People can relate to the city and the river for many diverse reasons. For a select few however, the river itself has provoked a certain desire since the first recorded successful swim across the Mersey in 1863 and swimmers from every generation since have faced the same challenge against an ever changing tide of bureaucracy.

The first recorded ‘Across Mersey Swim’ was organised by John Hulley (The Forgotten Man of British Olympic History) as part of the Grand Liverpool Olympic Festival in 1863. The swim attracted nine swimmers, with thousands of spectators watching the swim from both sides of the river. Only two managed to finish, had swum over five miles and were in the water for nearly two hours.

The ‘Across Mersey Swim’ and the Grand National were the top two major events in Liverpool that year and attracted thousands of spectators at both events. Captain Webb first swam across the Mersey in 1876 – the year after he became the first person to swim the English Channel solo. The swim then became an annual event for the next 62 years and was only stopped with the advent of WWII in 1938.

It was following this period that local swimming legend Jimmy Tinsley became the first person on Merseyside to successfully swim the English Channel in 1987, and swimmers from both sides of the river began looking to renew the tradition of the ‘Across Mersey Swim’. Merseyside Police for many years swam with the tide from Seacombe to New Brighton.

The post war ‘Across Mersey Swim’ was started in 1994 by Jimmy Tinsley, Bob Jones and Robin Baynes following their successful English Channel Relay Swim, as members of the City of Liverpool Swimming Club (Cold Water Section). Both swims were in memory of Barbara Marshall (Robin’s sister in law) raising £35,000 for the Royal Liverpool University Hospital (RLUH) ‘Forget me not Cancer Appeal’.

In the first year, the swim was started on a low tide with all swimmers ending up in Garston Docks, swimming seven and a half miles instead of the anticipated one and half miles from Rock Park to Britannia Pub.

In 1997, the swim was supported by The King and Queen of the Channel, Mike Read and Allison Streeter, who have swam the English Channel successfully over 50 times between them. Unfortunately, the swim was cancelled at the last minute due to the atrocious weather conditions. An alternative swim of three laps of the Albert Dock was organised by Jimmy Tinsley from City of Liverpool SC. The winner that year was Graeme Gunn from Northern Ireland.

The following year Robin Baynes, Jimmy Tinsley and Bob Jones were invited to a meeting with North West Water (NWW), who provided sponsorship for the swim for the following three years. The monies raised were divided equally between BMMF and Water Aid, the Charity NWW support. Due to this success, NWW continued funding the swim for six years until 1999 with many swimmers raising tens of thousands of pounds for the charities they supported by swimming the mighty Mersey. The 1998 and 1999 swim was won by Liverpool swimmer Dave Parry, brother of olympic swimmer Steve Parry.

In the year 2000, the River Mersey Basin sponsored the swim. The River Mersey was now getting world wide acclaim for being a clean river attracting an abundance of wildlife with fish, seals, birds and even six small octopus’ being released into the river. Press cuttings, videos and photographs of previous year’s swims were sent to the Director of The River Basin Campaign who presented a lecture in Brisbane Australia, as the Australians did not believe the Mersey was clean enough to swim. In 2000, Jimmy Tinsley was runner up to Dave Reason from Howebridge Marlins, Bolton.

The 2001 swim was cancelled in memory of Kenny O’Toole who died suddenly from heart failure (1946-2001). Kenny had been part of the six man English Channel Relay Swim Team and had also swam the Mersey many times, finishing third one year.
With many stories of epic swims, individual challenges and a growing legacy, the swim became a self funded event from 2002 now relying on swim entry fees to support the event. In 2001, Robin was asked to write an article on the Post War Across River Mersey Swim for a book called ‘Played in Liverpool’ by Ray Physick. The front cover showed the start of the 1937 Across Mersey Swim, with swimmers diving in to the River Mersey from the side of a boat called the Skirmisher.

In 2002, Robin Baynes founded the charity Liverpool Heartbeat and provided a new trophy for the Across Mersey Swim in memory of Kenny ‘Dipper’ O’Toole. The first swimmer to have his name on the new Trophy was Neville Barton. It was during an open water swimming session at the salt house dock in 2002 that I first learnt about this iconic swim and met Jim Tinsley for the first time. The newly formed tri-4-life team were preparing for their 2006 European Challenge that would include two seven man English Channel relay teams. From that introduction Robin Baynes, Jimmy Tinsley and Bob Jones became lifelong friends, supporters and tri-4-life team members.

