MENTIONED in DISPATCHES

Dispatches

Social enterprise puts Somerset artist with Down’s Syndrome in the spotlight

TAZIA FAWLEY has had considerable success as an artist, participating in exhibitions in New York, London and Manchester. However, the impact of the pandemic, and ill-health within her family, now limit her ability to show her work in galleries and exhibitions.

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Luckily, a new online only start-up called Art Rabble, has just emerged, keen to share Tazia’s latest paintings with art lovers around the world. The social enterprise sells fine art, giclee prints internationally, representing artists with Fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, Down’s syndrome and Autism. It aims to break down barriers for artists with disabilities and get their work in front of a wider audience.

Founder, Lisa Lim is determined that the site will be a force for good, “Art Rabble is about recognising the skills of disabled artists and giving them a way to share their artwork which doesn’t require the physical upheaval and demands of a bricks and mortar exhibition. Each artist tells their own story, giving you a real connection to the artwork.”

Tazia is 52 and lives in Highbridge with her mother. Tazia describes herself as an artist who just happens to have Down’s Syndrome and hopes that her work will challenge the limiting stereotypes of people with Down’s Syndrome. Tazia’s

Raging River. Tazia Fawley. style is vibrant and alive, she takes great care when mixing colours and creating unusual combinations. The results are electric.

“I'm not trying to copy anyone else, I paint because I love it and it makes me very happy.”

Tazia’s Raging River and Sunset & Flowers are best sellers on the Art Rabble website. This is a great source of pride for Tazia. To see more of Tazia’s work, please visit art-rabble.org.

Sunset & Flowers. #SaveSafely this winter

With living costs rising all the time, everyone is looking for ways to save some money, so Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is highlighting some areas where a saving could be a false economy – and a fire risk.

The Service is asking people to #SaveSafely, and there is a wealth of information about staying safe at home and on the roads at www.dwfire.org.uk/savesafely. This includes energy saving tips, cooking safely advice, how to stay warm safely, staying safe when cutting costs, cutting the costs of driving, and signposting to financial help. Top tips include: •Pulling something like electric heaters or electric blankets out of the loft, that haven’t been used

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for years, can be risky. Watch for signs of dangerous or loose wiring, such as scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, fuses that often blow, or circuit breakers that trip for no obvious reasons. •If you’re drying clothes indoors rather than use a tumble dryer, keep them well away from the heat source so they can’t catch fire. •Air fryers and microwave ovens are great at saving energy when cooking, but please read the manufacturer’s instructions and keep them clean between uses. •Getting chimneys swept when you have a woodburner or open fire is essential to reduce the risk of chimney fires. Also be careful of what you burn; green (unseasoned) wood may seem cheap, but it doesn’t create much heat and it creates a residue that can easily catch alight within the chimney. •Get your boiler serviced – a well maintained boiler is more efficient and reduces the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. •Only use the correct charger for mobile devices. Although it can be cheaper to buy imported and unofficial chargers, fake ones are often made with poor quality components that fail to meet UK safety regulations. This means they can cause injury, electric shocks and even fires. •Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using wheat bags – don’t heat them for too long, or at too high a temperature.

The Fire and Rescue Service offers free Safe & Well advice, which can include a home visit and the provision of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. To request this for yourself, a family member or a vulnerable person, please call 0800 038 2323 or visit www.dwfire.org.uk/safe-and-wellvisits.

The History Hut at Low Ham

The History Hut at Hext Hill, Low Ham, TA10 9DR will be open November, Friday 11th and Saturday 12th from 10.45am 4pm.

Everyone is welcome to come and remember, or find out about our local people who lived and died during the wars. see how rural life changed, and contributed to the war effort. Free entry. Lots of books and displays of Somerset and our history through the ages. More details can be found on the History Hut facebook page.

Calling all Star-Gazers

Surprisingly, despite its high elevation, wide horizons and its position on the edge of the Cranborne Chase dark sky area, Shaftesbury has no astronomy club.

Two local amateur astronomers want to change this and set up a Shaftesbury star-gazing group for anyone who might be interested. No specialist knowledge or equipment is required. The aim is simply to encourage people to enjoy the night skies.

They already have a venue just outside Shaftesbury with wide horizons, and plenty of indoor and outdoor space for meetings and observing sessions. They would now like other enthusiasts to join them there once a month to learn more about the night-sky through talks, night-sky observation sessions, quizzes and social activities.

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Probable start date: December or January. If you would be interested in coming along or would like to find out more, you can get in touch using one of the following email addresses: deyesaf04@gmail.com or niky daley@yahoo.co.uk. Go and explore the heavens!

Somerset C-o-L Crisis Appeal raises £100K & grants now available

The Somerset Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal, run by Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), has raised over £100,000 since its launch just over a month ago [correct as at 05/10/2022].

