Helping children live life after burns

A CHARITY which supports children and their families after burn injuries is looking for people to help its work.

Frenchay After Burns children's club (FAB) is entirely run by volunteers, receiving no government support for its work to help young burn survivors make friends, build confidence and self-esteem through free activities, from days out, parties and pantomimes to international residential camps.

Any child aged under 18 with a burn injury can join and the charity aims to support them "from injury through to adulthood".

Lizzie Evans, who lives in Almondsbury, is one of the founders of FAB - and her own personal experience inspired her.

She said: "I had a burn injury myself when I was eight, and when it happened there weren't support groups.

"I was in a school with a thousand pupils and I was the only one who had had a burn injury.

"I had support from my mum and dad, which helped me through.

"These days, with the pressures of social media, living with disfigurement can be very challenging."

Lizzie was visiting family when she suffered her injury; her dress caught fire as she dried it in front of an open fire, after playing out in the snow.

Her older sister put the flames out but she suffered burns to her legs and was treated for ten days in Birmingham Children's Hospital, before going home and undergoing operations and skin grafts at Frenchay

Hospital's burns unit.

Lizzie would go on to become a nurse and work on the same ward were she was treated at Frenchay, and it was while there in 2000 that she met Julie Scott, one of the charity's other founders and current chair.

The group started small, with Lizzie and her fellow volunteers taking three girls away to a national camp for children with burn injuries.

Over the years support has expanded to include events to support the whole family of the child who has had the injury.

But Lizzie says the residential camps remain a vital part of the charity's work, and in recent years the group has taken children to camps in Canada, South Africa and Lapland.

She said: "It's a brilliant opportunity for children to meet up with others who have had the same experiences as them.

"A lot is about the child being accepted. Their injury isn't the focus, what they might look like and any disabilities from scarring - it's about peer support and having fun.

"The residential camps offer activities like rope climbing,

Friends kit out school

A SUPPORT group helping Thornbury's secondary school has donated equipment to help pupils get creative - on stage and in the kitchen.

Castle School Friends raised £2,000 to buy a lighting tower, which will help the school stage productions in its main hall.

So far the tower has been used to help set the lighting for dance shows and music concerts - next on the list is a drama performance in early February.

The school has also taken delivery of two new kitchen cookers, after the Friends pledged £1,000 raised from an open day at Tortworth Lake to the food technology department.

Dozens of home-made cakes and bakes were donated by the local community for CSF to sell on a refreshments stall at Tortworth last summer.

The friends' next fundraising event is a table top sale on Saturday March 4 at the school - see page 24 for more details.

archery and windsurfing that families wouldn't be able to provide.

"It's very rewarding - you see people that, before they came to a camp, are not confident enough to express their feelings. By the end of the camp that's disregarded. It's a fantastic opportunity."

Although Frenchay Hospital has long since closed, Lizzie now works as a burns outreach nurse at Bristol Children's Hospital, looking after children across the region following injuries.

She uses her own experience in a positive way and tells the children she helps about it.

Lizzie said: "It can happen to anyone.

"It's made me who I am, helped me develop my role and given me the ability to empathise."

FAB relies entirely on fundraising to meet its costs of about £25,000 a year, and as well as volunteers to help on camps it is looking for people to help raise money. It also needs administrators, event organisers and support with its online and social media presence.

Anyone who would like to find out more is welcome to attend FAB's annual meeting at Christ Church Hall in North Street, Downend, on February 7 at 7.30pm.

More information can be found at the charity's Facebook page, website www.fabclub.org. uk, by emailing mail@fabclub. org.uk or by calling 07821 989845.

n WHAT'S ON

January 28 n BRISTOL CAMERATA CONCERT, including performances of Mozart, Elgar, Haydn and Macilwham, in support of ActionAid against FGM, 7.45pm. Tickets, including drink, from www. nicolawoodward.uk/concerts, call Barbara on 01454 412272, visit Surroundings in Thornbury or on the door. Open rehearsal for those who cannot attend the evening concert, 3-4.30pm, free with donation pot.

February 6 n ALVESTON GARDENS ASSOCIATION MEETING, Jubilee Hall, Alveston at 7.30pm. Talk on English Treasure House gardens, with Richard Harvey. New members and visitors welcome.

February 10 n THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE presents Belfast, by Kenneth Branagh, Thornbury Methodist Church Upper Hall. Doors open 7pm. Members free, guests £5. For more information visit www. thornburypicturehouse.org.

February 15-18 n OLVESTON PARISH PLAYERS present Kiss Me, Kate, 7.30pm at the Parish Hall, Tockington. Tickets £10 adults, £7 children, £12 premium seats, available by calling 01454 202011. More information on www.facebook. com/OlvestonParishPlayers.

February 17 n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Beer & Banter at the Swan, High Street, from 6.30pm. Serving HM Armed Forces personnel, veterans and supporters welcome.

February 18 n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH

LEGION breakfast at the Swan, High Street, 9-11.30am. Serving HM Armed Forces personnel, veterans and supporters welcome.

February 21 n ARMSTRONG ARTS GROUP presents a talk by Professor Ronald Hutton on King Alfred the Great, St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, 7.30pm. Discussing the real person behind the image, with questions following the talk. Tickets £7.50 from AAGThornbury@gmail.com or by calling 01454 850933.

February 22 n ALVESTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY MEETING, 7.30pm, Alveston Methodist Church. Talk by Liz Davenport on a visit to the antipodes in 1852-4 and its impact on Woodchester Mansion in Gloucestershire. Entry £5, including coffee or tea and biscuits.

