NEWSLETTER

The Holburne Museum

If you would like to let us know about any local charities or events your business is supporting please email: louise .mccarthy@topgroup.co.uk

Thank you to our two charity speakers Louise Campion from The Holburne Pathways to Wellbeing project and Lynda Wyon OBE from Bath Child Contact Centre.

Thank you to Jane Ibunson at the Holburne for enabling us to use the Museum and view the Bruegel exhibition, Neil Watson Photography, and Roper Rhodes who kindly sponsored the event.

Our members raised £1210 to send 60 children and their carers to see Circus Starr at Lansdown Racecourse on Saturday 4th June. The winner of a weeks holiday for two in Porthleven was Judith Green from Food For Thought.

Percent Club Members News

Handelsbanken have kindly offered for sale to the highest bidder

two tickets for the Midsummer Prom at Iford on Saturday 8th July -

“an eclectic evening of music and cocktails. Bring friends, a picnic and relax in the glorious Peto garden” Picnics and music from 6pm. Concert starts at 7.30pm.

The money raised will be given to The Quartet Community Foundation to distribute on behalf of the Bath Percent Club.

Please send your bid for the tickets to louise.mccarthy@topgroup.co.uk and they will be sold to the highest bid received by 29th May 2017.

If you would like to let us know about any local charities or events your business is supporting please email: louise .mccarthy@topgroup.co.uk

Mark is founder of mch, a staff development company that increases the positive impact of Third Sector organisations. Since 2005, Mark has assisted charities through training, mentoring, coaching and facilitation. The bulk of his time is spent delivering training, in areas such as Emotional Intelligence, Management, Leadership, Communication and Negotiation. While Mark lives just outside of Bath, he works with a whole array of large, medium and small organisations, both throughout the UK and overseas. In addition to his staff development work, Mark is also Chair of DECIPHer Impact, an award winning social enterprise which improves public health. Mark brings a variety of experience to his roles at mch and DECPHer Impact. Prior to founding mch, he was Chief Executive of Rumbalara, an Aboriginal sporting and community development organisation. Before that, he assisted large private sector organisations at the international management consultancy firm, McKinsey & Company. Mark also has a Doctorate in Organic Chemistry from Oxford University and a Master’s Degree in Diplomacy and Trade from Monash University in Australia. Such diverse experience has given Mark an insight into the common traits of great managers, leaders, teams and organisations, regardless of size, sector or location. Such insight proves very valuable when working with a rich variety of charities.

After attending one of The Bath Percent Club events, at which the impact of in-kind support, rather than just donations was stressed a more nuanced question arose:

“What combination of financial donations, volunteering and in-kind support would lead to mch having the greatest positive impact on community engagement?”

mch are now piloting a new training initiative for local charities. Provided at least two local charities partner together to present a shared training need, mch will split the cost evenly between itself and the partners. The initiavtive is a response to many local charities not having sufficent funds to access quality training. Initially the offer will run twice a year on a first come, first served basis. Consequently if you are a local charity get in touch:Info@mchpositive impact.com.

“The Bath Percent club inspired my company to set up a new initiative to support local charities and their training needs.” Mark Hughes form mch Positive Impact:

We support volunteers to assist with catering for events and contribute to the sense of pride, achievement and

increased wellbeing volunteers tell us they have by being involved. FfT volunteers were asked how taking part made

them feel; “happier” “satisfied” “warm” “inspired” “love the atmosphere” “I like that we are using food waste from a Bath supermarket” “I feel full up in a good way and much better for being part of this group” “It has inspired me to be more experimental with my cooking and with better results” “Improved my confidence in cooking different things”.

FfT has catered for events including supper clubs, curry evenings, team away days and business meetings. FfT

volunteers were asked what they like about event catering: “Learning new skills” “fun” “safe” “social” “working with others” “I have made connections with others” “I have been more self-aware” “lovely staff, lovely people, I just love it” “I enjoy producing the food. Also it gets me involved and more sociable”.

To book Food for Thought for your event contact:

Judith Green foodforthought@bathmind.org.uk

If any business member would like to nominate a local charity they support to speak at a future event please email me on: louise .mccarthy@topgroup.co.uk

Food for Thought (FfT) is a catering and training venture, involving and supporting vulnerable volunteers with lived experience of mental and long term physical health issues. FfT volunteers take part in workshops and cater for events to gain skills, boost self-esteem, socialise and progress on their mental and physical wellbeing recovery path.

FfT works with groups and individual volunteers to improve their skills around the areas of self-confidence, healthier eating choices, socialising, working as a team, using local and seasonal produce and budgeting.

Food for Thought is a collaboration between local charities Bath Mind, Creativity Works and St. Mungo’s Mulberry House. Bath Mind manages the coordination, budget and delivery of the project, Creativity Works brings creative expertise and an extra dimension to cooking whilst St. Mungo’s Mulberry House add their experience of social enterprise via the Earthworks project.

Bath Child Contact Centre Bath Child Contact Centre is a registered charity and an accredited member of the National Association of Child Contact Centres. We provide a neutral meeting place run by well trained volunteers, where children of separated relationships can enjoy the company and bond with their absent parent or other relative in a safe environment. It is child centred and confidential.

