This month Maddie is looking at the stunning range of art and products available through Scope’s collaboration with talented disabled artists
Maddie’s favourite Boats Ahoy! by Mahlia Amanita
The disability equality charity Scope now has displays in its shops with some outstanding artwork that talented disabled artists have created. But if you don’t have a Scope shop near you, they have also now opened an online store so you can buy the art that way. It’s not just prints – they sell the beautiful designs on cotton and recycled plastic-bottle wash bags, art prints, candles and mugs too. I think it is colourful and bold and interesting. In the Gillingham shop, where I volunteer, one customer saw a collection by artist Kate Boyce and said “Wow that’s fantastic!” Vivian Nutt, Head of Customer Proposition, Retail at Scope, says: ‘We’ve really had to be more creative and ingenious in our fundraising since the start of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis and this is an incredibly exciting development for us. Scope puts disabled people at the heart of everything we do and, working with four superbly talented disabled artist and designers, our collaboration has produced a stunning range of unique products that are perfect for yourself or make a truly special gift for anyone.
The Kate Boyce Kitchen Textiles Collection is available in four of her designs
‘I encourage everyone to visit our shop – either in person or online – and see the beautiful ranges for themselves. Every purchase helps fund our vital support services that are a lifeline for disabled people and helps us to campaign for a fairer society.’ One of my personal favourite pieces is called Boats Ahoy! The artist, Mahlia Amanita, has Asperger’s syndrome and her work has been displayed in seven countries. This design is currently available on a range of items as well as available to purchase as a print. Be sure to check out the wonderful work that all the artists have made.
You can find the Disabled Artists collections on the Scope website here shop.scope.org.uk
January is never the best time for goal setting – and we need to think far wider than our diet, says nutritional therapist Karen Geary
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It seems counterintuitive to me to set new year resolutions or goals in January. I like to work with the natural rhythm of the earth, and given it has poured with rain for most of January, I have remained in hibernation mode as long as possible, enjoyed it immensely and am not feeling remotely guilty. I slept an extra hour a night too. For me, the spring equinox is the time to start implementing new health goals – when the earth begins to wake up. I have been giving them quite some thought while catching up with a few health-related podcasts when out walking. I recently listened to two longevity experts with two very different perspectives on nutrition; one advocating high quality protein intake from good quality meat sources, coupled with a high plant intake (but not grains) and supplements (nutraceuticals), as the way to go. The other advocated a mostly plant-based diet, with beans every day. It was a respectful discussion and actually they have much in common. They both said that a high plant intake, time-restricted feeding, good sleep, a sense of purpose and strong social connections are all supported by science. All true.
Work backwards Then I listened to a third longevity expert who, in my opinion, made the most sense of all. He challenged his listeners to think about how long they wanted to live, what they hoped to be doing, and then to work backwards in order to achieve those goals. This approach may differ depending upon how old you are now and how long you want to live! If, for example, you want to be playing with your grand/great grandchildren in your 90s, you need a particular level of fitness to be running around, so it might not be a bad idea to get a better handle on how fit you are now (you can be checked by a fitness professional who can calculate your bio-age from a few well-known exercises and put a plan together for you). For this speaker, fitness was more important than nutrition. What he meant by that is that you can have a fabulous diet, but if you are not physically fit, what’s the point if you can’t lift yourself out of your armchair?
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A consistent plan There are five things we should be aiming to do every day to maintain both our physical and mental health. There is no replacement for these things. How many of these do you already do and where do you need to put the work in?
• Sleep I have written about sleep on these pages before (‘three surprising ways to sleep better’ The BV, Apr 22) and my website has lots of tips on how to optimise it. Most people need between six and eight hours a night. Teenagers more. Coupled with sleep is sunlight, sometimes known as circadian light therapy. Get out in the sunlight, ideally in the morning. Exposing your eyes to sunlight helps to align your circadian rhythm and produce serotonin, which in turn helps to make melatonin, the darkness hormone. This helps you feel more tired in the evening, improves sleep and helps you to feel more awake in the morning.