The 2003 Across Mersey swim saw the 14 members of the tri-4-life team attempt the crossing for the second time with three generations of the Hanlon family taking to the water, with the young Ryan Hanlon, 14, being hauled out after forty minutes due to hypothermia. The winner of the swim was Richard Kay.

In 2004, another young swimmer, Mike Searle, 17, won the Across Mersey Swim in a record time of (17 minutes 22 seconds) – a record that still stands today. In 2005, the swim was cancelled due to Power Boat Racing on the River Mersey taking place on the same day, so an alternative swim was arranged from Seacombe to New Brighton. The City of Liverpool swimming club also featured with its first junior channel relay team. Steve Wall was the winner that year.

The 2006 Swim was cancelled through lack of safety cover. In the following three years 2007, 2008 & 2009, the swim was won by Matt Webster, and following his third year of winning the Across Mersey Swim, Matt received a special award in recognition of his three wins. Nicholas Robinson was the first to swim using the butterfly stroke in 2007 and two years later, Joe Coy also did the same.

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With the continued success of the swim, Liverpool Heartbeat, tri-4-life, City of Liverpool swimming club and Merseytri with the support of all Merseyside dive clubs, canoe clubs and local Mersey fisherman boats were coming under increased bureaucratic pressures from the local council and port authorities that wanted increased documentation and insurances to legitimise the swim as an ‘event’. By the very nature and adventure aspect of the swim this would always prove difficult.

As a volunteer extreme and adventure event organiser, it was always my intention to keep the swim open and accessible to as many deserving participants as possible. Whilst every precaution and consideration for safety would be given, the element of risk would always remain an attraction and challenge of the swim, with swimmers raising funds for their chosen charity instead of the numerous invented commercial enterprises looking for profit.

In order to meet National Governing Body requirements for insurance cover, a run was added at the end of the 2010 and 2011 swims to form ‘The John Hulley Across Mersey Aquathlon’. The trophy was donated by Liverpool Heartbeat Charity. The winner of both 2010 and 2011 events was a young Spanish boy, Jullio Novarro Lopez, who at the time was attending Liverpool College studying English. Permission was sought from his guardians and college for him to enter the event.

With a growing junior interest in the Across Mersey Swim, 2011 again saw three generations of the Hanlon family take to the waves. It was a proud day for me to swim alongside my dad, uncle, brothers, cousins, friends and my daughters, Kiera Rose, 13, and her younger sister Caitlin Rae, 11, became the youngest ever swimmer to successfully swim the mighty Mersey. This achievement overshadowed some other great performances that day, including the youngest male swimmer to make a successful crossing, 14 years old Tom Roberts.

In 2012, the year that saw London host the Olympic Games, Liverpool Heartbeat hosted the John Hulley Liverpool Olympic Festival, involving over 30 sporting events for young people, including the Across Mersey Swim. The winner in 2012 was Gary Munsey.

2013 saw the highest number of entries; with 86 carefully selected swimmers start the swim, and 84 reaching the finish – making it the most successful swim in its history. The Across Mersey Swim was won by Alan Wolfarth for the second time. Alan’s other win was in 2011 but he did not complete the Aquathlon and swimmer Joe Kerrigann, 77, became the oldest swimmer to complete the crossing. We also had a number of disabled swimmers successfully completing the swim.

The tri-4-life team also featured again in 2013 in preparation for their upcoming Arch to Arc challenge. This time with a single six man Channel relay team. The swim was also taking on a real family feeling with a number of father & son and dad & daughter combinations. Brian & Charlotte Henners, Dave & Georgia Roberts, Dave & Phil Walton, Paul & John Thelwell and an array of Hanlon family combinations.

The swim was cancelled in 2014 due to lack of safety cover. Pressure from Liverpool City Council and changes to its Health and Safety Policy created changes that would impact the future format of the swim. An alternative swim was arranged in the Queens Dock for 2014. The voluntary attendance we had enjoyed from the canoeing community were prevented from taking part by their National Governing Body ruling, who stated that the insurance cover of any volunteer supporting the swim would be deemed invalid. Without the canoe clubs to help with safety cover, the 2015 Across Mersey Swim was re-formatted to be swum in pods, supported by Kevin Gerrard and the RHIB crews of the Diving Clubs of Liverpool, Ormskirk, Southport and Shrewsbury. 5 pods, with 6 swimmers of equal ability in each pod. Different coloured swim hats were worn to distinguish the pods from one another.

