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There’ll be plenty of lights, cameras and action for a fundraising dance spectacular in Warwick, in aid of The Luca Foundation.

The Shakespeare Soroptimists’ Bollywood Charity Ball sets the stage for an evening of stunning dance routines by Bollywood Dreams and live singing by Brij Kumar as well as the chance to enjoy a three-course Indian banquet and a DJ.

Proceeds from the night will go towards the purchase of new Cuddle Cots or Cuddle Blankets for Warwick Hospital, thanks to the support of The Luca Foundation.

The Luca Foundation was established by Sharon Luca-Chatha to raise money to provide resources, facilities and training to better serve families that have suffered the loss of a baby or those at high risk of doing so.

Through a calendar of events, activities and donations, families are supported through the provision of refrigerated Cuddle Cots to allow them the time they need to say goodbye to their baby.

The charity works closely with the NHS to distribute, and repair ‘CuddleCots’ as well as raising funds to provide research and training to reduce infant mortality, and provide resources and facilities to maternity units, neonatal intensive care units and paediatric wards to support families through child bereavement.

Sharon’s life was turned upside down in June 2012 when she lost her son Luca to stillbirth at 36 weeks. Since then she has gone on to give the ‘gift of time’ to thousands grieving families.

Sharon said: “I am thrilled that the Shakespeare Soroptimist group has selected The Luca Foundation as their charity for their upcoming fundraising event. Many of the women I’ve spoken with have either sadly experienced baby loss themselves or know someone who has, making this cause deeply personal for them.

“When they learned about my experience – specifically, how my baby’s body was misplaced for nine hours due to a lack of proper equipment – they felt a strong desire to ensure that such resources are accessible to everyone. This shared passion led them to choose to collaborate with our charity to support bereaved parents.

“Our goal is to provide more CuddleCots or possibly Cuddle blankets for older children. This initiative will benefit toddlers and children up to 18, offering families a meaningful way to say their goodbyes with their child during such traumatic times.”

The Stratford-based Shakespeare Soroptimists is part of a global volunteer organisation that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Committed to working together to improve the lives of women and girls in Stratford-upon-Avon, members work on local projects and in regional, national and global networks to make an impact.

Anita Dinnes, Treasurer at Shakespeare Soroptimists and ambassador at The Luca Foundation, said: “The work of the Foundation is close to my heart. I have experienced the loss of two babies and know amidst that trauma how difficult it is to find support and gain space to grieve.

“A friend of mine also lost twins at full term in Warwick Hospital, and I know what they went through as a family. I also had my miscarriage there, so it is good to support the wing of the hospital as it is a department that is struggling with the lack of equipment and midwives.”

The largest Bollywood Dance organisation in the West Midlands, Bollywood Dreams was set up over a decade ago by Artistic Director Reena Tailor, to provide dance training, professional performances and educational workshops. It currently teaches over 180 students a week and has performed at hundreds of venues nationally and internationally.

The Bollywood Charity Ball takes place at Warwick Hall at Warwick School, Myton Road, on  Saturday, May 10^th. Tickets cost £80 each or £750 per table of ten and are available to purchase HERE.

About the Soroptimists

A network of just under 65,000 club members in 118 countries works at a local, national and international level to Educate, Empower and Enable opportunities for women and girls.

VISION

Women and girls will achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide.

MISSION

Soroptimists transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.

PRINCIPLES

The principles of the Soroptimists are to strive for: • The advancement of the status of women • High ethical standards • Human rights for all • Equality, development and peace and • The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace.

About The Luca Foundation

Read more about Luca’s story here: https://thelucafoundation.org.uk/lucas-story/

• An estimated one in four pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy or birth
• In 2021, 2,866 babies – or eight babies a day – were stillborn in the UK, 145 babies a day were born preterm and 500 babies a day were miscarried.
• An estimated1 in 4 pregnancies ended in miscarriage
• In England and Wales, on average there were 2.7 deaths per 1,000 live births

Hush is a vibrant Speakeasy-inspired underground bar in Leamington Spa which immerses guests back in time to the Prohibition era of 1920/30s America.

General Manager Matthew Nisbet and Bar Manager Bethany Gaunt pride themselves on the specially curated extensive drinks menu.

The 25 innovative crafted cocktails include many inspired by the Prohibition theme, from Flapper In The Frolic Pad (young women who rebelled against societal norms with their fashion and free behaviour); Bootlegger’s Blush (so-called as they used to hide liquor in their boots); Peaching The Bulls (a term used for calling the police in covert language); Bearcat’s Margarita and Cherry Temptress (slang terms for feisty and fiery women); Speakeasy Sazerac; The Ward’s Whoopee (a secret knock or muttered password); Sheba On The Spice Road (a lady who was the epitome of 1920s glamour); The Stormy Jake Walk (a drunken stumble); and Old Fashioned Mrs Grundy (the nickname for prudes who denounced the ritz and glitz and Speakeasy establishments.

