A POWYS rescue is appealing for a home for a pony whose former owners were banned from keeping equines for 10 years after she was found emaciated, collapsed and shut in a horse trailer.
 
Llanfechain-based Totem Horses, a small not-for-profit rescue and re-homing centre, is appealing for a home for a pony called Holly, who was caused unnecessary suffering by her former owners who left her emaciated and unable to stand with a heavy worm burden.
 
Sarah Morris (see notes) and Debbie Smitherman on Winllan Farm, Winllan Road, Llansantffraid-Ym-Mechain pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the two-year-old Welsh cross pony when they appeared before Welshpool Magistrates Court on 27 November 2018. The two were banned from keeping horses or ponies for 10 years and ordered to pay a £300 fine, legal costs and a victim surcharge*.
 
Totem Horses founder, Jo Barr, said: "Having previously worked for the RSPCA for 10 years I honestly thought I had seen everything, but when we went to collect Holly, who they said was simply 'unwanted due to lack of time', I could not believe what I saw.
 
"Sarah said rather than use a stable they had shut her in the trailer three days before as she was cold, but the pony was lying in her own urine with no food or water. I was amazed she was still alive.
 
"All of her bones were visible and the skin on her withers and in other places had broken down. It beggars belief two so called horse lovers could allow an animal to be in that state, shut in a trailer dying just feet away from the back door of their house where they sat safe, warm and well fed."
 
Holly was signed over to Totem Horses who sought immediate veterinary treatment for her and alerted the RSPCA. It was touch and go whether she would survive for the first three days, but with around the clock support from Simon Woods and his team at Lower House Equine Clinic she pulled through.
 
Jo said: "For the first three nights I slept in the barn with Holly as she had drips and other treatment. I had to lift her head to give her water and feed from a scoop as she wasn't even strong enough to lift it herself.
 
"Lower House Equine Clinic were brilliant and made sure she had pain relief and fluids everything else she needed around the clock. I was determined that if we did lose her she would not die alone - so I stayed with her.
 
“Thankfully she didn’t, but it still it took a further two weeks before she was actually strong enough to stand up without some help."
 
Now Totem Horses is appealing for a home for Holly where she can start a new life. The not-for-profit’s horses go out on a loan agreement and homes are subject to regular home visits.
 
Jo added: "I am very grateful to RSPCA inspector Phil Lewis for everything he did as well as Simon and his team at Lower House Equine Clinic, but I could not have saved Holly without the support of our volunteers Lyddy, Kelly, Holly and Jiri, and also Helen and Adam who got involved later on and helped this young pony to regain her trust in people.
“I am very pleased the court recognised the serious nature of the neglect and also the RSPCA exists to investigate and make sure the people responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
 
Holly is still a young pony and it takes a while for her to trust new people so she needs an experienced home anywhere in England and Wales where she will get regular handling. For further information or to offer Holly a home please visit www.totemhorse.org.uk or their Facebook page.

​A vital community fundraising event is due to run as smooth as silk thanks to the generous support of a London tech firm.
 
WM Reply, expertsin enhancing collaborative tools and business systems platforms for large organisations, will be supporting Notting Hill Genesis’ (made up of Notting Hill Housing and Genesis Housing Association) ‘A5 Show’. The firm will do this by providing their technical services free of charge to ensure the exhibition’s website, which will enable people to purchase the different artworks, runs smoothly.
 
The community exhibition gives creative residents and staff the chance to have their work displayed alongside professional artists, with all items displayed anonymously until it is purchased for the set price of £50. All proceeds from the sale of artworks will go towards The Tenant Hardship fund, which supports the most vulnerable tenants living in Notting Hill Genesis communities.
 
With the majority of artworks expected to be purchased through the dedicated website, it was vital for Notting Hill Genesis to be sure the system would not fail. So when the opportunity came, they gladly accepted the specialist services of WM Reply to stress test the online portal free of charge – a service that would normally have cost thousands.
 
Richard Acreman, Partner at WM Reply, said:
 
“The Resident Art Show is a fantastic event showcasing the creativity of the community it also aims to help. It’s an honour for us to be part of such a worthy cause, so we were just happy to help in whatever way we could.”
 
