain (at Bradford) but he decided to move because football moves very fast and this was a good opportunity for him. It was a no-brainer really,” Riz added.

“He's at his peak now. A lot of players in England never experienced playing abroad and he's only 27-years-old. We all know that centre halves often don't peak until they're 30 so he's going to gain some valuable knowledge by playing in another country and then return on the top of his game.”

The brothers also feel that Zesh's transfer will enable the Foundation to expand its charity work on an international scale.

“We also believe this move will enable us to take the foundation abroad to China, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore,” Riz finished.

“But we want to do this slowly. We didn't create the Foundation to make a quick buck. We want it to provide good quality training to people and to make a difference to people lives.”

Former Bradford City captain Zesh Rehman has extended the services of his sporting charity to schools in Manchester.

The 27-year-old footballer, who was the first British Asian to play in the Premier League, signed for Thai side Muangthong United in late December but before he left took the time to establish the Zesh Rehman Foundation's (ZRF) first project in the North West.

The Foundation is now running the Onside programme at Kassim Darwish Grammar School For Boys (KD), an Islamic independent school in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, to teach youngsters more about the sport and hopefully to coach them into being the future stars of tomorrow.

Manchester Mouth spoke to Riz Rehman, ZRF CEO and Zesh's brother, about why the soccer star, who has also played for Fulham, Brighton and Hove Albion and Blackpool, decided to set up the charity.

“Zesh set up this foundation to help Asian kids find a way into football and to promote community cohesion,” said former Brentford player Riz.

“He wants to show British Asian mums and dads that there are a lot of well-paid roles in football such as the club doctor, the physios, the kitman, the groundsman and the accountants – not only being a sports star. He also wants to end some of the Asian community's negative perceptions of the sport.

“The Foundation will act as a springboard for Asian people with an interest in football. It will provide them with training and give them links to big clubs.”

Riz was also keen to point out that ZRF aims to provide youngsters with life skills as well as sporting knowledge.

“We're working with the school (KD) to teach the kids sports leadership,” added Riz.

“They will be learning a lot of theory including health, nutrition and fitness lifestyles. At the same time doing they will also take part in normal physical football coaching. They've added Onside to the school curriculum.”

ZRF, which began in May 2010, is currently working with 10 schools in Bradford as part of its Primary Kick About scheme and it is also collaborating with a number of Gurdwaras, Mosques, Churches and community centres.

“We don't want to just work with Asian schools,” Riz told Manchester Mouth.

“For every predominantly Asian school we work with we want to work with a predominantly white school too. By getting both schools involved in the programme, playing mixed-race matches and maybe even going to watch professional games, we hope to improve the skills of Asian players and to encourage the children to make friends for life.

“If we can get one or two more Asian players competing at the very top level we'll have more Asian role models and we will have done a great job.”

Irfan Kawri, Head of PE at KD and a scout for Rochdale FC, also believes that having a role model like Zesh was really positive for the pupils at KD.

“There were hardly any British Asian sporting role models when I was at school,” Kawri said.

“Prince Naseem was in boxing and there were cricketing role models but there was nothing in football. Zesh has given the boys something to aspire to.

“Through the Onside programme we are showing the boys how they can have a role in football. Even if it isn't in playing, we're showing them how important diet is and what effect it can have on the body.

“We're doing this programme during school time and we've specially developed the programme with the help of ZRF to fit in with what the pupils need to learn from the national curriculum.”

ZRF is looking for sponsors, volunteers and participant organisations for its programme throughout Manchester and Yorkshire. If you are interesting in helping the community contact Riz on 07790 955 332 or info@zeshrehmanfoundation.org.

A new black family has been added to the eighth series of Manchester-based drama Shameless.

The show began again in early January 2011, kicking off with a Chatsworth Estate party and not just any party – Frank Gallagher's stag night. Reliable as usual, Frank, led by his drug-addled brain, disappears which makes for a magical mystery tour as the rest of the cast seek to find him. Admist all the chaos the new family, known as the Powells, appear.

The family is made up of fiery housewife and home-brewer Avril (played by Karen Bryson – who you may know from Bodies), mild-mannered, until he’s had a drink, trainee teacher Jackson (played by Manchester-born Emmanuel Ighodaro) and their chronically dim-witted but gorgeous teenage daughter Letitia (introducing Kira Martin).

Bryson and Ighodaro spoke to Manchester Mouth about how they felt about joining the multi award-winning drama and about their roles in the show.

To start with both actors admitted that they were anxious about joining the cast of such a widely-loved programme.

“I was very nervous coming in. Something long-running like this, you've got established characters that people know,” said Ighodaro.

“I think my fear was coming in and taking a while to warm up, which would have been deadly from the get go. With a show like this, which is so in your face, it's pitched at a certain level that the characters need to come in and get right in at the deep end. The show is so fast paced. The Powells come in with a bang, they get stuck right into the action.”

Bryson said: “It was really scary, I have to be honest. When I first got here, the producers showed me round, to see all the iconic buildings - the Gallaghers’ house, The Jockey - and I was absolutely terrified. It actually made me more scared. I’d watched it, I’d seen all these places so many times. But it also made me really, really excited.”

Describing the fun she has playing Avril, a part-time receptionist, she added: “She is feisty as anything. If anyone comes near her family she will knock them out, she’s a feisty, feisty character who doesn’t suffer fools gladly. She’s also a real laugh, she’s deeply into the community that she’s now become part of. I think she’s one of those solid people that you’d like to have around. If she cares for you she’ll be loyal.”

Ighodaro intially thought that his character would be quite dull but was pleasantly surprised to see how his part developed over the course of the 22-part series.

“When I first looked at the character I thought 'Trainee teacher, mild mannered - is he going to be a bit boring?' But that's a really watered down description of Jackson Powell - there are so many different sides to him,” the actor said.

“That suits me, it means the character is a bit unpredictable and interesting to play. I like giving him quite a few layers.

“He's got this sort of snooty thing going on, and it's Avril that forces him to get involved with some of the events that happen on the estate. That's when we get to see the other side of Jackson. We see him get in so many scrapes throughout the series. He's not afraid of a challenge, even if that means getting into deep trouble.”

Ighodaro also said that he enjoyed working with Bryson and the way that their characters interact.

“Avril and Jackson are very naughty together,” he added.

“They've got a real fun side. They've been together for quite a while, so they're used to each other.

“Without going into too much detail, there's a lot of fun and frolicks between Avril and Jackson. There's quite a lot of sex, basically. It's something that Karen and I talked about - in the last five or ten years, I can't say that I've seen black couples having sex on screen. Especially the way we do it, in a truly Shameless, in your face style.

“In all the time I've been acting, I've never had to do anything like it before. It was completely new to me, and I was bricking it before I got the job. I knew, from the scripts that I'd read, there was so much of it. They don't like to hold back in this show. But it really helped having someone like Karen, because we just understand each other.

“We made a sort of connection in the audition where we had to do a sex scene because we had to find a way to get really comfortable and familiar with the other person. For some reason it just clicked. If I didn't get on with Karen as well as I do, it would have been extremely difficult, because we've ended up sliding off each other as sweaty as you like, doing take after take, in not very dignified positions, with hundreds of people staring at us. Thank God, we get on like a house on fire.”

The stars finished the interview by claiming that they both enjoy shooting on location in Manchester.

“i absolutely adore filming in Manchester. But, to be honest with you, I actually commute.,” revealed Bryson.

“I stay in a hotel and I live in London. But I've spent a lot of time in Manchester before now, so I know the feeling and the culture. I'm from London, but Avril needed to be from up north, that's really part of who she is. She may be a woman of colour, but she's born and bred Manchester, and that's a big part of her identity. So it's been really useful to be able to go 'Right, I'm up here - I'm Avril!' And then when I'm back home in London, I'm Karen. It's a really nice separation, it really works for me.”

Ighodaro, who spent his early life on a Manchester estate that was not that different from the Shameless set, revealed that it felt great to work in his hometown again.

“My estate was kind of similar to it. It's all been knocked down now,” the actor said.

“It was a predominantly white estate - I would say we were one of three or four black families. But it was very similar, there was all sorts going on, the usual scallies about the place. There wasn't a big racial divide or anything like that, if you were from the estate, pretty much like the Chatsworth, you're part of the community. There was a certain loyalty to each other on the estate, people looked after each other, it was quite close-knit. I always wanted to be an actor, so I was really focused on that, but growing up on the estate, there wasn't much to do. You'd get 11-year-olds driving cars.

“Manchester's a wonderful city and I love it, and I'm very glad to be part of a show that's so popular here. I absolutely love it. It's only the second job I've had here, everything else has been down south, so for me it's a complete thrill.”

If you want to catch the Powell's in action the latest series of Shameless is on Tuesdays at 10pm on Channel 4.

As part of Mitzvah day, a Jewish led day of social action, the green-fingered group trimmed hedges, cleaned tools and painted the sheds on the triple-sized allotment on Sunday 21 November 2010.

The allotment is run in partnership with several community organisations and provides many services, such as growing food for the disadvantaged people and running workshops on healthy eating, green exercise and poultry care.

Amanda Yaffe, 22, who was on site helping ready the allotment for winter, explained that Mitzvah Day was a day to do good deeds through donating your time not money.

"It's nice to do something not work related and give something back for a change," she told Manchester Mouth.

Student Joe Lister, 18, gave the new education shed a lick of paint with his friends. In a moment between jokes he spoke about why doing good deeds was important to him.

“Social action shouldn’t be limited to faith. It’s always good to help out no matter what religious background you come from,” he said.

Seventy-year-old retired truck driver John Steadman, who dedicates six days a week to the allotment, also explained that community efforts help to keep the allotment running.

“I'm very grateful for all the help. It takes a lot of strain off me," he added.

The allotments are also home chickens and white geese among other animals. Rev David Gray claimed that tending to these animals and the plants improves the lives of many local people including young offenders.

Partnered with the probation service, many youngsters work on the allotment as part of their community service orders.

“Working here changes the way they think. It makes a huge difference,” Rev Grey said.

“Some even come back when they’ve finished their hours.”

The allotment also contributes to a number of other good causes. Many of the hens are reclaimed from battery farms and the vegetables and eggs are distributed to low-income families through the Pharaohs Barn network. It also aims to educate local people about sustainable and ethical food production.

Jonny Wineberg, co-chair of Manchester’s Muslim Jewish Forum, said that he wants the allotment to a far larger project.

“Ideally we want to set up a volunteer run inner-city farm that can create sustainable living all year round,” he said.

For more information, visit http://www.fn4m.org/supporting-health-living/.

Manchester Mouth's newest recruit reviews the new eatery that is pioneering Stockport's cosmopolitan revival.

An ambitious sibling team has opened an Italian coffee house and restaurant in the heart of Stockport.

Taking over the site of the old Stockport Arms on Petersgate, Da Vinci’s is a gift to Stockport, offering incredible food in a cosy environment with great value for money.

I entered Da Vinci’s with guarded optimism. It was only a month earlier I was writing about the sad state of Stockport’s high street. While filling an empty retail spot was important, I hoped it was more than a typical cliché Italian restaurant with red and white checked table clothes and fake plastic hams hanging from fake rafters. Thankfully it’s a handsome, modern eatery.

A bar occupies the central space with tables flowing around the edges and up to the elevated rear seated area. Simple and consistent decorations see light and dark wood matched for a warm and sophisticated feel. Colour is sparse while the lighting keeps the mood cosy.

When my calamari starter arrives I hardly recognise what has been served. Where were my rubbery, breaded rings of squid? Instead, whole strips of Japanese cut squid glistens up at me. It’s brilliant; firm, fleshy and fresh.

My parsnip and butternut squash risotto was a well-cooked main. The rice still had bite and the flavours of the vegetables worked to make it a wholesome autumnal dish. The pizza my companion ate could rival any from Pizza Express, with a fine crust and light tomato base.

