Sat 19th Nov - Fairtrade Christmas Fair
2016-11-19 10:30 - 15:30 UTC | Stockport Guildhall, 169 Wellington Road South, Stockport, SK1 3UA
This is the Stockport Fairtrade Group’s big annual event. Stalls available at their Christmas Fair on 19th November. Contact them at info@stockport-fairtrade.org.uk for an application form, or visit www.stockport-fairtrade.org.uk for more information

Mon 5th Dec - Amnesty International "Write for Rights" 2016
2016-12-05 19:00 - 21:00
Members and friends of the Chester & Wrexham Group of Amnesty International are meeting at 7.00pm for a card signing session to write messages of support to people around the world who are suffering injustice or imprisonment, showing that their causes are not forgotten.
For local details contact Peter Hobson 01244 341906.
For the wider background to “Write for Rights”go to www.amnesty.org.uk/write-rights-2016

Tues 6th Dec - "Open Bethlehem" Film Show
2016-12-06 19:30 - 21:00 | Garden Lane Uniting Church, 66 Garden Lane, Chester, CH1 4EW
The film ‘Open Bethlehem.’ It is described as a big film about a small town, and by Jon Snow of Channel 4 News as ‘one of the most remarkable and moving documentaries I have seen.’
The film lasts for 90 minutes and hopefully there will be time for some discussion afterwards.
Please help to advertise this ‘must see’ film as widely as possible.
Please note this film will replace Chester Friends of Palestine’s usual monthly meetings for November and December. They are still looking for volunteers to help with an action day against Hewlett Packard on 26th November in Chester. Also for anyone who would be happy to sing alternative Christmas Carols and give out leaflets about the present situation in Bethlehem, nearer to Christmas. Thank you to those who have already replied but more volunteers are needed.

Sun 15th Jan - "Give Peace a Chance" World Religion Day Celebration
2017-01-15 14:00 - 17:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
You are warmly invited to a World Religion Day Celebration Sunday 15th January 2017 at 2pm at The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester CH1 2BN
Inter faith readings, prayers and music followed by refreshments
“Give peace a chance”
We hope to see you there. All welcome!
Organised by the Baha’is of Chester
Any enquiries to Helen Longmuir 07951 880702. World Religions Day was initiated by the Baha’is in 1949. Its aim is to foster the establishment of inter faith understanding and harmony amongst all religions.

Tues 17th Jan - CWDF Forum
2017-01-17 18:45 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Our regular bi-monthly meeting at The Unity Centre, the first of the New Year. Speaker Stephen Maund, with an update on his micro-finance initiative in Malawi aimed at moving communities toward true self-sufficiency and away from dependence on aid.
Please note: this date is a departure from our usual pattern of Forum dates: this is the 3rd Tuesday of the month rather than the 2nd.

Thurs 19th Jan - "Can you do development without faith?"
2017-01-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Best Building, University of Chester, Exton Park Campus, off Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ
A talk by Dr Nick Henwood, who works for Community Health Global networks and is seconded to Tearfund.
He will look at the effectiveness of various aid agencies / aid delivery and draw from his working at a Community Health and Development programme and then an HIV / TB project in Nepal (very contrasting projects). He also has experience of a network charity and Slum health work in Kampala and partnering with various agencies engaged in health and social work in rural Kenya.
This will be an interactive session – talk and discussion. Everyone very welcome.
He has a blog: http://www.chgn.org/2016/01/

Wed 25th Jan - Chester Friends of Palestine
2017-01-25 19:15 - 21:00 | Room 204, Riverside Building, University of Chester, Castle Drive, Chester, CH1 1SL
The next meeting of Chester Friends of Palestine will be on Wednesday 25th January at 7.15 pm in the Riverside Building of the university in Castle Drive. Jane, one of our members, has recently been to Palestine and will be sharing some of her experiences.
Best wishes
Katy

Sat 18th Feb - "Feeding the Darkness"
2017-02-18 19:00 - 21:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
Lasting 65 minutes in total, the live performance Feeding the Darkness takes its title from the words of the 17th century Quaker James Naylor. It is presented as a series of ‘ministeries’ (monologues, duologues and poems) written from extensive research into state-sanctioned torture-and hopefully challenging our ignorance and avoidance of this disturbing aspect of humanity.
Immersive in style, the content both iterates the Quaker position on torture and encourages us to examine how the UN Convention on Torture (1965) Article 1 is clearly being abused by UK and world-wide governments.
The material is a combination of verbatim interviews and ‘faction’, featuring such diverse human dilemmas as that of Private Lynndie England’s mother, Terri, and a Kurdish asylum-seeker amongst many others.
Free entry, donations welcome.

Wed 22nd Feb - Chester Friends of Palestine
2017-02-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Room 204, Riverside Building, University of Chester, Castle Drive, Chester, CH1 1SL
Chester Friends of Palestine’s next meeting is being organised by Prof Allan Owens from the University’s Faculty of Education on the theme of “Returning”. It’s about exploring the consequences of political and military occupation from a human perspective. Contact 01244 674448.

