BUSINESS NEWS
in front of 180 guests. People from across the organisation’s supported housing services
Midland Heart centre stage C
ustomers from Midland Heart, the Birmingham-based housing and care association, became the stars in a drama performed at the city’s Repertory Theatre (REP)
worked with a director and playright at The REP to create a moving dramatised performance entitled 'Tea and Sandwiches' that captured the inspirational life stories of a diverse range of customers. The performance by The Incredibles, so named because of the
inspirational stories of these individuals and the stories of those they are re-enacting, has enabled those living in supported housing who may have experienced homelessness a chance to regain their confidence. Alan Jephcott, the resident involvement manager for Midland Heart, which is a patron of Birmingham Chamber, said: “We would like to thank all of the care and support customers who felt able to share their stories and all of those that have contributed their time, effort, courage and imaginations to bring this performance to life. “It has been incredible watching our customers grow and develop their
voices throughout our journey with the REP.” Being involved in such a project has had a profound effect on the individuals who took the time to bring this performance to the stage. RiRi Wiitikiu, of Long Street, Birmingham said: “It has ignited something
that had died in me, the want to socialise, engaging, learning and how to work as a team. It was hard for me at first but now I find it fulfilling and fun.”
Midland Heart and the REP began this imaginative project which aimed
to use the arts as a medium to develop customers. Chris Hill, Director of “Tea and Sandwiches” at The REP, said: “The Midland Heart ‘Incredibles’ have truly lived up to their name. Their commitment to and enthusiasm for this project has been quite overwhelming.
“Because of their dedication, we have been able to make a complex
and affecting piece of performance work that the entire team is justly proud of.”
Midland Heart is a housing and care organisation working across the Midlands to provide a range of housing, care and support services to those in greatest need.
Midland Heart customers on stage at the REP
Best feet forward (front left to right): Laura Longman, Natalie Beasley, Elizabeth Dunbar. Standing (left to right): Jennifer Pearce, Louise Fox and Sarah Rimell
Ladies step out for charity
Two female co-workers plus five other women from companies across the city are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Natalie Beasley and Jennifer Pearce from ES Group, and Anne-Louise
Lawrence, Sarah Rimell, Louise Fox, Elizabeth Dunbar and Laura Longman from Eversheds, BDO, Duff and Phelps and DWF will be putting on their hiking boots for the two day, 25-mile challenge in May. The group hopes to raise more than £3,000 when they complete their hike on 16 and 17 May, which will be given to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and its £4 million Children’s Cancer Centre Appeal. .
To sponsor Natalie, Jennifer, Anne-Louise, Louise, Sarah, Elizabeth or Laura, visit:
www.justgiving.com/ladiesthreepeaks
Metcalfe retires to governing board
The charity, The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, has appointed Ian Metcalfe, managing partner at Wragge & Co, to its governing body. The appointment will run for five years from 1 May and will coincide with
Ian’s retirement from global activities with the company. He was nominated to the governing body by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Jerry Blackett, who said: “Our association with The Schools of King Edward VI is longstanding and we understand the importance which the Chamber and the charity place on links between business and education. Ian, himself a former pupil of King Edward’s School, said “I am proud to
have led this exceptional firm and its fantastic people but I am now looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of being a governor.”
Choir sings praises of Midlands coach firm
Johnsons Coach Travel helped bring local audiences to Symphony Hall in Birmingham for the Alcester Male Voice Choir’s 40th Anniversary Gala Concert. One of the area’s best known choirs, The Alcester Male Voice Choir, held a special gala concert attended by over 1,300 people. The 80-strong choir wowed audiences with a varied evening of music and were supported by the Welsh Guards Fanfare Trumpeters. As official sponsors of the choir, Johnsons helped transport more than half of the audience from various pick-up points across the region including Redditch, Stratford-upon-Avon and Alcester to the packed out show.
16 CHAMBERLINK MAY 2014 Choir director, Judith Land, said: “The gala concert was a wonderful
evening and a great way to mark our anniversary. We worked closely with Johnsons’ coach hire departments and everything ran like clockwork.” John Johnson, commercial director at Johnson Coach Travel, said: “This is
our second year of supporting the Alcester Male Voice Choir and we were delighted to work closely with them again. “It was important to the choir that their loyal fans had a chance to see their gala concert in Birmingham and we made it possible by supplying 13 coaches to pick up more than 600 people across the region and bring them to the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.”
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