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Positive Strides UK
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News & Events
December 2012
Mark Straker would like to thank all of the people, organisations, businesses, facilitators and staff who have contributed to another fantastic year for Positive Strides UK. Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. |
December 2012
The RG1 educational film initiative took place at the Vue cinema to a capacity audience. The event was filmed by Meridian TV and went out on ITV 1 on Saturday 8th December. The premiere was also covered by BBC Radio Berkshire. |
November 2012
The RG1 film initiative has been completed and the film will premiere at the VUE cinema in central Reading on December 4th. |
November 2012
As the RG1 project nears completion, project manager Mark Straker got the opportunity to meet Graeme Curran, AKA 13D, the man who made the soundtrack for the film. The interview was conducted by Gary Stanton from Blast 1386FM.
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October 2012
As part of the black history month celebrations, project manager Mark Straker was invited to the civic centre in Reading to discuss his personal journey and the success he has had running Positive Strides UK.
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October 2012
October saw the Positive Strides manager on the airwaves being interviewed on several radio stations in Reading promoting and discussing the issues raised by the film project RG1.
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October 2012
October saw Positive Strides engaged in a number of events to celebrate Black History month. One of the key events was the striving for unity exhibition held at the University of Hertfordshire in which national freestylers performed, a celebrity six a side competition and a Q&A with the footballers took place.
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October 2012
Members of the Irish Network Stevenage committee met with Dr Katrina Navickas from the University of Hertfordshire to finalise the transcripts for the oral history book which will complete the outcomes for the project.
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September 2012
Talks have taken place with Ruth Stratton from Stevenage Museum and confirmation has been granted for the IC Project to hold its exhibition at the museum in 2013. |
August 2012
Filming for the RG1 short film project has begun. The film is scheduled to be shot over 3 days at various locations in Reading.
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August 2012
Dean Smith from the hit TV series, Waterloo Road, gave the young participants on the RG1 project an insight into the world of TV acting with an interactive masterclass on Saturday at the St Lawrence centre in Reading.
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August 2012
X Factor finalist Andy Abraham came to Reading to talk all things X Factor with the young people on the RG1 course. A lively Q&A with the young people was followed by a fantastic vocal performance by Andy.
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August 2012
As part of the ongoing RG1 training workshops, actor Richie Campbell (Star of box office hit film Annuvahood) gave young people an insight into the movie industry through an interactive Q&A.
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August 2012
On Saturday, young people were given a masterclass in stunt choreography from one of the country's top stunt coordinators, Ray Nicholas. Ray, whose movie credits include Titanic, Gladiator, The Da Vinci Code and Harry Potter the Deathly Hallows, introduced the young people to a variety of stunt fighting techniques as well as secret tricks of the trade.
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August 2012
The RG1 short film project has begun its intensive rehearsal programme for young people aged 14-19. |
July 2012
Students at Marriotts School in Stevenage were entertained when radio 1 extra music artist Harry Shotta dropped in to carry out a series of workshops culminating in the students making a rap song with an Irish theme.
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July 2012
Local Stevenage primary schools were given a end of term treat when Irish dance teacher Maria Grant visited students to deliver some highly energetic Irish dance workshops. Maria gave a talk on traditional Irish costume, taught the students a variety of traditional Irish dance moves and performed for the students.
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June 2012
As part of the Project Postcode Reading initiative, Mark Straker has written a gritty urban script entitled 'RG1'. Young people over the next six weeks will be given the opportunity to engage in workshops looking at the cause and effect of knife crime. They will participate in Q&A's with celebrities from the world of television and film and will also be given the option of taking part both in front and behind of the camera for the film itself.
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June 2012
An oral history training workshop was carried out at the together centre in Stevenage on the 25th June The Workshop, which is part of the IC Project funded by the Heritage Lottery, was facilitated by Andrew Green.
(MA Cantab) who is a senior visiting research fellow of the University of
Hertfordshire.
The key objective of the workshop was to enable the Irish network Stevenage
committee members to gain practical knowledge and experience of interviewing
techniques. This will then be translated into the forthcoming memories days
where members of the local Irish community will be interviewed and their stories recorded and transcribed into book form.
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May 2012
Members of the local Irish community in Stevenage have started work on producing an Irish flag, incorporating Stevenage town centre and made entirely from cotton.
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April 2012
Talks are underway with North Herts College centre for the arts on the new educational training initiative entitled 'Zero Zone'. This project, created by Mark Straker, seeks to engage 16-19 year olds on a range of film production activities giving them real work experience and qualifications.
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April 2012
A successful evaluation meeting with Kate Fry from the Heritage lottery fund has taken place with the project milestones being met.
