Learning disability partnership board- Big Day

Where it was- Taunton County Hall.


It was all about one thing and another, there was a chap called David and he chatted about people with learning disabilities and problems can can buy their own home and if they had 2 bedroom place they wouldn't have to pay bedroom tax for a 2nd bedroom. There was a bloke from Enham, in a wheelchair his name was James Wood. And he did a talk about direct payments, 
And there also was people with learning difficulties they all chatted about there Musgrove hospital, work experiences. And myself and Jade from Frome office we chatted about my work opportunities and I also read a poem out called Day By Day.

HOW IT WENT ON THE DAY: 

Clemma's notes- I thought the day went really well, everyone was inspiring and it was really interesting to hear what everyone had to say, to one another and to us as well. They did a good spread of food it was delicious they done brie and cranberry sandwiches also chicken and sweetcorn and ham and tomato ones my favourites were the brie and cranberry one though. And also had good flapjacks and Jade had a Millionaire shortbread.

Jade says- Clemma and I also had an Openstorytellers stall at the event, we gave out lots of leaflets and spoke to a few people about what we do. One man was interested in the storytelling group performing at this day centre, which was great and be a good opportunity.  

Gareth of Orkney

This week we have been working on Gareth of Orkney in the storytelling group.

 In the story Gareth wanted to join his father and brothers in Camelot so he decides to go after them. He gets to Camelot on Pentecost were he asks Arthur to work for a year and a day, so Arthur sends him to the Kitchens for Kay, who is Arthur's half brother, and  he bullies Gareth and makes him do all the lowliest jobs.
We are making  a work shop to take to schools on why bullies are cowards and about the message in the story.
We have been working for  a long time on it, its a work in progress!
By Tim

Christmas at Barrington court by Bradley

Open storytellers Performed  for members of the National Trust  at Barring ton court
on Saturday the 3rd of December.
 We did 2 performances- 4 shows. We did  Silent night twice, the boy and the dead wren, father Christmas and the little donkey.

A member of the audience was really interested in our storytelling work-
and said they learned more of Silent night  from watching us perform.
 They learned the story of silent night- the story behind the song.

with Silent night we used a kavad, an  Indian storytelling  storyboard box
to help the audience understand the story.

A Child  from the Audience was really interested helping opening and closing the doors on the kavad,
she was fascinated with the story board and Jem our group leader  let the child help him with the kavad.

Barrington court is a good place to perform  for shows and gigs like storytelling.
The storytelling group performed in the great hall at Barring ton court.
Last Christmas at Barrington court  with storytelling gig  the story we peformed,
 the  character role I was doing had a bit of street dancing role in the story.


The room is suitable for all shows and gigs and myself and other members of open storytellers have enjoyed previous storytelling gigs there in the great hall at Barrington court.

Important disability campaigner passes away

On the 20th August 2016 Lord Brian Rix died.
 He was 92 years old he was a disability campaigner.
Lord Rix's oldest daughter was born in 1951 with Downs syndrome. He had campaigned for disabled rights ever since.
He became a member of the House of lords and helped to change the laws to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Lord Rixs work was very important to Openstorytellers with his work as a campaigner .

Performance King of the Goblins at South Petherton

On Friday 11th  November 2016, Katie , Tim , Bradley, and Jem
went to South Petherton To "getting the ball rolling".
 We performed the king of the goblins in front  of different organisations . The company  who organised it was called Take  Art. Viv Gorden read  a poem that she  wrote and  told us about  the dance show she organised.
   We  all joined in a discussion  how the  other people perform  in different ways than   we perform. The event held at St David s chapel everyone enjoyed listening to our story  it was great event  and Sarah said thank you  to   Open StoryTellers    for coming.

By Katie branch 17.11.2016

BARDIC CHAIR WINNER

BARDIC CHAIR NIGHT;


WHERE IT WAS AT ROOK LANE CHAPEL FROME

WHEN 20TH OCTOBER

WHO WENT? OPENSTORYTELLERS AND OTHER STORYTELLERS

HOW DID IT GO? WENT VERY WELL THE CHAPEL IS LOVELY AND THE STORIES I HEARD WERE FANTASTIC I THOUGHT THE NIGHT WAS GREAT TAFFY THOMAS OUR FRIEND INTRODUCED THE STORYTELLERS AND OPENSTORYTELLERS GROUP, TAFFY'S STORIES WERE GOOD ALL THE STORIES WENT WELL EVEN TIM LUMLEY SMITH'S STORY WAS GREAT TOO.

BEST BITS WERE TIM'S STORY THE GOLDIE LOCK PICKER AND THE BEAR BURGERS WHAT A STORY IT WAS EVERYONE LOVED IT WAS GREAT I ALSO LIKED SHARON'S STORY ABOUT THE PRAWN FUNNY STORY I THOUGHT EVERYONE ENJOYED ALL THE STORIES. THERE WERE A FEW DIFFERENT KIND OF STORIES SOME WERE FUNNY, AND SOME WERE TRADITIONAL AND THE STORY WE PERFORMED WAS CALLED UWANGELEMA IT'S ABOUT A WISE PERSON THAT LIVES ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN AND SOME AFRICAN ANIMALS ALL THEY WANTED IS WATER AND FOOD WAS A FUNNY STORY US STORYTELLERS PRETENDED WE WERE ANIMALS THINK EVERYONE LIKED OUR STORY WE GOT A GOOD LAUGH ANY WAY.

WHO WON? A LOVELY MAN CALLED DRIFT SNOW BARGER WHAT A SAD BUT GOOD STORY ALSO HE TOLD IT SO WELL IT MADE ME LAUGH I WAS HAPPY THAT HE WON THE BARDIC CHAIR THOUGHT HE DONE GREAT.  

Paralympics 2016

Paralympics 2016.
Team GB did really well at the 2016 Paralympics . They were second in the medal table finishing behind China.

Dame Sarah Story won a record 14 medals in Rio.Team GB won 147 medals -64 of them gold.

Athletes with intellectual disabilities have been allowed to compete since 1996 but scandal in Sydney in 2000 meant that some athletes were stopped from competing - Some Spanish basketball players tricked people into believing they had a disability but they didn't . They were stripped of their medals.
Because of this it was only in 2009 that a new system was put in place -This meant that it was only in 2012 that people with intellectual disabilities could compete again .

Its great to see people with learning disabilities being treated equally in the Paralympics again.