While neither dish was a culinary innovation, they were both made to a high quality using incredible ingredients. There’s nothing odd or edgy in these dishes that might put you off. It’s safe and simple in the best of senses.

Both in their early 20s, Aisha and Kassam Mukadam demonstrate how important the enthusiasm and vision of youth is in tackling problems like the ones Stockport faces. Their restaurant is open from 7:30am, attracting morning commuters with their strong Italian coffee and Breakfast Smoothies, and doesn’t close until the last dinner and bar guests have left.

Their vision for the restaurant is for people to use it as an extension of home, an all-day eating and drinking establishment where Stockport residents can feel comfortable dropping by for a morning coffee, lunch bite, evening meal or after work drink. This is important, as Stockport desperately needs new social hubs for shoppers and workers in the town centre.

Da Vinci’s is definitely somewhere I would consider returning to. The food was excellent and served promptly by friendly staff while the environment was cosy without being stuffy or contrived. Aisha and Kassam have established a great all day setting for eating, drinking and socialising and is well worth a visit on any occasion.

Da Vinci’s - 25 St. Petersgate, Stockport, Cheshire. Open 7:30am – 10:30pm daily.
 

Boxer Tasif Khan has expressed his optimism before his fight with John Riley.

Speaking with the fight at Reebok stadium, Bolton, just a week away, Khan seemed pleased to be done with most of the hard work.

“Boxing is always a hard sport but the training is harder than the fight really,” the Yorkshireman told Manchester Mouth.

“Now we’re winding down the training the week before the fight. I’m just ready to get in the ring and fight.”

With little to say about Riley, ranked three better than Khan at number 27 in the British Super Bantamweight division, Khan laughed when asked whether he thought he could win the contest.

“Of course I fancy my chances, I wouldn’t have taken the fight if I didn’t fancy my chances," he said.

“The training’s been tough but now all the hard work has put me in a really good position and I can’t wait to get out there and show what I’ve got.”

Matthew Hatton, Ricky Hatton's brother, will fight Roberto Belge in the main event of the night on Friday 26 November 2010.

For tickets call the box office on 0161 775 7500.

A teenage girl has been missing from her home in Bolton for more than four days.

Nazeeba Hussain, 14, was last seen at her family home on Loxham Street, Great Lever, at about 8:15pm on Monday 15 November 2010.

She is described as Asian, 5ft 2in tall with shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. When last seen school girl Hussain was wearing traditional Asian dress consisting of a black top, orange trousers, grey cardigan, red scarf and red shoes.

Greater Manchester Police are becoming concerned for her welfare due to her age and the fact Hussain has not been missing before. She has no access to money and no change of clothes.

It was initially thought she had gone to stay with friends in Bolton, but officers are now concerned she could be in the Longsight area in Manchester.

Detective Inspector Stuart Wilkinson, of Bolton CID, said: "Nazeeba's family are understandably extremely concerned for her and are desperate to hear from her.

"If anyone thinks they may have seen Nazeeba in the local area, please contact us. She is vulnerable due to her age and needs to come home.

"Nazeeba may not realise the police are now looking for her, but if she does get this message, we ask that she comes home or gets in touch as soon as possible."

Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is asked to call Bolton CID on 0161 856 5740.

By Peter Stanners

A play written by a tortured Cameroonian asylum seeker who lives in Greater Manchester will now be shown in London.

Lydia Besong's play ‘How I Became an Asylum Seeker’ will be performed at the Break the Silence event on Sunday 28 November, at 3pm, at the Riverside Studios.

The event, organised by Women For Refugee Women (WRW), aims to shine a light on the hidden experiences of women who seek asylum in the UK.

Besong sought refuge in the UK after being tortured and raped in Cameroon but was refused asylum and detained during rehearsals.

The play is performed by Besong, fellow members of the Manchester branch of community group Women Asylum Seekers Together, and their new choir.

The performance will be followed by a panel discussion in which Natasha Walter, Co-ordinator for WRW, will be joined by Ms Besong, Juliet Stevenson, Helen Bamber and Bridget Phillipson MP.

This is a great opportunity to hear the inspiring voices and music of women refugees, and to discuss how we can support those who come to our country seeking refuge from persecution.

Tickets are £10/£5/free for asylum seekers. Click here to buy online.

To read Manchester Mouth's earlier coverage of Besong's story click here.

For more information please visit: www.refugeewomen.com.
 

A new Islamic community centre is apparently being set up in Manchester to encourage British Muslims into integrate local society.

The Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) has reported that a 'moderation centre' is being established in the North West on instruction from the Kuwaiti royal family in order to encourage a more moderate reading of Islam, raising eyebrows in local Muslim communities.

“Muslims in the West must break free from fear on their identity and positively blend in society and present a bright image of moderate Islam,” Dr Adel Al-Falah, Kuwaiti Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, told KUNA.

In Manchester, however, there are mixed responses to the proposed centre.

Mohammed Khattany, owner of the recently opened ‘Islamic Life’ shop near Oxford road, thinks that British Muslims have fewer problems with their identity than are being depicted in the media

Manchester Metropolitan Univerity student Yousef Thiats, agrees with him. He feels that western media such as the BBC has developed a one-sided view of Islam.

“They make it sound like all Muslims are the same,” he said.

Talking about extreme Muslim groups, he argues that many of them are essentially un-Islamic.

“Many groups that call themselves Muslims can’t say they’re Muslims from the way they act,” he said. “We as Muslims don’t consider them Muslim.”

The apparent battle between ‘extreme’ and ‘moderate’ Islam is one that is mostly played out in the media argues Ahmed Versi, editor of Muslim News.

He said that the term ‘moderate Islam’ is not one that he uses, as it insinuates that Islam itself is not inherently moderate.

Versi also questioned Kuwait’s motivations for establishing the centre.

“Different countries are competing to be seen as the leading role for moderate Islam in the world,” he told Manchester Mouth.

In his view, the aim of the moderation centre is less to encourage a moderate reading of Islam, and more to do with Kuwait positioning itself in a leading role for communication between the East and West.

He added: “These countries are essentially trying to show the world that they are not extremist.”

Most mosques in the UK, he claimed, are run and funded by their own local communities without much influence from abroad.

Those that do receive funding from abroad do so in exchange for a faithful following of the particular branch of Islam of the donor state or group.

Abdul Khan, a welfare officer, believes that mosques are becoming increasingly wary about where they receive their money from.

He felt that the focus on extreme Islam is over-represented in the British media and that mosques and Islamic communities in the UK need to make more effort to reach out beyond their own communities.

“Mosques have a lot of work cut out for them," Khan said.

“Most mosques are failing to serve the communities where they are. As Muslims we have a duty to everyone not just our own.

“If a mosque is a base then we need to look at how this can be a more proactive place for the community and giving a helping hand where it’s needed.”

By Peter Stanners

Zombie Pride returned with a vengeance to raise more than £2000 for the Lesbian and Gay Foundation.

The Halloween fundraiser, which took place on Saturday 30 October 2010, crept through Manchester's Canal Street on a monster bar crawl before taking over a decked-out Legends nightclub for three floors of hair-raising hi-jinks.

Bollox, KBeard, Trash-O-Rama and Bad Taste Barbies offered their musical talents for free for the event and Legends also donated the venue.

Praising the efforts of everyone involved, Joe Spencer, Lesbian and Gay Foundation’s (LGF) community fundraising officer, said: “That’s the great thing about Zombie pride. We get so many people really excited, really interested and just willing to get involved and give their time and effort.

“That’s what I really love about it, that everyone comes together with fundraising at the heart of it.”

The money raised will go towards LGF’s frontline services such as face-to-face counselling and the ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign, which aims to tackle homophobia.

Spencer explained that whilst the LGF is does receive government funding for some projects, it still depends heavily on donations and community fundraising, especially with the current government tightening the purse strings.

“Funding is getting cut and it is a big problem for us now,” he said.

“Now more than ever we need to get the community behind us so things like Zombie Pride, things that can engage the community and get us raising money, are really important.”

Paula Horatio, a 29-year-old events organiser who took part in the zombie bar crawl, said: “Supporting the LGF is really important. They do really great work for lots of people.”

Zombie Pride volunteer Katie Spencer, a 27-year-old drama teacher who was dressed as Heath Ledger's Joker, added: “Look around, the party’s a great success. Clearly the LGF are still relevant and are still blazing the trail for equality.”

Future fundraisers for the LGF include hosting the X-Factor finalists at the Essentials nightclub in Manchester and a big raffle and drag show in support of World Aids Day on Wednesday 1 December 2010.

Click here to view some more photos from Zombie Pride.
 

A local inter-faith group has celebrated the brave Muslims who saved Jewish lives in World War Two.

On Sunday 23 October 2010 Manchester Muslim Jewish Forum members and local dignitaries attended the 70 Righteous Muslims Who Saved Jews In The Second World War event to remember the strong ties between Islam and Judaism.

Cllr Mark Hackett, Lord Mayor of Manchester, attended the celebration at Manchester Jewish Museum along with 80 other guests.

Edmond Rosen and Fiyaz Mughal OBE shared stories of how people of the two faiths came together during the time of persecution. One account told the tale of Ali Sheger Pashkaj - who risked his life to save Yeoshua Baruchowic.

Stressing the importance of these stories being told, Mughal said: “These stories of positive Muslim and Jewish interaction in these darkest moments of history indicate a common bond and link between people of the two faiths.”

The presentation, which was accompanied by a booklet, also revealed that out of the 70 Muslims honoured at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum 62 were Albanians.

Cllr Hackett said: “Here were stories from Bosnia and Albania of human courage and resourcefulness by Muslims that helped save so many Jewish lives from Nazi Persecution, the whole world should know about and learn from."

Echoing these sentiments Cllr Afzal Khan CBE, co-chair of the forum, added: "Whilst we have all heard about the terrible events of the Holocaust very little is known about these incredibly brave and courageous people who put their own lives at risk to save many Jewish lives.

“Both speakers were excellent and managed to shed new light on this dark part of human history."

Manchester Mouth's entertainment guru gets to grips with the choppy waters of love in her review of Sarah Frankcom's production of 'The Lady from the Sea' at Royal Exchange theatre.

Henrik Ibsen’s The Lady From The Sea beautifully illustrates the dilemma encountered by the dreamer Ellida as she struggles between honouring her commitments to her husband and her step-daughters or opting for a life with a past lover – The Stranger (Bill Ward)- who has happened to return to her life.

Apparently Ibsen was inspired by Norwegian folk tales in the writing of The Lady From The Sea. One of the legends concerned a sailor who returned home to find that his wife had assumed he was dead at sea and thus re-married. This legend is cleverly explored in this production and incorporated in the stories told by Ellida (Neve McIntosh).

Ellida, the daughter of a lighthouse keeper, cannot tame her desire and love for the sea. Her name derives from Old Norse 'Elliði' and means 'Fast-going Ship' (in terms of contemporary allusions, like Prince’s Little Red Corvette, I guess!). She longs for the sea, and this production needs to show this yearning she has on stage. The lighting and the sound both contribute to allowing us to recognise the significance of water. The sounds of the steamers carrying the tourists to spend summer in this town in remote Norway remind us of the significance of the sea for Ellida.

The youngest step-daughter Hilde (Catrin Stewart) is feisty and witty, particularly in her dialogue about and with Lyngstrand (Sam Collings). Reece Dinsdale’s portrayal of Dr Wangel is one that allows us to sympathise with this gentle and calm man who is coming to terms with his wife’s devastating revelations, although we may become frustrated that he is too amiable. We do want him to succeed though and in that he wins the audience over. Although Bill Ward’s time on stage as The Stranger is limited, he definitely exudes charisma and the audience can see how difficult it is for Ellida to resist such charm.

The over-arching theme is one of freedom – Ellida has her own notions of freedom, but then eventually she must learn to re-define this abstract concept. And we leave the play pondering this very notion. We see the characters grow before our very eyes as they are finding their way in the world, and finding themselves in order to succeed in establishing significant attachments and affections with family, friends and lovers. David Eldridge’s adaptation is a beautiful and intense production which sustains our interest in human relationships.

