Voice In A Million

Isle of Wight Academy

New to the Island for children aged between 7 and 18yrs – The Voice In A Million Isle of Wight Academy.  Develop your skills in vocal, recording and performance techniques; perform in front of thousands at huge concert events including the London 02 Arena and take part in recording sessions.  Join the Singing Academy That ‘Makes A Difference’.  Opening Sunday 12^th September 2010 at Ryde High School Theatre (2pm to 5pm). Booking Essential – Call Mark or Paula on 01983 611791 or visit www.voiceinamillion.com

Rewarding Experiences for the Retired

People who have retired from full time employment often find renewed fulfilment by volunteering with organisations working in their local communities.

If you are approaching retirement and wondering how to fill your time, or are already suffering from the potential “cabin fever” of retirement; volunteering can offer a rewarding activity presenting fresh challenges.

‘Helping Children and Young People’

There are lots of organisations that depend on volunteers to provide services for others and some of them are nearer than you may think. Often individuals can benefit organisations with specialist skills they have developed over a long career in a profession. Many charitable organisations rely on skilled individuals to enhance their services and the retires are a key workforce for many charities.

Perhaps you could teach art or craft with children? Got green hands? You might consider helping people younger than yourself with environmental and gardening projects. You may enjoy reading stories and would jump at the chance to read to children?

Do you see retirement as an opportunity to do something completely different? You could decide that after a career of sitting behind a desk or computer screen you would like to experience volunteering with children. Or perhaps you would like to share your housekeeping or cookery skills with others?

The YMCA is currently recruiting volunteers to help with the running of their current services and is specifically searching for individuals who would like children and young people to benefit from their specialist skills and experiences.

YMCA exists to provide local communities with resources focused on child care, family togetherness. and community. YMCA Fairthorne Group have a network of branches across Southern England which offers a broad range of services including but not limited to: Nursery care, residential group holidays; non-residential activity days; school holiday activity programmes (Daycamps); Children Support Service’s; community involvement events; meeting and conference facilities and development training days.

Specifically on the Isle of Wight the YMCA run two nurseries based in Newport and Shanklin for children 0 – 5 years. During school and summer holidays they run Daycamps for children aged 4 – 14. Also YMCA Winchester House based in Shanklin is a popular choice for school and group holidays and is open year round.

If you would like to find out more information about volunteering with the YMCA, please contact Kelly Matthews, Volunteering Project Co-ordinator on 01983 861076 or email volunteering @ymca-fg.org.

Yarmouth’s 100th Carnival

7^th to 14^th August 2010

From 7^th to 14^th August, the people of Yarmouth will celebrate their 100^th Carnival, and would like to invite visitors and neighbours across the island to join them for the fun.

There will be the usual wide range of entertainments, competitions and sporting events for all ages. As a special attraction, on Wednesday 11^th August, there will be an Edwardian variety show.

Also capturing the flavour of the past is this year’s souvenir programme which has a section devoted to carnivals gone by, with many photographs – look out for your family members or for your younger selves in the sack race, the harbour sports or those happy crowds!

The programme also has full details of the events, competitions, treasure hunt etc It will be on  sale at the St James’s Day celebrations in The Square, Yarmouth, on 25^th July and thereafter in local shops.

Family cooking at its simplest with Anna  ‘Easy Oven-baked Summer Risotto’

Risotto is a great slow-release energy-provider as well as a fantastic way to hide vitamin-rich vegetables from picky eaters.  Even my fussy 4-year old will happily munch her way through the fresh asparagus, celery and onion in this easy supper dish for all the family. The trick of course is to chop the veg sufficiently finely.  The easiest way to do this is with The Pampered Chef’s Food Chopper.  An essential bit of kitchen kit, it can blitz anything (including chicken) in a few seconds, making food preparation incredibly quick and easy.

