NEWSLETTER #3
8th November 2021
Come as you are, bring what you can and take what you need
What's On at The Keepers?
Since our last newsletter lots of different groups and services have started. If you are interested in finding out more about anything that is going on, or if you need information about other groups and services in Wotton and the surrounding area, please give us a call on 07585 466418 or pop in (opening hours below).
MONDAY
Age UK Gloucestershire’s Springboard Group
11.00am - 1.00pm: This is a time to meet new people in a welcoming environment, an opportunity to take part in activities together, get information from Age UK Glos and have a cup of tea and a piece of cake! Just come along.
Fastershare - Learn Online Skills
2.00pm - 4.00pm: A FREE course designed to help you make the most of the Internet and increase your confidence online. This is suitable for complete beginners, and tablets will be provided. If you have your own, you can bring that with you. Our first course is full, but the next one will be starting in January. As places are limited, you'll need to let us know if you'd like to join.
Dramatic Change with Inclusion Gloucestershire
2.00pm - 4.00pm: A FREE four month inclusive drama course designed for people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and autism. To start mid January.
TUESDAY
Dementia Connections
10.30am - 1.00pm: The Keepers hosts Dementia Connections every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. They are a memory group for people living with dementia and their carers in Wotton under Edge and the surrounding villages. Join them for games, chatting and even Tai Chi!
Chair Exercise Classes
2.00pm - 2.45pm: This low intensity workout combines both strength and conditioning training, all modified to be done on a chair. This is the perfect class for seniors, of any gender, or for those, of any age, who are recovering from injuries. Run by Carly from The Studio in Wotton. Free to attend.
WEDNESDAY
The Keepers’ Café
10.00am - 12.00pm: Our café volunteers will be there to welcome you and have a chat, and board games will be on hand in case you fancy a game or two. Tea, coffee and delicious cake available - all "pay as you feel".
Each week at the café we also invite a local professional to be available to talk with, or ask your burning questions. For example, the Police Community Support Officer, a local health visitor or someone from Warm and Well to discuss your energy bills. If you have any ideas for visitors - let us know.
Craft and Chat
10.00am - 12.00pm: Bring along your knitting, sewing, crochet or craft project and make new connections. Come along to learn or be the one to share your expertise. It is run every fortnight alongside the café, so there is tea and cake!
Job Club
10.30am -11.30am: The Job Club is open to EVERYONE whether you are working or not - to help with CVs, covering letters and applications. Alongside Job Club, if you are not working, you may be able to join the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) project – where you can receive personalised 1-1 support, build confidence, develop skills and qualifications and access training and work experience opportunities.
THURSDAY
Independence Trust: ‘Welcome Space’
10.00am-12.00pm: Do you feel isolated, lack motivation or have difficulty coping with the stress and pressures of life? Would you like space to talk, be listened to and build new friendships? Welcome space is hosted by the Community Wellbeing Service and The Community Advice, Links and Mental Health Support Service (CALMHS). Join them for a cuppa, chat or a board game.
Independence Trust/NHS Community Wellbeing Service
12.00 – 2.00pm: Come and talk 1:1 to your friendly social prescriber. They offer support and connections to others to help your health and wellbeing. You can just drop-in!
FRIDAY
Infobuzz Creative Arts Course
10.30am - 12.30pm: The course is free for adults (19+), living in Wotton and the surrounding areas, who are in receipt of benefits. If you are working whilst still receiving benefits, you are still eligible as long as you are not working more than 16 hours. On completion of the course, you will earn a NOCN certificate in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development.
As well as all of these amazing groups, you can pop in and chat to our fabulous receptionists whenever the Hub is open.
Monday - 9.00am - 4.00pm (Closed Bank Holidays)
Tuesday - 9.00am - 4.00pm
Wednesday - 9.00am - 1.00pm
Thursday - 9.00am - 4.00pm
Friday - 9.00am - 1.00pm
The Community Freezer
We have food in our Freezer (Freda): Keep an eye on our website to see what is there: https://www.thekeepers.org.uk/freezer-of-love. It is all "pay as you feel" – you may be able to pay more for your meal to cover those who need to pay less. The freezer is open whenever The Keepers is open. Just pop along and select what you'd like.
It’s a community freezer so open to everyone in the community – there are many reasons why people come to get meals…you may not be able to cook at the moment, you may be working long hours and don't have time to cook, you may be unsure of what to cook for your family, you may be recently bereaved.... or it may be because you are excited to try our new options. These are on trial, so we value your feedback!
Book a Room
Need a space for your event, work or group? By hiring a room at the Keepers you are supporting those charities and local organisations who use our spaces for free.
Please get in touch to book a room or find out more!
Leaflets!
Thanks to everyone who has helped deliver our new leaflets. This will help us to spread the word about what we are doing at The Keepers to those who don't receive our newsletter and aren't on social media. Could you check that your friends and neighbours have received a copy and know what is happening!
Welcome to The Keepers’ lobby!
We have a recycling corner!
Do you have any bras, stamps, Tassimo pods, jewellery, watches or old or broken small electrical items (mobiles, cameras, iPods, tablets etc) you are looking to recycle?
Would you like to swap a book? (you can just come and borrow one – you don’t have to swap!)
Pop along to the lobby whenever The Keepers is open.
The Keepers' Garden
Although we are heading towards winter, there is still plenty going on in the garden and our garden volunteers are hard at work. They have planted bulbs, cleared the beds and the wild heap has been wildflower seeded.
Thanks to a grant from The Postcode Local Trust from proceeds from players of People's Postcode Lottery we've also managed to widen our garden path. This means that wheelchair users and those with mobility issues can now easily come and enjoy the garden where before it was too narrow!
It's all going to look great in the Spring.
OPEN DAY
It would be lovely to see as many of you as possible at our Open Day.
Get Involved...
There are lots of ways to get involved and/or to support The Keepers:
* Volunteer - there are a number of different roles/jobs.
* Fundraise - running a small event, or making a regular or one-off donation on our website. You can also take part in the Lucky Severn Lottery that takes place each week. Click here for more info. If you decide to join in, remember to choose The Keepers as your charity to support!
* Share info with neighbours, friends and colleagues who may not receive our newsletter.
* Follow us and like our posts on Social Media to ensure the information gets to as many people as possible.
* Or simply..... Next time you are ordering anything on Amazon, go to https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ instead and choose "The Keepers - Wotton Area Community Hub" as your charity. They will donate to us each time you order.
If you would like to donate and support the work of the Community Hub, please click the button below. At the moment we are raising money to pay for a new noticeboard outside of the building to ensure everyone knows what is going on and the help available gets to those who need it. Every little helps!