2015 also saw the Across Mersey Swim included as a major section of the BBC 1 documentary SEA CITIES Liverpool. This presented a real insight into the challenges and factors that affect the swim, the motivation and mind-set of the swimmers and why the mighty Mersey remains an unpredictable swimming enigma. Top female swimmer Zoe Brunton was first to reach Monks Ferry, whilst others were stung by sea bees, suffered hypothermia and caught on the wrong side of the Mersey’s unforgiving tide. Mersey swimming legend Dave Sandman holds the record for the most crossings, having swam ‘The Across Mersey Swim’ 14 times and has been an avid fundraiser swimming for many charities including, Liverpool Heartbeat, Water Aid, New Born Appeal and The British Heart Foundation.

And so… as this new chapter of ‘The Across Mersey Swim’ journeys towards its 25th Anniversary creating its own place in our sporting culture and history, Liam Hanlon, Jim Tinsley, Robin Baynes & Bob Jones together with all the supporting elements and safety cover required for a successful swim, will continue to wave the flag and seek support from all parties responsible for the access and safe use of our River to create a legacy for the now infamous ‘Across Mersey Swim’ for generations to come. Since 1863, the mighty Mersey tide has continued to ebb and flow, and swimmers have continued to gaze across the grey waters in awe of this iconic challenge that is The Across Mersey Swim.

For further information, contact Liam Hanlon 07966 529133.

*Please note that individuals should not attempt to swim the Mersey as it can be dangerous. If you would like to take part in an organised and safe swim, please call Liam.

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Children will be enraptured with the Lewis Carroll classic Alice in Wonderland at the magical Grosvenor Open Air Theatre in Chester. The Cheshire Cat returns to his home county from 15 July-20 August. Bring a picnic, snuggle up under the stars and fall down the rabbit hole with Alice and friends. http://www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk/

Go back in time

A new augmented reality app transports visitors back in time at Chester Amphitheatre – the largest amphitheatre in Britain – allowing you to experience a 3D reconstruction of the grizzly and brutal working amphitheatre. It’s an amazing glimpse of Roman life in Chester – great for older children and teenagers who will love finding out the stories behind the gladiators that were forced to kill, the prisoners at their mercy and the bloody sport that the spectators revelled in. The ‘England’s Historic Cities’ app is available to download for free on the app store. More info at http://www.heritagecities.com/stories/chester Entry to the amphitheatre is free.

Share stories

This amazing theatre, cinema and library space in the heart of the city, carved out of the former art-deco Odeon cinema, has just opened after ten years in the making and will breathe new life into the North’s cultural scene. Storyhouse has an incredible area for children (or big kids) – Storyden – which features a storytelling room with theatre lighting and bleacher seats, wet, messy and craft play areas, dressing up boxes, and plenty of nooks and crannies to make, tell and share stories. Definitely worth a visit this summer www.storyhouse.com

Catch a moonlight flick

Moonlight Flicks, Chester’s very own open air cinema, returns to the Roman Gardens from 4 July – 26 August, with 40 screenings of 9 different films including Star Wars:Rogue One, Moana, Grease and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Wireless headphones are provided, you can bring your own blanket and chair or hire a deckchair, and even order Pizza Express pizza direct to your seat! Films will be screened from dusk each day, but times will vary due to the summer sunshine, see www.storyhouse.com  for full screening times.

Swim with sharks

Kids and adults come face to face with sharks at the diving with sharks experience at the Blue Planet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port which houses Europe’s largest collection of sharks. Diving experiences take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There’s lots more to see including an Aquatheatre, crocodiles, otters, a walk-through shark tunnel and much more. https://www.blueplanetaquarium.com/

Lift off!