Manchester Mouth's entertainment guru talks economic turmoil in her review of David Thacker’s adaptation of ‘Love On The Dole’ the Octagon, Bolton.

Octagon's Love On The Dole is based on a 1930s Walter Greenwood novel (which was later adapted by Ronald Gow). Born in 1903 in Ellor Street, Salford, Greenwood inherited his parents' and grandparents' ambitions to leave behind this neighbourhood with its "jungles of tiny houses cramped and huddled together" in which "men and women are born, live, love and die and pay preposterous rents for the privilege of calling the grimy houses 'home'".

Throughout Thacker's production we see how poverty pervades the lives of the characters of Hanky Park, a working-class community in Salford. The characters are struggling to get by on the pittance earned and this tale highlights the plight of those who are desperate to get out, "Hanky Park…we can't get away…it gets everybody".

Other characters are oblivious to their proletariat existence – living in a form of false consciousness but are still severely affected by the Great Depression.

The set design works in conjunction with what we hear from the characters about Hanky Park. We imagine the smell of the gutters and we see "the smoke and the foul ugliness". The relentless grinding poverty is evident in the set which is a picture of domestic drudgery.

The title Love On The Dole gives the audience an insight into the grim lives of the characters who are trying "to get by". We witness the hard times in the home of the Hardcastles due to chronic unemployment in the early 1930s of Lancashire.

Speaking about being short on hope Sally Hardcastle's says: "Where can you go when you've got nowt? No one ever leaves Hanky Park unless it's thro' cemetery gates."

The star of the show is Clare Foster with her moving portrayal of the daughter of the family, Sally Hardcastle, who is keeping the family together. We feel for the strong-willed, long-suffering but dignified Sally as we hear her dreams and ambitions, and see her reality.

"Love's all right on the pictures, but love on the dole ain't quite the same thing," says Sally.

The supporting actors – Annie Tyson (Mrs Jike), Susan Twist (Mrs Doorbell) and Flo Wilson (Mrs Bull) also put on an impressive and humorous performance as the often uninvited and sometimes unwanted friends of Mrs Hardcastle.

The action of the play takes place over five years from 1927 to 1932. And this production manages to successfully compress the socio-political and socio-economic backdrop to this time period in a way in which we re-live the Great Depression and its impact upon Lancashire.

Love On The Dole will be showing at Octagon until 6 November 2010.

Manchester's Lesbian and Gay Foundation officially launched its Pop-In counselling service at a special event for National Coming Out Day.

The foundation (LGF) announced its new service, which provides 40-minute no appointment necessary sessions for people with trained support staff, at Come in, Come Out last week.

Advisors will also give information, advice or even a cup of tea and slice of cake to those who wish to use the service.

Despite having a helpline available for 30 years, Lucy Rolfe, LGF's wellbeing co-ordinator, decided that there was a need to provide a service that was more personal than a phone call but less formal than a counselling session.

"We get people from all walks of life coming in," she said.

"It's been a slow burner but it's started to take off.

"We only get a couple of people a week but that's good enough for us because it's often people who might be in a crisis.

"We might get people who have left an abusive relationship and who are feeling at rock bottom after having a relationship breakdown, or they feel really nervous about coming out and need to give themselves an idea about when they want to do it."

Rolfe felt that the existence of domestic abuse in gay relationships is something that wider society has yet to appreciate.

"I've done Pop-In sessions with quite a few people who have been in abusive relationships or are in abusive relationships and I think that’s something which is only starting to be recognised that domestic abuse does happen in gay and lesbian relationships," she added.

"So as a specific LGBT service people come into us seeking questions about these sorts of things.”

Service users that need further help can then be referred to other organisations such as ‘Women’s Aid’ or LGBT domestic violence organisation ‘Broken Rainbow’ to maintain the necessary long-term support.

Speaking to Manchester Mouth about what he thinks of the service, Mark Freeman, 22, said: “I’d rather speak to a friend if I was in trouble with a relationship. With helplines and counselling you risk getting judged by people who don't know you."

However, Sarah Fisher, 26, claimed: "I think it's a good idea because maybe not everyone can get support when they need it.

"I don’t know whether I would rather talk to a friend but there’s no harm in it being there."

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation offers a wide range of services to ensure positive outcomes for people who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or tansgender – including sexual health advice to free counselling sessions for under-25’s.

Now located at the heart of Manchester's gay canal district, Rolfe wants to encourage service users to treat the LGF as a safe place where they can drop by, have a cup of tea, speak to someone if they need to or simply pick up leaflets or information.

To use the pop-in service simply visit the new LGF office at 5 Richmond Street, Manchester, M1 3HF anytime between 10am and 9pm.

The helpline is available from 10am to 10pm on 08453 30 30 30.

Sir Ian McKellen has unveiled a plaque dedicated to Peter Tatchell's endless campaigning for gay rights.

The blue plaque, which was awarded to Tatchell for more than 40 years of human rights activism, has been attached outside his long term residence Arrol House on the Rockingham Estate near Elephant and Castle, London.

Speakers at the unveiling ceremony included McKellen, out gay Catholic priest Bernard Lynch and Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes. They all honoured Tatchell for his 43 years of tireless campaigning for gay rights and human rights in Britain and across the globe.

The event was followed by a reception at the nearby Cuming Museum, Walworth Road, where I was fortunate to meet and speak with internationally renowned actor McKellen, who agreed that this was a long overdue honour.

For those few who are not aware of Tatchell’s contribution to gay rights and human rights he has spearheaded campaigns on an international scale for more than four decades.

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Tatchell has lived most of his adult life in London and rose to prominence in 1983 when he was defeated as Labour candidate in the Bermondsey by-election.

He co-founded Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender campaign group OutRage! in 1990 and has twice attempted a citizen's arrest of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe of on charges of human rights abuses.

Tatchell has penned more than 3,000 published articles and has written and contributed to more than 20 books including, The Battle for Bermondsey, Democratic Defence, Europe in the Pink – Lesbian & Gay Equality in The New Europe and We Don’t Want to March Straight: Masculinity, Queers and the Military.

Greater mainstream interest and recognition, perhaps born from a widening of Tatchell's activism beyond gay rights, came in 2009, shortly before I interviewed him for my book Never Blend In, when Tatchell was named Campaigner of the Year at The Observer Ethical Awards.

Speaking about people who have inspired him, Tatchell said: "My political inspirations are people like Mahatma Gandhi, Sylvia Pankhurst, Martin Luther King and, to some extent, Malcolm X and Rosa Luxemburg. I've adapted some of their ideas and methods to my contemporary struggle for human rights, and invented a few of my own.

"My proudest achievements as a human rights campaigner have been my two attempted citizen’s arrests of the Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. They helped draw international attention to the human rights abuses perpetrated by his murderous regime. I was glad to support the people of Zimbabwe who are fighting for democracy and human rights. Even though I got badly beaten by Mugabe’s bodyguards and have ended up with some brain and eye damage, I have no regrets."

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Southwark LGBT Forum, the Blue Plaque steering group and Southwark Council.

Addressing Tatchell at the event, Hughes said: "When you made your decision to leave Australia and to come here, we hope, looking back, you feel you made the right decision.

"We are very grateful you made the decision to settle in Southwark. You have helped us to have a reputation as one of the most enlightened, diverse and gay-friendly parts of Britain, and we hope that we will continue to honour that work."

Unveiling the plaque McKellen added: "I think it's absolutely sensational that there should be a blue plaque here as a daily reminder to his neighbours that he is in their presence and to the city as a whole that we are very lucky to have Peter."

Tatchell, who for many years has lived at this same address despite threats to his physical safety, was chosen to receive a plaque last year in a public vote.

"To be voted for by the people to have this honour is truly a great privilege, and I think every one of them," he said.

"I am gratified but a bit embarrassed. Normally you only get blue plaques when you are dead, and as you can see I am very much alive, and I am hoping to carry on campaigning for another 30 years or more.

"It is a big honour. I am very grateful to the people who voted for me, especially since there were other notable, worthy and deserving nominees. I hope my receipt of this award will encourage others to campaign for human rights.

"After so many years of demonization by the tabloids, right-wingers, homophobes and even some people on the left, it is great to receive this recognition."

To some Tatchell may be an outspoken and controversial figure with uncompromising views but his imprint upon the world is unquantifiable.

He is a pioneer, a visionary and a tenacious, tireless and determined advocate for social equality who gives hope to us all that somehow in some way we too may be capable of great things.

By Peter Stanners

Manchester’s Muslim Jewish Forum exceeded its own expectations by raising an incredible £30,000 for charity at very special celebration.

The forum, which rose the funds money for the victims of the Pakistan floods, beat its target by more than £10,000 at the Eid and Post Yom Kippur Gala.

The event, which was held at the Mere Golf Club on Sunday 26 September 2010, was attended by 600 people and featured variety of entertainment including a live Klezmer band, a ladies fashion show and children’s entertainment in the form of face-painting and a bouncy castle.

Charity auctions were also held which contributed to the sum already raised through ticket sales and table sponsorships.

The proceeds from the Gala will be donated primarily to Doctors Worldwide and the Al Mustafa Trust who are both currently working in Pakistan in the wake of the devastating floods.

Jewish children at Langdon College in Salford will also benefit from the fundraiser, with the college chairperson Joy Wolfe being in attendance at the Gala.

Secretary of the Forum, Heather Fletcher said: “It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves and interacting with each other whilst raising a large amount of money for this large scale and tragic disaster.”

The event was such a success that Jonny Wineberg, co-chair of the Forum, revealed that he would like to do similar large fundraising events with other partnerships in future.

With Yom Kippur and Eid not coinciding again for another 22 years, the event was an especially unique opportunity for the two communities celebrate together.

A classic play that some would say is synonymous with a young and unknown Marlon Brando. If you have seen the film adaptation you will have high expectations of Thacker’s production and these will be fulfilled.

The star of the show is Clare Foster (Blanche Dubois) for she manages to carry each of her scenes with energy and intensity in a long production, which reminds the audience of Blanche’s very nervous disposition.

The tension is palpable and unending. Discussing mortality Blanche said: “You’d never suspect there was the struggle for breath…” It is this very struggle that Thacker’s version successfully impacts upon our consciousness. Blanche: “Sick people have such deep, sincere attachments…” These very attachments are impressed upon us by the brilliant Foster.

Blanche: “Thank you for being so kind. I need kindness now”. The audience long for Blanche’s desire for compassion to be met.

The production demands a forceful Stanley Kowalski, which is consistently achieved by Kieran Hill. (I would have loved to see Marlon Brando on stage all those years ago, but there is nothing Kieran Hill can do about that!) Amy Nuttall (Stella Kowalski) is effective in allowing the audience to witness the torn loyalties suffered by a woman caught between her husband and her sister. Stella and Blanche are polar opposites in their attitudes towards love.

“Oh, you can't describe someone you're in love with!” exclaims Stella to her sister. Much later though an exasperated Stella tries to make her sister comprehend the passion in her marriage: “But there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark - that sort of make everything else seem – unimportant”.

Blanche, though, desires a different romantic poetic love. From the opening emotional reunion of the sisters to the final scene, we are immersed in mesmerising and moving performances by both the female leads Foster and Nuttall.

Vibrant opening scenes introduce the audience to the chaos and confusion of New Orleans in the heat, as well as introducing Blanche to the very same setting. Carol Sloman (composer/musical director) incorporates the variant beats and rhythms and blues which define New Orleans. We feel the heat, see the vibrancy and hear the soul of the neighbourhood upon which Blanche seems to have stumbled, and where Stella has made her home with Stanley.

Ciaran Bagnall (set designer) has beautifully illustrated the domesticity of Stella and Stanley, whilst providing a backdrop to Blanche’s increasing agitation with her sister’s “claustrophobic” home. The stage design with white distressed furniture (“shabby-chic” in today’s world of interior design!) introduces us to a tired and comfortable two-roomed apartment in New Orleans where Blanche seeks a haven.