• Hydration It is not that well known that we need to increase our hydration as we get older. It plays an essential role in many health issues. Good hydration plays a key role in mental health, sleep quality and cognitive ability. Dehydration in the elderly is very common. Between the age of 20 and 80 years, there is a 15% reduction in water volume in our bodies, which is why the elderly get dehydrated faster. Lower water volumes mean a poorer response to temperature regulation and an increased strain on the heart.
• Movement Ideally an hour a day. Learn about NEAT (non exercise activity thermogenesis – spontaneous activities that occur every time you perform some sort of physical exertion, such as standing up from a seated position, running to catch the bus or even simply fidgeting). Try to do something every day that gets your breathing rate up. You will live longer and you will feel better. Get assessed professionally if you can to get focused.
• Nutrition Try and get 75 to 80 per cent of your food from minimally processed foods. As we age, the need for protein increases. This is because we are less efficient at using protein compared to younger adults. If we don’t meet these increased needs we can lose muscle and lean mass and have a lower immune function, all of which play a role in increased risks of frailty and illness. Consult a professional for personalised goals or where you have specific health concerns.
• Social connection Do what you can to make the interactions that you have with friends, family, as well as online, as healthy as possible. Some people are more introverted than others, so do what is meaningful for you to maintain high-quality social connections. I guarantee that if you do these five things, your health will benefit. Now set your long term goals!
Monthly updates from the various North Dorset Police Teams. This month’s news from Gillingham’s PC Vicky Biggs
The end of January sees the annual Neighbourhood Policing Week, says PC Vicky Biggs, when the local teams work on targeted hotspot patrols
Neighbourhood PC Tom Harness on foot patrol in Blandford
At the end of January your North Dorset Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) participated in the national Neighbourhood Policing Week of action. We held drop-in surgeries with our partners in Blandford, Shaftesbury and Gillingham, speaking to our communities about local concerns. We continue our community engagement opportunities going into February, with other drop-ins (see details of these on our social media).
Angus Woods in Blandford – due to increasing anti social behaviour volunteers have removed lots of rubbish and a bench to prevent youths gathering
During the week we used community intelligence as well as our local knowledge to plan our patrols, resources and target anti-social behaviour (ASB) hotspots throughout North Dorset. By working with partners and working together with NPTs throughout North & East Dorset we are able to use our resources to complete targeted hotspot patrols. We have also conducted welfare checks on vulnerable residents, seizure of drugs, stop checks on vehicles We have also been highlighting our NPT Priority surveys, which allow the local community to feed into our local priorities. We have been completing these at our drop-in events as well as advertising them on social media, and through our Dorset Alert messaging system. (Remember you can still sign up for Dorset Alert here dorsetalert.co.uk)
Foot patrol in the ASB hotspot of the Barnes Close area of Sturminster Newton due to reports of drug dealing.
Whilst this week was used to highlight some of the work we complete, be assured we continue this throughout the year. As always, for current updates on the work the team undertake please follow our social media page:
Home-Start Wessex is standing alongside local families with a new appeal launched this month. In a recent survey by Home-Start UK, 74 per cent of families said they were expecting to need financial support this winter. In 2022, Home-Start Wessex helped a record 300 families across Dorset and the borders of Wiltshire and Hampshire. Demand increased by 30 per cent as more families struggled to cope and needed their help. Volunteers provide practical, compassionate and emotional support to parents whose worries about finance are adding to the challenges of post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems and bereavement. Alongside one-to-one support, they also run five family groups and weekly ‘Wellness Walks’ to help families get outside and connect with others whilst having fun and getting some exercise. Kathy Fryatt-Banks, Chief Executive of Home-Start Wessex, said, ‘Parents from across the area are telling us how they are worried – heating is unaffordable, and they are missing meals to buy nappies and food for their babies. Times are tough for many, but please give whatever you can. Even a small amount will make a huge difference this winter.’
