Churn News Sheet | Summer 2015

ISSUE 09

See back page for our current courses & activities calendar

FUND-RAISING ukulele concertCirencester Probus Club is hosting a fundraising concert for us at 7.30pm on Saturday 8 August at the Masonic Hall. Come and join us for a lively evening of foot-tapping music from ukulele band UkeBox Jury. Tickets cost £10 and include a choice of hot meals and there’s a bar available too. Call 380038 or pop in to the Churn to buy your tickets.

THANK YOUThank you to everyone who’s supported us during the last quarter including Lower Mill Estate Association, Cirencester Rotary Club, Christopher Cornell for organising a golf day, St. James’s Place Wealth Management, Cate and Paul Thacker and Cirencester Soroptimists.

The year has seen big changes at the Churn. We have been able to introduce many new services

and are now supporting over 300 people more per year than we could in our old premises.

We would love to hear from you if the Churn has made a difference to your life – your stories are what make the Churn so much a part of the town. So please drop in or send us a few words – info@thechurn.org.uk or 380038.

Fran Embleton-Smith, Churn Project Director

With funding from Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and support from Cirencester Town Council, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the Royal Agricultural University, this project has been an excellent example of community collaboration.

The trainees all started from scratch but with tuition from local blacksmith, Ben Prothero, they’ve had the chance to develop their skills and techniques.

The climax of the project was the installation of the gates at the Beeches Road end of City Bank – as you can see from the photos, they’re a stunning addition to the town’s landscape.

We’ve just received further funding so that four of our trainees can carry on developing their skills.

A year already

New Gates for the town

A big thank you to our lovely landlords Tony and Jan Wootley for these beautiful flowers to mark our first year at The Waterloo.

We’re so proud of the Churn’s young blacksmith trainees who have created a set of gates for the City Bank area.

“ The blacksmithing course has helped me focus on what I want to do in the future which is to set up my own business in Cirencester working with metal. I’ve gained lots of self-confidence and met new people interested in similar things.”

Dan

Rural skills trainingYoung people aged 16-25 can sign up for our free Rural Skills training courses and Level 1 qualifications.

The training includes brush cutting and mowing and will lead to a chain-saw certificate and pesticides licence.

Pop in to the Churn office to find out more or contact Amanda on 380033 or amanda@thechurn.org.uk

Functional SkillsSign up for Level 1 English, Maths and IT, starting again in September. We’re really proud of last term’s Level 1 learners who all passed!

Family Learning Courses - Get Ready for SeptemberA second year’s programme of Family Learning begins on 10 September. The first course, One Step Ahead, offers parents of all 4-8 year olds the chance to look at what their children are learning at school and how to help with that at home.

This will be great for getting to grips with reading, writing and phonics. The course is free and runs 9.30-11.30am on Thursdays until 15 October. It finishes with a fun family trip during the half term. Sign up soon by calling Sarah on 380034 or email sarah.bourne@thechurn.org.uk

Pregnant?Come along to our free ante-natal sessions, held at the Churn Centre on Tuesdays from 10am -12 noon. The sessions have been running for 7 months now and we’ve had some great feedback.

Young Mums’ GroupReady Steady Baby’s Here is an informal young mums’ group which follows on from our ante-natal support. We meet every Wednesday from 9.30 – 11.30am for support, activities and a chance to meet other mums, starting up again on 9 September.

So, if you have a new baby and would like to get out of the house and meet other mums, why not join us? There is no charge for this group. Please contact Sarah on 380034.

For other new parents, New Baby New Life runs at the Baptist Church, Coxwell Street on Wednesdays from 2-3.30pm. Contact Rachel on 380034 or email rachel.stainton@thechurn.org.uk

Art ClubCome and join the Churn Art Club, a friendly tutor-led group which meets on Wednesdays from 10am to 12 noon, starting on 9 September.

Project PlanterChesterton Community Project has installed a number of colourful planters with support from a number of local companies and organisations, including Chesterton School.

Stitch, Knit and NatterThe group has been working on their individual panels of the logo project and some are now complete and ready to join together to form the final picture.

We are still collecting any wool you may have spare - we will be using it to knit a long scarf to decorate a tree in the Abbey Grounds. Please contact Sue on 380035.

English Language courseAre you are a foreign national and need to practice your English speaking and listening skills in a friendly environment or want to improve your chances of getting a job?

We are offering free English conversation classes. Please come and join us on Tuesday afternoons with ESOL tutor Sara Lawlor. Our next 5 week course starts on Tuesday 22 September from 2-4pm. “ An amazing group which covers

everything you need to know. It’s relaxed and makes you feel comfortable to ask questions”

Please contact Sarah on 380034 or sarah.bourne@thechurn.org.uk

A group member

3 week old Monty and mum Corinne who came to the group

MEET OUR Award-winning volunteer

Sunday And Tuesday clubsOur Tuesday and Sunday drop-in groups for older people are having a short break in August but will both be open again from 1 September.

If you like the idea of tea and home-made cake and a chat or relaxed activity, you’d be very welcome to join one or both of these groups. We have some wonderful volunteer cake bakers and have recently received funding from Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation for a whole year’s ingredients!

A team of volunteer bakers from St. James’s Place Wealth Management take it in turns to bake for the Sunday club once a month, producing all sorts of delicious goodies. Lorna, who runs the club, is delighted with their help. “Having a nice piece of home-made cake is something most of us take for granted. But when you’re older and living alone, it’s often too much trouble to bake for yourself. If you’d enjoy an excuse to bake, do let the Churn know – we can always use more cakes!“

CGN summer lunch “The best day I’ve had for ages” is how one lady described the Churn Good Neighbours summer lunch.