More than a million children in the UK have no contact whatsoever with one or other parent after separation. It has been proven that children develop into far more secure adults if they have had the love of and contact with both parents. We are dedicated to improving this situation, by providing a secure but free and relaxed environment. Our only charge is for a preparation book for the children.

We have been supporting families within Bath and further afield since 1991, celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2016. A high majority of our families move on positively to contact away from the Centre. Sources of referrals are:

• The Courts • Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service • Solicitors • Children’s Family Services • Self-referrals direct from families.

The Centre is run by a board of Trustees comprising our Founder, Linda Wyon OBE, three volunteer office bearers, an independent representative from CAFCASS, a treasurer, local magistrate and solicitor. We therefore have a strong background of support and advice. We employ one part-time paid co-ordinator to liaise with our clients, referrers and volunteers and have a strong team of over 30 volunteers who operate within a rota system, every Saturday of the year, to support the contact sessions. Because of our volunteers, we manage to operate on the small budget of £13,000 per annum but having lost our funding from Bath and North East Somerset Council in 2014 our reserves have diminished and our sustainability is being challenged. We are extremely grateful to any company, Trust fund or individual who can assist us in continuing our work.

Charity Number: 1071589 www.bathchildcontactcentre.co.uk

Lynda Wyon OBE

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak to you about our Charity at your event at the Holburne Museum,

it was a pleasure to meet some of you. We do appreciate there are many charities, all doing valuable work and it

is impossible to support every request; we are grateful to have been able to highlight the importance of our work

and the challenges we face. For those who were unable to attend the event, a leaflet giving details of our Centre is

available on request or if you would like further information please contact

Irene Simms, Chair - via irenesimms@btinternet.com or 07703569409.

Bath Child Contact Centre

“Which One is My Daddy?”

Bath Child Contact Centre provides secure facilities for children from separated families to

see their absent parent or relative.

One day, a little boy was visiting the Centre for the first time to see his father with whom he

had had no contact for a few years. As a volunteer was taking him through to our play area,

gently holding his hand, he looked around and asked “Which one is my daddy?”……. a few

weeks later he was running through on his own, ready for a hug from his father …… today

they continue to enjoy a loving relationship away from our Centre.

This is what we work to overcome and achieve.

We would be extremely grateful if some of you are able to support

our charity. Our operating costs are kept to a minimum, as we have a

strong team of volunteers and we only require around £13,000 per year

to operate. Ideally, we would like some guaranteed donations for a

few years so that our Trustees and Volunteers can concentrate on our

work without the worry of sustainability, but any donation will be really

appreciated and used carefully to progress our service.

It was a great pleasure to meet so many members of the Bath Percent Club on April 12 and a privilege to host the meeting and our Bruegel: Defining a Dynasty exhibition with everyone. The Holburne has been in its present home for over 100 years and very much a community asset to the people of Bath and way beyond.

“Being part of the group has given me the chance to get out, socialise and be less isolated.

I’ve also gained a sense of purpose. Using the museums for creative activities has also aided my wellbeing – definitely.”

Participant quote: (April 2017)

For further information regarding how to get involved please contact Louise Campion (email: l.campion@holburne.org or tel: 01225 388 566

PATHWAYS TO WELLBEING

As my colleague Louise Campion stated on the evening of 12 April – the Museum’s work with those affected by mental health issues is probably our best kept secret. This work comes together under our Pathways to Wellbeing project.

Funded by the Big Lottery Pathways to Wellbeing programme promotes positive mental health and wellbeing through using the Museum’s collection, exhibitions and site to inspire and engage people.

In the first year of our three year project we have engaged with over 60 people with lived experience of mental health issues, social isolation and homelessness in the local area.

WE HAVE

• Run over 70 creative art sessions in the museum

• Trained some of our volunteers to mentor vulnerable adults

• Engaged with patients in the Royal United Hospital and St Martins Garden (dementia assessment unit) using our museum handling collection

• Regularly exhibited art work produced by project participants – both in the museum and the local arts community

• Welcomed new people into the museum through organising museums and wellbeing FREE events

• Provided creative opportunities for people who are homeless through Julian House night shelter

Special Invitation to Bath Percent Club members -The Business of the Holburne

We are delighted to invite all members of the Bath Percent Club to a special event to be held at the Holburne on Tuesday 11th July, 6-8 pm. This is an exclusive opportunity to see behind the scenes at the Museum and learn more about our full range of Celebratory and business events – from Away Days to Weddings and receptions to the ultimate dining experience.

You will be able to delight in special sample menus, enjoy wine tasting and revel in the Holburne story with a specially created tour.

It will help greatly with our planning if you can rsvp by Friday 23 June. Please reply to: Ollie Merchant email o.merchant@holburne.org or tel: 01225 388545

We need to raise £1.5 million each year to ensure free admission, conserve and care for the collection and continue our work with vulnerable groups including the homeless and those affected by dementia and mental illness.

The Museum does not receive any local government or public funding.