Event For Service Users And Families And Carers.

We attended a MIDS event and our role was to make sure people 
signed in the forms and also there were 7 stalls and they also provided tea and coffee and cakes. Katie and I helped Cindy and Emma at this event and we had an enjoyable afternoon, and we all looked on each of the stalls they were very interesting as well. And there was lots of different information on each of the stalls about each day service. For example we both liked the Bradbury House Display and photo's of the Activities you can do. On the 'sticks to you' stall they had a film playing of people working cutting up wood and working safely. 


MIDS means Mendip Independent Day Services.

Creative Minds Meeting By Clemma Fleat

Recently me and Robin went to Bristol for a meeting for the Creative minds Conference.

We talked about who we would like to invite and who would help out on the day.

My feelings on the meeting: I thought it went very well and I am looking forward to the Conference.


From Clemma 

Creative Minds Steering Group Meeting by Clemma

Me and Katie went up to Bristol to meet up and chat about the Creative Minds conference day. We were in a art room called the , it was a nice place to meet up with Kamina (the conference organiser) and the others who are involved. After lunch, we went to the @t Bristol centre to look at the conference room to see how much space we will have for our big conference day in October. 

Frome Children's Festival By Clemma

Hi Everyone that went to the Children's Festival in Frome. Me and Katie really enjoyed the day, there was lots of stalls there like an ice-cream one and a music stand.  At the Storytelling tent me and Katie performed, we both told stories like King of the Goblins, Jack and the Beanstalk, Silly Jack, and Jack and the Sunflower Seed. The stories went well and the children and parents all enjoyed it.


The weather that day was very hot, Cindy took some nice photo's, Jem our Tutor also told some amazing stories. We really enjoyed the whole day and I thought me and Katie did very well . There was lots more to see such as canoeing for adults and children.  We hope everyone had a fun day at the Frome Children's Festival, it was a very enjoyable day.


BEST WISHES
OPENSTORYTELLERS

CLEMMA
KATIE
JEM

FESTIVAL AT THE EDGE SHROPSHIRE

Last weekend  we all were invited to the Festival at the Edge in Shropshire.

We all told Ceridwen's Cauldron, Silly Jack and King of the Goblins. We also did a workshop, we all did very well. 

 We all enjoyed the Daniel Morden show he was fantastic. We saw some other great performances, like Anne Marie Krarup and Colum Sands.  Everyone was fabulous, everyone was welcoming and friendly. The place was spectacular and we would like to go again. Because the people were just so great and we all enjoyed ourselves.

 

Langport Festival by TIM and CLEMMA

On Monday 2nd of June 2014

As part of the Langport festival we went to Langport library, where we performed Ceridwens Cauldron and King of the Goblins. It was a great opportunity  to practice King of the Goblins which we are taking to Festival at the Edge in July. We did very well and we think the audience enjoyed it.

King of the Goblins

 Ceridwens Cauldron

OUR A.G.M. AND OPEN DAY

On Saturday we had a AGM and open day to show people what we do. After a picnic lunch we had taster sessions of our different groups, we had important guests especially our new Mayor of Frome.

 We had 2 different groups. the storytelling group  did a performance called the King of the Goblins which went very well, and after we got groups  and did a name game. We had to explain what the name game was all about and we all took turns in saying our name and doing a action. After that we did a mime game. Afterwards we had a  discussion. We enjoyed showing people what we do.

Making Connections group showed us what they do and showed us about the bus campaign they made there own games and showed us how to play them, then we had the Open Office and showed people around our office. Then we had tea and cake and watched our films of Silly Jack and Ceridwen's Cauldron. After we said goodbye to our Chair Nicola Grove and said Hello to our new Chair Tracy Rose. We gave Nicola some lovely flowers.

Creative Minds Conference steering group by Katie, trainee information officer

On  Saturday 8th  May I went to Bristol  to the steering group for the  Creative Minds Learning Disability Conference South west.  At the Arnolifini's light studio I met Kamina, who is organising the event, and other people from other arts organization groups. We talked  about  how we can run our South west Conference   in Bristol in October. I told them all about the trip to the Brighton conference in March and we watched  a short film about my trip to Brighton. Kamina asked us to come up with any suggestions of who we should invite to our Creative Minds Conference.

