What many thought would be the last Langdale Gala took place just a year ago, however local people have gathered together to save the infamous event which has been an iconic tradition in the valley for many years.

The Langdale Gala, a traditional Cumbrian event located in the heart of the Lakes on Walthwaite Meadow, Chapel Stile, brings the local community together for a day of fun and sports once a year, traditionally on the first Sunday of July.

Due to various reasons, including the tough economic climate, the gala’s committee had to make the hard decision to stand down after many successful years, leaving a bleak future for the Gala. However in a bid to save the sporting event a group of locals have decided to club together and take over the running of this popular day to keep the tradition going. This year the event takes place on 1st July are the new committee are promising fresh ideas and a slightly different approach which is hoped will provide one of the most memorable Langdale Gala’s to date. Claire Ives, Head of the Gala committee, said: “We’re confident that local people will join us to save this tradition which is a key date of the local calendar. Everyone loves a good disco so we’re looking forward to having a bit fun whilst raising money for what we believe is an important community event.” With the Gala day fast approaching the committee are working hard to pull the event together with an evening disco arranged for Saturday 30th June. The disco is being held at Walthwaite Meadow, Chapel Stile and children are welcome until 9pm. All funds raised will go to support the gala which will be a family friendly event bursting with fun and quirky activities ranging from junior and senior fell races, Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling, the famous pet show, craft stalls, circus workshops, music and food.

With 74 days and counting to the London Olympics, Deafness Research UK’s Information and Outreach Advisor Andrew Godwin is preparing to carry the torch for those with disabilities by playing his part as an official Team London Ambassador.

Team London Ambassadors aim to ensure everyone who visits the capital for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games gets the most out of the experience. Always a keen volunteer, Andrew aims to ensure that the needs of those with disabilities like deafness are represented, recognised and supported during the games.

‘I’m so proud to have been chosen as a Team London Ambassador and I’m really looking forward to getting on with the job now it feels like it’s days away,’ said Andrew. ‘We have all taken part in the team training, role play and learning more practical skills such as first aid so I really feel like I am ready to put a lot of these new skills into practice.’

Deafness Research UK’s Vice President Sir George Martin is one of Team London’s celebrity supporters, so Andrew is not alone in representing those with hearing loss who will be attending the games this year. ‘It’s important that London Ambassadors come from all walks of life, so it is good to see people like Deafness Research UK’s Andrew Goodwin taking part,’ said Sir George. ‘A key part of the London Ambassador role is to bring some warmth, personality and colour to the visitor’s experience and who better to do this than people like Andrew and older people like myself who have seen London change through the decades and have a few tales to tell!’

Andrew has been profoundly deaf in the past and he now wears two hearing aids and despite suffering from tinnitus, he continues to work tirelessly with Deafness Research UK’s award-winning Bionic Ear Show, conducting hearing screenings and offering support and advice to people about hearing health.

‘It’s vital that people from all walks of life volunteer to help with such an amazing event,’ explained Andrew. ‘Clearly there will be people with disabilities visiting London, many for the first time. With helping people, I will also be showing that those with disabilities can play and deserve to play a full role during our country’s time in the world spotlight.’

‘The Olympics represents a big opportunity for all of us to show London and indeed our country at is very best,’ said Deafness Research UK’s Chief Executive, Vivienne Michael. ‘It’s essential that all walks of life are represented so we are delighted that Deafness Research UK will be represented by both Andrew and Sir George. They are perfect Ambassadors for our charity and I’m sure will prove outstanding ambassadors for London and the deaf community too.’

Andrew and his fellow Team London Ambassadors will start to “hit the streets” from mid-July as the build up to the games begins in earnest.
ENDS

Media contact
Jon Gardner, BeyondPR
Tel: 0114 275 6996
Mo: 07930 697773
Email: jon.gardner@beyondpr.co.uk
www.BeyondPR.co.uk

Small and medium sized businesses are being advised to promote themselves properly to benefit from the upcoming Games.

The London 2012 Olympics is going to be the biggest sporting event in Britain’s history and half a million tourists are expected to embark upon the capital to celebrate the event. Official sponsors will earn thousands in revenue and the UK’s tourism industry is set to make millions from hosting the Games.

But corporations across the country can witness a boost in sales and take advantage of the event too but as long as they advertise themselves correctly.

The London 2012 Organising Committee (Locog) has banned all unofficial companies from using the official logo but other firms can still promote their business with exhibition stands, flags, display boards and banner stands. Market yourself at the plethora of upcoming exhibitions and events prior to the London Olympics, boost the exposure and attain plenty of coverage.

Regardless of what sector your business is in, you can still take advantage of the event and increase your earnings. The main types of industries that can make a profit consist of the retail sector, restaurants and hotels as well as rented office space however; you don’t necessarily have to be located in London’s city centre to jump on board.

