The work on display at Jubilee Library

The work received some fantastic feedback from the general public, who took time out to view the photos in the busy run up to Christmas. Here’s a sample of the feedback that the photos received:

Fantastic exhibition. Loved them all! Good effort.

Fab-u-lous! Loved It! Good especially the stuff about graffiti

Fantastic photos – light through trees is the best.

Is a great set of pictures. They make me realise that beauty is all around us.

Lovely exhibition – captures different aspects ofBrightonand beyond beautifully. Well done to everyone involved.

The bird, the butterfly, theDowns, light through trees, the sunflowers, the sunset, these are a few of my favourite things.

Wonderful competition and a great show by all. More of these please!

Congratulations are also in order for our three winners. Hannah Kenyon (Light Through Trees – 1st), Olga Kotovska (Stereotypes – 2nd), and Charlie Foxon (Pier at Night – 3rd) were voted as the top 3 photos at Right Here’s Celebration Event in October out of the 37 photos on offer. They won prizes of £30, £20, and £10 vouchers respectively, as well as a beautiful framed copy of their photo.

1st place winner Hannah Kenyon with 'Light Through Trees'

Hannah, who is currently developing her photography portfolio, received a Currys voucher to spend on more photography gear. Olga won herself a £20 Amazon voucher. Meanwhile, Charlie donated his £10 win to the NSPCC.

3rd place winner Charlie Foxon with 'Pier at Night'

Right Here is now looking for opportunities to exhibit the photos again. For the meantime, they will be on display at Mind in Brighton. To view the competition entries, click http://www.flickr.com/photos/52089208@N08/sets/72157627374943979/

Anyone with a mental health problem or the family/carers/friends of people with mental health problems can use their service as long as you are over 16yrs.  No appointment is necessary, you can just ‘drop in’ and make yourself known to reception or Drop-In staff who will want to meet with you to show you around the Drop-In, speak with you about your current difficulties and offer any relevant information or advice and take some basic information.

For further information, call 01273 749 500 and ask to speak to the Drop-In. For information on finding the Drop-In, check out Where To Go For.

I joined in May of 2011, when I joined the activities team was very different to it is now. It used to be more of an executive branch, after being told what activities to set up by the youth panel and in consultation with the other two teams – R&E, campaigns.

After the dissolution of the youth panel, coupled with the other volunteers and I wanting to become more involved with the activities that are run and play a more mentor/counselling kind of role. The training that Mark and Jo organised for us around that led us to take a more active role in the decision process of what activities to run, following what was fed back to us via the R&E/campaigns groups.

Before that time I was involved with the rock climbing and music production courses, which very much focused on the keeping active and continuous learning aspects of our remit. I mention those two words because those were two of the five main things in the Celebration Event.

During the Celebration Event, the activities team and I were focused very much on the Being Active aspect, as part of resilience building. To this end, we were able to get in touch with a local software company called Creative Assembly based in Sussex, creators of the very well-established and critically acclaimed Total War franchise, and they donated to us, for the use of the celeb event, a state of the art Xbox 360, Kinect, the latest dance game, Dance Central, which showed a willingness of how our charity is important to local communities and  when we are able to put on such events, we will be able to get help from outside our funding to make sure that we can give the best possible service to young people.

From that Celebration Event we moved the focus on to training on resilience where not only the activity team were, also various other members of the other teams were too. This was one of the first times that all of the teams were together within the same training field, so a lot of ideas were passed around during that training. From there, all teams decided to focus more on resilience activities with Campaigns and Research finding out whether those activities would be good for the young people that we work with. Since the youth panel was dissolved and the activities team having control over the budget for the activities that we put on, we have been able to increase the amount of activities we have running at any given point, because not only do we have activities running through the week but also at weekends. New ones have come up including hiking which following a consultation process we decided to do as a one off, which was received very well with feedback. Due to the large amount of feedback we had a desire to do it more, and how much more social regulars of the activities came back and how much more open they were with the social aspect. We were not only able to create a very cost effective resilience building activity taking on (Celeb event ideas) but also because we have set it up monthly and at weekends. Most of the activities team have been able to free up time to go to these activities and are thus more socially open. More individual attention is given.

Also, following from this, the teams decided to meet in one place, and ideas get exchanged. A new role was established by the management team (Mike’s role). One of the remits of that role was to provide a space and administration support, that allows for quarterly meetings between all the teams. This allows us to constantly feedback to each other, understand each other, and creates a strong volunteer dynamic/unity.

Our activities team has also grown. With all activities, we try to have one main volunteer who would be a constant presence. And with the increase of activities the volunteers want to be able to give as much time as possible that our schedules allow. What needs to be remembered is that we are volunteers, and we all work outside of Right Here. Thankfully, the team at RHBH are very understanding of this and ensure that they work around us, and not us around them. With this change of focus, the young people have opened up to us volunteers more. We know more how to help them with the knowledge that is passed onto us and the training given to us by our activities co-ordinator. We are more effectively able to sign post them to other services.