Frome's Mayor's Garden Party by Robin

On Saturday May 3rd 2014, Robin and Brian took part in the Mayor's Garden Party.  We set up a stall to let people know about Openstorytellers and what we get up to in the local area.  It was a very nice, loads of people came to see us and we spoke to a lot of people interested in Openstorytellers.  We are one of the local charities that the Mayor has decided to support as part of his charitable work in Frome.  We chatted with some of the other charities - including FROGS.  We will be performing as part of their event for the Frome Children's Festival on July 27th.

Visit from Parliamentary candidates by Tim

On April the 10th the Parliamentary candidates for the Conservatives David Warburton and Liberal Democrats Sarah Yong were invited to come to the Openstorytellers office.

We asked them some questions about how they will support people with learning disabilities and what they can do for Frome and Somerton.

I thought it was very interesting and they both gave honest answers.
We felt that they listened to us.

Charlotte's Visit to Openstorytellers

My name is Charlotte I like music and dance.

I visited Openstorytellers and I like it.

my Name is Callum. 
   
Today I visited open story tellers. I love food and drink, wrestling  and I would love to drive a sports car. I like stories about the war, about heroes during brave times.  sometimes they are sad when people are in the war.

This is Charlotte she works at Openstorytellers.

MY VISIT TO @ BRISTOL BY CLEMMA

   On Tuesday I met up with Cindy in Bristol to see a room where we can hold the Creative Minds  Conference. The room is a great size to work in there is a lot of outside space and also comfortable seating inside. There are plenty of tables and chairs, 2 Disabled Toilets for people that are in wheel chairs, or in Mobility scooters, and a big kitchen for  catering on the day or packed lunches.  Down-stairs has a café as well there are lifts available if people don't like the stairs, it's a great space  for the conference which takes place  in October.

 

 

 

 

A trip to Creative Minds South East in Brighton

On Monday we went to the Creative Minds South East Conference at the Corn Exchange in Brighton. We set up our stand up to promote our arts group manual, and  joined in the conference. 

I enjoyed seeing different artists and performers performing. It was good to meet and link with other working artists with learning disabilities. We talked about how we develop our work to make sure it is of a good quality, and why we think our work is more than therapy. 

We are looking forward  to talking  some more at Creative Minds South West Conference in Bristol on 14th October 2014. To find out more and join the conversation

The Silly Jack Performance By Clemma

Me and Jem and Tim went to the Beckery Resource Centre Future 4 in Glastonbury last Monday. We did a performance of Silly Jack for the day Centre users. I thought it went very well and everyone really enjoyed it! 

Learning disability conference in Bath by Robin and Tim

We went to Bath FC stadium for the  Banes Learning Disability partnership conference.
We went for the morning.
It was very interesting.
The talks were good and lunch was great.
We thought the signers were excellent.

But our Presentation was one of the best!

Why are stories important?

To celebrate National Storytelling Week 2014 we decided to think about what stories mean to us. Our projects all involve some element of story, not only storytelling performances but also sharing personal stories which help build confidence in all sorts of amazing ways. We love taking time to stop and listen to other people's stories too.

So this is why stories matter to us....

1) Because they have true meaning of what it's like to have a disability (Katie)
2) They can help anyone with problems by seeing people in stories going through the same thing (Ruth)


Salisbury Playhouse/Dominic Parkes

3) It brings out the shine in people and they are always full of joy (Clemma)
4) Because it feels good to share experiences (Lara)
5) Because it's a way of communicating with people and building friendships (Cindy)
6) They spark your imagination (Emma)
7) Because they are a living history (Emma)

Salisbury Playhouse/Dominic Parkes

8) Because they are fun and enjoyable to perform and watch (Katie)
9) We can learn history of the world and history of everywhere (Ruth)
10) They brings happiness to people and it brings a sparkle to their eyes hearing delightful stories (Clemma)


A great team (with Sounding Out Somerset)



What do you think - why are stories important to you? We'd love to hear your thoughts too....






PARLIAMENT WEEK BY ROBIN.

I attended a Parliament week session for people with L.D called 'Ask your question'. 

30 People asked different questions about important issues such as disability hate crime.  

I did the pictures for the Parliament week website. This was the first 'Ask your question' for people with L.D.