The Wellbeing College has created this amazing resource of activities that you can join or do from home! Find out more

Achieve in B&NES www.achieveinbathnes.co.uk It is a hugely unsettling time, and many of you may be looking at company closures, reduced hours and redundancies. We know things are tough and that to get a job in this current climate, people need to widen their job search and be more open to other opportunities. Dealing with the stress of losing a job as well as facing job hunting, can be isolating and very over whelming. We are going to try and support as much as possible by promoting jobs and telling you about organisations we know are actively looking for staff. Please get in touch if you are concerned or worried and need support. We work with a variety of organisations who specialise in coaching and can guide you with your CV update and applications. Contact Achieve@BATHNES.GOV.UK Current Jobs: Hermes Couriers – temporary jobs for people who have lost jobs and/or hours as a result of corona virus business restrictions. Many positions are flexible and may fit around existing reduced hours. They are also happy to recruit people on a temporary basis for those that will have jobs to return to when the crisis is over. Hermes also welcomes applications from people returning to the labour market and older workers. These are self-employed positions and applicants must have their own vehicle. I have attached a job description. To find out more customers can visit the Hermes “be a courier“ website. https://beacourier.co.uk/ To apply customers should click on the “join us” button on this page. Hermes have also produced a FAQ document which you may find helpful in understanding the positions. Please email me directly and we can forward this info out for you. Sainsburys Sainsbury`s work closely with DWP to support their on-going demand for staff. In response to the unprecedented demand on the retail sector they have created a number of fixed term contracts which are immediately available. These might be of interest to our existing customers and those who face a period of layoff or are on reduced hours as a result of the impact of Coronavirus on their sector / business. https://sainsburys.jobs/feedingthenation/

We are pleased to offer companies and their home workers an extra special discount on the cost of their cartridges so they can continue to work from home as usual. Dont leave it till it's too late and you find yourself with no ink and no way to print anything off. Call now to stock up! We have a wide range of home printers for people who don't have one already. Just let us know what you need, colour, B&W, Scan/Copy/Print and we will work out an excellent, economical printer for delivery ASAP. We will support you all as much as possible at this crazy time. Look forward to hearing from you soon. 01225 931500 sales@dottyinktld.co.uk

My organisation needs help or can provide support I would like to volunteer We are getting regular updates through about changes to services, we will try to collate them here. As things are rapidly change these posts are correct of time of posting. Sommer Valley Foodbank (19/3/2020) Regrettably, due to many of our wonderful volunteers needing to self-isolate, we are having to make changes to the opening of our Distribution Centres. These are as follows:- FRIDAY, 20 MARCH - PEASEDOWN ST JOHN - CLOSED FOR THIS WEEK ONLY Midsomer Norton open as normal Mondays - 12 noon - 2.00 pm Radstock open as normal Wednesdays - 12 noon - 2.00 pm PAULTON - CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Peasedown St John - open as normal from Friday, 27 March - 12 noon - 2.00 pm Bath Salvation Army As the Salvation Army we will be staying open and available as much as possible to be a service to the community. All our normal activities have had to cease, ie. Lunch club, cafe etc. We get a small amount of Fareshare food in on a Monday, which we will continue to take and distribute to those who need food. We are also prepared to take more food during the week and be a point of pick up for the community as we are situated in Green Park and a good central location. If you would like any assistance with having a place for food to be dropped off and distributed we are keenly available

This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.

This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.

Coronavirus Covid-19 Update: 13 March 2020 What to do if you think you might have coronavirus symptoms If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19); a high temperature and/or a new, continuous cough, the NHS advice is to: stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started (this action will help protect others in your community while you are infectious) plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home ask your friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible. sleep alone, if that is possible wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water. stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible you do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999 More information on: ‘Staying at Home’ can be found by clicking this link. B&NES Council Public Health Team

This advice offers guidance and suggestions of what we could do, should the need arise, particularly considering how we could help each other should anyone here become infected. At a time like this we encourage you to consider ways to keep yourself, your loved ones and those in your community safe, particularly the isolated and vulnerable. 8 ways you can protect yourself, your loved ones and your community: 1. Consider a ‘buddy’ system within your community to ensure everyone stays connected to COVID-19 related news, services and can receive support safely, such as essential deliveries. 2. Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk for serious complications. 3. Choose a room in your home to separate sick household members from healthy, if needed. 4. Learn how to self-isolate. Guidance can be found on the: NHS website 5. Use Wellbeing Options to find local organisations that neighbours can contact in the event that one of us needs access to information, healthcare services, support, or resources, including organisations that provide mental health or counselling services, food, and other supplies. https://wellbeingoptions.co.uk/ 6. Create an emergency contact list of family, friends, neighbours, teachers and employers. 7. Learn about the emergency operations plan at your child’s school or childcare facility, and your employer’s emergency operations plan. 8. Practice everyday preventive actions including regular hand washing.

