Tuesday 28 February 2012

Friends of Southsea Rock Gardens

Do you enjoy visiting the Southsea Rock Gardens?

This much loved garden is in need of some help from volunteers.

We would like to meet you if you can spare some time to get involved in the life of the Gardens.

This doesn’t need to be hands-on work - we need your knowledge and opinions too.

We would like your help to influence how the Gardens are managed and maintained.

Thursday 23 February 2012

Blogs and Google Docs Training

A training session has been arranged from 10:30am on Friday March 2nd for committee members that are interested in using social media in conjunction with their neighbourhood forum.

We will be looking at using Blogs and Google Docs as a way of sharing information with residents.

If you are interested in attending please click here to register.

Street Party Deadline Approaches

The deadline for your applications to hold a street party for the Diamond Jubilee is fast approaching.

All applications need to be with The Events Team, (Seafront Services Office, Avenue de Caen, Southsea, PO5 3NS) by 9th March at the latest. 

The links below will take you to the guidelines and the application form:
Street Party Guidelines
  (five pages)
Street Party application form
(four pages)
(If you want to complete the application form online, click on the "download original" button, this will give you your own copy and allow you to fill in and save the form.)  

If you have any queries please contact the Events Team,
Telephone 023 9284 1400
E-mail: events@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
The office is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Health Checks Programme Board to be set up

Are you interested in preventative health care?

Would you like to help drive a programme to reduce the risks of people developing life threatening diseases?

If the answer is "yes" to either of these questions, please read on.

How?
A Health Checks Programme Board is being set up to set the strategic direction and implementation of the Portsmouth NHS Health Checks Programme. Meetings will be held every two months at the Civic Offices in Portsmouth. Please see the Board's draft Terms of reference attached to this email together with vision for Portsmouth Health Checks.

What are Health Checks?
Specifically a health check is an assessment of an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease that leads to things like heart attacks and strokes. A health check includes measuring blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. Also, an assessment of lifestyle to understand smoking habits, physical activity and alcohol intake. Practical support is offered to each person to manage and reduce their risk or maintain their health in the long term.

Friday 17 February 2012

Keep Warm and Carry On - Post Summit Report

The Voluntary and Statutory Sector Winter Warmth Summit was held on 31st January 2012 in the Lord Mayor’s Banqueting Suite, Portsmouth Guildhall, as part of Portsmouth’s Keep Warm and Carry On programme, funded by the Department of Health’s Warm Homes Healthy People Fund.

The post summit report, containing each speakers PowerPoint presentation and the full feedback from the summit workshops is available by clicking the following link
Keep Warm and Carry On - Post Summit Report

Thursday 16 February 2012

Become a Local Leader and celebrate the Olympic Games

Do you have an idea on how to celebrate the London 2012 Games? 

Can you get things done? 

If this sounds like you, then sign up today to become a 'Local Leader'. 

To be part of the London 2012 Local Leaders programme and for planning guides, 'Save the date' cards, decoration ideas, exclusive offers and more have a look at the Local Leaders website.

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Love is in the air? - Online dating scams

On Thursday 16 February trading standards will be in Commercial Road from 10:30am -12:30pm to raise awareness about online dating scams  - a bit of a spin on Valentines Week!

Online dating scams: Love is in the air!

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) estimate that around 200,000 people may have fallen victim to online dating scams in the UK.

Online dating scams can be particularly malicious and scam artists will normally invest a great deal of time and patience into grooming their victims; developing an online relationship supposedly built on love and trust.

The scammers, who are normally operating from outside the UK, portray themselves as perhaps an army officer or someone of a similar rank; another way of ‘hooking’ you in as they come across as being in a position of authority.

'The Juice' - Your Equalities and Diversity bulletin

The latest equalities and diversity bulletin from Portsmouth city council's equalities team has been produced.

It includes information about
  • The ‘Diversity of Portsmouth’ document
  • Specific Duties Regulations
  • Revised Equality duty guidance
  • a new LGBT Reading Group
  • LGBT history month
  • a cultural event organised by Portsmouth Sylhet District Association
  • and other articles and links of interest
To get a copy sent to you please email equalities@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Friday 10 February 2012

Graphic art exhibition at the Guildhall Cafe


Monday to Friday (8:30am to 5pm) running until 16th March in the Guildhall Cafe.

