STOP PRESS Last chance to have your say where £2bn goes!
The BIG Lottery Fund wants people to let them know where they want BIG’s good cause millions to go for the next six years so before the consultation closes, have your say on www.big-thinking.org.uk by the end of February!

The biggest of the Lottery good cause funders has launched a public consultation – asking organisations and individuals across the UK to engage in the debate on how the Big Lottery Fund’s good cause money should be allocated through its grant funding programmes between 2009 and 2015. BIG is expecting to distribute over £2 billion over the coming years.

Mark Foster, Olympic Swimmer and supporter of the Big Thinking Campaign comments: “Lottery funding can benefit so many people and community groups and Big Thinking is your chance to have your say on where the good causes money goes in future. There’s only two days to go before this year’s consultation closes so make sure you don’t miss the chance to have your say and log on to www.big-thinking.org.uk.”

HALLMARK CARDS LAUNCHES HUNT FOR UK’S MOST INSPIRATIONAL MUM- WIN A ONE-OF-A-KIND DIAMOND MOTHER’S DAY CARD DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY BY TESS DALY.
Hallmark Cards has launched a nationwide search to uncover the UK’s Most Inspirational Mum. The competition will see one very deserving lady be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind diamond Mother’s Day card, designed exclusively by Tess Daly.

The hunt for the UK’s Most Inspirational Mum has been launched as part of Hallmark’s Cards for a Cure™ campaign for Mother’s Day, which annually contributes £1/4 million to Breast Cancer Campaign and Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society.

The competition is aiming to uncover one of the UK’s unsung motherly heroes just in time for Mother’s Day 2009. To take part, Hallmark is asking people to visit www.hallmark.co.uk follow the Cards for a Cure™ link and tell them in around 150 words all about their mum and why she is so special.

The winner will receive a unique Mother’s Day card that has been designed by Tess Daly on behalf of Breast Cancer Campaign. As well as being designed and signed by Tess, the card also contains a fantastic diamond which has been donated by online diamond specialist www.77diamonds.com. The diamond will be set into a piece of jewellery as part of the prize.

Speaking about the campaign Tess Daly said: “Mother’s Day is a special time of the year, giving us all the chance to tell our mums how great they are and how much we appreciate them. This competition is all about celebrating our mums far and wide and will provide one very deserving lady with a special surprise this Mothering Sunday. The campaign is also helping to raise awareness about breast cancer which is something that I am passionate about.”
The competition is open for entries until 12th March 2009. The winner will be notified by 16th March and will receive their special card in time for Mother’s Day on 22nd March.

Hallmark’s annual Cards for a Cure™ campaign is now in its third year. Since 2007, the initiative has provided £3/4 million towards research into breast cancer.

OXFAM ONLINE SECONDHAND DESIGNER HANDBAG SALE - 6 / 7/ 8 MARCH
Oxfam’s Online handbag bonanza starts at 12noon on the 6th March with over 300 fabulous second-hand handbags for sale. High street names and designer names such as Lulu Guinness, Donna Karen, Burberry, Mulberry, Calvin Klein plus many others are all up for grabs - so you can shoulder the credit crunch and buy a gorgeous second-hand designer bag by shopping at www.oxfam.org.uk/handbags

This second handbag bonanza is for one weekend only, from Friday 6th March to Sunday 8th March. This is a great opportunity to step into Spring with a scrummy designer bag. All purchases will help Oxfam to tackle poverty across the world. Visit www.oxfam.org.uk/handbags to view the collection with prices starting at £1.99 to £125.

CINÉMOI, THE FIRST AND ONLY CHANNEL DEDICATED TO FRENCH FILM, LAUNCHES IN THE UK
Cinémoi has just launched on Sky channel 839 bringing a touch of glamour and style to Britain’s TV screens. Cinémoi will show a wealth of classic and contemporary films and documentaries, all shown with subtitles, celebrating over 100 years of French cinema.

Exclusive interviews with some of the industry’s most influential names including Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour)and Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher) will be screened alongside celebrated films such as Bridget Bardot's Le Mepris, Vincent Cassel’s La Haine and Francois Truffaut’s 400 Blows. Vincent Cassel, one of France’s most prominent actors (Oceans 12, La Haine, Eastern Promise) is very excited by the idea of the channel and has agreed to launch CinéMoi in February.

Mint Group (owners of KOKO) and 3DD Group (producers of The Album Chart Show) have teamed up with Ed Pressman, one of Hollywood’s leading independent film producers (Wall Street, American Psycho) to create Cinémoi.

Cine Lumière’s (London’s No.1 French cinema) Julien Plante, who has programmed over 1000 films and documentaries for festivals, cinemas and events, has been bought in to curate the channel. “We are really excited about launching Cinémoi in the UK. The growth of French cinema and the increasing numbers of people with a real passion for it means that this feels like the perfect time to launch the channel. With over 30 new films every month, Cinémoi will be a celebration of all things French, packaged to communicate glamour, style, quality and entertainment.’

There are introductory offers until 6th April, for fans of French film to try a taster every night.
Sign-up information and further details are available at Cinémoi or 0845 880 8008

If you like French film, you’ll love Cinémoi.

