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THIS ISSUE >>GIVE THIS CHRISTMAS (49) >>JAMES CARLIN ON COMPASSION AT CHRISTMAS (51) >>NICHOLAS WYLDE (52)

The giving spirit

LEFT: Sleep out to raise much needed funds for Julian House; RIGHT: Miriam Beck, Giles Lascelle, Ella Lindley and Sue Topalian of Trauma Breakthrough are thrilled with the donation

Christmas is always a time when we start thinking about charity, but in a year of such unprecedented challenge, how we can give back to those in need in our city feels more pressing than ever.

During this festive season, there are plenty of causes in Bath in need of support. We’ve gathered a few of them here, from donation drives to resilience challenges.

Bath Cats and Dogs Home Winter Appeal Since March, the Bath Cats and Dogs Home has taken in 100 animals from the RSPCA, many as a direct result of owners struggling to cope with a pet amidst the impact of the pandemic. A lot of these animals arrived in very poor condition, and have required a lot of extra TLC. This Christmas The Bath Cats and Dogs Home are asking for donations towards essential medication, tailored care packages and life-saving operations. www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk

The Big Bath Sleep-Out Sign up now for Julian House’s March 2021 fundraising challenge. The charity, which supports people dealing with homelessness in Bath, is expecting an income loss of £200,000 in 2020 as a result of cancelled fundraising events. Help them redress the balance by raising as much sponsorship as you can to spend a night sleeping out in the open – there are even prizes for top fundraisers. Sign up now and get a head start gathering your sponsors. www.bigbathsleepout.co.uk

Xmas Party Heroes Xmas Party Heroes are asking businesses to donate the money they would have spent on their office Christmas party to charity this year. Bath-based charity Trauma Breakthrough, which provides mental health services for adult survivors of abuse and all forms of trauma, have benefitted from the scheme. Trauma Breakthrough’s CEO Giles Lascelle says “Breakthrough has worked non-stop through two lockdowns not just to keep key services available but also to expand our crisis service to survivors of abuse and trauma who are experiencing a mental health crisis as a result of the pandemic. Since March this year we have seen referrals rise by over 500 per cent with no sign of slowing down, which means we are struggling to provide the 24/7 support that our service-users all need.”

This fantastic initiative is one good thing to come out of cancelled Christmas party season. “Just one donation from the Xmas Party Heroes campaign could keep our crisis helpline service open all Christmas, meaning we will be able to help many more people who are at risk of suicide and self-harm,” says Giles. www.traumabreakthrough.org www.xmaspartyheroes.co.uk

Bath Community Shop The shop in Twerton is a not-for-profit that supplies low-cost clothes, shoes, toys, books, household equipment and small items of furniture to some of the most underprivileged in our community. For Christmas they are asking for gift donations they can wrap and deliver to people unable to afford them – from children’s toys to a lovely bath bomb, they are out to make sure none in our community go without a gift this Christmas. www.facebook.com/communityshop123

I, ROBOT

A Bath Spa University professor of cultural identities is using a robot to give disabled people in isolation unique access to an art exhibition. Professor Martin Levinson is project lead with D4D, a research project using a remotecontrolled, telepresence robot on wheels to stream an art exhibition at London’s renowned Saatchi Gallery right into the homes of vulnerable people forced to isolate as a result of the pandemic. The virtual tour allows visitors to move around the gallery via their device and even zoom in on the works for a closer look.

“The Covid pandemic has served to augment

Art knows no bounds – with a little robotic assistance CHANGING ROOMS The pigs at Bath City Farm are set to receive a home upgrade. Thanks to a £900 donation from insurer NFU Mutual’s Community Giving Fund, the charity will be able to complete some much-needed work on the pig’s enclosures. Bath City Farm supports disadvantaged and disabled people to develop new skills and confi dence and boost emotional, mental, physical and social wellbeing – all while educating them about farming and food production. The pigs are a central part of the farm’s projects, and working with them helps individuals grow confi dence, social networks and new skills.

“We are delighted to receive this grant from NFU Mutual towards the new pig pens,” says Helen Fisher, Bath City Farm’s manager. “Important infrastructure for our animals isn’t an easy thing to fundraise for, but it is so For more: www.bathcityfarm.org.uk a situation that already existed – the lonely, secluded lives of some people. We need to fi nd ways of preventing this in the future,” says Professor Levinson. “Technology is only part of the solution. We all share responsibility for the situation in normal times whereby elderly and disabled people can spend much of their lives in isolation. Let’s hope we emerge from all this as stronger and more compassionate communities. In the meantime, in a dreary period of lockdown, we hope that this technology serves to connect such individuals to the vivid world of art.” For more: www.d4d.org.uk

Sponsors get many perks, including an invite to the pre-awards Finalists’ and Sponsors’ reception

GET INVOLVED

It’s that time of year again… the much-loved Bath Life Awards are returning on 27 May and category sponsorship opportunities are now open, bringing businesses the chance to associate with the high-profi le event.

