SWALLOW

SWALLOW COMMUNITY CAFÉ AT ST NICHOLAS CHURCH ROOMS

Everyone at the SWALLOW Community Café cannot wait to welcome people inside again on 17th May 2021. Up until that time, they are continuing their take away service and from 12th April, you will be able to eat your take away in the courtyard at the café. The team are also updating their menu and will be offering daily specials – so keep an eye on the blackboard at the café.

The SWALLOW Community Café provides training for local people with learning disabilities, both in the kitchen and front of house. It offers nutritious, affordable food and a safe, welcoming environment for the whole community. During the pandemic, the SWALLOW team have continued to work hard and have produced free meals for families in need and also coffee and cake for NHS workers.

As the café opens its doors properly again, the team invite the local community to come along and enjoy some delicious food and drink and at the same time supporting this important local charity. If you would like to know more about SWALLOW and the other support that it offers teenagers and adults with learning disabilities, please visit www.swallowcharity.org, or email nickyt@swallowcharity.org, or for café orders or bookings ring 07565752350.

Here is Lizzie, one of the café team working hard preparing food.

Secure dog walking field in Midsomer Norton

Sole use during pre-booked time slot

www.pipspaddocksomerset.co.uk

Telephone: 07925 374933

pipspaddocksomerset

Pipspaddocksomerset

We are proud to provide our clients with top quality Home Care services they expect and deserve. Personal Care, Home Help, Palliative Care, Companionship. Over 15 years experience in care homes, hospitals and home care. Please call Chloe on 07949317210 email: busylizziehomecare@gmail.com

NO PLACE FOR LITTER

Since lockdown began in March 2020 and more people have taken walks as part of their daily exercise, the area has been explored much more than usual, which has been fantastic. However, litter has also increased over the same period, not only is this unsightly but it also damages our local environment and has a knock-on effect to our local eco-systems. Many of our Radstock litter heroes have taken the time during lockdown to use their exercise or a walk and litter pick along the way. As lockdown eases more groups and individuals are acknowledging the problem and are looking to get involved in Litter picks. We are indebted to our newly formed local Wombles group who have been outstanding in their efforts across Radstock and the Somer Valley. Litter picks are easy to organise, and Radstock in Bloom and B&NES Council can help by providing equipment via #NoPlaceForLitter volunteer ‘hubs’ across B&NES and by collecting bags of litter after the event.

Please contact Radstock litter hub for the Somer Valley area. #NoPlaceForLitter hubs are volunteers working alongside Bath & North East Somerset Council to maximise the help and support available to volunteer litter pickers across our council area. They are experienced litter pickers and will be

FULLY SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS

Best quality air dried logs. Various sized loads to suit. Nets and kindling also available. Free delivery within 10 miles for orders over £40.

All timber harvested and processed by us from sustainably managed local woodlands.

Find out more on Facebook (Somer valley logs). For orders or details, contact us on Facebook or 07900 243572 or 01761 439419 Email: somervalley.ts@gmail.com web: somervalleytreeservices.com happy to help with any questions or advice you may have in organising your own event.

litter hubs can provide you with:

• The Loan of Litter pickers (for helping you pick up litter) • The Loan of Hi-Vis vests • Special B&NES Bags for the litter • An information pack for volunteers (E-copy)

want to take part or organise an event?

• Sean Fletcher, Radstock and the Somer valley 07801285113 or email radstockinbloom@gmail.com • Erica Davies, Keynsham 0117 9080903 or 0771 3417974 or email womble@transitionkeynsham.org • Andrew Cowen, Bath 07711 301118 or email andrew@cowengardendesign.co.uk • It is important that you contact the Litter Hub at least 2-3 weeks in advance of your group event so they can make sure the equipment is available for you as well as arrange a time for you to collect. • Sean can also loan out to a small number of single litter pickers for litter heroes and supply B&NES

Gold Litter Bags to Wombles’ events.

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07549901920

SOMERSET AND DORSET RAILWAY AT MIDSOMER NORTON REOPENING IN MAY

Volunteers at Midsomer Norton Station have been allowed back to work under strict Covid guidelines with limited numbers across the week. The gardeners have been able to tackle some of the weed backlog and do some replanting whilst carriage and rolling stock restorers have been working on the mineral wagons and recently acquired Pallet van. The ones on view are already, like the ‘new to us’ mini buffet coach, looking like real working railway wagons. The restoration of the British Rail mini buffet is the ‘pièce de resistance’ for the volunteers as it now looks much as it did in service with splendid new upholstery and flooring ready for our visitors. Hot drinks and snacks will be available to take on to the open patio area where Covid distance can be kept. The splendid new recycled plastic picnic tables are ready and waiting for visitors to take a break with refreshment in between train rides.

