Londoner's Get Cold Feet Over Fish Spa's

Merton’s fish spa users are more reluctant to return one month on from The Sun’s damning front page exposing its potential dangers.

National newspapers including The Daily Mail and The Sun reported the possibly of the treatment spreading HIV and Hepatitis C, amongst other viruses.

The papers quoted the Health Protection Agency’s report, which mentioned there was a very low risk of catching an infection as a result of a fish spa pedicure.

“After all the articles I have been reading lately I don’t think I will ever go to one again, and hearing its not just little infections being spread but possibly HIV or Hepatitis C,” said South Wimbledon resident Georgina Bright, 19.

“It is shocking and I am surprised it was ever legal in the first place. After reading and hearing all this I have noticed most places have shut down, thank God.

“I will definitely think twice before putting my feet in a fish-tank again.”

The popular treatment, which originated in Middle Eastern countries such as Turkey and Syria, involves users placing their feet into a fish-filled tank of water.

The Garra Rufa, otherwise known as Dr Fish, nibble the thickened skin from their feet, usually for between 15-30minutes.

Their life expectancy is three to six years with wild Garra Rufa typically living longer than farmed fish.

“The fish pedicure treatments have decreased a bit overall in the last month. How much of that is down to the Sun and its ridiculous headlines is difficult to say,” said one Merton spa manager.

“The report could not rule out the danger of these infections but the story did not warrant the front page of a national newspaper, it didn’t even warrant page 17.

“Winter tends to be quieter than the summer anyway because in the summer people wear open shoes more often so we do a lot more fish spas.”

Suppliers have noticed a steep decline in sales following the negative media coverage. 

 “In what the papers have said they haven’t really taken into consideration what the actual article released by the Health Protection Agency said. They have just assumed the worst,” said Yasmin Ghasor, at Dr. Garra, a leading fish supplier.

“We can only really speak to our clients and reassure them on what has been published by the HPA.”

Mencap

Mencap charity trade garden shed for a new home to teach adults with learning disabilities.

Sam Barnett, 42, of Shelley Road,Chelmsford, offered her shed as a work base when she joined the Mencap team in 2006 as charity manager.

Mrs Barnett’s aim was to help teach adults with learning difficulties valuable life skills, even if it meant doing it from her back garden.

“Once they’ve left school there’s nothing for them to do,” said Mrs Barnett.

“There are adults in their 30’s with learning disabilities just sitting around watching TV and we want to try getting people back into the community.”

Mencap who run an Academy called ‘Outreach’ five days a week, will now continue to do so from their new premises on Midmay Road, hoping to expand and encourage more people to attend in the meantime.

“We were really looking forward to having all our activities under one roof,” said Mrs Barnett.

“We feel very passionate about our charity and we help a lot of people from the age of three upwards.”

The Outreach Academy which is managed by Mrs Barnett and four other workers is run specifically for adults over the age of 19 but other events carried out by the charity involve people of all ages with learning disabilities.

The Academy helps to engage its members in activities ranging from yoga to recycling for the community whilst continuing to learn core subjects like Maths, English and IT.

There are currently around 20-25 adults who attend the classes and Mencap want to see this number increase now they have more appropriate accommodation and space in the hall.

Jackie Ralph, 43, Springfield, is a support worker who lives with three girls who have learning disabilities, Jennifer, 23, Faye 22 and Rebecca, 22.

Mrs Ralph has been a support worker for the girls for the past three years.

The girls have all completed college and are encouraged by Mrs Ralph to attend the Outreach Academy weekly so that they can interact with other people who share similar learning problems.

“It’s a way of getting everyone together each week and every day you can see just how much effort everyone puts in at Outreach,” said Mrs Ralph.

“People really benefit from going to Outreach as they can interact as groups and they all enjoy carrying out different activities like bowling and they can be taught Macaton sign language.”

“Outreach helps to stimulate the girls and moving to a larger space is only going to improve this.”

For more information on the charity, please visit: www.chelmsfordmencap.org.uk/the-outreach-academy

James Wilkinson

Portraits of Jack the Ripper’s victims will preview in an exhibition at Hylands house on Wednesday 9 November.

James Wilkinson, 46, from Witham, for the past two years has created original portraits of the women murdered, based on available knowledge, autopsy photographs and the descendants of the five canonical victims.