Displaywizard.co.uk specialise in display and exhibition solutions and they have already worked for a number of agencies to help them take advantage of the Olympics such as Chef de Mission.

They are experts in the design, printing and distribution of exhibition display and banner display stands for use at trade shows and events; so if you are considering exhibiting at an upcoming expo to profit from the Games, make sure that you promote yourself properly and visit displaywizard.co.uk today.

ENDS

Brighton based corporate events organisers Eventa have officially launched their summer events arm, announced Managing Director Rob Hill this morning. The new section of the website incorporates themed balls, outdoor events and team building activities and has been designed with both small and large companies in mind. Commenting on the launch, Hill describes this as the next natural step in his company’s evolution.

“2011 was our busiest year yet for Christmas enquiries and bookings, our main focus thus far. We’ve always wanted to brand ourselves as a corporate events company so corporate summer parties seemed like the next logical development.”

Eventa have stated that they expect the majority of their summer business to come from London, as traditionally summer parties are most popular amongst large, cash-rich organisations. But Hill is convinced that the market is becoming more fruitful across the whole of the UK.

“Yes, traditionally summer events have traditionally been reserved for those who can afford to put aside a large portion of their quarterly budget for such outside-of-work things,” he explains. “But now venues everywhere are starting to heavily promote smaller events that follow a similar format to shared Christmas parties, whereby lots of different companies spread the cost of theming, entertainment and food/drink.”

As well as the traditional party formats, Eventa are also offering team building days that revolve around motivational activities. These include cocktail and chocolate making, gameshow-styled quizzes and school sports day-themed events. In addition to the activities themselves, a buffet lunch and drinks are typically included in the package.

“Companies are bored of going out into the woods on a wet and muddy day to take on an assault course, which does very little in terms of team building,” says Hill. “Now they want to be able to have a laugh, tuck into some good food and most importantly enjoy themselves.”

SMi’s MilSpace 2012 conference is fast approaching, so don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to register for this outstanding event. After 5 successful events, this year will be no exception, bringing together the most senior industry stake-holders and delegates to discuss important topics including interoperability, national space programmes and space situational awareness.

MilSpace 2012 will allow attendees the opportunity to network with internationally-recognised Military Space experts from across Europe and the US and hear from a number of high-level speakers.

With Military Space budgets tightening and the reliance on the private sector to partner military space programs, there is no better opportunity to discuss the key matters at our annual MilSpace conference.

With less than one week left, make sure you register your place today by visiting www.military-space.com.

Network with the following registered delegates:
• Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd
• Brand & Market Communication
• Australian Defence Staff, London • Ministry of Defence, Belgium
• Astrium Services
• NATO, Belgium
• China Academy of Space Technology
• US Department of State
• Aerojet
• Idirect Technologies

Hear key presentations from military space experts:
• Brigadier General Vincent Mancuso, A3/MA, US Air Force in Europe
• Group Captain Neale Dewar, HQ 1 Group Space Control & Battlespace Management, RAF
• Lieutenant Colonel Olaf Holzhauer, Director DEU Space Situational Awareness Centre, Ministry of Defence, Germany
• Colonel Dominique Arbiol, Deputy Commander, Joint Space Programme, Ministry of Defence, France
• Dr. Mohammed N Mubarek Alahbabi, Information Communication Technology (ICT) Advisor, United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
• Pascal Legai, Deputy Director, European Union Satellite Centre

Visit www.military-space.com for more information or to register your place. Alternatively, contact Teri Arri at Tel: +44 (0) 207 827 6162 or Email: tarri@smi-online.co.uk

DocPath will attend CeBIT 2012, the leading international trade fair for ICT to be held in Hannover (Germany) between the 6th and 10th of March. In this edition, DocPath will present DocPath Ipanema Technology, the new core technology for its solutions, based on a revolutionary new concept that will transform document software.

This innovation in DocPath technology leads way to a conceptual evolution in document software technology.At DocPath’s stand we will explain the advantages of this new technology using visual information.

DocPath has decided to present its new technological venture at Cebit 2012, and on an international scale, since the trade fair encompasses the latest technological advances in the field of ICT and is therefore the ideal location for DocPath. Visitors of the ICT industry, and other areas, will be able to familiarize themselves with the advantages of this new technology. Visit DocPath at stand B19/1, located on isle 3.

DocPath Ipanema Technology
The goal of DocPath Ipanema Technology is to offer all document needs to all types of users and companies. At the same time, Ipanema will eliminate the limitations made by all previous and existing solutions, providing a straightforward design environment that is easy to use, multi-platform and multi-lingual.

The main features of DocPath Ipanema Technology are summarized in its ease of use, thanks to simple intuitive interfaces; its flexibility, because it adapts to all the unique needs of each and any company; its ability to optimize processes, because the documents are visually designed in just three steps; and the use of a standard support through the XML language.

