A Fire Service Interactive Demo Unit was parked at Twerton High Street on Thursday. I've never seen one before but there's a photo of it below. Staff were giving out energy saving bulbs that came with some flyers providing advice on a range of topics.

One flyer contained information on how to get help keeping your home warm. If you are over 60 with a child under 16 and on an income related benefit, you can get up to £2700 funding for heating and insulation under the Government's Warm Front scheme.

If you don't qualify for Warm Front funding but are on a low income, you can get free insulation paid for by the Council and CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target). For everyone else, you can still get discounted insulation with help from CERT. Telephone 0800 512012 for more help and advice on any of these.

Thanks to Mr John Rawlings for the above photo. You can see two more of John's photos here: Demo Unit  Oldfield Park Station.

Joe, 15/03/09

Golden Fleece

The football team of The Golden Fleece Pub has a chance to reach the final of the Secretary's Cup. This will be played at Twerton Park Stadium the home ground of Bath City Football Club. Before that they have to beat Green Park Tavern in the quarter-finals on Sunday 22nd March.

Stop Smoking

Stop Smoking pop-in sessions are held at Rose Cottage in Twerton High Street every Wednesday from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The flyer says, "Become smokefree with friendly, helpful support and advice." Telephone 01225 831852 or if you work during the day, telephone Health Trainer Jo Welch on 0752 5392547 for out of hours support.

White Horse

The free Introduction to Computers course that proved so popular at The White Horse Pub last year, is to be held there again some time after Easter. 158 people have already learned basic computer skills in the pub which is located at Shophouse Road, Twerton.

A lot of people would rather learn about computers in a pub environment than a college. You've got to get in there quickly though, because there are already 8 people signed up for the next course even though no date has been set for it yet. If you know someone who would be interested they can phone the pub on 01225 340668.

Joe, 13/03/09

The first of a series of Tea and Dance mornings took place in the Carrswood Day Centre opposite Cleeve Green on Tuesday. The organisers from Somer Housing and Bath International Dance Festival were greatly encouraged by the success of the first session and the thirty or so people who turned up eager to dance.

James Whitehead from Bath International Dance Festival said, "You're not sure what to expect the first time, but I'm really pleased with the turnout." Tea and Dance is for folk aged over 60 and people started dancing together as soon as the ballroom music played.

Among the different types of dance were waltzes, foxtrots, quick steps and cha chas. The salsas and rumbas had a faster paced rhythm and proved very popular. It had been a long time since some people last moved around the dance floor and one person had not danced for 40 years.

A couple who came across from Batheaston said they normally have to travel miles to get to the kind of dancing they enjoy.

The Carrswood Day Centre has a lovely big social space that is ideal for the occasion. You can sit and watch the activity from the tables at the sides, with tea, biscuits or slices of cake. The Bath Chronicle sent a team to report on this event, so there should be a good write-up in the paper.

The Tea and Dance mornings will be held at the same place on Tuesdays from 10.15am to 11.45am for another 7 weeks, as a pilot to see if they attract enough people to keep going. If successful, the organisers will set up Tea and Dance mornings elsewhere in the Bath area. The entry price is £1. For more information telephone 01225 339342.

Joe, 11/03/09

The radio project at Culverhay School gives students the opportunity to voice their own perspectives reflecting issues that are relevant to them, and enables them to learn the many skills involved with running a radio station.

Culverhay School Radio (CSR) is not broadcast over the air but you can hear podcast recordings of the radio shows on the internet here. The music is from the chart top 40 and the lively chat you get from presenters like Elliot and Tom, is arguably more entertaining than commercial radio stations such as Radio 1.

Around the school the radio is played through a network of speakers and students can also listen to it from the computer terminals. There are plans to make it available live for anybody in the community who has internet access, via a streaming internet radio facility.

Elliot (left) and Tom in the broadcasting studio

Last year CSR won the Sony Award for school radio. Technician Dan Copp says he was gobsmacked when he received the news from John Bradford, who judges radio celebrities like Tony Blackburn in the national radio awards.

In the studio there is a main presenter who operates the computerised equipment, selecting and playing the music. There is also a co-presenter who can see on his terminal what tracks are coming up. The co-presenter helps the show along by adding commentary.

When the students broadcast a radio show they begin by playing a couple of tracks, which gives them just 8 minutes to think about what topics they might discuss. The presenters quickly browse favourite sites on the internet to find interesting talking points for young people.

Culverhay School Technician Dan Copp

The radio station gives students 'hands on' experience of applying technical and media skills to a real situation. Prospective radio presenters are interviewed for the position as though they were applying for a paid job. The project is supported by local radio station Kiss 101 FM which is popular with young listeners. Their radio presenters have visited the school and also allowed students to get a taste of the real thing at the Kiss 101 studio.

The students were involved with the setting up of the radio station from the start, making a presentation to the BANES Youth Bank in their bid to get funding for the project. The radio is also used for linking with other schools, and girls from Hayesfield School have broadcast their own show in the past. It's great to see a project revealing how talented local young people are.

Joe, 07/03/09

The Southside Youth Centre is an important focal point for children and teenagers, and there are plans to turn it into a superb resource for the whole community.

The centre already opens as a youth centre on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights from 7pm to 9.30pm, when the many children and teenagers turn it into a fun and lively place. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the boxing club comes and fills the hall with the sound of boxing gloves hitting padded objects. The junior class starts at 7pm and the adult class is at 8pm.

The youth centre has a games console room and a pool table, as well as places where the young people can chill out. There is also a five-a-side pitch where you can have a kick about. Currently some of the youngsters are rehearsing a talent show which they may perform for the community in April or May if they are feeling confident enough.

Construction work on the site has gone through into the part of the building that once served as a community centre but which has been disused for a time. A cafe area has built in this section and it will serve as a young people's after school drop-in, two nights per week to start with. Young people will help serve teas and coffees etc. Then when there are a sufficient number of regular staff the cafe will hopefully open daily and for adults as well.

Another addition to the youth centre will be a music workstation where young people can learn how to make and record music of their own. The football pitch will be turned into a multi-purpose outdoor court where games like volleyball and basketball can be played as well as football.

Outside the cafe a patio area is being developed, with disabled access to the building and flower beds for fruit-bearing plants. There will be enough tables and chairs on-site to hold community barbecues perhaps a couple of times a year. There are also plans to include a soft play area where parents can let small children play while using the cafe. And there will be a kitchen area where catering courses can be held.

Manager Jenny Hopton hopes that links will be established with the Time Bank, local churches and other agencies in the community, so that lots of different people will be involved with activities taking place at the Southside Centre.

Joe, 03/03/09