Welcome to the latest edition of Interagency Bulletin. We aim to connect people and organisations working across Bath and North East Somerset to help improve partnership working, share information and good practice. If you would like more information or you would like your article or event included in the next bulletin contact, Sara Dixon, tel: 01225 396594, email.
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Funding opportunities closing soon
- Comic Relief Local Communities - There are still many communities in the UK that suffer from economic and social deprivation and the current economic climate may make this situation worse. This programme aims to empower local people enabling them to create lasting change in their communities. The grant programme will support work where there is clear evidence of a sustained beneficial impact on the lives of people who are excluded or disadvantaged through low income, rural or social isolation, age, disabilities, race, sexuality or gender. The deadline for nominations is 26th September 2016.
- Greggs Foundation - the deadline for the next round of funding applications is 30th September 2016. Please note that organisations with a turnover in excess of £300k are unlikely to succeed. There are two types of grants – local community and environmental.
- The People’s Postcode Trust’s aim is to try to make the world a better place through short-term funding for grassroots community projects that help to prevent poverty, support healthy living initiatives and uphold human rights for some of society’s most vulnerable groups. It will also consider projects which help different communities come together for better understanding and community relations. The Trust wants to help organisations find real solutions to tackling the root causes of poverty and its long-term consequences by, for example, helping people gain the skills, knowledge and resources they need to lift themselves out of poverty. Deadline 30th September 2016.
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Keynsham Interagency meeting
Wednesday 16th November 2016, 12.00pm
Community at 67, Queens Road, Keynsham
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Connecting Communities
The next round of Connecting Communities Forums will take place on the follow dates. The meetings are divided into two parts. The informal session from 6pm - 7pm offers an opportunity to raise questions with the Police, the Council and others. The second part of the meeting is more formal and includes consultation items. All meetings are open to the public.
- 13th September, 6pm, Bath City Forum, Banqueting Room, Bath (AGM from 5.15 - 6pm)
- Main agenda items: Inequalities in Bath and Library Review
- 14th September, 6pm, Somer Valley Forum, Paulton Rovers, Paulton
- Main agenda items: Managing Flood Risk and Library Review
- 28th September, 6pm, Keynsham Area Forum, The Community Space, Keynsham
- Main agenda items: Managing Flood Risk and Library Review
- 29th September, 6pm, Chew Valley Forum, Chew Valley Secondary School, Chew Magna
- Main agenda items: Assets of Community Value and Library Review
- 5th October, 6pm, Bathavon Forum, St Gregory's School, Bath
- Main agenda items: Managing Flood Risk and Library Review
　
Mental Health Alliance Meeting
Thursday 22 September 2016, 10 - 12pm All Saints Centre, High St, Bath BA1 4BX
The aim of the B&NES Mental Health Alliance is to develop a more effective multi-agency approach to meeting the mental health needs of people throughout B&NES. At a network meeting in April, organisations discussed the Mental Health Alliance. They highlighted five key areas they felt needed to be looked at:
- Independent coordination – to support the Mental Health Alliance and reflect impartiality
- Being representative – making sure all providers are involved and heard
- Being linked in – keeping a focus on the whole person so that physical and mental health and wellbeing needs are recognised
- Structure – making sure the Mental Health Alliance was set up in a way that promoted collaboration and coproduction
- Communication – developing clear plans for sharing information across the Mental Health Alliance and promoting access to local services
Since the meeting, The Care Forum has been asked to coordinate the Mental Health Alliance. We are very pleased to be running this first Provider Network meeting to begin to talk about some of the other areas groups identified for discussion – particularly representation and how we can make sure all providers are involved and heard.
Another key element is that clients and carers are involved in developing a robust Alliance model, which ensures clients and carers positively inform future developments. We think it would be useful to have separate meeting with groups, clients and carers to discuss this and how involvement should be supported, building on the feedback from the April client and carer meeting.
For more information contact: Dean Ayotte (Development Worker) E: deanayotte@thecareforum.org.uk T: 0117 958 9330 W: www.thecareforum.org
To book – Fill out the form at www.thecareforum.org/events
T: 0117 965 4444 Please let us know if you have any access requirements
Better BANES
Please join us for another Better BANES meeting from 6 - 8pm on 28th September, kindly hosted by The Carers' Centre on Lower Bristol Road, Bath.
