Chester World Development Forum

Sunday 18 June: Active Travel Festival (AT Fest)
2023-06-18 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
Sunday 18 June: Active Travel Festival (AT Fest) at Castle Square, Chester CH1 2DN.
“Celebrating active travel as a day-to-day activity”, the day will be jam-packed with activities for all the family to enjoy. The aim is to inspire local residents of all ages and abilities to make cleaner, greener, healthier and sustainable transport choices in their everyday lives. Entry is free, all are welcome.

15 - 17 June - Green Expo 2023
2023-06-15 08:00 - 2023-06-17 17:00 | Riverside and Castle Drive, Chester
15-17 June: Green Expo 2023, Riverside & Castle Drive, Chester

This will follow on from the highly successful first Green Expo event in held in June 2022, but bigger and better! See: https://greenexpo.uk/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery for the most up-to-date information

Thursday 15 June: Business Conference
Friday 16 June: Student Conference
Saturday 17 June: Exposition, where CWDF hopes to have a small table with display.

The Exposition will be open to the public on all three days. Look out for the Fairtrade stall all three days and for our CWDF information table on Saturday 17th.

Sun 11th June - Tax Justice Sunday
2023-06-11
Tax Justice Sunday: Sunday 11 June.
“At the JustMoney Movement we believe it’s time to have the BIG conversations about injustice, about how we shape a fairer, greener world, and challenge the systems and structures which drive the inequalities and injustices we are unfortunately all too familiar with.”
For further information go to JustMoney Movement

10-18 June: Great Big Green Week Libraries events
2023-06-10 - 2023-06-18
To celebrate the “Great Big Green Week”, Cheshire West and Chester libraries will be delivering events to celebrate community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. Local partners are invited to help by delivering an activity, advice session, or set up a stall in a library. The aim is to help raise the profile of climate change and show why it is relevant to our community.
Contact Ian Anstice at Ellesmere Port Library to get involved, or check this link to the Cheshire West and Chester website:
https://participatenow.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/climate-emergency/news_feed/get-involved-with-the-great-big-green-week-at-your-local-library?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Christian Aid Week: 14-20 May 2023
2023-05-14 - 2023-05-20
Christian Aid Week: 14-20 May 2023

Your gifts this Christian Aid Week could help farmers in Malawi plant better seeds, secure a fairer price for the crops, and build happier futures for their children.
For further information about Christian Aid Week go to: www.christianaid.org.uk

Tuesday 9th May: CWDF AGM
2023-05-09 19:00 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Steve Hughes, the Chair of Chester Sustainability Forum, will give us an overview of the initiatives, campaigns and events currently happening or being developed by members of CSF.
The talk will be followed by the CWDF AGM – which is an important opportunity to consider the overall work of the Forum and to appoint/ confirm membership of the Forum committee.

Fri 14 April - Climate Justice evening
2023-04-14 19:00 - 21:00 | St Mary’s Handbridge Centre, Overleigh Road Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7HL
This has been organised by Helen Pritchard, the rep at St Mary’s and now a member of the Chester Christian Aid Group, with help from Katy Rowe and a CA staff member. Dr Richard Baker, an expert on climate science and climate justice and a Christian Aid volunteer speaker, will give a talk, followed by a group discussion. Refreshments provided.
Christian Aid has been campaigning with others for some time on the issue of climate justice, and with some success – though it remains to be seen whether all the funds pledged by the richer countries at the recent COP27 meeting will be handed over to those poorer countries so hard hit by climate change.

Thurs 30 March - Lent Lunch
2023-03-30 12:00 - 13:30 | St Mary’s Without-the-Walls, Overleigh Road, Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7HL

Wed 22nd March: Chester Friends of Palestine AGM + Film Night
2023-03-22 19:00 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
The next meeting of Chester Friends of Palestine will be on Wednesday 22nd March 2023 at the Unity Centre, 17 Cuppin Street, Chester CH1 2BN. In the first part of the meeting we will be showing a short Palestinian film followed by an opportunity to make comments or ask questions. The second part of the meeting will be the annual general meeting of CFOP, with reports from the chair of the group and from the treasurer. There will then be an opportunity to nominate and elect members to the CFOP steering group which meets about four times a year to plan activities and events. There are several vacancies on the steering group so, if you would like to actively support Palestinian human rights, please consider putting your name forward for nomination. Refreshments will be available at the meeting which should finish around 9pm.
Thank you for your interest in Chester Friends, and I look forward to seeing you at our meeting on the 22nd.
Brian Rowe
Chair, Chester Friends, of Palestine

Mon 20 March - Lent Lunch
2023-03-20 12:00 - 13:30 | Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester, CH1 1DA
Chester Cathedral will be providing the meal

Tues 14 March 2023: CWDF Forum meeting
2023-03-14 19:00 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Dr Rebecca Collins, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Chester, will give a talk on “Current Trends and Challenges in the Global Fashion Industry”.