To donate, please visit their Just Giving page. You can also support families by becoming a Home-Start volunteer, ensuring that a family has the support they need. No qualifications are necessary, and full training will be provided. Contact Michelle by email – [email protected] or via the website – homestartwessex.org.uk
The third and final episode of February’s BV podcast – in this episode Jenny gets to listen to the wonderful Tim Laycock’s Random 19 answers, and Terry has a fascinating interview with Cllr Peter Wharf, in which they discuss the very latest developments on Dorset Councils decision to add a second home Council Tax levy.
Never miss an episode – if you’re not already subscribed to the BV, you can sign up here and receive a notification of each new podcast (just three a month) straight to your inbox! Or you can catch up on all previous episodes right here.
In this episode:
Folk musician, singer, actor, storyteller, historian, Thomas Hardy expert … Dorset’s Tim Laycock is a man of many talents, and Jenny has his answers to the Random 19 questions.
Terry has been talking to Cllr Peter Wharf as he gets to grips with Dorset Council’s additional council tax levy on second homes, and the pros and cons of the arguments surrounding a heated debate.
Reggae, Strauss and Gershwin? It must be Dorset Island Discs. Pauline Batstone has spent a lifetime working with ex-offenders as a probation officer, and spends retirement working for her community
Jenny reads this month’s column by wildlife writer Jane Adams, who is missing her early morning alarm call – but feels there may be signs of hope for mavis, as Chaucer named the British song thrush.
The BV podcast is brought to you every month by the wonderful Terry Bennett and Jenny Devitt.
All based on articles from the February issue of The BV magazine – never printed, it’s only available right here online. Subscribe (it’s free!) here https://bit.ly/TheBVsubscribe and receive it direct to your inbox every month**
This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale…
1855, the new artisan’s market in Sturminster Newton
Sturminster Newton is always a great place to come and have a browse; potter round our niche shops, pubs and cafés. SturAction is the Community Benefit Society which runs a number of shops in town, the profits of which all gets funnelled back into supporting the town and its people. If you haven’t visited yet, then start your visit with a wander round 1855, the new artisan’s market in the former NatWest Bank. There are over 40 local traders offering a range of wares – there’s a new treasure to find on every visit! The Emporium and Art Gallery are exactly what it says on the tin. Inside there is a treasure trove of interesting pre-loved items at very reasonable prices, as it’s all donated goods. The Dapper Chaps Gentleman’s Boutique is inside The Emporium – a sorely needed source of pre-loved men’s clothing in the town. And upstairs is the Art Gallery with its ever-changing eclectic display. The Furniture Store is in the old Barclays Bank building at the other end of the town – and it’s filled with pre-loved furniture at knock down prices, ready to furnish en empty corner or to take on for an upcycling project (donations are always welcome). On the opposite street to 1855, is The Boutique, which is filled with pre-loved good quality ladies and children’s clothes and accessories. Always a first port of call when you want a fun upgrade of your wardrobe.
Meet the traders There is a special late night opening at 1855 on the last Friday of every month, when the shop will stay open until 8pm. There may be wine tasting, some of the artists, traders and makers will be present to talk to and it is rapidly building into a regular social evening in the town.
Dates for the diary: Wedding Fair 4th February, 10am to 2pm Sturminster Newton invites couples & families to a unique town event, where they can discover enticing offers for all occasions. Visit wedding and special occasions exhibitors in The Exchange – everything you need to make your event wonderful. Then follow the trail through Sturminster Newton and visit the wedding exhibitions in some of our independent shops on your way to St. Mary’s to view the wedding dress display.
The monthly car and bike enthusiasts event 4th February, 9am to 12pm A great family friendly event with a huge variety of vehicles from vintage to modern supercars, and vintage to modern bikes. Occasionally we’re lucky to get classic buses or lorries too. This month’s event is in Station Road car park.
North Dorset Schools Career Day 9th March, 10am to 6pm Calling all Dorset employers! Exhibit for free and showcase your key roles, apprenticeships, and career progression. Meet and engage with young people from five schools in years 8 to 11. The twilight session is open to other schools, year groups and parents. The event will be at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton, and you can register as an exhibitor here.
