Charities

Walk of Life is back

Previous walk along the Kennet and Avon canal

BatHRUH’s Forever Friends’ Walk of Life is back and will be held on saturday, september 18th with distances of 26.2 miles, ten miles or a virtual marathon spread over september.

Last year’s virtual marathon raised £40,000 for the hospital. that money has helped fund a number of projects including the charity’s RUH Cancer Care campaign for the new Dyson Cancer Centre, as well as support for wards and departments in the hospital.

Laura snell, events and community manager said: “We really can’t wait to welcome people back to our annual Walk of Life event. We are hoping to see hundreds of people join us and those who complete the challenge will receive a unique finisher medal.” the event is open to everyone and costs £15 to register. Participants are asked to raise a minimum £100 for any ward or department at the RUH or one of the charity’s major campaigns.

Details: www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk

Hospice appeals for volunteers

WestonHospicecare is looking for more volunteers to help at its charity shops across the area. It needs help in Cheddar, Worle, Weston and Burnham.

It says volunteering has many benefits including boosting your CV, making new friends, invites to events and most importantly, knowing you are making a huge difference.

Director of Retail, emma King, said: “Without volunteers, we simply wouldn’t be able to open our charity shops. the difference they make is immense and they really are the heroes of Weston Hospicecare.”

Grants available

tHeRichard Jones Foundation is inviting applications from young people for grants to support their education and training.

Formed in 1692, the scheme covers the parishes of Chew Magna, newton st Loe, stanton Drew, stanton Prior and stowey sutton. the Jones family lived in stowey and Richard Jones is buried in Chew Magna. the closing date for applications is Monday, october 25th.

Details: peter.h.godfrey@gmail.com

Rachel’s record attempt

CHaRIty fundraiser Rachel Clark is once again mobilising the community to join her in a world record attempt on sunday, september 5th, in aid of cancer counselling charity We Hear you. this year’s world record attempt is a re-run of the 2019 skittles world record attempt, aiming for the highest ever number of participants in an eight-hour game of skittles. the event runs from 9am-5pm outside Frome library, during the Frome Independent market.

Rachel said: “the world record is coming home! I chose this one because although it’s tough in terms of timings and numbers, it’s an activity that almost everyone can get involved with, so we have the opportunity to really pull together as a community and smash our second world record, just like we did in 2018 with the world record 24hr row!

“all you have to do is throw three balls and hit at least one skittle to be counted – this is a challenge of mass participation, not skill. the pandemic isn’t over yet, so we’ll be asking you to give each other space and you must preregister for a half hour slot to take part. Use the link below or scan the QR code on the posters you’ll see around town.” the charity’s fundraising and communications manager, Gemma Wilkes, said: “thanks once again to the amazing Rachel Clark and the (now pretty huge) team Clark for supporting WHy to the tune of more than £60,000 since 2011. We’re so excited to be back to smash a world record with you again!”

Details: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/WorldRecordSkittles call 01373 455255 or email info@wehearyou.org.uk

Walking for charity

aManDaBaldwin from Winscombe has set herself a fundraising challenge this year to walk ten miles a day, 3,650 miles, for local charities, Marmalade trust and Mind in somerset. she said she did quite a bit of fundraising last year but wanted to “go big” this time, literally, and has already walked more than 2,000 miles. as a fit and healthy 47-year-old, she walks most days on the strawberry Line, near Winscombe, though one recent walk of 23 miles took in a circle starting at Blagdon Lake, then around the Mendips. she said: “the two charities I’m walking for are close to me. With Marmalade trust I have seen first-hand the loneliness out there having being a care worker, even more so due to Covid, and the same with Mind in somerset, seeing the effects on people's mental health.”

Amanda Baldwin is fundraising for Marmalade Trust (justgiving.com) Amanda Baldwin is fundraising for Mind in Somerset (justgiving.com)

Bookstall is back

aFteRmore than a year, due to Covid restrictions, nailsea and Backwell Rotary Club ran their charity bookstall at the end of July with permission from Waitrose. the weather forced a reduction in the usual sales area but the event still attracted good support and goodwill messages from new and regular “customers” and raised £200 for local charities.

Further saturday sales are scheduled for september 18th and october 16th.

Keeping a promise

PRoMIseworks supports volunteers to mentor children and young people across somerset and are looking for new volunteers to start training in January 2022.

In return for a commitment of two/three hours per week, you will be fully trained and supported in your mentoring role and have the satisfaction of knowing that your contribution is making a difference in the life of a vulnerable young person. you can also support them on easyfundraising or amazon smile by searching for Promiseworks.

Details: www.promiseworks.org.uk 0300 365 1900

Poppies fund new memorial

a FRaMeD original artwork “stanton Poppies” by local artist natasha Clutterbuck, was sold at a special auction in stanton Drew, raising £1,000 towards the village’s new war memorial. auctioneer Jim King is pictured (left) with parish councillors nigel Pushman and Liz Richardson.