Coronavirus Covid-19 Update: 13 March 2020 What to do if you think you might have coronavirus symptoms If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19); a high temperature and/or a new, continuous cough, the NHS advice is to: stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started (this action will help protect others in your community while you are infectious) plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home ask your friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home stay at least 2 metres (about 3 steps) away from other people in your home whenever possible. sleep alone, if that is possible wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water. stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible you do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999 More information on: ‘Staying at Home’ can be found by clicking this link. B&NES Council Public Health Team

If you're healthy and at low-risk, you can be a Compassionate Community Connector and help others across Bath and north east Somerset. Sign up now, and pass the word on! Become A Community Connector

Time Bank Plus in Twerton are offering a wide range of activities this spring to help people get some fresh air and exercise, meet others and simply … feel good! If you don’t feel like venturing outside there are also plenty of opportunities to join indoor activities like cookery, sewing or photography. Read their latest update below: Food Co-op If you watch Countryfile on the BBC, you might have noticed footage of our Food Co-op on the recent programme on 1st March. Southside Food Co-op was set up in 2001 and is still going strong! The Co-op offers boxes or individual orders of fresh seasonal produce, grown locally by a traditional market gardener, with virtually no sprays or artificial fertilisers, at excellent value. Boxes are priced from £3.50 (small) to £6 (large). Orders can be collected from the Time Bank office or delivered for a small charge to your home (South & West Bath only) on alternate Wednesdays. Produce available this month includes: beetroot, brussel sprouts, caballo nero, cabbage (January King, savoy, red or white), carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, curly kale, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, swede, squash & more. Let us know if you would like to make an order. ‘Out to Lunch’ Our Wednesday lunch club was also featured on Countryfile. Based in Twerton, the club currently has space for more members. It has a warm, friendly atmosphere with lots of laughter, and is very welcoming to new people. A freshly cooked two-course lunch is provided and there are a number of activities such as quizzes, sing-along, games and raffle. The cost to members is £5 and this includes transport where needed (from the Twerton & Whiteway areas only). Please do pass this on to any local older people you know who may be interested in coming along. Borrow It The ‘Borrow It’ Library of Things is open on Mondays & Wednesdays from 10 – 4 and on Tuesdays from 10 – 7pm. We have a big selection of useful things which can be borrowed free of charge by anyone who is resident in B&NES. Our range of tools and equipment is growing all the time – you can check out our catalogue on this link http://timebankplus.co.uk/wp/?page_id=586 to see what’s available - and thanks to help from a wonderful Time Bank volunteer, we now have some additional storage shelving. We are currently looking for donations of the following tools and equipment and would be very grateful to anyone able to offer or lend one to us: Dehumidifier, Electric strimmer, Hair clippers, Jig saw, Karaoke machine, Projector, Soldering iron, Steam cleaner, Work bench Please bring some ID and proof of address if you’d like to borrow something for the first time. Feelgood Walks Feelgood Walks are a great opportunity to get some gentle exercise, meet others and enhance your fitness. They are short, easy walks of up to an hour, which take place on Tuesdays from 2 – 3pm. The starting point this month will be the Time Bank office on Twerton High St. The walks programme this month includes Nature Walks with tree & plant ID on 10th March and 24th March. Please note the next Sensory Walk will be on 7th April. Everyone is welcome on all walks so please do join us and bring along your friends and family. Sustainable Gardening & Food Growing The TB+ gardening team is