The paintings of five victims will be on display on the eve of Mary Kellys death, one of Jack the Ripper’s victims, from 6:45pm for special guests, to raise awareness of the prostitutes who lost their lives in Whitechapel, in autumn 1888, to the most renowned serial killer in history.

Mr Wilkinson who started painting at an early age, says his interest in Jack the Ripper began after he watched the 2001 film ‘From Hell’, featuring Johnny Depp, a title that gained its name after one of many letters were sent to the police from the killer, signed ‘from hell’.

Mr Wilkinson, said: “I did the paintings because the female victims had become anonymous and attention needed to be brought back to these innocent women who had been brutally murdered.”

A complex and layered account of the infamous killer, written by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, also titled ‘From Hell’, was another inspirational source that stemmed Mr Wilkinson’s interest. 

To this day, the number of Jack the Ripper’s victims is still unknown but the mystery behind the case is what keeps people so fascinated.

Mr Wilkinson, said: “Jack the Ripper is always in the top ten searches on the internet because he is a mystery and they never solved all the cases he might have been involved in.’

The portraits have been framed and glossed to give an authentic appearance and Mr Wilkinson says he always includes artefacts in his paintings for originality.

The paintings have not been named but a hidden meaning and message lies behind them, allowing you to identify the victims individually.

Despite Jack the ripper carrying out such brutally on young innocent women in 1888, Mr Wilkinson said: “He produced a lot of publicity through his murders and that eventually led to a social change within the country.”

This is also one of the many reasons why Jack the Ripper is so renowned through history.

After the preview at Hylands House, Mr Wilkinson’s portraits will be on display for a week at Witham Art & Framing Centre, on Newland Street, from Saturday 13 November.

James Graham

A Sandon School pupil has been offered a provisional contract with Adhoc Entertainment who has worked with X Factor’s Stacey Solomon.

James Graham, 15, from Bicknacre began singing five years ago but only started entering competitions this year.

In March he reached the semi-finals of Heart’s ‘The Next Big Thing’, as well as appearing in the regional finals for Open Mic UK, winning a day in a top London recording studio as his prize.

James, said: “I’m really excited about the potential to sing for Adhoc entertainment.”

On Sunday 9^th October, James also appeared in ‘The Grand Final of Essex has Talent 2011’ at Civic Hall Theatre, Grays, where he received a standing ovation from the judges whose panel included the Director of Adhoc Entertainment, based in Romford.

The entertainment company has previously worked with Stacy Solomon who made her fame on ‘The X Factor’ and the company’s clientele list also comprises of Frank Lampard and Gary Lineker.

James D Grant, the director expressed an interest in James’ singing and asked him to make appearances on behalf of Adhoc Entertainment in the near future.

The company was set up by the Bluecoat, Musical Director and Actor, who has had many appearances across the nation, to provide entertainment at the highest quality.

Paula Graham, said: “We are obviously very proud of James and get a lot of enjoyment out of watching him perform.

“We are very appreciative of how Judges and audiences alike are clearly impressed by his powerful voice.”

Adhoc assures you that you will always receive the prompt, courteous, professional attention you deserve.

Unemployment in Essex

Two Essex graduates reveal their struggles to find jobs as official figures show that youth unemployment is at its highest in 27 years.

Ashley Hammond, 24, Broomfield, has just completed a Master’s at The University of Exeter but is still hunting for work.

Stepping out of the job centre, Mr Hammond said: “It’s the civil engineering area that’s a problem. I’ve literally watched the jobs dry up. I’m basically just looking for anything to tie me over for now because the graduate placement scheme opens up more or less in January time.”

“The thing is, as soon as they see my MSC they just think, oh he’s only going to be here for a month so they won’t take me on for bar work.”

Statistics produced last week showed that youth unemployment has soared with 21.9% of 18-24 year-olds now claiming Job Seekers Allowance in Essex.

5.9% of Chelmsford is claiming JSA which is only marginally lower than the 6.0% in Maldon and the 7.2% in Braintree, which has considerably risen overall in the past year.

These statistics reflect upon the struggle that youths are having in finding permanent full-time work, particularly University students so it seems who have only recently graduated.

In the five months since Mr Hammond graduated, he said the Job Centre Plus, in Chelmsford, had been helpful in his search for work.

