June already! I find it hard to believe that two weeks ago we should have been running the Into Everywhere Festival of Exploration across the town and celebrating the 123rd birthday of The Old Library. And that on the last day in the office in March, when we decided to postpone all the April and May events, we hoped we might be back in the building by June.
However, there are glimmers hope and optimism about how things might start to change. We're tentatively thinking about how we will be able to re-open The Old Library and how the space might best serve the community in the new post-covid age (I'm on a panel discussing this for a RIO Webinar on Thursday 4th at 2pm...). We don't know what's going to happen or how you are going to feel about going out in the coming months, so making any kind of plan is tricky but there are some exciting ideas, and it would be a massive help to us and our partner organisation, Doorstep Arts, if you could spare 10 minutes to fill out our short survey. I can't stress how valuable these things are in terms of planning, and also in applying for funding. You can fill it out anonymously or enter a prize draw, just click the orange button below.
This week we are very excited to launch a new project that we've been planning for a few weeks. The Lockdown Patchwork is another collaborative project with mental health organisation Pentreath and Bodmin College students and staff. The basic premise is to create a giant patchwork detailing how we feel in lockdown, made up entirely of textile squares decorated by you! (Find out more below). The Bedroom Choir, It's Grimm podcasts and the Heritage Drawing Challenge are all still running and we are excited to be working with two Exeter University students over the next month, who will be looking at possible other projects that can engage people during the crisis.
Sadly, we have announced this week that Sirone and Marc with Ola Cafe, won't be coming back to The Old Library. They have been a part of this project from the very beginning and we will miss Sirone's delicious food and excellent coffee, however we are confident that she'll be back with her pop-up dining experiences. So I'd just like to say a huge thank you to them for everything they did for The Old Library and intoBodmin. We are working on ideas as to how the cafe might operate in the future.
Finally, don't forget that we'd still love to hear from you with any ideas you might have, any good things happening locally, or if there's anything that you think intoBodmin and our friends might be able to help you with.
The Lockdown Patchwork FREE | Get involved!
What does lockdown mean to you?
intoBodmin, Pentreath and Bodmin College are working together to create a large patchwork to represent how people in Bodmin felt during the COVID-19 crisis, which will be put on public display... and we need you to get creative! All you need to do is cut out a fabric square, get decorating and send it to us to be included. There are even downloadable instructions and example videos on our website to help you along!
Ha-Hum-Ah Theatre's IT'S GRIMM! Online Podcast Platforms | Fridays | 7:00pm | FREE
You are invited to a magical and musical realm every Friday, as intoBodmin and Ha-Hum-Ah Theatre (A Dickensian Christmas & Oh No It Isn’t) bring you an anarchic audio play adaptation of the Grimm Fairy Tales. They’re about 15 minutes long, suitable for the whole family (6+) and after each episode you are invited to email suggestions for things that will make it into the next episode. Listen to all the episodes now.
Bodmin Rides Again: Community Drawing Challenge Social media | Thursdays | FREE
intoBodmin and Bodmin Riding & Heritage Festival want to keep everyone engaged in the Bodmin Rides Again project and interested in Bodmin’s amazing heritage. Why not get involved in our Drawing Challenge? Each week we will release an interesting piece of Bodmin’s history that we would like you to draw for us. Keep an eye on our Facebook Page!
The Kernow Bedroom Choir Social Media | FREE
Singing songs has been a way of bringing communities together for generations, so intoBodmin and Kernow Bedroom Choir have teamed up to create a short series of tutorials to teach people some of Cornwall’s most cherished folk songs. Each week you are invited to learn a part, record yourself and take part in the virtual Kernow Bedroom Choir. Join us on our social media channels and get involved!
What's On | Other Activities
Online Shakespeare Monologue Coaching Sun and Moon Theatre
Thinking of auditioning for Drama school or keen to improve your monologue skills? Sun and Moon Theatre are offering online sessions tailored for you, to work with you on a Shakespeare monologue.