a small, friendly group which helps local people in need of assistance with their gardens. This project takes place on Tuesday mornings from 10 am to 1pm. We will also be doing some work on our allotment at Bath City Farm, preparing for the coming season and sharing tips on the best ways to grow vegetables. New members are very welcome. Gardening is a great way to keep fit, learn new skills & help others in the local community and the gardening team leader provides expert knowledge and guidance. Food & Fitness ‘Food & Fitness’ is a project for anyone who wants to improve their diet & cookery skills and/or to get more exercise. We use fresh, seasonal vegetables from the Food Co-op to cook and eat simple but delicious, vegetable-based meals together. After lunch, participants have the opportunity to join a short walk in the local area. This project is taking place on alternate Wednesdays, starting at 12.15. Sessions this month will take place on 4th March & 18th March. Places are limited, so please get in touch if you would like to take part. Climate Café People in Bath who are concerned about environmental issues, climate change and biodiversity loss have been meeting every week in different areas of Bath to chat over coffee & cake. It’s an opportunity to share information, ideas and concerns about what’s happening in our local areas as well as more widely in Bath, UK and planet Earth. Time Bank Plus is currently hosting the ‘café’ sessions once a month on the second Monday of the month, and welcome anyone who would like to come along. The next session will be on Monday 9th March from 11.30am – 1.30pm. Monday Morning Litter Picks You are invited to join our volunteer Litter Picker on Monday mornings to help keep the Twerton area clean and tidy. Litter picks are on Mondays from 10am – 12pm, meeting at the Time Bank office. If possible, please ring before you come along. Photography The photography group meets on Mondays from 1 – 3pm in Twerton. Members of the group discuss and share photos they have taken, explore different techniques and arrange local photography outings. Please get in touch if you would like to join the group. Sewing & upcycling group Looking for some help with making, altering or upcycling an item of clothing? The Time Bank Sewing Group currently has space for new people to come along. This is an opportunity to learn basic sewing techniques and use of a sewing machine and get advice and help with your sewing project. This small, friendly group meets every fortnight on Tuesdays from 5pm – 7pm. Please contact us for further info. Art Group The art group is flourishing under the expert guidance of Liz, our wonderful new volunteer leader. She has made this a really exciting and creative space. This group is already full up, however please let us know if you’d like to come along and we will add you to the waiting list. Creative Writing We have been discussing the possibility of setting up an online creative writing group. We have some experienced members who are willing to help lead the group, so please let us know if you’d like further info about this. IT assistance One of our members is offering basic IT help for Time Bank members who need advice or help using their mobile phone, tablet or laptop. This generally takes place at the Time Bank office on Monday mornings between 11 & 1pm - you need to ring beforehand to book an appointment. Help with GCSE English One of our members, who is a retired teacher, is offering free tutoring for GCSE English. Please get in touch for further details. Home needed for roof box Borrow It recently received a donation of a roof box. It’s a bit too large to store in our office so we’d like to offer it to someone living in SW Bath who has space to store it and is willing to act as an occasional collection point for anyone wishing to borrow it. They would of course be very welcome to use it when it’s not being lent out. Free Training Opportunities Volunteer Network Banes co-ordinate a number of free training courses which can be attended by anyone volunteering in Bath & North East Somerset (which includes all Time Bank members). Upcoming topics include: Mental Health & Wellbeing conversations; Managing Challenging Situations; Suicide Awareness; Safeguarding Adults & Children; Everyday First Aid; Dementia Awareness. Please follow this link for further details: www.wellbeingcollegebanes.co.uk/Volunteers