As part of celebrating 50 years of twinning between the cities of Portsmouth and Haifa in Israel, a graphic art exhibition portraying aspects of Haifa is now open to the public in the Portsmouth Guildhall Cafe.

The art has been provided by Haifa's Tiltan College of Graphic Design and the mounting has been carried out by Highbury College of Technology and the University of Portsmouth.

An objective is to encourage visits to Haifa and the exhibition will include posters provided by El Al airline as the travel link to Israel. El Al are also running a free prize draw to win a holiday for two to Israel.

Another objective is to promote an exchange of students between Portsmouth and Haifa.

The exhibition is being held under the auspices of the Haifa-Portsmouth Friendship Link Committee and it will give consideration to a reciprocal exhibition to be held in Haifa in order to promote Israeli visits to Portsmouth.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Full Council meeting 14 February 2012

The full Council meeting on 14 February 2012 will be discussing proposals for the 2012/13 budget. 

The agenda and papers are now available to read on the City Council website at http://www.portsmouthcc.gov.uk/yourcouncil/20927.html.


 

Radio Debate 20th February



Portsmouth City Council and the University of Portsmouth have jointly organised a question time radio debate on the topic of the ‘Role of education in promoting transgender equality’, as part of the celebration of  LGBT history month.

The event will take place on 20th February at 6pm in the central library and is free to attend.

Due to limited space you must book your place by completing the registration form on this link register here

Friday 3 February 2012

Dickens 2012 - 200th birthday celebrations

To mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens there will be a series of events around the city on February 7th, starting at 9:30am in Old Commercial Road, when it will have transformed into a Victorian Street Scene, including market traders and entertainers. 

Other events on the day include 
  • a Penny Farthing ride by members of the Pickwick Bicycle Club, 
  • a service of thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church, 
  • performances of The Ballad of Charles Dickens, 
  • the Big Screen in Guildhall Square showing the 1954 British family classic The Pickwick Papers from midday
  • Brian Conley making a personal appearance as Fagin at Charles Dickens Birthplace,  
  • David Copperfield beginning its run at The Kings Theatre and  
  • Simon Callow reading excerpts from his book ‘Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World' to a sold out audience at The New Theatre Royal!

Thursday 2 February 2012

Scamnesty campaign begun

Scamnesty is an opportunity for local residents and organisations to get involved.

Trading standards want to make sure that Portsmouth residents are not being ripped off by scams, and to do this they are asking for your help!

They are asking for you to keep your eyes and ears open and let them know if you suspect someone may be a victim of a scam.

Trading standards have also deployed Scamnesty bins for you to leave scam mail, competitions, and leaflets or information about scam offers and phone calls, etc. at:
  • Civic Offices Main Reception
  • All Portsmouth Libraries
  • Fratton Police Station
  • Central Police Station
  • Cosham Police Station
  • Students Union University of Portsmouth
  • University of Portsmouth Library
  • Portsmouth Deaf Centre Arundel Street 
You can forward any email scams to scams@portsmouthcc.gov.uk i.e. fraudulent bank emails or 'tax rebates' asking for you to update your details

At the end of February they will collect the bins and all the scams will be entered into a database as intelligence in the battle to stop the scammers. 

Scamnesty events booked:
  • Thursday 16 February 10:30-12:30 Commercial Road - Theme: Online Phishing and Dating Scams 
  • Tuesday 28 February 10:30-12:30 Commercial Road - Theme: Scams
Scamnesty survey

Residents have the opportunity to participate in an online survey about how they have been affected by scams. The data collected will help us to target our service delivery and understand the impact scams have on the city. The survey can be found by following this link and will only take a few minutes to complete: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XXMXP2C .

Trading Standards Talks

Trading standards are interested in delivering scam talks to all Neighbourhood Forums within the city. If you would be interested please contact trading standards - 023 9283 4689.