We’re back with part 19 of our fantastic collection of resources to help keep families at home fit, learning and happy.
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Prior Park College in Bath May has released a video virtual open day tour of the school, which can be watched here, offering families an introduction to life at this leading independent school. In addition, on Saturday 23 May the school will also be holding a ‘virtual’ Q&A for prospective families.
You can watch the video here
Hundreds of children missing out on school-based music lessons during coronavirus are carrying on playing and singing thanks to online tuition set up by Bath & North East Somerset Council in partnership with Musictutors.co.uk.
The council’s music service team has arranged a safe, bespoke online teaching platform that allows pupils to enjoy lessons virtually with their usual tutor in real time.
There is tuition available on a range of instruments including bass guitar, oboe and cello through to orchestral percussion and voice lessons.
Find out more here
Wyke Farm, makers of Somerset Cheddar cheese, had produced a children’s activity book ‘packed with ways to keep little ones busy!’
The pack provides information about life at Wyke Farms, alongside games like Cow Maze, Word Searches and Cheese and Butter making activities. This is a chance to highlight where our food comes from and how it’s made.
Find out more here
Chippenham Town Council have been working with community groups to stage an event for the 75th Anniversary of VE Day on Friday 8 May. These celebrations will now be shared online, with a video being launched on Friday 8 May from Chippenham Town Council’s website
Every day this week Chippenham Museum are sharing tips for creating a VE Day party at home on its Museum Blog.
Chippenham Museum is also adding to its online learning resources on Friday 8 May – Chippenham & the Home Front: inspired by VE Day celebrations, learn about what life was like in Chippenham during WW2
A Wiltshire Council cycle loan scheme, which is helping people with a disability to keep active during the COVID-19, has been warmly received.
The council’s sports development team has developed an adapted cycle loan scheme to help people with a disability to stay active with a total of 14 adapted cycles, including a wheelchair transporter, hand cycles, tricycles and tandems. They have been loaned to care homes, charities and individuals with disabilities across Wiltshire. The adapted bikes loan scheme provides the necessary support and equipment required to ensure individuals with a disability, or those with mobility issues, can remain active and stay healthy over the coming weeks.
Find out more here
DragonBird Theatre has created a charming production of its first book, Mr Clement and The Weather, which you can watch now at their website https://www.dragonbirdtheatre.co.uk/copy-of-support-us
Mr Clement and The Weather is a story that reminds us how our feelings, however big, small or overwhelming, will come, then go, just like the ever-changing weather. During any time of uncertainty, we find it’s good to remember Mr Clement’s wise words; ‘stop, and take three deep breaths’.
Wordle Durdle Ding Dong is currently broadcasting live on Facebook with bedtime stories read by a range of funny and irreverent puppet characters. The shows are aimed at 5-9 year olds, but are designed to be fun for adults to watch too.
The stories range from Dr Seuss to David Walliams, but also give an important platform to new unpublished children’s writers to have their stories performed to a brand new audience.
Join in the fun here
Following the news at the weekend that seven cygnets have hatched on the nest at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells, the Palace has now asked the public to send in their suggestions to name them.
The 2020 Cygnet Naming Competition asks people to submit names by email or social media by 12pm on Wednesday 13 May.
So far, the new cygnets have proved to be extremely popular, with viewers from as far afield as Australia and the USA watching the 24 hour Swan Cam which is trained on the nest, and over 130,000 reached on social media with swan-related posts!
Send in your entry here
Families are being invited to take part in the first ever Julia’s House Gameathon, allowing you to put your gamer skills to good use while raising vital funds for the Dorset and Wiltshire children’s hospice charity.
Gamers from across the UK will be joining forces over the May Bank Holiday weekend (23-24 May) to help fundraise for the families of local children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Being a game changer for these families couldn’t be easier – simply set the duration of your gaming marathon (anything from 1-24 hours), create a JustGiving fundraising page, share details of your challenge with friends and family, and play your favourite games while you fundraise! Live stream as you play so people can donate in real-time, wear a crazy costume, get friends to suggest additional challenges to help you reach your fundraising milestones – the choice is yours! You can play solo, in a squad or tag-team, using a console of your choice.
For more information and downloadable Gameathon resources to help with your challenge visit juliashouse.org/JHGameathon