Month: November 2022

This Christmas, Coventry Foodbank is launching its fundraising campaign to help tackle the rising food crisis.

The Foodbank is appealing for support to help meet increasing demand through a new four-part social media video, filmed in collaboration with a local dance group Leamington and Warwick Academy of Dance.

Starting tomorrow (December 1^ST), they hope to raise awareness as well as thousands of pounds for the foodbank, which has 14 centres throughout the city.

The project uses the medium of dance to narrate the journey of food from the supermarket shelves to the central warehouse where it is sorted and packed and then sent onto the homes of those who need it most.

Rich Smith, Head of Communications, said: “Last year we had huge success with our first social media campaign song The 12 Days of Christmas and the question was how were we going to top that this year?

“The rationale behind it is that we want to tell the story in short segments to keep people’s attention on social media and it builds momentum over time.”

Told across four chapters between December 1^st and 7th, the short light-hearted video opens at Tesco in Clifford Bridge Road where a little girl asks her mother if she can donate food to the foodbank, prompting the magical ‘Foodbank Fairies’ to appear. The campaign culminates with the chance to watch a run through of the whole story, on December 9^th. To donate or watch, from December 1^st, visit: https://coventryfoodbank.org.uk/dance/ or by finding Coventry Foodbank on Facebook @coventryfoodbank and Instagram @coventry_foodbank.

Rich added: “There are more and more people living in Coventry who are facing a food crisis and every week Coventry Foodbank engages with people who are struggling to put food on the table and are completely relying on food and financial donations. It provides a lifeline to thousands of people across the city.”

Dee Ward, Project Manager for Coventry Foodbank, said: “The Foodbank has been serving the people of our city for over a decade, feeding thousands of individuals and families each year. This has been incredibly important, especially as the cost of living has increased dramatically this year, resulting in more first-time foodbank users.

“Last year, we recorded a song and put it on social media, which raised over £10,000 to support Coventry Foodbank. This year, we’re hopeful that our light-hearted dance video will raise much needed funds to help people facing food crisis this Christmas.”

• Coventry Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks. It was established in January 2011 and is one of the largest foodbanks in the UK.
• They partner with a wide range of care professionals who identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.
• Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink and can signpost people to other organisations to help resolve the longer-term problems that might cause someone to need to use a foodbank.
• One in five of the UK population live below the poverty line.
• There are more than 420 foodbanks in the UK.

* https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8585/

Watch the first part of the video here

A Leamington man’s long-held ambition to launch a new community radio station dedicated to podcasters, has taken to the airwaves.

Gary Jones dreamed of one day running his own station ever since first entering local amateur broadcasting eight years ago.

Now, through his new GROW Radio enterprise, he has not only realised that dream – but pledges to make podcasting and broadcasting accessible – and affordable – to all.

He also helps fellow podcasters edit and produce their programmes as well as hosting podcasting training sessions and workshops.

Gary explained: “GROW Radio is for the people I talk to day-to-day who want to get into podcasting but don’t know where to start. It’s both for those who want to get themselves or their cause noticed on other people’s shows and for those with their own shows who want to showcase it a bit more or repurpose their existing content.

He added: “But independent podcasters struggle against the larger media companies with similar audiences and different budgets. As a result, the audio influencer space is becoming less of a level playing field. GROW Radio looks to help independent podcasters stand out in a crowded market via the GROW Radio platform.

“Its sole purpose is to let the independent podcaster tell their story. Every person can inspire and change lives through storytelling and podcasting.”

Gary, 39, whose background is in retail, first fell in love with broadcasting when he was given the opportunity to present a weekly show on Radio Warwickshire in 2015.  He claims the pandemic has since prompted a spike in popularity of podcasts.

“The lockdown brought about a huge increase in podcast listeners. We found out that most people who launched a podcast during lockdown have continued it on since. Now more and more people are asking how they can get involved in them,” he said.

Now, ambitious for the future of his own station – and despite it being only a few weeks old – the entrepreneur has already attracted podcast partners across the world, including USA, Canada and Finland. Listeners can listen to free live or on demand shows on a host of subjects from business advice through to Christianity and Mindfulness.