About CeBIT
CeBIT, which stands for Center for Information Technology and the Office (Centrum der Büro-und Informationstechnik) is the most important international event in all sectors where professional IT solutions play a significant role. This year’s edition will feature more than 1,200 companies from 70 countries and is divided into four platforms: CeBIT pro, CeBIT gov, CeBIT life and CeBIT lab, aimed at different areas of business.

For more information, please visit: http://www.cebit.de/home

About DocPath
DocPath is a leading document technology and document management software manufacturer. Founded in 1992, its headquarters is located in Madrid with two other design and development offices. DocPath solutions are found in companies all over the world. Among its international clients are prestigious banks and first-class corporations, which are aided by DocPath solutions by simplifying the complicated and critical tasks involving design and the distribution of documents. DocPath maintains a strong commitment to R&D&i, an area that receives a good amount of its revenue, and in which lies the key to the company´s success.

For more information, please visit: http://www.docpath.com

DocPath is a registered trademark property of DocPath Corp. All rights reserved. Other trademarks mentioned may be property of their respective titles.

With free seminars and leading exhibitors, why not join the many professionals already registered for Care Roadshow Glasgow.

The free event is to be held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Halls on Tuesday 24th April. The roadshow is your chance to source leading products tailored to your care home and to learn about the latest issues which are affecting the sector.

A trip to this dynamic event gives you the opportunity to attend educational seminars hosted by local experts including Ranald Mair, Chief Executive of Scottish Care. Also on the agenda is the session “What does the CQC’s inspection programme around dignity and nutrition mean for the care homes sector’s nutritional standards?” which is lead by food specialists, apetito. These exciting sessions are also free to attend.

Whilst at Care Roadshow Glasgow you will have the opportunity to network with your industry peers, experts and suppliers in a vibrant environment. It is a fantastic opportunity to peruse the best that the care sector has to offer and to discover new products from the likes of Niko Projects, danfloor, Standex Systems and Astor Bannerman.

Care Roadshow Glasgow is to be held at the Glasgow Royal Concert Halls on Tuesday 24th April 2012. For more information or to register for your free ticket please visit www.careroadshows.co.uk or call Broadway Events on 01425 838393.

CRISPIN BLUNT MP TO DISCUSS JUSTICE REFORM AT KEY STAKEHOLDER CONFERENCE Crispin Blunt MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, will speak about the overriding need to reform the UK’s justice system at a conference hosted by Government Knowledge.

The conference, catering for key stakeholders, will focus on the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act together with the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, and will also examine the new ideas, techniques, technologies and partnerships which aim to make the Criminal Justice Sector (CJS) more effective and thereby communities safer.

The conference, entitled “Policing and Justice”, will take place on Wednesday 22nd February at One Whitehall Place, Westminster, and will feature the following speakers: Jenny Chapman MP (Shadow Justice Minister), Baroness Harris of Richmond (Vice-President of the National Association of Police Authorities, Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords and Conference Chair), Helen Judge (Sentencing and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Justice) and Superintendent Mark Payne (West Midlands Police). Over the course of the Conference the following topics will be discussed:

* The progress of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

* The new role of Police and Crime Commissioners and how they will work with Chief Constables and police forces across the country

* The adoption of new technologies in policing and justice for a more streamlined and efficient service

* Delivering prison-based services to reduce reoffending

* Tackling gang culture in the UK

* Providing offenders with pathways into sustained employment

* Reshaping justice to have more focus on victims of crime

* How to strike a balance between effective punishment and reform

Delegates from across the criminal justice and social service sectors – the police, the prison service, the courts, probation trusts, local authorities, central government departments and agencies, and third sector organisations – will be present to discuss and debate the key issues surrounding Policing and Justice.

NOTES

Conference title: Policing and Justice
Hosted by: Government Knowledge
Venue: One Whitehall Place, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HD
Date: Wednesday 22nd February
Registration: 08.40 – 09.20
Conference: 09.20 – 16.00

Members of the press to register for the free pass, please contact Silvia Boblea on 0845 647 7000 or alternatively email s.boblea@govknow.com

For further details about the conference or to register to attend as a delegate, please call 0845 647 7000 or email info@govknow.com

A full listing of the conference can be found at: http://govknow.com/event-detail.html?id=81

The latest updates to Internet Retailing Expo’s jam-packed programme of free to attend conferences, workshops and supplier demonstrations have been announced.

The two-day event at the NEC, Birmingham, 21-22 March, aims to delve deep into the world of multichannel to analyse the diverse growth and investment opportunities for businesses in the maturing digital age.

