Gloucestershire LINk public event - 8th December

Have your say on health and social care services in Cotswold district

Residents and community organisations in the Cotswold district are encourage to attend a free event at the Westwood Centre, bassett Road, Northleach on Tuesday 8th December 2009 from 12 noon to 2pm. he event, organisaed by Gloucestershire Local Involvement Network (LINKk), is designed to give local people the chance to findout what specific task groups, and provide an opportunity for the public to have their say on health and social care matters that are important to Cotswold district.

The Chair and local LINK members will be in attendance to answer questions from the staff. Staff will also be on hand to explain the benefits of being involved and how they can help influence, improve or change the way local health and social care services are planned and delivered in Cotswold district. Refreshments and a buffet will be available on the day and we really welcome the opportunity to listen and take forward your views.

If you are unable to make the Berkeley event, LINk is holding further public events as listed below:

Hesters Way, Cheltenham, Tuesday 12th January 2010, 6pm - 8pm

Conference Room, Hesters Way, Neighbourhood Project, Community Resourse Centre, Cassin Drive, Cheltenham, GL51 7SU

Matson, Gloucester, Wednesday 17th February 2010, 6pm - 8pm

The Baptist Church Centre, Matson Evenue, Matson, GL4 1LA

Brockworth, Tuesday 2nd March 2010, 12 noon - 2pm

Main Hall, Brockworth Community Cente, Court Rod, Brockworth, GL4 4ET

For further information about this event or others, please contact Pamela Dewick at Gloucester LINK on 01452 528491 or email pamelad@grcc.org.uk

Craft Matters from the Crafts Council

The Crafts Council believes that craft matters and it wants to show that it matters to thousands of people across the UK. In the next few months, it will be posting the names of all its signatories on its website so that it can demonstrate the real support for craft. It wants to launch the new webpage with over 1,000 signatures, so please ask your friends and colleagues to show that craft matters to them too.Sign up at www.craftscouncil.org.uk/craftmatters.

Late night Christmas Shopping in Broadway, Cotswolds

Dates for 2009 are 27 November and 4th December - visit http://www.beautifulbroadway.com/Whats_on.php for more details

Family Printmaking Workshop

Saturday 5 December 10 am – 4 pm.

The Devon Guild is hosting a family friendly workshop where kids and adults can learn a variety of printmaking techniques. Professional printmaker and Guild Member Jill Beagely will help you create your own amazing hand-designed gift-wrap and funky seasonal cards and tags. Please bring apron or old t-shirt. all materials provided.

At the Phoenix Hall, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9FF. £25/£10

T: 01626 832223 E: devonguild@crafts.org.uk Web: http://www.crafts.org.uk/

Farncombe Estate strikes a new note and joins AOTOS

Cotswold lifelong learning centre Farncombe Estate has recently joined the Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) as a Corporate Member.
AOTOS provides a vital forum for singing teachers and is specifically concerned with the needs and demands involved in the training of the singing voice.
Farncombe Estate, located just outside Broadway, has been running a programme of weekend courses since 2003. Courses now include Choral Evensong, Folk and World Music, Gospel Choir, and fun weekends celebrating the music of the Beach Boys, ABBA and Marvin Gaye.
William Reddaway, Head of Lifelong Learning explains “We are delighted to have joined AOTOS and look forward to meeting and sharing new ideas with fellow course providers, tutors and students. The choral element of our programme has been growing in recent years and we know that it is certainly one of the most popular! We are passionate about maintaining the highest possible standards in the learning experience at Farncombe and membership of AOTOS is another step towards upholding that commitment”.
For 2010, the Farncombe Estate course programme includes tuition by Musical Director Jeremy Jackman, ABCD member Amy Bebbington and recording artists/songwriters Sandra Kerr, Frankie Armstrong and Miranda Barber.

For further details or a free copy of the programme visit www.FarncombeEstate.co.uk or call 01386 854100.

Notes for Editors

Farncombe Estate ALC Ltd is a member of the Adult Residential Colleges Association, and a Corporate member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, the Association of British Choral Directors and the Association of Teachers of Singing.

Farncombe Estate Centre (FEC) is a sister company of the Cotswold Conference Centre and the Dormy House Hotel and owned by Sorven Holdings Ltd. FEC utilises the facilities of the Cotswold Conference Centre at weekends and is being run as a non-profit making organisation. Any profits will be re-invested back into the adult learning weekends to enhance and improve the learning experience offered.

If one of your writers would like to arrange a visit to Farncombe to experience some of the courses on offer, or for further information or images - please contact: Farncombe Estate Centre
01386 854100 / Annette@FarncombeEstate.co.uk

Visit our Craft Fair this Sunday !