The Anderton Boat Lift in Northwich is the world’s first ever successful boat lift and an engineering masterpiece. Kids will love seeing the boat lift in action lifting narrowboats and barges 50 feet in the air from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal – who wouldn’t want to experience the thrill of being lifted 50 feet in the air by a giant spider?! https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/museums-and-attractions/anderton-boat-lift

Masters of the Universe

Kids can explore their place in the universe at the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre – a great day out for all the family. Learn about the Solar system using interactive games, listen to the sound of the Big Bang, find out more about how the giant Lovell Telescope works and check out a science show or Meet an Expert in the Star Pavilion. Join the mailing list to get the full programme of events this summer http://www.jodrellbank.net

Down on the Farm

The summer holidays wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a farm and at Home Farm at Tatton Park this summer there are milking demonstrations, storytelling, baby chicks, pigs, horses, donkeys and sheep racing! There’s a play barn if the weather doesn’t play ball. Closed Mondays. http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/what_to_see_and_do/farm/farm.aspx

Behind the Scenes at the Museum

West Cheshire Museums have a fab programme of events this summer including free movie screenings at the Grosvenor Museum, rocket making at Weaver Hall Museum and paper costume making and string art at Newstead Gallery. Check out http://events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk for the full list.

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There has never been a better time for new ways to enjoy the spirit, from exploring new brands to trying new garnishes and tonics; there are literally 000’s of options available to you.

When we opened The Red Fox in 2014, we had 10 gins on the bar, today we are super proud of our growing collection, which now features over 130 bottles. Following the success of our recent beer festival, we decided it was time to celebrate our gin collection. Over the weekend of 1st & 2nd July we will have a marquee rammed with gin, the BBQ will be fired up and we will have live music and lawn games. No tickets are needed and admission is free.

Here is a guide to some of our current favourite gins:

Botanist – Scotland

An exciting and unusual gin from my favourite whisky distillery ‘Bruichladdich’. The Botanist contains no fewer than 31 botanicals, of which 22 are native to Islay itself. A floral gin with a lovely minty freshness at the end. Personally I love this served with plenty of ice, Fever Tree elderflower tonic and a sprig of rosemary.

Malfy – Italy

Made in Turin using lemons grown in Sicily and on the Amalfi coast, as well as botanicals including juniper, coriander, angelica and cassia bark. The result is a refreshing gin with a strong lemon sherbet mouth feel. Try this with some fresh thyme and a Fever Tree tonic, for more of a herbal style, whilst keeping the Mediterranean feel.

Pinkster – England

Pinkster is a British Gin with a lot of character and a lot of raspberries. First launched in July 2013, 5 botanicals are used to create this gin before its hand-steeped in fresh raspberries. This is a gin that has a raspberry twist rather than being a raspberry gin and the berries are actually quite subtle on the nose, while juniper stands its ground with a hint of pepper. Try this with tonic, a raspberry and a sprig of fresh mint.

Manchester Three Rivers – England

Manchester’s first ever city centre Gin Distillery; launched in 2016 – this is a well-balanced Premium Gin that is handcrafted in small batches. I would describe this very much as a modern gin, it’s well-balanced with a combination of 11 botanicals with a particularly smooth mouth-feel and a unique sweetness derived from vanilla, cinnamon, almond and oats. Serve with tonic, lots of ice and two fresh cherries for a lovely summery drink.

Brecon Gin – Wales

Another gin from a whisky producer – this one from Penderyn Distillery. Using botanicals from the four corners of the world and bottled using mineral water from the Beacons National Park from where the gin takes its name. There is a richness in flavour and a citrus hit that balances out the spices, I get hints of spicy cinnamon, which creates an interesting gin, that I believe lends itself to a simple serve of tonic and lime.

The Red Fox Gin

I can’t finish without a mention of our own gin, which we have made exclusively for us. We came up with a recipe, which created a floral led English gin featuring a special tea infusion and a hint of heather provides a wonderfully smooth finish. We recommend a simple serve of lots of ice, Fever Tree tonic and a slice of lemon.

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Formed in September 1983 when Shell, ICI and Unilever offered early retirement to many staff, but now open to all, the club has some 200 members who enjoy an active lifestyle and meet for social occasions.

At first, meetings were held in the Gatehouse of Burton Manor – hence the Club’s name. However, membership soon outgrew that venue so it now meets in the Gladstone Village Hall, Burton.

Every month (except August) there is a general meeting, forthcoming topics include Offa’s Dyke – our local history (July 6th, 2:30pm), Builders, Bankers and Bankrupts – People who made Liverpool famous (September 7th 2:30pm), Don’t Forget your Ration Book! (October 5th 2:30pm) and visits are organised to places of interest such as Airbus and The Mersey Tunnel.