Gecko Theatre YouTube | FREE
Gecko Theatre have a variety of their past performances on YouTube for you to watch free of charge. Enjoy their captivating productions, bringing physical theatre to your living room.
Miracle Theatre Mondays YouTube | First Monday of the month | FREE
Enjoy a night out at the theatre over on the Miracle Theatre YouTube channel. On the first Monday of each month they will be sharing one of their performances, which will be available for you to enjoy for 30 days.
C Fylm Film Club at Home
Wednesday Evenings | FREE
Missing Bodmin in Motion Film Club? C Fylm's Film Club at Home is a great way to continue the community feel of film club screenings from the safety and comfort of home. The films will be available on streaming services and you can even join in with discussion of the films if you'd like to.
Bodmin Keep | Cornwall's Regimental Museum Online | FREE
Bodmin Keep have created KEEP KIDS, a bi-monthly learning activity sheet for kids, plus an exciting, code-breaking spy worksheet. These worksheets are designed to help parents with home learning while the children aren't at school.
Bodmin Bear Hunt Google Maps | FREE
Have you been on a teddy bear hunt during your daily walk? If so, we've created a Bodmin Bear Hunt Map where you can add your own teddy markers and keep an eye out for other ones near you.
Bodmin Junior Parkrun
Sunday mornings | Facebook | 9am | FREE
Bodmin Junior Parkrun are going to try and do a Facebook live event every Sunday at 9am to keep everyone active and they'd love you to join in with them. Keep an eye on their Facebook page on Sundays at 9am, or to see their upcoming events.
Get Bodmin Fit with Liv Facebook | FREE
Liz is doing an amazing job of keeping Bodmin moving through the use of fitness live streams on Facebook. From the comfort of your own home you can join in and stay active! Check out her Facebook group for updates on times.
Resources
The Fare Exchange | Bodmin
The Fare Exchange Bodmin has been set by a group of volunteers who want to help make change and support the community around them. The main objective is to help with community needs in this time of crisis. With the use of a shop in Bodmin, it's a space to distribute food and essential items to those most in need.
Bodmin COVID-19 Fighters Facebook Group | Bodmin
The Bodmin COVID-19 Fighters is a group to help those in the community. Such as getting prescriptions, shopping and walking the dog, which could become difficult for those who are unwell/self-isolating. This is designed for people to ask for support and people that want to help.
COVID-19 Hotline | 01208 455 163 Free first response telephone service
The Bodmin Town Council COVID-19 Response Team hotline is run by a team of Town Councillors and local volunteers and is designed to help those with no internet access to cope with isolation: particularly when they have problems accessing food or medicine, or in a household emergency. Please spread the word and pass the number on to family and friends.
Man Down Cornwall Facebook | Mondays | 7:00pm | FREE
Let's talk about it! On Monday evenings Man Down are doing a live stream on Facebook from 7pm for a chat open to anyone and everyone during this very uncertain period.
Virtual Community Friendship Cafe Facebook | FREE
Cornwall Hospice Care have recently announced the opening of the Virtual Community Friendship Café on Facebook. It's a virtual drop-in space for those who need support, a place to share experiences, to make friends and for sharing wellbeing activities and information.
Bodmin Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group
There are COVID-19 Mutual Aid Facebook groups popping up everywhere, and the Bodmin group is run by locals who are there to help support the most vulnerable with errands, information distribution and emotional support.
Bodmin Bikers
A group of bikers from Bodmin turned their passion into positivity by helping the elderly and vulnerable who can't leave their homes. After making hundreds of deliveries and having a big impact on the community, they have stopped making deliveries so that they can return to work, but they are hoping to organise a community fun day in the future, so watch this space!
If you've enjoyed this good news, here's another way that you can help us...
Donate
If you love what we do and want to help us get back on our feet once things get a little brighter, please consider donating any amount by Paypal, send us a cheque or email us for bank account details. We're feeling the strain from having to cancel our events and close the doors of the Old Library, and if you can afford to give, every £1 will help.