The appeal is raising money to fund local charities and community organisations supporting those in most urgent need during the cost-of-living crisis. Donations have come from local individuals, charitable trusts and businesses, including £50,000 from Somerset County Council.

The charity is now offering grants to local charities with the funds raised to date and has launched the Warm Somerset Spaces Fund. Charities and community groups across the county offering ‘warm spaces’ to people experiencing fuel poverty this winter are invited to apply for a grant of up to £1,000. Grants will help fund dozens of community spaces to stay open longer over the winter months, helping to keep vulnerable people warm, safe and well. Funding will be awarded weekly to help charities respond rapidly to the cost-of-living crisis.

Laura Blake, Philanthropy Director at Somerset Community Foundation said: “We’re really concerned about how people on low incomes will cope as inflation continues to surge and the cost of household essentials like food, energy and fuel continue to increase.

“We launched the Somerset Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal to raise vital funds for local charities

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working directly with people living in poverty, and after a phenomenal response we’re now able to start awarding grants to support local groups and charities.”

Future grants from the money raised through the Somerset Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal will fund crucial local work such as debt advice, food banks, mental health support, help for people with disabilities or older people, and homelessness organisations.

Any community group or charity wishing to apply for funding to help fund their community spaces to stay open longer over the winter months should visit the SCF website where they can find guidance on how to make an application to the Warm Somerset Spaces Fund: www.somersetcf.org.uk/warm.

Those wishing to donate to the Somerset Cost-of-Living Crisis Appeal can visit the SCF website: www.somersetcf.org.uk/costof living or, if that isn’t possible, call 01749 344949.

Somerset Community Foundation is a charity that helps passionate people in Somerset change the world on their doorstep by funding local charities and inspiring local giving and philanthropy. They aim to build stronger communities in Somerset where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. They provide rewarding and impactful ways for donors to give through them, to the causes and places they care about most. Together, they fund amazing organisations and the passionate people that change lives every day.

Since SCF were founded in 2002 they’ve awarded over £20 million in funding, changing thousands of lives across Somerset.

Since SCF were founded in 2002 they’ve awarded over £20 million in funding, changing thousands of lives across Somerset.

Willowfields, Lowerside Lane, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9GY 01458 831020 28 High Street, Butleigh, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8SY 01458 850654 or Street 01458 443677 Pound Pool, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 6LZ 01458 272297 or Langport 01458 250509 www.forseyandson.co.uk

Mere Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) Pantomime 2022

Members of MADS were tidying their Drama Room when they discovered Aladdin’s Lamp at the back of the props cupboard where it had lain unused for nineteen years. They decided to give it a polish and … Flash! Bang! Wallop! Well, you know what happened. The Genie told them in no uncertain terms that it was high time he was allowed back on the stage of The Lecture Hall. And who dare disagree?

So, this November MADS presents A Ladd in Mere, a traditional pantomime with a local touch, refreshed and updated by its author, MADS stalwart, Chris Wood, assisted by Jon Noble. The Genie of the Lamp makes his comeback to help Aladdin win the hand of the beautiful princess. All the traditional characters, the goodies and baddies, are played by MADS members assisted by local children, music is provided by Alan Benson and Mike Durkee, and the audience are expected to boo, hiss and shout as appropriate.

Evening performances are at The Lecture Hall, Mere on Thurs. Nov.17th Fri. Nov.18th and Sat.Nov.19th at 7.30pm. plus a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets: Adult £8 Child £4 available by email at: tickets@mereamdram.co.uk, by telephone: 01747 861257 or 07539 329798 in person from Mere Library or Sprout & Flower.

Festive stalls, live music and hand-made crafts at The Bishop’s Palace’s Christmas Artisan Market 5th – 6th November, 10am-4pm

The popular Christmas Artisan Market returns to The Bishop’s Palace in Wells on 5th-6th November 2022 (10am-4pm).

Visitors can head along to the medieval site to get their Christmas shopping started with a bang as the medieval rooms of

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the Palace, upstairs and downstairs, will be filled with a variety of enticing stalls.

The popular event will give visitors the chance to purchase hand-made and unique gifts that could be the perfect inspiration for those difficult-to-buy-for friends and family, whilst also supporting local small businesses from the South West of England.

There’ll be plenty of gift inspiration, decorations, cards and live musical performances in the inspirational setting of the medieval Palace building. And if all the shopping leaves visitors in need of refreshment, the Bishop’s Table café will be serving seasonal drinks (including the always popular flavoured hot chocolate!) with views over the croquet lawn.