Tues 14th March: Talk on life of students in Palestine
2023-03-14 14:00 - 15:00 | Best Building, University of Chester, Exton Park Campus, off Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ
Tuesday 14 March: talk on the life of students in Palestine, 2pm in the Best Building Room 115, University of Chester Parkgate Road Campus.
You are invited to meet three Palestinian students who will talk about their university life and education in a very different context, from enduring searches at border crossings to their lecturers inhaling tear gas. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. There will be an online link in due course. This talk has been organised by Dr Mark Bendall, who will answer any queries. The talk is open to members of the public.

Mon 13 March - Lent Lunch
2023-03-13 12:00 - 13:30 | Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester, CH1 1DA
St Werburgh’s and the City Road Presbyterian Church will be providing the meal

Mon 6 March - Lent Lunch
2023-03-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church, Caldy Valley Road, Chester, CH3 5PR

Sat 4 March - Fairtrade Activities Day in Wesley Church Centre
2023-03-04 10:00 - 14:00 | Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester, CH1 1DA
Saturday 04 March: Fairtrade Activities Day from 10am to 2pm in the Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester
There will be craft activities, Fairtrade board games, a “selfie board”, and opportunities to find out about Fairtrade bananas and chocolate.

Sat 4 March - Fairtrade Activities Day
2023-03-04 10:00 - 14:00 | Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester, CH1 1DA

Sat 4 March - Fair Trade Coffee Morning
2023-03-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Our Lady’s Parish Centre, Enfield Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 8BY
There will be a variety of stalls supporting Fair Trade and local charities including Chifundo selling Chanasa Products from Malawi, a Cake Stall, and a Raffle. There is parking on the site. For more information, contact: Eileen Brennan 07432 782 877.

Fri 3 Mar - CAFOD Family Fast Day
2023-03-03 08:00 - 17:00

Thurs 2 March - Lent Lunch
2023-03-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Hoole URC, Hoole Road, Chester, CH2 3NT
Christian Aid Lent Lunches are from 12 noon to 1:30pm at various churches in Chester during the month of March. The full list is:

Thursday 02 March at Hoole URC, Hoole Road, Chester CH2 3NT
Monday 06 March at Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church on Caldy Valley Road
Monday 13 March at the Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street – St. Werburgh’s and the City Road Presbyterian Church will be providing the meal
Monday 20 March at the Wesley Church Centre – Chester Cathedral will be providing the meal
Thursday 30 March at St Mary’s Without the Walls Church, Handbridge

27 Feb - 12 March 2023: Fairtrade Fortnight
2023-02-27 - 2023-03-12 | Various venues
Look out for further details of events.
Local volunteers and organisations involved in Fairtrade will be having a stall in Chester Market from Tuesday 28 February until Sunday 12 March.
If you are free, could you spare a couple of hours to help fill the rota? Please send an email to mailto:chester1wdf@gmail.com, or contact Heather Swainston directly or via the Wesley Shop.

Wed 22 Feb - Chester Friends of Palestine talk by Sue King
2023-02-22 19:30 - 21:00 | Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester, CH1 1DA
Wednesday 22 February: Chester Friends of Palestine talk by Sue King, 7:30pm at theWesley Church Centre, St. John Street, Chester
Chester Friends of Palestine are delighted to welcome back Sue King who has lived in theWest Bank twice, once in 2019 (Bethlehem) and more recently (2022) in Hebron and theSouth Hebron Hills (Yatta).
She served as an Ecumenical Accompanist with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. This is an international programme co-ordinated by the World Council of Churches. It brings people from around the world to the West Bank to serve for three months as human rights monitors. Its mission is to witness life under occupation and engage with local Palestinians and Israelis, pursuing a just peace and working to change the international community’s involvement, urging them to act against injustice in the region.

