3 - 2026 | Chalmers News PR

Leamington boutique fashions a fundraiser for local charities

Posted on March 31, 2026March 31, 2026 by admin

Revolve, Leamington, fundraising, Rotary Club of St Alphege

Dress for fundraising success is the mission behind a charity event hosted by a Leamington clothing boutique later this month.

Revolve, in Warwick Street, has teamed up with Solihull St Alphege Rotary Club to host a Fashion Show in support of two local charities – Marie Curie Hospice and Help Harry Help Others.

The event, on April 22^nd, takes place at Robin Hood Golf Club on St Bernards Road, Solihull, and will be joined by the Mayor Annette Mackenzie.

Gurdip Chamba, President of Solihull St Alphege Rotary Club, said: “Our upcoming fashion show promises to be a truly special occasion – an afternoon where style, community spirit, and compassion come together for a meaningful cause. As a Rotary club, service is at the heart of everything we do, and this event reflects our commitment to making a tangible difference locally while bringing people together in an enjoyable and uplifting way.

“This is far more than a fashion show. It is an opportunity for our community to gather, connect, and share in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Guests will be treated to a delightful showcase of ladies’ fashion, celebrating elegance, creativity, and confidence.”

Help Harry Help Others was established by the late Harry Moseley whilst battling an inoperable brain tumour. He was inspired to make a difference to all people with brain cancer when a friend of his who also had a brain tumour became very ill.

Revolve, Leamington, fundraising, Rotary Club of St Alphege

Within the space of just over two years Harry had organised and attended nearly 100 events to raise money for and awareness of brain cancer. He touched the hearts of the nation with his efforts and helped change the lives of everyone he met.

The charity’s support for the cancer community includes a Drop-in Cancer Support Centre in Birmingham with access to counselling services, workshops, activities and support groups.

Gurdip added: “Both organisations provide vital care, comfort, and support to individuals and families during some of life’s most challenging times. By attending or supporting this event, guests are directly contributing to services that bring dignity, hope, and compassion to those who need it most.

“We firmly believe that fundraising should be both meaningful and enjoyable. This evening is designed to strike that balance – offering a warm, friendly environment where people can have fun while knowing their participation is making a real difference. Every ticket purchased, every raffle entry, and every show of support helps us extend care and kindness within our community.

Tickets for the event, which also includes a cream tea, cost £20 and are available by contacting: mariapulley@aol.com or calling 07799 431573 or revolveleamingtonspa@hotmail.co.uk

For more information about Solihull St Alphege Rotary Club visit HERE.

For more information about Help Harry Help Others visit HERE.

Amanda puts fresh spin on the day job with new live radio show

Posted on March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 by admin

Amanda Chalmers, Vive25 Radio, Smiling Families Charity — Amanda pictured with Kerry Martin and Shoresy.

An award-winning local journalist turned PR is putting a fresh ‘spin’ on her interview skills after teaming up with a new community radio station.

Amanda Chalmers of Chalmers News PR based in Warwick, is launching her own live talk show for Vibe25 Radio akin to Radio 4’s long-running Desert Island Discs.

The station, which launched in Hampton-in-Arden in February, is rapidly emerging as one of the Midlands’ most exciting and community-driven broadcast platforms, blending music, creativity, and social impact to create a unique listening experience.

Broadcasting across multiple platforms, and using the latest state-of-the-art technology, Vibe25 Radio offers a diverse schedule of shows spanning everything from 80s classics and drive-time hits to dance, trance, and specialist programming, delivered by a passionate team of presenters and volunteers.

Amanda Chalmers, Vive25 Radio, Smiling Families Charity

In one of the newest shows, ‘Chat With Chalmers,’ launching on April 6^th, Amanda interviews interesting people behind some of the most inspiring small local businesses, charities and organisations, all making a difference in their community.

She said: “I am extremely excited about this new chapter, which marks the latest of my new personal challenges, designed to take me out of my comfort zone.

“I have already been blown away by the level of passion, ambition and talent I’ve witnessed that goes into the running of this station and quickly knew it was a project I wanted to be a part of. I look forward to drawing on my journalism experience – and combining it with my love of music – for this all-new show aimed at informing as well as entertaining!

“But those who know my often questionable taste in music need not fear as it’s my guests who will be choosing the songs – all specially selected to support the narrative around their own stories.

She added: “I am delighted that this will also create another outlet in which to help shine a spotlight on some of the amazing hard working people in our area, including some of those I am already lucky enough to work with.