The aim of this group is to discuss and act upon how we can improve support for local charities and community groups in BANES. Better BANES Community is an initiative set up by Marcelle Speller, the founder of Localgiving which provides funding opportunities and advocacy for local charities and community groups in the UK.
More details and an agenda will follow shortly. In the meantime please RSVP to james.carlin@Localgiving.org if you wish to attend.
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Volunteer Matters Newsletter
The Volunteer Centre's monthly newsletter - Volunteer Matters. To sign up contact Mike Plows, Volunteer Centre: info@vol-centre.org.uk
Healthwatch Newsletter
The Healthwatch Bath and North East Somerset includes local information, events, national policies and changes. Click her to view August's newsletter.
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New offers available - B&NES Energy at Home
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Energy at Home Scheme provides free advice and access to grants and support to help residents improve the warmth and energy performance of their homes.
There are new grants and support available through the Scheme for Autumn 2016. Contact the Energy at home Advice Service for more information:
Freephone 0800 038 5680
advice@energyathome.org.uk
www.energyathome.org.uk
Please refer any clients or residents you come across who may need help to keep their home warm and healthy, or may need help to reduce their energy bills. You can make a referral by phoning, emailing, or using the Referrals page of the website.
We are looking for opportunities to brief organisations and teams who work with residents in Bath and North East Somerset on the help available through the Scheme, and how to identify clients who may benefit from a referral. To invite us for a short slot on the agenda at a meeting, please contact energyathome@bathnes.gov.uk
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Want free rail travel?
New initiative offers complimentary GWR rail journeys to community groups
Low income residents from the West of England area are set to enjoy a free day out by train this summer, thanks to a new initiative led by The Centre for Transport and Society at UWE Bristol.
Group day trips by rail to the seaside and many other popular attractions in the West of England will be even more attainable for residents of some of the region’s most disadvantaged communities, through to February 2017.
The project, ‘Days Out By Train in the West of England’, is funded by GWR as part of a £2.2 million communities’ improvement fund launched in 2015 to support areas of real social need, and is being delivered in collaboration with the Severnside Community Rail Partnership.
‘Days Out by Train in the West of England’ aims to remove any financial barriers to travel by providing community groups with complimentary group rail tickets on GWR services within the West of England area. Project lead, Dr Miriam Ricci, Senior Research Fellow at UWE Bristol’s Centre for Transport and Society, said: “We’re delighted to announce this new initiative which for many disadvantaged communities will provide a first-time experience of a day out by train.
“Our research has shown us that socially disadvantaged community groups in Bristol found that the cost of travel, combined with lack of public transport connections and access to private transport were significant barriers to travel, leading to a lack of physical activity, social isolation and inability for many families to take children on leisure trips to local attractions.
“We hope that many people will take advantage of this offer and enjoy the experience of a day out by train, not only as a boost to their own well-being but for families and individuals to develop confidence on how to use the railways and to open up new opportunities.â€
Launched in 2015, over 40 schemes benefited from a share of £750,000 in the first year of the Great Western Railway Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF) to support areas of real social need. The deadline for 2016 funding applications (and the second share of £750,000) has recently passed.
GWR Development Manager Mark Youngman said, “We are committed to improving the journeys of our passengers, as well as the economic prosperity and social footprint of the regions and communities we serve.
“This project is a clear example of how we can work with our local partners to improve access to rail, enabling more and more people to take advantage of the full range of services that we offer.â€
Keith Walton, Chairman of the Severnside Community Rail Partnership, said, “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with UWE on this important initiative. Funding from GWR enables disadvantaged groups across our region to experience the local rail service free of charge, and we are finding that many of those travelling as part of the scheme would never have otherwise considered using local rail services. The feedback received from participants in the Days Out scheme is broadening our understanding of local communities and giving further insight to the barriers to rail travel for disadvantaged groups.â€
This offer is open to residents’ associations, youth clubs, schools, children centres and any local organisations and charities working with disadvantaged communities in Bristol and the West of England; this includes Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Groups are eligible to claim a free group ticket for a maximum of 20 people on the GWR network within the West of England to enjoy a day out on a date and destination of their choice until February 2017.