Sat 11 Feb: “Show the Love” walk, Chester Riverbank
2023-02-11 10:30 - 12:30 | Chester Riverbank
Saturday 11 February: “Show the Love” walk, 10:30-12:30 starting opposite The Ship Inn in Handbridge, Chester CH4 7JE
Organised by Chester and District Friends of the Earth group, the walk supports The Climate Coalition campaign of action against climate change. It will take in the river bank, the Meadows, returning via the Duke’s drive – stout footwear will be needed.

Fri 10 Feb - CAFOD Quiz Evening
2023-02-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Our Lady’s Parish Centre, Enfield Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 8BY

Fri 03 Feb: Incredible Edible Handbridge community event
2023-02-03 19:00 - 21:00 | St Mary’s Handbridge Centre, Overleigh Road Handbridge, Chester, CH4 7HL
Chris Ablett, Community Volunteer Coordinator at Chester Zoo, will give a talk on their Nature Recovery Corridor Project. This is a free event, all are welcome to come and find out about how we can help to protect and nurture our local wildlife and environment. It is suitable for children age 10+, and there is ample parking at the venue.

Fri 27 Jan: Holocaust Memorial Day
2023-01-27 08:00 - 17:00

Wed 25th Jan: "Contemporary Energy Crises and Sustainable Energy Futures"
2023-01-25 16:30 - 17:30 | Best Building, University of Chester, Exton Park Campus, off Parkgate Road, Chester, CH1 4BJ
Wednesday 25 January: from 4:30 to 5:30pm at the Best Building, University of Chester, Parkgate Road Campus.
Dr. Rich Waller, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography at the University of Keele, will give a talk on “Contemporary Energy Crises and Sustainable Energy Futures”.
This meeting is organised by Gill Miller on behalf of the Geographical Association Chester Branch. All are welcome, and admission is free. Parking will be available around the Best Building, and Gill will advise campus security about the event.

Jan 2023: CWDF Forum meeting
2023-01-10 19:30 - 21:00 | The Unity Centre, Cuppin Street, Chester, CH1 2BN
Originally, we had planned to have our annual session with our City of Chester MP, but by next month we will have a new MP who is going to be very busy indeed getting to grips with their new responsibilities. So, stepping into the breach, Gill Miller has volunteered to give a talk highlighting key issues arising from the COP27 meetings in Egypt.
Provisionally, the title will be “Loss and damage: understanding the dilemmas and decisions from COP27”.

Fri 9th Dec 2022 - Folk Jazz Fusion with Tamer Sahouri (oud) & Faris Ishaq (flute)
2022-12-09 19:00 - 21:00 | St Mary’s Creative Space, Saint Mary's Hill, Chester, CH1 2DW
This musical event has been organised by Chester Friends of Palestine in association with PalMusic UK. Refreshments will be available.
This concert is part of an exciting UK Tour by Faris Ishaq , Internationally acclaimed Palestinian Nay Master, Global Jazz Flutist and Composer, currently based in London, and Tamer Al- Sahouri Palestinian Oud Master and Composer from #Bethlehem. Their musical paths first crossed in their home city of Bethlehem.
For information about booking, please follow this link to Eventbrite. Admission is £13, and a few tickets will be available at the door.

Wed 30th Nov - Film and Panel Discussion on cost of living and climate crises
2022-11-30 19:30 - 21:30 | Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR
Wednesday 30 November: Panel discussion at Storyhouse at 7:30pm
Chester Greenpeace will be hosting a public event focused on the cost of living and climate crises. This will begin with the short film The Cost of Living made by Greenpeace and the New Economics Foundation. The film highlights the impact the cost of living crisis has had on communities in the Rother Valley. It contends that both the cost of living and climate crises can be solved by investing in renewable energy, insulating homes, and providing people with the skills and training needed to deliver this green energy revolution.
There will then be a Panel conversation with our by-election MP candidates and other representatives from concerned local organisations, including Chester Sustainability Forum and Friends of the Earth.
The event is free to attend. There will be an Eventbrite page for booking, and details on social media.

Wed 30 Nov: Online talk "Israelis and Palestinians: hope, justice and equality"
2022-11-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom event
Wed 30 Nov: online talk by William Bell at 7pm
Organised by Christian Aid, Liverpool Cathedral, Together Liverpool, and United by Hope, William Bell, head of Christian Aid’s Middle East region, will give an online talk on the subject of “Israelis and Palestinians: Hope, Justice and Equality”.
Book through Eventbrite to gain access to the Zoom link:
https://williambell.eventbrite.com
