Counter Terrorism Security Guidance for Events

Counter Terrorism Security Guidance for Events

In light of the recent foiled plot against a Taylor Swift concert in Austria, The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) has bundled relevant Protective Security guidance for use by attendees, staff and organisers of public events. Please see below for links:

Keeping everyone safe at events | ProtectUK

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Gig Buddies Hull and East Yorkshire celebrates after receiving National Lottery funding

Gig Buddies Hull and East Yorkshire is celebrating after being awarded over £230,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with adults with learning disabilities for the next 3 years. The project, based in Hull, will use the money to expand their team and match more gig buddy pairs to go to local gigs throughout Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Gig Buddies Hull and East Yorkshire has been running since 2019 and has been hosted by the charity, Hull Red since 2022. Gig Buddies was first founded by the charity Stay Up Late in Sussex. The scheme matches up a person with a learning disability and a volunteer around mutual interests building life-long friendships.

Over 80% of young people with a learning disability want to go to more gigs, 56% said that they would be more likely to go to gigs if staff understood more about learning disability. Sadly, 1 in 4 have been bullied by members of the public at gigs and 1 in 3 are afraid of staff at music venues. Gig Buddies aims to change this.

Emily Clixby, Lead of Gig Buddies Hull and East Yorkshire says: “We’re super excited that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised the work of Gig Buddies Hull and East Yorkshire. Now, thanks to National Lottery we will be able to grow a team, match more pairs and host more inclusive gigs as well as supporting our local venues reach diverse audiences.”

The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030.

As part of this, the funder has four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year (2023/24) The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£686.3 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK, supporting over 13,700 projects to turn their great ideas into reality.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

Freedom Festival 2024 – A Cultural Extravaganza in Hull

Hull is set to come alive with the vibrant sights and sounds of the Freedom Festival 2024, running from 28th August to 1st September. Organised by the Freedom Festival Arts Trust, this year promises an extraordinary lineup of events and performances that celebrate the rich tapestry of human experiences through art and culture.

With over 30 live performances scheduled across the city, the festival offers a diverse array of activities suitable for all ages and interests. Plus, the Zebedee’s Yard Music Stage, featuring some of Hull’s freshest talent emerging from Warren Records.

Attendees can look forward to a mix of ticketed and free performances. Notable shows include “Eternity” by C!rca at Hull Minster, “Univers” and “Bob Marley for Babies” at Hull Truck. Community-involved performances like “Pram People” in Trinity Square, “CODE” in Zebedee’s Yard, a performance exploring themes of county lines, and “PAN ~// CATWALK,” which delves into clothing and identity. Local treasures, Tamar & Jo will present “Synch of Swim,” while “Beats Bus” and “Bench Invasion” invite public interaction. The Wilberforce Institute will host an exhibition titled “Uncovering Modern Slavery.”

Continuing from last year’s success, the festival will also feature the “Freedom On Tour” event in Bridlington on 30th August, providing free cultural entertainment by the seaside.

Jo Hawkes, Interim CEO and General Manager of Freedom Festival Arts Trust, emphasised the festival’s focus on societal issues: “As ever, Freedom Festival will focus on issues that affect our society. ‘CODE’ offers a look inside County Lines, exploring organised drug and crime gangs. ‘Taking the Knee’ shows solidarity with racially marginalised communities. With ‘Freedom Talks,’ we have partnered with criminologists at the University of Hull to explore whether our work influences perceptions of social issues.”

The festival’s commitment to accessibility is evident, with all outdoor events being free, ensuring that culture remains accessible to as many people as possible. Iconic locations such as Museum Gardens, Princes Dock Street, Queen Victoria Square, Zebedee’s Yard, and Hull Truck will be transformed into lively hubs of creativity, hosting a diverse array of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts.

For more information and ticketing details, please visit the Freedom Festival website.

New immersive audio walk to take visitors through 60 years of Hull music history

Grab your headphones! A free guided audio tour of Hull’s incredible music history, narrated by comedian Lucy Beaumont, is now live.

‘Diamond Life’ offers over 60 minutes of discovery into Hull’s rich music past, guided and narrated through iconic sites, including Humber Street and Queen Victoria Square, by well-loved Hull comedian and actor Lucy Beaumont.

The work includes many of Hull’s legendary voices talking about life in the city, including some of Hull’s finest musicians such as Roland Gift (Fine Young Cannibals); folk legends Eliza and Martin Carthy; and industrial music pioneer Cosey Fanni Tutti, with a strong focus on women in music.

In addition to the trail, the Reveal Hull website includes the full interviews and biographies with each artist featured on ‘Diamond Life’.

