Giles Potter to Play at London 02 Arena!!!

02 National Singing Competition Final for Giles Potter!

Following his success in the W Factor, Giles potter from Worcester has just made it through to the Grand Final of Open Mic UK! He’ll now play one of the world’s best music venues after wowing the crowd and judging panel at the Open Mic UK Area Finals to land a place in the National Grand Final at The O2 in London!

After taking part in auditions against thousands of other unsigned musicians across the UK and impressing the judging panel with their vocals, they went on to perform live on stage, battling through both Regional and Area final heats. They’re now set to perform at the Open Mic UK Grand Final at the IndigO2 at the O2 in London on 21^st January 2012!

Previous winner Birdy still at only 15 years of age is currently a favourite on Radio 1 after signing with Warner Music. She’s enjoyed success with a top twenty album and two hit singles including her version of the Bon Iver classic “Skinny Love.” Last year’s under 18’s winner, Hatty Keane, has also had huge success after being signed to BGM Music. Since then Hatty has performed live sets alongside Tinchy Stryder, Zane Lowe, Tempa T and Roll Deep and is currently working on new material. Hatty’s latest video Best Kept Secret has received over 200,000 views on YouTube already.

A spokesperson for Open Mic UK commented “We are searching for an act that not only has the live ability to impress an audience, industry judges and A&R associates, but an act that has the potential to become a professional recording artist. The O2 is the best place to showcase your talent in front of a massive crowd and celebrity judges. It’s going to be a huge event and an experience of a lifetime for all our finalists!”

There’s over £50,000 in prizes up for grabs this year and the overall winner will be offered a recording contract, with up to £30,000 investment! They’ll also have the opportunity to tour across the UK. The competition is divided into age categories; 16 and Under, 17-22 and 23 and Over; all types of singers, vocal performers, groups and acoustic singer/songwriters are invited to enter Open Mic UK.

The Open Mic UK competition is also being filmed for broadcasting on Sky TV! A two-part series will be broadcast on Sky on Sunday 8^th & 15^th January. The Making of a Star comes to Sky 201 in the New Year, with a longer series planned for later in the year for the prestigious Live and Unsigned competition.

Open Mic UK is the biggest music talent competition in the UK for unsigned singers and solo artists. Every year over 9, 000 musicians enter the competition and it’s open to all genres, from rap and hip hop to acoustic and classical, the competition has it all. It’s also the sister company of the huge Live and Unsigned competition which starts again in January www.liveandunsigned.uk.com -

Whatever happens, The Grand Final of the competition will provide acts with the opportunity to impress many guests from record labels, agencies and the entertainment industry including celebrity judges to be confirmed ahead of the final.

If you are aged 11-18 years and want to potentially follow in Giles' footsteps then book your W Factor audition now. For further details and an applcation form contact Laura Barnard on Laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk or call 01386 565497

The Olympic Torch

The Olympic Torch will be passing through Wychavon next summer in the build up to the Olympic Games. The Olympics and the Olympic Legacy are not just about sport, they are about getting involved in your local community and celebrating this once in a lifetime event. Please share your ideas or suggestions about how your community could celebrate or is already planning to celebrate this event.

For more information or to express an interest email laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk

'W' Factor Winner - Giles Potter

Following his success in the 'W' Factor, Giles Potter is through to the Semi finals of Open Mic UK 2011!

Giles went to the regional finals at the NEC on 29^th October and was one of 6 picked by the judges to go through to the semi final on Sunday the 27^th November at the Corn Exchange in Bedford. When asked the judges said he was the best act of the day!

In the semi finals the winner and the runner up go through to the final at the O2 Arena in London on January 21^st 2012, which is actually Giles 15^th birthday. So it would be brilliant if he actually won on his Birthday!

Tara Potter is hiring a bus to take anyone who wants to go and support Giles to the Corn Exchange and hopefully to London in the New Year. So if anyone would like to come the tickets are £10 which includes the coach too.If anyone wants more details then they can contact Tara on Tara.Potter@dytecna.com If you would like to take part in the 'W' Factor and potentially follow in Giles footsteps then please contact Laura Barnard for further information and/or an application pack on laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk or call 01386 565497.

Live Life Health E-newsletter

Dear All,

Have a look at November/Decembers issue of 'Live Life' the Health e-newsletter:

http://www.e-wychavon.org.uk/wychavon/health/november/november/index.ht

Its packed full of all health information you need for the winter months, from keeping warm to the flu jab to drinking sensibly and funding opportunities.

If you would like to subscribe to Live Life the Bi-monthly health e-news then simply email laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk.

'Game On' Sport E-news - November/December Issue

Dear All

For the November/December issue of 'Game On' the sports e-newsletter from Wychavon District Council click the link below:

http://www.e-wychavon.org.uk/wychavon/sport/november/index.htm

The e-newsletter is full of Local Sport, Club & Funding information and much more.

To recieve the Sports e-news bi-monthly contact Laura Barnard at laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk

Artworks E-news

Keep up to date with local Art news and information with Wychavon District Council Bi-monthly Artworks e-news. To view the October/November issue click on the link below:

Artworks e-News Oct / Nov 2011

If you would like to include an article regarding local art news then email laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk

If you would like to receive the Art e-news by email every 2 months please contact Laura Barnard on 01386 565497 or email laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk.

Sportivate Funding

As part of the Olympic legacy and in the build up to the London 2012 Games, Wychavon District Council could have a fantastic funding opportunity for you!

Working with the Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Wychavon have been successful in attracting a 2^nd year of Sport England ‘Sportivate’ funding.

£8,500 has been set aside for sport clubs, schools, youth clubs, uniformed groups and other community organisations to run sports projects from April 2012 to March 2013

To qualify for the funding the sports projects must target residents aged between 14 and 25 in the Wychavon area. They must also offer six weeks of high quality sports and activity sessions that will inspire teenagers and young adults to want to sign up and commit to more sport in the future.

This programme is all about choice, a choice to try something different and give it a go. Sports and activities on offer in year 1 included Equestrian, Bell-boating, Zumba, Windsurfing, Ice Skating and Curling plus many more.

Mark Williams, Sports Development Officer, said: “We recognise the valuable contribution that sporting activities can bring to the health and wellbeing of the community. We also recognise that funding may be an issue in creating new and innovative sports projects. So if you have an exciting project that fits the bill then this could be the ideal opportunity for you to get it up and running.”

If you have a project in mind and would like more information then please contact Laura Barnard before the 2nd Dec 2011 to receive an expression of interest form.

T: 01386 565497

E: laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk

The W Factor is back!!!!!

Back for its fifth year the successful W Factor auditions are being held again in November, December 2011 and January 2012. Once again if you are aged 11-18 years and live in Wychavon then you will be eligible to apply. The categories are instrumental, singing, dance, drama, circus, visual art and short film and there will be a winner from each. Finalists will also get opportunities to develop and perform over the summer period and gain new skills and confidence.

Auditions will be on:

Friday 18^th November 4-6pm

Friday 9^th December 4-6pm

Wednesday 11^th January 4-6pm

All auditions are being held at The Civic Centre, Pershore.

For more information, an application pack and book an audition call Tracy Grubb on 01386 565168 email tracy.grubb@wychavon.gov.uk or Laura Barnard 01386 565497 email laura.barnard@wychavon.gov.uk or download a form from www.wychavon.gov.uk

Tracy Grubb, Community Development Officer says “I’m looking forward to seeing what talented young people come forward this year again. There is always some surprises and interesting acts that bring an edge to the final show. It’s always satisfying to see the young people grow in confidence from the audition stage, the final show to end of the programme in the summer”