“It’s been 30 years since I last had a foray into broadcasting, spending two years as a volunteer at hospital radio in north Warwickshire, so I am a bit nervous about mastering the latest technology. Surely it can’t be that hard… ?”

Amanda Chalmers, Vive25 Radio, Smiling Families Charity

Amanda spent 30 years working in the regional press, culminating with a stint in the Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald editor’s chair before launching Chalmers News PR, in 2018. She has worked on newsdesks in and around Warwickshire, including the former Nuneaton Tribune and Rugby Advertiser, and, as deputy editor at the Daventry Express and Buckingham and Winslow Advertiser Series before joining the Herald.

She’s since gone on to win national recognition for her Warwick-based agency, including, last December, being named the 8^th Best Home-Based Business in the UK in the UK Business Awards.

Vibe25 Radio is under the umbrella of the Smiling Families Charity, both of which are run by husband and wife team Kerry Martin and ‘Shoresy.’ The pair say the station will help provide another voice and creative outlet for individuals and families facing serious illness, disability, and life-changing challenges.

Kerry said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Amanda Chalmers to Vibe25 Radio. Amanda brings a wealth of experience as a respected journalist and businesswoman, and her new show Chat with Chalmers will add a fresh, insightful and dynamic edge to our programming.

“At Smiling Families and Vibe25 Radio, we are passionate about creating meaningful, engaging content that connects with our community, and Amanda’s unique voice and perspective perfectly align with that vision. We are incredibly excited to have her on board as the station continues to grow from strength to strength.”

She added: “By combining high-energy broadcasting with meaningful community engagement, Vibe25 Radio is not only growing its audience but also making a lasting difference – proving that radio can be both powerful and purposeful.”

Learn more about Vibe25 Radio and see its presenters line-up HERE.

Amanda Chalmers, Vive25 Radio, Smiling Families Charity

Smiling Families Charity

Since being established in the West Midlands 2012, Smiling Families Charity continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of families facing terminal illness, disability, and life-changing conditions.

Through a combination of compassionate support, inclusive events, and innovative initiatives such as Vibe25 Radio, the charity provides vital opportunities for families to create lasting memories during some of their most challenging times. From medically supported summer experiences and in-home activity days to mental health support groups and community training, Smiling Families is committed to reducing isolation and bringing moments of joy, connection, and hope to those who need it most.

Review: Priscilla Queen of The Desert

Posted on March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by admin

Priscilla Queen of The Desert, Birmingham Hippodrome, review — Credit: Johan Persson

There are shows that entertain, and then there are shows that detonate into the auditorium with such high‑octane joy that the audience leaves a little taller, a little sparklier, and a lot more alive. Priscilla Queen of the Desert is firmly in the latter camp.

This glitter‑fuelled juggernaut of a musical lands in the city with all the flamboyance, heart, and unapologetic theatricality audiences could hope for – an irresistible cocktail of disco classics, razor‑sharp humour, and genuine emotional warmth.

Directed by Olivier Award-nominated Ian Talbot OBE with choreography by Olivier Award-winner Matt Cole and set and lighting design by Andrew Exeter, the sassy and joyous Broadway and West End hit musical follows the hilarious and heart-warming journey as three friends travel across Australia in a dilapidated bus nicknamed Priscilla, to put on the show of a lifetime.

Featuring a hit parade of dance floor classics as well as garnering international acclaim, at its core, Priscilla Queen of the Desert’s enduring appeal lies in its heartfelt exploration and celebration of identity, diversity and the journey toward self acceptance.

From the moment the iconic bus rolls into view – resplendent, rebellious, and shimmering with attitude – the production sets its tone: bold, brash, and bursting with life.

The Hippodrome’s expansive stage gives Priscilla room to breathe, and the creative team uses every inch: bold lighting washes the auditorium in neon colour, while the sound design ensures each disco anthem lands with nightclub‑level punch. Lighting and staging work in perfect harmony, transforming the Australian outback into a kaleidoscope of colour and movement.

The jukebox soundtrack is a relentless parade of iconic disco anthems from the 80s and 90s, including Hot Stuff, It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, which ignite the stage – while quieter moments offer surprising emotional depth beneath the sequins.

The trio at the heart of the story have an effortless chemistry, their banter razor‑sharp and their individual arcs handled with sensitivity. Ex-Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton is believable as he navigates Tick’s journey toward fatherhood (and who knew the professional dancer also had a decent set of pipes on him!) Adele Anderson shows a quiet resilience in her portrayal as Bernadette, but its Nick Hayes as Felicia who steals the spotlight every time with his fiery defiance – grounding the glitter in something real and resonant.