Along the walk, listeners are encouraged to look out for the 10 orange ‘Reveal Hull Way Points’ with bonus content, such as original artwork, depicting historical moments from Hull’s history, just a QR code-scan away.

As well as Diamond Life, listeners can also listen to the full interviews with all the musicians from the comfort of their own front room.

Diamond Life also includes an archive interview with Mick Ronson, the guitarist known for working with David Bowie on Ziggy Stardust. There are also interviews with Cosey Fanni Tutti, the musician in the avant-garde group Throbbing Gristle who lived in a squat on Prince Street, and:

Roland Gift from rock group Fine Young Cannibals
Folk stars Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy, who talk about the iconic Blue Bell pub
Electronica group Fila Brazillia on making club night history in Hull
Lynda Harrison from one of the original girl groups, Mandy and The Girlfriends
Up and coming Hull musicians Jodie Langford, a spoken word artist, and young garage / punk group Wench.

Ultimate Go Karting Tournament to support Cash4Kids

To celebrate its rebrand, Hull Adventure Centre has teamed up with Cash4Kids for a fantastic team karting challenge next month.

The centre on Poorhouse Lane in east Hull has brand new signage and has launched a new online booking system, making it easier and simpler for customers to book activities.

Hull Adventure Centre, in partnership with D.M. Keith Ltd, will be hosting The Ultimate Go Karting Tournament in support of Cash4Kids Mission Christmas, which includes a £500 cash prize.

There are 72 places available on a first come, first serve basis, with all profits going to Cash4Kids.

Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “Hull Adventure Centre has proven very popular since it launched in the spring.

“The rebrand looks fantastic and I’m delighted that customers will now find it simpler and easier to book online.

“To support a great cause such as Cash4Kids as part of the rebrand is amazing and I have no doubt that The Ultimate Go Karting Tournament will be a great spectacle.”

The event, sponsored by Easy2Trade, will take place on Saturday 7 September between 6-10pm.

Four groups of up to 18 racers compete in a 10-minute qualifying session followed by a 20-lap race.

The top two from each group will compete in a final 10-lap race to determine the winner of each group.

Entry fee is £50pp and entries close on Saturday 31 August.

To enter, please email cash4kidstournament@outlook.com or call 07572745058.

New social media campaign aims to grown Hull’s dance audience

A new social media campaign will bring together lovers of dance to find out events and opportunities happening across Hull.

Discover Dance will showcase all things dance; with venues, shows, programmers and artists, meaning Hull’s dance scene will be connected in one place.

On Wednesday 24 July social media channels will be flooded with Discover Dance content, encouraging lovers of dance to get involved and share the exciting programme of dance happening now across the city. The branded programme will also be available on Culture Hull, a platform created by Hull City Council in collaboration with, and for, the city’s cultural sector and communities.

Hull City Council’s Arts Development team has been working with Hull Dance, Hull Truck Theatre, Hull New Theatre, Back to Ours and Freedom Festival to talk and programme dance across venues and festivals in the city.

Cllr Rob Pritchard said: “Discover Dance is a fantastic opportunity for dancers and lovers of dance to come together and find out about the amazing dance events and opportunities happening across Hull.

“I would encourage those with an interest to join the social media campaign and help to share the fantastic programme of dance we have.”

Discover Dance is supporting the council’s strategic dance development plans to create a dance ecology in Hull with a particular focus on young people’s opportunities, audience and programme development and artist development.

For more information, visit Discover Dance or Culture Hull and follow social media accounts.

International Choir Competition to return to Hull

Following a successful event in 2023, Hull will again play host to INTERKULTUR’s prestigious International Choir Competition in 2025.

Returning in May, the large-scale event is expected to, once again, attract over 1,000 individuals worldwide from participating choirs.

The event will include an opening and closing ceremony, and throughout the five days multiple choir competitions, pop-up concerts, and individual coaching sessions available.

Cllr Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured the International Choir Competition again for 2025.

“2023’s resulted in an economic impact of around £1.9million, with audiences of over 7,500 and 560 local choir participants bringing areas to life with live singing over five days.

“I’m really looking forward to welcoming competitors to the city next year and hearing what they have produced for the 2025’s contest.”

INTERKULTUR President, Günter Titsch, said: “After the resounding success of our first edition in 2023, I’m delighted that we have the fantastic opportunity to return to your wonderful city next year.

“The inaugural event brought together 1,200 singers for an exciting experience, and with the excellent cooperation of our partners, I’m confident that the second edition will be even more remarkable.”

We look forward to reuniting to celebrate music and fellowship in the vibrant atmosphere of Hull.

