This Volunteer’s Week (1st to 7th June 2021) we asked our Volunteers to write a limerick involving volunteering and Somerset! Some are very funny, some are very poignant Here are just a few of the entries we’ve received so far!
A fundraising activity took place over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. A member of staff took requests in return for donations for over 100 animals to be drawn (badly).
The innocent Big Knit campaign has returned and we are calling on local knitters and crocheters to get their knitting needles out to help raise urgent funds for the local older people most in need. This is the 18th year … Continued
Isn’t there something very special and exciting about Volcanos. The power of nature. Something primordial….. You can watch the Icelandic eruption live here:
To join email alison.hayward@mindinsomerset.org.uk
Foxes are desperate for food at this time of year and I caught this one on camera trying to get to the fatballs on my swinging bird table in my garden.
We’ve just added the first two weeks worth of online exercise sessions restarting in the New Year. So you can kick off your New Years resolution to get fit by booking ahead. The classes are open to anyone over 60 … Continued
The latest issue of our eNewsletter has been published to coincide with International Older Persons Day (1st October). Make sure you subscribe so you get the next one, hot off the press, by email.
Do know a business that goes out of their way to make sure older customers feel comfortable, safe, welcomed and happy? The Age Friendly Tourism Award (part of the Bristol, Bath and Somerset annual Tourism Awards) recognises and celebrates those … Continued
Are you aged over 50? Do you need help to set up Zoom so you can stay in touch with family and friends? Are you struggling with online shopping? The highly experienced and skilled team at Bridgwater’s Engine Room are … Continued
Just a nice video of dolphins from the BBC website.
I’m sorry. I don’t know where this came from……
So it’s been 16 weeks since i filmed the Pilot Episode of ‘Walking Around My Garden’. What has changed? Almost everything! (apologies, I forgot I should film horizontally instead of vertically!) CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE PILOT EPISODE AND COMPARE!
So far we have sent out over 220 balls of wool and more than a dozen charities have benefited! We’ve been delighted to receive feedback from the recipients of the wool about what a difference it has made during lockdown … Continued
We’ve now sent over 200 balls of wool out to over 60’s across Somerset and North Somerset as part of our Balls for Boredom scheme. The wool, which is new, has been donated by various kind businesses and individuals, and … Continued
This information has been taken from a Somerset West and Taunton Council update. Phased re-opening of Somerset Libraries with new order-and-collect service “We are very pleased to announce that as part of the phased reopening of library buildings, the order-and-collect … Continued
If you are at home and isolated and love a good old fashioned singalong you should join a sofa sing-a-long from Goldies Live! The GOLDIES charity used to have 200 daytime groups meeting up to sing. These are closed for … Continued
Or perhaps you have friends, family or neighbours that might be interested? The sessions will run for 30 mins on ZOOM, dates to be confirmed. (don’t let ZOOM put you off, you will be offered support to use it) Just … Continued
As Age UK Somerset is a Somerset charity, and as one of the most well known things in Somerset is the Glastonbury Festival, and as it is Glastonbury Festival time, we thought we could have a little fun and also … Continued
Do you know anyone over 70 in Portishead, Easton-In-Gordano, Nailsea, Clevedon or Long Ashton, perhaps living alone or a couple, who are isolating, missing people and could do with cheering up? A very kind hospitality professional called Lisa has come … Continued
Have you heard of the Workers Educational Association (WEA)? They have a fun range of exciting FREE activities to keep you entertained during these uncertain times. Join them on your computer, mobile phone or tablet via the Zoom app. They … Continued
The 31 creative challenges are a designed to be month of short, daily inspirations to try. Each of the challenges was created by a member of an Age UK community club, in partnership with a creative practitioner from 64 Million … Continued
Tonight we were due to hold a fundraising concert featuring the marvellous Richard Lennox! Of course we’ve had to postpone, so instead here’s a video of him playing the Albert Hall! If you feel like dropping some spare change in … Continued
Marcus Trescothick introduces this short video about how the NHS, Somerset County Council and local charities (including Age UK Somerset) have come together to give emotional support and counselling and someone to talk to if you are feeling isolated or … Continued
Carl Bovis, based in Somerset, posts amazing photos of garden birds regularly on twitter. He has over 42,000 followers, but if you don’t use Twitter you can view some of his posts here. Use the scroll bars at the side … Continued
I’ve just discovered this daily crossword page. The crosswords are free but it plays a 10 second advert before you can start. You fill in your answers online and it automatically highlights the next relevant clue. Clever. Also there is … Continued
Mental Health Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health and mental health problems and inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for all. Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, it takes … Continued
BT have produced an illustrated guide to how to use WhatsApp for making video calls. There is a pdf document on how to make video calls which can be viewed here Or for a basic introduction Clare Balding has made … Continued
This lively hour long performance by Richard Lennox was live streamed on Facebook on 10th May. Richard was due to perform a fundraising concert for Age UK Somerset at the end of May. This has been postponed but to keep … Continued
Local photographer Kit Houghton has produced this interesting short video presentation all about the beloved Bumble bee.