Visit: https://hush-bar.co.uk/

La Vie en Rose Cocktail

Ingredients:

20ml Vanilla Vodka

10ml Manzana verde

20ml homemade Madagascan vanilla and rose syrup

15ml fresh grapefruit juice

Champagne

 

To make the vanilla and rose syrup:

Heat 300ml water in a saucepan, once simmering, add four rose tea bags. Let this steep for 10 minutes before taking the teabags out.

Then add 600g white sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Then split a vanilla pod in half, scoop out the seeds and chop the remaining pod case into slices.

Add all the vanilla to the rose syrup and pour into a vacuum bag and seal.

Put the bag of syrup into a water bath and set the sous vide to 75 degrees for 3 hours.

Once finished, put the syrup into an ice bath. When cool, blend until the vanilla pieces and seeds are extremely fine. Then strain through a chinois.

 

To make the cocktail:

Add the vanilla vodka, Manzana verde, the rose and vanilla syrup and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice into a Boston shaker. Shake until cool and double strain into a Champagne flute.

Top the cocktail with Champagne and gently stir. Express the peel of a grapefruit over the cocktail and garnish with the peel.

Leamington foodie champion Bianca Rodrigues-Perry has teamed up with a local children’s charity for an exclusive special episode of her cooking show to mark Mother’s Day.

The well-known foodie, presenter and author is releasing the latest episode of her Bia’s Kitchen Show on Sunday (March 30^th) in which she turns the spotlight on Molly Ollys founder Rachel Ollerenshaw.

Rachel established Molly Ollys with husband Tim in 2011 following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

The Warwick-based charity works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing. As well as providing more than 4,300 wishes to date, they donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

Olly The Brave is a therapeutic toy that helps children understand their treatment journey. Along with a set of books from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series, stock the lion and books now been handed out to more than 70 hospitals or health centres to distribute to children undergoing treatment. Olly has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy.

Part of more than £5m raised to date, has also been used to fund the first consultant in paediatric medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and pay for the training of a further two consultants.

The episode, which airs from Sunday, will see Bianca recreate a special chicken soup, a favourite of Molly’s, whilst in conversation with Rachel, to learn more about the incredible work of the charity.

Rachel said: “When undergoing cancer treatment your tastes can change and foods that you previously liked are suddenly less appealing. Having nutritious meals is really important to try and keep us as healthy as possible and Molly certainly tried to fill up with lots of healthy stuff, as well as comfort foods on days when she was struggling.

“Molly was a fan of chicken soup so it was lovely for Bia to make a twist on one of her favourites. I am very grateful to Bia for inviting me to do this very poignant show for Mother’s Day. What is also special is that my mum who is no longer alive also made a delicious chicken soup so here’s to her too!”

Since January 2024 Bia’s Kitchen Show has highlighted some of the best of the area’s foodie scene when it is streams twice-monthly to audiences on YouTube, Spotify, Instagram and Facebook. The show is an extension of her successful Bia’s Kitchen brand, featuring local independent chefs and restaurateurs cooking signature dishes as well as her own top tips and recipes.

As well as championing local independent businesses, the passion project is also rooted in her own desire to support charities, including other special episodes dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness and, coming soon, Coventry Foodbank. The proceeds of her first recipe book, released at the end of last year, are also being donated to a cause close to her heart, Coventry and Warwickshire Mind.

Of the upcoming Mother’s Day episode, Bianca said: “I am truly honoured to have had Rachel join us, and to have the opportunity to cook one of Molly’s favourite dishes, Chicken Soup.

Hearing Rachel’s story was incredibly moving. She has taken the unimaginable pain of losing a child and transformed it into a powerful force of strength and hope. Through Molly Ollys, she continues Molly’s legacy by providing invaluable support to countless children and their families. It is a testament to the incredible impact one person can have in spreading love and hope during challenging times.

“This is one of the reasons I created Bia’s Kitchen Show—to use this platform for good in the world. By sharing stories like Rachel’s, we aim to inspire others to make positive changes in their communities. Our show is a celebration of resilience, compassion and the power of coming together to make a difference.”

Viewers tuning in for the special episode will also have the chance to win a Molly Ollys Gin Basket, containing Molly Ollys Pink Gin, distilled by Shakespeare Distillery, plus other branded items.

To see previous episodes of Bia’s Kitchen Show and, from Sunday, the Mother’s Day episode, visit HERE.

Bia’s Kitchen Show: The Cookbook – A Culinary Journey of Gratitude is available for order from Bia’s Kitchen Show at HERE.

To find out more about the work of Molly Ollys or how you can help or donate visit HERE.