To check if your organisation/charity/group is eligible to take part in this initiative or for more information, please contact Miriam.Ricci@uwe.ac.uk Tel: 0117 32 83798.
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Virgin Care is the preferred bidder
People in Bath and North East Somerset are set to receive more coordinated care, closer to home, after the local CCG and Council announced Virgin Care as their preferred bidder to coordinate over 200 health and care services in people’s homes and communities.
The new “prime provider†contract will make it easier for different health and care professionals to work more closely together to deliver better outcomes for local people.
Subject to further assessment, NHS Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Bath & North East Somerset Council expect to award the contract to Virgin Care in November 2016. There will then be a five month transition period before services start to transfer to the new provider on 1 April 2017.
The announcement follows a two-year programme of engagement and consultation with local people and professionals to identify their priorities for health and care services delivered outside of hospitals and GP practices.
Dr Ian Orpen, a local GP and Clinical Chair of the CCG said: “We have listened carefully to what local people had to say and we have a very good understanding of the improvements they would like to see. Many people have difficulty finding their way around the health and care system to get the care they need. Virgin Care’s proposal means that services can be better co-ordinated and people will be supported to access all the services that can help them improve their health and wellbeing.â€
Cllr Vic Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health said: “People told us they want more care delivered closer to home so services will be organised around GP practices providing access to a wider range of health and care professionals in people’s communities. They also asked us to join up services and information so that it’s easier for different professionals to work together to coordinate care. Virgin Care will enable this to happen by bringing people’s health and care records into one secure place. We will also include a clause in the contract which requires any financial surplus made by the new prime provider to be reinvested into services in B&NES.â€
Virgin Care was selected as preferred bidder following a rigorous procurement process, competing against a partnership of local providers led by Sirona care & health.
Over 50 community champions and subject matter experts were involved in evaluating the two bidders. References were also obtained from staff, partners and service users in other areas of the country where the bidders provide services.
The CCG and the Council will now begin three months of intensive testing and discussions with Virgin Care. A full business case will be presented to the Council and CCG Board at public meetings on the 9th and 10th November respectively to seek their authorisation to formally award the contract.
Contact the team
If you have any questions regarding this announcement then please get in touch and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
www.yourcareyourway.org | 01225 396512 | yourcare@bathnes.gov.uk |
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Renewable Futures and the Green Energy Awards
29 November 2016, Assembly Rooms Bath
Nominate your project for this year's Green Energy Awards - it's time for your organisation to get the recognition it deserves!
Does your renewable energy scheme push the boundaries of innovation with carbon savings? Know of a community group involved in an exciting energy initiative with inspirational vision? The Green Energy Awards is an ideal event for celebrating the success of the industry to date, and with a stream of nominations already flowing in, it's time to get nominating!
We are delighted to announce that Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution and The Crown Estate are sponsors for this year's Green Energy Awards. In addition, many thanks to The Institution Of Civil Engineers for supporting our newest award; Best Arts and Green Energy Project.
8 September is the deadline for your nominations.
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Honours and Awards Special 
Recognising Great Work in the Community
Do you know a person or local voluntary group making an extraordinary contribution to the community, voluntary, local and social enterprise sector? If so, nominating them for an Honour or Award can be a great way to recognise their efforts. For more information or get in touch with the Office for Civil Society Honours and Awards team on 0207 271 6206 if you have queries.
Recognising Individuals
Nominate someone for an individual Honour - The Office for Civil Society recognises volunteering in the community, voluntary and social enterprise sector, for example, philanthropy, community cohesion, supporting those who are less well off, supporting the growth of social action and civil society, helping improve capability and innovation in the voluntary sector and making a significant and sustained positive impact on the lives of young people. The form and guidance are online along with instructions on how to nominate.
