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2 Bolton Independent ISSUE 47Foster achild in2013AN appeal has gone out for new foster carersto provide loving homes for localchildren and make 2013 a life-changingyear for them.Bolton Council has joined together with22 other councils across the North West topromote the ‘You Can Foster’campaign,which encourages people from all walksof life to consider how they could makea real difference to the life of a child.A series of television adverts, featuringreal carers from across the North Weststarts on ITV1 this week with the target ofexceeding the 1,500 enquiries achievedin 2012.The campaign, which has recruitedalmost 200 new carers, and attracted over4,500 enquiries since its inception in 2010,aims to dispel the many myths about fostering.Foster carers are urgently needed tosupport, help and provide a loving hometo children in Bolton, particularlyteenagers, those with disabilities andbrothers and sisters that need to be homedtogether.Applications are welcomed from thosewho are single, in a relationship, marriedor divorced; from applicants who workfull-time or don’t work at all for example,and regardless of gender or sexual orientation.All applicants are assessed on their ownmerits, and the type of care they couldoffer a child is the most important thing.If you would like to know more aboutfostering for Bolton call 0800 1071564.Alternatively, visit www.youcanfoster.orgor telephone 0800 6347052Young writers arejust word perfectYEAR 13 pupil Erin Taylor iscelebrating success in a prestigiousnorthern writingcompetition, after winningthe poetry category of thePortico Prize for Young Writers.Two other Bolton School pupils,Annie Simon and GeorgiaThurston, were Highly Commended.The Portico Prize for YoungWriters is a regional literary competitionfor promising writers,mirroring the prestigious adultcompetition, the Portico Prize forLiterature, and celebrating theregion through its young writers.In May, schools across theNorth West were invited to nominatetheir three most promisingwriters aged between 14 and 18.Bolton School Girls’ Divisionchose Erin, Annie and Georgia.The girls attended workshopswith professional writers andwere appointed mentors fromManchester Metropolitan University’sCreative Writingundergraduates. They had to producea piece of poetry or prose onthe theme ‘The North’ and judgingtook place in July. Erin’swinning poem was entitled‘Stockton Heath’.Erin was presented with herErin Taylor (right) with school friends Annie Simon and GeorgiaThurstonaward at the Portico Prize Dinnerat Manchester Town Hall,alongside top names from thebook world including authorsfrom the shortlist for the Porticoprize for Literature JoanBakewell, Jeanette Wintersonand Val McDermid. Annie andGeorgia also received theirawards at a celebratory event. Allthree girls received book tokensand will have their work includedin the Portico Prize for YoungWriters 2012 Anthology and onthe website.The Portico Prize for YoungWriters has been running since2010. The main Portico Prize hasbeen running since 1985 and previouswinners include AnthonyBurgess and Sarah Hall. The PorticoPrizes, awarded by thePortico Library in Manchester,are supported by Arts CouncilEngland and The Zochonis CharitableTrust.Concerts atLongfieldHEAVY rock, classical, folk and indie gigsawait visitors to the Longfield Suite inPrestwich.SATURDAY 1 MARCH: DRESSED TO KILLFormed in 1990, Dressed to Kill are theworld’s longest-running tribute to Kiss,playing across the UK, Europe and Japan.They have appeared in Channel 4/RDFmedia ‘Gene Simmons: Rock School’, and‘Gene Simmons family Jewels’at the personalrequest of Gene Simmons.SATURDAY 16TH MARCH 2013:SOUNDS OF SIMONThis tribute to Simon and Garfunkel featuressongs from across the duo’s career,and draws extensively from Paul Simon’ssolo catalogue.FRIDAY 29 MARCH: V-PREST FESTIVAL -INCLUDING THE SMITHS LTDOn Good Friday 2011, some 45 bandsplayed V-Prest across three venues - LongfieldLive, Riley’s and The Railway andNaturalist – and raised nearly £3,000 forBury Hospice. In 2012, the festival returnedand raised £3,500.FRIDAY 26TH APRIL - MANCHESTERCAMERATAAcknowledged around the world as onethe UK’s leading chamber orchestras, ManchesterCamerata are resident at theBridgewater Hall and Royal Northern Collegeof Music.With director/violin soloist Adi Brett,they will play a programme includingGrieg’s Holberg Suite [Op. 40], Mozart’sViolin Concerto No. 2 in D major [K. 211],Elgar’s Serenade for Strings [Op. 20] andMozart’s Symphony No. 29 in A major [K.201].For tickets for all Longfield Live concerts,go to www.ticketline.co.uk/venue/prestwich-longfield-liveVasudha joins National Children’s OrchestraTHIRTEEN year oldVasudha Marthi fromBolton School Girls’ Divisionhas been asked to jointhe National Children’sOrchestra.A thrilled Vasudha said: “Itis a great privilege and I amhonoured to be chosen. I havebeen playing the clarinet forfive years and I am amazed tobe one of only a handful ofchildren chosen for thisnational orchestra. I currentlyplay with the Bolton SchoolConcert Band and theRochdale Concert Band. I amgoing to really enjoy playingat some famous venues.”Vasudha has been offered afull membership place for a12 month period.The Under 13 Orchestra isa full symphony orchestra forchildren up to the age of 13.It offers children their firsttaste of performing in a majorUK concert venue and Vasudhawill enjoy two nine-dayresidential courses, one atEaster and one in the Summer,where she will be taughtby the very best teachers andmusicians and she will get toplay in a number of prestigiousvenues including theRoyal Festival Hall in Londonand the Birmingham SymphonicHall.Her Music teacher, FionaBerry, said: “It is an outstandingachievement. In all mytime at Bolton School I havenot known of another girl whohas made it into the NCO. Weare all delighted for Vasudha.” IndependentEDITORIAL: MIKE HULME on 01204 478818Email: mike@independent newspapers.co.ukPUBLISHING MANAGER: JAYNE MEADOWCROFT on 07703 045189Email: jayne@independent newspapers.co.ukADVERTISING SALES: GEOFF CHARLTON on 07971 456593Email: geoff@independent newspapers.co.ukCLASSIFIED SALES: 01204 478812The Independent is published by Investors in Publishing Limited.Publishing House, 3 Bridgebank Industrial Estate, Taylor Street, Horwich, Bolton BL6 7PD.The contents of this newspaper are fully protected by copyright and nothing can bereprinted or reproduced without the expressed permission of the publishers. All contentis correct at the time of going to press. The publisher does not accept liability for anycontent used by advertisers in this edition.