‘Anya17′ is the world’s first Opera written to raise awareness of Sex Trafficking and premieres on March 7th at the newly-refurbished Epstein Theatre in Liverpool before moving on to The RNCM in Manchester on March 9th.

A rehearsal at the RNCM in Manchester was attended by representatives from some of the eleven NGOs backing the project. Tony Lloyd MP, an official supporter from the very start, was there to both meet the Cast and to offer some words of encouragement following the Cast’s recent meeting with local Sex Trafficking survivors.

Ben Kaye, Anya17′s Librettist said: “It was a fantastic rehearsal and it was wonderful to have Tony there to lend his much-appreciated support. Not only was he obviously very sure of his ground with regard to the issues raised but the time he spent with the Cast was quite clearly a great morale booster as they tackled a deeply disturbing subject – of which the public is largely unaware. On behalf of Anya17 I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Tony for finding time in his incredibly busy schedule to take such an interest in the project, and for continuing to raise awareness of the 800,000 young women and girls trafficked into the EU each and every year.”

For more information please visit www.anya17.co.uk

February is National Heart Month and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) are asking the people of Manchester to join National Wear Red Day on Friday 24 February 2012 and to follow the BEAT code for simple steps to a healthier heart.

In National Heart Month, the BHF encourages people across the UK to think about their own hearts and the hearts of those around them. The nation’s heart charity also needs people across the UK to get involved with National Wear Red Day, and raise vital funds for the charity’s life-saving work.

By wearing red and raising money, you will help the BHF to save lives through pioneering research, patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital information.

It is a common misperception that heart disease is more common in men than women when in fact it kills 1 in 3 women, as well as 1 in 3 men and kills three times more women than breast cancer. Funds raised during National Heart Month can support the BHF to help the 2.7 million people in the UK currently living with heart disease.

A national campaign to end legal loan sharks received a boost this week with high profile support from some of Greater Manchester’s most senior political figures.

Campaigners to end legal loan sharks – payday lenders who provide short term loans with interest rates as high as 4,500% APR – were joined by several MPs from across Greater Manchester, including Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd.

Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow in central London, is leading the campaign nationally and came up to support the event, which was held in Manchester this week. Stella said:

“It was great to join the MPs and councillors who have been campaigning to end legal loan sharking across Greater Manchester to raise awareness of the impact of these companies on their local communities.

“The campaign will continue until the Government acts to cap the cost of credit and so stop these lenders exploiting those struggling to make ends meet in Britain.

“I’d urge everybody in Greater Manchester worried about the activities of these companies to sign the e-petition: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20219”

On 8 February 2012 Tony attended a medal reception held by the Pakistan Recovery Fund in Parliament. The event, which saw Dr Wakkas Khan from the Muslim Youth Foundation in Manchester receive a bronze medal, recognised Mosques and Community Centres throughout the UK which made a significant contribution to the fund.

This week Tony Lloyd signed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who died during the Holocaust.

Friday January 27th marked the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp which is the site of the largest mass murder in history – and in the weeks running up to the day, the Holocaust Educational Trust placed a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons, giving MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed during their Holocaust and encouraging constituents to actively speak out against prejudice and bigotry today.

In the weeks around Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. This year, people will also be encouraged to take a stand against racism and prejudice today – and to speak out against hatred wherever they encounter it.

At last the Ukrainian Christmas celebration – very lively.

The reception, held on 13 Decemeber 2011, raised awareness of meningitis and septicaemia. Dr Hilary Jones and Dr Nelly Ninnis from St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, were available to speak to guests.

You can read about this here.