Newsletter

Bristol Coeliac UK Local Group Winter Newsletter – Issue 10 – January 2020

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Welcome to the first newsletter of 2020 and the Bristol Coeliac UK Local Group hope you had a good Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year. There has been little activity during 2019 to report on but maybe you were able to make it along to one of our coffee mornings for a chat and a catch up over a drink and gluten free cake or biscuits.

Committee changes

Since our last newsletter we have welcomed Ann Tizzard as our Group Organiser and Dawn Parsons is acting as interim Group Secretary until we are able to fill the post permanently.

We still need help on the committee if we are to keep the Bristol group going. The Membership Secretary, Social Events Coordinator and Website Editor posts are currently vacant and if these can be filled it would help to relieve the burden on existing members. If you would be interested in taking on any of the committee roles mentioned above, or would like to be involved in any other way, please contact us on Bristol@coeliac.org.uk or volunteering@coeliac.org.uk and further information can be sent.

Events

Without a full committee we no longer have the skills or resources to organise large events any more like the two very successful food fairs that we held at City Hall, College Green in 2017 and 2018. However, we would

like to keep going with regular coffee mornings around the area that is covered by the group (Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset).

Two coffee mornings were held in 2019. The first on 11th May at Horfield United Reformed Church, on Muller Road. This was a well-attended event which saw several newly diagnosed coeliacs come along for the first time for a chat and reassurance that diagnosis is just the first step in recovery to better health. Many thanks to Pullins Bakery for supplying the #Gleefully GLUTEN FREE samples.

On 22nd June, we held another coffee morning at St Michaels’s Church (B&A), 160A Gloucester Road. Attendees were asked to bring along a gluten-free food item for donation to a food bank and a good collection was made.

The Bristol Local Group was asked to run a stall at the Free From Festival (BRISTOL) again last year. The gluten, dairy & refined sugar free food festival was held on the 23rd November at the Passenger Shed, Temple Meads and was a very busy day with lots of our favourite suppliers attending.

Forthcoming events

Coffee morningSaturday 18th January 2020, 10.30 – 12.00Windmill Hill City Farm Philip St, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4EA

For this event it will be helpful if you could bring along your own re-usable coffee cups as we have a limited supply of mugs. Also as the food bank donations were much appreciated last time, we will be happy to pass on any gluten free food items that you would like to bring along, (no obligation).

Coffee MorningSaturday 29th February 2020, 10.30 – 12.00Beechwood ClubBeechwood Rd, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3TP

At both coffee mornings tea, coffee, squash and gluten free cakes and biscuits will be available plus a chance to catch up and compare notes with other members. All are invited, including family and friends.

You are welcome to donate some homemade cakes for the events, but if you do please ensure that they are made in a gluten free environment and that you have available a list of all ingredients used in the product. Why not bring along the recipe to share as well?

Further coffee mornings are being planned, so keep a look out for more information.

Keep in touch

Bristol Coeliac UK Local Group contact details

Local contact: Julie Langdown

Tel: 07990 687 582

Email: bristol@coeliac.org.uk

You will find us on social media:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Bristol-Coeliac-UK-Local-Group-495816870602604/

Twitter:

@BristolCoeliac

We also have our own page on the Coeliac UK website: https://www.coeliac.org.uk/local- groups/bristol/

This communication has been sent to you because you are a Member of Coeliac UK and this newsletter is from your Local Group. Coeliac UK can be contacted through the website, our helpline or at: Coeliac UK, 3rd floor, Apollo Centre, Desborough Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2QW.