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March 2012
The Positive Strides major film and educational initiative ‘project Postcode’ has begun in partnership with Bredrin Filmworks.
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March 2012
Radio 1 Extra urban music stars Harry Shotta and Erb n Dub are proving to be an overwhelming success. The pupils at Brandles school have recorded two tracks and a radio show to promote their music.
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March 2012
The Hertfordshire University press department have agreed to support the Irish Network Stevenage oral history book project. Discussions are underway to decide if they will fully design and publish the book, or support in the research, design and publication of the project's book.
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February 2012
Following on from the success of the IIE project in Stevenage and Broxbourne, Positive Strides has teamed up with learners at The Brandles School in North Herts to deliver an innovative music project using top music artists Harry Shotta and Erb n Dub.
More information and pictures to follow. |
January 2012
Sarah Lloyd, a historian from the University of Hertfordshire recently met with the Irish Network Stevenage and agreed to help produce the oral history book with associated training workshops for the Stevenage local community. The project aims to capture the history and experiences of the older Irish settlers before those memories fade and are lost forever. The work that the University will undertake will enable this information to be passed on to local first, second and third generations who have have roots in Ireland and the wider community and have little or no knowledge of the people who built the foundations of the businesses and homes that they now occupy and work in within the town. |
December 2011
The innovative IIE (Innovation Into Employment) project has this year been enhanced to include accredited outcomes for all young people taking the course. The first intake from Marriotts school have undertaken two separate accredited NCFE units in addition to gaining a first aid qualification. All future units will be accredited through NCFE and verified by North Herts College. |
November 2011
A host of stars turned out for the charity fund raising event held by Bredrin Filmworks in Reading. Positive Strides Director Mark Straker said 'I was overwhelmed by the support and hard work that the Bredrin Filmworks team had put in at such short notice to make the event a success. This event has created an awareness of Project Postcode and this bodes really well for the future'.
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October 17th 2011
On Saturday 19th November 2011 Celebrities from the television, film, sporting and music world will walk the red carpet for a charity gala night.
A champagne reception, four course meal, live entertainment, raffle and auction prizes promises a fantastic fun filled evening.
Tickets for this event are on sale now! Full details can be found on: www.eventelephant.com/projectpostcode
For VIP tickets and further media enquiries please contact the PR team: public.relations@bredrinfilmworks.com |
October 12th 2011
Positive strides will be holding a special fundraising charity gala night with the stars at the Shehnai Banqueting Suite, 75-77 London Street on the 19 of November 2011.
The main purpose of this event is to Raise Funds to plan and implement the project postcode educational Initiative in Reading. (poster attached for people to view). Tickets prices includes a 5 course meal and entertainment as well as a chance to sit at a table with a star from the world of Television and Film. Further updates to follow.
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Sept 29th 2011
As part of the ongoing IC (Irish Contribution) project a traditional Irish recipe cookbook has been compiled by members of the Irish community in Stevenage and will be published in October. In addition a fabulous Irish folk music CD entitled 'Sail away' has been recorded and produced by local Irish group 'Mourne Dew'. Both items will be available for purchase through the Irish Network.
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July 8th 2011
Bunmi Mojekwu who plays Mercy in Eastenders dropped in to Marriotts school as part of the 'inside the actors studio' initiative being run by Positive Strides. Students from Lonsdale and Marriott's schools participated in a Q&A with the star.
Bunmi commented 'When Mark Straker asked me to come up to Stevenage and talk to the students about the realities of the film and television industry, I didn't hesitate. I think that what Mark is trying to do with the Badge of Honour project is absolutely phenominal and I wish him all the best in trying to secure funding for such a fantastic project'.
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April 2011
BBC Radio 1 Xtra rapper Harry Shotta recently visited Turnford School along with DJ Erb N' Dub to carry out an interactive rap and literacy workshop. After the event he stated that "it was both an honour and a pleasure working for Positive Strides on their NEET initiative. I look forward to further partnership working in the near future". |
March 2011
The main aim of the project is to ensure that the Irish community's significant contributions to the building of Stevenage as a New Town are captured and preserved for future generations before they are lost.
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February 2nd 2011
Mark Straker the director of Positive Strides UK recently had the honour of delivering a lecture to students studying entrepreneurship and enterprise at the University of Hertfordshire Business School. March 2011 - Stevenage Irish Network commission Positive Strides.
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February 1st 2011
As part of the badge of honour film initiative on the 4th of February 2011, Positive Strides will show their latest film "FAKE" starring Andrew Brooke, Ben Bishop and introducing Sinead Kellett.