The great Tennessee Williams wrote in a letter to the great Elia Kazan (the director of the film adaptation):

“I remember you asked me what should an audience feel for Blanche. Certainly pity. It is a tragedy with the classic aim of producing a catharsis of pity and terror and in order to do that, Blanche must finally have the understanding and compassion of the audience”.

Apparently David Thacker read aloud this letter to the cast during rehearsal. We leave the Octagon with a profound understanding and compassion for Blanche. Clearly then this director and this cast have succeeded in interpreting the vision of the greats.

Manchester Mouth has learnt that the disappearance of a Somalian mother and her two children from their Manchester home is worrying local police.

Anisa Ibrahim, 30, from Withington and her sons Khalid and Ahmed Abubakar, aged five and three, have not been seen since 6 April 2010.

Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to the public for information regarding their whereabouts.

Detective Inspector Kevin Marriott said: "Although they could have left the country, it is also possible that they could be in either the Birmingham or London areas."

If anybody knows of Anisa's or her children's whereabouts, they are being asked to contact Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 quoting MP/10/46672 or the independent charity, Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Chomet’s new stunningly hand-drawn animated film is possibly not as immediately satisfying as his previous effort, the madcap Belleville Rendevous.

In that film you were distracted from the fact that there was a lack of emotional punch by the wildly over the top globetrotting Tour De France/mafia infused plot, terrific set pieces, hilariously eccentric character designs and delightful visual gags in every frame. The Illusionist moves at a different pace altogether.

The story, based on an unproduced semi-autobiographical script by the French comedy actor and director Jacques Tati who felt it was too downbeat, is set in the late 1950’s and follows an aging, lonely magician from Paris to Edinburgh via London in search of a venue at which to continue performing his archaic routine.

At a gig in a remote Scottish village the illusionist encounters a naive young woman who is so enthralled by his magic that she is inspired to move to Edinburgh with him and chase her own dreams. Providing for himself is difficult enough with his meagre income but when he can he buys her presents.

Their relationship is one of incredible tenderness. She takes care of things at home while he waits patiently for a younger hipper act, a floppy haired pop group, to play encore after encore to screaming fans. When the group bounces off stage, the theatre virtually empties but the illusionist dutifully goes ahead with his show.

As the girl matures and falls in love with a young man they both realise it’s time for her to move and on these scenes are just heartbreaking.

The almost wordless film is utterly enchanting in its beauty. The city and landscapes are lovingly animated in vibrant detail and the physicality of the characters always amuses. In homage to his cinematic hero, Chomet’s characterisation of the illusionist resembles the gangly pot-bellied Tati and in the scene in which he stumbles into a cinema trying to avoid the girl, the film screening is the Tati classic Mon Oncle.

That said, The Illusionist may find it tough to repeat the arty-family crossover success of Belleville or another recent animated film dealing with not totally dissimilar themes, Disney Pixar’s UP.

As much as I admired the film I can’t honestly say I was riveted by it, more hypnotised. Its unrelenting elegiac score and subdued narrative lulled me into warm sleepy bittersweet nostalgia. Not a bad place to be but after a while there, one must follow the illusionist’s example and know when it’s time to move on.
 

Very few celebrities from the sporting world have come out as gay.

However, Manchester’s own basketball star John Amaechi, 39, is one man who was brave enough to stand up and become a role model to millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youngsters around the world.

In April 2009 author David Watters interviewed Amaechi, who played for the likes of Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz and famously rejected a $17 million contract from LA Lakers, for his new book ‘Never Blend In: The Harvey Milk Legacy’ – a inspirational collection of interviews with a number of gay celebrities.

Here is an extract from that interview:

DW: Personally and professionally what challenges have you faced, particularly during your time with the NBA, what compromises did you have to make in your personal life at that time?

JA: Playing in the NBA, like many jobs in America, is not basically compatible with being a Gay person. A great majority of LGBT people who simply do not disclose their sexuality or don’t really have a social life outside of work.

DW: Would it have been impossible for you to have come out during your time with the NBA?

JA: I think so. I wasn’t a superstar by any means and I don’t think that I would have been protected, certainly according to the law, I wouldn’t have had any legal protection or standing. So, to me, it was too big a risk to take.

DW: In 2007, why was it important then to disclose your sexuality? Was this because you had retired at that point from the NBA?

JA: It was a political thing as much as anything else, to decide to have a conversation that hadn’t really been had in America regarding these workplace issues. The fairness, the equity, of having people who must choose between their vocation and their social life.

DW: What was the response initially?

JA: An outpouring of very positive messages from people in general. Within the sport, a number of people said very nice things about me to the newspapers; players and coaches, but there was also a very vehement, outspoken minority who made it very clear that they didn’t approve.

DW: I was aware of (former Miami Heat star) Tim Hardaway’s homophobic comments at the time and wondered if John even wanted to discuss this anymore. I asked were Hardaway’s comments reflective of a general feeling within the sports world?

JA: No, no I don’t think his comments were reflective of a general feeling within the sports world. He said things that a minority, a very vocal minority, of people wanted to say. If anything, he was a spokesman of that tiny minority. That wasn’t the majority of the messages that I received.

DW: I’ve heard you speak about the impact that those sorts of comments can have on Lesbian and Gay youths.

JA: Yes, indeed and it’s not just about LGBT people. That message has emboldened other bigots and also people who are perceived as being different in lots of different ways find themselves marginalized and under attack as well. As we’ve seen tragically recently with two 11-year-old boys in America who killed themselves. There is no particular evidence that either of these two were gay but simply the perception that they were effeminate or whatever else led to their persecution.

DW: Did you receive good feedback from readers of your book, Man in the Middle?

JA: Absolutely. A lot of people read it in a rounded way which is what I would have wanted.

DW: The feedback from readers has been positive. It has had an impact on their lives. Did you get any emails or letters from people that you feel you might have helped by writing your book?

JA: It’s been people from all walks of life; people from the military, a lot of people from sport...a lot of people who are setting out to do extraordinary and very difficult things, the book resonates with them.

DW: Was it a cathartic thing to document your experiences?

JA: It wasn’t particularly cathartic. It was a hard slog in the midst of trying to do my work. To go through the process of recalling and trying to order my thoughts of 16, 17 years ago. I think it was a valuable experience to do it and I think that the product is one that I can be proud of.

DW: Do you think it is important for sports figures, musicians, politicians to come out at the height of their careers. Perhaps to set an example of how successful you can be in this world and does this benefit the LGBT community?

JA: I think having more role models is better. I think the idea that if everybody in these top positions came out all at once would be a tremendous thing. There’s an element of truth to that in an “Am I Blue?” type of way.

The problem is, when it’s just ten people there’s the tall poppy syndrome where I think we’d end up with a lot of martyrs. It shouldn’t take people losing their lives or even losing their jobs and, to me, the idea that a sportsperson would make, you know a football player in Britain or a basketball player in America would make people change their minds about homophobia seems absurd to me.

When we’ve had young people killing themselves on a daily basis. The evidence of that is in newspapers and on the web every day and yet that seems not to pluck at the heartstrings of society. If the death of an innocent doesn’t do it then why would a gay football player?”

I wondered if showing a greater diversity of gay people might help to show that there’s a balance there and not necessarily the stereotypes that are shown in the media.

DW: Your “coming out” did facilitate an enormous amount of public discussion on the subject of sexuality and sport. Is that what you’d anticipated at the time?

JA: Yes, it was important but also in a way whether it be because of my background or because of my career in psychology I felt very equipped to handle whatever came.

Not all people will feel so equipped. Not all football players or barristers or whatever profession we’re talking about will feel as able to explain themselves, to stand up for their position. I managed to maintain the conversation above the beltline and keep it somewhat cerebral.

DW: Did you become a broadcaster and writer in order to speak out about the Homophobia which prevails in society? Was this the main motivation and are there other reasons why you have gone into this area of work?

JA: The work I do with APS, my company, is far more broad and the work in the media is far more broad. I’m also black, I have a Nigerian father, mixed race, 6’9...there are so many other factors; identity is more nuance than the media will allow us necessarily to say.

The idea that my one sole purpose would be to tell people that homophobia is the most important of issues, above racism, above misogyny...I treat all the heads of this monster as equally reprehensible.

DW: Has society moved forward with regards to racism and sexism?

JA: No, bigots have become more sophisticated. You can no longer put a little tag on the corner of a CV that suggests that, “this person is from Jamaica”, but that doesn’t change the fact that there are huge discrepancies in hiring and in pay for black people versus white. It doesn’t explain the fact, especially with this new legislation for medium to large size businesses, people will be shocked when they see the discrepancy in pay between women and men.

It all has to be addressed. People love to make a hierarchy and decide which bits are most important to address. If there’s an organisation out there that does work for equality, if they decide that one area is more important to tackle they are implicitly saying that another is less important.

You can’t say the “N” word. We’ve seen it in schools. You can’t say the “N” word in school without a teacher then having you pulled up, suspended and possibly excluded. But “Gay” is du jour; photocopiers are gay, textbooks are gay, homework is gay. The implicit message that they get, young people who get away with saying that amongst other things, is that that’s okay.

A word doesn’t get associated with everything bad, awful, wrong, terrible, anything derogatory you can think of without the people that the word represents being seen in that light too.

Let’s not pretend it’s some kind of organic natural evolution of this word on its own. It is the likes of Chris Moyles, it is the likes of these people in the media as well popularising that terminology. It is also the fault of all of us that every time that word is used in the incorrect way we don’t say, “Hey, that’s not the correct word to use”. If you mean you hate this homework because it’s difficult, because you think it’s unfair, because you think you haven’t got the material right, then say that.

DW: So, it’s laziness in the use of language...

JA: It’s not just laziness. It’s also the fact that if you are a white person who stands up for black people, people look at you as bold and you’ve got a sense of credibility about yourself, if you are a man who stands up for a woman, you’re seen as progressive and bold and probably eminently more dateable most likely! But, if you are a straight person who stands up for a gay person, none of those things apply. You’re just, all of a sudden, suspected of being gay.

DW: Who were your role models as you were growing up and did you have any mentors perhaps?

JA: My mother would be my most basic answer to that.

DW: Why was that, what was it about your mother’s character that has made her a role model to you?

JA: I saw the way that people responded to her. She was a well-loved General Practitioner in Stockport and I used to go on visits with her and watch how she interacted with her patients, spent time and took a great deal of care not just in their medical history but in a pastoral care sense. Also the fact that she coped against enormous pressure and difficulties, a life that was very challenging and yet she always seemed to manage to come out on top.

DW: That certainly comes across when I’ve seen you being interviewed. There’s that character trait which comes across, there’s an empathy, an understanding of the wider world and the individuals within it. Is that what you mean about your mother and the care that she would give to patients, that additional care that not all GP’s necessarily put into place?

JA: Yeah. For me it was very clear that she felt that it was a huge part of her job to make sure that people felt safe, more able to cope and more in control.

DW: You’ve spoken in other interviews about how basketball was something that you did that had value and has value but you’d always known that you wanted to study psychology.

JA: Precisely. I think one of the huge mistakes and certainly the downfalls, the pitfalls in sport is when people’s occupation becomes their definition. I think it’s just a recipe for disaster.

DW: We have to be fully rounded people and, not to have a back-up plan but, to have more to you that you have options in life, different choices in life that you can make. Certainly in sports, the career won’t last forever.

JA: Yes, for sure, and even if it did last for a good long time, there’s still an element of what you do after that. If it lasts for a good long time, that could still only be for 10 years, or 15 years.

DW: Can you remember a specific time in your life when an adult said or did something which changed you for the better, something which changed your perceptions of yourself or what you aspired to do with your life?

JA: Yes. Several. Certainly when I first said to my mother about going to America and playing basketball she asked me if I would recognise my soul in the dark.

DW: What did she mean by this?