Volunteers John Bridges, Vivien and Roger Taylor and Zaida Haworth are looking forward to welcoming visitors in May. There will be 3 carriage steam hauled rides with resident Sentinel Joyce and with one of our diesel shunters at the rear. At the end of May, there will be a family day with activities around the site to add to the interest of train rides.

The S & D Joint Railway Company Chair Matt Cornborough is excited about the new opportunities. He said: “This year for something different we will be offering ‘Wickham Wednesdays’ during school holidays in June, July and August when rides on the Wickham Trolley will be taking place. We are also very much looking forward to a visiting steam locomotive coming to site for our mixed traffic gala in July and across the whole of the summer season with a number of special events planned.” Booking for all events and rides is through the website. www.sdjr.co.uk/

somerset and dorset railway events

22nd, 23rd and 29th – 31st May: Train Rides - steam hauled by Joyce with a resident Diesel shunter at the rear

29th - 31st May: Family Activities Day

2nd June and 28th July and every Wednesday in August for Wickham Wednesdays: Wickham Trolley rides

20th June: Father’s Day Steam Teas

2nd - 4th July: Mixed Traffic Gala with an additional visiting steam engine

GIRLS’ AND BOYS’ BRIGADE

As we arrived at a landmark 365 days since the coronavirus pandemic started, a local children’s group looks back on the various ways they have adapted to ensure that they continue to support the families – and children – of Radstock and Midsomer Norton.

Radstock Girls’ and Boys’ Brigades have worked consistently to provide a mixture of in-person, virtual, or community-centred offerings to their members and the wider local populace over the past twelve months, in whatever way it is legal and safe to do so. Responding to the first lockdown, leaders created a pack for each child containing a term’s worth of craft resources, each corresponding to a virtual session led by Kerin Adam, Girls’ Brigade leader and Families Worker at Radstock Baptist Church, where the groups have met since Autumn 2020.

The weekly videos contain a short talk, a video story, a craft and a song. These have been provided every week during term-time that the group has not been able to meet in person. Come September, the schools returned and so did the Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade following months of planning, risk assessments, and discussions with families. It was challenging for the leaders to make sure they could run the groups safely for the 50 plus children enrolled for the term, whilst still delivering the connection and fun that they children value. “We had to make a lot of changes,” said Kerin. “But if we can be here and make a difference to even one child, one family, then it’s completely worth it.” Halfway through the term, the doors were forced to close once more as they entered another period of household isolation – so the Brigade’s members were once again equipped with weekly videos and a plethora of Christmassy crafts. These crafts were all combined to create the Christmas Trail around Radstock’s town centre, telling the story of Jesus’ birth through art, posters and QR-code linked videos. All those who took part were offered a Christmas book and a small chocolate treat from outside the Baptist Church, and there was a brilliant response to the initiative from families associated with the Brigades, and the wider community. The videos and craft supplies have continued throughout the Spring, with an additional ‘1 minute active challenge’ and a science challenge added into the mix.

Over the Easter bank holiday, Radstock Baptist Church, in association with the Boys and Girl’s Brigade, prepared another family-friendly trail around Radstock centre which was well received by many in the community. Finally, this April, the leaders prepare to welcome their groups back in person once more using the creative range of socially-distanced games, individually-packed crafts and fun ways to encourage safety like personal carpet mats which went down so well last Autumn.

“I think we are all just thrilled to be meeting again, in any form,” said Kate Rainbow, co-leader of the Girls’ Brigade. “It’s been so long, and we’ve missed the girls. We know that everyone has been through a lot, and we’re looking forward to being that safe space where the children can be themselves, and connect with each other, once again.” The Girls’ and Boys’ Brigade have spaces open for any children aged 4 and upwards. To find out more about Girls’ or Boys’ Brigade, please contact Kerin Adam via Radstock Baptist Church, Wells Road (via radstockbaptist.co.uk) or find the group on Facebook - Brigades Radstock.