The special interests of members are catered for by a number of groups. The artists meet every first and third week each month to discuss their work and help each other. They also hold an annual exhibition in Gladstone Village Hall (1st October this year) which is well worth a visit. The standard of work is very high and some of the pictures are offered for sale. Put a note of the date in your diary!

Throughout the summer the gardeners visit different gardens; forthcoming visits include Gilfach, Conway Valley (July), Clover Bank Organic Farm Congleton (August) and Biddulph Grange (September).

The ramblers are perhaps the most adventurous group, meeting every week to walk somewhere in the North West and North Wales. Walks are graded from short with a pub lunch to in excess of 10 miles and 3000ft of ascent. They also organise walking holidays in the Lake District in April and abroad in either May or mid-summer. This year it is Croatia.

From September to March, the travel group meet to listen to an illustrated talk on the adventures of members and others who have wandered the world. There have been talks on Peru, a Grand Tour of China, Provence, Canada and many other places. It often makes one want to go out there to visit oneself!

The literary group are multi-talented; in recent years the annual pantomime has been written produced and acted by members, much to the amusement of the Christmas Party audience. Quite how Tinkerbell manage to appear in The Pied Piper of Hamlin and Robin Hood as well as Peter Pan is something of a mystery, but thoroughly enjoyable! A recent meeting was devoted to writing limericks, one of which was:

Three pretty young lassies from Parkgate
Came to Burton a’seeking a mate
They went not to the pub
But the esteemed Gatehouse Club
But alas they arrived much too late’

For those who enjoy conversation in a convivial environment, the monthly luncheon group meet in a local public house on the first Monday of the month.

For more information, visit www.manorgatehouse.info

The post The Manor Gatehouse Club appeared first on Wirral Life Magazine.

Some birds are resident all year, like the familiar Blackbird, Robin and Blue Tit. Other species such as Dunlin, Knot and Curlew come to the Wirral to spend the winter feeding on the salt marshes. The Purple Sandpiper is a less common but notable visitor, found on the rocky shore of Hilbre Island.

Other birds migrate to the Dee to breed during the spring and summer. Avocets used to be limited to south and east England, but they are now slowly colonising the north-west, with a stronghold at the Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB reserve. Last year, 35 nests produced 73 chicks, a great success. Little Egrets, once scarce in Britain are now numerous on the Wirral.

Wirral’s location on the East Atlantic migration flyway, and with the Dee and Mersey rivers either side, mean that rare birds may turn up during migration time. They often are only seen briefly flying overhead, or maybe just stopping for a few hours. One has to be quick to see these scarcities in case they move on quickly!

A couple of winters ago, an American species called a Laughing Gull turned up at New Brighton and stayed for several weeks. Twitchers came from all over Britain to see it! Other recent scarce birds have included a White-tailed Eagle and a Black-winged Pratincole.

Mandarin ducks can be seen at Arrowe Park and other pools – the males look stunning. This species is native to China, but birds were imported into the UK in the past for private collections. Inevitably some escaped and there is now an increasing breeding population. Ironically their numbers are under threat from loss of habitat in China.

About Wirral Bird Club

Wirral Bird Club caters for all who have a common interest in wild birds – from the mildly curious to the keen, from the beginner to the experienced – all are welcome.

The aim of the club is to promote a general appreciation of bird watching, and in particular to provide opportunities for members to share their common interest in birds and to increase their knowledge of birds through a programme of meetings, lectures and visits to interesting bird watching sites.

Wirral Bird Club also supports national and local organisations concerned with the protection of birds and the conservation of bird habitats.

Monthly indoor meetings are held at 8pm on the fourth Thursday of each month (apart from August and December) at Kingsmead School Hall, Hoylake. Guest speakers offer illustrated presentations on a wide variety of bird-related topics.

Visitors are very welcome and the charge is £4.00, which includes light refreshments.

Outdoor field meetings are held most months of the year. Many field meetings are held on the Wirral, but also involve trips, some by coach to sites of particular interest.

Further details can be found at www.wirralbirdclub.com

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Where did your passion for art come from?
I’ve always been artistic, as a kid I would sit around for hours with my cousin and older brother drawing, often epic stickmen battles across multiple sheets of paper that we’d taped together. I’ve always been encouraged by my parents, family and teachers, so they’ve helped nurture any natural artistic abilities I had and give me the confidence to do it full time.