JA: That most people never know anything beyond the trappings of themselves. They don’t know who they are at their core. They know themselves by their labels, by their relationships with other people, by their job titles and descriptions, by the clothes they wear, their physical appearance is how they define themselves. Soul in the dark is a question of would you recognise yourself stripped of that?

DW: Why is it important, do you think, for young people to have role models?

JA: If someone has come from a very impoverished background and is trying to do something extraordinary, the more difficult a journey one is going on the more visible an image of what you what to achieve you need. Inspiration and also to see that it’s possible. That’s why role models are valuable. Like in America, Barak Obama is such an important figure because he shows people that what was previously thought impossible is doable.

DW: There certainly is a move forward in American society that an African-American can be elected.

JA: Oh, definitely a step in the right direction. We have to be careful about getting too self-congratulatory about it. There are still an element of people who are straining themselves to pat themselves on the back.

I think he is remarkable because he is an intellect, he understands nuance and you could almost say for the last 25 years there’s not been someone in the White House who understands and embraces nuance, who understands that not giving them a 10 word sound bite answer is not a crime. I would suggest that he is not just a role model for black kids in America, he is a role model for any number of people; the kid who is being picked on because he is interested in science and politics in school or whatever else.

DW: Are we beginning to see a greater diversity of characters in the media, not just with regards to LGBT characters but with ethnic minorities and so on...are we getting away from stereotypes?

JA: It is growing. I think the reality is that you still see, in most cases, people defined by their interest. So, most of the black people within the BBC are either in sports or they are on One Extra, Five Live or the urban channels. Look at television and the representation of LGBT people, there aren’t that many examples.

DW: What would you say to a family who are finding it hard to come to terms with a child who has recently come out?

JA: There are two sides to this. The young person’s side is that, I would say – remember patience with your family, even if their knee-jerk reaction is one which really disappoints, remember patience because just as coming out has a gestation period (for some people it’s a couple of days and then BOOM they’re ready, for other people years), parents and families have a process to go through too, we should give them a bit of leeway to work through things by giving them as much information as they need, by being very patient and helping them come to conclusions.

DW: That’s right. The person who is coming-out has had time to think and reflect upon their sexuality, whereas for the family this is a brand new piece of information.

What advice would you offer to a young person who is struggling to come to terms with their sexual orientation?

JA: What they need to do is reach out and find a resource, a support person or network that can offer them a soundboard. Not necessarily to tell them anything specific; someone or some network where you can talk out your thoughts and ideas and your fears and your worries and have someone compassionate and understanding be on the other end of that.

It’s very important for people to find a connection, to share their burden. This is applicable in many different circumstances, certainly with coming out.

To read more of Watters’s articles or to find out more about him visit http://www.nbiassociates.co.uk/About-Us.html.

Taking place for the fourth year in a row, the picnic brought together members of three different faiths from the North West on Sunday 18 July 2010.

Attendees had a wonderful time, despite the drizzly Manchester weather, sharing food and stories at the boating lake in Heaton Park.

Apparently the kosher gelfilte fish balls proved to be a particular favourite.

"For the third time out of four, we had typical Manchester weather but it did not dampen our spirits. Hopefully next year, the sun will finally shine on our picnic," MJF secretary Heather Fletcher told Manchester Mouth.

Farhana Shaikh, the brains behind The Asian Writer, is asking wanna-be writers from Asian communities to submit their work for publication in the network’s first anthology.

Due to be published in October 2010, the publication is based around the theme of ‘Celebration’ and it will be launched at the Everybody's Reading Festival in Leicester and at the DSC South Asian Literature Festival 2010 in London.

Speaking to Manchester Mouth about why she decided to set up The Asian Writer, Shaikh said: “The Asian Writer was set up to support and champion British Asian writers.

“As a writer myself I found that there wasn't anyone out there really flying the flag for Asian writers. I wanted to create a support network, to find like minded individuals that shared my passion for writing, and to give them a place to share information and writing opportunities as well raise the profile of published writers.”

She also revealed that she is happy to publish work from practised and less experienced writers in the anthology.

“I'm asking for a bit of help with supporting our first publication which is due to be published in October 2010. We'll be publishing our favourite interviews and submissions in the collection alongside new writing by aspiring authors and published authors,” Shaikh explained.

A number of established writers, some from as far afield as New York, have already contributed some unique articles to the The Asian Writer’s debut publication.

Roopa Farooki, author of Bitter Sweets, Cornershop and The Way Things Look To Me, has backed the project since it began in 2007 and some other famous names will also be appearing the anthology.

“Roopa Farooki has been very supportive of The Asian Writer since its inception. She was one of four writers interviewed in the very first issue and it’s great that she has agreed to submit to the anthology,” Shaikh said.

“A handful of other notable writers have also pledged their support but at this stage I wouldn't want to give too much away - you will simply have to buy the collection!”

Those wanting to submit their work need to email it to Shaikh via editor@theasianwriter.co.uk by Thursday 5 August 2010.

The 'Celebration' anthology will be available in print and online. The online anthology will contain interactive links to the websites of the contributors and print version will be around 220 pages long.

Visit the www.theasianwriter.co.uk.
 

Wai-San Li, Jennifer Lloyd and Dan Owens want to find out how the pump, which was paid for by sales of One Water at University of Salford’s campus, has benefitted the pupils from the Lipongwe LEA school it was donated to.

They are all visiting Africa for the first time on this trip and hope their visit will have a significant impact on lives of local children.

“We want to see how the play pump has benefitted the children directly – we want to meet the children and their family and teachers,” Parasitology PHD student Li told Manchester Mouth.

Trainee nurse Lloyd added: “I want to see how the water pump has changed the health of these children. It is vital that you wash and drink clean water and these children did not have clean water before this pump arrived.”

During their visit the Salford trio, who were selected from more than 50 applicants, will be examining how three other water pumps have affected three other schools and an orphanage in Lipongwe, which is a poor village in the Mwanza district in the south of Malawi.

Student communications induction manager Lawrie Perrins, who is travelling with the students, said: “The three people we’ve chosen reflect the community and charitable spirit of Salford students.

“We were looking for people who displayed a genuine commitment to charity and community work - people who would gain from this experience and who would disseminate what they had learnt to the wider community. I think these three will definitely do that.”

Before the trip the students each organised different fund raising events so they would have money to put back into the local economy during their visit by buying fruit trees for the village.

They also collected 200kgs of clothes and children’s toys to donate to the schools and the orphanage.

Aspiring journalist Owens, who is also chair of the Students’ Union RAG (Raising and Giving) Committee, said: “I planned a solo sky dive. I did the training and raised around £300 but when I went up in the aeroplane the weather was too bad so I will be doing it August.

“I’m planning on organising a water Olympics at the university when we get back so we continue to raise money for the village.”

Lloyd, who hopes to learn more about developing countries on the trip so she can work for The Red Cross when she finishes uni, said: “I organised a water bomb fight at Lancaster University. I spent all morning making hundreds of water bombs and sold them off to other students – we made about £260.”

Li added: “I’ve been doing cake bake sales at The Duchy Project youth centre in Salford and all the kids have been donating their fees too.”

The Salford team  were lucky enough to watch the final of the South Africa World Cup with villagers in Malawi and plan to form strong ties with local people so they can work with them again in future.

“We intend to keep contact when we come back to Britain so we can check with how all the projects that we have started are going,” Lloyd said.

The trio will be back in the UK on Saturday 17 July 2010 and you can discover writing and video from the trip on Perrins’s blog www.lawrie/posterous.com.

The 19-year-old, who is originally from Nigeria but now resides in Barking, London, was presented with the NUS/ Endsleigh Student of the Year award because of his outstanding work supporting his fellow students, the Students' Union and a range of community and business projects.

Speaking to Manchester Mouth a delighted Akinnagbe said: “Awards provide validation of what you’re doing but it means that much more when you are being recognised by a union of students like yourself. Big thanks to NUS and Endsleigh.

“I dedicate this award to my mum who passed away on 20 March 2010.”

Before being crowned Student of the Year the Economics and Finance undergraduate, who will be going into his third year in September, had to impress a distinguished panel of judges, including Times higher education editor Anne Mroz, director of the Helena Kennedy Foundation Ellen Dawson and managing director of Endsleigh Ian Passmore.

An entrepreneur, consultant, student activist and community worker Akinnagbe is currently the youngest ever president of Manchester Entrepreneurs, a University of Manchester Society which supports future businesses and community leaders.

A National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs award recipient, he is also a member of the Ernst and Young Top 30 UK Undergraduates and the youngest member of RAW Northwest, a group of the top 250 entrepreneurs in the region.

As well as this he is a National Black Achievers winner and the youngest member of the Lord Davies’ Black Entrepreneurs Roundtable, which gave policy advice to the Labour Government on supporting black and ethnic minority entrepreneurs.

“My main aim in life is to help people; I want to have a daily impact on people’s lives. I want to provide solutions to problems and improve people’s quality of life. How I do it is pretty flexible. Whether I do that through running a business, political office, through a charity or a combination of all to me is less important than the goal in itself,” Akinnagbe said when asked about what his aims for the future were?

“I guess it is the way I was brought up, we grew up in a poor neighbourhood and my parents really drummed it into us that we had to look out for next person, you weren’t successful until those around you feel your impact in a positive way. It has just stuck since then and I try to always problem-solve, help out anyway I can. I strongly believe that students have a duty to use their skills and position to help others.”

Akinnagbe was elected as a world youth leader with One Young World, a project supported by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof, Muhammad Yunus and former UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan among others.

He has also recently been elected onto The University of Manchester Student Union executive as the International Student Officer and often travels down to London whenever he can to volunteer with an educational charity teaching IT skills to locals in Camberwell.

The busiest student in Britain is involved in a campaign to help the many Black and African sufferers of the debilitating autoimmune disease Lupus too .

Manchester Mouth asked Akinnagbe if he sees himself as a young achiever – he said: “The concept of being a young achiever is an interesting one, obviously age is important but I feel it can give one a false sense of expertise or Midas touch. I think it’s important to not rest on your laurels and keep achieving, the way I do that is to focus on the goals. 

“I have had people say I’m a role model to other young people which is nice to hear but I just turned 19 and still have a lot of developing to do. I’m most grateful to God when my activities inspire others but I stop just short of calling myself a role model.

“My main inspiration is my dad; I grew up watching him start a business from nothing to relative success, sacrifice a lot for his family and those around him. My dad was a generous giver who never demanded a thank you. He inspires me beyond measures.”

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, president and vice-chancellor at the university, said: "We are very proud of Joseph, and this award demonstrates the extremely valuable contribution students make on our campus and in our local community. We are delighted that Joseph's inspirational work at Manchester has been recognised in this way.”
 

Abdul Azad, 54, and his son Ashraf, 28, reportedly said that they would murder 22-year-old Afshan, who plays Padma Patil in the wizard movies, after they found out she was dating a Hindu man.

The child star, who comes from a strict Bengali Muslim family from Longsight in Manchester, said that her father made threats against her life and her brother assaulted her and threatened her in her home on 21 May 2010.

However, since then the former Whalley Range High School For Girls and Xaverian College pupil has tried to have the charges dropped.

Defense lawyer John Wolfson said: “This is a desperately sad situation and she (Afshan) has never wanted her father and brother to be locked up. She has tried on three occasions to retract her statement and has pleaded with the Crown Prosecution Service not to proceed.”

Both men have denied the charges but the Crown Prosecution Service still has the power to pursue the earlier accusations.

The Azads are set to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court later this month for committal proceedings to crown court.
 

To read the Liberation blog discussion click here.

She had just finished supporting Black Eye Peas at their Manchester show.

Rumours have alleged that the real reason why Girls Aloud member Cole shunned the pop star is because he was seen at a Cannes club surrounded by half naked women last week.
 
"She knows the lap dancing was a bit of fun, but it seems she may have taken a dim view of it," a source told The Mirror.

Fajer Rabia was presented with the Inspiring Young Woman for 2010 award at a special ceremony which celebrated amazing community-spirited women from the North West on Friday 14 May 2010.

