Disability group opens party doors to secret Santa

SECRET Santa paid a visit to the Open DAWS Christmas lunch party in Minehead last week.
Members of the activities group for people with disabilities were handed their gifts by volunteers - treasurer Joe Magill and his helper Jess - as part of the annual get-together at the seafront Beach Hotel, and enjoyed a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.
West Somerset Council community portfolio holder, Councillor Neil Parbrook, said: “Christmas is a time for people to gather together in festive good cheer, and it is heartening when any group is meeting with those aspirations.
“In providing people of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy activities and excursions they might not otherwise do, Open DAWS offers a valuable service to the local West Somerset community.”
Open DAWS, which stands for Disabled Activities in West Somerset, was launched by the district council in 2001 and has grown to a total of 30 members.
Transport for excursions, activities, and outings is provided by community transport group AT West, and events planned for January include swimming, sea fishing, dance aerobics, and a sauna visit.
Anybody interested in joining Open DAWS or who would like to talk about the activities should call Gail Sloman on 01984 635208 or West Somerset Council leisure and community officer Liz Stewart on 01984 635330.

• Our photograph shows Santa with members of Open DAWS at their Christmas party. Photo submitted.

HOPE event for people facing prejudice or harassment

AN event is being organised next month in Dunster for anybody who has experienced or is worried about being harassed or facing prejudice because of their race, faith, sexual orientation, or disability.
HOPE - Harassment or Prejudice Event – will take place in the Tithe Barn Community Hall on Wednesday, October 8, at 1 pm.
Speakers at the event include the police, local council, Crown Prosecution Service, Somerset Racial Equality Council, and Witness Service representatives, as well as somebody with personal experience of these sorts of incident.
Information will be available about support services and crime prevention and Tthere will be an opportunity to ask questions of all the organisations involved in tackling the problem.
The day will feature display stands from agencies involved and there will be a panel of representatives who will explain how the agencies work together, as well as a victim story.
A number of discussion groups will cover topics such as
Hate crime reporting - exploring the reasons why people do not report offences and what the agencies can do to encourage and make easier the reporting of such incidents
Safety awareness for businesses – for anybody running a business to share their experiences and find out what help is available to them, and to have their say in what should happen in the future
Your experience matters - where experiences of hate crime or being part of a minority community are shared with others, and suggestions made on how everybody can affect change
The court experience – finding out what happens if somebody is called as a victim/witness to court, the help and support which is available, and suggestions for improving the system
Free transport to Dunster’s HOPE is available via community transport scheme Atwest, which will be picking up from the Williton council offices at 11.15 am, from Butlins at 11.20 am, from the West Somerset Railway, in Watchet, at 11.25 am, the council offices in Summerland Avenue, Minehead, at 11.30 am, Driftwood Café, Blue Anchor, at 11.40 am, Silvermead, Alcombe, at 11.40 am, opposite Carhampton Post Office at 11.50 am, Ellicombe at 11.45 am, and Dunster at 12 noon.
To book a place at the event or to obtain further information, call 01935 402122, or just turn up on the day.