Mon 27th Feb - Sun 12th Mar - Fairtrade Fortnight
2017-02-27 - 2017-03-12 | Various venues
Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual nation-wide celebration of the various facets and achievements of the Fairtrade movement. The overall theme this year is “It’s time to put Fairtrade in your break.” Watch out for details of local events – and keep the Forum of events you would like publicised.

Sat 4th Mar - Christian Aid Annual Coffee Morning
2017-03-04 10:30 - 12:30 | Hoole URC, Hoole Road, Chester, CH2 3NT
Christian Aid’s BIG annual coffee morning! Homemade cakes, gifts, Traidcraft. Bacon butties available after 11.30! £1.00 donation includes coffee and biscuits. Contact 01244 320562.

Sat 4th Mar - “Fairtrade Funday”
2017-03-04 11:00 - 16:00 | Activity Zone, Grosvenor Park, Grosvenor Park Road, Chester, CH1 1QQ
CDEC Developing Global Learning are planning a day of activities and displays, great for families and kids!
The displays will highlight the stories of the 7 Fairtrade Producers who have visited Chester since 2002, and whose communities have benefitted in a variety of ways from Fairtrade initiatives.
Contact 01244 347880.

Mon 6th Mar - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2017-03-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
On each Monday throughout Lent, City Centre Churches Together are holding lunches at the Quaker Meeting House, from 12 noon to 1.30pm. A minimum donation of £5 is suggested.

Mon 13th Mar - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2017-03-13 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF

Tues 14th Mar- CWDF Forum
2017-03-14 18:45 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Our regular bi-monthly meeting at The Unity Centre. It will include an illustrated talk by Ann McCarthy on a recent visit to Vietnam, and a discussion with the group of University of Chester students about their project “CWDF Sustainable Futures” and the survey they are undertaking.

Mon 20th Mar - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2017-03-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
The third in the series of Lent Lunches, held on each Monday throughout Lent. City Centre Churches Together are holding the lunches at the Quaker Meeting House, from 12 noon to 1.30pm. A minimum donation of £5 is suggested.

Mon 27th Mar - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2017-03-27 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
The fourth in the series of Lent Lunches, held on each Monday throughout Lent. City Centre Churches Together are holding the lunches at the Quaker Meeting House, from 12 noon to 1.30pm. A minimum donation of £5 is suggested.

Mon 3rd Apr - Christian Aid Lent Lunch
2017-04-03 12:00 - 13:30 | Quaker Meeting House Chester, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester, CH1 3LF
The final date in the series of Lent Lunches, held on each Monday throughout Lent. City Centre Churches Together are holding the lunches at the Quaker Meeting House, from 12 noon to 1.30pm. A minimum donation of £5 is suggested.

Wed 12th Apr - Film "Shadow World"
2017-04-12 20:00 - 21:30 | Theatr Clwyd, Raikes Lane, Mold, CH7 1YA
A smart, hard-hitting look at the global arms trade, the vast sums of money that are made and the corruption that creates. Film followed by panel discussion.
Winner of the Best Documentary Award Edinburgh International Film Festival. Shown at Theatr Clwyd as part of Wales One World Film Festival.
“…superb, gut-punching exploration of the global arms trade is the sort of catalyst to energize politically-minded viewers.” Variety

21st Apr to 7th May - Play: "The Lost Boy"
2017-04-21 19:30 - 2017-05-07 21:00 | St Mary’s Creative Space, St Mary’s Hill, Chester, CH1 2DW
How one boy’s story changed a seaside town
Written by playwright Stephanie Dale, writer of the highly acclaimed 2013 production of the Chester Mystery Plays, The Lost Boy is a brand new play with music and film that looks at the changing face of our communities as young people flee war-torn countries.
The original score has been composed by Matt Baker, who recently won an award for his outstanding contribution to the arts in Cheshire. The play will be performed by four professional actors with a diverse community choir.
Working in collaboration with a frontline charity has been vital in bringing this project to fruition. Theatre in the Quarter has partnered with City of Sanctuary, a national charity that supports people who are escaping persecution, torture or warfare in their own countries.

Tues 9th May - CWDF Forum AGM
2017-05-09 18:45 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
This is the opportunity to review the Forum’s activities over the past year and elect our Chair and Committee for the forthcoming year. Our speaker will be Cat Barton, Chester Zoo’s Field Conservation Manager.
We will also have a discussion with students from the University of Chester about findings from their project “CWDF Sustainable Futures”.

