BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Doors open to St Peter’s Hospice flagship store

The doors opened in March to reveal the latest charity shop for St Peter’s Hospice. The shop, which can be found at 112–114 Whiteladies Road, is the 43rd shop for the Hospice and will be their flagship store. Long-time supporter of St Peter’s Hospice, TV’s Alex Lovell raised a toast at the opening, saying: “I hope you raise squillions here. Cheers to the shop and its opening! We can’t all dig deep at the moment, but we’ve probably got some stuff up in the attic or have some clothes that we don’t fit into that we could bring out and donate and help to raise money for the Hospice.”

St Peter’s Hospice flagship shop is open from 9.30am–5.30pm Monday –Saturday and from 10am–4pm on Sunday. The shop operates a daily quiet hour between 9.30–10.30am (10–11am on Sundays).

• stpetershospice.com

Phenomenal choral success for Redmaids' High students

It has been an outstanding month of choral success and celebration for students at Redmaids’ High School. On 11 March, the Senior Choir and a cappella group Close Encounters took part in the Bristol Festival of Music, Speech & Drama and were both awarded trophies for winning their classes with stunning performances. The Senior Choir won the Susan Weaver trophy for singing VivaLaVida by Coldplay and Soldier, Soldier in the free choice class. Close Encounters won the Malcolm Williams memorial trophy and sang The Sound of Silence and BigSpender to rapturous applause. All the students sang with conviction to an exceptionally high standard to which the adjudicator John Pomphrey was extremely complimentary about both choirs.

The success continued through to 12 March, when Close Encounters travelled to Warwick School for the National Final of the inaugural GSA (Girls’ Schools Association) Choir of the Year. After submitting their video entry for the competition in December, Redmaids’ High received the news in February that Close Encounters were one of only six choirs who had been selected for the competition final. The students, Rosie, Claudia, Maddy, Charlie, Hattie, Emily and Grace really rose to the occasion and performed with vitality and style, captivating the audience to the extent that you could have heard a pin drop at times. After performing against other exceptional choirs, Close Encounters were all delighted to be placed as runner-up with some fabulous feedback from the judges.

Head of Keyboard Studies and long-standing member of the Music Department, Mrs Kate Woodman, who trains both choirs commended the students saying: “Singing is incredibly important at Redmaids’ High, and we are fortunate to have many talented singers who perform in our six outstanding choirs. The girls are committed and work so hard in every rehearsal which is testament to their fantastic achievement at the events over the weekend. The judges were extremely complimentary about their singing, and I am so incredibly proud of them all.”

• redmaidshigh.co.uk

Osborne Clarke announces income protection benefit extension to aged 70

As one of the first legal businesses to sign the Centre for Ageing Better’s Age-friendly Employer Pledge, the firm is pleased to announce it is now extending income protection for colleagues to aged 70.

Partner Co-Champion of the firm’s Age Network, Danielle Kingdon worked closely with the firm’s Head of Reward, Sarah Underhill and colleagues in the age network to increase the core benefit from 65 to 70 for all employees in the firm’s UK business from 1 April 2023.

“Income protection is often considered an important part of good financial planning, ensuring people’s future well-being is protected if illness or injury prevents them from working for an extended period, said Sarah.

Danielle added: “Unfortunately Covid has made us all very aware that the unexpected can happen at any time to anyone. Having a plan in place to ensure you're covered gives some peace of mind if you’re faced with a difficult health situation.”

Income protection is a core benefit that the firm provides at no cost to all its employees. Colleagues qualify for membership provided that they are aged 16 or older, but have not reached the age of 70.

The firm also generously offers a number of funded core benefits for all UK colleagues including, enhanced pension contributions, life assurance, Virtual GP as well as private medical insurance and critical illness that are both treated as a taxable benefit. This is in addition to a number of flexible familyfriendly, lifestyle and health and wellbeing benefits that people can personalise to suit their lives and needs.

Being a responsible and ethical business and employer underpins Osborne Clarke’s business strategy. The Osborne Clarke For Good framework is the firm’s way of ensuing it is a good corporate citizen, a good employer and a good business.

• osborneclarke.com