The event is in aid of The Bishop’s Palace and tickets include the Artisan Market and free access to the Palace gardens. Available at a special reduced price (£8 Adult, Child 5-17 £4, Under 5’s and Palace Members FREE), they can be purchased by telephone 01749 988 111 or online www.bishopspalace.org.uk. Hundreds of metal stemmed poppies will once again be planted at The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens in Wells this year, in time for Remembrance weekend in November. Originally 2989 poppies were made by local school children in 2018 – one to mark each life lost of servicemen from the county of Somerset during World War One – but some were sold to raise money for SSAFA and the Wells Branch of the Royal British Legion.

After the original Somerset poppies project finished it was agreed that the Palace should retain 2000 poppies in order to continue to display them inside the grounds, as they had been taken to the hearts of the local people of Somerset.

Each year they have moved to a different location in the gardens and this year the poppies will be on display from 5th-20th November on The Bishop’s Palace moat bank. The poppies are to be put in place by Dan Vidler, who conceived the idea for the 2018 centenary, with help from staff and volunteers from the Palace.

A Remembrance Service will also be held on site at the Bishop’s Chapel on Friday 11th November to which all are welcome.

The Bishop’s Palace Christmas Artisan Market is 5th & 6th November. The Somerset Poppies at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells (2021).

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Christmas Shopping at Muchelney Pottery

Mark Melbourne and the pottery crew have just fired the kiln for the last time this year and there are lots of fresh pots available in the shop. From mugs, jugs, bowls and plates to casseroles, baking dishes and bread crocks; lots of beautiful toasty kitchenware pots to choose from. There are also some special gift sets for readymade Christmas present ideas!

Also available to browse are signed pots by Mark Melbourne,

Muchelney Pottery - woodfired sauce boat. John Leach and Nick Rees, handcrafted leather work by Jake Leach, hand-carved spoons by Ben Leach, silver jewellery by Holly Webb and much more.

Shop open Wednesday Saturday, 10-1, 2-4. Muchelney Pottery, Muchelney, Nr Langport, TA10 9TE www.johnleach pottery.co.uk.

November events at Sherborne and Sturminster Libraries

A ‘special’ November event at Sherborne Library on Friday 18th November from 2:30pm – 3:30pm, Sherborne Library host ‘A Talk on Wildlife Gardening’ – join Mitch from Dorset Wildlife Trust to find out how we can help nature thrive in our gardens. Booking is advised – visit Eventbrite online or call 01935 812683.

Every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10:00am – 11:00am, Sherborne Library host ‘Code Club’ –creative fun with CoderDojo and programming for ages 8 – 13. Booking is advised – visit Eventbrite online or call 01935 812683.

Mark Melbourne Firing Kiln. Photo: Carole Melbourne.

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A November event at Sturminster Newton Library:

On Thursday 10th November from 9:30am – 12:30pm, Sturminster Newton Library host ‘Free Health MOTs’ from the LiveWell Dorset team. Drop by for a 10 minute wellbeing check. For more information, call 01258 472669.

A couple of new regular activities starting in November for Sturminster also:

Every Thursday during term time only from 10:00am –11:30am, Sturminster Newton Library host ‘Learning Together’ – fun activities for children under 5. For more information, call 01258 472669.

Every first and third Saturday of the month from 10:00am –11:00am, Sturminster Newton Library host ‘Code Club’ –creative fun with CoderDojo and programming for ages 8 – 13. Booking is advised – visit Eventbrite online or call 01258 472669. All free events. Ferne Animal Sanctuary, based in Wambrook, Chard is delighted to be holding their annual Festive Fayre on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December 2022.

The whole family (and their dog), will be able to make merry at this fayre, which will combine children’s activities, local stalls with great Christmas craft and gift items for sale, a professional Christmas themed canine photoshoot and the opportunity to meet Santa Claus!

On the evening of Saturday 10th December bring the family to take part in a magical Animal Blessing service in the barn at Ferne Animal Sanctuary. Alongside Ferne resident animals, a special Christmas service will be hosted by Reverend Georgina Vye. Join in with the choir singing Christmas Carols, enjoy mulled wine and a mince pie. Under 16’s are free and dogs are welcome. Booking available on www.ferneanimal sanctuary.org.

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Wild Cardz, Wincanton

Christmas greetings cards from Wincanton can be found at Wild Cardz. Advent calendars and candles, Diaries and Calendars for 2023 are now in stock. This year they have a selection of gift ideas including their new range of Light Up Your Life personalised diffusers and scented candles, and individual handmade Christmas baubles. They have an array of Christmas cards, personalised, boxed, 3D, charity, and school friends.

They are stockists of King Cole wools in a variety of colours, patterns, haberdashery items, lots of craft kits to entertain the children and Christmas cake frills & decorations. Not forgetting the gift wrapping papers, bows and ribbons.

Open Monday to Friday 9am5pm and Saturday 9am-3pm. They are your local UPS collect and delivery point. If you can’t get to the shop try online version at www.cardswithlove.net.

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