The 25-year-old, who moved to Manchester from Pakistan in 2003, set up not-for-profit community organization Inspired Sisters (IS) in 2007 and the group has helped many BME (black and minority ethnic) women find employment thanks to a range of social interaction and educational activities.

Speaking to Manchester Mouth about receiving the prize at the Inspiring Women Awards 2010 Rabia said: “I was really pleased, energised and felt appreciated for all the work that I and my team has put into IS when I won the award. This is my first award so will always hold a special place.”

Rabia now works with her 28-strong team from offices in Longsight, Chorlton, Burnage and Trafford. She has also just opened offices in Pakistan to set up programmes which will help women to overcome poverty.

"I set up IS because there was a need in the local area for a women only provision," Rabia explained.

"Hopefully I can inspire more women and eventually they’ll go out and do the same thing for others."

This remarkable lady also revealed that she wants to role out her idea in other South Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

"Over next seven years IS will be working in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, India etc where there is a real need for provision like ours. We have just set up our offices in Pakistan and are in negotiations with funders to set up an initiative in Afghanistan," Rabia said.

It has been alleged that the thief maybe Muslim as he seemed to know the inside of the mosque well.

Images of the man police would like to trace have been released in a bid to identify him.

Police constable Paul Hickman of the Rumworth Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "I would ask members of the local community to look closely at the images to see if you know who the man is.

"It is clear from the footage the man was very comfortable in the mosque and knew where he was going so the man may well live locally.

"Burglaries at places of worship are very rare in this area and to stop anything like this again we need to catch this man."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 5619 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
 

Manchester Mouth community reporter Sadia Habib reviews ‘Rafta Rafta’ showing at Octagon Theatre, Bolton.

Maybe you missed the popular and successful 2007 run of Rafta Rafta in London.  Luckily it is showing again and this time at a local venue – Octagon Theatre in Bolton.

Rafta Rafta is an adaptation of Bill Naughton’s play ‘All In Good Time’ by Ayub Khan-Din, who wrote the well-known hit ‘East is East’. 

Set in Bolton, Greater Manchester, Rafta Rafta explores the life of an immigrant Indian family.  Day-to-day concerns, as well as universal themes of marriage, family life, friendship, gender and patriarchy are portrayed in the context of Indian culture.  This ensures the themes Naughton wrote about are re-written in a contemporary context, reflecting multicultural society.

Bill Naughton was born in Ireland in 1910, but his family moved to England in 1914.  Naughton, therefore, grew up in Bolton and understandably is a figure close to the heart of local people.  His writings reflect working-class life and social changes. 

Around 6% of Bolton’s population is made up of people of Indian descent, the largest minority group in the borough, and Khan-Din’s adaptation effectively portrays how themes of community, kith and kin are timeless. Such themes were prevalent in Naughton’s time, and equally applicable to the lives of immigrants in Britain.

The opening scene perfectly illustrates the hustle and bustle involved at wedding time, and we meet the Dutts and the Patels and the bride (Bhavna Limbachia) and groom (Darren Kuppan). The massive pans (probably containing biryani) and the Indian wedding outfits introduce the themes of marriage and family.  The customary camcorder in the hands of family friend Etash Tailor (Mitesh Soni) and the mischievous brother Jai Dutt (Tony Hasnath) emphasises that the wedding took place today.  

Other noticeable props which contribute to the domestic setting of an Indian home are the shrine placed subtly in the corner of the lounge, and of course the sewing machine (seen in many Asian homes through the 1970s and 1980s, perhaps less so today). The stage area is not expansive – yet we manage to satisfy our curiosity with a great view of “upstairs” and “downstairs”.  The great moments of merriment and mirth, clashes and conflicts, and antagonism and argument are then situated in the kitchen (the women discussing the marriage night), the living room (the men dancing and drinking in celebration), and of course the bedrooms.

Simon Nagra, who plays the overbearing and larger-than-life Eeshwar Dutt is the star of the show.  He commands presence and provides the comedy, yet we can see his failings – especially in his tense relationship with his son, Atul.  
His broad northern accent convinces us he belongs to Bolton, but he reflects on his difficult experiences as a migrant reminding us of the racism of the past; but then references to the BNP, though made with humour, tell us that issues of “race” are not resolved in the Bolton of 2010. 

The female actors of Rafta Rafta are able to portray the personalities of the mothers, daughters and wives of this play with great poignancy and memorable presence also.  Bhavna Limbachia  plays the Dutts’ daughter-in-law, making an excellent debut - moving us with her attempts at diplomacy and discretion – a rising talent to watch out for.  The boss’ wife Molly Bhatt (Elizabeth Cadwallader) is feisty and funny, but especially amusing with her references to Indian culture and local Bolton gossip: rotis running out weddings, Chunky Pandey and so on.

Especially commendable is that writer Khan-Din and the director Iqbal Khan have manifested both the “northern-ness” and the “Indian-ness” of the characters: Bolton accents, Indian accents, a smattering of Hindi and Lancashire dialect are a linguist’s dream. 

In previous years, the play has been a huge success at the National Theatre in London and has been on a nationwide tour.  So it is with great excitement that we welcome the return of this engaging piece, a fitting homage to Naughton – a literary figure celebrated by many Boltoners, regardless of their own ethnic background.  In fact, in contrast to the usually monocultural audience of theatre, it was pleasing to see such a diverse audience.

Rafta Rafta will be showing at the Octagon until Saturday 5 June 2010.

For those interested in exploring the life and works of Naughton there are a series of events taking place on 28 and 29 May 2010, which are being hosted jointly by University of Bolton, Bolton Museum and Archive, and Bolton Librarie, to celebrate his centenary year.

There will be talks about Naughton's work, Naughton tours, film screenings, exhibitions of the Naughton Archive, readings and a special feature at the Octagon entitled 'From Page to Performance', which will end with a read through of a Naughton play.

Alongside these events, on Saturday there will be an academic conference on Naughton's work, with keynote speakers Prof Neil Sinyard and Prof Stephen Lacey. No need to book this is open to all.

Manchester Mouth’s movie expert Tony Boffey claims that Chris Morris’s new film ‘Four Lions’ is not as taboo as it is made out to be.

The media hysteria that accompanies each new Morris project like a travelling circus has built up a level of expectation that means you tend to only hear superficial buzz words like ‘bad taste’ and ‘politically incorrect’ that put off the more conservative viewers who would do well to see it. The humour is broad with gags involving a car being driven very slowly into a wall from a short distance, exploding birds and heated debate over the difference between a Wookie and the Honey Monster. However, Four Lions is not as continually funny or ‘controversial’ as you might expect.

As the film progresses the shocking realisation dawns on you that you’re beginning to sympathise with the protagonists, that Omar (Riz Ahmed) is actually a loving husband and good father, and that aside from the fanatical white convert Barry (Nigel Lindsay), the others are simply misguided fools along for the camaraderie. The true subversion of the film is that you’re lulled into a false sense of security by the absurdity of the situations and idiocy of the characters and then suddenly reminded of the fatal and despicable outcome of their actions.

This is not the first time comedy has been used to take the edge off a threat. Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’ poked fun at Hitler, undermining his power by condemning anti-Semitism, and ridiculing the Nazis. 18th Century German poet, philosopher and historian Friedrich Schiller pointed out ‘sublime pathos’ in the context of art demonstrates human freedom and triumph in the struggle against suffering. I think Morris is making a brave attempt to understand whilst simultaneously neutralising the enemy.

The triumph of the film is that it has a slow burn effect, staying with you long after leaving the cinema and it generates debate.

I realise that ‘non-biased propaganda’ is a contradiction in terms but it’s the closest I can come to describing Four Lions. In a playfully irreverent fashion it presents an impartial view of the situation. It’s not single-minded or over zealous. It depicts the flaws of both sides and doesn’t patronise the audience. Morris only bends down the branch, it’s up to the audience to pick the fruit.

You should definitely watch this movie.

On Sunday you could either see Olivia Moore and Unfurl performing at St Ann’s Church, listen to the Cultural College show on ALL FM during at its normal time of 10am to noon or check out Brazilian visual artist Flavio Rossi’s exhibition at Bem Brazil.

ALL FM is a community radio station for South, Central and East Manchester which runs a number of local projects.

To find out more about the radio show and the festival visit www.culturalcollage.co.uk.

He was jailed for 32 months, ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for seven years on Wednesday 5 May 2010.

Warde sexually abused the girl on Friday 28 August 2009.

When the girl went home, she immediately informed her parents of what had happened.

Detective Constable Roger Jones said: "Warde abused the trust the victim's parents placed in him in the most terrible way.

"It has been a horrific experience for the girl, but even though she was scared she showed immense courage to confide in her parents, and thankfully they then came to the police to ensure justice could be done.

"I hope this case sends a clear message that any report of abuse will be fully investigated by trained officers."

Anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault can contact Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 or 999 in an emergency. GMP has specially trained officers in place to provide a first class response to victims and help support them through the criminal justice process.

St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester, can also be contacted on 0161 276 6515. This provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them either as a self-referral or via Greater Manchester Police.

The event, which takes place on Thursday 22 April 2010, is an international event focusing on music that is usually excluded from Western perspectives. The free Salford event will explore the value of diversity Islamic music and dance.

As well as spotlighting music from a range artists including The Nile Band and Emad El-Rashidy, the event will give everybody the chance to take part in workshops, taste different types of food, chat with musicians and generally soak up the cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Other highlights will include performances from Raq Sharqi dancer Samara, Uzbeki traditional dancer San'At, Siamak Nemat Naser and Jali Nyonkoling Kuyateh.

The festival is the first part of a collaboration led by the ARChive of Contemporary Music (ARC) in New York City that will lead to the creation of a database of all known recordings of Muslim music.

The universities involved include the University of Salford, Columbia University Arts Departments and the Columbia University Middle Eastern Research Center (CUMERC) in Jordan.

Jostine Loubser, popular music lecturer from the School of Media, Music and Performance and event organiser, said: "We feel that taking part in this world-wide project is an important step towards supporting our students who are often thousands of miles away from home.

“It also stimulates understanding and interest in diverse cultural perspectives.”

The festival will be held in a marquee outside University House between noon and 7pm.

INSPIRE: The book brings good LGBT role models to youngsters

A BRAND new book which aims to inspire the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities is nearing completion.

‘Never Blend In: The Legacy of Harvey Milk’ is a unique collection of stirring interviews with well known and everyday people who represent the great diversity within lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups.

In what would have been Milk’s 80th year, Never Blend In celebrates the life of and legacy of the politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, USA.

Manchester Mouth caught up with author David Watters to find out why he decided to write Never Blend In which includes accounts from the likes of actors Stephen Fry, Alan Cumming and Manchester’s own John Amaechi, the first openly gay NBA basketball player.

Watters has claimed that his book has already received a good deal of encouraging feedback and that it helps young LGBT people to learn about positive role models that they can relate to.

“The book has taken just over a year to research and write. I began in March 2009 and received such an overwhelming and positive response to the project, with an immediate reply from Stephen Fry I knew the vision had value,” Watters said.

“I am finalising interviews now and hope to complete in the next few weeks.

“Openly LGBT and successful role model figures can play an enormous part in highlighting the wealth of possibilities available to young people. These people, who are successfully modelling admirable qualities and character traits such as determination, diligence, vision and consistent effort, can only serve to inspire and encourage the younger generation.

“Role models from education, entertainment, law enforcement, medical and emergency services, politics, religion and sports have participated in this accessible and much needed discourse to illuminate the reader’s journey of self-discovery and self- efficacy.”

One such role model - Milk’s nephew Stuart, who is also a gay rights activist, has wrote a foreword to Never Blend In and told Watters: “I love your work, which is vital to show the richness of embracing and celebrating our wonderful diversity. As Harvey would say, you’re bringing medicine into the world that the world needs! Thank you!”

