Jen Brister brings in demand Optimist tour to Southport Comedy Festival after 76 sold out shows

ONE of the fastest rising stars on the UK comedy circuit is coming to Southport Comedy Festival for October 2023, as part of a tour which keeps being extended and extended due to popular demand. She has nearly 80 sold out shows completed already, and more to come. Take a look at her hilarious clips on:- TikTok or YouTube and you'll quickly see why. 1 video on TikTok, M0ers and Daughters vs M0ers and Sons, already has over 35 million views!

Jen's brutally brilliant observations on life are engaging, true to life and laugh out loud funny. She will be performing at:- The Southport Comedy Festival, at Victoria Park in Southport, on:- Wednesday 4 October 2023, with tickets on sale now. Jen Brister said:- "I'm really looking forward to performing at Southport Comedy Festival! This is part of a never ending tour which I started in September 2022. It was originally due to end in February, but due to the numbers of people wanting to come and see the show, we decided to extend it until June, and then to extend it until September, and now here I'm coming to Southport Comedy Festival in October!"

For anyone who has seen Jen at any of her gigs, or on TV shows such as Live At The Apollo, calling her current tour:- 'The Optimist' may come as a surprise. The 48 year old has an acerbically funny style of comedy which has a brutal way of expressing what many are thinking but daren't say out loud, whether it be parenting or anything else. If middle age has taught Jen Brister anything, it's that optimism does not come naturally to her. In fact, it's fair to say that her cup is very much half empty and she's making no attempt to fill it. Can Jen work against her natural instincts and finally see the light? Or will she stay the same old pessimistic naysayer she's always been. I mean, I think we know the answer to that, but let's try and be optimistic. She said:- "My tour is called The Optimist because I am not a particularly optimistic person! A lot of my comedy is anecdotal, things I have seen or situations I have been in. I sometimes go on a bit of a rant about some of the absurdities of life. There will be a bit of that in the show! I do talk about being a parent and some of the challenges that come with having kids, and some of that comes into my show. It's really hard not to talk about what exasperates us as parents."

Jen's visit to Sunny Southport will encourage her to look on the bright side of life. "That's the thing!" she said:- "I'm trying really hard to be optimistic on this tour. I'm trying hard to find different things to make me feel good about life. I'm very optimistic about this time of my life. I have really enjoyed being in my 40s, and the benefits that ageing brings. There is not much positive press about women getting older, which is where women really come into their own. I'm heading for 50 and have no fears about getting there. We put so much emphasis on youth. But I remember being in my youth and always being skint, always people pleasing, life is much more enjoyable now! I am really enjoying my Optimist tour, it has become a real success. I have done stand up for a long time. It is great just enjoying this moment. I am trying to make the most of it!"

Jen is now excited about performing at the Southport Comedy Festival, and said:- "The only time I have performed in Southport previously was at Southport Theatre, when I was supporting Romesh Ranganathan. I really enjoyed the venue, and I'm really pleased to see something new currently being built in its place. There is an incredible line up at Southport Comedy Festival! It is really impressive. It is going to be different from 0er shows on my tour. It is a lot different playing at a comedy festival. I quite like the fact it is a different atmosphere. Festivals always have a different vibe to them. There is a real energy that you don't always get in a theatre. I can't wait."

Its hard not to have spotted her on TV as Jen is no stranger to our TV sets, with appearances on BBC's Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Hyp0etical and Sara Pascoe's comedy Lectures on Dave. So this is a chance to see her live, with in a very unusual setting... For information and tickets visit:- SouthportComedyFestival.Com.

Future of cherished local pubs, museums and sports clubs secured with £12.3m levelling up boost

PUBS, museums and sports clubs across the United Kingdom have been given vital funding from Government to secure their future for generations to come.

45 treasured spaces in our Villages, Towns and Cities will receive more than:- £12.3m in funding so they can be run by the community, for the community.

Thanks to the latest funding from the Government's Community Ownership Fund, these institutions will be owned and run by hardworking community groups.

£1 million will rebuild a historic Yorkshire railway bridge in urgent need of repair, which carries the railway line over Bridgehouse Beck between Keighley and Oxenhope.

