Benefice Newsletter 31st March 2023

 Parish Council Minutes 27th March 2023 – (Draft until approved at the next meeting)

Timberscombe School Friday News 31.3.2023

1. New Somerset Council

The new unitary Somerset Council will launch on 1 April 2023. The new unitary council will bring together the services provided by the four district councils in Somerset (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton (SWT), and South Somerset) alongside the services provided by Somerset County Council.

The new Council will continue to work alongside the existing town and parish councils and their role is enhanced through new Local Community Networks.

On 1 April there will be one website for all your council services. The new website will replace the 6 websites that are currently being used by residents in Somerset.

The new Somerset Council website will use this web address: www.somerset.gov.uk.

Please click here to read the full press release.

2.April bolt-on prize announced for Somerset West Lottery players

The Somerset West Lottery is now running the April bolt-on prize draw.

Anyone buying one or more tickets between now and Saturday, 29 April, could win an Apple tech bundle, comprising a top-of-the-line iPhone 14 Pro, and an Apple Watch series 8 to keep connected on the move, courtesy of external lottery management company, Gatherwell. Players need not do anything differently – their normal weekly ticket(s) will automatically enter the April bolt-on prize draw.

Please click here to read the full press release.

3. Recruitment for new volunteers is now open.

As a team HM Coastguard is trained in Cliff, Mud and Water Rescue, along with Lost and Missing Persons Search and Casualty Care. For more information on what the role involves please head to: https://www.gov.uk/volunteer-as-a-coastguard.

For anyone interested in applying, the team will be holding a briefing session outside the Coastguard Station, Watchet Esplanade on Monday 27 March between 7:00-8:30pm.

The closing date for applications is noon on the 2 April 2023.

4. Voluntary and Community Sector Support – Talking Café Live (CCS)

Wednesday at 1pm

The Talking Cafe is an information and support cafe providing free advice and support to the public, run by the CCS Village and Community Agents. Online sessions broadcast live each Wednesday at 1pm where you can find out about the wonderful support available to people in Somerset, listen to people’s fascinating stories and learn about what’s happening in communities – all from the comfort of your own home! Watch any time on catch up.

Please click here to visit the Facebook page and see who will be joining the April Talking Café Live sessions.

5. Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP) –Somerset Moves Activity Finder

SASP is powering the brand-new Somerset Moves Activity Finder which launches on the 3 April 2023 and will be a one-stop-shop for all physical activity and sport opportunities in Somerset. The new activity finder will make it easier for Somerset residents to find and book activities online, as a study by Sport England showed that 1 in 5 adults have been put off physical activity because it was too difficult to find or book online. It is hoped that this resource can assist in breaking down some of the barriers people face when it comes to participating in physical activity.

SASP have chosen to move to open data with the launch of the new activity finder as this will help to keep session information up to date. By harnessing open data, the activity providers themselves, will have the ability to make changes to their session information, when using an Open Active enabled system, their session data can be linked to their own website and the activity finder, meaning they will only have to make changes in one place and their session information will automatically be changed and pulled through to the activity finder as well as their own website.

Please click here to read the full press release.

6. Community Employment Hubs

The Employment Hubs are a free employment support service covering Taunton, West Somerset and Wellington.

Our friendly team can help you with:

• Guidance on opportunities for learning, training and work
• Confidence building to return to work
• Help with job applications, covering letters, CVs and interview skills
• Referral for further support including IT, Citizens Advice, apprenticeship advice, Citizens Advice and positive mental health
• Links to volunteer work
• Identify any other barriers that stop you from progressing
• Regular one to one support for as long as you need it
• We are meeting face to face, come and visit us to make an appointment or use the email below to arrange a time:

Where we are and when we are open:

• Wellington Baptist Church, South Street TA21 8NS 10am to 12pm (every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month)
• Minehead The hub, Alcombe Minehead (next to fire station) TA24 6DJ 10am to 12pm (every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month)
• Williton, Council Office, The Chamber, Killick Way, Williton, West Somerset, TA4 4QA 10am to 12pm (every 1st Thursday of the month)
• Taunton Charis Centre, 16 – 17 Hammet Street, TA1 1RZ 10am – 12pm (every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month)
• Stogursey Youth Club, TA5 1PR, (next to the Victory Hall) 10am – 12pm on a Tuesday once a month, please use employment support email below to book an appointment

 Volunteers needed

Could you help and support people in your local community towards work? If the answer’s yes, you will need the desire to help others, have general life experiences, as well as the enthusiasm to motivate people and raise their confidence and self-esteem. If you can spare some time, you could be just the volunteer, we value at any of our hub locations as listed above.

Volunteering roles on offer:

• one to one support
• admin
• meet and greet
• making tea/coffee

The Employment Hubs focus on offering one to one practical support such as CV writing, searching and applying for work, how to deal with online application forms, help with interviews and signposting to other agencies for further help and support.

For more information email: employmentsupport@somerset.gov.uk.