Awards Ceremony celebrates work with young people

High Sheriff for Tyne and Wear Gavin Black and Olympic swimmer Chris Cook this week presented awards to 51 community and voluntary groups from around the area.

Over 300 young people enjoyed a fabulous evening at the 19th annual High Sheriff Community Awards for Tyne and Wear held at the Customs House and presented by Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth medallist, Chris Cook.

Two Making Music members were among those who received awards, which ranged from £400 to £2,000. Music in the Minster is a Sunderland-based charity which provides chances for the whole community, particularly young people, to get involved with opera and its constituent elements of music and drama. North East Melody Club is a new studio space providing opportunities for disadvantaged young people in Elswick to make and record music.

Young singers Mel Warwick and Abi Carlisle receive Music in the Minster's award from High Sheriff Gavin Black and Olympic swimmer Chris Cook.

Alison Barton, Music in the Minster's Artistic Director, said "We're thrilled to receive this recognition of the exciting work we're doing on Wearside. We're already working on our plans for the coming year, when there will be more opportunities to develop young people's musical, vocal and theatrical skills. Buzzwords from our recent production cast included concentration, fun, and enjoyment."

For more information about the Community Foundation website.

Youth Music Week 2010

From Wednesday 27 October to Wednesday 3 November 2010 Youth Music will be promoting the power of music to transform young lives and it wants you to be part of it.

Youth Music Week is the biggest annual national celebration of young people's music making. It's the ideal opportunity to raise awareness of your work, be part of a major national campaign and publicise your event through Youth Music's website and potentially through other Youth Music Week promotional materials.

For more information visit http://musicispower.youthmusic.org.uk/youth_music_week/ or e-mail info@youthmusic.org.uk.

Speedmatching - get support from media professionals

On 14th April Newcastle Volunteer Centre will be running a 'speedmatching' event at the ITV news centre in Gateshead, where members of the news team will be available to help you develop your communication strategies and help you with any other media needs.

The event will run from 6.30-9pm and drinks and snacks will be provided.

If you are interested in attending, please send details about your charity, a paragraph about your current media needs, and a current telephone number to mediamatching@mediatrust.org.

You can find out more about Speedmatching at www.mediatrust.org/media-matching/speedmatching

There are only ten places for this event and they will fill quickly!

Durham International Brass Festival 2010 needs volunteers

BRASS: Durham International Festival is a two-week celebration of internationally acclaimed brass artists and ensembles. Drawn from across the broadest of musical spectrums, BRASS illuminates the strong musical and cultural bond that connects the North East with brass music.

This year the festival will take place from 3rd to 18th July.

BRASS needs volunteers and it's a great way to develop new skills and professional experience, enhance existing skills, meet new people, hear music and find out how an international festival works!

Volunteers are needed in a variety of roles, including:
- Chaperoning bands as they play in venues in Durham City and across the County
- Being the first point of contact at events for members of the public who require more information about the festival
- Distributing marketing information about other brass festival events
- Supporting the evaluation of the festival
- Selling merchandise and programmes to members of the public
- Distributing publicity and promotion in the weeks before the festival

Volunteers will be provided with briefing sessions, free BRASS merchandise and a pair of free tickets to a festival performance of your choice.

For more information about volunteering contact Rosie Legg, rosie.legg@durham.gov.uk. You can also visit www.brassfestival.co.uk to find out more about the festival.

Whitley Bay Playhouse hosts Steelband Spectacular

One of the biggest steelband events ever staged in the north east will be taking place at Whitley Bay Playhouse on Thursday 15 April.

North Tyneside Steelband, the oldest community steelband in the north east, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year; as a thank you for all the support and encouragement from the North Tyneside community during those two decades it is offering free tickets for this anniversary concert to all its supporters.

Concert goers can be assured of a very varied and entertaining programme from NTSB's four bands and several soloists, ranging from Bach and Handel through jazz, latin and calypso through to recent popular tunes. There is also a special guest appearance from the Brendan Murphy Percussion Ensemble; Brendan is an old friend and colleague of NTSB as well as a stalwart of the north east music scene.

Tickets only from www.northtynesidesteelband.org.uk, no entry without a ticket.

Chernobyl Contonuity Project

Chernobyl Continuity is a local charity that offers respite holidays to teenagers from Belarus who are living with the effects of the Chernobyl disaster. The after effects of Chernobyl continue to effect Belarus and these respite holidays offer great relief to a number of young people. The charity is looking to recruit a number of volunteer hosts.

What does hosting involve? It is hoped that interested families will host a guest for four weeks, usually in July, and take the youngsters to the events on the programme's calendar.

How are the hosts supported? By a bi-lingual group leader. The charity also organises a comprehensive programme and provide clothing.

Raising both funds and awareness is a major fundraising event, the Youth4Youth Concert which will be held this year on Friday 23 April at the Royal Grammar School in Jesmond at 7.15pm. Tickets cost £6 each.

For more information about the project, becoming a volunteer host or to buy concert tickets telephone 0191 250 2040.

(Source: VODA)