News and Press Releases

8 JULY 2009

ROCK THE BOAT

Mencap is holding a club night, 'Rock the Boat' open to everyone, with or without learning disabilities at Proud Camden. DJ Tim Westwood, live music from Heavy Load and La Rebia Fam, Wildbunch DJ's and surprise guests. Please see flyer for more details. (PDF)

JAMES PATRICK SMITH

We were extremely saddened to learn of the sudden death of James, after a tragic accident. James ran the London Marathon for VOICE UK on two occasions. Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family at this time.

JUSTICE AWARDS 20 OCTOBER 2009

VOICE UK is very proud to be on the awarding panel of this year's Justice Awards.

The Justice Awards is an annual campaign, led by OCJR, which recognises outstanding achievement by staff and volunteers working within the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in England and Wales.

Founded in 2004 by Baroness Scotland when she was Minister of State at the Home Office, the awards continue to enjoy her enthusiastic support in her role as Attorney General. Senior criminal justice ministers, including the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary, take part in the annual judging panel and attend the awards ceremony.

The ceremony takes place in Whitehall and last year’s host was Kirsty Young from the BBC’s Crimewatch programme. It coincides with Inside Justice Week which receives both local and national media coverage.

To reward those who ‘go the extra mile’ in their work with victims, witnesses, defendants or offenders
To showcase teamwork and cross-agency working, encouraging staff and volunteers to feel part of a single public service aimed at delivering justice
To engage key stakeholder organisations through sponsorship and support of the awards
To communicate with the public through association with the Inside Justice Week campaign
To encourage the public to have their say by voting for the ‘People’s Award’ run in collaboration with a media partner
To contribute to public confidence by increasing positive media coverage and focusing attention on good practice in the CJS

Please read the Information pack and nominate an individual or team that you feel deserves recognition. (Justice Awards pack PDF)

LOTTERY GRANT MARCH 2009

VOICE UK was awarded a Big Lottery grant of £180,000 in March to open three regional offices in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Devon and Cornwall.

VOICE UK TRIP TO EKATERINBERG, RUSSIA DECEMBER 13-18 2008

We flew from Heathrow to Ekaterinberg a bundle of nerves, baggage and paperwork.

We arrived to the shock of the cold and the complexities of the Russian airline ticket system (never rely on email tickets to Russia, it get very complicated!). We were warmly greeted by our hosts and set up shop in the offices of the Consul General in Ekaterinberg.

Our two day seminar was attended by a broad range of very senior professionals from health, social care and political life. Despite our training materials being confiscated by Customs, we were able to deliver a series of workshops and discussions. The whole experience was satisfying and humbling in equal measure. Our new friends spoke of the very poor treatment of disabled people in Russia and the ways in which basic are is often denied them. Access to justice for crimes committed against them seeems a very long way away. Participants said they were inspired by our presentations to go and try to achieve better outcomes in all spheres of society.

The Ombudsman of Sverdlovskaya Region, Tatiana Merzlykova, invited us to her offices and presented us with pottery typical of the region. We met her staff and heard of the important human rights work of her officers. At a reception held at the residence of the Consul General, Jenny Lock, one of the participants gave a moving vote of thanks to us for our contribution. We felt privileged and proud

Our hosts Elena and Anna were very pleased with the seminar and have plans for future work in this field. Our interpreter, also called Elena, was very skilled as well as being very patient.

We have lots of ideas to develop these links further and will be trying hard to secure funding for these initiatives.

Dos Ve Denya!

Ekaterinberg City Centre and Kathryn and Rebecca taking a tour of Ekaterinberg.

Ekaterinberg City Centre Seeing the sights of Ekaterinberg

British Consulate Staff and Elena our fantastic interpreter

British Consulate Staff Elena our fantastic interpreter

Tatiana Merzlykova, Ombudsman of the Sverdlovskaya Region, presented us with some typical Urals pottery during our visit.

Presentation by Tatiana Merzlykova, Ombudsman of the Sverdlovskaya Region

LONDON MARATHON SUNDAY 26 APRIL 2009

RESULTS

JOEY BEAVIS AND JAKE LOWE

Well done Jake and Joey. Fantastic achievement. Jake 3 hours 5 minutes and Joey 3 hours 30 minutes.

ANDREW BECK

Thank you Andrew. Your first marathon in just over 5 hours!

RAJPREET CHIMA, LISA FAIRCLOUGH, KERRY KANE AND NICHOLA NICHOLSON

Brilliant Kerry - 4 hours 40 minutes. Lisa fantastic 3 hours 46 minutes. Raj 4 hours 38 minutes unbelievable. Nichola 4 hours 16 minutes what an achievement.

A massive thanks to all our runners this year. We look forward to seeing you soon

.Please support them and take time to visit their pages on www.justgiving.com.

VISIT OF SARA PAYNE, VICTIM'S CHAMPION TO VOICE UK

Sara Payne visited VOICE UK on 19 February 2009 to find out more about us and to talk to service users about the needs of vulnerable victims and witnesses.

Visit of Sara Payne to VOICE UK on 19 February 2009