March 3 n ST PETERS HOSPICE SEVERNSIDE SUPPORT GROUP 30th and final annual quiz, Tytherington Village Hall, 7.15p.m. Tables of four, to include light supper, £32 per table. Bring your own drinks. Plenty of parking available. For more call Mary on 01454 412567.

March 3 n WORLD DAY OF PRAYER at Thornbury Baptist Church, 7.30pm, with service prepared by women of Taiwan. All welcome.

March 4 n CASTLE SCHOOL table top sale in aid of Castle School Friends, Park Road, Thornbury. Sellers arrive from 10am, buyers 11am. Finish 3pm. Tables £5, entrance 50p per adult, children free. Refreshments, pre-loved uniform sale. See Facebook or email enquiries@ castleschoolfriends.org for more details.

March 6 n SEVERN VALE FLOWER CLUB

Thornbury Library news

THORNBURY Library is hosting a Steampunk murder mystery performance in February.

The Perilous Phlogisticon, by local group The Red Herrings, takes place on February 11 at 2pm.

Tickets cost £3.20 for library members and £6.40 for non-members.

A fairy tales craft session and treasure hunt takes place on February 15 from 10.30am to noon, and craft bags to create at home can be picked up between February 11 and 18 for the school holidays.

flower arranging classes, St Mary’s Hall, Eastbury Close, Thornbury. Starting on March 6, 2-4pm and continuing on March 20 and April 3. Basic flower arranging classes suitable for beginners and improvers alike, covering posies, triangles, table arrangements, parallels and foamless designs. More details from Brenda at b.cook@tinyworld.co.uk or Sally at ssjjtaylor@hotmail.co.uk.

March 25 n THORNBURY JAZZ FESTIVAL, Marlwood School Drama Hall, 4-9.30pm. Headliners Cass Caswell and the Storyville Strutters. Tickets £25: email AAGThornbury@gmail. com or call 01454 850933.

Regular Events

Monday n SEVERN VALE FLOWER CLUB meets on the second Monday in the month at 2pm in St Mary's Hall in Eastbury Close, Thornbury, for classes, demonstrations and competitions. For more information contact Sally on ssjjtaylor@hotmail. co.uk or Hazel on 01454 885213.

Tuesday n THORNBURY ART CLUB hosts live talks and demonstrations by established artists on the fourth Tuesday of the month at St Mary's Church Hall, 7.30pm. Nonmembers welcome: £5 entry. For more information call Mary Drown on 01454 414433 or email mary. drown@blueyonder.co.uk. n CITIZENS ADVICE South Gloucestershire sessions at Turnberries Community Centre, Bath Road, Thornbury, Tuesday from 10am-noon. No appointment needed. n JUST SEW IT SEWING CLUB, every Tuesday 6.30-9.30pm at the Chantry Community and Arts Centre Castle Street, Thornbury. Come

Award-winning author Rachel Joyce will be at Thornbury Library on March 18 - more details next month.

Keeping warm and well sessions are being held throughout the day on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am-4pm: come and relax with a warm drink, use the computers or your own tablet or phone (WiFi available), read a book, newspaper, browse the shelves, enjoy a communal puzzle or just relax.

The Have You Read book club meets on February 3 from 2-3pm - no set novel, just drop in for refreshments and a chat about books.

Lego club meets every Saturday from 9.3010.30am - no booking required.

Book Focus Group, for children in Year 7 and up, takes place from 4-5pm on February 9. Rhymetime takes place every Monday and along and sew with others bring your sewing machine and materials/pattern. To attend, call Carrie in advance on 07753 236095. n THORNBURY MEMORY CAFE is open on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (except August) from 10.15am until 11.45am. Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury. For information contact Sue Rowley on 01454 412941 or Louise Wright on 01454 260371. n SUNBEAMS TODDLER GROUP, 1.30-3pm every Tuesday in term time, Thornbury Methodist Church Hall (off Castle Court). All families welcome, no need to book, £2 per family includes snack and drink.

Wednesday n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcomefirst visit free so come along and give us a try. Contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@blueyonder.co.uk

Thursday n THORNBURY GOOD

AFTERNOON CHOIR, Thornbury URC, Chapel Street, 1-3pm. For more information visit www. goodafternoonchoir.org, email gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk or call 01761 472468

Friday n HAVEN MEMORY CAFE, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, first and third Fridays of the month from 10.15-11.45am. More details from Stuart Hill on 07913 241437 or Sue Walton 07794 370903.

Sunday n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION branch meeting, last Sunday of the month at the Black Horse, Gillingstool, Thornbury, noon.

Friday, from 9.30-10am.

A Sight Support West of England drop-in support and advice session for people with visual impairments will be held on February 20 from 10am-1pm.

A computer volunteer is ready to help with your IT and online questions on Thursday mornings, with one-to-one sessions available from 9.30am.

The library is open 9.30am-5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday.

Open access is from 8am-7.30pm every day.

For bookings and home library service call 01454 868006, email thornbury.library@ southglos.gov.uk or visit the website www. southglos.gov.uk/libraries.

WE start the New Year full of good intentions, yet by the end of January we are usually back on the couch. So why is it that our heartfelt New Year resolutions usually crumble?

Principally, there are two reasons. Firstly, we often don’t set ourselves clear, realistic targets. Secondly, we often anticipate