Local support group CONNECT is having an information and support evening for parents of children with additional educational and support needs. The group’s founders Judith Clarke and Niamh Shiells invite local parents to an informative meeting about the support a social worker can give parents at Dromore Nursery School, at 7.30 on the 23^rd February 2011.

Niamh Shiells spoke about the theme for the evening, “There is a myth that having a social worker is a bad thing and in some way a judgment of you as a parent. We want to show our parents that this myth can be turned completely on its head. If you have a child with additional needs a social worker can be invaluable, someone who can help you to access grants, services and a whole package of support for your child.“

Judith Clarke says “We are very pleased to have Karen Edgar from Social Work Services for Children with Disability speaking at this meeting and Karen will outline the support that her department can offer parents with children with additional needs. The evening is also a great chance for parents to talk to and receive support from other parents who may have similar experiences.”

Sharon Beattie, principal at Dromore Nursery continues to offer vital support to this new group and commented, “We are so pleased that our local parents now have a growing support network that they can meet with, to share and seek information. We will continue to host these very positive meetings at Dromore Nursery.”

All parents and others interested are welcome to attend Dromore Nursery School, 23^rd February, 7.30pm. Please contact Judith Clarke on 07764 200870 if you wish to attend or for more information about the group. You can also visit Connect on Facebook.

Smart, low cost ways to quickly grow and sustain your business in any economy.

Are you ready to be a part of one of the most exciting business days of 2011? If you like to leave business events brimming with energy, feeling totally inspired with a ‘can do’ attitude and a notepad full of incredible ‘how to’ content, then The Event 2011 is exactly right for you and your business.

What is The Event 2011?

Quite simply The Event 2011 will be the most awe inspiring business event of the year, overflowing with no/low cost strategies and techniques that will help you to make more money in your business. It is a world class, multi-speaker event, with two incredible speakers from the USA, as well as dynamic talks from successful business owners closer to home.

In short, this is exactly what the talented entrepreneurs of Northern Ireland have been waiting for: a high energy, uplifting, content-rich event that will really deliver and equip you with the skills, mindset and resources you need to make a difference!

Jairek Robbins

“Designing and Living Your Extraordinary Life and Business”

Having Jairek speak at this event is a real coup, an opportunity not to be missed. Focusing on mindset and motivation for business success, he helps people realise their business and personal potential.

After 11 years of studying the personal development industry and testing just about every strategy he could get his hands on (and not to mention 26 years growing up in the industry), Jairek is going to be sharing with you “WHAT WORKS!”

At ‘The Event 2011‘ Jairek will show you how to create a specific action plan in living your version of an Extraordinary Quality of Life and Business.

By the end of Jairek’s 90-min power packed talk, you will be inspired from his message and you will also have a real plan of action on how you’re going to go out and turn your dreams into reality!

Jairek is simply amazing!! I’m proud to say that he is my coach and he has inspired me to do far more than I ever believed I was capable of. This an incredible and unmissable opportunity to hear Jairek in Belfast.

Other Speakers on the day:-

Darren Gardiner

“If You Want To Be A Success, Do What Successful People Do”

LSFX are one of the UK’s top sound, lighting and AV installation and production companies. They cover the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. They offer a complete turnkey solution for any size or type of installation including: large hotel, large stadium, nightclub, house of worship, educational and leisure venues.

He is also a driving force behind Ground Espresso Bars, Northern Ireland’s very own chain of coffee houses.

Darren knows what it takes to be a success and will be sharing his experience and knowledge during this highly enjoyable, humorous and engaging presentation.

The easiest way to create a winner’s approach is to copy successful people. If you simply listen and apply Darren’s message, you’ll also be well on the way to your own success.

Colin Daymude

“Follow Up Failure is Killing Your Business”

Colin is the Director of Business Development at Infusionsoft, as well as being a highly sought after speaker and marketing expert.

Infusionsoft is the leader in Email Marketing 2.0. They combine powerful CRM software with email marketing and help small to medium businesses grow faster and smarter.

Colin is flying here exclusively for ‘The Event 2011‘ from the USA. This is a “one-off” opportunity to learn marketing and sales strategies from such an incredibly talented world class expert on business marketing.

Colin is going to share with you the latest leading edge concepts in marketing and sales strategies that are critical for success in this economy.

This is going to be an amazing presentation from a global authority, that will provide you with easy to use strategies and techniques exclusively for SME business growth. This is a presentation that is a must attend – put simply, you will discover how to make more money!

Zoe Cairns  – “Why Businesses Should Be Using Social Media”

Zoe is known as the “Queen of Social Media” and will show you how to market your business online and generate free traffic.

Many business owners are already using social media sites to promote their business but very few know how to maximise the effectiveness of them.

Zoe will demonstrate how to fully exploit the capabilities of these forums. In other words, you will learn invaluable methods of promoting your business and generating sales at no cost.

She will show you automation tools, twitter tools and lots of different strategies, tips and techniques on how you can create your presence online and build your brand awareness on the internet.

Zoe has many ways in which she will show you how to drive more traffic to your websites and blogs!!!!

