Community News Free tickets for National Self Build and Renovation Centre Big Green Home Show 29 October, 2pm til late. Sun Inn, Coate Raise money for your charity and also Brighter Futures Register to take part at www.anythingispossible.org.uk Produced by the team at Swindon’s National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC), the UK’s only permanent visitor centre for self builders and home improvers, The Big Green Home Show returns this month. The show builds on the topics covered at the NSBRC’s Eco Workshops, that are run throughout the year and this year there is a strong emphasis on creating a healthier living environment and offers a packed three days of demonstrations, free seminars and case studies along with a line up of experts on hand to share their advice. Whether you are looking to improve or extend your home, or buy a plot and build a brand new house, The Big Green Home Show will review the best construction methods and products to use. There are seminars from planning advice to budgeting, plot finding and
building regulations. Sue Dewhirst from Evolved Design Ltd said: “Whatever project you are considering, be it a new build, renovation or an extension, the Big Green Home Show is the place to start. The exhibitors and consultants offer free guidance and advice. It’s a learning centre with seminars and experts available to cover all areas of designing and building a home”. Over 200 exhibitors will be showcasing their latest products and technologies. There will be guided tours of the NSBRC’s fantastic educational zones, featuring a life size ‘renovation house’ and ‘new build journey’. NSBRC is located at Junction 16 of the M4 and has free parking. The show runs from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October, tickets £12 per adult on the door. Readers can claim free tickets by booking in advance via www.nsbrc.co.uk and selecting code: Link Magazine.
Making a difference Volunteers provide vital support to organisations in Swindon and the people they are working with. Could you free up some time to help?
regular or occasional basis.
The Open Door Centre has started an activity group for the over 55s on Tuesday afternoons. You will be helping attendees join in activities, chat with members and generally help out.
wanting to gain experience in the field to support adult students in literacy and numeracy classes. This could make a real difference to someone’s life.
Suns Listening Line supports people with mental health issues and is ideally looking for people Marie Curie Cancer Care is looking with experience of these. So if you for volunteers to help run their love chatting on the phone from online store that sells items through home, are non-judgemental and can EBay. If you like social media, keep details of calls, this could be photography or have a special an opportunity for you interest in books, vintage items or Swindon College needs people fashion, this could be a role for you with a background in education or
The Rainbow Children’s Trust needs people to support their work with the families of sick children. It could be offering practical help such as shopping, doing the ironing or supporting siblings of those affected by illness. You can help either on a
To find out more about these and other opportunities, contact Volunteer Centre Swindon on 01793 420557 or info@swindonvolunteers. org.uk Visitors can drop-in at 1 John Street from Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm, to discuss opportunities.
October: Grandparents Information and advice for parents from ePIP
The Springboard to Confidence for your child Britain’s leading National Active Physical Play programme for children from 6 months to 7 years. Your child will learn agility, balance, climbing, co-ordination appropriate to his or her age. Structured programmes designed to build self confidence and develop essential listening and language skills. Supervised by trained staff in a fun and caring environment.
Tumble Tots now in your area! For information about local centres call
Liz Davies on 0844 800 0219 www.tumbletots.com/swindon
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ePiP parenting coach Rachel writes: These days, it is not uncommon for families to have three or four generations living together under one roof. Multi-generational living has many benefits and can contribute to the creation of a shared caring environment within which to bring up our children. Whether grandparents live under the same roof or not, the role they play in supporting their children and grandchildren should never be underestimated. Grandparents often have more available time, can listen, observe and attend to the small things as well as pass on cultural and family traditions. Children love to learn from their grandparents. In the UK, up to half of working parents rely on grandparent care for their children. This is not surprising as they offer a trusted, affectionate, flexible, reliable and usually free source of childcare! National Grandparent’s Day was introduced to the UK in 1990 by the
charity Age Concern, and is now widely celebrated across the world. This year Grandparents Day was celebrated on Sunday 11 September. The idea originates from the USA, where it was made an official day of recognition in 1978 to acknowledge the vital contribution the older generation make to their families and wider society. As brilliant as grandparent childcare is, we know it can be a source of tension when they occasionally adopt a different parenting approach to our own and give children a conflicting message to the one from their parents. At ePiP Direct, we help families with inconsistent parenting all the time, which often extends to the wider family and grandparents. Give us a call on 01793 328102 if you want to create a consistent parenting approach across the generations and we would be delighted to help. Call us on 01793 328102 or see more at: www.epipdirect.com
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