CELEBRITIES VOTE FOR POUND A POEM WINNER
The winners for the Pound a Poem competition in association with charity Rays of Sunshine have just been announced and Emma Mansell, Year 6 at The Abbey Junior School in Reading has been chosen as the UK winner with her poem 'Dreaming'.

The UK wide Pound a Poem competition, with which the theme for the poems was fruit and vegetables gave primary school children across the country the opportunity to submit a poem for £1, which was judged by a number of celebrities including TV personality Esther Rantzen, children's authors Jacqueline Wilson, Annabel Karmel and Dan Freedman, presenter Dom Wood of the Dick and Dom team, actress Tracy Ann Obermann and comedian James Campbell. The judges were all wowed by Emma's entry 'Dreaming' which has won her a week's holiday for four to Barbados with her school receiving £1000 to spend on equipment. The judges thought her original 'Strictly Come Dancing' link was particularly original and fun.

Her poem, along with the runners up and some celebrity written poems will be pulblished in a book and money raised will go to the Rays of Sunshine charity which grants wishes for terminally and seriously ill children between the ages of 3 and 18 in the UK.

To see more about the great cause she has supported in submitting her poem, please visit www.raysofsunshine.org.uk

The winning poem:

Dreaming
‘’Ladies and gentleman ‘Strictly Come Dancing’’
But LOOK its fruit and vegetables prancing!
The rhubarb rumbas on the floor
The turnips twist by the door
Watermelons waltz beneath the lights
And the can-can carrots wear fishnet tights.
Foxtrotting fennels flash their feet

Whilst raspberry rock and rollers groove to the beat
Sadly this is only a dream
But I know fruit and veg are more fun than they seem!

Emma Mansell
Year 6
The Abbey Junior School
Reading

LE BOUCHON BRETON PROUDLY INTRODUCES ITS VERY OWN FROMMELIER AND LAUNCHES NEW RANGE OF MONTHLY CHEESE MASTER CLASSES
Le Bouchon Breton, the recently launched Spitalfields super brasserie, famous for serving one of London's best “Steak Frites” and having one of the largest and best stocked cheese carts in Europe is delighted to introduce Jean Claude Ali Cherif as their newly appointed Frommelier and to launch a monthly cheese master class for the public starting in March 2009.

Since it opened back in October 2008, Le Bouchon Breton has become a huge hit on the London dining scene and infamous for its replete and pleasingly pungent Gallic cheese trolley. The Breton cheese trolley features over forty different regional varieties, all wheeled from table to table much to one’s delight.

Breton Cheese Master Class Dates for 2009
6–7pm Tuesday 31st of March
6–7pm Tuesday 28th of April
6–7pm Tuesday 26th of May
6–7pm Tuesday 30th of June
6-7pm Tuesday 28th of July
6-7pm Tuesday 25th of August

From March, Breton Frommelier Jean Claude Ali Cherif will launch a brand new range of cheese master classes, perfect for all cheese lovers who want to learn more about the different regional varieties, how they are made, who makes them, how to look after them and when they are at their best. All of the cheeses Jean Claude features in the classes will be generously tasted alongside a range of the maestro’s favourite wine matches. The Breton cheese master classes will take place at Le Bouchon Breton, 8 Horner Square, Spitalfields Market from 6pm to 7pm on every last Tuesday in the month from March through to August. The cost of each course is £50 per person, to book a place on one of the six courses please call reception on 0800 019 1704.

Jean Claude Ali Cherif – Frommelier, Le Bouchon Breton
Jean Claude became passionate about cheese from his homeland during his first job in London in 1988 at Le Beaujolais in Covent Garden, a French stronghold for many years. Le Beaujolais had an extensive range of French cheeses, which at the time was rare and the young Frenchman was soon busy learning about all of the 400 different types of regional French cheese. In 1990 Jean Claude took his knowledge and expertise with him to The Bleeding Hart where he took over sourcing all of the restaurants cheese, creating his own selections. Since he joined the team at Le Bouchon Breton, Jean Claude has delighted customers with his enthusiasm and understanding of his subject and has created the ultimate cheese selection of over 40 French cheeses available from the impressive trolley. Making sure the cheese is served at its best and at the right temperature makes all the difference, good storage and regular checking ensures each cheese is brought to life ready for the customer to get the best flavour and maximum pleasure.

Le Bouchon Breton, 8 Horner Square, Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EW
Telephone: 0800 019 1704

NELSONS WINS COUTTS PRIZE FOR FAMILY BUSINESS
Wimbledon based natural medicine & healthcare manufacturer named 'Best UK Family Business,
London and Greater London Region, £25m+ turnover category'

Nelson & Russell Holdings Ltd from Wimbledon, has been named 'Best UK Family Business, London and Greater London Region', in the £25m+ turnover category of the Coutts Prize for Family Business 2008/9. The company will now go on to compete in the £25m+ category at the national finals to be held in central London on 23rd June 2009.