He said: “I’ve been sent to a work referral programme and I’ve got a provisional job at the Royal Mail in the sorting office starting at the end of this month.”

The Royal Mail received a staggering 110,000 applications for just 18,000 part-time Christmas jobs.

Mr Hammond added: “Most companies are promoting from within so they’re not taking on other people. I’ve told companies that I’d be willing to work for free, just for experience and as a way in.”

Mike Still, 22, Maldon, is currently working part-time at Topshop/Topman, Chelmsford, in order to fund a season long internship at Southend Utd FC.

Mr Still said: “I have struggled to find work in my ideal career due to high competition and employers requiring experience, which I was unable to gain whilst at University.

”Graduates are over qualified to work in jobs which don't require higher qualifications, so they find themselves in a situation where they're stuck in the middle.”

“Employers can save time and effort by recruiting someone they already know rather than advertising and interviewing for a position, and they can also have a better idea of what they will receive from that person as an employee.”

“Part of me thinks I should just get any full time job just to earn a consistent, guaranteed wage like many of my friends who didn't attend university, but who have been working for 4-5 years and have a decent amount of money behind them.”

Chelmsford College students have their say on bullying....

Hannah, 17, a Media Studies student at Chelmsford College attended the Plume School and was a victim of bullying throughout primary and secondary school because of her weight. Hannah’s sexuality came out in year 9 and she also suffered from verbal bullying as a result. Hannah said: “I blame immaturity because it died out when I went to college. I spoke to my parents about it at the start but then I just got used to it and it doesn’t affect me now. Teachers think once they say something then it will just sort itself out.”

When asked what Hannah thought of students being told to ‘act less gay’, she said: “If you’re confident enough with your sexuality then you shouldn’t be told not to act like it.”

George, 18, who attended Hylands secondary school said: “I was bullied up until college because of my culture and the heavy metal music I listen to. I didn’t talk to many people but I went to Connextions for help which has shut down now, even though it shouldn’t have. It’s scary the first time you talk to someone, even if they’re approachable and you don’t want to do it but Connextions were independent, away from family and school, so that helped.”

Amy Christie, 16, moved to Essex three months ago and attended a secondary school in Spain but still suffered from bullying. Amy said: “The people who were bullying me and the things that they were saying were actually the problems with them, not me. They would make me feel down to make me like them. I used to let it affect me but I don’t anymore. They didn’t seem to do anything at school in Spain to help me.”

Charlotte Kingsley, 16, left her first secondary school due to bullying. Charlotte said: “I got bullied. I went to Great Baddow at first and then I moved to Sandon. Baddow wouldn’t help me at all they just thought I was being lazy.”

Siobhan, 18, went to the Plume School said: “I was bullied because I was quite ill a lot so wasn’t there all the time and it just escalated. I spoke to my parents about it but didn’t talk to anyone at school because I didn’t think they would do anything. Looking back now I think I probably should have.”

Kelly, 18, attended Moulsham High School, “I got bullied in year 7 because if someone didn’t agree with what I said then it would just go off. I could go and talk to teachers about it but they would just say the same old thing so wasn’t very helpful.”

Reece Drewl, 16, a public service student from Chelmsford College said: “I didn’t get bullied but there were always people getting bullied verbally for having glasses or being fat. A couple of people would go and speak to the teachers but a lot didn’t because they were too scared about getting people into trouble and making it worse.”

Cain Reed, 16, and Niall Perry 17, are both studying for their A-levels at Chelmsford College. Cain said: “I didn’t really witness bullying, it was just more banter at school. I’ve seen fights between lower years though. There were some kids that didn’t have any friends and people used to make fun of them but they never really helped themselves. One day I tried talk to a boy and he was just really rude back to me so I thought suit yourself.

Niall said: “Teachers don’t do anything, they tell you to go home and talk to your parents. There are groups you can ring and you always get given a number but people don’t ring it. Lunchtime groups might help at school.”

Essex Fashion Week

As I walked through the grounds of Woolston Manor, Chigwell, towards the marquee situated in the country club’s car park, I envisioned girls in stilettos, fake tan, diamantes, designer handbags and Christian Louboutins.

My image was not far off.

It is Saturday 29^th October and I am attending the second Essex Fashion Week event of the year hosted by PR Company, FourteenInc.