For more information visit the INTERKULTUR website.

Enter our competition to win tickets to Live From The Yard!

Introducing Live from the Yard, a new live music event hosted in Zebedee’s Yard, running over four days between August 8th and 11th. This event will see up to 16,000 music fans come together in Hull City Centre, each day offering a range of different artists, from Hull’s very own Calum Scott to Ministry of Sound, bringing a classical twist to some well-known dance hits. With over 15 acts hitting the stage, giving first-class performances, there’s something for everyone.

The event will take place at the newly renovated Zebedee’s Yard, a hidden gem in the heart of Hull’s Old Town. More than just a car park, Zebedee’s Yard also plays host to events of all different types, including music, making it the perfect venue for Live in the Yard.

Live from the Yard opens each day at 5:30 pm and finishes at 11 pm. The event is suitable for all ages, but it is advised that any under 14’s be accompanied by an adult.

Not only do you get to experience incredible live music, but you also get to indulge in local food and drink, which will be available from vendors throughout the event.

Don’t miss out on one of the events of the summer in Hull. For more information about Live from the Yard, including where you can secure your tickets, head over to their official site here.

Fancy being there yourself? We are running a competition in which you could win one of three pairs of weekend tickets so you and another person of your choice can be part of this great music event! Click here to enter

Up, up and away! New space-themed hub for Prospect Shopping Centre receives Levelling Up backing

Families will soon be able to enjoy an inter-galactic experience in Hull as a new space-themed venue is coming to the Prospect Shopping Centre.

Hull City Council has granted £158,044.50 to Roman Adventures Limited, trading as Little Astronauts, for a facility on the top storey of the shopping centre.

The funding has come from the council’s government-backed Levelling Up Fund and will transform the neglected area into a space-themed play and educational hub which will be supported by a food and beverage offering.

Almost 700sqm of unused floor space will be brought back into use, whilst 13.5 full-time equivalent jobs will be created.

The award is being match-funded by Roman Adventures Limited, meaning more than £150,000 of private capital will also be invested into the city centre.

Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This is an exciting project, one that will no doubt provide endless fun for families in Hull.

“There is nothing like this in the area, so for the council to be able to support bringing to the city centre is fantastic and is another great example of the potential which LUF helps to unlock.”

Levelling Up Funding to support city centre Wendy’s with dozens of new jobs

An empty unit in one of Hull’s busiest streets is being brought back into use thanks to support from Levelling Up Funding (LUF).

Square Burgers Limited has been awarded £200,000 from Hull City Council’s government-backed fund.

Trading as Wendy’s fast-food restaurant, the recipient will occupy Unit 1 of Grade II listed King Albert Chambers on Jameson Street in the city centre.

The funding will support the introduction of 48 full-time equivalent jobs and will also help to bring back into use 350sqm of unused floor space.

The total project costs are estimated at £1,170,565.18, meaning almost £1 million of private capital is being invested into Hull city centre.

Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “LUF is all about filling empty units in our city centre and creating new jobs, and this is exactly what this latest grant award does.

“Wendy’s has already invested heavily into Hull with its other restaurants and it’s great that this Levelling Up Funding can support it doing likewise in the city centre.”

In the last year, Wendy’s opened stores at Kingswood and Bilton.

First PlayZone sites confirmed for Hull

Bude Park and East Park have been confirmed for PlayZones in Hull.

The PlayZone at Bude Park is part of wider regeneration works on the site, including the installation of new football facilities, pavilion and splash pad.

The provision at East Park will replace the unused MUGA adjacent to Woodford Leisure Centre which closed several years ago and has fallen into disrepair.

The two sites have been chosen following community engagement which took place last year via several in-person information sessions, at which members of the public were invited to have their say.

Primarily funded by the Football Foundation, PlayZones are high-quality facilities offering space for recreational physical activity to encourage people to be active in a variety of sports, including football, netball, rugby, cricket, hockey and basketball.

They are aimed at tackling inequalities in physical activity and align with Hull City Council’s ethos of promoting an active, healthy lifestyle, as well as providing safe, inclusive and accessible outdoor facilities.

Cllr Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure at the council, said: “This is an exciting development in the PlayZones project.

“The council is aiming to provide provision citywide, so it is pleasing that we have two sites now confirmed and I look forward to seeing them developed.”

Works on the Bude Park and East Park sites are scheduled to begin later this year.

Back to Ours kick start summer with the return of Sharrabang!

The neighbourhood-favourite event, Sharrabang is back, ready to bring a burst of creativity and community to the streets of Hull this weekend!