You trained in art including painting, drawing and sculpture – which genre is your favourite?
I don’t particularly have a favourite, as I like to try everything and push my skill base, but I probably specialise more in pencil drawings and oil painting. Sculpting is a lot of fun, whether in clay or stone, but it’s not often I get to do it as it’s very messy and time consuming, requiring a lot of space and a large budget because it’s more specialised work.

When you start on a new commission to paint a picture, how do you choose which medium to use?
I’ll decide the medium with the client based on a number of factors such as size, style and budget. The main point is usually what aesthetic look they’re looking for, it is high detailed and realistic, or more painterly with visable brush strokes. Other factors include the varnish, an oil painting will need to be left for 6-9 months to full dry before the final varnish can be applied and require a high gloss varnish to give it depth and bring out the colours. Where as acrylic paintings can be varnished after 24 hours and can have a matte varnish instead.

Have you worked on any notable projects or for any notable clients?
Yes, in 2011 my brother and I produced 5ft tall heads of Prince William and Kate to celebrate the Royal Wedding. A CIC in Chester makes giants for community events and we were asked to created fibreglass busts for their royal giants. In 2013, I painted a retirement portrait of Jamie Carragher for his 23 Foundation. It was meant to be auctioned off for charity but as it coincided with his retirement it was signed by all the players and staff at the Melwood training ground and presented to him as a retirement gift. More recently, I painted a series of canvases and murals at The Viking pub in West Kirby for Simmon Rimmer & the team at Flying Pig and Lobster. All the artwork was of local animals and Viking themed wildlife, which was fun to apint. The murals were done during the day so customers would be watching me and have a chat. The response has been fantastic, everyone loves them! Simon’s favourite is the Raven, but I think I like the badger most.

What do you think is the best piece of work that you’ve done and why?
I have a piece called ‘Storm’, an oil painting of a sunset shining through a storm out at sea. My Dad took a series of photos from his house in New Brighton which I used as the basis. I really played with the colour and light throughout it and tried to push myself. The other piece which stands out is a David Bowie portrait I was recently asked to do. It’s quite large, just over 100 x 75 cm.

Who has influenced your work the most?
My tutor, and friend, Terry McGunigle has influenced me more than I probably know. His guidance into discovering the importance of traditional and classical art has shown me the importance of proper knowledge and training. I often look back to things I used to struggle with and can clearly see I didn’t fully understand what I was looking at, whether it’s anatomy, perspective, light, colour theory or just my technique of painting.

What do you think of “competitive” painting – shows like Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, Landscape Artist of the Year?
I’ve not seen many of them, but I think they do help promote the arts and introduce it to new audiences, which is more important than anything.

How do you relax and switch off?
I play keyboards and used to be in a band, so music is always important to me. I like going for walks, drinks with friends and family, the usual.

To find out more about Joe, visit www.joeforrest.co.uk

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MD Productions will be working with a diverse group of people from the City Region, providing a free 12-month creative journey taking them from a blank canvas to performance ready. They will participate in evening provision classes to produce a show that reflects true life and the challenges of society today, whilst developing transferable skills. In the digital world, MD want to captivate people through creativity. Using creativity as a tool to gain transferable skills, to become interview ready, be able to pitch ideas, hold a business meeting, prepare for work, to instil self-confidence and self-esteem; as well as help people to reach their full potential and achieve all of their hopes and dreams. Preparing for work is just like preparing for a performance.

Performing Arts is not just about the stage, it’s recognising that every part of this creative journey is an enhancement to life skills. The #BlankCanvas campaign was kick started with a launch & networking event, working alongside Downtown in Business, to develop partnerships with other businesses in the City Region to support #BlankCanvas by offering work experience to people, inspirational talks and sponsorship.

Founder and Creative Director Miguel Doforo said: “I want anyone, from any area and any age within our City Region to access creativity and support for free. MD is a safe space where everyone can be themselves. We assist in removing barriers that can stand in the way including home life, education, childcare, finances, food, travel and isolation. This is more than performing arts, it’s everything from food which is our main ingredient to life, to connecting with the elderly who have a wealth of knowledge to share and a voice in today’s society. MD will wrap a support system around the whole creative journey – someone to talk to, someone to listen and signpost when needed. The link with City Region businesses will bridge the gap from community to business sector. Businesses have pledged to give inspirational talks, sponsor the project and offer work experience. It’s all about giving five minutes of your time to all that access #BlankCanvas.”

For more information, please contact: migueldoforo@mdproductionsltd.com

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