Mandy Worster, volunteer programme manager for Notting Hill Genesis, said: 
 
“Everyone involved is really looking forward to the A5 Show and giving our extremely talented residents the chance to display their work to a wider audience. Having a website we know works well and can help us raise money for such a good cause is vital, and we are extremely grateful to WM Reply for becoming one of our sponsors and providing such an important and efficient service.”
 
The community exhibition will take place at the Koppel Gallery in High Holborn, London and run from Thursday 29 November – Friday 21 December 2018.

A renowned artist will create a series of artworks with orphans from Lesotho to raise money for an international charity which provides food programmes for impoverished communities in the country.
 
Richard Scott is a British-born artist who lives and works in South Africa, known for his artwork he describes as ‘Naïve meets Pop Art’. He is now working in partnership with UK-based charity Msizi Africa to produce artwork for an upcoming charity auction.
 
Msizi Africa have been running food programmes since 2007, serving more than 2.8 million meals in the process to children. In addition to this, the charity has also built houses for vulnerable families, supplied more than 1,000 school uniforms and pay tuition fees for those who want to learn but cannot afford it.
 
Their latest venture involves a workshop where orphans and other children from some of Lesotho’s poorest communities will create artworks, which will then be sent to Cape Town to be embellished by Richard Scott, before being auctioned online to raise funds for the charity.
 
Lucy Herron, founding trustee of Msizi Africa, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Richard for getting involved. The children cannot wait to see their art combined with his to create something new and exciting.”
 
Richard Scott, whose work has been sold to collectors all around the world, said:
 
“How can you explain how cool it is to paint for a living? Even cooler than that is the feeling you get when you help other people – that’s the coolest feeling in the world. So, when Lucy Herron asked me to join her programme at Msizi Africa in Lesotho, South Africa, it was a no-brainer.
 
“Getting involved with the charity is an honour and helping the kids help themselves, while having fun painting, is really a special feeling. Thank you Msizi Africa for allowing me to be involved and been able to make a difference.”
 
Once completed, the art will be auctioned online in November. Anyone who is interested in receiving updates on availability should visit www.msiziafrica.org.uk.

​A Chester tech firm has been announced as the sponsor of a local developer’s group for the third year running. 
 
WM Reply, which specialises in enhancing collaborative tools and business systems platforms for large organisations is proud to announce it is the sponsor of the tech community group for 2018/2019.
 
Chester Devs is a not for profit community group for over 1,000 developers in the region, providing free monthly events for its members to learn new skills, keep up with technology, best practice and network. It has proven an important forum for those working in the city’s tech scene, something WM Reply wanted to acknowledge and support.
 
Through their financial sponsorship of the group, WM Reply have also been invited to speak at one or more of the events held throughout the year, which will also be streamed live via the group’s YouTube channel.
 
Cathy Taylor, who heads up the WM Reply team in Chester, said:
 
“Chester Devs has played a key part in the development of a strong and thriving tech scene in and around Chester. As a company which places importance on investing in the local tech community, sponsoring Chester Devs was a real no-brainer.”
 
Fran Hoey, the founder of the community tech group said:
 
“We’ve grown a lot since we first started in 2012, but one of the most important things for me was for Chester Devs to be free of charge. Thanks to WM Reply’s sponsorship this is still possible.”
 
This latest news follows the company’s relocation of their Chester office from Crook Street to One City Place, and an ongoing recruitment drive which has already seen a number of recent appointments to the team based there.

An Inverness business is calling on other firms in the city to turn things rainbow in support of the upcoming gay pride event and demonstrate most people are not opposed to the march they actively support it.

Jo Barr, the marketing manager for Inverness based ecommerce site Saucy Boutique, was saddened to read in the press a church petition signed by 600 people existed to try block the event called Proud Ness.

Highland Council has now confirmed that Proud Ness will take place on 6 October 2018 despite an attempt by a member of the Free Church of Scotland to stop it on “biblical, religious and moral” grounds.

Mrs Barr is pleased the event has been allowed to go ahead after both Police Scotland and the Highland Council had no objections, but she wants to redress some of the sad and hateful things said by those in interviews opposing it, and for the world to know Inverness welcomes diversity.