Visually, the production is an absolute feast. The costumes are a parade of outrageous brilliance – towering headpieces, neon plumage, and gowns that, quite frankly, defy both gravity and logic! Kudos to Strictly’s BAFTA award-winning costume designer Vicky Gill and her team who have designed and created over 100 iconic costumes worthy of the production’s flamboyance.

Yet beneath the spectacle lies a story with bite. The show doesn’t shy away from the prejudice the trio encounters on their journey, and those moments of tension give the narrative its emotional weight. When the characters triumph, it feels earned.

By the finale, the audience is on its feet – partly because the curtain call demands it, but mostly because staying seated simply isn’t an option. Priscilla Queen of the Desert at Birmingham Hippodrome is a riotous, heartfelt, glitter‑drenched triumph – an irresistible reminder that authenticity is the most fabulous act of all.

Unbelievably, this is my first date with Priscilla – but there’ll definitely be a second and maybe even a third such is its lure.

A riot of colour with a beating heart, this production is pure theatrical uplift.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert plays at The Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday, 28th March. Tickets can be booked HERE or by calling 0121 689 3000.

On the run to help feed people in Coventry and beyond!

Posted on March 23, 2026 by admin

A Coventry-based charity is calling upon people to help run up a great total for their coffers by signing up for the city’s two running events next month.

Feed The Hungry, which also runs Coventry foodbank, are one of the partner charities for Coventry Half Marathon and the 10K, which take place on April 19^th.

Head of Communications, Rich Smith said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be a charity partner for the 2026 Coventry Half-Marathon and 10k. Every pound raised by runners on 19th April will help us in our mission to combat hunger both here in Coventry, and across the globe.

“We’d love as many people as possible to lace up their trainers and join ‘Team Feed The Hungry’ for either the Half-Marathon or the 10K routes that start and end in our city. Whether you are running for Feed The Hungry, or specifically to support the vital work of our project, Coventry Foodbank, the sponsorship money raised will provide a lifeline to families and children facing food crisis.

“If running isn’t for you, we’d still love to see you there! Come down, soak up the atmosphere and cheer on the runners. We want to make this a truly community-wide success for Coventry.”

Feed The Hungry provides support for people living in the UK, and overseas in lower-income countries like Zambia, Bolivia and Nepal. The charity has also supported emergency relief efforts in Ukraine, where tonnes of aid has been sent and distributed to people in need.

One runner taking part on behalf of the charity is 24-year-old Robbie Kalnins, from Bedworth.

It marks a return to the start line for Robbie, who is hoping to beat his time of last year of 1:45 hours.

He said: “My business, Elevata, has previously donated around four weeks of food to families across Coventry, it was an incredible experience. This was for Christmas last year and is a tradition that is going to be welcomed by my business for years to come!

“Feed The Hungry is the most charitable, humble and immersive charity I have dealt with. When I came to see Steve Crump from Coventry foodbank with a donation; he talked to me, weighed the goods, explained how many families we had helped and really talked me through the whole process. This is something that I have never experienced from a charity and it was a really eye-opening experience.

Feed The Hungry, Coventry Foodbank, Half Marathon

“I’m very lucky and blessed to have never needed to use a foodbank and this is why I feel it is needed to give back the community to support because food is such a necessity.”

The Half-Marathon and 10K events start on Gosford Street, and end at Coventry Cathedral. All runners receive an exclusive medal as well as a goody bag and post-run treats. A minimum sponsorship of £100 is required to register.

There will also be stalls in the ‘Charity Village’, located in University Square, for anyone to come and find out more about the work of Feed The Hungry and Coventry foodbank.

Other named charity partners are: Back & Forth Men’s Mental Health; Coventry Cyrenians; Jane Tomlinson Appeal; Myton Hospice, University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire and Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.

Runners, aged 17 plus, can sign up HERE.

Anyone who needs support from Coventry foodbank, should visit HERE or you can find local support by visiting HERE.

Natalka builds new businesses and new beginnings after years of abuse

Posted on March 20, 2026 by admin

Aspire HR & Training Consultants, Hockley Heath — The Aspire team Isabelle Powell, Natalka Hunka and Caitlin Hunka. Photo by Janus Photography.

When Natalka Hunka accompanies domestic violence victims into the courtroom as a McKenzie Friend, it is more than a job – it’s a calling.