In the time I’ve been here, the team has changed dramatically in its drive and focus, and what it sets out to do. Following from the management team realising that things had to change, as this is how pilot projects develop into something that is working up from the community as opposed to a top-down model. On the subject of community, as we have been able to create more effective activities calendar and with the feedback that we’re getting we realised that there are certain target groups that have not been reached fully. From this we are going to focusing on, in the next 3-4 months, introducing ourselves to various community leaders who can help us put our services in the right direction. To this end we have already met with various local government representatives and so forth. I’m very glad to be a part of the Right Here project, especially with how it has changed in focusing on getting more activities out to young people with the funding we have available – it shows a great duty of care.

Although I’ve been a part of Right Here for over a year, I joined the Activities Team in August 2011 and began to volunteer with the Anger Management activity in September. The team already had a set of activities which were successfully rolling; such as Chill Out, Rock-climbing and Music Production courses. Since I’ve joined, we’ve begun a new course, Stepping Stones, and began a monthly Hiking activity, based on feedback from young people.

Across the year, the statistics have been supporting the activities; with the attendance of Anger Management, Rock-climbing and Chill Out doubling in the last year. Anger Management was in such demand we ran two courses back to back, and Rock-climbing is now fortnightly. We also enabled Bandbazi to run a circus skills workshop, and have been trying different methods of running a Stand Up Comedy activity; trying different facilitators and times as this is something not highly attended but had very positive effects on those who did.

I’ve helped out with three Anger Management courses, after attending a forth to learn about the structure and enable me to have a basic understanding of the material. My role here varies from providing help with forms and buying the food to taking part in the group discussion and pair-work, providing emotional support and continuing the course material while the facilitator is aiding someone one-to-one.

As part of my role within the Brighton pilot, I’ve spoken at two conferences inLondon, focusing on how the project gives young people a voice and on how we’re making a difference. At both conferences, Community Care Live and the Mental Health Congress, people who had never heard of the project spoke about what a good idea it was, which encouraged me as a volunteer to stay involved and really helped me to understand just how unique and important the project is on a more national scale; not just in Brighton.

Since the disbanding of the Youth Panel, the ability for each group engage and work within their own power began, although this did bring the issue of alienation of those young people working behind the scenes. However, Right Here responded well to this concern and began scheduling group meetings where all volunteers are invited to share their experiences and learn about the other areas of the project. This enables us to work without delay or worry about other groups, yet still make the input of other groups possible.

As a volunteer, I’ve really found that as the year progressed, the project was more able to involve my voice.

BandBazi YCT are currently running a performance project and will rehearse and perform a play about refugee issues for Refugee Week 2012. The play tells the story of two young people – a young man from a refugee family and a young woman from a British family. The two main characters both live in the same block of flats and both have various issues with their home life; issues that are similar to those faced by the young people playing these parts. Initially they are at odds, but after finding themselves trapped in a lift together they learn more about the other’s lives and end up supporting each other to make a positive change to their situations. It is an ensemble production and the performers will get the opportunity to try their hand at acting, dance and circus skills. Some of the issues addressed are multiculturalism, youth crime (vandalism) and negative behaviours, parental alcoholism and having healthy, responsible relationships with parents and peers.

The project will include a series of workshops that will see YCT members rehearse the play in an innovative way; devising physical theatre and aerial circus pieces its themes. The group will use their existing circus skills along with developing their performance skills, to bring to life a fantastic piece of original writing that addresses issues that members of both the indigenous and refugee community in Brighton and Hove face in a positive way. The culmination of the project will be a performance on 23^rd June at the Pavilion Theatre. The group will invite Ignite Youth Theatre to engage in an exchange with us. Ignite are a drama group made up of young participants from refugee backgrounds as well as young people from Glasgow. The group will visit Brighton to double bill with us on the night of the performance, which will be followed by a skills swap day where the groups will have the chance to teach other.

WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING PARTICIPANTS FOR THIS PROJECT! If you are a young refugee or asylum seeker and are interested in joining the group for this project please contact Hannah on 01273 245584

 This is a partnership scheme between the University of Brighton’s Volunteering Service, Active Student, at the University’s Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP), involving both local residents and students.

 If you are interested in applying for the On Our Doorsteps Volunteering Fund, please contact Active Student for further information or to request an application form and the adjoining criteria.

 E-mail on volunteering@brighton.ac.uk

By phone on 01273 644145

• Go on an action packed residential week
• Complete challenging community projects of your choosing
• Gain work experience, useful training and a qualification
• Get help with your CV
• Build confidence
• Make new friends and have an amazing time

We cover travel expenses and taking part won’t affect entitlement to benefits. It’s perfect for young people who are unemployed, unexcited and unsure of their future. Young people interested in hearing more should call or text TEAM and their name to 07552 446724. Alternatively, more info can be found at http://www.facebook.com/CityCollegeBrightonPrincesTrustTEAM

 The University of Brighton’s second 40-mile cycle ride from Brighton to Hastings takes place in March. The money raised goes to the Southern African Scholarship Fund.