Watters, who claimed that without Stuart’s support he would not have been able to write the book, said: ”Stuart’s support for this project is a huge blessing. As an extremely active equal rights ambassador in his own right, Stuart has lent a greater credibility to my work and I would credit him with making many of my connections to interviewees possible.“

As well as the aforementioned celebs Watters also interviewed Milk’s colleagues Anne Kronenberg and Danny Nicoletta, musician Darren Hayes from band Savage Garden, writers Del Shores, Michael Musto, Lesléa Newman and Tom Rob Smith, filmmaker Parvez Sharma and actress-cum-musician Calpernia Addams.

When asked if he had any favourite memories about interviewing these famous names Watters said: “Top moments are difficult to narrow down but I guess that meeting Stuart Milk counts as one of these.

“I won’t gush on about Stuart as he might read this but he is a personal inspiration to me and a model of someone who lives authentically and with empathy for others.

“Of course, having an email from Stephen Fry was pretty mind blowing. I still watch QI and get all excited, thinking, he’s in my book!

“My interview with Alan Cumming was hysterical; he was driving back from Washington to New York and kept getting lost, asking directions from unhelpful people and pointing out various landmarks to his husband, Grant.

“Most inspiring have been the regular people who live with authenticity and, perhaps without realizing, are role models and inspiring figures to those whose lives they touch.”

Speaking about why he decided to write the book Watters added: "We can be part of society without blending in. To me it means living with 100% authenticity (as Dr Phil might say!). We shouldn’t compromise our identity to be accepted and everyone regardless of sexuality or gender identity has a right to fully live.

“The community if such a thing exists is diverse but too many live in the shadows. My point, with this book, is that self worth determines our potential and that blending in is a direct result of feeling less than, feeling ashamed of how God (whatever that means to you) made you.

“Harvey Milk’s legacy, I believe, is the growing number of proud LGBT individuals who refuse to live lives limited by the judgment of others."

Watters’s research was supported by PFLAG, The Trevor Project, FFLAG (UK), The Gay Police Association (GPA) and Schools OUT (UK) and also tackles the issue of teenage suicide and the disenfranchisement often felt by LGBT youth.

If you would like to find out more about the book or the author visit Watters's blog.

Inspired Sisters (IS), a not-for-profit community organization that aims to combine education and social interaction for BME (black and minority ethnic) women through a range of opportunities, has called on the public to apply for four new positions.

These new roles, which will be based in Longsight and Trafford, have been created after the organization was awarded a contract by Serco to deliver Step 3 of Flexible New Deal.

People can now apply to become one of three Employment Support Advisors (ref: ISFNDESA/12010)

You could be earning £17,000 plus incentives per year for providing employment advice, counselling, information and mentoring to customers.

The role would also require you to facilitate, encourage and motivate the customer in accessing suitable opportunities in employment and support them in completing application forms and interview techniques in order that they secure a sustainable job.

A major aspect of this role is to support customers from day one of employment through to twenty-six weeks sustained employment and manage a caseload as set by the company.

There is also a position opening for an Employer Engagement Officer (ref: ISFNDEEO/12010).

If you were to get this role, which pays £18,000 plus incentives per year, you would be required to establish and maintain long-term relationships with employers and develop pathways to provide a variety of sustainable employment opportunities in line with the needs of IS’s clients.

Self-motivated people with, good communication skills, an ability to deal with a diverse range of people, and knowledge of computers should apply for this role.

If you would like an application form for one of these jobs contact IS’s Fajer Rabia on 01612249090 or jobs@inspiredsisters.org.

The application deadline for these jobs is 19 April 2010.

GREATER Manchester Police have issued the picture of an Asian man who failed to appear at court in connection with a firearms charge.

Omar Alawi, 51, failed to appear at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on 18 August 2005 charged with possession of a firearm.

Alawi is believed to have connections with Sheffield, Liverpool and Birmingham.

Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is asked to call police on 0161 856 7594 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can find out about other people wanted by Greater Manchester Police by visiting its WANTED website.

ABOVE AND BEYOND: Vohra's films playfully explore love, life and competition in the 'urban chaos' that is Bombay.

A LOCAL independent cinema has announced that it will be playing host to special Bollywood screenings this weekend, 10-11 April 2010.

Manchester’s Cornerhouse, on Oxford Road in the city centre, will be showing two of Paromita Vohra’s cutting-edge documentaries as part of its Bollywood and Beyond programme.

‘Q2P’ (2006) and ‘Morality TV and the loving Jehad’ (2007) are both Vohra’s playful takes on how men and women love, live and compete in the ‘urban chaos’ of Bombay. Both documentaries last less than an hour each.

Q2P takes an ironic look at how men and women live and compete for the use of public toilets in Bombay, considering the infrastructure of India’s capital city, how it’s 17million inhabitants survive, and the politics and rights for Indian women.

Similarly, Morality TV and the Loving Jehad examines a 2005 police operation where officers swooped down on lovers in a park and began to beat them up, taking along photographers and news cameramen with a promise of an exclusive.

As the images of the operation played repeatedly on all Indian news channels, Meerut saw some of the couples run away out of fear and shame. The film examines a town’s complex dynamics – the fear of love, the constant scrutiny and control of women’s mobility and sexuality, a history of communal violence, caste and feudal equations.

This not to be missed double-bill is the first of three screenings that are part of Cornerhouse’s collaboration with Between Kismet and Karma, a UK-wide project showcasing creative responses to conflict by South Asian women artists.

Featuring five experimental films that explore the interplay between gender and conflict in it’s widest sense this season gives a fascinating insight into South Asian culture from a female perspective.

The season continues on Sunday 25 April 2010 with award-winning film ‘Khamosh Pani’ – an moving exploration of the lives of two generations of Pakistani women.

Finally, on Wednesday 5 May 2010 there is a double-bill of documentaries from Bangladeshi filmmaker Yasmine Kabir, providing a lyrical look at the Bangladeshi liberation war and Chittagong’s ship-breaking graveyard.

Bollywood and Beyond is Cornerhouse’s rolling monthly programme of films which celebrate Indian Cinema.

It offers a unique opportunity to learn about South Asia’s multi-faceted culture and long history in filmmaking. Spanning classic, new, fresh and noteworthy Bollywood films, this is an opportunity to enter a world that’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced.

You can book tickets by visiting the website or by calling the cinema’s Box Office on 0161 200 1500 between noon and 8pm.

The glass box suspended in the air contains the Duke of Ephesus – regal and poised on his throne – waiting for the audience to be seated. Once the theatre is full, the glass box slowly descends, and the Duke steps on to the stage. A sober scene is set: great enmity between the cities of Ephesus and Syracuse, and Egeon (a merchant from Syracuse) is condemned to death. Egeon recounts an old tale of the separation and disunity in his family, whilst pleading for his life. This very long opening speech establishes the plight of “hapless Egeon”.

Be not alarmed that this will be an intensely weighty adaptation causing you to sigh, and then sigh some more. Instead, you will laugh and laugh some more. For what proceeds from here onwards is markedly different in tone from the grave opening. The serious beginning of the play is soon counter-balanced with great moments of mirth, while mistaken identities result in banter and humour and the comedy (of errors) commences. There is tugging, pulling, pushing, slapping, hugging, beating, rope whipping, nose-yanking, ear-grabbing and more!

Very modern props of bright red plastic sunglasses and the inhaler add contemporary comedy to this Elizabethan play – thrice the inhaler is used to amuse the audience. Hats off to Sydney Florence, associate costume designer, as the men and the women of this adaptation are dressed magnificently: embroidered golds and blues, jewels and sequins, stylish hair and even more stylish shoes – based on the couture designs of Viviane Westwood and Alexander McQueen no less.

The stars of the show are the servant Dromios (Michael Jibson and Owain Arthur) – exuberant and exasperated, but loyal and lively. Their encounters with their masters reflecting their respective relationships are moments of perfect comic timing. The witty banter is relentless and makes us roar with laughter. The antics of the servants and the antics of the masters (Sam Collings and Jack Farthing) appeal to our sympathies, whilst making us belly-laugh at the same time. Orla Fitzgerald’s performance as Adriana, the wife of Antipholus of Ephesus, is also impressive: her wrath and her woe aptly demonstrated in her dramatics.

The Shakespearean wordplay we anticipate does not disappoint. “She is spherical, like a globe. I could find out countries in her” the outraged Dromio of Syracuse cries to his master when he is accosted by Nell, the lady friend of Dromio of Ephesus who tries to “lay claim” to him. The audience laugh at the crude anatomical-geographical puns. Then come Dromio’s tears of despair, and the audience laughs. When he has long left the stage, we can still hear him crying, and the audience laughs some more. There is also the funny exchange about the correlation between wit and hair. And the amusing speech where Dromio of Ephesus relays his master’s strange behaviour to the master’s wife – “My gold, quoth he…My meat, quoth I” and more.

Silbert’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic play, with its fast-paced and furious banter perfectly reflects the confusion and chaos that can occur because of mistaken identities. If you are Shakespeare-shy don't worry - this adaptation makes Shakespearean language highly accessible. It is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare for new, as well as long established, fans and the jokes keep on coming.

The Comedy of Errors will be running at Royal Exchange until 8 May 2010. To book tickets visit the theatre’s website.

A RELIGIOUS society has invited Christian, Jewish and Muslim students to help engage young people in politics.

Three Faiths Forum (TFF) has called on candidates to apply for its Undergraduate ParliaMentors (UP) programme, which begins in October.

The scheme, which is now in its fourth year, sees trios of students, one from each of the Abrahamic faiths, doing work in communities while being mentored by leading MPs and non-government organisations.

Projects run by trios have been designed to raise awareness and increase political participation in politics among young people from diverse faith communities.

UP programme manager Daniella Shaw Gabay said: “The UP scheme has entered an exciting phase, with more students than ever applying for places along with growing interest from politicians as well.”

ParliaMentors graduates of the scheme will be able to join its alumni network and forge positive, ongoing links with each other.

In 2009 the programme, which launched at the House of Commons, brought together 45 Jewish, Christian and Muslim undergraduates from across the UK.

John Denham MP, secretary of state for communities and local government, and Jon Bercow MP, speaker of the house of commons ,spoke at the programme’s reception in November.

At the UP annual lecture in February 2010 broadcaster Jon Snow engaged the students with his personal observations on different faiths and gave his opinion on the media’s approach to religion. His acknowledgement of the need for interfaith dialogue gave further credence to the importance of the UP programme.

For application information visit the TTF’s mentoring website.

RISKY: Ahmed caused car crashes to earn money

AN ECCLES man who was involved in a crash for cash scam has been given a jail term.

Abdullah Ahmed , 24, of Lower Monton Road, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, and was sentenced to two years in prison, with 12 months suspended, on Tuesday 6 April 2010.

Three other men were ordered to complete community service at earlier hearings.

Jehangir Iqbal, 29, of Skerton Road, Stretford, Mohammed Aziz Miah, 34, of Chadwick Road, Eccles and Omran Hussain, 29, of Mather Avenue, Eccles had all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud.

On 14 May 2005, a Rover stopped suddenly in front of a Ford Focus at the Eden Point roundabout on the A34 in Cheadle, despite the roundabout being clear of traffic. The driver of the Focus could not remember the brake lights coming on.

Omran Hussain and Mohammed Miah made insurance claims on the back of the collision.

In Miah’s personal diary, later seized by the police, he recorded making a visit to the hospital, getting his courtesy car and taking two days off work to support his claim in the days that followed. The entries were jotted down among other menial tasks he completed.

Miah claimed that as a result of the injuries he suffered, he was unable to carry out any physical activity in the weeks that followed the collision. In his diary he said he regularly carried out DIY during this time.

On 24 October 2007, a couple driving their Nissan Micra onto the Peel Circle roundabout near the Trafford Centre, collided with a Lexus.

Abdullah Ahmed was driving the car and later claimed the driver of the Micra was at fault, coming onto the roundabout without warning.

