First topic message reminder :

:Sunny:Here is something to make you smile. As you may well know I am in the process of setting up a training centre here in Novo Selo. The training centre will give youngsters in the Children's Home of Novo Selo the skills they require to prevent them from becoming prostitutes etc....

The Radisson Blu hotel in Sofia has kindly offered to host a fund raising dinner in aid of Phoenix Inspire on Sunday 5th December. I wait to see what the menu will be. I hope to post the price of tickets soon. All profits from the dinner will go towards the building of the traning centre called Phoenix Inspire at the Coliseum. The crockery with 'The Coliseum' on it was donated by Middleborough College and will be used in the training centre once openned.

Please let me know if you can help in anyway with promotion or you would like tickets.

best wishes
Whalesmc

Radisson charity dinner raises funds for Novo Selo catering centre



A dinner at the Radisson in aid of a new catering centre in Novo Selo, northern Bulgaria, drew a diverse group from Sofia and surrounding areas on December 5.

The ongoing project is the brainchild of Mick Cooper (54), a former Norfolk-based chef and educational consultant. Cooper had the idea for the catering school when he was told about conditions endured by deprived children and orphans at a home in the area.

The idea is to train young people to become bakers, chefs and sommeliers once they leave the children's home.

Mick Cooper and his wife Christine have been tireless in their work for deprived youngsters in the area. Only the day after the Radisson dinner, he was set to drive back to the UK to gather donations of Christmas presents for the children at the home.

A group of folklore dancers from Novo Selo entertained the diners at the December 5 event. Guests enjoyed a delicious meal of bitternut squash soup followed by roast turkey and then apple pie and custard.

A message in support of the initiative came from the mayor of Novo Selo and Maria Jordanova, president of the Bulgarian Association of Sommeliers.

The evening was successful in drawing attention to the plight of children in the home. It also highlighted the urgent need for Bulgarian youngsters to acquire skills in areas such as catering. But, as Cooper pointed out, much more work remains to be done. Otherwise, prospects for young people at the home – many of whom are Roma – are severely limited with many of them drifting into prostitution or petty crime.

Those interested in exploring more of the sterling work of Phoenix Inspire can do so here at the charity's website.

Further fund-raising initiatives are planned in the future, including a special dinner in Vidin in January 2011.

Phoenix Inspire throws special fund-raising dinner in Vidin for catering school

A Phoenix Inspire fund raising dinner is being organised for Vidin on February 16 2011.

The dinner, held at a family run restaurant called Mystique, is in aid of the catering school that British ex-pat Mick Cooper is aiming to set up in nearby Novo Selo.

Cooper, a former Norfolk-based chef and educational consultant, had the idea for the catering school when he was told about conditions endured by impoverished children and orphans at a home in the area.

The menu on February 16 will be Thai fish cakes with salad, slow roast honey belly pork, Old English Sausage, apple sauce and vegetables, followed by a special cappuccino cup for dessert.

Herb soda bread will also be served on the tables. As guests arrive they will be offered a hot glass of Gluhwein.

Tickets are priced at 35 leva. The dinner will contribute to funds being raised by the Vidin Rotary Club.

Those interested in exploring more about the work of Phoenix Inspire, the NGO set up by Mick Cooper to set up the catering centre, can do so here at the charity's website.

I see Mick hasn't been on here does anyone know if he's ok? or dosn't he bother on here too much now ?

Good afternoon all. I am sorry for not logging on and posting items lately. There is a lot going on at the moment, a lot of it surrounding the dinner, end of year documentation for Phoenix Inspire, exam papers for an awarding body in the UK, organizing a group visit planned for March and catching up with family needs after a busy December. I know that none of you can make it for the Mystique Dinner (Мистик вчера) planned for February, I hope to have pictures to show what you will have missed!! Maybe it would be better to close down the fund raising dinner in Sofia and open a new item!?

I hope to post more news about plans to develop a training venue in this region soon. I am just waiting to hear the result of various meetings which took place yesterday;
one in Sofia and one here in Vidin.

We have a number of English fiction and factual books which are now longer wanted, any idea which forum to locate their availability?
I hope you are all well.
Mick