Visit us this Sunday 22 November. Our exhibitors will be offering a selection of handmade gifts ranging from cakes and cards to soaps and scarves. We will be open 10.30am - 3.30pm. Admission & car parking are free. All Craft Fair visitors also receive a discount on course bookings made on the day or until Friday 27 November.

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE - family history event 2010

Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE is excited to announce two of it’s celebrity guests, respected actor, author and historian Tony Robinson plus the much loved BBC wildlife presenter, Kate Humble! Both will be appearing at the 2010 event, where they will be discussing their own experiences in researching their family history.

The 2010 event, taking place on the 26th-28th February 2010 at the National Hall, Olympia, will attract around 15,000 family history enthusiasts and is set to be the biggest family history event in the UK.

www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk

Farncombe Estate has recently joined the Associated Teachers of Singing as a Corporate Member

The Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) was founded in 1975 to promote a wider understanding of all aspects of the teaching of singing. They create opportunities which bring together teachers from all over the world. All AOTOS activities and services are open to members specialising in teaching any expression of song: from classical, through music theatre and folk, to jazz, rock and gospel, either privately or in school, college or conservatoire.
http://aotos.org.uk/directory/

Help set a brand new Guinness World Record - Plant a Tree

Plant a Tree and help break a World Record
Be part of the biggest tree planting attempt in the UK ever
Saturday 5th December
11am - 12noon

Are you ready to grow something seriously groundbreaking? Help celebrate National Tree Week by teaming up with the BBC for an amazing one-off event. Tree O'Clock is a nationwide challenge to plant more than 600,000 trees within a single hour (11am - 12 noon on 5th December).
That's a heck of a lot of trees in just one little hour. Which is why Tree O'Clock needs as many people, schools, workplaces and community groups as possible to muck in. You can either plant a tree in your garden or join in one of the organised events at various locations locally.
Every tree must be planted between 11am - 12 noon. So grab your wellies, roll up your sleeves and help set a brand new Guinness World Record.

Log onto the website for full details, planting tips and how to make your tree count, http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/partners/

The search for the greatest real life stories never told

The BBC is inviting you to enter a new competition and share your untold real life stories. The best will be published and also featured in a BBC One programme called 'My Story'.
Anyone with an interesting experience from work, home, hobbies or holidays can submit it to the 'My Story' website. Entries only have to be between 300 and 1,500 words. Up to fifteen of the most compelling storytellers will get the chance to appear in a major TV series in 2010. There will also be the chance for five people to have their book published which could see the story of their lives available to buy in shops alongside their favourite authors.
BBC Arts Commissioner, Mark Bell, commented: "My Story aims to get people reading, writing and telling some remarkable stories. The BBC believes that the arts should be accessible to all and we're proud as a publicly funded broadcaster to be at the heart of storytelling."
The website is www.bbc.co.uk/mystory and it contains videos and interactive tools to help people plan and structure their story as well as tips on writing styles and skills. In addition, short videos presented by 'EastEnders' actress Nina Wadia and comedian Lenny Henry show you how easy it is to get started and explore simple ideas to get the creative juices flowing. There are also cameo appearances from Peter Duncan, Tara Palmer Tomkinson, Stephen K Amos and Roland Rivron.

Win a £100 holiday voucher...

At The Co-operative we place diversity high on our agenda and our aim is to ensure that The Co-operative Travel is “Good for everyone” catering for all types of customers including those with disabilities. This survey aims to help us as a travel agent understand current travel trends and perceptions of arranging travel with a disability. Your views are important to us please share them and have the chance to win £100 of holiday vouchers in our prize draw.
http://www.co-operativetravel.co.uk/specialist-travel/specialist-travel-survey/

Chipping Campden New Online Shop

Chipping Campden Online has now launched its new eCommerce website. Take a look for yourself at www.campdenonline.org/tic

Be Part of The Learning Revolution

Whatever you enjoy learning - show us, tell us or teach us in a short film and be in with a chance to WIN £500 in the TLP film competition.
If you know of other learners or networks that may be interested in taking part you can email them a poster or send them our viral.
Closing date for entries is 30 November 2009. Films must be no longer than 2 minutes (including opening and closing credits). All eligible films will be featured on the TLP Film Competition YouTube Channel. For terms and conditions visit www.welovelearning.co.uk
To view our efforts and how to enter your own film visit the 'TLP Film Competition' page on www.welovelearning.co.uk

Congratulations to our winners in October

Many congratulations to winners of Referral vouchers in October !
J Smith, Peterborough, J Barton, Sheffield & Pauline Chapman, Worcestershire all received Farncombe gift vouchers valid for one year

To enter the prize draw in November - visit our website
http://www.farncombeestate.co.uk/referafriend.asp

Also, well done Ruth Bourne who won £200 in our Facebook fan competition in October - to become a fan for future offers and discounts visit Farncombe Estate Centre on Facebook

Christmas tips and treats at Farncombe Estate