After the couple became suspicious about the collision, Ahmed also falsely claimed that the couple racially abused him. In his claim, Ahmed stated that the Lexus was off the road for 111 days.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition devices scanned the number plate of the Lexus 13 times in the 111 days following the collision, when it was claimed to have been in storage.

In 2005, workers at an office block at the Eden Point roundabout on the A34 in Cheadle became suspicious at the alarming regularity with which collisions were taking place at the same spot on the roundabout.

They noticed the collisions were always at low speed, and often, the same man was driving.

AXA insurance, one of the companies affected by the scam, investigated a number of the claims. In January 2008, the findings were presented to Greater Manchester Police.

As a result of Operation Contact, supported by the Insurance Fraud Bureau, Mohammed Patel, 24, of Nottingham Drive, Bolton, was jailed for four and a half years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Patel deliberately caused collisions for the defendants, who gave him their car keys and insurance details. He would be paid a fee while the claimants demanded compensation for personal injury, courtesy cars and legal fees at the expense of the other party’s insurers.

Sergeant Mark Beales, the officer who has led Operation Contact, said:
“The claimants in the scam were willing participants, and the conspiracy would not have existed without their cooperation.

”They now rightly have criminal convictions.

”This should send a clear warning to those who are involved in this type of criminality. If you want to take that risk, you have now seen what can happen.”

John Beadle, Member of the Insurance Fraud Bureau Board comments:
“This clearly demonstrates the insurance industry and law enforcement are not easy touches and takes this kind of criminality very seriously to protect innocent policy holders. This kind of insurance fraud adds on average on £44 per policy per annum.

“We would like to commend the office workers who spotted this dangerous activity and for their vigilance and public-spiritedness. We would urge anyone with information on insurance fraud to call the Bureau’s free and confidential Cheatline on 0800 3282550 or report it online.“

You can also view Manchester Mouth’s earlier articles about the region’s crash for cash epidemic.

CONFLICT: Musa struggles between religion and reality

A FORMER University of Salford student will be returning to The Trafford Centre, Manchester, for the second signing session of his debut novel.

Sagheer Afzal, 37, who studied physics at the uni, returned to the North West for a book signing of his novel ‘The Reluctant Mullah’ on Friday 19 February 2010.

The event was so successful that Waterstone’s has invited him back for a second signing session on Saturday 3 April at 11am.

The book tells a story of a young Muslim man called Musa who is facing the prospect of an arranged marriage.

He strikes a deal with the leader of his family who tells him that he has got a month to find a wife or he must marry the woman that the family chooses.

When his friends and siblings step into help him on his quest for love hilarious situations ensue.

Speaking to Manchester Mouth about why he decided to write The Reluctant Mullah, Afzal, who now lives in Peterborough, said: “I decided to write a book because of how repetitive Asian fiction was. It was always the same story.

“My lead character is a fun-loving young man who tries to enrich his life through religion rather than suppress it. An idealist who uses the Qur’an to guide him in his own life.

“The plot explores his adventures in the world outside the madrasah; where with the help and hindrance of his family, he tries to reconcile his reality with his religion.”

The novel took Afzal almost two and a half years to write and edit but he said that a couple of quotes kept him going during the writing process.

“One fellow writer told me ‘If you’re Jewish or Asian it’s easier to get published. There’s a market out there for circumcised people who can write’.

“Sometimes on a good day writing can flow like music. Other days it is like constipation.”

Fine sentiments indeed Afzal.

UNITY: Windows For Peace UK aims to build bridges between Jewish, Palestinian and Arab communities through young people

A CONCERT is being held in Manchester to increase understanding amongst Jewish, Palestinian and Arab young people.

‘The Concert of Musical Dialogue’, which is being organised by Windows for Peace UK, a charity that works to build bridges between these communities, is taking place at Withington Girls’ School on Sunday 18 April 2010.

Internationally famous violinist Ruth Waterman and established pianist Florian Uhlig will be exploring and performing the Mendelssohn Sonata as part of the concert, which is the forth of its kind to take place at the girls’ school.

“We are very fortunate to have such renowned artists giving their time and talent in aid of the charity,” Ken Singer, trustee for Windows for Peace UK, told Manchester Mouth.

“Previous events have been concerts of Klezma and Arabic music and a Jazz concert. The school has a wonderful auditorium in their Arts Centre and it has been extremely supportive of Windows for Peace.”

The Concert of Musical Dialogue will be divided into two parts which examine how the music mirrors the messages of the charity.

Singer added: “Mendelssohn’s radiant sonata, illustrating how the violin and the piano speak to each other, not always harmoniously, the dialogue passing through playfulness, challenge, conflict and unanimity. The piece and the way it is presented mirrors so much of what dialogue is all about. The first half of the evening is taken up by an exploration of the piece and in the second half it will be played right through.”

Tickets for the concert, which is part of a series of fund raising events Windows for Peace UK has organised up and down the country, cost £12.50 and £7 for students and benefit claimants.

It begins at 6.30pm at the school, which is situated on 100 Wellington Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6BL, and all the proceeds will help Windows for Peace UK to build bridges between communities.

You can book tickets by emailing tickets@windowsforpeaceuk.org or by using the On-Line Ticket Order Form.

To find out more about Windows for Peace UK visit their website.

A team of pupils from Manchester Academy was crowned the Apax-Mosaic Enterprise Challenge 2010 champion at the national final in London on Tuesday 10 March 2010.

The challenge aims to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among secondary school students and the winning team was awarded £3,000 towards new school equipment.

Atifa Shah, mentor to the Manchester Academy team, said: “I’m delighted the team from Manchester Academy has won the Enterprise Challenge and I’m so proud of their achievement.

“It’s been an inspiration to help them through the competition and it’s really given them more confidence in their abilities, along with the opportunity to think about entrepreneurial career paths beyond secondary school.

“I was amazed at their determination and how they integrated my advice into their winning strategy. The award is most certainly well deserved, they seem to have taken it all into their stride whilst I’m bubbling with excitement and not being able to congratulate them enough!”

The challenge was organised by Mosaic, a community initiative that aims to empower and raise the aspirations of young British Muslims and their peers living in socially deprived areas of the UK through access to successful role models and learning opportunities.

The team of six students aged 14 to 15 beat more than 140 teams across the country to make it to the final, and after a tense last round against five other finalist teams (King’s Heath Boys School, Feversham Girls College, Brondesbury College for Boys, Handsworth Girls College, and Small Heath School) Manchester Academy were named the overall winner.

With a profit of £6.3million, the winning team won with a convincing lead of £400,000 net profit at the end of the hour long final heat.

As part of the award the team spent an exciting afternoon experiencing life as high-flying business entrepreneurs. The first stop for the afternoon was a guided tour of BBC Television Centre with BBC World presenter Mishal Hussain, followed by a private meeting with Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling. The day ended with a mentoring session with Dragon’s Den’s James Caan who imparted his business wisdom to the team.

Attendees at the awards ceremony, which was held at international law firm Lovells LLP, included Dragon’s Den presenter Evan Davis, Khawar Mann and Peter Englander, Partners at Apax Partners, and heads of business from Mosaic’s mentoring network.

Nazim Rashid, staff member at Manchester Academy: “It was such a wonderful, exciting event for the winners.

“Enjoyment was had by all and admiration to the celebs that took time out from running the country, running a business empire, reading the news and sounding off on the radio to make our Manchester Academy students feel so special.

“It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of. The students have been buzzing about it and have been telling all their friends and everybody else about who they met yesterday; and the school is absolutely thrilled!”

The Apax-Mosaic Enterprise Challenge gives young people the chance to access mentoring from successful business men and women and develop their entrepreneurial skills by setting up a ‘virtual business’ online. Using enterprise software the game puts students into realistic business scenarios where they develop valuable skills such as how to market new products or identify business competitors through set challenges.

John O’Brien, Managing Director of Mosaic said: “The UK offers fantastic opportunities for budding entrepreneurs from Muslim communities and from all social backgrounds, to succeed and make a positive contribution to their local communities and the country’s economy.

“We hope that this challenge has given young people, who might not ordinarily get access to local business role models, the chance to seek new career opportunities and realise their potential. Manchester Academy are deserved winners of the challenge as they illustrated how much they had learnt from playing the game and the advice their mentors had given them.”

Star of BBC’s Dragon’s Den and CEO of Hamilton Bradshaw, James Caan has supported the challenge, acting as mentor and adviser to the competition’s young hopefuls. The winning team members and their mentors had the opportunity of a lifetime when they meet James in person following their victory, hearing at first hand James’ advice on the secrets of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

“I am extremely impressed by Mosaic and highly motivated by the work that they do,” Khan said.

“It’s been a great experience to be a part of the Enterprise Challenge and it was a privilege to meet the winners from Manchester Academy, who are no doubt the entrepreneurs of the future!”

A MAN was attacked in a Bolton park by an Asian youth gang.

Sometime between 8pm and 8.50pm on Friday 26 March 2010, the 21-year-old victim left Bolton town centre via Bradford Road.

He was walking through Great Lever Park when he was attacked by a group of six or seven youths.

During the attack, he was thrown to the ground and kicked and punched.

The victim also suffered a stab wound under his left arm.

A passer-by called an ambulance and the attackers fled.

The victim was taken to hospital, where among other injuries, he suffered a punctured lung.

He remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Detective Constable Richard Willoughby, based at Bolton CID, said: “The victim has been through a terrible ordeal and, albeit the stab wound turned out not to be too serious, it will take some time to move on from the attack.

“It is vital we find out exactly what happened and who is responsible – we are doing everything we can and if you know something that might help our investigation, please contact me.

“I would like to re-assure the community that police patrols have been stepped up in the area and will be providing a visible presence during the next few evenings.”

Anyone with information is asked to call officers in Bolton on 0161 856 5740 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

THE FAMILY of an Oldham man who was killed by twin brothers have paid tribute to him.

Brett and Jordan Francis, 26, both of Birch Avenue, Oldham, were found guilty of murdering Amran Khan, 29, in a drive-by shooting.

The duo were sentenced to 28 years each in prison at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square, on 25 March 2010.

Shanaz, Khan’s sister, said: “We are extremely grateful to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service for everything they have done to get us justice. They put together a good case and because of that the jury has seen through all the lies and convicted these men, and we are also very grateful to them.

“We would also personally like to thank the paramedics who gave evidence that clearly showed these men were guilty.

“This has been a very difficult time for the whole family and we have found it extremely hard to cope. It has been heartbreaking to see my young son crying and saying: 'I have not lost an uncle but a brother and he is still checking his phone and constantly asking why Manny doesn’t call'.”

Khan was shot twice on the doorstep of his home on Nugget Street in Glodwick at about 10.30pm on 18 September 2009.

He later died at the Royal Oldham Hospital. He had a wife and two young daughters aged 10 months old and five-years-old at the time.

The family had just returned home after visiting relatives and both Amran and his wife were putting the children to bed.

Amran went outside to investigate after his wife heard a disturbance and a dark BMW screeched to a halt outside the house.

One of the occupants of the car then shot Amran once in the chest and also in his right buttock. A third bullet hit the brickwork of the front door.

Amran’s wife witnessed what happened.

“Manny was known as Smiley and I find myself constantly looking for that smile,” Shanaz added.

“I am disgusted with these men. They have showed no remorse and smirked throughout the trial. They have not just taken someone’s husband or brother – they have destroyed a lot of family relationships.

“They still have their lives – we will never have Manny back and his children will grow up not knowing him. Although seeing them jailed for such a long time won’t bring Manny back, it has given us some justice and at least Manny’s children will grow up knowing his killers are behind bars.”

After the shooting the Francises fled Manchester travelling to Runcorn and tried, unsuccessfully, to kill themselves, leading to their arrest.

Khan’s wife Shamila said: “I cannot literally state the pain and horror at losing Amran in such a callous way. You can never comprehend the suffering and hurt caused by the death of not just my husband but a great daddy and a soulmate.

“There was still so much more Amran dreamt of for us but they will always be dreams and wishes.”

It is believed that the twins killed Khan because of a dispute over a drug debt.