Passionate Blog

MADs blog awards: Please vote for us! We made the finals...

THANK you so much to everyone who has voted for You've Got Your Hands Full and Have a Lovely Time in this high-profile blog awards scheme, backed by Butlins. 

After 20,000 nominations for around 2,500 blogs, You've Got Your Hands Full is included in a list of five finalists in the Most Inspirational MAD Blog, sponsored by Plum Baby.

A fabulous night! Hollywood ball takes centre stage with more than £6,000 raised

 

Rev Richard Westwood with Faye Bray and Jane Dayus-Hinch. All photos by Jim Mayer, Gingersnaps

WE have so many people to thank for their support for the Hollywood Ball held last weekend. It was a brilliant night, with more than £6,000 raised to help villagers from Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley support some of Africa's most vulnerable people.

The money raised - an “astounding amount” according to organisers  -- will help fund hands-on work by volunteers to help children affected by Aids.

Party-goers enjoyed a performance by X Factor star Faye Bray and an auction from Wedding SOS presenter Jane Dayus-Hinch at the bash at Cannock’s Ramada Hotel on behalf of the Link4Life project.

Beacon Radio hosts prepare marathon effort for Compton Hospice

BEST of luck to Beacon Radio’s breakfast hosts Fresh and Jo who have thrown their backing behind Compton Hospice's Raise the Roof appeal by taking on a 55 mile walk across the Black Country.

The popular pair hope to cover 11 miles a day on behalf of the hospice which needs to raise £1 million as part of its major refurbishment works.

And the challenge got even steeper at the launch of the appeal, as Jo had an announcement of her own – she is expecting a baby.

Two new blogs from Passionate Media

THIS week we have been working on two new blogs and have been bowled over by the very positive feedback.

The first is for new online women's writing community, Judith's Room and we have been busy researching, writing and uploading content to inspire and inform aspiring and established writers.

Judith's Blog includes author interviews, hints, tips and advice as well as competitions and giveaways. It's part of a new community aiming to empower women writers set up by Staffordshire writer Josie.

We're very excited about the potential it has to help writers find new confidence and aim to fulfil their literary dreams. Please do come and see us if you're an aspiring Maeve Binchy or Marian Keyes.

The second is called Breaking the Silence and has grown out of a project we are working on with Lyn Jenkins, a regional co-ordinator with the mental health charity, Mind

It includes real life experiences, video and audio from people who have encountered difficulties through mental health issues and hopes to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Bloggers unite in festive theatre campaign to boost children's cancer charity

Photo by Ell Brown on Flickr

UK parent bloggers are joining forces to laugh their socks off while raising cash for a children’s cancer charity.

Bloggers are signing up for The Great Panto Review 2009 which will benefit NACCPO – The National Alliance of Childhood Cancer Parents’ Organisations.

Leading theatres in England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to give bloggers access so their reviews can spread ‘word of mouth’ throughout the blogospshere.

Cardiff’s New Theatre where John Barrowman is appearing as Robin Hood and the Birmingham Hippodrome where Ray Quinn and Joe Pasquale will star in Sleeping Beauty were among the first to pledge to welcome the bloggers and back the charity effort.

Inspirational speaker to boost credit crunch beating business conference

INSPIRATIONAL charity boss Sheila Brown will share her top tips for success with an audience of entrepreneurs at a Cannock business exhibition to help firms overcome the credit crunch.

Mrs Brown OBE, chief executive at Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, will be one of the key speakers at the Wings business network exhibition, being held at Chase Park (Cannock Cricket and Hockey Club), Church Lane, Hatherton, on Friday October 16 from 9am to 4pm.

And support of a different kind is hoped for at the event, as another charity is asking businesswomen attending to donate unwanted bras.

The Great Panto Review 2009 - Please support NACCPO and bloggers!

Photo by Sallycat101 on Flickr

HAVING been invited to sample what's on offer from the likes of Disney, Butlins and the Frankfurt Motor Show, we knew that marketeers are plugging into the  'word of mouth' buzz created by bloggers.

We wanted to harness that power to do something positive and today posted about a 'collaborative blogging project' which can hopefully have parent bloggers laughing their socks off, while also making a difference to children's charity, NACCPO.

Please read this to understand more.

If you'd like to support NACCPO, whether or not you'll be visiting a panto this year, please visit our Justgiving page. I have set a target for the time being which I hope is realistic. This may change, depending how we go.

Thank you!

Communities unite to help African children

Photo from Hands At Work on Flickr

SCHOOL, church and community groups from Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley are uniting to fund hands-on work by volunteers to help children affected by Aids in South Africa.

In July next year a group of volunteers including businessmen, mums, and churchgoers is set to visit South Africa to help two charities providing life-saving support for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Mamma Mia – spectacular Abba show set to boost Wolverhampton charities

A MUSICAL extravaganza dubbed ‘the world’s greatest live Abba show’ is set to bring in some Money, Money, Money for Wolverhampton charities.

The Mamma Mia Concert is at the city’s Civic Hall on Friday, September 11.

Abba dress is optional at the concert which starts at 7.45pm, with doors opening at 7pm. Dancing in the aisles is also optional – but expected!

Proceeds from the show will be divided between charities supported by The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, with Compton Hospice a major beneficiary.

The Stage newspaper called the show: ‘Simply the best Abba show…bar none.’

Tickets cost just £15 and £16.50, with concessions for group bookings and charities. More details: www.wolvesabbamania.com

Time to change: Helping people who've suffered mental distress tell their story

HAVE you seen the Time to Change TV ad yet?

Linda is working with the press adviser for Mental Health Media in the Midlands to help people share their story of how they have been affected by mental illness.

She's in good company as Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax are also speaking out to help end the stigma.

One in four people in the UK are said to have suffered from a mental illness, with depression being up there as the most common.

It's a privilege to be involved in such a campaign and we look forward to helping make a difference, however small.