3rd April, 2011
FROM: Imogen Morizet, vice chair and press officer, Westgate Community Trust,
westgatecommunitytrust@gmail.com, tel. 07752 414049
EVENT: Masked Ball at the Westgate Hall on Saturday, 2nd April – Masks didn’t hide Support
Last Saturday, a hundred supporters of the Westgate Hall and Skillnet Group’s West Track
Studios turned to exotic elegance to make their point. Figures in long dresses or black tie, faces
elegantly camouflaged by feather or papier mâché masks, swept through the Hall’s doors to
find the unique space suggestive of a North African Bedouin camp.
The creators of this universe, the Westgate Community Trust and West Track Studios (part of
Skillnet Group CIC), had joined forces to raise funds and heighten awareness about the
contribution the century-old Westgate Hall makes, and should continue to make, to life in our
community as well as the work of Skillnet Group and, particularly, its West Track Studios in
Roper Road.
Before the event, Jo Kidd, Chief Executive of Skillnet Group, made the prediction that the
evening would be “an exciting event full of top quality music and entertainment.” She could not
have been more accurate. Food and decorations transported to the world of Arabian Nights,
while wine and music were among the best Canterbury has to offer.
Hall supporters were treated to a sit down Moorish dinner prepared by Xavier Germán, the
genius behind Canterbury’s Café Mauresque, including refreshing taboulé, vegan paella
prepared in the Hall, and enticing baklava for dessert. These flavours were reinforced by the
free bottle of the finest of Kent’s wines on each table thanks to Clive Barlow of Press Wine
Services.
Then, Canterbury’s Brendan Power, recognized as one of the world’s most creative and
versatile harmonica players (he has played with Sting, James Galway, Van Morrison, Riverdance
and many more), joined forces with saxophonist Ivan Thompson (Hullabaloo)and The All Stars
whose members are Martin Elliot of the Michael Nymann band (bass guitar), Steve Higgs (lead
guitar), Catriona Bryce ‘Bean’ (vocals), Alan King (drums), Alastair “Titch” Walker (trumpet),
Steve Washington (drums)and Ben Mills (singer, songwriter and musician), who came to fame
on the X Factor in 2006. Their intoxicating rhythms set feelings flying. The evening was also
1
Westgate Community Trust, 3/4/11
graced with the imaginative flowing choreography of UK champion ballroom dancers, Ian
Sharpe and Victoria Lawrence, who volunteered their artistry for the evening.
One of the supporters, Chris Geary, said:
‘Thank you for a great evening. We certainly enjoyed it on our table, and I'm sure we were not
alone. The music was very good, the food was very good and the venue was very good! The
Westgate Hall was ideal for the event: a central location, easy parking, and well appointed.’
As for fundraising, the auction, hosted off by Ben Mills with David Lee as mystery guest master
of ceremonies, raised £1,750. All proceeds will be shared between the Westgate Community
Trust and West Track Studios. Many thanks indeed for the good-humoured generosity of all
who took part. Watch this space for the next event jointly hosted by the two organisations –
miss it and miss out!
Forthcoming events:
15th May: Family Day at the Westgate Hall, a day of fun for children and their parents and the
opportunity to find out about activities and resources for families in Canterbury. From singing to
football, martial arts, baby groups, drama… and plenty of fun, more details coming soon.
19th May: Westgate Hall Wine Challenge, mark your calendars for an evening that will stir your senses!
Clive Barlow, Master of Wine, is spreading his wisdom through his Wine Challenge fundraiser for the
campaign to save Westgate Hall. Clive will provide six wines to taste and questions about each. Answers
will be marked and prize for the winner! Tickets are £20 per person and include a buffet from Patrick’s
Kitchen. To book email: wct@westgatecommunityhall.org.uk
5th June: THE BIG LUNCH: Last year’s was fantastic and this year we can make it even better! Come and
eat with your friends and neighbours, share your home grown food or buy from the stalls. There will be
entertainment for people of all ages. Everyone is welcome!
More information about Skillnet Group and West Track Studios:
Skillnet Group Community Interest Company is a social enterprise supporting people with and without
learning difficulties/disabilities to work together to make differences. We support people to speak up,
make choices, be heard and taken seriously. We focus on making links within local communities so that
people with learning difficulties have an equal place as citizens within mainstream society and are not
segregated.
2
Westgate Community Trust, 3/4/11
In September 2008, we converted part of what was previously a car yard (Roper Yard, Canterbury) into a
bespoke community recording studio and rehearsal space. The aim of developing the whole of Roper
Yard is to provide a community hub, supporting local not-for private profit and small businesses.
The studio is run by people with and without learning disabilities working equally together. It is open for
the whole community and we hire out the space to local community groups, organisations, musicians
and artists. It is fully accessible for people who use wheelchairs and meets Disability Discrimination Act
requirements.
We had an official launch event on the 21st of May 2009. This was well attended and covered by the
local press and radio. Ben Mills (X-Factor) launched the studios. The resource has an excellent
reputation and increasing numbers of people are now using it on a regular basis.
Our aim is to make the studios (and the whole of Roper Yard) completely sustainable and carbonneutral. We want to develop a community resource that is also a centre of excellence around
environmental/green issues. We want to educate the local community, including people with learning
difficulties about these issues so that people will think more about their own impact on the environment
and how they can reduce their carbon footprint.
We have installed F5 low energy lighting and accessible toilets supplied by harvested rainwater tanks.
We have installed solar (photo-voltaic) panels so that we can generate our own clean electricity. We
received 50% of the funding for these through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2. The site is
very close to the train station and bus routes and we have secure storage space for bicycles. We have
set up a recycling area and we aim to be zero waste by 2011. We also plan to install charging points for
electric bikes.
We want to work towards being a centre for sustainable excellence and we aim to promote best
environmental practice and awareness though interaction with community groups – modelling an ecofriendly lifestyle.
Skillnet Group won the Environment Awards for Kent Business ‘Commitment to the Environment’ Award
in 2010.
www.westtrackstudios.co.uk
For more information about Skillnet Group, contact Jo Kidd: jo.kidd@skillnetgroup.co.uk
3
Westgate Community Trust, 3/4/11