The Innovation Pavilion, new for 2012, will see PayPal lead the way in a video supplier showcase, open to all exhibitors that have launched a service or technology platform in the past 12 months. Also, unmissable workshops hosted by Shutl, SLI Systems, ClickTale and Colbenson will provide practical training to ensure attendees leave with tangible, demonstrable skills.

The Innovation Pavilion provides an opportunity for suppliers to present their latest and greatest offerings in front of editors from Internet Retailing magazine and visitors on the IRX floor. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and quiz the suppliers and each presentation will be filmed for posting online after the show.

As part of a partnership agreement with IRX, members of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce will benefit from a 50 per cent discount on presenting in the Innovation Pavilion.

Members will also receive a 15 per cent discount on stand rates and a dedicated Chamber lounge on the show floor.

Event Director, Mark Pigou, commented: “Our partnership with the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce will open the doors for more regional businesses seeking to take advantage of this fast growing sector, to learn about the new opportunities available to them and to develop a competitive edge. We look forward to welcoming them to the show.”

IRX is also supported by the IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group), the UK’s recognised authoritative voice of e-retail, supporting and promoting online shopping and digital commerce since 1990. IMRG members will receive a 40 per cent discount on Innovation Pavilion registration.

Workshops at a glance “Putting the rocket into your business”, March 21st – 10.30am – Workshop Room A, Tom Allason Founder & CEO, Shutl, will facilitate a dedicated workshop for marketing, ecommerce and multichannel executives exploring the true value of offering 90-minute delivery and convenient 1-hour windows of the shopper’s choice. The group will look at implementation best practices, as well as how to optimise such a service.

“Site Search and the User Experience”, March 21st – 2.00pm – Workshop Room B. SLI Systems will be giving three 30 minute presentations. The first will help visitors discover why site search is an essential aspect of an ecommerce site and best practices to improve the user experience. The second will help visitors learn how to stay connected with customers by using site search on their mobile site and linking with social media channels. The third presentation will provide expert best practices for using site search analytics and how to test different layout options to optimise site search.

“Beyond Web Analytics: How Behavioural Analytics are Changing the Game,” March 22nd – 10.30am – Workshop Room A

Marc Kenigsberg, VP Marketing at ClickTale, will run a workshop for Online Marketing Managers and website owners, focusing heavily on practical applications of customer experience analytics. Mark will discuss the value of behavioural analytics, how to use this data to effectively analyse and optimise different marketing channels, integration with current data ecosystems. He will also focus on real life experience and customer case studies.

“The Empathy Project: using social media to predict the future,” March 22nd – 1.30pm – Workshop Room A

Ángel Maldonado, Founder and head of Colbenson, and John Tomlinson, Head of communications at Colbenson, will provide insight into the The Empathy Project, an innovative research project which investigates ways to mine the incredibly rich source of data in Twitter to improve customer insight. The workshop will address the unique opportunity that Twitter offers to business, how Twitter can help build knowledge and understanding of customers, how Twitter can help anticipate future demand, how businesses can take advantage of this opportunity to add value, and how they can use this to build empathy into online service delivery.

Free to attend conferences
The conference programme running over the two days is now finalised and the full speaker line up, with profiles and presentation summaries, is available via the IRX web site. In brief:
• Fast Track Conference: an ideal learning and inspiration opportunity for people looking to make their first step (or first major commitment) to digital channels
• Enterprise Conference: for people already selling online and the larger enterprise who are already very capable and successful – but who want even more
• Mobile and Social Commerce Conference: reaching into mobile and social channels, how they’re radically reshaping retail, and what they bring separately and together to the retailing community.
• Customer Experience Conference: how to create a rounded, integrated view of the customers’ experience, how to shape and exploit this

To celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, staff at Sandwell’s historic Oak House are looking to find local people who met the monarch 25 years ago when she visited West Bromwich.

As part of the Queen’s silver jubilee celebrations in 1977, she, together with the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the Oak House in West Bromwich.

The occasion was a great success so now staff are planning to put together a display of people’s memories of the day.

Local politicians were there, together with various community groups such as the scouts and cubs.

Even an indoor toilet was  added into the house in Oak Road, just in case the Queen needed to ‘spend a penny’ on her tour of the building. The toilet is still there today in the staff area of the house.

The Queen also signed the visitors’ book which is now part of the museum’s collection of memorabilia of the occasion.

Cabinet member for leisure services Councillor Linda Horton said: “We also have some lovely photographs of the occasion which have been supplied by the Sandwell Community Archive Service.

“To celebrate the Queen’s visit we are looking to put on a small display at the house so we are looking for memories from anyone who was there or outside on that day in 1977.

“We want to know what you remember, were you excited, what you saw and what the atmosphere was like.”

Anyone who has any memories or photographs of the occasion is asked to contact the Oak House Museum on 0121 553 0759 or email them to museumarts_tourism@sandwell.gov.uk