The session is primarily aimed at Kent-based individuals who already informally offer advice and guidance to other arts colleagues but would like to know more. This interactive session will take place at the Canterbury Innovation Centre. It will be led by Sara Robinson, who currently coaches and mentors arts leaders on the Clore Leadership Programme, and will feature a range of presenters including Joanna Jones, Director of Museums and Galleries at Canterbury City Council and Mary Ann le Lean from Year One Consulting.

Booking Information: The event is free but places are limited – to book your place please go to http://abitoffriendlyadvice.eventbrite.co.uk or contact us on info@peopleunited.org.uk for more information

]]> http://www.peopleunited.org.uk/beta/news.php#15 12/01/12 GMT A partnership project between Volcano and Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales supported by Arts Council Wales and British Council.

In 2010/11 the arts sector in Wales came together at three major conferences in Cardiff, Swansea and Caernarfon to share ideas, ask questions and get practical tools for a more sustainable practice.

Emergence focuses on two main themes : developing a low-carbon infrastructure, including management and development of venues and developing the role of the arts as a crucible of ideas and visions for a low Carbon Sustainable Wales. The report compiled by Fern Smith (Volcano) and Rhodri Thomas (Cynnal Cymru) documents the visionary and practical talks given at the conferences from Satish Kumar (Resurgence Magazine), Paul Allen (Centre for Alternative Technology), Alison Tickell (Julie's Bicycle), John McGrath (National Theatre Wales), Tom Andrews (People United) and many more.

Download the Emergence document

Kent Union Volunteering Committee visited a number of volunteering placements. This information along with the results of a questionnaire completed by students has been used to create the current top 10 community schemes in Canterbury.

Students who volunteered for People United were involved in the research and development of a number of our projects such Welcome and Hut 136.

A summary of the findings can be found here.

On the day over 1,000 people attended the Giant Picnic. Visitors had the opportunity to take part in 30 different free activities for all ages, including street theatre, dancing to a live band, and music workshops. The picnic brought together 27 different community groups and organisations working in the Canterbury district however most were from Herne Bay. 30+ volunteers supported the event. For more on the Giant Picnic 2011 go to the project page.

Now being run by Herne Bay in Bloom, the Giant Picnic will be even bigger than last year with over 30 stalls to delight and entertain you. Have your old vinyl records played, try a trick cycle, watch Dizzy O'Dare in her tiny travelling tightwire show, play giant games, have a cuppa and a chat, say hello to Pip the Clown and find out about lots of activities you can be part of in Herne Bay. There will be live music from Sambapelomar, Invicta Concert Band and the Ian Petrie Band. So, bring a picnic and have 3 hours of fun!

Go to Herne Bay in Bloom for more information.

We'd like to extend our thanks to Canterbury City Council and Canterbury for Culture for their support, and congratulate them on a very successful first awards evening.

We would like to offer a variety of options from monthly residencies to one-off visits.

In the next few weeks we will apply another coat of paint to the exterior, and decorate the interior (hang pictures/soft furnishings) to create a warm and welcoming space. We look forward to hearing from you if you are interested in using the Beach Hut. Click here to contact us or take a look at the project page.