Firstly, I want to take the opportunity for a huge thank you to all our customers who have supported us over the past year – both by coming to the shop and also attending our author events. We really appreciate your custom. For this month’s selection I thought I’d suggest two titles that came out late last year which may have been overlooked among the tinsel. They are well worth a look. Wayne.
ZEALS A biography of an English Country House by Jennie Elias (£20) Zeals, an English country manor house in Wiltshire, was filled with life, dogs, books, flowers and a grand piano in the Great Hall. It was a house for landed gentry – but is now on Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ register. The house has medieval origins, but there were later additions; predominately those from the 19th century by Victorian architect George Devey, but also earlier changes in the 17th and 18th centuries. This fascinating house naturally has a rich history. Charles II took refuge at Zeals House on his flight to the coast. A family member was beheaded by Oliver Cromwell for daring to confront his parliamentary troops. The Chafyn-Grove family, later Troyte-Bullock inheriting in a sideways move, lived at Zeals House for 500 years until the mid-20th century, when the fate of the estate mirrored that of many others in England. Jennie Elias charts the joys and tragedies of generations of Zeals House residents, with characters ranging from haughty to charming and eccentric to prejudiced. There were of course failures through political levelling down and cultural change, but there were also many entirely of their own making. This definitive history also explores and celebrates the architecture of Zeals.
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel (£30) Can you name 20 women artists? If not, read this book. Who makes art history? Did women even work as artists before the 20th century? And what is the Baroque anyway? Prepare to have your sense of art history overturned, and your eyes opened to many art forms often overlooked or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan’s east side, Nigeria to Japan, this is the story of art for our times – one with women at its heart, brought together for the first time by the creator of the website The great women artists. (if you’re on Instagram, do follow @thegreatwomenartists) “The Story of Art Without Men should be on the reading list of every A-level and university art history course and on the front table of every museum and gallery shop.” – Laura Freeman, The Times. “Passionate, enthusiastic and witty, this spirited history celebrates female artists without any dreary finger wagging.” Signed copies available at Winstones, Sherborne.
Legendary cricket commentator and broadcaster, Henry Blofeld OBE, known amongst his many fans as Blowers and famed for his plummy tones and all-round good humour, invites you to join him in a brand new show, My Dear Old Things – coming to the Exchange in Sturminster Newton next month.
Henry Blofeld OBE
I asked him what made him head out on tour again – did he not think, at 83, he might be ready to retire from the rigours of touring? ‘I don’t know what you mean? I don’t recognise this word ‘retirement’. No, I shall never retire. I have a number of friends who retired at 60, and they were either dead at 65 or spend their days drunk and playing bad bridge. Not me. You can cut that one out, pretty quick. You’ve GOT to keep your little grey cells going. You can’t give up. If you retire, what do you do? Drink? ‘Doing nothing bores me to death. I enjoy what I do hugely. I wondered if the audience need to be cricket fans to enjo… I didn’t even get the rest of the question out before Henry chips in: ‘NO! I hate the phrase “cricket fan”, actually. People will know me because of cricket, of course, but it’s not a cricket evening at all. It’s humour and anecdotes. The same way an awful lot of avid listeners to Test Match Special didn’t particularly like cricket. Four years ago I did the Marigold Hotel programme in India. There were some splendid behind-the-scenes stories, but COVID came around and I couldn’t share them with anyone. So for the first hour I’m talking – I hope quite amusingly … I think quite amusingly, anyway – about the stories from India that couldn’t be seen on camera. And the second act is Test Match Special stories – there are some really funny ones to share. Hopefully everyone leaves just having had an excellent time!’ Henry will be appearing at the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on 8th March, at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton on 16th March and the Memorial Theatre in Frome on 17th March.
Mosaic are a Dorset based charity supporting bereaved children and young people, their families and the professionals working with them.
Founded in 2007, Mosaic was created to fill the gap in bereavement provision across the county. Prior to this, support for bereaved children and young people was limited – the only support available was from hospices offering support after the death of someone suffering from a long-term illness. Mosaic support children and young people who have been bereaved of someone special – perhaps a parent, sibling, friend or extended family. This includes all causes of death such as sudden death, suicide, murder or road traffic accident, not just long-term illness.