She explains: “I love Inverness, so the idea anyone would be made to feel unwelcome simply because of their sexuality was offensive and unacceptable and the sort of stereotypes which were being shared were totally inappropriate."

Jo believes whilst the event has already received support from the actor Alan Cumming and two positive petitions, it is vital the city makes a public display , so tourists and others are not put off visiting or doing business in the area.

Now Jo is calling on businesses in Inverness to display a LGBT rainbow flag either in their shopfronts or elsewhere as a symbol they are in favour of Proud Ness and demonstrate those who signed the petition were in a very tiny minority.

She explains: "Obviously, doing the marketing for an adult retailer like Saucy Boutique, I am open minded, but this shouldn’t be an issue about how people think it is an issue about what is right and fair and proper and that’s a society where everyone is welcome and treated with equal respect regardless of race, age, gender, status, wealth or religion or sexuality.

“So, to show our support and respect for the LGBT community in general and Proud Ness in particular we will be turning the Saucy Boutique website rainbow for the week of 6 October and I would urge other business to join into by displaying the rainbow flag where they can.”

Universities are being invited to trial a new quality accommodation assurance system which is set to make for happier students and landlords and save education establishments time, money and ultimately reputation.
 
The Student Accommodation Quality Service Assurance (SAQSA) is a web-based piece of technology created to improve the experience of both students and landlords and take the pressure of often stretched University accommodation departments.
 
The brainchild of tech expert Dr Ahmed Mussa, the idea came about because of his own poor experience of accommodation when he was studying 30 years ago and subsequently reading a report which showed it was still a massive issue today.
 
Dr Mussa who has a PhD in application of Artificial Intelligence and Automation  said: “I studied at university between 1985 and 1990, and for much of the time the dwellings that I was forced to live in were far from ideal. In fact, at one time I ended up with pneumonia and was hospitalised for two weeks. 
 
“At another time I returned from my summer holiday with my wife and two children to a flat with no floor. Unscheduled maintenance had been organised while I was away without any sort of notification and sadly these things still happen.” 
 
The National Student Accommodation Survey (NSAS) quizzed over 2,000 students last year and discovered maintenance issues are rife. The survey found nearly 50% of housing issues encountered by students were unresolved within a week. Damp was the most commonly reported issue, boilers breaking down in winter and not being serviced, and even a broken front door remaining unresolved for several days.
 
Realising the extent of the problem and not content to just build a solution which just allowed students to simply ‘rate’ their landlords, good or bad, and nothing more, Ahmed has produced  a piece of tech which will help guarantee the quality of student accommodation across the country.
 
Dr Mussa, whose firm in based in Birmingham said: “I wanted a system focussed on ‘rating not hating’, which involves all parties – student, landlord and university and where relevant provides reassurance for parents.
 
“Providing accommodation is a service, not a product, so what you get with SAQSA is not only a system that is smart, it is also wise. It takes into account both sides of a situation and helps them to reach a positive resolution.”
 
Whilst Dr. Mussa, is no stranger to popular ratings site such as Tripadvisor, which encourage reviews in the food and leisure sector his tech also incorporates the human element which he feels is vital as it stops anomalies such as London’s highly rated restaurant, which did not actually exist.
 
SAQSA has already been tested with more than 3,000 students completing standardised accommodation reviews. Following the successful first phase, Ahmed is now seeking three universities to sign up to use SAQSA and use it for the second beta stage, which he expects to last for up to six months prior to it going on general release. Each of the first three universities to sign up will be given free subscription for one year – an offer worth around £10,000 each.
 
SAQSA benefits universities by giving them happier students and parents better links to accommodation providers, both of which will help them to enhance their reputation in what is a highly competitive market place.
 
Students also benefit by being supported and knowing they can report problems easily with a platform available 24/7 leading to quicker responses as well as quality assurance with issues around private rental property or halls of residence.
 
SAQSA marketing manager and father-of three Abdel Mussa explains said: “When it comes to attracting and indeed retaining students, it won’t be a case of whetheruniversities need to have it, the situation will be that if they want to attract students they won’t be able to afford to not have it and parents will expect to see it.”
 
SAQSA based around the value of positive reinforcement with landlords. To address the latter point, SAQSA is designed to engage directly with landlords, opening a process to effectively coach landlords on how to deliver better conditions for their tenants.
 