Sponsorship provides an unrivalled business marketing showcase. The 21 Awards categories cover the whole of Bath’s thriving business scene; from arts to bars, charities to creatives and leisure to tech, there’s something for everyone.

“Those companies that hop on board and sponsor a category gain plenty from our Awards, receptions and events that come with partnering up” said MediaClash brand manager Annie Miekus. “Whether you’re looking for that extra marketing boost for your business or opportunities to network and build contacts in the city, the Awards has the answers.”

Sponsors already on board include headline sponsor The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, along with category sponsors Apex City of Bath Hotel, Freestyle Designs, Hotel Indigo, Marsh Commercial, Novia, Savills, Spaces, Stone King, Sub 13, Truespeed, Triangle Networks; and of course, Bath Life itself.

For sponsorship enquiries and to benefi t from the Awards, please contact Pat White – Pat.White@mediaclash.co.uk

integral to being able to run our projects safely. The pigs are such an attraction for many children that visit the farm and are fi rm favourites of the people that use our projects.” For more: bathlifeawards.co.uk @BathLifeAwards

Heather Wareham of NFU and farm manager Helen Fisher were on hand to tell the pigs the good news

When 3SG director James Carlin came up with the Compassionate Community, he had no idea there was a pandemic about to hit the city

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC

Mark Collins is rowing to Atlantic to raise money for Sanitation First

BIG HEARTED BATH

Join the Compassionate Christmas campaign, designed by 3SG’s Sarah Williams Martin.

• RANDOM ACTS OF COMPASSION POSTERS Available to all to colour in and display in their windows once they have completed a random act of compassion. If they complete five acts then they can request a handmade star from the Sewing Collective, by heading to the campaign page on the Compassionate Community website.

• SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN Get involved with the social media campaign and add 3SG’s very own Facebook Frame to your personal profile picture and use the hashtag. #compassionatchristmas. Don’t forget to tag @compassioncb.

• OTHER INITIATIVES Compassionate Community volunteers are running a number of other initiatives with the campaign, including offering handmade Christmas cards by local children, a phone call to a vulnerable person on Christmas day, and wellbeing packs for those living alone without internet access.

Get involved and download your Compassionate Christmas goodies on their website: www.compassioncb.org.uk/ compassion-at-christmas Compassionate Community launched in 2020, a broad initiative of local charity 3SG with the aim of encouraging community support in B&NES. Then the pandemic arrived, and they quickly pivoted to become one of the city’s biggest Covid response teams – 1,500 volunteers signed up in their first week alone. They went on to launch The Community Wellbeing Hub with telephone support line to link people in need with helpers. The volunteers have since provided support to over 2,000 people in need with food and medication deliveries.

“It’s been amazing to see how much good work can be done by people who don’t know each other,” says James Carlin, director of 3SG. “Almost all of our volunteers are operating out of their own homes, many have never met and wouldn’t recognise each other in the street! What joins us together is compassion and a willingness to be part of the solution, and I’m immensely proud of each and every one of us.” STICKING HIS OAR IN Freshford-resident Mark Collins is rowing the Atlantic in aid of Sanitation First. Mark seeks to raise £25,000 to build eco toilets and wash stations and provide washable, reusable sanitary pads and personal and menstrual hygiene education for underprivileged schoolchildren in southern India. It’ll take Mark and the team of rowers 40 days to complete the journey.

“I retired in July after nearly 40 years of corporate life – I was a senior partner with PwC and latterly a vice president with IBM. It was really important to me to feel that although I was retiring, the biggest challenge of my life was still ahead of me,” he says. “I wanted to do something that would have an impact. I am hoping that the rowing challenge will enable me to learn a lot about myself but, more importantly, the funds I hope to raise will enable Sanitation First to build toilets and hand washing facilities for over 500 children in India,” Donate at www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/markcollinsrow For more: www.sanitationfirst.org

FOOD SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS Bath College is working with the Compassionate Community Wellbeing Hub to make sure no young person goes hungry this Christmas. A ‘Community Chest’ has been set up at campuses in Bath and Radstock full of frozen meals students can access for themselves and their families, no questions asked. Hospitality and Catering staff are also preparing pre-made Christmas dinners for students in need. “As a community college we have really pulled together to ensure that our students don't go without at Christmas, and beyond,” says Laurel Penrose, principal and chief executive of the college. “Thank you to the B&NES Compassionate Community Hub for their donations of food that are gratefully received. I am immensely proud of all who have made donations, volunteered their time and pitched in to look after one another.” For more: www.bathcollege.ac.uk