The winter show welcomes guests from around the country including celebrities such as X-Factor’s Essex contestants ‘Two Shoes’, who were voted out in the early weeks of the live shows.

When I ask who they got along with most in the X Factor house, they say: “Johnny is so lovely”.

The duo also inform me that they are in regular contact with Tulisa who had been an amazing mentor on the show.

They say they frequently give her a ‘bbm’, as you do.

Two Shoes are not the only celebrities that I brush arms with today though.

At the event are The Only Way Is Essex stars too, Chloe Sims, Frankie Essex and Nicola Goodger, all looking glamorous and very tiny to say the least.

Originally I had planned to attend the event to admire the Essex ‘couture’, if you can call it that, but it is not until Loose Women’s Carol Mcgiffin sits next to me that I realise being surrounded by a collection of celebrities is not so bad either.

Admittedly, being a big fan of Loose Women, I become a little star-struck at the concept of Miss Mcgiffin sitting right next to me but I am here as a professional, as a trainee journalist so I keep my cool, after asking for a photograph with her that is.

I could get used to this.

Nicola Goodger from TOWIE is at the event promoting her new range of clothes ‘Nicola G’ which only launched this month.

Her sister and work colleague, Lauren Goodger describes her quirky designs as "a unique and artistic mix of affordable t-shirts with slogans of fun, quirky sentiments about life.”

The event kicks off at 2pm, with guests standing at the sidelines admiring the stars, edging slowly to get closer to them, hoping to get a picture, whilst the press were busy trying to hunt them down for interviews.

It is at this stage that I decide to tuck into the free popcorn that I have been given in my goodie bag before the show starts.

Being surrounded by size 6 models probably should have put me off but needless to say it did not.

Upon opening the show, managers of FourteenInc, twin brothers Simon and Adam, from Ongar, say: “Essex Fashion Week has set a trend all over the country and one thing we are going to do today is keep it Essex.”

Could we have expected any less?

Music is played by four different local DJ’s throughout the day and a rendition of ‘Don’t Go’ by Wretch 32 featuring Josh Kumra is sung by Chris Lynch.

Lucy, 23, and Louis, 24, of Thurrock, say: “They love everything about fashion, especially a good bargain and the Essex Fashion Week is a way of checking out the stars and the latest trends in the area.”

These had been my thoughts exactly.

There are ten local designers promoting their clothing ranges and accessories but ‘Francesca’s Boutique’, based in Hornchurch, is one of the most popular designers of the day with the ladies.

For men, ‘Brighterman’, an accessories store based in Benfleet, proves to be a hit with the male members of the audience, with models boasting a wide collection of sunglasses, bags and bow-ties which were also a hit at London Fashion Week which took place earlier this month in Soho.

Freeport, in Braintree, also have models showing off designs from their stores to help promote the outlet village and the latest online fashion sensation, boohoo.com have clothing appearing here.

Amy and Sophie from Buckhurst Hill say: “We’re here just to check out the fashion and to see a few Z-listers, or A-listers, depending on what you’d like to call them”.

The renowned brand, Kandi, who is backed by TOWIE stars, show off brightly coloured velour tracksuits, which has traditionally represented Essex for the past decade.

This range is available to buy from Minnies Boutique which frequently features in the TOWIE series, based in Brentwood High Street.

Cascal, from Leigh-On-Sea, says: “I love high-street shops like topshop and H&M so the Essex Fashion Week is a good place to come and see a range of locally designed clothes with a reasonable price tag.”

Animal prints and jewellery are a big craze on the catwalk today and have become the main fashion in Essex since Joey Essex held his Ibizaesque Zoo Project party in a TOWIE episode earlier in the current series. 

When I chat to the event co-ordinator Simon, I ask him to sum up Essex fashion in three words, in which he responded: “Fun, reem and style.”

Another EFW is set to take place in March 2012, which FourteenInc hope to hold over a period of seven days, an event which I can safely say is now pencilled in my diary.

It is an excuse to mix with the stars, have a few alcoholic beverages and check out the ‘reem’ fashion after all, a day out which I would recommend to all. 

Hints were given about the location of the next event and a disused car showroom is apparently on the cards to help attract passer-bys.

Nothing too flashy, revealing or attention grabbing, it is only Essex after all.

All proceeds raised from EFW will be sent to various charities of FourteenInc’s choice.