Landlords have the opportunity to earn positive feedback via the system, obviously a key component of existing brands such as Amazon, eBay and Uber.
 
Ahmed said: “Harmony for universities and landlords, assurance for students and their parents and rate not hate – that is what we do in a nutshell.”
 
Universities wanting to sign up are asked to visit the SAQSA website.

A first-time dad-to-be was so dismayed hearing friends complain about the children’s programmes they were forced to endure in the name of parenthood he wrote and made his own TV series.

Dom Williams, and his wife Jenny of Croydon, were expecting their first child, when he came up with the idea for Sunny Bank Allotments. It is an animated pre-school series which he wrote both as a gift to his unborn child and as an attempt to get away from the type of programmes his friends with children said they were fed up of watching.

Dom explains: “When you are expecting a first child you know people are going to warn you about the sleepless nights and the lack of time and how much life changes. But I noticed for a lot of parents one of the things that really drove them bonkers was their children’s television programmes – often with storylines that didn’t seem to promote strong family values or reflect the interests of the children I knew. Most children I know love nature, animals, the outdoors and are excited by the idea of grow your own. I was disappointed not to see any shows reflecting all these themes.

“You read all the same things online in parenting forums and there have even been polls run in national newspaper about the kids TV programmes parents hate the most –it’s a hot topic in the parenting world.”

With so many pre-school programmes on offer, Dom was disappointed to see much of what was available and while there was a variety of shows on offer, many followed the same formats and it wasn’t obvious how or if they were benefitting children’s development.

Dom started writing the storyline based around a little boy and girl who carried the names (Pippa and Barney) he and his wife had chosen for their baby before they knew what sex it would be. He worked with an illustrator to design the characters and settings, before going on to animate them and bring them to life with the help of actors who he auditioned and cast through his other business Williams Bulldog Management, a talent agency. The TV show was then made through his established production company Smart Dog Productions Ltd.

Dom, whose business is based in Beckenham, Kent said: “I hadn’t written anything like this before, but I was a very passionate parent-to-be and I wanted to produce something my child could enjoy in their early years and grow up to be proud of in later life.
“I also wanted something which was not too over the top and with voice and music which kids would enjoy, but which would not prove too grating on their parents. I like to think we have achieved all that.”

The programme takes its name from the road in Croydon where Dom and his family live, although he has subsequently found out there are actually at least three places called Sunny Bank Allotments in the UK.
​
The series consists of 12 x 11 minute episodes and 12 accompanying books. Details available at: www.Sunnybank.TVwhere the episodes can also be watched. They are also available watch  They are also available to watch via the popular Kids Youtube Channel Wizz: https://www.youtube.com/c/wizz

​A start-up app created to help young violinists with their practice has announced a scheme to collect feedback during their first version trial, whilst raising money for an international music charity. 
 
nSpireMewas founded by conductor and music entrepreneur Stuart Barr to help children unleash their musicality. Their ethos is that “every child possesses extraordinary powers of creativity, and it's our job to develop technology that enables them to unleash it”.
 
Stuart was conductor to the veteran artiste Dame Shirley Bassey for 6 years, conducting her worldwide from the Oscars, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert to her farewell album at Abbey Road. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music for a decade, recently took his MBA in the Creative Industries at the University of Cambridge, and is Chairman of the London Youth Choir.
 
The nSpireMe app gives children actionable feedback on their pitching and rhythm, with their music displayed alongside practice notes from their teacher. It’s a 3-way platform that connects teacher, student and parent. nSpireMe helps fill the void between lessons and during holidays, enabling students to accelerate their progress, and stay engaged.
 
As well as offering teachers, parents and students free access to the app for an initial trial period, nSpireMe have also pledged to donate £1 to Music as Therapy Internationalfor every bug or glitch reported. This can range from a crotchet rest being slightly out of place to display issues on smaller screen devices. Furthermore, nSpireMe have also decided to donate £1 for every shared post on either Facebook or LinkedIn.
 
Music as Therapy International are a UK-registered charity who believe passionately in the power of music to make the most of people’s potential, overcoming obstacles such as disability, trauma and mental illness. Their unique approach sees them train care staff to use simple music therapy techniques and musical activities, providing them with resources and professional support to make sustainable change.
 
