Building stronger and healthier communities together…

Supporting older people in Berkeley & Sharpness

Funding has just been awarded from Gloucestershire County Council’s ‘Community Chest Fund’ to extend and develop a successful local project supporting older people living in the Berkeley and Sharpness area.

The ‘Full of Life’ project is focussed on improving the health and wellbeing of older people, helping them to feel more connected, confident and cared for in their community.  It aims to combat issues of loneliness and isolation, whilst helping people to feel healthier and more independent.   The project is being co-ordinated by World Jungle who for the past two years has been running a similar programme in Cam and Dursley.

A community launch event will take place on Thursday 5^th May from 11am-2pm at The Berkeley Arms in Canonbury Street. This free ‘drop-in’ event is open to everyone and will include a range of activity taster sessions for people to try, sandwiches, tea & coffee, some musical entertainment too, together with the opportunity for local residents to find out more about the services, support organisations and groups available to them to access.

(Picture above taken at World Jungle’s previous ‘Full of Life’ community event in Dursley)

Over the coming months, the project will run regular activity sessions at venues in both Berkeley and Sharpness.  These friendly, ‘drop-in’ style groups will look to promote physical and mental health, nutrition, community connection, digital inclusion together with ensuring a greater awareness of other services and activities available.

Sessions have so far been arranged  at Hamfallow Sheltered Housing Unit in Sharpness once a month starting from Thursday 14 April 10am – 12 noon and in Berkeley once a month at the Community Library starting from Wednesday 27 April 10.30am – 12.30.

(Pictured above, Fiona Campbell running sessions at sheltered housing units in Cam & Dursley)

Taking place over three weeks in June, free training will also be offered to volunteers around how to support older people maintain their independence in later life and stay active in their community.

The project will also look at strengthening a network of support organisations and groups to enable the early identification of the most vulnerable members of the community.  Additionally, a local directory of services will be developed to help pull information together, promote local groups and help make accessing information and signposting people to services and activities much easier.

‘Full of Life’ Project Manager, Fiona Campbell from World Jungle explains:

“We are delighted to be able to extend this project to support people living in the Berkeley and Sharpness area.  ‘Full of Life’ is an exciting programme encompassing many different aspects of work, but at the heart of everything is the aim of supporting older people in our community, improving health & wellbeing and encouraging independence and confidence.  We are working both to support people living in the towns, and also the groups and organisations that already exist; building stronger and healthier communities together.”

 

For more information, please contact Fiona Campbell at World Jungle on 01453 548880 (Wed & Thurs only), email info@worldjungle.org.uk  or visit the World Jungle website: www.worldjungle.org.uk  .

Equality & Diversity training really can be fun!

Earlier this month members of World Jungle’s Global Play Team spent the day delivering training for the staff of ‘Ashton Gate Out of School Care’, a south Bristol playsetting rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

The training was part of World Jungle’s award winning global play programme designed for teaching staff, childcare, youth and play workers who want to help children and young people have the opportunity to explore cultural diversity in fun and exciting ways.

During the day staff were taught a whole variety of games from around the world to use with their children in the setting as a creative tool to explore other cultures, promote cultural diversity and effectively challenge discriminatory behaviour in an age appropriate way.  Ways were discussed around how to effectively meet the diverse needs of children, promote positive attitudes to diversity and the differences between each of us, with the aim to equip staff with the skills to prevent discrimination and challenge prejudice.

Giving feedback on the session, Bella Wright from Ashton Gate Out of School Care said:

“We all loved the training, it was so fun and we got a lot from it. It met all of our needs and more. The two workshop leaders were brilliant!”

Ben Ward from World Jungle, who developed and led the programme said:

“We have had lots of positive feedback from organisations who we have delivered this training session for.  Settings have reported that not only does it let them learn more about multi-cultural play and meet some of the challenges around delivering ‘British Values’ within the National Curriculum, but it also provides a team building experience for staff too as an added bonus!”

World Jungle’s Global Play programme has won a national award and the organisation has worked with primary and secondary schools across the South West, London and Midlands, together with over 50 different Early Year Providers and Play Settings, County Councils and national charities.

For more information, please contact Ben Ward on 07889 512644, email info@worldjungle.org.uk or visit www.worldjungle.org.uk .