Recognising ‘Local Community’ Voluntary Groups
Nominate them for a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - This is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise the outstanding work carried out in their own communities and it is the MBE for volunteer groups. ​The deadline for nominations is 16th September 2016. You can nominate online.
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 Chairman's Community Awards
Category 1 – Volunteering Awards
* Volunteer of the Year
* Young Volunteer of the Year
* Volunteer Leader of the Year
* Young Volunteer Leader of the Year
* Volunteer Team or Organisation of the Year
* Young Volunteer Team or Organisation of the Year
* Good Neighbour of the Year
* Neighbourhood Team of the Year
* Carer of the Year
* Young Carer of the Year
* The Peter Duppa-Miller Lifetime Achievement
Category 2 – Business in the Community Award
This award will recognise a socially responsible business which actively supports its local community in positive activities.
The Chairman may also identify one or more individuals or groups from the nominations received to present a ‘Special Award’.
Guidance notes and Nomination Form is available online.
For more information contact email: Sara_banks@bathnes.gov.uk, call 01225 477807 or write to Sara Banks, c/o, The Chairman’s Office, Bath & North East Somerset Council, The Guildhall, High Street, Bath BA1 5AW.
Please note the changes to the nomination form. A word limit of 600 words is now applied to all nominations. We are unable to accept any additional information supplied with the nomination forms.
Deadline - from 12 noon, 25th November 2016
Chairman’s visits
The Chairman welcomes invitations to visit local charities and community groups throughout Bath and North East Somerset. If you would like to invite the Chairman to attend your event or organisation, please contact Paula Bartlett, Civic Secretary, email: paula_bartlett@bathnes.gov.uk.
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The Awards are organised in partnership with, the Volunteer Centre Bath and Beyond, social housing provider CURO, Student Community Partnership (involving the University of Bath and Bath Spa University students unions) and Sirona care & health.
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The Bath Plug
Employment and training news
Training Courses
- Learn Direct, ICT Basic & Level 1 & 2, 19th September
- Learn Direct, Employability, 12th September
- Learn Direct, Confidence & Motivation, 3rd October
- Learn Direct, Customer Service, 10th October
- Reform Training, CSCS, 3rd October
- Princes Trust, Get Into Retail with M&S - 12th September
- Princes Trust, Get into Retail with Vodafone (16-25 years), 3rd October
Employer Recruitment open days at Bath Jobcentre
Debenhams - 5th September 10-1pm and 9th September 1-4pm. Recruiting in all departments for full and part-time permanent and seasonal staff.
Oakfield Nursing Home and Ivybank Care Home, Bath on the 6th September 10-1pm recruiting full and part-time Care Assistants, Domestics and Kitchen Assistants.
First Bus on the 13th September 10-2pm recruiting drivers. Applicants must be aged 18+ and have a full driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points. 38 hours pw. Benefits include full training and free travel for the person and their family.
M&S - 28th September 10:30-2pm recruiting for Christmas staff in all departments.
Remploy Career and Jobfair
Remploy will be having a career and jobsfair at 37 Colston Avenue, Bristol on Friday 16th September 10-1pm. Call 0300 456 8027 for more information.
Apprenticeship and Traineeship Event
Apprenticeship & Traineeship event - Bristol Central JobCentre - Tuesday 20th September - 1.30 until 3.30pm. We are holding an open afternoon (jobs fair type event) with a variety of employers and providers who all have vacancies / opportunities for those interested in Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
Employers include - The Bristol Hotel, Premier Inn, Reflections , N-gaged, SGS College, Weston College, City of Bristol College, Learndirect (more to follow). There is no age limitations to attend this event.
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 Adult Education Courses
Maths and English Skills Assessments
Our free adult courses offer you a chance to
• improve your job prospects
• progress onto further training or education
• gain the confidence to help your children with their school work
Before you can enrol you will need to take a pre-course assessment to make sure you are placed on the right course. We are holding assessments on:.
Dates: Tuesday 30th August and Wednesday 7th September, 10:00 - 13:00, Twerton Learning Hub, 80 High Street, Bath, BA2 1DE
Booking: Adult Community Learning Tel: 01225 328822
Perfect Posies: Floristry for Beginners
A practical introduction to floristry taking you through the basic skills needed to put together everything from button-holes to bouquets. Whether you would like to gain some new skills, think about a new career or try something different we would love to see you. You will also be able to take away your creations to show off at home!
