Projects
Blue Fish Café - Building Futures
Building Futures Together is a new initiative whereby we will work with local businesses to create new learning environments. This project will provide supported hands-on work experience in real work settings in a range of vocational areas.
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Our start-up team has been identified and they are currently undertaking a DCC Basic Food Hygiene Awareness course and further health and safety training. In addition, work skills sessions will continue, as normal and other courses will be introduced e.g. First Aid at Work, as we progress.
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Bovington Tank Museum, Easy Read Museum Guide
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We were invited by Felicity Wood to visit the Museum to assess accessibility to the exhibitions for people with a learning disability.
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We thought the museum needed a guidebook that others and we could follow and understand so, we suggested making one.
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Felicity agreed and for several months we made regular visits to gather our information put together our draft plan.
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Clare Tarling from People First Dorset joined us, as Clare is good at making easy read material.
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Others are currently piloting the guide. Keep up to date with us on Twitter to find out when our guide will be available!
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Bovington Tank Museum, Sweetheart Cards
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Our Dorchester Women’s group participated in an art workshop with Felicity from Bovington Tank Museum in making WW1 sweetheart cards.
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Their cards were put on display for others to see.
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Dorset County Hospital – Dentistry Dept.
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Following Debbie Chandlers Oral Health workshop our group members were asked to be part of the Special Care Dentistry edition of the Primary Dental Journal. The group have provided feedback on about their experience for the Special Care Dentistry and views on what is important to them when visiting the dentist
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History project at Dorset History Centre
The Dorchester ladies group has been working for some time with Maria Gayton on two projects with the Dorset History Centre. Several of the group have researched back to three generations. The whole group has made an oral history recording for others to listen to in the future.
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Community Work Tasks
Our work preparation groups continually work hard to update and maintain their employability skills. For the past eight years or so they have regularly delivered leaflets for local businesses, tended weeding and planting around Castletown and litter picked along Weymouth Harbour, Nothe Gardens, Black Barge Beach, Portland Castle grounds and car park, Castletown area, Easton Gardens, Tesco Portland, Dorchester Skate Park, and Maumbury Rings
Portland Community Organisers and our Safe Crossing Places Campaign
The group worked with the Portland Community Organisers, Bill and Dave to make safer crossing places on the Island.
Click here for the Facebook link.
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Tesco and Supporting Others
Fundraising with Tesco
Our group attended bag-packing sessions with Debbie at Tesco, Portland. Having practiced for many weeks we went out and did it for real one Friday morning. All monies raised by our efforts went to Diabetes UK, Tesco’s nominated charity of 2014
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Okhle Village Trust
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Our groups have put on coffee mornings and done a number of sponsored walks to raise money for the Okhle Village water projects in Nepal. Richard Backwell OBE set up the Trust in 2003.
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We are very lucky to have Richard on our team and in 2013 he took four members of the Muntsy’s team to meet the villagers and to see the project for themselves. www.okhle.org.uk
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Weymouth College
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For the second year, students attending the National Citizenship Scheme (NCS) have worked with our Weymouth and Portland groups. As part of this course, students have to experience working with a range of adult groups and we were only too pleased to oblige. They decided our Portland deserved a garden makeover and spent time raising money and working in all weathers during their midterm break to get it finished. It is fantastic!
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Echo Toy appeal
The Portland group put on a Christmas coffee morning in December. Three of our group members provided entertainment whilst others served customers, sold goods and ran the tombola. The group raised £140 and donated their profits to the Christmas Toy appeal
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The Princes Trust
The Prince's Trust is a youth charity that helps change young lives. The programs give vulnerable young people the support needed to move forward with their lives, helping them to develop self-esteem and skills for work. We were lucky to have worked with them again this year as they always make the day great fun! They had planned a day of communication activities and trust games
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Camp Bestival
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Our Performing Arts group took part in the Camp Bestival Festival by running an interactive workshop. The workshop "Strictly Fun!" used the music and the movement within us to harness the imagination.
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The workshop performed in the Bollywood Tent involved exploring our voices and bodies through dance, mime, and song and evolved by taking participants on a journey to a surprise destination.
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The performance was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience and was a great success!
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Boomerang Bags
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Boomerang bags are about connecting and empowering our local communities to tackle plastic pollution at its source. Once a month, we run a Boomerang Bag making session from our center in the evening that is attended by people in our community.
A boomerang bag milestone reached recently, our woman's group along with the monthly community group passed the 100-bag target! with more to come. Well done to everyone involved, what an achievement!
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ASDAN - Towards Independence Award Ceremony
We were all very proud to see our group members receiving their ASDAN towards independence awards at Weymouth Connect this afternoon. Hard work, new skills, and knowledge rewarded! Thanks to Jo, Mel, and the Tricuro team. Great to see positive partnership working!
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Art Exhibition
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Our art group held the first exhibition this summer. The works on display were stunning and demonstrated the skills and talents of our group members.
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MV Freedom Boat
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We have enjoyed trips out to sea this year with the crew from the absolutely cracking vessel the MV Freedom. The charity has been in existence for over 36 years and provides access to the sea for those people living with a disability.
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Conservation Group
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Our conservation group has been extremely busy this year. Working hard at Radipole Nature reserve, and Lorton Meadows, the group have undertaken many activities to improve and enhance the area. They have had visits from various experts and have found out a great deal about bats, owls, and spiders! Currently, they are working hard to reduce plastic and have changed how we, as a center, recycle and reuse our waste.
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A Very Special Moment
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Jane received her ribbon of office (The Mayor's Representative) From Portland Mayor, Sue Cocking. Jane is a group member of Muntsy's as well as being a Trustee of the Charity Opportunities R Un Limited.
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Using our Parks
Our groups have been using our local parks. This year, our Dorchester Community group attended an outdoor yoga session in the Borough Gardens. On Portland, they also enjoyed a perfect community day fr a picnic in Victoria Gardens.
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