GROW Radio membership is just £50 for the year which gives access to unlimited airtime, a dedicated website and inclusion in a Podcast Directory, with free membership for charities and community projects (CIC).

Longer term there are ambitions for expanding from the Warwick studio, including the creation of GROW radio hubs, offering broadcasting and podcast training facilities, throughout the UK and eventually abroad, as well as focusing on making the business carbon-negative.

Gary added: “I am proud to see the project finally up and running but what I am most proud of is the fact that this affords other people the opportunity to have their own podcasts on a radio station. It’s all about building a thriving podcast community.

“GROW Radio is searching for the nation’s next audio influencers If you are passionate about a subject and are interested in starting a podcast, GROW Radio is here for you.”

Further information is available here or Gary can be contacted directly at: gary@growradio.uk

The familiar jingle of festive bells will be returning to Shipston’s streets next month thanks to friendly local Rotarians.

Members of The Rotary Club of Shipston will be joined by volunteers when they take their sleigh out and about as children gear up for some pre-Christmas excitement – all in the name of festive cheer, goodwill and fundraising.

The festive fun will officially get under way on Friday, December 2^nd with the return of the town’s Victorian Evening. The evening’s entertainment takes place between 6-8pm and includes Lights and The Tree of Life switching on ceremony as well as music, stalls, food. Plus Father Christmas himself will also be making an appearance.

Following this, the local Santa sleigh routes are as follows. . .

Wednesday 7th December 5.30-7 30pm: Station Road, The Driftway, Manor Lane, Greenway Road, Darlingscote Road, Brickhill Close, Haymeadow, Worcester Place, Warwick Place, Oxway Close, Glenn Close, Green Lane, Gerrards Road, West Street.

Thursday, 8th December 5.30 -7 30pm: Berry Avenue, Queens Avenue, Pittway Avenue, Sadlers Avenue, Oldbutt Road, Shipston Gardens, Rowlett Drive, Bailey Road, Burnell Close, Herdwick Fold, Webb Road, Clifford Place.

Friday, 9th December 5.30-7 30pm: Foxgloves, Carr Close, Atcheston Close, Symons Way, Herdwick Field, Bradley Drive, Barrett Place, Coe Ave, Nichols Court, Nason Way, Felton Close.

Sunday, 11th December 4.30-7 30pm: Tilemans Lane, Brookfield Lane, Beecham Road, The Sidings, Railway Crescent, Signal Road, Mayo Road, Donnington Road, Badgers Crescent, Hornsby Close, Cauldwell Drive, Riverway, Watery Lane.

Monday, 12th December 5.30-7 30pm: Barchest0n Reach, Chapel View, Brewer Hill, Angela’s Meadow, Holly Road, Elm Road, Hawthorn Way, Ashgrove, Furzehill Road, Bosley Close.

Thursday, 15th December 5.30-7 30pm: Callaways Road, Greenfields Close, Parsons Close, Simpson Road, Hanson Avenue, Costard Ave, Marshall Avenue, Clark Close.

There’s a good chance Santa will also be spotted around the town centre on Saturday, December 17^th between 9am and 1pm!

The Rotary Club of Shipston hopes to help a host of local causes by contributing towards the projected £100,000 raised across the Heart of England Rotary region by the traditional sleigh run initiative.

Spokesperson for Rotary Club of Shipston, Tony Joint, said: “After an enforced break of three years, Shipston Rotary, along with other Heart of England Rotary clubs, are looking forward to again adding the magic of Christmas to our local children.”

“It has already been agreed that a large proportion of what we raise during this year’s collection will be donated to The Shipston Foodbank which has been made the recipient of all this year’s Shipston Rotary fundraising activities.”

He added: “The beautiful Tree of Life will once again shine out in the High Street over Christmas. Anyone who would like to sponsor a bulb in memory of a loved one can pick up a form from: St Edmund’s Church, the Library, Sports Club, Post Office, small Co op and Low Furlong.”

Anyone who is not able to see Father Christmas on his travels but who would like to donate, can also do so by visiting: paypal.me/anthonyjoint1