Dates: Five sessions running each Thursday from 15 th September – Thursday 6 th October, 10:00 – 1:00, Somer Valley Campus, South Hill Park, Wells Road, Radstock, BA3 3RW
If you have any queries or to book a place, please ring Lynsey Parsons, Adult Community Learning Tel: 01225 328822 or, Vicki Chapman Tel: 01761 433161 ext 330
Cook and Eat
A free 6-week cooking course for the Over 55s:
• led by an experienced, qualified Community Learning Tutor
• offering advice on all things nutritious and delicious
• including cooking and eating together at the end of the session
Dates: Tuesday 13th September to Tuesday 18th October, 10:00 - 12:00, Somer Valley Campus Kitchen, Radstock, BA3 3RW
Booking: Adult Community Learning Tel: 01225 328822
A Handful of Herbs
This course runs over two half days and will look at lots of different ways of using herbs.
Whether you want to use them for cookery, decoration, or to improve your wellbeing this course is for you!
Dates: Saturday 24th September and Saturday 1st October, 9:30 - 13:30, Bath City Farm, Kelston View, Bath, BA2 1NW
Booking: Adult Community Learning Tel: 01225 328822 |
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 Latest courses from the Wellbeing College
Tuesday 13 th September Therapeutic Song writing a one off session at the Percy Centre, Bath. Non ‘musical’ people are encouraged to attend this workshop to learn the art of song writing and how the power of song can improve your mood.
Tuesday 13th September, Vegan Cookery a 4 week course from 10am-1pm at The Bubble, St John’s Hospital, Bath
Tuesday 11th October, Safeguarding for Volunteers, 1 off session for Volunteers, 6pm-9.15pm, The Bubble, St John's Hospital.
Thursday 10th November, Aromatherapy to Improve your Wellbeing a 4 week course from 6.30pm-8.30pm at Twerton Village hall, Bath (there is a £2 contribution towards materials per session).
There will be more information on our website at www.wellbeingcollegebanes.co.uk for all of our courses or if you would prefer to speak to somebody them please give us a call on 01225 831820.
Booking is essential and most courses are free. Please get in touch by calling 01225 831 820 or email: enquiries@wellbeingcollegebanes.co.uk for more information or to book your place. |
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Vision Day Workshop 20th September
This free event is aimed at smaller charities in the Bath and North East Somerset area who would like support with developing their vision. The day will be delivered by Bath-based organisational development experts FreeRiver Consulting, working alongside Bath Area Play Project, Business Connectors and the Volunteer Centre for Bath & North East Somerset.
This day is designed for key decison-makers within local charities who are responsible for setting and reviewing the organisation's strategy. Places will be limited, and a maximum of two individuals from each charity may attend. Refreshments will be provided and attendees will be responsible for providing their own lunch.
Attendees will leave the day with a clearer strategy for the next five years, alongside concrete actions to put in place to work towards their wider vision. The morning session will explore the potential tensions between a charity’s purpose, its strategy and the requirements of its funders. The afternoon session will then go on to explore a range of scenarios impacting upon the organisation's wider vision. Please note this is very much a practical day as opposed to a networking event - although naturally connections with other organisations will also result.
When: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Where: Odd Down Community Centre - Odins Road Odd Down, Bath, BA2 2TL
To book: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vision-day-for-bnes-charities-tickets-26482129763
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 The Big Clothes Swap
Following the success of our first clothes swap in April, Bath & North East Somerset Council is organising its second clothes swap event, this time at The Guildhall in Bath from 6.30pm on Wednesday 14 September 2016. Our first event sold out so book your place now to avoid disappointment.
On average 30% of the clothes in our wardrobes haven’t been worn in the last year, so we are inviting residents to come along with their friends and swap not shop. Items to be swapped need to be in a good clean condition and ready to be worn again.
During the event there will also be the opportunity to learn more about giving clothes a new lease of life by upcycling, repairing and recycling using the green box collection.
