Spring 2009 - ORB Community Arts

Newsletter
Spring 2009
New Year, New Face!
Paddy Lund: Sadly left Orb
The new year heralded the arrival of a new
Volunteering Project Manager at Orb. 2009
sees Leon Fijalkowski stepping into Paddy
Lund’s shoes, who recently departed to a
new role in Leeds. Leon has a background
both as a musician and a volunteer manager
and is already enjoying developing and
extending the good work Paddy started last
year.
Funded by Attend, the UK’s leading
membership-based organisation supporting
volunteering in health and social care, the
role seeks to promote volunteering
opportunities at Orb. Anyone with an interest
in supporting vulnerable people access high
quality music, arts, multi-media and IT
facilities in a supportive and non-pressured
environment should give Leon a call to see if
they could help make a difference.
Volunteers play a key role in helping Orb run
both its day to day activities and put on
Leon Fijalkowski: New Role
regular events within the local community. In
providing an increased number of
opportunities, Orb hopes to both widen the
range of services it can offer to its users and
also help volunteers develop themselves.
Whether as a path towards work, a step
along the road to recovery from ill-health, a
chance to learn new skills and use old ones,
or just for something fun and fulfilling to do,
at Orb the possibilities are endless. It may
be clichéd, but it really is about involving
everyone, joining a friendly team, having fun
and doing something you enjoy.
Everyone at Orb would like to say a huge
thank you to Paddy and wish him all the best
for the future, and to extend a warm
welcome to Leon in his new role. Here’s to a
long and happy stay!
If you are interested in volunteering at Orb,
please contact Leon on 01423 500620 or at
orbenterprise@talktalkbusiness.net
Orb Community Enterprise is a registered charity providing creative opportunities to vulnerable people living in Yorkshire.

Orb in 2008...
Here’s a small taster of the many events and projects Orb was involved with in 2008.
St John’s Pantomime, Knaresborough
Background Image:
King James Sixth Form
Fashion & Technology Show
Knaresborough
Youth Night
Mark mans the Orb’s stall at
World Mental Health Day

Saturday July 19th 2008: Orb put on its first large-scale
summer’s evening concert in collaboration with Henshaw’s
Arts and Crafts Centre in Knaresborough.
The evening saw performances from, amongst others,
Reprobate, The Complaints, The Hotspots, The Acorn Centre
Band, Sarah Bear and Nick Dunne, and a number of DJs. The
show featured a whole host of Orb users and volunteers and
even included an art exhibition of members’ work.
Despite an unseasonal chill and afternoon downpour, a crowd
that included both local MP Phil Willis and the mayors of
Harrogate and Knaresborough were treated to a feast of
sights and sounds that left everyone wanting more!

...and 2009
Unbelievably it’s already April, Spring is in full bloom and Orb is once more looking forward to a
busy schedule of events. From concerts and art exhibitions through to pantomimes and fashion
shows, we’ll be promoting and supporting all manner of happenings, and providing practical
and creative opportunities for our users and volunteers to showcase their talents in the real
world. With our imminent move to bigger and better premises in Knaresborough, we’re looking
forward to developing our links with both the Frazer Theatre and Henshaw’s, and really
focusing on our role in the local community, as well as throughout the wider Harrogate area.
The V Celebrations
Our next project is taking part in the V
Celebrations at Henshaw’s on Saturday 18
April. The V Project is a national initiative
promoting volunteering amongst young people
in the 16-25 age group and will be celebrating
one year’s work here in North Yorkshire. The
event will be a chance for V to promote its
good work and showcase some of its partners
(including ourselves!) who offer volunteering
opportunities. The event will include a ‘Battle
of the Bands’ and Orb will be providing the
staging, sound and lighting to make sure the
show goes with a swing. We’ll also have a
stall promoting the work we do and offering
people the opportunity to speak to us about
the volunteering opportunities we offer.
FEVA!
After the success of last years open air
concert at Henshaw’s, Orb will be aiming to
go one better in 2009 with an evening of
performances as part of Knaresborough’s
FEVA festival. On Friday August 21st,
Henshaw’s will once again play host to Orb’s
impressive open air stage and a whole host of
bands and DJs. With appearances from many
Orb regulars, volunteers and staff, the line up
already includes newly signed Leeds band
Japanese Fighting Fish, Harrogate’s own
Lobo (formerly Reprobate), Brew Ha Ha,
Roadhouse Blue (Acorn Centre Band) and
an exhibition of project members’ artwork. It
promises to be a fantastic event and a great
opportunity to enjoy some live music on a
balmy Yorkshire summer evening!
More Community Events
Having already helped stage St. John’s
Church Players annual pantomime in
Knaresborough and the Frazer Theatre’s
contribution to the Nidd Valley drama
festival, this year will see us again helping to
stage Knaresborough Community Police’s
Community Idol extravaganza, King James
School Knaresborough’s annual Fashion and
Technology Show, Harrogate and District
Volunteering Oscars and the usual eclectic
mix of events in and around the Harrogate
area.
Fingers crossed, 2009 is going to be a year
of exciting changes and growth for us and
we’re looking forward to getting out there
once again, and putting Orb where it
belongs: at the heart of the community.