Jigsaw sale

WeDMoReFriends of Weston Hospicecare raised £640 at Wedmore street Fayre selling jigsaws and succulent plants.

Chair, shirley Wederell, said: “I would like to thank all the people who delivered jigsaws to my house for the above sale. I was amazed at the quality and quantity.” the group is planning another fundraising event in the autumn.

Marathon charity effort

CoUsIns Carina Hand and thea Grafton are walking four marathons this year to raise funds for the Brain tumour Charity.

Carina, aged 14, from Charlton Musgrove and thea, aged 15, from Charlton Mackrell, were inspired to take on the tough challenge by Carina’s brother, tristan, now 17, who underwent treatment for a brain tumour as a young child. tristan’s diagnosis when he was just

Tristan at the time of his diagnosis

six came as a huge shock and hit his family hard. Carina said: “My brother had his first epileptic fit in the spring of 2010, he seemed to be a very fit and healthy little boy.

“Initially we were told it was a febrile convulsion, but with subsequent fits it became apparent something else was happening. the optometrist requested more frequent eye tests, as his sight was deteriorating surprisingly quickly.

“Finally he had an MRI scan, which showed a 50mm ganglioma tumour and large fist-sized associated cyst. He underwent nine hours of surgery two days later.

“as a family we hadn't had any family members with a brain tumour so the whole thing was very new, at the time our family didn't know much about it and I don't think we all fully understand it still. It's such an awful thing that it sort of seems unimaginable, but the reality is it's more common than we all believe it to be.”

Happily, tristan is now 17 and living life to the full, having responded well to the surgery, but Carina and thea were inspired during the lockdown period to fundraise for families who aren’t so fortunate.

Carina, a pupil at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, and thea, who attends Cheltenham Ladies College, have already completed two marathons this year. the

Carina and Thea

determined pair managed to tick off their first in February and their second in april.

Fundraising is going as well as the walking, with Carina and thea on target to raise £2,600 in total for walking all four marathons.

Gina almond, the Brain tumour Charity’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing, said: “We are extremely grateful to Carina and thea for their fantastic fundraising and wish them all the very best.

“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of the under 40s and, unlike other cancers, survival rates have not improved significantly in recent decades. We want to lead the way in changing this and fighting brain tumours on all fronts through our work.”

Carina and Thea fundraising for The Brain Tumour Charity on JustGiving

Howard’s party

neaRLy £500 was raised for charity, thanks to donations at a party held in celebration of the life of Howard Hughes, who died a few months ago and who would have been 80 on august 7th. originally from Portishead, Howard, who lived with his wife Marlene near Clutton, was a former farm labourer and real character known by many in the Chew Valley.

His daughter, nicola Doneise Pearce, said: “I wanted everyone to remember dad, and what better way than to have a rock n’ roll style party.”

It was held at the Druids arms in stanton Drew, with many people dressed in authentic 50s dress, adding to the enjoyment.

Family and friends of Howard’s (l to r) Martin Reed, Nicola, Ray Pearce, Denise and Keith House, Val Close and Alison Hughes, with Howard’s widow, Marlene, sitting in front

Scarecrow time

HaRVey’sscarecrow trail will be on display around the Chew Valley from october 3rd featuring something or someone from a favourite film, tV moment or online game. the trail is fundraising for a sibling’s Wish and the Harvey Hext trust to support children learning to live with the tragedy of losing a sibling. With a growing demand nationally from the nHs Harry Potter and key bereavement partners such as Clic sargent and the Children’s Hospice south West, the charity’s memory boxes are recognised as much-needed gifts for grieving children.

Details: www.harveyscarecrow,com

Detection dogs

Liz Brownlee with Paddy and Lola and Joanna Brown a CoFFeemorning hosted by Joanna Brown in Chew stoke raised £400 for the Medical Detection Dogs charity, which trains dogs to detect various medical conditions. special guest, Liz Brownlee, has owned a detection dog, Lola, for 11 years, and is now training a five-monthold puppy, Paddy. Liz, from Chew Magna, who is a published children’s poet and editor, has been diabetic since she was 12. Lola was trained to alert her when her blood sugar levels are low. she said: "Lola changed my life 11 years ago - no more fear whenever I went anywhere on my own that I would fall under bus or become incoherent or unconscious whilst out and about. "nowadays I can go to London on the train and attend events and meetings. Before Lola, I didn’t go anywhere like that on my own. MDD definitely needs more help as Covid has stopped much of their fundraising."

