CONNECT Diversity Week 1st-5th February 2010

Mark Eccleston Paralympic Champion

Launching Diversity Week, is former Paralympian Mark Eccleston. At the age of 16, Mark suffered an injury in which he severed his spinal cord. As a result he is now tetraplegic, paralysed and a full time wheelchair user. Mark has competed in wheelchair tennis in many major events, including rugby at the Paralympics in Atlanta. He gained a silver medal in tennis at the Paralympics in Athens. Hear from Mark how he dealt with his accident at such a young age and his advice in implementing some of the principles he used to be a successful International wheelchair athlete, into your working and everyday life.
Location: H3
1st Feb 2010, 10:00am - 12:00pm | Book now Open to all

French Language Taster Session

Fun session for beginners with Shirley Gaskell and students - KS2/3 Course Leader MFL Faculty of Education
Location: SPS014
1st Feb 2010, 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Book now Open to all

Urdu Language Taster Session

Fun session for beginners with Waheeda Qazi – Associate Lecturer Faculty of Education
Location: Faculty of Health and Social Care - SOLSTICE Green Room
1st Feb 2010, 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Book now Open to all

The Gender Trust

An insight from the largest Registered Charity in a position to help adults throughout the United Kingdom who are Transsexual, Gender Dysphoric, Transgender (i.e. those who seek to adjust their lives to live as women or men, or come to terms with their situation despite their genetic background), or those who's lives are affected by gender identity issues. Presenter, Michelle Bridgman, is a Psychotherapist and is currently on a Doctoral programme where her subject is the treatment of people presenting with gender identity issues.
Location: E15
1st Feb 2010, 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Book now Open to all

Launch Event

Your opportunity to find out about and celebrate equality and diversity at Edge Hill University and the local community. Presented by John Cater, with a performance from ‘Voices From the Edge’. Refreshments provided.
Location: Sages
2nd Feb 2010, 10:00am - 11:30pm | By Invitation

"From Risk to Resilience"

A two hour workshop designed to highlight to staff of the University the risk factors associated with self-harm amongst students. Using case studies the counselling service will demonstrate how staff can work collaboratively to minimise risk and build resilience throughout the student community. With the Edge Hill University Counselling team.
Location: W9
2nd Feb 2010, 12:00pm - 2:00pm | Book now Staff only

Dyslexia and Higher Education – a taster session for members of public, students and staff

The session aims to raise your awareness about dyslexia and establish a positive attitude towards dealing with the issue. Increasing numbers of dyslexics are entering Higher Education as both undergraduates and postgraduates, often having experienced stigma or discrimination in the school sector. The session is provided by a dyslexic, with postgraduate qualifications, who works supporting other dyslexics in the HE sector. With Craig Collinson - Academic Support Officer
Location: SOLSTICE Green Room
2nd Feb 2010, 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Book now Open to all

GENSEX Workshop

New research into gender, sexuality and pop music, featuring the music of Amanda Palmer and Tori Amos. It also focuses on contemporary British literature, including the work of the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy and the bestselling novelist Sarah Waters, and also problematises current NHS legislation which excludes men who have sex with men from blood donation.

SPEAKER ONE: Andrew Farnan: 'The Mistress and the Maid: Emerging Sisterhood in the Nineteenth-century Domestic Sphere'
SPEAKER TWO: Emma Allen: 'The Genderless Nature of Love in Carol Ann Duffy's, Rapture and Jeanette Winterson's Written on the Body'.
SPEAKER THREE: Peter Lee: 'Do nothing amazing today: reading the NHS exclusion of men who have sex with men from blood donation'.
SPEAKER FOUR: Francesca Lewis: ‘Truth or Dare: Amanda Palmer, Tori Amos and Methods of Feminist Catharsis’.

Location: M49
2nd Feb 2010, 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Book now Open to all

No Limits Theatre presents CUCKOO JACK

Son of a clockmaker, Jack left home early, drawn towards the river and its ever changing tides. Jack proves to have a rare talent for finding things, trinkets, treasures and people – alive or dead. Jack’s a man of few words, in fact, now I think about it he doesn’t speak at all.

No Limits, a theatre company of disabled and non disabled actors, invites you on a fascinating journey of intrigue and allegations. We follow Jack as his past returns to haunt him and we must decide if he is an innocent victim of circumstance or a heartless criminal.
Location: Rose Theatre
2nd Feb 2010, 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Tickets: £8.50 / £6.50 concessions. | Open to all

LGF Foundation: The lesbian, gay and bisexual community and the issues that they face

Common barriers and challenges around issues including data, monitoring, religion, adoption and homophobia and how they can be overcome. Including an involved session around individual attitudes and perceptions of the lesbian, gay and bisexual community; giving people an opportunity to discuss their individual experiences openly.
Location: SOLSTICE Red Room
3rd Feb 2010, 10:00am - 12:00pm | Book now Open to all

German Language Taster Session

Fun session for beginners with John Bostock - Senior Lecturer PCET, Faculty of Education.
Location: SOLSTICE Red Room
3rd Feb 2010, 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Book now Open to all

Hear Here – An introduction to British Sign Language

British Sign Language taster workshop with Graham Powell
(reserve session)
Location: SPS017
3rd Feb 2010, 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Fully booked

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Society Awareness Session

A fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into LGBT student issues. Representatives from Edge Hill Students’ Union LGBT society will be in attendance, and the session will be run by former President, Ben Smith.
Location: SOLSTICE Red Room
3rd Feb 2010, 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Book now Open to all

Experiences of the Holocaust – Miriam’s Story and Myher’s Story.