Alexia Quin, founder and director of the music charity said, “We would like to thank Stuart and nSipre Me for this innovative and generous pledge of support. Any money raised will mean vulnerable children and adults across the UK and around the world can continue to experience the benefits of music in their lives.”
 
nSpire Me believe that the power of music can transform the lives of all people, particularly those with disadvantages, whatever those may be. Stuart said: “We are in awe of the work that Music as Therapy International do, and know that our donations will make a significant impact”.
 
Parents who wish to see how nSpireMe can accelerate their child’s progress over the summer should visit www.nspireme.co.ukwhere they can sign up for a free trial now. Don’t forget, any bugs found will mean a donation to Music as Therapy International!

A new charity created to improve education for girls in Nigeria is seeking support to help launch its first project in the West African country.
 
Project Girl Foundation was set up to empower girls and local communities in rural Nigeria through education. Their vision is to close the gender gap of illiteracy and transform the education system in the country. The new charity is the creation of British-born Nigerian Lily Nwamaraihe, 36, who lives in London.
 
Lily, who has worked in the UK education system for 10 years, founded the charity following a personal journey to discover and engage with her ethnic roots that began in 2012 with her first trip to Nigeria as an adult.
 
Lily said: “On visiting Nigeria I discovered a beautiful country filled with a rich culture, yet sadly one coupled with a devastatingly failing education system. It was clear children were not receiving their basic right to a free and effective education. 
 
“Of particular concern to me was the plight of girls both in the home and at school, such as the lack of importance placed on girls’ education compared to their male counterparts.”
 
It was from this experience that Project Girl Foundation was born, with an aim to transform girls’ education and empower them by providing them with sufficient skills and resources to enrich their lives, that of their families and their communities.
 
The organisation began to come together in 2017 and now has a board of trustees in place. They are now seeking support of the public, particularly the British Nigerian community, to help them deliver their first project in Enugu State in south-east Nigeria. This project will mainly focus on functional literacy for girls, while also encouraging those with Special Educational Needs to participate in the programme.
 
Lily said: “Project Girl Foundation has big plans, but we need the help of others to make them a reality. We are asking for individuals, businesses and anyone with a connection to Nigeria to get in touch and give us their support.”
 
The charity is also interested to hear from schools and churches, especially those who would consider a partnership to help deliver their programme. Anyone who would like to know more or give their support should get in touch via the Project Girl Foundation website.

​A start-up app created to help people meditate has announced a series of workshops which will raise money for an international music charity.
 
Third Ear, which is the first app to use sound to invoke a meditative, mindful state in its users, is the creation of Leo Cosendai, the Swiss-born meditation expert now based in London.
 
The young entrepreneur, already a celebrated sound meditation teacher, created the app to allow users to access the benefits of his teaching wherever they are. To help promote the launch of the new app, Third Ear are holding a series of immersive events in partnership with Ministry of Sound. 
 
Leo said: “This series of events are a fantastic opportunity for anyone curious to experience sound not as a way of entertainment but as a way of self-entrainment.
 
“Whether you are experienced or completely new to meditation and mindfulness does not matter in the slightest for physical posture and silence are not part of the equation. In fact, it is not uncommon to see first timers come out of the room stunned.” 
 
As well as offering members of the public the chance to sample the benefits of sound mediation first-hand, Third Ear have also pledged 20% of the price of each ticket sold to London based charity Music as Therapy International.
 
Music as Therapy International are a UK-registered charity who believe passionately in the power of music to make the most of people’s potential, overcoming obstacles such as disability, trauma and mental illness. Their unique approach sees them train care staff to use simple music therapy techniques and musical activities, providing them with resources and professional support to make sustainable change.
 
Alexia Quin, founder and director of the music charity said, “We would like to thank Leo and Third Ear for their incredible gesture of support. The money raised will help us bring the benefits of music into the lives of vulnerable children and adults across the UK and around the world.”
 
The first Third Ear event will be held on 17 July, and then from September onwards on a monthly basis on the third Tuesday of each month. Tickets cost £20 per person and are available from SeeTickets.com. The Third Ear app is free to download on iOS, with a new version coming out on both iOS and Android in September 2018.