Some Cotswold highlights are famous, some are quietly fascinating, and Cotswold News Page 4 is one of the reasons we keep finding new things to love about the area.
Read on for the details, from Cotswold-based charity and school have designs on Christmas!, Read more and Celebrate the lives of loved ones with a Walk to Remember to the reasons this place or story continues to add to the charm and character of the Cotswolds.
Cotswold-based charity and school have designs on Christmas!
03/10/2020
Campden Home Nursing and Chipping Campden School are excited to announce a joint fundraising project.
A Christmas Card Competition, sponsored by Cotswolds’ printing group, Vale Press, will be open to all students at the school and will raise funds for the local charity and the school’s new Performing Arts Centre.
A Christmas Card Competition, sponsored by Cotswolds’ printing group, Vale Press, will be open to all students at the school and will raise funds for the local charity and the school’s new Performing Arts Centre.
Celebrate the lives of loved ones with a Walk to Remember
24/09/2020
People across Gloucestershire are putting their best foot forward this October and walking in honour of their loved ones to raise money for a local hospice.
Walk to Remember 2020 will see people walk a route that means something to them to remember the life of someone special, while taking the opportunity to get outdoors to boost their wellbeing.
Walk to Remember 2020 will see people walk a route that means something to them to remember the life of someone special, while taking the opportunity to get outdoors to boost their wellbeing.
All-inclusive playground provides valuable space for children with disabilities
24/09/2020
Something truly wonderful happened during lockdown for the pupils at Paternoster School in Cirencester: work on a fantastic new inclusive playground was completed in time for the new school year.
The project was driven by the Friends of Paternoster School, a dynamic group of parents who worked tirelessly to raise the funding from local businesses, Cotswold District Council, and national and local charitable organisations.
The project was driven by the Friends of Paternoster School, a dynamic group of parents who worked tirelessly to raise the funding from local businesses, Cotswold District Council, and national and local charitable organisations.
Local photographer captures Cotswolds during lockdown
22/09/2020
Local photographer Mark Anthony Sweeting has captured the unique beauty of the Cotswolds countryside during Covid-19 lockdown in a special 2021 calendar – using just his camera phone.
He says the photography has not only helped keep him grounded during lockdown, but also provide a stress release as relaxation measures have been introduced over recent weeks. His hope is that his images might inspire others, too.
He says the photography has not only helped keep him grounded during lockdown, but also provide a stress release as relaxation measures have been introduced over recent weeks. His hope is that his images might inspire others, too.
Trains to be named after BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s lockdown heroes
18/09/2020
Two ‘superstars’ from Gloucestershire will have trains named after them to celebrate their outstanding work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Emma Hurrell from Stroud was nominated by listeners to become one of BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s ‘Make a Difference Superstars’. The other winner was Martin Heath, also known as ‘Mitcheldean’s Running Man’.
Emma Hurrell from Stroud was nominated by listeners to become one of BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s ‘Make a Difference Superstars’. The other winner was Martin Heath, also known as ‘Mitcheldean’s Running Man’.
Cotswold Wildlife Park celebrates the birth of its seventh White Rhino in 50 years
09/09/2020
D’ora is the newest addition to the rhino family at Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens.
She is the seventh rhino calf to be born at the Burford collection and is Monty and Nancy’s fourth breeding success together. Her birth is testament to the dedication of the mammal keepers and the Park’s commitment to the European Breeding Programme (EEP).
She is the seventh rhino calf to be born at the Burford collection and is Monty and Nancy’s fourth breeding success together. Her birth is testament to the dedication of the mammal keepers and the Park’s commitment to the European Breeding Programme (EEP).
Footballing legend becomes ambassador for hospice
07/09/2020
Sir Geoff Hurst, former England footballer and World Cup winner, has been appointed as the very first ambassador for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham.
The man, the mic and the hummus: Bob Hunt to retire
03/09/2020
Legendary BBC commentator Bob Hunt is to retire after a career spanning five decades.
Bob has become a staple fixture at Forest Green Rovers and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club since he began reporting from their grounds in the ‘80s.
Bob has become a staple fixture at Forest Green Rovers and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club since he began reporting from their grounds in the ‘80s.
Champion vegetable grower retains title
02/09/2020
Stow-on-the-Wold vegetable grower John Hayes retained his championship title at this year’s Spring Gardens Allotments Association Annual Show.
John, from Shepherds Way in Stow, was named Champion Grower for the second successive year, beating off strong competition from Rob Jeffries, a former champ, who was runner-up.
John, from Shepherds Way in Stow, was named Champion Grower for the second successive year, beating off strong competition from Rob Jeffries, a former champ, who was runner-up.