Covid hits fundraising

Rachel and Piers Dyer, Mary’s aunt and father

MaRy’s Beat, based in Cossington, between street and Bridgwater, is a fund created in memory of Mary Christabel Dyer, to help disabled people take part in activities that will build self-confidence and encourage participation, that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

Grants of up to £1,000 are awarded for individuals to take part in music therapy, music experiences or outdoor adventures and activities, and are made possible thanks to Mary’s family, who normally organise fundraising activities every year. since the fund was launched by somerset Community Foundation in July 2017, a total of £12,405 has been awarded in grants, to 23 individuals with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or both, living in somerset or Devon. A grant of £750 means Harrison, aged nine, can join family bike rides on his specialist trike However, the pandemic has meant that Mary’s family haven’t been able to do their planned sponsored cycle ride or other fundraising activities. to be able to award grants early next year more funding is now desperately needed.

Piers Dyer, Mary’s father, said: “We normally raise around £3,000 each year for the fund which is then given out by sCF as grants to people living with disabilities. our sponsored cycle to the Hoge Veluwe national Park in the netherlands, where Mary had her first ride on a special wheelchair bicycle, was planned for august 2020, but due to the pandemic it unfortunately had to be postponed.

“We’re keen to start fundraising again and hope to plan events for 2022, which include a concert as well as another sponsored cycle ride. also, if anyone would like to arrange a fundraiser for Mary’s Beat we can offer support and would be happy to come along to an event to speak about the fund. We also welcome any donations.”

Monkton Combe School celebrate hard won A-level results

Underthe most unusual circumstances Monkton students received their A level results – grades which hold the very same status as those which came before and those which will follow despite the fact that they were arrived at in quite a different fashion.

Much has been made of the teachers' role in the allocation of these grades, but these are the pupils' grades – a result of their toil, their resilience and their determination. Monkton teachers were asked to recognise that via exam board grade descriptors.

We're very proud of our pupils' results and following a rigorous external moderation process, none of the grades which we submitted was changed: 64% of grades were awarded at A or A* and 95% were A* to C. Over a third achieved an A*.

But, as ever, these results, although hard won, represent just the launch-pad for our pupils' next adventure. We take pride in the diversity of paths which our pupils choose to take beyond Monkton –“Monkton thinks differently” applies just as much to making sure each individual finds his or her own path.

So Kiera and Kemi both head off to the prestigious University of the Arts London to read Costume for Theatre and Screen, and Creative direction for Fashion respectively, Ibim to Loughborough to read robotics, Mechatronics and Control engineering, Issy to nottingham to read French with Contemporary Chinese, and Polly and Kit to edinburgh to read Physics and Ancient History respectively.

With over 70% of pupils already confirmed securing their first choice of university and more still in discussion over details of their chosen courses, Monkton pupils had plenty to celebrate.

Chris Wheeler, Principal, said: “I send heartfelt congratulations to all pupils who received results in this toughest of seasons. This cohort have seen disruption unlike any who have gone before them and have learned tremendous courage and resilience which no results will ever capture.”

If you would like to join next year’s Sixth Formers as they each start their own unique journey, then Monkton still has a limited number of spaces available for Year 12 pupils looking to start this September.

If you are looking at Sixth Form beyond 2021 the next whole school open morning is on Saturday October 2nd and our Sixth Form Open evening is on Friday, October 8th.

To register for these events visit http://www.monktoncombeschool.com/contact/open-morning-registration.html

Frome College centenary Federation success

THISis an exciting time to join Frome College; an exceptional learning community where all students make outstanding progress, regardless of their starting points, in a well ordered and caring environment.

Learning is creative, challenging and purposeful; providing a sense of fulfilment, leadership and a desire to succeed.

The college offers the broadest range of subjects in the area which, coupled with an energetic and inclusive extra-curricular offer, means their students thrive and enjoy college life.

They are proud to celebrate their centenary this year; 100 years of educating and serving their community.

go along to their open evening on Thursday, september 30th at 6pm, or book a visit by emailing fccopentours@fromecollege.org

Year 6 were able to enjoy their annual camp in North Devon

BOTH Burrington and Wrington Primaries are united in their quest for educational best practice. Following two years of federation partnership, the schools are going from strength to strength!

With the recent SIAMS “excellent” inspection grading of Burrington, the schools are also being recognised for more than just their known academic excellence. At Burrington, a thriving forest school sees all year groups utilise this area of outstanding natural beauty and the church school ethos provides a strong family feel.

With the love of sport, music and the arts combined with the “gold” recognised science provision, Burrington’s small classes provide an inspiring learning environment and there is nursery provision on site as well for three-year-olds.

details: 01761462662 email office@burringtonprimary.co.uk https://www.burringtonprimary.co.uk

Wessex celebrates exam results

KIngS of Wessex Academy in Cheddar has been celebrating “fantastic” A-Level and Level 3 results, saying students have shown great resilience and determination in a difficult year.

Head teacher, david Wiltshire, said: “I am delighted for the students that their hard work and enthusiasm has been rewarded.

“I am deeply proud of their resilience and it is fantastic to be able to celebrate their successes. I’d like to thank parents for their support.”

The Wessex Learning Trust is a leading multi academy trust in the South West of england, comprising 14 schools and caring for more than 3000 children aged between two and 19.