Cynthia Miles - Graduate Teacher Training Programme Leader, Faculty of Education, talks about the real experiences of Jewish people during the Holocaust.
Location: M49
3rd Feb 2010, 5:00pm - 7:00pm | Book now Open to all

WHERE THE WATER MEETS THE SKY – a film narrated by Morgan Freeman

Where the Water Meets the Sky was produced by Camfed (the Campaign for Female Education) an organisation dedicated to fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa by educating girls and investing in economic and leadership opportunities for young women. The film tells the inspiring story of 23 women from rural Zambia who are trained in filmmaking. This uplifting documentary follows this courageous group as they produce a film about an issue that no one will discuss: the plight of young women orphaned by AIDS.
Location: Rose Theatre
3rd Feb 2010, 7:30pm | Free Event | More details available via the Rose Theatre Box Office | Open to all

Guide Dogs For the Blind with demonstration

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association wants a society in which blind and partially-sighted people enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else. Come along and watch our guide dog demonstration team. Why not volunteer to take part in a blind fold walk led by our amazing guide dog! A guide dog owner will also speak about how her guide dog has transformed her life.
Location: The Venue
4th Feb 2010, 10:00am - 12:00pm | Book now Open to all

The Dark Horse Venture

The organisation will be speaking about the work they do with older people, the homeless, and those with mental health issues.
Location: SOLSTICE Green Room
4th Feb 2010, 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Book now Fully booked

Portuguese Language Taster Session

Fun session for beginners with John Bostock - Senior Lecturer PCET, Faculty of Education.
Location: SOLSTICE Green Room
4th Feb 2010, 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Book now Open to all

Hear Here – An introduction to British Sign Language

British Sign Language taster workshop with Graham Powell
(reserve session)
Location: SPS017
4th Feb 2010, 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Book now Open to all

Such a long story: Chinese culture and the Liverpool Chinese Community

The session aims to raise your awareness about Chinese culture, in particularly contemporary British Chinese culture, and use the Liverpool Chinese Community as a case study to illustrate how the community settles and becomes part of the scenery. With Alan Seatwo - Knowledge Management Specialist
Location: SOLSTICE Green Room
4th Feb 2010, 3:00pm - 4:00pm | Book now Open to all

Engaging with the Community – why do we really need to....

Participants will explore ideas around engaging with the Community, looking at those communities that are traditionally under represented and the methods and approaches adopted. With Mohammed Dhalech – Partnership Associate
Location: W10
4th Feb 2010, 4:00pm - 5:30pm | Book now Open to all

MILK – a film starring Sean Penn

The film tells the story of Harvey Milk, and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official. It traces Milk's career from his 40th birthday to his death as he leaves the closet and New York, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Francisco's growing gay community, and organizes gays' purchasing power to build political alliances. His life changed history. His courage changed lives.
Location: Rose Theatre
4th Feb 2010, 7:30pm | Tickets: £3.00 / £2.50 concessions. | Open to all

West Lancashire Women’s Refuge

West Lancashire Women’s Refuge Ltd provides support to women who have experienced or are exposed to domestic violence or abuse. They empower and support women in determining their own futures. This session with give participants a greater insight into the challenges faced by these women, and the services provided by the Refuge.
Location: SOLSTICE Red Room
5th Feb 2010, 10:00am - 12:00pm | Book now Open to all

Introduction to CONNECT Befriending Scheme with case studies

Find out about how our students support their peers through our social mentoring Bridging project.
Location: SPS016
5th Feb 2010, 10:00am - 11:00am | Book now Open to all

Southport Hearing Dogs

Meet Alison Chester and her dog Dodger from Southport Hearing Dogs! Alison will be talking about the Hearing Dogs organisation, the work they do, and how having a hearing dog has helped her.
Location: SPS016
5th Feb 2010, 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Book now Open to all

Spanish Language Taster Session

Fun session for beginners with Shirley Gaskell - KS2/3 Course Leader MFL Faculty of Education
Location: SOLSTICE Red Room
5th Feb 2010, 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Book now Open to all

Rwanda post genocide, an international volunteering experience

An opportunity to hear a volunteer's perspective on how a country is healing post genocide and how it is tackling supporting the recovery of its people alongside the ongoing problem of poverty, with particular emphasis on the volunteer's experience of one village's recovery and its maternity services.
Location: SOLSTICE Red Room
5th Feb 2010, 3:00pm - 4:30pm | Book now Open to all