During the summer holidays Piddle Valley CE First School has been working hard on improvements to the outdoor environment. This includes renewing the raised beds in the gardening area and creating a new pond area. There is still lots of planting to do but the staff and children are all excited about encouraging the wildlife to the area.
The new raised beds have already been put to good use by the Gardening Club, an after school club who meet weekly. So far they have hosted three ‘Piddle Produce’ markets which have been extremely popular, selling school-grown produce including carrots, lettuce, beetroot, tomatoes, apples and herbs.
To date the children of the Gardening Club have raised £60, which they will use to buy further seeds and plants for the garden. The parents and families have been very supportive of the Piddle Produce markets which has been very much appreciated
Pool Plant Room and Maintenance Operator Full-time, all year round
Clayesmore School is located in the village of Iwerne Minster in the shadow of Hambledon Hill. The breath-taking scenery isn’t really what makes working at Clayesmore a joy; what really makes the school standout is the warmth of the people and the culture and kindness that underpins everything we do. We have an exciting opportunity for a Pool Plant Room and Maintenance Operator to join our Estate team in this newly created role. The ideal candidate will have had Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) accredited training and experience within the industry, and be confident in the implementation of the approved methods for running a safe pool. In addition to the pool and plant room duties, the post holder will undertake various equipment and facility maintenance, both reactive and preventative, small plumbing repairs and water sampling when required. Benefits include a non-contributory pension scheme, Death in Service benefits, a free meal each day and free membership of the Clayesmore Sports Facilities.
Please feel free to ring the HR department on 01747 813213 if you would like to discuss this role. Further information can be found on our website: https://clayesmore.com/work-for-us/ Closing date: 8:00am on Monday, 14 November 2022
Pupils and teachers at St Mary’s Primary School in Bradford Abbas are delighted to have been awarded the Sports Mark Gold Award! This national award recognises and celebrates the opportunities and experiences the children receive in sports and health education. Headteacher Emma Grunnill said: ‘Our staff work incredibly hard to ensure that our pupils have expert tuition and quality experiences in sport. I am delighted that the hard work, commitment and achievement of the staff and children has been recognised. A huge well done and thank you to them.’
In the second of October’s episodes, we have A Country Living, Meet your Local, the politics section (which is still interesting, though it feels a little dated now. It’s been a wild couple of weeks!), and local history with Roger Guttridge:
Mike Howe’s ‘office’ this week is a stunning 16th century cottage in the heart of the beautiful village of Abbotsbury. Far from drawing life’s short straw, Master Thatcher Mike switched career and now teaches future generations an ancient skill
A vintage van was the unlikely solution for cheesemonger Carolyn Hopkins – now she’s an unmissable local sight. The tiny, bright blue 1969 Citroen HY vintage truck is packed with a selection of delicious cheeses as it travels to markets around the Blackmore Vale.
Local politics with thoughts from Simon Hoare MP for North Dorset, plus representatives of the local Labour, LibDem and green parties.
In local history this month, Roger Guttridge looks back at an almost-unchanged Green Man pub at King’s Stag.
The BV magazine is the monthly digital magazine from Dorset – you can read the entire latest issue here and why not subscribe (it’s FREE!) so that it drops into your inbox every month on publication day? Just click here!
he Dorchester Market Car Boot Fund is now open for applications from community and voluntary organisations working in and around Dorchester.
car boot
The fund comes from weekly car boot sales held in Dorchester and will be distributed to local community and voluntary organisations to benefit projects operating within or supporting residents living in the area. In 2020, over £13,000 was awarded to local community and voluntary organisations in Dorchester. Among the organisations who received funding in 2020 were Bradford Peverell Village Hall who received £1,000 towards the replacement of their roof and Homestart West Dorset who received £1,500 towards their running costs. Cllr Molly Rennie, Chair of the Dorchester Market Car Boot Grant Panel said: ‘It was wonderful to award over £13,000 to local organisations. We recognise the hard work that they do to make lives better for others.’ The 2022/23 car boot fund is open until midnight Saturday 12th November 2022. Decisions will be made at the end of November, and groups will be notified before the Christmas break. Successful applicants will be invited to a celebration event next year to share news about their projects. An application form and additional guidance can be found on the Dorset Council website
We are looking for a motivated person with good attention to detail, who will work well as part of the team. You will need an excellent telephone manner, be highly organised and dependable. This role would suit someone who enjoys variety in their working day.
Please send your CV to Amanda Tribe.
Landpower Machinery, Common Lane, Yenston, Templecombe, Somerset, BA8 0NB
Dorset Mind Your Head’s Abigail Hole shares her personal struggle as we approach October’s World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is fast approaching – 10th October. As a community, we have experienced significant change and loss over the course of the pandemic; I’ll be taking this time to reflect and acknowledge how I’m feeling – and try to be mindful of others.
Importance of mental health The importance of mental health cannot be overstated. Being mentally healthy means being able to cope with feelings. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing – affecting how we think, feel and act. I know when my mental health isn’t great, I feel increased pressure on my relationships. It’s important to remember that everyone and anyone can experience poor mental health at some point in their lives. But some people might be more vulnerable then others, including people who identify as LGBTQI+, young people (of whom I am one), minority cultures and other marginalised communities.
Collective grief While completing my final year at university last year, just after the Covid lockdowns, I felt isolated in grief. Living alone in a flat with the remnants of my flatmate’s belongings (she had returned to her home country), I sank into a period of depression. I sought help from my university to manage my workload and I attended weekly therapy sessions. Post-lockdown I was able to join a university society, and I noticed a significant improvement in my mental health. I am in a much happier place now, but I find memories still trigger an emotional response. I continue to manage anxious thoughts and seek support for my own mental health. We should acknowledge the lasting impact the pandemic has had on our communities. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to recognise other people’s feelings and to display kindness, reaching out to those in need.
Acknowledging mental health We tend to ask people if they are OK without allowing the space for a response beyond ‘I’m OK.’ Perhaps it’s the British in us – assuming we would burden others with our problems. If you sense someone isn’t feeling ‘fine’, enquire about it in a safe and private space which gives them the opportunity to reach out. Listening is key in supporting someone who may be experiencing mental health challenges. Dorset Mind trainers reiterate the importance of listening, showing engagement through positive body language, maintaining eye contact to let others know you are interested in their replies – or by using affirmative movement such as nodding your head to show empathy. Remember to always ask twice to check they are OK.
Ask yourself if YOU are OK … Prioritise your own mental health by taking time for self-reflection; consider how you are feeling today and do more activities which bring you joy. You can also utilise this time to connect with others, through groups like Active in Mind or Wellbeing in Mind. Alternatively, Facebook is a helpful tool for discovering communities with common interests. Participants who have attended group support at Dorset Mind have shared the importance of being able to interact with others during a difficult period in their life. On World Mental Health Day, 10th October, we want to #GetDorsetTalking about mental health and wellbeing. Our collective superpower as humans is our ability to feel and display empathy, listening and accepting others. You are only ever one conversation away from the help you deserve.