Ingredients for family of 4 (ie: 2 adults and 2 children)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped finely

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 stick celery, finely sliced

100 g asparagus, chopped, tips reserved

200 g Carnaroli or Arborio risotto rice

700 ml stock (or for adult eaters, 600 ml stock, 100 ml vermouth/white wine)

200 g fresh or frozen peas

25 g unsalted butter

75 g Parmigiano Reggiano, freshly grated

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C
2. Chop all the vegetables as small as possible, reserving the asparagus tips.
3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and gently soften the onion and garlic without letting it brown (about 5 minutes).
4. Then, along with the chopped asparagus, celery, rice and stock, tip into a high-sided 1 litre baking dish (such as the stoneware Mini-Baker pictured).  Give everything a good stir and pop in the oven for 20 minutes.
5. Stir risotto, adding more stock if necessary, then return to oven for a further 15-20 minutes or until the rice is ‘al dente’.
6. Meanwhile, steam or boil the peas and asparagus tips in a small saucepan.
7. Remove risotto from oven.  Stir butter, peas and parmesan through and top with asparagus tips.  Serve hot.

To learn more about The Pampered Chef range of products, book a Pampered Chef cooking party with Anna (all you pay for are the ingredients) OR learn more about becoming a Consultant yourself, contact her on 07800 547238 or visit her website: www.pamperedchef.biz/annapocock.

Look who’s making a difference on the Isle of Wight!

Voice In A Million have announced the opening of the island’s very own Voice In A Million Academy in the Ryde and Newport area. Paula & Mark Johnson will be the ambassadors for the project on the island and have a vast amount of experience working with children.  They will not only provide children aged 7 to 18 the opportunity to develop their skills in vocal, recording and performance techniques at the weekend sessions, but also to perform in front of thousands at huge arena events including the London 02 Arena.  For more info call; 07541 141475 or 01932 561316.  www.voiceinamillion.com

GET NOSE-TO-NOSE WITH NATURE THIS SUMMER AT SEAVIEW WILDLIFE ENCOUNTER!

Seaview Wildlife Encounter has lots going on right throughout the summer.  It’s a naturally fun place for kids and adults of all ages!

The Amazing Alpacas have arrived!

You can watch this year’s Penguin chicks learning to swim in the big pool.  Then there’s the Wallaby Joeys – just out of their mothers’ pouches – so gentle, visitors can stroke them!

Based in the Discovery Zone are two other new arrivals.  Britain’s tiniest and cutest mammal – the Harvest Mouse; and a fascinating colony of Leaf-Cutting Ants carrying pieces of leaves down a rope into their nest!

This is all in addition to the nine daily Wildlife Events and the unique close encounters to be experienced with many species of birds and animals.

When your tummy rumbles treat yourself to a special Italian Coffee at the new Coffee Corner!

Don’t forget to bring your camera (you could enter the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition) there’s loads to photograph in this beautiful parkland setting, overlooking the sea!

Become a friend of Dippy the Penguin (the Park’s mascot) – just enter “Dippy Seaview” on Facebook!  Meet Dippy and his friends in real life at the Penguin Pool!

www.flamingoparkiw.com

Nurseries invited to get on their marks, set, GO! for the NSPCC

The NSPCC is calling on nurseries across the UK to join them in their annual Pedal Push.

Pedal Push is a sponsored ride around a fun course, where children get on their bikes and trikes to make a real difference for other children.  Now in its fourteenth year, children have always enjoyed getting active and having fun whilst raising funds for other children in this popular event.

It’s easy to organise and can be held at any time of the year.  Register today to receive your special Pedal Push pack, including lots of activities and top tips to download.

The money raised from Pedal Push will go to the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal.

Through the Child’s Voice Appeal, the charity aims to transform its helplines – ChildLine and the NSPCC Helpline, for adults concerned about a child – so that no child’s cry goes unheard.

Susie Barron, NSPCC community fundraising manager, said: “Pedal Push has been a hugely successful event for many years.  It is fantastic to see under-5s having a great time, getting active and joining together to help the NSPCC raise funds to support children when they need us.  If you work at a nursery, or your child attends one, we hope they can join us this year in making a very real difference to the lives of vulnerable children.”