Sat 13th May - Ceilidh Night
2017-05-13 19:30 - 23:30 | All Saints Church Hall, Vicarage Road, Hoole, Chester, CH2 3HZ
A Ceilidh Night to remember! Enjoyable and energetic, at the same time raising funds for Transition Chester. Tickets are £10, £5 for children.
LIVE MUSIC FROM THE TIME BANDITS FOLK BAND
* PROFESSIONAL CALLER TO DESCRIBE THE DANCES *
* HOT ORGANIC VEGETARIAN FOOD INCLUDED
* REAL ALE SUPPLIED BY LOCAL BREWER
* SEPARATE QUIET ROOM FOR SOCIALIZING
* DRINKS SERVED UNTIL 11.00 * RAFFLES & GAMES * FUN FOR ALL

Christian Aid Week 14-20 May
2017-05-14 - 2017-05-20 | Various venues
This is the 60th Anniversary year for Christian Aid Week. It was set up 60 years ago to support work with refugees in Europe following the Second World War.
So this year Christian Aid is setting its focus on support for refugees: “Let’s act again now, to help relieve suffering and build a world where everyone has a safe place to call home.”
Fund raising ideas and resources available at www.christianaid.org.uk/christian-aid-week

Thurs 18th May - Meeting of "Jacob's Ladder" Group
2017-05-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Cloister Room, Chester Cathedral, Chester, CH1 2DY
“Jacob’s Ladder” is a cathedral group being set up in the wake of a refugee workshop held in Chester Cathedral in February. Working in conjunction with other refugee organisations the group aims to use the public platform of the cathedral to ameliorate the refugee crisis in unique ways:

Muslim – Christian relations/ social events
Campaigning on refugee issues.

The title “Jacob’s Ladder” was chosen because Jacob is a patriarch of both Muslims and Christians, and because the group would exist to help refugees up a metaphorical ladder. The group would devise its own agenda, but would include such activities as fundraising, awareness raising, lobbying and cultural celebration.
Further information from Claire HendersonDavis, C.HendersonDavis@chestercathedral.com

Sat 20th May - Chester Globetrotters Club
2017-05-20 13:30 - 16:30 | Grosvenor Museum, 25-27 Grosvenor Street,, Chester, CH1 2DD
The Club meets bi-monthly to hear two talks given by recent travellers. This meeting includes a talk by CWDF member Heather Lannin on “Travel to Sierra Leone, the working heart of Africa”.
Entrance £3 including refreshments. Further information 01244 383 392 or www.chesterglobetrotters.co.uk

Wed 24th May - CANCELLED: Pre-Election meeting on International Development Issues
2017-05-24 19:00 - 21:00 | Binks Building, University’s Parkgate Road Campus, Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ
PLEASE NOTE: THIS MEETING IS NOW CANCELLED IN VIEW OF THE SUSPENSION OF ELECTION CAMPAIGNING FOLLOWING THE MANCHESTER TERRORIST ATTACK
As in previous General Elections, CWDF is hosting an open meeting with the main General Election candidates, exploring their views on international development issues.

Binks Building is the main building off the Exton Park entrance, Parkgate Road.
The meeting will be chaired by Gill Miller, Forum member and Programme Leader for International Development Studies at the University.

Fri-Sun 16-18th June - "The Great Get Together"
2017-06-16 08:00 - 2017-06-18 17:00
A nation-wide invitation from Brendan Cox, husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, to honour the 1st Anniversary of her death by getting together with neighbours to share food and celebrate all that we have in common.
Further information www.greatgettogether.org (CWDF will give publicity to local events we hear of.)

Mon- Sun 19-25 June - "I Welcome" - photo exhibition on refugee crises
2017-06-19 - 2017-06-25 | Garret Theatre, Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
Exhibition of powerful photographs of past and present refugee crises will be at Storyhouse in Chester between Monday 19 – Sunday 25 June.
Vietnam, Chechnya, Bosnia, Iraq and Syria all feature in the exhibition as part of Amnesty’s I Welcome campaign.
Taking place during Refugee Week between Monday 19 – Sunday 25 June, the exhibition will explore the experiences of those uprooted by conflict and persecution over 70 years since the Second World War. From 1940s Greece to Syria today, the 30 striking pictures from Magnum photographers show the reasons why people are forced to flee, the challenges they face on their journeys to safety and what happens when they make it.
The exhibition is part of Amnesty’s I Welcome campaign, calling on the UK to share responsibility in responding to the refugee crisis, including by providing safe and legal routes for refugees to find sanctuary here. The campaign also highlights the many acts of welcome and solidarity towards refugees from local communities across the country.

Sat 24th June - "Stop Arming Saudi Arabia" - silent vigil
2017-06-24 12:30 - 13:30 | The Cross, Chester, United Kingdom
This vigil event at The Cross in Chester is organised by Chester CND. Participants are asked to wear black if possible. All are wlecome. Further information 07856 749264 chestercnd@gmail.com

Sat 24th June - Film "Fire at Sea"
2017-06-24 15:30 - 17:30 | Garret Theatre, Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
This is the showing of a docufilm about the migrant crisis, in support of Refugee Week, 19-25 June. Arranged by Storyhouse in partnership with CHAWREC – the Chester Halton & Warrington Race and Equality Centre.
Here is the link to official trailer: https://youtu8be.be/qR519XDaxK0
