On Winchester now this week:
- ‘Renew Winchester’ provides a welcoming space in our city for adults who may be feeling lost or struggling with their mental health. This year marks 2 years since the first Renew Café in the city started – with support from our local churches. The initiative has grown and flourished, with 3 welcoming health and wellbeing cafes now running, and a fourth one planned. Anna O’Brien caught up with Alison Dolphin who leads the Renew Winchester project to hear about its plans and success.
- News-in-brief:
- Plans for the future of the River Park Leisure Centre have taken another step forward, as bids have now closed for businesses wanting to take over the redundant site, which has been empty for 5 years. There have been 12 expressions of interest to re-develop the site, including use as a sports facility, an event space, a lido and a church – some involve demolishing the building, others will refurbish it. The council will announce its preferred bidder in June.
- Age Concern Hampshire has announced the start of its ‘Living Well in Later Life’ project, a new five-year project aimed at helping older people stay active, independent and connected, with support from the National Lottery Community Fund. The project will deliver a range of physical activity and wellbeing sessions, in communities across the county.
- Police in Hampshire have made 28 arrests during a month-long operation to tackle fraud. A total of £95k of cash and assets were also seized. Three arrests were made as part of an investigation into a romance fraud, in which a victim is believed to have been scammed out of £100k over seven years.This was the fifth nationwide campaign known as Operation Henhouse.
- People across Winchester who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, are being invited to a free Boxing for Parkinson’s taster session at Winchester Boxing Club on Friday 24th April. Parkinson’s UK has organised the event, in partnership with the club. The taster session will include a warm-up and pad work. Organisers say everyone will be able to get involved no matter their level of fitness and experience.
- The first-ever Winchester Pride will take place on 9th May, aiming to promote equality, inclusivity, and diversity for all people living in the Winchester area. There will be a parade through the city, and a festival with entertainment outside the Guildhall.
- Volunteer opportunities:
- Are you a creative soul? Do you have a strong imagination, enjoy crafts, and creating things? Then maybe you could help the ‘Renew Winchester’ team, launch a brand new ‘Renew style’ Wellbeing Arts & Crafts Café? They are planning a new café of this nature to run at the Winchester Baptist Church in the city-centre, aiming to create a welcoming space on a weekly basis for connection, crafts and care. There’s a Volunteers Information Evening to find out more and help shape the plans on Thu 7 May, at 7:30 pm, inside The Link, at the Winchester Baptist Church (enter via the main entrance on City Road). For further details, you can contact Alison Dolphin via email.
- Osborne School in Winchester is a maintained special school for pupils with learning disabilities aged 11 to 19. It is seeking volunteer GCSE examination invigilators to support pupils during this summer’s upcoming exam season. The ideal candidates will be responsible, reliable and calm individuals, including parents, who are willing to help ensure the exams run smoothly and fairly. If you would like to express an interest in this volunteer role, then send the school an email.
- The Mounted Rural Patrol Volunteer Scheme allows fully vetted riders from local communities to assist Hampshire Police in tackling and reducing rural crime. Acting as the “eyes and ears” of the countryside, volunteers help strengthen situational awareness and reporting across rural areas, and play an invaluable part in helping to deter offences by increasing visibility, offering reassurance, and actively reporting incidents while out riding in rural spaces across the county. Residents who own a horse, and care about the protection of the countryside and wish to take part in a county-wide initiative are encouraged to get in touch by email.
- If you are a lover of preserving the past or steam trains, and want to help our local heritage railway, then the Watercress Line might be the right track for you to pursue volunteering your time! They have launched a series of new volunteer ‘Welcome Days’ this year as a way of introducing people to volunteering at the railway, and the vast array of volunteer roles they have. These events are for anyone aged 16 or over, and the next Welcome Day takes place this Sunday. If you’re interested in going along then: complete the online Volunteer Enquiry Form, email the railway, or phone them on 01962 587058.