On Saturday, 6th July and Sunday, 7th July, Back to Ours, a Hull-based Arts Council England NPO charity, will once again transform the city with an open-top double-decker bus filled with surprises and incredible performers. This is a free event, open to everyone – no tickets needed, just come along and join the fun.

What is Sharrabang?
Sharrabang is an extraordinary travelling cabaret-style event that brings the arts to the heart of Hull’s communities. As the vibrant bus makes its way across the city, it will stop at various locations to perform and party, lighting up the streets with a variety of acts including singers, acrobats, poets, and more. This is an event for all ages, guaranteed to bring smiles and unforgettable moments to everyone’s doorstep.

The community-centric celebrations are a collaborative effort and each stop on the Sharrabang route is a mini-event in itself, tailor-made for each neighbourhood.

This summer’s Sharrabang promises to be bigger and better, with a line-up of performers set to amaze and delight. Whether you’re a returning fan or a first-time attendee, you can expect a weekend of high-energy performances, laughter, and community spirit.

The Sharrabang will make its way through East Hull on Saturday 6th July and West Hull on Sunday 7th July 2024.

Saturday 6th July – East Hull stops:
11am – 11:30am, Alf Marshall Centre, North Point Shopping Centre, Bransholme
12pm – 1pm, Elmbridge Parade, Annandale Road, Greatfield
1:30pm – 2:30pm, Archbishop Sentamu Academy School Fair, Preston Road
3pm – 4pm, Bilsdale Grove Oval, Southcoates

Sunday 7th July – West Hull stops:
11am – 12pm, Redfern Close Bus Stop, Walker Street, Thornton
12:30pm – 1:30pm, Riley Way Playing Fields, Woldcarr Road
2pm – 3pm, Dodthorpe / Gorthorpe, Orchard Park
3:30pm – 4:30pm, Garrowby Orchard, Derringham

Make this weekend one to remember with Back to Ours – see you at the Sharrabang!

Streetlife Museum shortlisted for national Family Friendly Museum Award

Hull Museum’s Streetlife Museum has been shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award, it was announced today.

Charity Kids in Museums has run a prestigious annual award since 2004, recognising the most family friendly heritage sites in the UK. It is the only UK museum award to be judged by families.

From late March to early June, families across the UK voted for their favourite heritage attraction on the Kids in Museums website. A panel of museum experts then whittled down hundreds of nominations to a shortlist of 18 heritage attractions.

Streetlife is vying against two other museums in the Best Accessible Museum category.

The Best Accessible Museum category celebrates museums making excellent efforts to include families with children or young people who have special educational needs and disabilities.

Shortlisted museums will also be given feedback on how they can further improve their offer for families.

Overlooking the museum gardens, the Streetlife Museum is home to transport and social history collections, as well as hosting a rolling programme of community exhibitions. The museum is always busy with school visits, under fives and over 55s sessions, visits from day centres, as well as events and activities at weekends and in school holidays.

Over the summer holidays, the museum will be visited by undercover family judges who will assess the shortlisted museums against the Kids in Museums Manifesto, a set of guidelines on what makes a great museum visit for all ages. Their experiences will decide a winner for each award category and an overall winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2024. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.

Follow the Family Friendly Museum Award on social media by following @kidsinmuseums and #FamilyFriendlyMuseum.

The Family Friendly Museum Award has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England.

For great FREE days out with the kids…It Must Be Hull

For free days out kids actually want to go on, take your pick from a host of free festivals and museums to the fin-tastic Fish Trail. Download the trail online, find the fish and explore the city. Can you find all 41 life-sized fish hidden in Hull’s cobbled pavements, from a tiny anchovy to a 10ft ray?

Take a trip to the Museums Quarter on the High Street where you can take a spin through the ages in the Streetlife Museum or marvel at the giant mammoth at the Hull and East Riding Museum. Not forgetting Ferens Art Gallery which, as well as having one of the finest regional art collections in the country, has an interactive children’s gallery. You can also book FREE tours around these museums! Book y

Hull’s Old Town is a hidden gem. Marvel at the majestic Hull Minster and wander through the nostalgic cobbled streets. Keep the kids entertained by looking up as they go on a treasure hunt down Whitefriargate using the Look Up Trail.

Grab your picnic blanket and dine al fresco in the city centre in the Museums Quarter Peace Gardens or sat alongside Hull Marina. Or maybe bring a towel and let the kids run through the fountains in Queen Victoria Square whilst you relax on a nearby bench.

If it’s fun in the sun you’re after then get some of our FREE events in your diary.

