Long-serving hospital volunteers are celebrated

NINETEEN long-serving volunteers in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, have been honoured in a special awards ceremony.
More than 400 people volunteer their time on a regular basis at Musgrove Park, and 186 of them have awards for five years’ service, and 86 have 10-year awards.
Volunteer co-ordinator Jeni Clark said: “Our volunteers do a simply fantastic job.
“They help in wards, in clinics, on reception, with clerical work, in the chapel ,and with Apple AM.
“They complement the staff and help provide a high-quality service to the patients who need us.”
Hugh Gloyn, who worked as a salesman in the retail business for 40 years, now volunteers at Musgrove, greeting and guiding visitors in the Old Building once a week.
He received a five-year award and said: “Although it is ‘only’ helping on reception, you meet all sorts of people in all sorts of situations.
“Hospitals are happy places and sad places and I try to make sure that everybody is greeted with a smile.”
When the Beacon cancer care centre opens at Musgrove in May of next year, there will be additional opportunities for people to volunteer at Musgrove.
Anybody who is interested should contact Jeni Clark by calling 01823 343447 or emailing jeni.clark@tst.nhs.uk.

• Our photograph shows (left to right) back row - Ruth Cottenham, Hugh Gloyn, Michael Beacham, Sheila Ruff, Gwenan Jones, and Selina Selwood. Front - Wendy Hewson, Pat Slade, Avril Phillips, and Anna Grace (receiving the award on behalf of her husband Jim). Photo submitted.

Anniversary for community youth volunteer scheme

THE first anniversary is being celebrated this month for a community youth development programme in Minehead which has seen youngsters rewarded for volunteering to help out in their local community.
‘Dreamscheme - Seaward Way’, the Minehead branch of the national Dreamscheme initiative, is run by Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from the Avon and Somerset Constabulary and youth service staff from Somerset County Council, with support from many other local and national organisations.
It encourages young people to earn points through a series of community-based work projects, including litter-picking and gardening.
Earning 10 points for every hour spent on a community project, the youths can redeem their points on social activities.
One recent Dreamscheme trip invited young people to redeem 15 of their points in return for a free game of ten pin bowling.
The project was established in Seaward Way last autumn by PCSOs Rachel Cutler and Luisa Skinner and it continues to engage local young people in community-based activities as well as holding a weekly youth club for the over-10s.
The October school half-term is a busy week for the Dreamscheme, and young people can take part in activities such as a gardening project in the nearby playground and baking cakes for a senior citizens’ coffee morning.
Their efforts will be rewarded with a volunteer-run Halloween party on October 31.
PCSO Luisa Skinner said: “The Dreamscheme project is really popular among young people in Minehead.
“They feel great about contributing to improving the area they live in and enjoy the benefits of the rewards.
“Local residents are all very supportive of the scheme and one year on, it is still going from strength to strength.”
County council Minehead ward Councillor Ian Galloway, who contributed £500 to the project from his community budget, said: “The Dreamscheme is a great outlet for young people in the area, and I am very grateful for the hard work and commitment that our local PCSOs and youth workers have put into this project.
“I have been very happy to make a contribution via our community budget to this valuable scheme for our younger citizens.”
County council community safety portfolio holder, Councillor Henry Hobhouse, said: “We are committed to providing services for local people at all stages of their lives, and have contributed £475,000 of funding for the county’s PCSOs.
“The Dreamscheme is an excellent example of the council and the police encouraging young people to release their potential for the benefit of the community as a whole.”

• Our photograph shows youngsters on the Seaward Way estate being briefed on a litter pick earlier in the year. Photo submitted.