Local clothing upcyclers will demonstrate their fantastic work, talk about their creations and give advice on repairs. Those taking part include:
- Helen from Kecks Clothing – Helen will demonstrate how to upcycle your old clothes for new uses and you’ll have a chance to make some yarn using an old T shirt. She will also style up some outfits from the clothes brought to the swap. https://kecksonline.wordpress.com
- Jennifer from The Sewing Skills Project – Jennifer creates long lasting items of beauty from fabrics that may otherwise go to landfill and will offer tips and advice on simple repairs https://thesewingskillsproject.wordpress.com/
- Aimee from Bristol Textile Recyclers – Aimee will show you how the clothes and shoes that are collected through councils, schools and charity shops are recycled. www.btr-ltd.co.uk
Entry to the Clothes swap is £5 and includes a welcome drink. Places are limited so please book and pay in advance by calling Council Connect on 01225 394041 or visit one of our One Stop Shops.
Residents unable to attend can do their bit to recycle clothes, shoes and accessories by putting unwanted items out in a plastic bag for their weekly green box recycling collection or donating them to charity.
For more information visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/textiles. |
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 St Andrew's Community Church, Combe Down
Mid-week activities
Regular activities are currently held in St Andrew’s Community Church on our GRACE values:
Messy Mondays 9.15am – 11.15am (once a fortnight)
An hour of songs, stories and crafts for parents/carers and their pre-school children.
Tuesday Toddlers 10.00am – 12 am (Including a cheap lunch provided by the Mothers Union.)
A toddler group with thriving numbers where parents/carers stay with their children and afterwards have lunch together.
Wednesday afternoon Needles & Natter (weekly)
This is a new group where you can come along and do you knitting and have a chat together at the same time.
Wednesday ‘Foxhill Focus’ 11.30am-1.00pm (weekly)
A drop-in on for anyone to come to for a chat, to meet friends. Hot drinks, home-made cakes and hot lunches are available for a donation.
Thursday Youth Club 7:00pm-9.00pm (once a fortnight)
A drop in for anyone aged 11-16 full of activities & games
Friday Hope café Fridays 10am to 2pm (weekly)
Drop in for coffee and cake every Friday
For more information about any Mid-week groups &/or activities please contact the OFFICE or Tel: 01225 945 009
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 St John's Hospital Events
The Stitch Exhibition
Saturday 10th September 2016, The Bubble, St. John’s Hospital, 4/5 Chapel Court, Bath, BA1 1SQ (near back of Primark). Bring along your family and friends to look at our beautiful work and take part in taster sessions throughout the day
HUG - A free performance
Theatre Royal Bath Engage and St John’s Hospital present Verity Standen’s.
Sunday 11 Sept, 2pm and 4pm, Chapel of St Michael Within, St John’s Hospital, Bath, FREE (the performance lasts 25 minutes, suitable for ages 16+). As you enter a room and sit down, you are blindfolded and, in time, hugged by a singer. Unable to visually gauge your surroundings, you experience the performance through sound, breath and the vibrations of the body as a choir of voices deliver their song.
Aladdin and the Intergenerational Lamp
Are you interested in other people's stories?
Do you like telling your own?
Ever fancied being a storytelling workshop leader?
Stu Packer, Resident Storyteller and Storytelling Coach of Superact, will take you through an exciting, fun and challenging series of workshops. You will be left with skills you never thought possible!
Tuesdays: 11th October, 18th October, 1st November, 8th November 2016 and 10th January 2017, from 11am until 4pm. For more information contact: either Anna Ferguson, email: anna.ferguson@stjohnsbath.org.uk or Jayne Howse: Jayne.howse@stjohnsbath.org.uk, tel: 01225 486403.
Wellbeing Programme for People in Pain led by Betsan Corkhill
10 week course - Monday 31st October to 16th January 2017
(2 week break for Christmas & New Year) 1.30-4.30pm at The Bubble, St John’s Hospital, Chapel Court, Bath BA1 1SQ (Near back of Primark)
On this course you will get acquainted with pain, how it works, and what you can do about it. Given the right support and knowledge, everyone has the capacity to change within them. Learn about those important shifts in thinking that can change your experience of pain. This programme doesn’t dwell on symptoms, it focuses on how you can trigger change within you and move on to live well.