Freedom Festival, 28^th August to 1^st September, Hull’s award-winning international arts festival. Expect crowd-pleasing spectaculars to intimate and thought-provoking performances. Guaranteed to delight family members of all ages!

Pride in Hull, 27^th July, will be blazing rainbows across the city with its annual party including a parade, main stage and family area.

Dino Day, 9^th August, get up close and personal with dinosaurs in Queen Victoria Square as you enjoy face painting, colouring competitions and more.

Medieval Mayhem, 27^th to 28^th August, a weekend of medieval merriment in the Museums Quarter.

Step back in time at Dinostar or journey underwater at one of the UK’s most spectacular aquariums, it’s 20 years since The Deep opened so come party with the penguins. Remember, your day pass is valid for 12 months.

Plus, we’ve got escape rooms, adventure golf, retro arcades and a whole lot more. Find out more here!

New late night bar and restaurant, Iron Lilies announces opening date at Princes Quay

A new late night bar in Princes Quay with stunning botanical, floral decor and a beautiful terrace overlooking the quays, is set to open next month.

Iron Lilies, a 200 seat restaurant and bar which is set to take over Level 2 of Princes Quay will bring a whimsical world of botany with a selection of nature and plant life themes including a real life pond, a private dining room with views across Hull and exquisite dining and drinks under the wisteria.

The concept which has been created by national operators, Tokyo Industries will feature botanical elements which is set to create an inviting atmosphere and transport guests into an ‘outside oasis’ featuring everything found in a floral garden. With features such as a ‘lily pond’, overgrown greenery, giant lily pads, a ‘Greenhouse’ and a stunning terrace, the venue will be open seven days a week serving food, exquisite themed cocktails alongside a high-end wine list.

The menu, which has been carefully curated, will also feature a selection of dishes from ‘the farm’, ‘the ground’ which are all vegetarian and vegan and from ‘the sea’. Dishes across the menu include Cocktail Chorizo Sausages, Wagyu Meatballs, Thai Cauliflower Steak, Salt and Pepper Squid and Thai Scallops.

Three long board sharing options are also available including Butcher’s Block which features a sizzling Sirloin Steak, Wagyu Burgers and Chicken and Chorizo Skewers, the ‘Fisherman’s Platter’ featuring a selection of seafood and Garden Harvest with Aubergine Moussaka, Triple Cooked Garlic Chips and Slow Roasted Leek, suitable for vegans.

The tasty dessert menu features Nutella Bites, a trio of Cheesecakes, a light and airy Lemon Posset as well as a selection of Sorbets. A selection of Gluten Free options will also be available.

Chris Bateson, Operations Director for Tokyo Industries said: “We have been working on the Iron Lilies concept for a long time and wanted to bring something different to Hull. The restaurant & late-night venue has undergone an incredible transformation over the last few months and we hope will prove a popular haunt for residents and visitors. We have breathed new life into a unit that has stood vacant for almost a decade capitalising on a strategic location within the shopping centre.”

The venue will open seven days per week from 11am until late. Food will be served from 11am through to 9pm.

The venue, which will create 70 new jobs, has been developed with a substantial £750,000 grant from the Levelling Up Fund, aiming to revitalize urban spaces and boost the local economy as well as a significant £1.5 million investment from Tokyo Industries.

Tokyo Industries operate 47 sites across the UK and seven sites internationally as well as owning Princes Quay Shopping Centre, the location of Iron Lilies.

The venue will launch on 11th July with a VIP event and be open to the public from 12^th July. Tables can be booked here.

Free family fun as Armed Forces Day celebrated in Hull!

Hull city centre will turn red, white and blue next weekend as Armed Forces Day is celebrated.

Queen Victoria Square will play host to this free event next Saturday (29 June) which promises to have something for the whole family.

Free activities on offer include a climbing wall, Scrapstore craft activities, face painting and balloon modelling. Military attractions will also be on offer alongside a veterans’ marquee filled with representatives from the Royal British Legion, Aden Vets, National Malay & Borneo, Blind Veterans UK, RASC/RCT and Hull Mind.

Musical performances from The 150 Regiment Band and Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force Band will take place throughout the day, with military-style street performers taking to the streets. The Lord Mayor of Kingston Upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber, Cllr Mark Collinson will also be in attendance.

Kath Wynne-Hague, Head of Culture, Place and City Centre, said:

“Armed Forces Day has so much on offer with something for everyone to enjoy.

“This family event celebrates the important role of the armed forces and provides visitors the opportunity to reflect and thank those who have protected and continue to protect our country.”

Hull’s Armed Forces Day event takes place in Queen Victoria Square on Saturday 29 June, 10am – 4pm. It is free to attend.