Volunteers needed to aid mineral line restoration and explain to visitors

NEW volunteers are being sought by the West Somerset Mineral Railway Project to give guided walks and talks, help at events, test out walks along the line, and regularly check to make sure it is accessible for visitors, undertaking conservation work where necessary.
The project aims to conserve the remarkable legacy of Victorian industry both within Exmoor National Park and along the West Somerset coast.
It was last year awarded a £603,500 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to help with conservation work, creating physical access, and interpretation.
The railway, built in the 1860s, ran from the iron mining region of the Brendon Hills to the coast at Watchet, from where iron ore was shipped across the Severn Estuary to be smelted in South Wales.
Project heritage education officer Mary Olszewska said: “We are looking for people who may have an interest in the West Somerset Mineral Railway or perhaps are local residents who have grown up with it and have some good tales to tell.
“Maybe they have an interest in industrial archaeology, or perhaps they enjoy walking on Exmoor and sharing its beautiful landscape with others, either way if they have a few hours to spare to become a mineral line volunteer, we would like to hear from them.”
Watchet Market House Museum is also looking for new volunteers.
The museum has a fascinating collection of photographs and artefacts about the mineral railway, and has money to improve its display.
A spokesman said: “Volunteering can be an excellent way to meet new people and learn more about your local history and landscape.”
A Mineral Line Volunteer Open Day is being held on Thursday, August 14, from 10 am to 2 pm at Langham Engine House, in the Forestry Commission-owned Chargot Woods off the B3224 (OS 35:97).
It will be a drop in event with refreshments and will be an opportunity to find out more about the roles available and hear about the history of the WSMR.
Anybody who is interested or would like to discuss the issue further should contact Mary Olszewska on 07966 515589 or email molszewska@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk.
The restoration project is administered by Exmoor National Park Authority, which leads a consortium of local and national partners comprising West Somerset Council, the Forestry Commission, Somerset County Council, Watchet Town Council, English Heritage, Watchet Market House Museum, the Exmoor Mines Research Group, and the Somerset Rural Youth Project.
Expertise is provided by key individuals such as Mike Jones, David Dawson, Eric Robinson, and Linda la Valle.

Smart new look for Dreamscheme community volunteers

DREAMSCHEME volunteers and young people in the Seaward Way area of Minehead will now look smarter than ever, thanks to the support of local printing firm, Porlock Print.
PCSOs Luisa Skinner and Rachel Cutler met with Porlock Print boss Gary Needs and came up with a design for a polo shirt for all volunteers and children to wear when carrying out their activities and tasks in the community.
The Dreamscheme project is planning a fun day with sports coaching and re-opening of the revamped multi-use games area at Sandpiper Close, on Friday April 18.
During the past three months, young people and volunteers have been redecorating the boards that surround the area, and with support from Magna West Somerset and Knightstone Housing Associations, West Somerset Council, and police, new lines will be painted for football and basketball, and new football goals and basketball nets will be fitted.
Funding for the Dreamscheme project has also been received from local businesses and agencies.

• Our photograph shows Gary Parker with some of the Dreamscheme volunteers. Photo submitted.

Railway station office appeals for administration volunteers

AS the West Somerset Railway prepares for its 2008 season after breaking all previous figures for numbers of passengers carried in 2007 the northern terminus station of the 20 mile long heritage line is looking for more volunteer staff to help with the workload.
“We need assistance in several areas,” said Minehead Stationmaster Alan Scott, “And with this in mind we will be pleased to welcome potential new volunteers to the station on Sunday, February 24, between 10 am and 2.30 pm.”
Areas where help is particularly needed are in the station office, dealing with bookings for special events, personal and telephone callers, mailshots and general administration, and out on the platforms, helping passengers with information and seeing that they safely board and leave trains.
For those who are good with figures and like talking to people there are also vacancies in the Booking Office roster where the railway would like to have two clerks on duty for as much of the time as possible.
Mr Scott said: “We are a friendly group of people and we give training as necessary. Most of those who start, tend to become slightly ‘addicted’ and often call in on days when they aren't working to see how things are going.
“If anybody cannot make it on the 24th please ring the station on 01643 704996, leave your details, and I will be in touch.”

• Our photograph shows volunteers at work in the railway office. Photo submitted.