The funding will protect a tourist rail line which is used by more than 250,000 passengers a year, and will improve transport infrastructure in the Region so that the local economy can continue to thrive. The original bridge was built in 1867, and the railway line has featured in dozens of films and TV shows over the years including:- The Railway Children in 1970.

David Pearson, Co-ordinator for External Finance and Resources at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, said:- "We're overjoyed to have received this funding, which will be going towards the complete rebuilding of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway's bridge 27 in the middle of the railway at Haworth and in the middle of Haworth Village. It means that the long term survival of train services on the railway is ensured and means everything to our railway, our Villages and our people."

An educational aerospace discovery centre, in Kinross, will be created with:- £300,000 from the fund, offering interactive learning opportunities and exhibitions which will inspire future generations to pursue STEM careers.

And the Vale of Aeron pub in Ystrad Aeron, Wales, which was known as a favourite haunt of the legendary poet Dylan Thomas, has been given:- £300,000 for renovations to keep it open and make it accessible to the whole community.

Jacob Young, Minister for Levelling Up, said:- "Our priority is to support communities and deliver opportunities right across the country, which is why we're investing:- £12.3m to secure the future of cherished community institutions. These places; from:- pubs to historic railway lines; are the golden thread which run through our social fabric, and keeping them going is vital for supporting communities."

0ther projects which have received funding include:-

• Lordsfield Swimming Club in Hampshire, a volunteer run facility which will be sustained for the future with an:- £835,400 grant so it can provide low cost swimming to local Schools and the wider community.
   

• £1.2 million to secure the future of 4 pubs, including:- the Vale of Aeron, so they can continue to pull pints for locals.
   

• Knutsford Market Hall in Cheshire received:- £560,000 to ensure it continues to host and support a number of small businesses.
   

• Sterts Theatre in Cornwall will be restored with:- £300,000 so that it can resume its community and professional performances.
   

• The Margate School in Kent will be able to undertake essential repairs with:- £400,000 that will secure a long term future for the not for profit Art School.
   

• Dartford Gym and Youth Club will undergo essential refurbishment with:- £244,920 to restore it as a space for local Schools, clubs and community organisations to engage in sport and social activities.

The Community Ownership Fund has now given:- £49.3 million for 195 projects across the UK. This includes:- almost:- £8 million for 33 pubs so that local people can still go to their beloved local, and:- £14.6 million for 66 community centres so they can continue to play an important role in people's lives.

The latest round of allocations includes:- £770,057 for 3 projects in Wales:- £992,825 for 4 projects in Scotland and more than:- £1m for 4 projects in Northern Ireland.

Changes which came into effect for this round of bids also meant that all projects could bid for up to:- £1 million in funding, not just sports clubs, and the amount organisations needed to match fund decreased to only 20%, to allow more places to benefit.

The George pub in Kent previously benefited from a:- £250,000 grant from the fund, which allowed it to reopen in May 2023. The pub shut during the Covid-19 pandemic and the owners decided to sell up and retire, but locals were able to get the doors open again because of the funding and are now planning for the future.

Local resident Alex Withington said:- "We're going to have a café that opens during the day too. When we did a survey, a lot of people said they wanted somewhere during day to use as well. We're also looking to have a petanque area and a community library in the pub. We're just so happy to have helped restore The George to the heart of Bethersden for our community."

This also marks the 1st time that applicants such as the Dartford Gym and Youth Club and the Vale of Aeron pub have been able to benefit from support with the development of their application and business case, through the Community Ownership Fund development support provider, led by Locality.

Tony Armstrong, Chief Rxecutive of Locality, said:- "Every day at Locality we see the transformational impact of local taking charge of the buildings and spaces that matter to them most. We are therefore delighted to see the progress that has been made through awards from the Community Ownership Fund so far. Throughout the country, inspiring local groups are breathing new life into pubs, Police stations, Schools, music halls and more. We are proud to be playing our part in helping these groups realise their vision by offering specialist advice and support throughout the application process. The success of COF once again proves the huge impact that can be made by backing local people's talent and enthusiasm to run cherished local buildings for the local community. Our mission is to continue to support communities to play a powerful role in supporting their local community."

The Community Ownership Fund is currently open again for bids and will close on:- 11 October 2023, and groups are being urged to apply for up to:- £2m in funding for the very 1st time.