Pictured below: Staff at AGOSC playing ‘The Shoe Game’ from Ghana with children at their setting, one of the games they learned on the training course

Cirencester Springs in to Action!

As the clocks spring forward this Easter, so too are residents of Cirencester being encouraged to ‘Spring in to Action’ and get fit for summer!

An exciting programme is taking place over the Easter holidays in and around Cirencester to inspire more people of all ages and abilities to “Get Active, Get Fit and Get Outdoors!”

A week of activities has been arranged starting with a fantastic free community event in St Michael’s Park on Saturday 2^nd April from 11am-3pm.  Lots of local sport and activity clubs and providers have come together to promote what they have to offer with a wide range of free taster sessions and demonstrations to enjoy.  With activities on offer including yoga, dance, fitness classes, golf, boules, tennis, zumba, athletics,  netball and running – there will be lots for all ages and interest areas to enjoy.

 Organisers hope that Spring in to Action will help raise the awareness of opportunities for health and fitness in the area and encourage more people who are not currently involved in regular exercise to take the first step. The programme is being delivered by health and community organisation World Jungle in partnership with Cirencester Town Council and support from Gloucestershire County Council ’s ‘Active Together’ fund and  Cotswold District Council.  Ben Ward, Director of World Jungle said:

 “We are delighted with how many local clubs and sport providers have come together to be involved in this programme.  Many will be at the launch event in the park on Saturday 2^nd April, with more offering free taster sessions or discounts at their clubs and venues during the following week.

We hope this will not only help promote the brilliant opportunities available in the town but also inspire more people to get involved and perhaps try something new.

Spring in to Action is all about creating healthier communities.   The benefit of taking part in more sports and physical activities goes far beyond just improving our physical health.  It is important to our mental well-being too and is also a great tool for bringing people and communities together.”

The project is also trying to capture local people’s views on health and fitness opportunities in the town.  A short survey will be available to complete at Saturday’s event – or online at www.worldjungle.org.uk – with completed forms being entered in to a free prize draw with the chance to win a one month gym membership at Cirencester Leisure Centre or a free family swim pass (with thanks to Everyone Active Cirencester Leisure).

 Details of the full weekly programme can be found on the World Jungle website at www.worldjungle.org.uk .  For more information or to get involved, please contact Ben Ward on 07889 512644 or email info@worldjungle.org.uk .

The Moulin Rouge comes to Cam & Dursley!

Have you ever dreamed of being a true Parisian showgirl?  Now a taste of the Moulin Rouge is coming to Cam & Dursley with a chance to pull on your stockings and your best frilly knickers and learn to Can-Can with the wonderfully talented Claire Phipps from Bristol’s Showgirl Academy.

Taking place on Saturday 9^th April from 10am until 12 noon in Cam Memorial Hall, this action packed dance workshop will be full of kicks, jumps, gallops, skirt work, screams and cheeky moves. Oo-la-la!   As well as being lots of fun, it is also a great workout for fitness and improving flexibility.

The workshop has been organised by local organisation World Jungle who in addition to running weekly health and fitness classes at venues across the area, have also promised to introduce a series of specialist weekend dance workshops at regular intervals over the year.

This workshop follows January’s very successful ‘Cheeky Charleston’ which saw record numbers enjoy a fabulously fun morning taking a trip back in time to the 1920’s and learning the vintage quirky and witty dance moves that were once danced by flappers.

Organiser Jane Manning from World Jungle said:

“We are delighted to welcome back the very talented Claire Phipps from the Showgirl Academy in Bristol to lead this session which promises to be high energy and great fun.

 There are so many good reasons to get dancing – It’s a fun, social way of keeping fit, great for both your physical health and mental wellbeing.  What’s more, regardless of age, experience or ability, anyone can dance.”

All ages and abilities are very welcome.  Just wear normal fitness or comfortable clothes, dance shoes or flat pumps –  Can Can skirts will be provided.  Due to limited space in the hall, numbers will restricted and so booking is essential. Tickets cost £9 for the two hour workshop and are available by contacting Jane Manning at World Jungle on 07878 865297, email info@worldjungle.org.uk or purchase online at www.worldjungle.org.uk .

Photograph below: with thanks to ‘The Flaming Feathers’