Inspired by her own experiences over 20 years, it’s clear the former Leamington schoolgirl and now single mum of two is on a mission.

The role represents one of many responsibilities she holds as founder of her new business – a future she is building for her daughter battling a chronic health condition.

As it marks its first anniversary, Aspire HR and Training Consultants, in Hockley Heath, can already boast a national award to its name – with big plans to build on its early success.

But this chapter also marks a new start for the new entrepreneur who, at 44, is finally realising her dream, not in spite of her traumas after years of abusive relationships, but rather, she says, because of them.

For the former Kingsley School and Arnold Lodge student, abuse became a disturbing pattern in her relationships, the last of which saw her fleeing her home in Kenilworth with her daughter Caitlin back to the safety of her parents’ home in Balsall Common.

She recalls: “I was stupid enough to keep believing them when they said they would change and would even make excuses for them. They would beg for my forgiveness and the behaviour would stop for a while but then eventually it would always start up again. The experience has completely changed me, coming from abuse, it has made me stronger.”

Natalka and her younger brother Simon were born in Coventry, of Ukrainian descent, a heritage that inspired her and youngest daughter Larysa, to create a Ukrainian hub for the Midlands. It is from here more than 1,500 parcels were distributed since the breakout of the war in February 2022, the effort supported by parents from Bablake School and assisted by family friend Maria Leszczyszyn and Franklin and Hawkins Family Funeral Directors.

Their father Stefan, become a highly respected member of the law profession for 43 years as the Owner/Director and Criminal Defence Solicitor at Alsters Kelley Solicitors.

But the family’s influence is far-reaching – from a little corner of Coventry at granddad’s Hunka’s General Stores, to uncle Pavlo Hunka, the internationally acclaimed opera singer.

Musical talent also belies a huge passion, the student from the former Malvern Girls’ College winning a place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music to study music and, at 16, becoming one of the youngest people to ever get into the main National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

But rather than follow her uncle’s example, an overriding desire to one day be a mum – kept her anchored on building a more stable career, eventually taking her into HR like her mum, an industry she quickly fell in love with.

Despite abusive relationships which left their emotional toll, Natalka soon worked up through the ranks at firms across the Midlands, to become HR Director.

But it’s her eldest daughter, Caitlin, – and now Aspire’s newest recruit – whom she credits with giving her the biggest drive to succeed at her newest challenge as a business owner, along with encouragement from her new partner Dan Cooper.

She said: “I wanted to start a business that I’d enjoy and would mean I was at home more with Caitlin, who at the time was in the thick of A levels – and it’s the best decision I made, because all of a sudden, endometriosis was taking over her life and ours.

“She has been through so much with me and, since her diagnosis four years ago, it’s always been my vision to set up a profitable business that I can hand over to her one day.

“But I am a workhorse, and am of the opinion that we should work hard for it. We very much live with Ukrainian ethics and both my parents have worked damn hard. My grandparents came to this country with nothing and my dad together with my mum’s support, is self-made.”

Now 19, and with the agonising symptoms of her condition under tighter control, Caitlin is steadfast in her supporting role, this time as HR/Business Coordinator, right-hand woman in the business, whilst studying remotely with the Law Academy in London in Employment Law.

The growing team also includes HR Advisors Isabelle Powell and, joining next month, Lauren Worrall.

Bringing together Natalka’s leadership and business skills as well as compassion, Aspire HR & Training Consultants is rooted in helping SMEs with outsourced HR services, from employment contracts and HR audits, redundancy and restructuring to disciplinaries, grievance procedures and recruitment.

Natalka said: “I started the business with a simple goal: to make HR support practical, accessible, and human. For me, good HR isn’t about endless paperwork or rigid rules – it’s about helping your business thrive by supporting the people who make it successful.”

But most in-demand has been her support as a McKenzie Friend – a lay person who supports a litigant in person in lieu of a family lawyer in court.

Natalka said: “We provide a unique blend of legal support and experience and emotional well-being assistance to help you navigate these challenging times.

“I’m the secret squirrel in the background who assists with all the paperwork and position statements, provides emotional support and, on the day, I’m in court with them, taking notes and giving them professional support where I can. Most commonly it’s for people going through divorce, child arrangements, non-molestation application orders etc.

“But I also specialise in cases of domestic abuse. I am grateful that I’m able to give back after what I went through. I can relate to them emotionally – the abuse, the emotions, the stress, the anxiety, the PTSD domestic abuse brings with it. This role is very much me, it’s where I find most reward.”

Visit McKenzie Friend Support Ltd HERE.