Based in England, this speaker is in constant demand for her knowledge, at a range of top business events.

The largest businesses in the world are now utilising social media to create brand awareness, customer loyalty and gain sales. This is your opportunity to learn the secrets they are using so you too can make money from social media.

Simon Smith “Networking and Referrals Are The Lifeline to Success”

Simon is a seriously professional networker, and as the Managing Area Director for BNI (Business Networking International) in Northern Ireland, helps business owners become experts in word-of-mouth marketing.

Simon is incredibly successful at teaching business owners how to network and create referral business.

During his presentation he will discuss the importance and benefits of effective business networking, including: the value of referrals; the opportunities created by establishing rapport with other business owners and service providers, and the advantages of extending one’s business profile in their local area.

Simon is also going to be adding a unique twist on networking during his presentation.

This unique twist will be great fun, you will make great connections and you will have the opportunity of winning a fantastic prize!!

Great networkers make great leaders because they have unlocked the potential of networking in their busy lives. They have created simple systems that enable them to connect with others, stay connected and create valuable lifetime connections with key players, spheres of influence and other master networkers. You too can begin to gain these valuable skills during Simon’s powerful presentation.

To book your place on The Event 2001 click HERE. Early bird tickets are available but limited.

• Director: Derek Cianfrance
• Cast: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams
• (****) 4/5

Sometimes there is no need for big setups or complex plot-lines, no twist in the tale or Hollywood happy ending. Often the most touching and affecting films are those that draw closely on real life, enabling the audience to relate on a personal level. Easier than it sounds, but the difficulty lies in casting actors with the bravery and raw talent to convey the authenticity of the everyday. Sometimes a straight line can be the hardest to draw. It is more technically and emotionally challenging to inhabit a character rooted in the normal, than say a psychotic ballerina or a stuttering monarch. The themes explored are free to resonate within each actor, allowing them to draw on individual experience to inform the performances.

“Blue Valentine” director Derek Cianfrance had the good fortune to cast two leading actors who are quickly establishing themselves as real and credible talents. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play Dean and Cindy, their developing and diminishing love story viewed in non-linear narrative; focusing on the inception and heartbreaking end of their relationship. They meet at 24, fresh faced and with a willing openness to love. Dean is a goofy romantic, he serenades Cindy with his ukelele while she dances for him in the street. Cindy, an aspiring student with hopes of a career in medicine is initially cautious of Dean, eventually giving in.

The films jumps between past and present, showing us how Dean and Cindy first met, how they fell in love and how Cindy fell pregnant. We flick back and forth between then and now; a present in which Cindy and Dean attempt to reignite the spark of the past. The broken time structure shows nothing of the 6 years in between, allowing us to develop our own understanding of each character. Dean is now slightly overweight, balding and drinks too much, while Cindy is overworked and overtired. They are unable to communicate without fighting, they pick out flaws in each other, imperfections that they probably found endearing at the start. Often they do not even need to speak to articulate the distance that has grown between them. Dean is a some time house painter and Cindy is working as a nurse. The unrealised potential that Dean has frustrates Cindy – who is ambitious and driven. The traditional gender roles are all but reversed, with Dean preferring to stay home and play with their daughter Frankie.

The film lives and breathes through the raw and honest performances of Gosling and Williams. Both characters are damaged and complex, it is the conflict in each of their characters that give them such depth and vulnerability. Dean is drifting into alcoholism and struggles to hold down a job, but he is a good father and loves his wife and child. Cindy can be selfish and cruel, but is also ambitious and smart – she wants the best for her family. Neither of them have done anything ‘wrong’, there are no affairs or violence – no big incident to incite their decline. Their relationship has become sour and bitter, the love that once was has slowly worn away over the years. In a heartbreaking final scene, Dean struggles to understand what went wrong begging “Tell me how I should be. Just tell me. I’ll do it. ” while Cindy repeatedly sobs “I can’t take this anymore”. There is no bad guy, there is no good guy. They are two people caught up in a terrible situation. The passion and romance of the early days replaced with resentment and disdain.

Cianfrance’s intimate direction is full of sharp focus close ups and he makes ordinary backdrops seem strikingly beautiful, soaked in faded colours. His trust in his actors to improvise certain key scenes allowed for a remarkable realism to exist, the couple seem so natural together – whether they are happy or not. The pain conveyed by Gosling and Williams is almost too much to bear, it is an emotionally draining experience. “Blue Valentine” harks back to the blue collar suburban realism of John Cassavetes, Cianfrance crafts a similarly taut examination of family – soundtracked perfectly by Grizzly Bear’s understated melancholy and ornate melodies. We Shouldn’t really care for Dean or Cindy, but the strength of their performance attracts you to their flawed characters. Gosling and Williams have matured into fine actors, capable of tackling characters of astounding depth. “Blue Valentine” is the rarest of films, a grown up tale of unflinching honesty that does not pander to melodrama or cliche. It is not a story of love found and lost, but of love endured; a love that slowly and painfully dies.

2011 : A Film Odyssey is the movie review site of Chris Vaughan.

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