The SCC has provided some useful questions that help small charities to think through potential issues that Coronavirus may mean for their organisation: 1. Is there is a need for some sort of awareness/reassurance campaign for your members/service users or beneficiaries? 2. Do you need to provide any specific support to those who maybe more at risk, for example if older people are too scared to go out shopping, could you arrange for shopping to be delivered? 3. Are you putting staff and volunteers at risk by continuing to run services? If this is the case, in most cases your local Public Health Department would more than likely get in contact with you directly 4. Do you have contingency plans if individual staff members and volunteers cannot deliver a service? 5. What is your policy on sick pay for staff? 6. Do you employ sessional staff or freelancers, do you need to have a position on how you will manage them being off (both for self isolation and/or sick) or if they are unable to work if you are to suspend your services? 7. Do you have updated emergency contact details for all staff? This isn’t just in case anyone gets sick, but is also if you have to contact people outside of office hours. 8. How will you cope if your staff or volunteers are forced to take time off because schools are forced to close? More information via the SCC website here: https://mailchi.mp/smallcharities.org.uk/coronavirus2032020?mc_cid=081fe11a33&mc_eid=36583fd8f2

This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.

This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.

A charity must be “established for exclusively charitable purposes” – but what does that actually mean? And what differentiates charities from other socially motivated organisations? Charity Commission registration does not make a charity a charity. It confirms charitable status and having a charity number to prove it can be useful – like when applying for funding. Not all charities can register. Some are exempt and are not directly regulated by the Charity Commission, but have a different principal regulator, e.g. the Department for Education for academy trusts and DCMS for exempt museums. There is also an income threshold, below which charities cannot register, which applies to some forms of charities. Continue reading here - https://www.stoneking.co.uk/blogs/stone-king-blog/what-charity

The St. Monica Trust Community Impact Team is pleased to announce a new fund for projects and activities that support older people to stay independent and be more proactive about their health and wellbeing. The Living Well Fund will provide successful organisations across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire with up to £30,000 a year for 3 years. We are keen to see a wide range of bids and particularly encourage applicants to consider how their proposal would contribute to one or more of the 5 ways to Wellbeing: · Connect · Be Active · Take Notice · Learn · Give The deadline for bids is midday on 15th April 2020 and we will inform successful applicants by 11th May 2020. If you have any questions please contact us on communityimpact@stmonicatrust.org.uk

This item is connected to a text field in your content manager. Double click the dataset icon to add your own content. Want to view and manage all your collections? Click the Data icon on the add panel to your left. In the Content Manager, you can update your items, add new fields, create dynamic pages and more. Your collection is already set up with fields and content. Add your own by editing each field, or import CSV files to your content manager. You can create fields for rich text, images, videos and more. Remember to click Sync, so visitors can see your collections on your live site. You can add as many collections as you need. Use input elements like custom forms and fields to collect info from your site visitors and store it in your content manager Collections. Make sure all your elements Connect to Data, and Preview your Live Site to check that everything is correctly binded.

Dr Andrew Girdher has been successfully voted in as the new Clinical Chair for the merged BSW CCG. 61 per cent of GP practices placed votes by midnight yesterday and, as a result, Dr Girdher will now sit on the Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Governing Body. Andrew is a GP Partner at Box Surgery, where he has worked since 2010. Prior to this he was a salaried GP in Bath and a Portfolio GP in London before that. Andrew is currently Chair of the North and East Wiltshire locality as well as the CCG lead for diabetes in Wiltshire, the GP Federation in North Wiltshire and the sustainability and transformation lead for primary care. He is an established trainer and a GP appraiser and the Senior Medical Office at MOD Corsham. As well as extensive experience in this country, Andrew has worked in different healthcare systems around the world, including Vancouver in Canada and a four month stint in India last year. He volunteered in India for a Charity for girls from under-privileged backgrounds who wouldn't normally have access to education or healthcare. Andrew will start his new role officially on 1 April 2020, when the three existing CCGs formally merge, but he is already working with his new Governing Body colleagues, and the members who voted him in, to shape his role and develop the priorities for him to focus on. “I’m delighted to have received the backing from GPs across BSW to take up this role”, Andrew said. “I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity and I’m looking forward to representing the GP voice and helping to shape future strategy so we have a health and care system for GPs and patients that is really fit for the future. I’m also looking forward to talking to and meeting colleagues across primary care to get a good overview of their own hopes for the future during this crucial time in the development of our local health and care system.”

Join members of Bath Women's Fund for a potluck dinner in the heart of Twerton at Bath City FC on 27th February. At the potluck dinner, you will meet women who are committed to making a difference in our local communities and hear from inspiring women about the work of Bath City FC Foundation and the power of sport to support women and girls locally. We will update members and friends on the first grant-making programme for Bath Women's Fund in 2020 under the theme of 'Services for Women and Girls', which has been chosen by the members, who will all be involved in the process to award the first grant. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bath-womens-fund-potluck-dinner-at-bath-city-fc-tickets-89758683639

Local organisations are invited to apply for a £10,000 grant to support work that that improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls living in Bath and North East Somerset. Bath Women’s Fund has launched its first grant programme thanks to the collective donations of the pioneering group of women who joined the giving circle in its first year. The first grant-making theme of ‘Services for Women and Girls’ was chosen through a member vote following an assessment of local needs, informed by Quartet Community Foundation’s Vital Signs research. Guidance for applicants is available on www.bathwomensfund.org.uk Expressions of Interest applications are open until 28th February: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3JFDSPX Shortlisted organisations will then be invited to submit a full application, which will be assessed to select the final three. Three organisations will present their projects at a special event in June 2020 when Bath Women’s Fund members can vote for the organisation to be awarded the £10,000 grant. The other two organisations will receive a £1,000 appreciation award. Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, said: “Bath Women’s fund is a unique way to give back to our community. As a founding member I care deeply about the work that fund does, which is so enriching both to the members of the fund, and the organisations they choose to work with. Bath is a special place and so it is no surprise that we are leading the way in innovative approaches to giving back. This is such a great opportunity and I urge all eligible organisations to apply.” Bath Women's Fund is led by volunteers and hosted by St John’s Foundation so every pound donated by members will be awarded through the grant programmes. All members who join the fund by the end of April will be able to vote on awarding the first grant. Information about events and how to join are available on www.bathwomensfund.org.uk