Founded in 1860, Nelsons is a Global independent business which was acquired by the Wilson family in 1974, who brought to the company a long standing commitment to the principles and development of complementary medicine and to supplying natural medicines throughout the world. As a second generation business, with over 200 full time employees, today the business is led by two brothers, Robert and Patrick Wilson, manufacturing and selling, natural medicines and healthcare products such as Rescue Remedy®, Bach™ Original Flower Remedies, Nelsons Arnicare™, Nelsons Teetha ™, Nelsons ™ Homeopathy and Spatone™.

David Molian, Regional Chairman of the evaluation committee commented:
"As a successful second generation family business, which has displayed an impressive level of growth and produced a business which will flourish
regardless of the economic cycle, the things that impressed the evaluation
committee about Nelsons included:

* the emphasis placed on family values and the significant contribution the company makes to the community;
* the trusted relationship the firm has built with its customer base
* the exemplary product portfolio, leading in its field, and the focus on continuous innovation; and
* the way in which they have established the brand and are constantly looking for new opportunities to leverage it."

Juliette Johnson, Senior Family Business Adviser, Coutts & Co added "We're delighted to provide recognition to this special family business and showcase their achievements for the benefit of other family businesses. What really shines through is the strength of the family's values. These influence how and why things get done and act as the glue binding the family and business together. These strong values, coupled with their conservative approach and long term planning, should give them the best possible chance to weather this current economic downturn."

With the current economic downturn, businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to survive, which therefore increases the value of recognising these family businesses and their work. The companies that scored most highly were the ones that were able to give examples of what they had achieved.

Mark Evans, Head of Family Business, Coutts & Co, commented: "Success factors that can help family businesses adapt to the current economic downturn are at the heart of the fourth Coutts Prize for Family Business. It will be equally important to take active steps to manage the family as well as the business to survive the current recession."

The Coutts Prize for Family Business recognises the best run family businesses in England and Wales, and is the only regional and national awards programme in England and Wales celebrating the overall best performing small, medium-sized and large family businesses. The Prize, compliments Coutts successful Forum for Family Business Owners that is held throughout the UK.

The Coutts Prize recognises firms in three categories (£1m-5m, £5m-£25m, £25m+) that demonstrate a combination of high standards of family governance and corporate governance, a competitive market position, consistent financial growth, and a track record of charitable giving or involvement in local community. Entrants must be companies or firms where two or more family members together have control of over 25% of the voting shares and consider themselves as a family business.

For more information on Nelsons, visit www.nelsons.net

For more information about Coutts www.coutts.com

HSBC EXPAT EXPLORER SURVEY 2009
Following the inaugural study of 2155 expats across four continents, HSBC Bank International is running the Expat Explorer survey again in 2009.

The survey will continue to take an in-depth look at the lives of people living and working abroad and shed light on this unique community. Last year, 2155 expats shared their experiences, which made it the largest independent survey of expats, and the Bank hopes even more people will complete the 2009 survey.

The survey examines the opportunities, challenges and difficulties that expats and their families can face when adjusting to a new lifestyle and culture. New for this year will be an examination into how the global financial crisis has affected the expat community living in economies around the world.

Key findings from the 2008 research included:

· Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the USA were deemed the best locations based on work and lifestyle to become an expatriate

· Brazilian, Irish and Australian expats are the wealthiest

· Spain, France and Germany are the best locations to raise expat children

· Expat children speak more languages and spend more time outdoors than children in their country of origin

· UK ranks as the unhealthiest country to raise children

· Germany, Canada and Spain are the easiest countries for expats to integrate into

· Expats from Hong Kong are most likely to make friends with other expats

· Canada is the most welcoming country

We are encouraging expats to share their experiences of living and working abroad by entering the survey located at www.offshore.hsbc.com/expatexplorer. Copies of last year’s reports can also be found here.

CONSUMERS FLOOD THE HIGH STREET TO PICK UP THEIR NEUTROGENA® WAVE™!!
The Neutrogena® Wave™ power cleanser is already riding on the wave of success and has become a beauty must have – latest sales figures show it’s being snapped up by five women every minute in Boots stores alone! With so many beauty products on the market, the choice can be overwhelming, and yet some products immediately achieve cult status - and it seems we’re all hooked on the skin softening powers of the cute vibrating cleanser – with over 4,500 sales of the Neutrogena® Wave™ Refill in Boots stores last week, women just keep coming back for more!
Celebrity fan Vanessa Hudgens reckons the Neutrogena® Wave™ is like nothing she has ever tried before. She says, “I’ve used a lot of cleansers, but I’ve never tried anything like the Wave. My skin looks softer right away – even my friends noticed.”

A sell out when it launched in the US last year, the Neutrogena® Wave™ is now enjoying a surge in sales as it hits the UK. The first vibrating power cleanser, the Neutrogena® Wave™ is the ultimate cleansing gadget! The vibrating action and disposable foaming pads work together to remove make up and dirt and provide a deeper clean, leaving you with softer, smoother skin after just one use.

Neutrogena® Wave™ Starter Kit (with 14 pads), £12.71 RRP
Neutrogena® Wave™ Refill Kit (30 pads), £4.88 RRP

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