The Citizens Advice Bureau will be running sessions in Twerton and Odd Down to advise families about debt, financial issues and benefits. The aim is to help relieve the stress of managing debt or help families avoid difficulties in the future. Some families don't seem to be receiving everything they are entitled to.

The sessions will be held at First Steps Children's Centre in Twerton on Tuesday mornings from 16th December, and St Martin's Garden Children's Centre in Odd Down every other Tuesday morning. Pre-booked or drop-in appointments are available.

Find out more by calling in at First Steps Children's Centre, Woodhouse Road (telephone 01225 444791) or St Martin's Garden Children's Centre, Frome Road, Odd Down (telephone 01225 396002). Both centres are open from 8am to 6pm. You can also get more details by contacting the Citizens Advice Bureau on 0844 8487919.

From Council website, 28/11/08

Two community events are coming soon at Southdown Methodist Centre at the top of The Hollow. The first is a Christmas Bazaar to be held this Saturday 29th November from 2.30pm onwards. There will be stalls selling Christmas paper, cards, gifts, toiletries, books, toys, cakes etc, as well as a tombola and a raffle. There will be a Father Christmas too.

Then the Community Christmas Celebration takes place on Sunday 14th December at 3.30pm. As part of the celebration there will be a nativity play called "A Snowy Christmas Eve and the Visitors." Come along and sing your favourite carols. The play and the singing will be followed by some seasonal refreshments in the hall.

Joe, 26/11/08

With so much attention given to TV celebrities these days, we need to remember that the really important people are the ones living in our own communities. On Saturday the Cleeve Court elderly persons' home at Cleeve Green, Twerton, helped build its relations with the community by holding a bazaar.

The event was well attended by older generation people who live locally. Present at the bazaar was a Twerton character known as Bingo Bob (pictured below), who runs the Bingo sessions now held at Cleeve Court on Tuesdays at 6pm, and the Carrswood Day Centre on Fridays at 7pm.

Vicky (above right) ran the "Name the Rabbit" competition and there were stalls, a raffle and plenty of tea and conversation. A lady named Jean turned up to talk to people about a weekly session called Music to Movement, with exercises that can be performed in a seated or standing position. To find out more about this, telephone 01225 396979.

I've never been inside Cleeve Court before and I was interested to see that there is a Hairdresser Room. I was also introduced to a Twerton cat which regularly finds entry into the warm building and receives a lot of affection from the old folk. Above is a photo of him with Doris.

A link has been established with Bath City Farm, with the hope that staff at the farm might be able to bring down some small animals such as chickens to Cleeve Court for the residents to see.

Joe, 23/11/08

The new charity shop at Southdown is a great addition to the row of retailers at Mount Round and a good community resource. The shop sells all sorts of quality items such as children's toys, books and videos, CDs, ornaments, pictures and clothes.

Adrienne the shop manager says that they keep children's clothes low-priced, because they believe in supporting local families. The charity shop offers a perfect opportunity to recycle, as it is easy to park outside and drop things off. More volunteers are needed though.

As well as helping the local community, the money raised in the shop goes to the charity Mercy in Action which is transforming the lives of some of the world's poorest people. Its projects in the Phillipines provide vital housing, medicine, food and clothing.

Also at Southdown, a Nearly New Shop is open at Southdown Methodist Centre on Mondays from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 12 noon.

Joe, 20/11/08

Quiz

A Quiz Night will be held at Sladebrook Evangelical Church, Englishcombe Lane, Southdown, on 21st November at 7.30pm. Go along as a team or join a team when you arrive.

Generosity

Customers of the Coffee Link Cafe at Twerton High Street have raised £156 for a children's cancer charity called CLIC Sargent, by putting coins in the collection box on the counter. A thankyou letter from the charity reads: "We are extremely grateful to you all for this superb amount and for your very loyal support."

Christmas events

A bazaar will be held at Cleeve Court on 22nd November at 10.30am. There will be different stalls, a Christmas raffle and a "Name the Rabbit" competition. Proceeds will go to a fund to take the elderly people on trips and give them treats etc.

A Christmas Fayre and Table Top Sale will take place at the Carrswood Centre, Cleeve Green, Twerton, on 29th November from 11am to 2pm. Look forward to stalls, a raffle, Father Christmas and a "Guess the Weight of the Cake" competition etc.

There will be a Christmas Sale at the RNID Poolemead Centre, Watery Lane, Twerton, on 2nd December from 1pm to 4.30pm.

Joe, 18/11/08