Hosted by Cirencester Golf Club, and funded by local optician Haine & Smith, more than 40 people enjoyed a two-course meal on a sunny afternoon in lovely surroundings.

Thursday ClubThis term we enjoyed two great trips. At Cotswold Wildlife Park we saw the new arrival, a baby rhino called Ian.

The Fresh Air Sculpture Show at Quenington gave us lots of creative inspiration. Next term we look forward to a talk about Chedworth Roman Villa, a calligraphy session and learning how to get the most from our cameras. We’re very grateful to Cirencester Soroptomists who are kindly funding four of the autumn sessions through the Minnis Trust.

Dads & Kids in the forest

Thanks to funding from Corinium Decorative & Fine Arts Society, we were able to provide six families with a day of fun and adventure at the Cotswold Forest School.

Carmel Morgan of Corinium DFAS joined them. “Despite the rain and drizzle the sunshine shone on the group at this magical Forest School. It was a pleasure to support this project.”

TSB Cirencester support CHURNThank you to the staff at the Market Place branch of TSB for selecting the Churn as their charity of the year. They’re raising funds for us by selling sweets and holding a sweepstake on the weight of a member of staff’s grand-child, due to be born in August.

“I could see straightaway that the value of The Churn Project’s Good Neighbours service is unquantifiable. Most people would enjoy being treated to a delicious lunch but it was much more than that. I said to one lady, “You have a lovely, smiley face and you haven’t stopped smiling.’ She answered, “I can’t help it; I can’t hear much of what’s going on, but I’m just so happy to be here!” The Churn Project is just the kind of organisation that Haine & Smith are proud to be associated with.”

Emily visiting Olive at Ashley House

Ian the baby rhino

Congratulations to Emily Thomas, a Churn Young Neighbour, who was the individual winner of this year’s Royal Society of St George NAIRAC award.

Celia, who co-ordinates the Young Neighbours scheme, described Emily as ‘one of the most exceptional of our young volunteers. She has given so much of her time and shown such commitment.’ Emily generously donated her award cheque of £150 to Young Neighbours.

Haine & Smith’s Janet Hartwell

Day Course / Activity Description When Cost

Mon Stitch, Knit & Natter Sociable stitch based crafts From 7 September, 10.00 - 12.00 £1 per session

SHINE Relaxed sessions & support for women feeling low after childbirth

From 7 September, 12.30 - 2.30 Free

Intermediate IT skills Accessible course to build on your skills From 21 September, 9.15 - 11.15 Free

Basic IT skills Accessible course to improve computing skills From 21 September, 11.30 - 1.30 Free

Everyday English Friendly group leading to Level 1 certificate From 21 September, 2 - 4 Free

Tues IT for over 50s Support for beginners & improvers From 22 September, 10 - 12 £60 per course

Ready Steady Baby Relaxed sessions for parents-to-be On-going courses - next one 8 September, 10 - 12

Free

IT surgery 3 drop-in sessions for answers to your questions and one-to-one support

22 September and 6 & 13 October, 12 - 1.30

Free

English Conversation Relaxed group for those with English as a second language

From 22 September, 2 - 4 Free

Friendship club Tea, cake, chat & activities for older people From 1 September, 2.30 - 4 £1 per session

Artlift Arts & creativity to make you feel better From 15 September, 3 - 5 Free

Wed Churn Art Group A friendly tutor-led drawing and painting group. All welcome

From 9 September, 10 - 12 £33 for 6 weeks

“Get into...” Short courses to improve employability From 23 September, 9.30 - 12.30 Free

Blacksmithing 5 week course Starting in October, 9 - 4 Free

Ready Steady Baby’s Here

Relaxed sessions for new mums under 25 From 9 September, 9.30 - 11.30 Free

New Baby New Life - meets at Cirencester Baptist Church

Drop-in group for first-time parents with babies up to 9 months

From 2 September, 2 - 3.30 £1 per session

Mindfulness Learn to savour the moment 3 sessions: 9 & 23 September and 14 October, 1.30 - 2.30

Free

Thurs Thursday Club Drop-in group for people aged 50+ - talks, outings & activities

From 3 September, 10 - 11.30 £1 per session

One Step Ahead Family Learning sessions to help parents support their children at school

From 10 September, 9.30 - 11.30 Free

Families Matter Support & activities for families From 3 September, 12.30 - 2.30 Free

Maths Level 1 A friendly group, leading to a Level 1 certificate From 24 September, 1 - 3 Free

Wildlife Surveying Learn about local wildlife and how to manage wild places

From 17 September, off site Free

Fri Work Club Help with CVs, Universal Jobmatch, employment & volunteering

Ongoing, 9.30 - 12.30 Free

South Cotswold Memory Club

Support for people with memory problems From 4 September & then 1st Friday of month, 10 - 12

Fair Shares coffee mornings

Everyone welcome to join this monthly get-together

4th Friday of each month, 10 - 12 Free

Sun Sunday Tea Club Company and cake for older people From 6 September, 2.30 - 4 £1 per session

The CHURN PROJECT COURSES & ACTIVITIESFor more info, or to book for non drop-in courses, please phone The Churn Project on 01285 380038, or email: info@thechurn.org.uk

For information on any of the articles included please contact the Churn Office on 01285 380038 or email info@thechurn.org.uk The Churn Project Registered Office: 14 –16 The Waterloo, Cirencester, GL7 2PY. Company number: 567529 Charity Registration number: 1124422

www.churnproject.org.uk facebook.com/TheChurnProject @churnproject