First GWSR post-lockdown trains sold out!
17/08/2020
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) ran its first post-lockdown public train service on Saturday (August 15) – five months to the day since services were brought to an abrupt halt after the last train of the 2020 season, on March 15.
‘Britain’s greatest palace’ re-opens to visitors
03/07/2020
Blenheim Palace is set to open its doors to visitors again from tomorrow (Saturday, 4th July).
Widely regarded as a masterpiece of 18th century Baroque architecture, ‘Britain’s greatest palace’ was built as a gift to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704.
Widely regarded as a masterpiece of 18th century Baroque architecture, ‘Britain’s greatest palace’ was built as a gift to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704.
Performing Arts take centre stage in Chipping Campden
30/06/2020
Delivering a Performing Arts Centre to Chipping Campden takes a step closer this week.
Construction work gets underway at Chipping Campden School to build a high specification centre, to be completed by Autumn 2021, for the benefit of the school and the local community.
Construction work gets underway at Chipping Campden School to build a high specification centre, to be completed by Autumn 2021, for the benefit of the school and the local community.
Online quiz set to raise much needed funds for local youth charity
22/06/2020
It’s time to get your thinking hats on and join Stroud-based youth charity The Door for a virtual quiz night, with special guest host BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Faye Hatcher.
Join Faye, as well as Barrie and Rosie from The Door on Tuesday 30th June at 8pm LIVE on The Door’s Facebook Page (@TheDoorStroud) for an hour of quizzing and chat.
Join Faye, as well as Barrie and Rosie from The Door on Tuesday 30th June at 8pm LIVE on The Door’s Facebook Page (@TheDoorStroud) for an hour of quizzing and chat.
Cotswold Young People swoops £290,000 lottery investment
12/06/2020
Young people in the Cotswolds are set to benefit from a range of new opportunities and activities over the next three years thanks to a National Lottery application submitted by a partnership of youth organisations working in the Cotswolds.
The application led by youth & community organisation World Jungle and including key partners Community Mentoring & Support Service (CMASS), inclusion charity Active Impact, Tetbury Area Youth & Community Trust and Black Cat Community Café, will give young people new opportunities for development, support and recreation.
The project called ’Cotswold Youth’ will include mentoring support for young people at risk of exclusion in schools, support to youth clubs, summer activities aimed at those making the transition from primary to secondary, leadership and work experiences as well as training and support for organisations and individuals who support young people.Ben Ward, World Jungle director, said: “We are absolutely delighted by the news. Young people in the Cotswold miss out on a whole range of experiences and opportunities due to the rural nature of the district that other young people in the county take for granted. Also with the impact of lockdown, school closures and loss of other key services, young people are finding life harder than ever and we must mobilise youth services as soon as we can safely do so.
“We really hope that we can work alongside young people to identify activities and support they feel they need; be it training, more things to do, work experience and much more. We’d love to get young people involved in deciding how we design the programme and in promoting opportunities to those around the district and would love to hear from young people keen to be involved from the start.”
The project, also supported by Cotswold District Council and the Cotswold Youth Network, has been over ten months in development.
Cllr Tony Dale, Cabinet Member for Skills and Young People at Cotswold District Council, said: “This is the most exciting development we have seen for young people in the Cotswolds since the new leadership was elected to Council in 2019. It successfully brings together youth organisations, Local Activity Partnerships, council providers, businesses and schools to benefit the young people who most need to develop these skills.
“World Jungle has taken a huge leap in winning this bid to provide our communities across the Cotswolds with mentoring, teaching, experience, learning and activity practice to promote a whole generation of new leaders from amongst our Young People. Well done Ben and Jane! A mega thank you to all our local volunteers and council officers who have helped to make this happen.”
The Cotswold Youth Network is made up of voluntary and community organisations, district, town and parish councils, sports clubs, arts provider, play organisations and housing associations all committed to improving the lives of young people and this group will be key to ensure the widest number of young people benefit and hear about the opportunities.
The difference it is hoped the project will make:
- Over 700 young people, each year will take part in a meaningful and participatory process exploring their experiences of growing up in the Cotswolds. This will be shared with over 50 key stakeholders throughout the year and through an annual Youth Voice event bringing young people, youth organisations and decision-makers together to respond directly to their concerns and issues.
- Over 600 young people, each year will take part in high-quality inclusive youth sessions. Young people will benefit from weekly youth sessions, unique & special youth holiday experiences and support to see their ideas through.