Other News
Change of Address
After three years in our much loved but
draughty warehouse in Harrogate, Orb is
anticipating a move to bigger and better
premises adjacent to the Frazer Theatre in
Knaresborough. Negotiations are advanced
and we’re hoping to get the go ahead soon for
a move at the beginning of May.
It means that we’ll be a 30 second stroll from
Knaresborough bus terminus, so we’ll still be
easily accessible from Harrogate, but also able
to offer our customary welcome with extra
levels of space and comfort! If you would like
to check on our moving status, we will still be
reading our emails even when we’re between
phone numbers - just write to us at
orbenterprise@talktalkbusiness.net
Volunteering Manager Funding Secured
Orb has been successful in obtaining funding
to extend the Volunteering Project Manager
post. The position is being paid for by Attend
and is currently secure until April 2012 giving us
the opportunity to extend both the range of
volunteering opportunities available and the
activities we are involved in.
Orb Works with the Frazer Theatre
Already this year Mark has provided sound and
lighting for 2 drama performances for the Frazer
Theatre. With our proposed move to
Knaresborough, we’re looking to develop these
links over the coming year and look forward to
getting involved in more local productions.
That’s all for now. Have a great 2009
whatever you’ve got planned!

Orb would like to thank all our
funders, supporters and
everyone who has helped us out!
Trustees, Past & Present…
John Dudley, Marion Scullion, Fiona Devenney,
Lee Byers and Lars Thompson.
Unit F9
The Warehouse
Harcourt Road
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 5NL
Rosemary Archer, Seamus Breen & North
Yorkshire Social Services - for support during
initial development of the enterprise & current
Community Care Agreement.
David Brown and the PCT & Mental Health staff -
for support & encouragement.
CAHMS - for loan of furniture.
Harrogate Conference Centre - for donation of
carpet.
AC-DC Lighting - for donation of lighting.
Econ (Ripon) - for the donation of lighting.
FT Audiovisual, Alan Smythe & Rocksteady - for
discounted equipment.
Miles Mercer - for the loan of the drums.
Danny Elias - for the donation of cassette and
mini disk player, bass guitar and amp.
Gary Brown & Peter Heaton - for the Orb logo,
photos of Allerton Castle, and the original
promotional brochure.
John Nahon - for the loan of current drum kit.
Julie Darcy - for encouragement and support
throughout the development of the enterprise.
County Councillor Richard Hall - for contacts and
advice.
Jonni Ball - for advice, support, web design &
studio construction.
Carl & Che Sanderson - for constructing the
studio.
Alasdair, Douglas, Ewan, Henry, Lawrence, Rob,
George & Molly - AKA the Orb 2006 & 2007 Bed
Race Team.
Steve Morris - for running the Great North Run
on behalf of Orb.
Steve Sowerby - for photos of the Four Seasons
concert.
Kendal, Megan and Toby Flood plus Lars
Thompson & Sarah Naylor - for help with Bed
Race Bash and donation of furniture.
Jeremy Warhurst - for business advice.
Mark Rowan - for loan of lighting.
Sue Elms - for the donation of computer
equipment.
01423 500620
orbenterprise@talktalkbusiness.net
http://www.orbcommunityenterprise.co.uk/