We’re very pleased that local photographer Kit Houghton has allowed us to share his fascinating presentation on Steepholm. I’ve never been lucky enough to visit, but you can’t miss this landmark if you’re on the coast at Sedgemoor, West Somerset … Continued
This clip of Margaret and Derek celebrating their 70th Anniversary appeared on BBC Radio Somerset’s feed on Twitter. You may not have access to Twitter so I thought I’d share this lovely story here…..
Full advice on how to wear and to make your own cloth face covering can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering The following information is taken from the Government website: Making your own face covering Using a T-shirt You will need: an … Continued
Learn to distinguish the songs of the wood pigeon, collared dove and the stock pigeon with Stephen Moss, naturalist and author. Learn to distinguish the songs of the wood pigeon, collared dove and the stock pigeon with @StephenMoss_TV, naturalist and … Continued
A man has built an NHS-themed obstacle course for squirrels in his garden as a “quirky” tribute to health service staff to make them “smile”. Click here to watch the video on the BBC website.
Each week the National Theatre are giving free access to one of their productions on YouTube. We’ve had Jane Eyre and Treasure Island, and starting from 7pm this week AND next there are two versions of Frankenstein – first with … Continued
The National Theatre in London is currently closed but the NT Live catalogue is now open – and streaming full length plays direct to homes every Thursday, around the world, for free. I saw this production of Jane Eyre streamed … Continued
If you’re interested in gardening and want to look forward to seeing flowers in your beds and pots, the latest issue of Gardeners World Magazine has 6 packets of seeds included. Also a 2-for-1 card for visiting gardens (obviously the … Continued
A member of Age UK Somerset staff sent me this lovely picture of wagtails on their patio. If you have any nice picture of birds or wildlife you can see from your house please email me or (appropriately) tweet including … Continued
We may never have heard of it two weeks ago, but now Zoom has become one of the go-to apps for families and friends to video chat together while physical distancing rules are in place. You can use Zoom on … Continued
Twitter is a very popular social media site where users can follow and connect with each other by sending and retweeting short message and links to videos and images, etc. There are millions of accounts you can follow depending on … Continued
When I’m looking for something new to read I often visit the www.goodreads.com website to look for recommendations. It now you have the time to catch up with your reading but you want to read something worthwhile, why not have … Continued
Project Gutenberg is an American website library of over 60,000 free eBooks. Download them or read them online. Choose among free epub and Kindle eBooks. You will find the world’s great literature here, with focus on mostly older literary works. … Continued
King Lear Prizes are “The new national literary and creative arts prizes for ordinary people who are stuck at home because of Coronavirus. Due to the current Coronavirus outbreak across the world, many people in the UK are staying at … Continued
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcasts comedy, drama, and feature programming nationally 24 hours a day including the BBC’s archive content. The channel has been recommended to us because it has good radio programmes but more importantly, no news! Sometimes it’s … Continued
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, here is information from the Royal Horticultural Society on the Top 10 jobs you should be doing in it now. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/april
Listen to gardening tips and advice from expert gardener Christine Walkden on the Age UK website
Interesting article from Age Co with tips on how to stay independent in the garden, low maintenance planting and weeding and how you can keep yourself safe and well. Gardening is a pastime which many of us cherish. It can … Continued
A large number of audiobooks from the classic to the modern are available online or via the BBC Sounds App or website. Visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/category/audiobooks
A small green friendly owl can help you learn a language in fun bite size chunks every day. Duolingo Duolingo is a free app can be downloaded through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and you have a … Continued