Welcome to the Balsam Centre News

A full Newsletter with up to date information on courses and activities is available at the Balsam Centre reception.

The Well Bean Project

This food and health project, funded by the Big Lottery, is working with families to promote physical and mental well being. Nature walks with young families have proven to be extremely popular despite the inclement weather. We have carried out many activities to encourage families to ‘grow their own’ and this has included one to one work as well as group work. We have also enjoyed cookery sessions.

HENSTRIDGE – work continues on the allotment.
WINCANTON – Vegetables planted by the children from Westhill Nursery have produced a really good crop. Tim has started working the community bed and Harry and Jason helped to begin sowing seeds. We hope more people will join us on this project.
We have also held our first Textile Group session, (Thursday morning from 10.30 -12.30pm.) We would welcome people to join us to learn and share skills; suggestions have been put forward for patchwork, craft items, knitting, & sewing.
BRUTON – Nick has started working with the children at Bruton Primary School to develop the vegetable gardens.
CASTLE CARY – we have started to work with individuals as well as young families in this area and are looking forward to developing the project here.

The Volunteer Project

Volunteers play an important part in the work at the Balsam Centre.
Volunteering is an excellent way to build up on your skills and experience and to increase your confidence in preparation to going back to paid employment; alternatively it’s a great way to get out of the house and meet new people!

We currently have volunteers in the Growing Space, Veg Co-op, Mums for Mums and Health Walks. Volunteers of all ages especially those with gardening and food producing knowledge and experience are needed to help on the Well Bean Project. If you would like to get involved or have a large garden or small area of land that could be used, please get in touch!

A Volunteer maintains the plants within the Centre and the pots on the ramp as you approach the main entrance.

We have four new volunteers who have taken their Food hygiene course enabling the new café in the Balsam Centre to start serving.

If you have time to give, contact Kathryn, Volunteer Co-ordinator at the Balsam Centre on 01963 31842
or by email, kathrynfisher@balsamcentre.org.uk

The full newsletter is available at reception in the Balsam Centre