To find out more and register now visit www.nspcc.org.uk/pedalpush, call 0800 10 1996 or email pedalpush@nspcc.org.uk

The Hidden Holiday Charges Top 10 New research uncovers stealth charges adding £100s to holiday costs

New research from consumer revenge website MoneySavingExpert.com has revealed 10 major hidden charges holidaymakers get smacked with abroad, resulting in a fistful of extra costs. Yet, for every charge banks levy, there’s a counter move to avoid it …

(Solutions can be quoted as from Martin Lewis of MoneySavingExpert.com)

Charge 1. Debit cards that fine you every time you spend

Shockingly, the single most expensive stealth charge when abroad is levied by debit, not credit cards. Many add an up to £1.50 fee every time you spend, so buy something for £5 of euros and you pay £6.50. So, make 30 purchases on the plastic over a holiday and that’s £45 extra.

Culprits: The ‘debit cards from hell’ of Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, RBS, Santander and IF.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Simply avoid these cards if you can. If not, better to take out a lump sum from the ATM and spend that instead.

Charge 2. Cash withdrawal fees, even on debit cards

Use your credit card or debit card at an overseas ATM, and you’ll pay a fee to withdraw money.

Culprits: Almost all debit and credit cards.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Provided your card isn’t one of the debit cards from hell (see above), you’re better off paying on the card than withdrawing cash.

Charge 3. A hidden load on the exchange rate

Card providers themselves get the perfect exchange rate, yet no matter what the currency, they then add a hidden ‘load’ to your rate. Worse, this isn’t split out on your statement, it’s incorporated in the rate you get, so it’s hard to spot. Typically, the load is 2.75%, so spend £100 worth of dollars and it’d cost you £102.75.

Culprits: Almost every debit and credit card.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Grab a specialist overseas credit card for using abroad – as these add no or a low load. In fact they are by far the cheapest way to spend abroad, beating even the best bureau de change. Yet do ensure you repay them in full to minimise interest, for full best-buy info see www.moneysavingexpert.com/travelcards.

Charge 4. Nightmare airport exchange rates

Never change your foreign currency at the airport terminal. You’ll pay substantially more, as they know you’re a captive customer – typically on €500, you’ll pay about £40 more.

Culprits: Almost all airport and ferry terminal bureaux de change.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: If you’re so late you need airport pick-up, simply pre-order it and collect it there for a much better rate (though it’s even better to use the www.TravelMoneyMax.com comparison service to get the best rate).

Charge 5. Interest even if you repay in full

Normally, repay a credit card in full at the end of the month and it’s interest free. Yet withdraw cash from an ATM on a credit card and you’ll pay even if you clear the card. At a typical cash withdrawal rate of 25% APR, the cost for the month is £2 per £100.

Culprits: Almost all credit cards.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: If you use a credit card overseas, it’s better to pay on the card than to withdraw cash and use that to pay.

Charge 6. Fees for using plastic at bureaux de change

Buy currency from a UK bureau de change and most cards treat it as if you’re withdrawing cash abroad and charge a typical fee of 2.5% of the amount withdrawn.

Culprits: All credit cards and the following debit cards: Santander, Alliance & Leicester, Barclays, Cahoot, Co-op, Lloyds TSB, Smile, Natwest & RBS.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Avoid the fee by using your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM and pay with that. If you’re doing it online, try to use a card that doesn’t charge; if not the cost should be offset by using the cheapest bureau.

Charge 7. The ‘commission-free is cheapest’ lie

Don’t believe the ‘commission free’ hype. It’s meaningless, as while the bureau doesn’t charge you a fee, it may give you the worst exchange rate out there.

Culprits: Many bureaux de change

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Simply ask the question: “If I give you £400, how many euros/dollars/shekels will you give me after all charges?” and compare who offers the most.

Charge 8. Anti-security cash withdrawal fees

Withdraw cash while abroad and you pay a fee usually set up as the higher of £3 or 2.5%, so the proportionate cost is more for smaller amounts e.g, it’s nearly a third on top for £10 worth of foreign currency. This means you’re pushed to get larger amounts – not brilliant for budgeting or security.