- 40 organisations and individuals will be more resilient, more strategic and better placed to support young people as a result of direct training on issues such as fundraising, committee development, consulting with young people and inclusion by the end of the project.
- 30 young people will be supported to develop leadership skills in an area of their choice across the life of the project.
- 20 youth organisations are more inclusive and have received the Inclusion Award each year.
- 10 youth-led projects will be supported to take their ideas forward each year through a budget held by the partnership.
- 10 communities will be strengthened by having regular inclusive youth opportunities which meet the needs of all young people by the end of the project.
- The Cotswold Youth Network will be a youth-led, strategic, influential and well-resourced partnership with a strong focus for the delivery of exceptional youth services in a challenging rural environment.
Public toilets across the Cotswolds set to reopen
28/05/2020
Cotswold District Council has announced the reopening of its 15 public toilet sites.
As the country slowly begins to take steps to move out of lockdown more of us are beginning to travel a little further from home.
Meetings resume online for Cotswold District Council
28/05/2020
Cotswold District Council is set to resume committee meetings online as members and the public remain in lockdown.
Council members and officers have been using video conferencing for internal meetings but today’s Overview and Scrutiny meeting will be the first formal committee to be run using online video conferencing.
Key decisions at the council are taken in public meetings but such meetings do not currently meet social distancing guidelines. Moving meetings online allows meetings to take place publicly but safely.
The council will be holding the following meetings virtually over the coming weeks:
- Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 28 May 2020 at 4pm
- Cabinet on Monday 1 June 2020 at 6pm
- Council on Wednesday 3 June 2020 at 2pm
- Planning and Licensing Committee on Wednesday 10 June 2020 at 10am
Members of the public will be able to follow the proceedings through a broadcast on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/CotswoldDC/live
You do not need a Facebook account to access this.
Councillor Joe Harris, Leader of Cotswold District Council, said: “Both staff and councillors have continued to support the delivery of services during lockdown. But a key part of the work remains decision making which largely happens formally in our committees, so I am delighted that we’re able to resume meetings in a way that meets social distancing guidelines.
“For the next few meetings that means socially distanced democracy with meetings conducted online and streamed. I look forward to having meetings in person as guidance develops. “
Councillor Stephen Andrews, chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “It is important for local democracy to get council meetings operating in a way that is as close to ‘normal’ as possible.
“Whilst we have not worked in this way before and these early meetings will be a challenge for those taking part in them, it is something that we must do so that there can be scrutiny of decisions made by the council both internally and by the public.”
Cotswold Show and Food Festival cancelled
28/05/2020
The Cotswold Show and Food Festival, one of the Cotswolds’ much loved summer events, has announced it has cancelled this year’s show due to Covid-19.
The show was due to have taken place at Cirencester Park on Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12.
Cotswold hotel launches Coronavirus frontline fundraising competition
19/05/2020
With the hospitality industry currently feeling the effects of the global Coronavirus outbreak, a luxury Cirencester hotel, the Kings Head, is remaining positive and encouraging the public to look to the future by announcing a nationwide, raffle-style competition dedicated to raising funds for four deserving organisations at the frontline of the crisis.
Council grant to support vital services in the North Cotswolds
07/05/2020
Cotswold Friends will receive £10,000 in grant funding to support the continued delivery of essential services for the most vulnerable in the district.
Cotswold District Council has approved the grant as part of its Community Resilience Fund to support the voluntary sector in helping local communities through the current pandemic.
Cotswold District Council has approved the grant as part of its Community Resilience Fund to support the voluntary sector in helping local communities through the current pandemic.
Gloucestershire Masons steer £5,000 to Stroud Women’s Refuge
06/05/2020
One of the most disappointing consequences of the coronavirus lockdown has been the increase in incidence of domestic violence.
In a show of support for the Stroud Beresford Women’s Refuge, an immediate donation of £5,000 has been awarded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation as a direct consequence of a request from Tim Henderson-Ross, the Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire.
Whilst individual lodges around Gloucestershire continue to make local donations to the needy and vulnerable during this appalling pandemic, at a national level, the Masonic Charitable Foundation has allotted an additional £100,000 to this region as an emergency structure, to support those directly or indirectly affected by Covid-19 virus.
In a show of support for the Stroud Beresford Women’s Refuge, an immediate donation of £5,000 has been awarded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation as a direct consequence of a request from Tim Henderson-Ross, the Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire.
Whilst individual lodges around Gloucestershire continue to make local donations to the needy and vulnerable during this appalling pandemic, at a national level, the Masonic Charitable Foundation has allotted an additional £100,000 to this region as an emergency structure, to support those directly or indirectly affected by Covid-19 virus.
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