To book a place contact: anna.ferguson@stjohnsbath.org.uk or 01225 486 403/400 |
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Somer Valley Walking Festival
Join us for the first Somer Valley Walking Festival 17th - 18th September which we hope will become an annual event, encouraging local people and visitors to explore the beauty of the Somer Valley's countryside and discover its heritage. Walking is also an excellent, low cost and low impact way of keeping fit - if you're new to it, we hope you will enjoy and want to continue the experience.
Saturday 17th September 7pm – 8pm
As part of a new, Somer Valley Walking Festival, a free talk will be held at Radstock Museum the evening before the walks to help set the scene. Join local historian, Dennis Chedgy on a virtual walk through time from Roman occupation to the industrial heritage of the Somerset Coalfield, taking in the social history of the local area and the development of its farming; churches, pubs, shops and community venues along the way. You do not have to take part in the walks to join this informative and free talk on this fascinating part of Bath and North East Somerset. The walks will take place on Sunday 18th September. Further details on the Try Active website.
Sunday 18th September from 10am
There will be six walks in total for all ages and abilities, including a Family Walk and Treasure Hunt along the Norton Radstock and Five Arches Greenways. Further details are available on the Try Active website. The main walks start and finish at the Victoria Hall in Radstock but the Family Walk and Treasure Hunt will leave from the Radstock Co-operative and finish at the Somerset and Dorset Railway's South Station in Midsomer Norton.
For more information: Alison Wells, tel: 01225 396539, email: Alison_wells@bathnes.gov.uk.
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 Great Bath Bake Sale
As part of Age UK's Older People's Day celebrations, we will be running a cake stall at Bath Abbey on Saturday 1st October, from 11am until 3pm. We would love for you to come along and say hello.
'The Great Bath Bake Sale' will feature lots of local organisations, and there will be sweet and savoury treats as far as the eye can see.
To get your cake fix and to support us and other charities from Bath and North East Somerset, make sure you pay us a visit.
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 Café Conversation
Our next Cafe Conversation event is on Thursday 20th October 2016 in a partnership between Volunteer Centre Bath and beyond and Local Giving. A free opportunity for members of the voluntary and community sector in Bath & North East Somerset to come together to network and share information and ideas over a free lunch from 11:30am until 2pm. The event will be held at The Bubble, St John's Hospital, BATH, BA1 1SQ. You need to book for this event here: http://www.vol-centre.org.uk/cafe+conversation |
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 First Bath Soup Project
Would your organisation like to pitch at the First Bath Soup Project?
What are we looking for?
Based on a project originating in Detroit, Bath Soup Project is a crowd-funding event for the community. The first event will take place at Bath City College on Thursday 3rd November 2016 at 6pm.
The concept is simple, it’s a minimum of £5 to attend for everyone (you can donate more if you wish) and the purpose of the evening is to watch five people pitch an idea to improve their local community.
Once the ideas have been pitched, everyone gets a bowl of soup to eat plus a chance to chat and mull over which pitch they want to vote for. When the votes have been counted the winner will receive all the cash raised on the night to go ahead and start their project.
This event aims to bring together people who share a desire for a better community.
Here's some essential information…
Pitchers
- You'll have a five minute window to put forward your idea, feel free to use props but no digital presentations please
- Your idea must benefit the local community in some way
- You'll be asked to answer up to five questions put to you by the audience at the end of your presentation
- You can't vote for your own idea
- If you win, you'll need to come along to the next event and give an update on how the money has been used
To find out more click here.
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State of the sector survey 2016
Have you been able to take advantage of recent changes in charity funding, public commissioning and support for social enterprise?
Do you know which organisations you could collaborate with, either just round the corner or working with similar clients across the region?
What’s been the impact of six years of austerity on your organisation, and what do you now find it hardest to raise funds for?
