Evolving Communities and Healthwatch Somerset are providing those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) conditions the chance to learn techniques for breathing control, and better posture, through the medium of singing.
This sociable, monthly activity, led by Kate Lynch, takes place on:
Thursday 15 February
Thursday 29 February
Thursday 14 March
Thursday 28 March
Thursday 11 April
Thursday 25 April
Thursday 9 May
Thursday 23 May
From 11am – 12pm, the Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater, TA6 7AS. Refreshments are available from 10.30am.
For more information or to book your place, please call Wendy Coward (COPD Coordinator) on 07884 370503.
Somerset Film are hosting drop-in sessions for neurodivergent adults at the Engine Room in Bridgwater.
Sessions will cover a range of creative film techniques, including digital live drawing, motion capture animation, photography and greenscreen effects and general photography.
These sessions are free to attend and will take place every Friday for six weeks on 19 and 26 of January, and 2, 9, 16 and 23 of February, from 10am – 1pm. Booking for these sessions is not required.
For more information on these dates, please view the calendar on Somerset Film’s website here.
Open to adults from across Taunton and wider Somerset, the sessions work especially well for people who have experienced mental or emotional distress, who feel isolated, need time to reflect on life, and those trying to build skills to get moving in life again.
For more information about upcoming session blocks, get in touch with Jenny by calling 07541 080397 or emailing jenny@nerochewoodlanders.org
The NHS has launched their Volunteer Responders Check in and Chat service; phone calls that can provide a listening ear and a friendly chat for those who many have been recently discharged from hospital or are simply looking for some companionship.
If you, someone you know, or someone you care for would like support or have any questions about the Volunteer Responder programme please call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).
The Nether Stowey Wednesday Club is a weekly lunch club for anyone aged 50+ from Nether Stowey or the surrounding villages.
The club runs from 10am – 2pm every term-time Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church Centre in Nether Stowey. Coffee and lunch is served at 12pm. Transport can be provided.
Come along, meet the members and enjoy a bit of chat and company, and take part in a quiz or a raffle!
For more information, contact Maggie or Tina using the details below.
The North Petherton Community Centre hosts gentle exercise classes every week that are suitable for all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities – giving people the chance to make friends and have fun while keeping fit.
The exercise class takes place weekly on Thursday mornings from 11.30am – 12.30pm in the Main Hall of the North Petherton Community Centre. Each session costs £5.50 and is open to anyone without booking.
For more information, get in touch with Charlotte using the details below.
The Somerset Lesbian Network is a charity, run by committee volunteers, and was established by local women to create opportunities for adult (18 and over) lesbian, gay, bisexual and questioning cisgender and transgender women in Somerset to network.
The group aims to help reduce social isolation and the negative impact on health and wellbeing, and to promote visibility and service equality within the county by working with service providers.
For more information, visit the website or get in touch using the details below.
Unbreakable Men brings together Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) and Open Mental Health (OMH) to help raise awareness around men’s mental health in Somerset. They aim to actively encourage men to take ownership over their wellbeing, whilst positively impacting their mental and physical wellbeing through physical activity. This is done in simple and practical ways with both online and face-to-face physical activities.
You can check your mental health by taking their ‘Mental Health MOT Quiz’, join the Unbreakable Men Facebook group to be a part of the community, or sign up via email to receive updates on upcoming events, sessions and other news.
For more information, visit the website or get in touch using the details below.
Stepladder has been set up for all men in Somerset. The project is delivered by Second Step and funded by Somerset County Council and aims to reduce the number of men who take their own life. They work with communities, groups and organisations across Somerset to find new ways men can connect, support each other and get help.
If you want to know more about their community development work across Somerset or you’d like to share your experiences and expertise, please get in touch.
A weekly youth club, open to young people aged 8-14 years, running every Tuesday (term time) 6.30 – 8.30 pm (including half term).
The youth club is held at Cheddar Methodist Hall, Cliff Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3PL.
Fees are £1 per week to include refreshments.
Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust delivers sport, education, social inclusion and wellbeing programmes to Unite, Inspire and Empower stronger communities.
A range of physical activity offers will be available for ages 1+, such as Walking Football (Ages 50+) and United Health (Ages 16+) which promotes hollistic wellbeing.
To book sessions, please visit http://www.bridgwaterunitedcst.com/
All sessions are held at Bridgewater and Taunton College, Bath Road, Bridgewater, TA6 4PZ.
U3a is a UK-wide collection of 1000+ charities that provide the opportunity for those no longer in work to come together and learn for fun.
Within Cheddar Valley U3A there are approximately 50 special-interest groups. These groups give members the opportunity to participate in their favourite activities and hobbies, or new activities and hobbies, alongside other members with the same interests.
Some of these groups meet in the homes of their members. These groups are limited in size due to the available space, and so they are not always able to accommodate new members.
Larger groups meet in hired rooms, such as church premises or scout premises.
Groups may charge their members a group membership fee to cover the costs of hiring rooms, refreshments, etc.
Please explore this website to find information about Cheddar Valley u3a, or contact their Membership Secretary using the email address below.
Seed of Hope CIC are a Not-For-Profit Social Enterprise helping people with mental health problems to change their lives through recovery based Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.
They currently run three therapeutic groups: Bridgwater, Watchet and Glastonbury. They also have a volunteer community gardening team made up of members from the therapeutic groups.
Each session consists of a six-hour day of mixed horticulture activities and projects, gentle yoga and recovery group.
Somerset Sight is a not for profit organisation, providing practical and emotional support to over 3,500 people and their families across the county who are blind or visually impaired. Their services include low visual aids, a mobile advisory service, emotional support, activity groups and our flagship volunteer visiting service, plus many more!
Somerset Sight’s Mobile Advisory Service is available in Cheddar, Cannington, Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Highbridge, Nether Stowey and North Petherton.
For more information about the services on offer and how Somerset Sight can help you, give them a call on 01823 333818.