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January 17th 2011
After a year long intensive educational work programme the showcase of the Positive Strides Badge of Honour disability/paralympic film initiative will take place at Stevenage Cineworld on the 4th February 2011 from 10.30 am to 12.45 pm.
the showcase will include films made by Lonsdale students which were facilitated by Yakkety Yak multi media and short films and documentaries facilitated by Clare Lockhart from the BBC.
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December 2010
Everyone at Positive Strides wishes everyone a Happy Christmas and a fantastic New year!
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December 2010
Positive Strides UK will be moving from the Business Technology Centre in Stevenage to the University of Hertfordshire.
Our new address details are as follows:
Positive Strides UK
3rd Floor, Incubation Centre
Maclaurin Building
4 Bishops Square
Business Park
Hatfield, AL10 9NE
Tel: 07703 179377
Fax: 01707 285127
Email: info@positivestrides.org.uk
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November 2010
Students from Marriotts School in Stevenage have completed 2 short documentaries entitled 'Your words Our Slang' & 'Young, old and safe streets in Stevenage' which is part of the Herts Youth Neet funded Programme. Copies are available upon request.
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December 2010
Top urban rapper Harry Shotta recently visited marriotts school and worked with a group of young people under the Hets Youth funded NEET programme to produce a Hip Hop Cd. Copies available on request.
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September 2010
Positive strides have recently been contracted by Herts Regional College to provide innovative film and media training with young people between the ages of 14 to 16 who are not in Education Employment or Training.
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September 2010
Positive strides have recently been contracted by Herts Regional College to provide innovative film and media training with young people between the ages of 14 to 16 who are not in Education Employment or Training.
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September 2010
Two established actors Andrew Brooke (The Bank Job, Sherlock Holmes and Cemetery Junction) and Ben Bishop (Don't Look Back, My Last Five Girlfriends) have signed up to the short entitled 'false liaison' which is part of the Badge of Honour film initiative. |
September 2010
Marriott Movie Makers working alongside BBC producer Clare Lockhart have completed their 48 hour film challenge
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August 2010
Positive Strides are pleased to announce that development producer Clare Lockhart whose credits include: Imagine (BBC1), Child of Our Time (BBC1/2) and War at Door (BBC1) has agreed to facilitate the 48 hour film challenge with Marriotts Movie Makers.
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August 2010
A group of students have formed themselves as Marriotts movie makers and have accepted the Positive strides film challenge of writing, producing and filming a short film in 2 days – more details to follow.
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July 2010
As part of the Badge of Honour project Positive Strides introduced their own version of ''Inside the Actors Studio.
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July 2010
As part of the Badge of Honour project Positive Strides will be working with PHEONIX, a local charity that works with children and young people up to the age of 25 who have a hearing impediment.
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June 2010
The badge of honour project has sustained a development grant from the Hertfordshire youth's big spend budget to work with both abled bodied and disabled students at Marriotts and Lonsdale School.
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May 2010
Positive Strides docufilm 'Tellin' It Straight' about a group of teenagers from a youth club in Stevenage providing a fascinating insight on subjects such as street life, stereotypes and their quest for acceptance through music has premiered on sky channel 539, virgin channel 233 and freeview channel 87 as part of meet the future season.
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12th Novemeber 2009 - 20.42pm
Following on from the successful So you wanna Be summer roadshow in Reading project Manager Mark Straker will be working on forming partnership alliances with key organisations and schools in Reading to develop the next phase of the project.
More details to follow.
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07th October 2009 - 14.42pm
Lonsdale school in stevenage have become the second school to sign up to the new Disability & Diversity educational film initiative entitled "Badge Of Honour." The project is due to be officially launched in October 2009. More information to follow.
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07th October 2009 - 14.42pm
The recently completed Second chance short film starring Aml Ameen, Alison Steadman, David Harewood, Susan Vidler, Julian Sands and Philip jackson has been selected for the Mid Atlanta American Film festival. More information to follow.
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07th October 2009 - 14.42pm
The second Chance short film starring Aml Ameen, Alison Steadman, David Harewood, Susan Vidler, Julian Sands and Philip jackson has been selected for the International BFM film Festival in London. More informaton to follow.
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07th October 2009 - 14.42pm
The second chance short film starring Aml Ameen, Alison Steadman, David Harewood, Susan Vidler, Julian Sands and Philip jackson has been selected for the coveted Raindance film Festival. More Information to follow.
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07th October 2009 - 14.42pm
As a result of being selected forvthe Raindance film festival Second Chance starring Aml Ameen, Alison Steadman, David Harewood, Susan Vidler, Julian Sands and Philip jackson has been submitted to BAFTA for consideration in their short film awards section.