To help answer these questions, to raise them with commissioners and to influence the resources available to your organisation, we are updating our intelligence on voluntary and community organisations locally. To ensure your organisation’s public profile is made available to potential bidding partners and your details are included in our evidence for campaigning, please click here to complete the survey about your group by 12th September (deadline extended).
Once all the data is collated, we will:
- Update the local intelligence we publish on our websites to help you find potential partners for future projects (and help them find you).
- Share it with local commissioners and funders so their investment and grant strategies are informed by your organisation’s work and local gaps and priorities. (for example, the information will feed into Quartet’s new Vital Signs grant strategy.)
- Use it to influence key local stakeholders (local authorities, Business West, the Local Enterprise Partnership, CCGs, Avon & Somerset PCC, Chambers of Commerce) regarding the capacity of the voluntary sector to deliver public services, and the potential to create increased social value by further investment in our sector.
- Combine it with information from Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset so we have a strong evidence base for advocating across the West of England as well as in each local authority.
- Not share the information with anyone else!
If you have any questions about this project before completing the survey, by all means contact me Mike Plows 07815564726 or 01225 338105.
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Chair of the Board of Trustees, Creativity Works
Creativity Works are looking to recruit a Chair of Trustees who will demonstrate the passion and commitment to progress the high quality work that Creativity Works is renowned for. You will have the strategic leadership skills and authority that is required for this small but dynamic, and high-achieving, organisation to flourish.
Creativity Works is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, supporting and developing artists who work in the field of socially engaged arts. We also deliver creative projects within Health and Wellbeing, including a highly successful commission from B&NES, the Mental Health Creative Support Service.
We are currently in a period of transition, building on our success as we look to secure a sustainable and expansive future. This entails the re-imagining of co|Create, our artists support programme, scoping the opportunities that the new Your Care Your Way commission may bring, expanding the delivery of our services to include young people and families and planning the redevelopment of a high-profile building. We will also be looking to maintain our NPO status beyond 2018 and to secure the funding and profile necessary to achieve our ambitious plans.
For the full Job Description please Click HERE (this will download a PDF document)
For more information regarding the organisation please visit our website www.creativityworks.org.uk
If you are interested in this role, please send a CV and cover letter illustrating your suitability to our Director, Oliver Jones oliver@creativityworks.org.uk
If you require more details or would like to chat about the role, please do email Oliver to arrange a convenient time to talk with him or one of our current trustees.
Closing Date for applications: Mon 12th Sept 9am
Interview Date: Week of 19th September exact date tbc
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 Volunteering with Age UK
Bath Area
- NEW! Volunteers for our successful ‘Hale & Hearty’ Project, supporting older people aged 85 and over in Bath & North East Somerset
- NEW! Walk Supporters/Back Markers – Friday mornings
- Befrienders & Telephone Befrienders– Weekdays, flexible times
- Lunch Club Relief Driver/meal collection – Tuesdays as needed 11.30 -1pm
- Day Centre Helpers at St Michael’s Centre – Thursdays or Fridays 10-3pm
- NEW! Lunch Club Co-ordinator and Helpers - Second Monday every month
Keynsham
- Day Centre Helpers to join the team- Tuesdays/Fridays 10 – 3pm
- NEW! ‘Cook and Eat’ Tutor – Mondays 11 - 2pm
- Keynsham Older People’s social group organiser – First Tuesday of the month
- Befrienders – Weekdays, flexible times
- Promotions/Publicity Assistant – Outreach, Flexible day/time one day a month
Midsomer Norton
- IT Supporters for NEW Gadget Buster sessions– Tuesday mornings
- NEW! Kitchen Assistant at our Day Centre – Mondays and Thursdays 11.30-1.30pm
- Day Centre Helpers – Mondays and Thursdays 10-3pm (or part of)
- Befrienders – Weekdays, flexible times
Chew Valley
- NEW! ‘Cook and Eat’ Assistant Tutor – Fridays 11 – 2pm
- IT Supporters - ‘Gadget Busting’ Chew Stoke Inn – 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
For further details about all these roles, or to apply, please contact Chris Hart, Volunteer Development Co-ordinator on 01225 466135 volunteering@ageukbanes.co.uk
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