Rainbows to benefit from X Factor charity single!



One Direction with Sam & Alex
Bolton during their visit to
Rainbows in October

It's great to hear that Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough is going to benefit from the X Factor charity single, a cover of Rose Royce classic ‘Wishing on a Star’. The single has been recorded by the last sixteen X Factor contestants as well as JLS and One Direction, who paid a surprise visit to the hospice in October.

Net proceeds from the sale of the single (launched on 27 November) will go to Together for Short Lives who represent all children’s hospices nationally, including Rainbows. The charity was handpicked by Simon Cowell, who is a patron and has supported the organisation for a number of years. “I have seen first-hand the invaluable care and support they offer to thousands of young people and their families" he said, "so I am thrilled that the X Factor charity single this year will benefit this charity."

Scott Lea of Rainbows said: “It’s amazing to have such an iconic patron as Simon Cowell spreading the word about children’s hospices. Rainbows has been so incredibly lucky recently. The X Factor single, our surprise visit from One Direction and coverage on BBC1’s The One Show is not only helping us to get our fundraising message out there, but more importantly new families have approached us who are in need of our services. We’re so very grateful for all the support.”

For more about Rainbows go to http://www.rainbows.co.uk/

Professional entertainment in our village halls

Thanks to Centre Stage, a subsidised rural touring scheme for Leicestershire and Rutland, we can now enjoy a wide variety of highly professional live shows and concerts in our local village halls and community centres.

Centre Stage brings touring companies and artists with regional, national and international profiles to venues across the two counties. The scheme was set up in 2002 and works with volunteers in communities to present high quality professional arts performances to rural audiences.  In 2009/10 it held 136 shows involving 61 groups of volunteers and a total audience of 8,500 across 61 communities in the region.

Centre Stage is funded by Leicestershire County Council, all district and borough councils in Leicestershire, Rutland County Council and the Arts Council England.

For more about Centre Stage and to find out what's on in a village hall near you, go to: http://www.centre-stage.org.uk/

Getting ready for the summer fests

It might seems ages until the summer festival season gets underway, but organisers are already hard at work planning their various events, to make them even better than the ones they held last year!

Here's a flavour of what's on offer in this area - more information in future issues of Village Connect and on this blog. 

Glastonbudget - Turnpost Farm, Wymeswold 27-29 May
Europe's biggest tribute and new acts festival.
http://www.glastonbudget.net/

Hosefest - 2 July
A big event in a small village in the Vale of Belvoir. Lasts all day starting with the Hose Village Fete and followed late afternoon and into the evening by the Hosenbury Music Festival. A great family day/evening out!
http://hosefest.org.uk/

Fristock, Frisby on the Wreake - 9 July
Held every summer at the village cricket ground. Bar, barbeque & free camping. Tickets sell like hot cakes for this popular event!
http://www.fhrcc.co.uk/fristock/main.htm

Then of course there's the Party in the Park which is part of the Stathern Festival, usually held during the second half of June (dates not yet confirmed). Check out the website for updated information:
http://www.stathernfestival.co.uk/


For information about festivals around the country, try
http://www.efestivals.co.uk/