Culprits: Almost every debit and credit card.

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Withdraw larger amounts less often, if possible, aim for the amount where the percentage costs equal the minimum fee, eg, on £3 or 2.5%, withdraw £120, as at that amount £3 is 2.5%.

Charge 9. Poor exchange rates at high street bureaux de change

Comparing exchange rates isn’t easy, as they move daily. Many high street bureaux de change take advantage by giving poor rates. Change ?500, and the best charge just £417, the worst as much as £470.

Culprits: Many High Street bureaux de change

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: Quickly check the free www.TravelMoneyMax.com currency comparison site to find which provider gives the best deal for all currencies.

Charge 10. Pay more for paying in pounds

If you’re shopping abroad and the shop asks “do you want to pay in pounds or euros?”, pick pounds and as the shop does the conversion, the rate could be atrocious.

Culprits: Foreign shops and banks

MoneySavingExpert’s Solution: It’s always safer to pay in foreign currency, not pounds, as then at least you’ve a defined exchange rate. This is especially true if you’re using one of the specialist cheap foreign cards.

Martin Lewis, creator of MoneySavingExpert.com, comments:

“Companies aren’t stupid. They know we relax when we go on holiday and don’t take note of fees and charges too often, so they take advantage by adding huge numbers of tough-to-spot stealth charges, which can shift £100s from our pockets into their coffers.”

“So whether you’re eating out on colons in Costa Rica, calling home with ringgits in Malaysia or doing whatever with your dong in Vietnam, be careful. If possible act early and put one of the specialist cheap travel credit cards in your pocket, paid off in full each month, as that is the cheapest way to spend abroad full-stop – meaning you will get home to a much smaller bill.

Make a night out, a night in…

Whether you love to cook, hate to cook or simply have to cook, when you host a Pampered Chef Cooking Show, you’ll see what a difference the right tools and alittle inspiration can make! Quality bakeware produces perfect, reliable results. Cutting edge knives makepreparing food easy. And multi-purpose tools save you time in the kitchen. Which all makes it much easier to enjoy creating a quick, home-cooked meal for family and friends.

When you book a Pampered Chef Consultant for a Cooking Show (all you pay for are the ingredients), you stand to gain much more than just great kitchenware. Hosts receive between £50-£200 of FREE and discounted products, up to 3 half-price products of their choice and 10% off any purchases for a whole year after theircooking show. Plus there’s always a monthly special for guests spending £40 andover. Check my website for the latest offers: www.pamperedchef.biz/annapocock

It’s such an enjoyable way to shop for essential quality cookware. As well as trying out the products for yourself before you buy, you’ll learn some great-tasting, easy-to-prepare recipes — all in a relaxed atmosphere with good friends, plenty of laughter and lots of fun! So book your show with me today and start planning your FREE spending spree! And if you’re looking for a totally ?exible job to bring in some extra income or pay off debt, then why not consider joining my team? You can buy a Start-Up Kit (worth £320) for just £97. Not a bad price for your own business – but with all the support of a successful company with 30 years of retail experience. Call me to find out more, on 07800 547238.

National Family Week is the UK’s biggest ever celebration of family life. The Week aims to encourage families to spend more quality time together, and champions the benefits of a healthy, active and positive family life. No two families are alike and National Family Week celebrates diversity, supporting a range of initiatives for families of every shape and size. This unique celebration has brought together the largest coalition on family issues in the country with over 180 national partners behind The Week ranging from the NSPCC and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes to the Football Association. It also enjoys the support of thousands of local community partners across the UK spanning faith groups, sports associations, local councils, museums and Sure Start Children’s Centres. National Family Week is backed by each major political party and is personally endorsed by Gordon Brown and David Cameron. Celebrities have rallied behind National Family Week including Antony Worrall Thompson, Amanda Holden and Sarah Ferguson, lending support in a variety of ways.visit www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk for full details