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28th September 2009 - 21.02pm
We've just uploaded footage from the Premier of the Postive Strides 2009 project: 'Second Chance'.
Rebecca Walsh interviews key actors including Aml Ameen, director Clint Dyer, Project Manager Mark Straker and more.
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28th July 2009 - 19.02pm
Positive Strides UK have relocated to the Business Technology Centre in Stevenage.
The new address and contact details are:
Positive Strides Uk
Business & Technology Centre
Bessemer Drive
Stevenage
Herts, SG1 2DX
Main Line: 0845 078 0700
Fax Line: 01438 310001
Email: info@positivestrides.org.uk
Web: www.positivestrides.org.uk
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17th June 2009 - 15.52pm
Marriott's school in stevenage have become the first school to sign up to the new Disability & Diversity educational film initiative entitled "Badge Of Honour." Project manager Mark Straker recently spoke to year 9 students about the project and the opportunities available to the school. More information to follow...
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17th June 2009 - 15.34pm
Positive strides UK have been invited to the BBC TV Children's festival to talk to audiences about their innovative film/educational models of engagement for young people.
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5th June 2009 - 16.00pm
Positive strides UK are to work in partnership with Hertfordshire's youth connexions to produce a series of short films highlighting the Transport issues facing young people in Watford.
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16th May 2009 - 17.23pm
Positive strides UK are pleased to announce that their latest short film initiative entitled "second chance" Starring Alison Steadman, David Harewood,Aml Ameen, Susan Vidler, Philip Jackson and Julian Sands has officially been completed. Special screenings are in the process of being organised.
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24th November 2008 -
19.43pm
Positive Strides UK will be commemorating their 10th year with a star studded film showcase on the 23rd of january 2009. More information on this exciting event to follow shortly.
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12th August 2008 -
19.43pm
Positive strides has recently signed up to become a supporter of the Homeless world cup. The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations working with over 25,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year.
Please visit: www.homelessworldcup.org.
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14th June 2008 -
14.13pm
Two more film stars have agreed to star in Second Chance the exciting film collaboration between Positive Strides & Hertswood Arts College. Aml Ameen (kidulthood & fallout) and Susan Vidler (Trainspotting & Clueless) will have central roles as teachers in the film. |
14th June 2008 -
14.13pm
Three of Britain's top film stars Alison Steadman, David
Harewood and Julian Sans have agreed to star alongside some of
Hertfordshire’s top drama students in the forthcoming film Second
Chance.
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 23rd
April 2008 -
1.07am
Thank you all very much for taking the time to vote for 'One of Us?' which was recently screened at the VSM Festival in Los Angeles.
The fantastic news is we WON!
'One of Us?' topped Best Drama in its category at the Award Ceremony held on 12 April 2008 in Hollywood, CA, USA. We are all absolutely thrilled and delighted with winning this accolade, and I would like to thank all those who provided support throughout this Project.
Once again thank you very much for casting your votes, and look forward to being nominated for our next movie!
Best regards,
Mark Straker |
2nd Jan 2008 - 3.26pm
A new and dynamic film project called 'Second Chance' has just been launched at Hertswood school in Borehamwood. Actors Stefan Booth (The Bill & Hollyoaks), Angela Wynter (Yolande in Eastenders), Leon Ockenden (Star of Hertbeat) and the film director Clint Dyer were on show at the launch. Further details to follow shortly... |
3rd December 2007 -
23.26pm
The 'One of us' short film has been selected for the short film London Film Festival as part of the Teenage Britain Catagory and will be eligible for the annual teenage Jury award. The film will be shown on the 10th January 2008, at the Curzon cinema 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1 5YD. |
23rd October 2007 - 11.26am
A film project shot locally in Hitchin is on the verge of prestigious film honours. "One of Us" the brainchild of local writer Mark Straker recently premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival as one of the top ten short films for 2007 as voted by the UK film council. Now further recognition beckons as the film is about to be submitted to Bafta under the short film category. |
2nd July 2007 - 9.36am
'One of Us' premieres at this year's Edinburgh film festival on Monday 20th August 2007. |
3rd June 2007 - 13.16pm
The ground breaking 'One of Us' Short film has been voted in as one of the top 10 short films for 2007 by the UK Film Council. |
09th June 2005 - 18.06pm
Mark Straker the writer and project Manager of positive Strides uk has won the British cinema award for the short educational film initiative "Pukka" |
23rd July 2004 - 15.36pm
Positive strides captured the youth initiatives Award for North Herts & Stevenage at the comet Awards evening. |
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Registered Charity Number: 1129757
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