 The Fund was set up in 1987 by the University of Brighton’s Students’ Union to help the development of South Africa and its neighbouring countries, following the devastating effects of apartheid. Over the years, it has supported trainee teachers, doctors, nurses and engineers on postgraduate short professional courses that will benefit their community when they return home.

 The ride, between the university’s Brighton and Hastings campuses, leaves at 9am from the Manor House in Lewes Road, Moulsecoomb, on Sunday 11 March. The route is on minor roads and cycle paths via beautiful parts of the Sussex countryside, passing by Middle Farm, Arlington Reservoir, the Pevensey Flats, Cooden Beach and De Le Warr Pavilion along the way.

 University staff, graduates and students are signing up for the ride and members of the public are being invited to join in. Volunteers are wanted to help on the day.

 To sign up and receive your sponsorship pack, contact Tessa Gooding at: t.gooding2@brighton.ac.uk or 01273 641841.

Save some ££ and save the planet by saving your food from the bin

Everyone loves food, and some of us even like to try our hand at creating some fun dishes ourselves. But feeding ourselves is not without challenges, like food going off and stinking up the fridge and the rubbish bin, or not knowing how to prepare simple tasty meals from scratch, which leads us to rely on pre-packaged and often bland-tasting food.

Learning simple tricks and good habits for buying, storing, preparing and saving food can make you more confident in the kitchen, have more fun with cooking, and save you some cash in the process. Not to mention that keeping food waste out of the landfill cuts down on our greenhouse gas emissions and reduces our carbon foot-print in general. So there’s a load of reasons so become a thrifty foodie! Read on for tips and recipe ideas from Vera and the food waste-busting team at the Brighton & Hove Food Partnerhip…

·         The best place to start is to have a shopping list and not to shop hungry! Keep a running list in your kitchen so you know what you have and what you need, and be real about how much you can eat in a week. Remember that you’re the one calling the shots when you shop so consider those multi-buy deals carefully. Most of us can’t get through 2 big bags of potatoes before they sprout stems.

·         Speaking of spuds – don’t keep them in the fridge. Store potatoes in a brown paper bag or a small box in a dark spot in the kitchen. Don’t bin them if they start getting sprouts or get a touch of green, just peel off the sprouts and green bits and use the rest.

·         Bananas are delicious, but they are also the troublemakers of the fruit bowl! As they go off, they emit gasses that make other fruit go off.  So to avoid your other fruit going squidgy in the fruit bowl, keep your bananas separate.  And if your bananas have gotten too brown-skinned for your liking, why not freeze and use them later in smoothies?

·         Kitchen paper rocks! Veg such as herbs, salad, roots and even courgettes last longer if you wrap them in kitchen paper and keep them inside a bag in the veg draw of the fridge.

·         Bread is the second most thrown away food in the UK, after potatoes. But did you know that sliced bread keeps well in the freezer and toasts up perfectly?

·         If your bread does go dry and stale in the kitchen, it’s now the perfect eggy bread ingredient! Simply beat an egg with equal volume of milk, add some sugar or cinnamon to the mix if you fancy, then dip 2 or 3 slices of stale bread in the mixture and fry in a little bit of oil or butter on both sides until the bread is no longer soggy.  Enjoy with fruit and some yoghurt if you like.

·         If you’ve ever cooked too much rice, you’re not alone!  Getting the portions right can be a challenge.  So remember that a coffee mug of dry rice will yield 4 servings.  If you do end up with too much rice, leave the extra in the saucepan and cover it, letting it cool and transferring to the fridge as soon as possible, within 90 minutes of turning off the heat.  But reheated leftover rice can be boring, so why not try making Chinese Egg-Fried Rice.  It’s much easier than you think, and far tastier freshly made than most takeaways.  Check out the recipe below.

·         And for more tips and delicious, simple recipes, please visit the Food Waste section of the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership’s website: www.bhfood.org.uk

Chinese Egg Fried Rice

This recipe works perfectly with leftover rice.  You can include extras like garlic and chillis, minced ginger, chopped ham, cooked prawns or left-over veg, when adding the peas.  You can use vegetable oil instead of sesame oil in a pinch.

Ingredients (serves 4)

•          1 egg

•          2 tsp sesame oil

•          2 tbsp vegetable oil

•          200g/7oz long-grain rice (uncooked weight), cooked and left to go cold – preferably left-over.

•          100g/4oz frozen peas, defrosted (rinse under warm water to defrost)

•          4 spring onions, finely chopped

•          1-2 tsp soy sauce

•          ground white pepper

How to cook it

1.       Beat together the egg and sesame oil and put to one side.

2.       Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan. When it’s hot and almost smoking, add the rice and stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes until completely heated through.

3.       Add the peas and spring onions. Stir-fry, turning the rice constantly around the pan, for about three minutes. Season well with soy sauce and pepper, then push to one side of the pan.

4.       Pour the beaten egg mixture onto the other side and leave for about 10 seconds so it begins to set. Using a chopstick or the handle of a wooden spoon, briskly swirl around the egg to break it up and then toss around with the rice. Stir-fry for a further minute and serve straight away.