As we near the end of the year, please gather round for a chat with Jim Bell, the Development Director at Artspace. We’ll be listening to some of the music gathered from St Stephens Church and their annual Christmas Tree Festival. They play host to a special community choir taking part.

We look back at some of the themes from our earlier episodes and pay homage to the power of singing together, using a digital format to help make it happen.

Art Space - https://artspacecinderford.org/

Mindsong - https://www.mindsong.org.uk/

News Media Articles:

Choir Singing improves Health and Happiness:

https://www.ox.ac.uk/research/choir-singing-improves-health-happiness-%E2%80%93-and-perfect-icebreaker

Music contribution from:

The Forest of Dean Community Choir and Forest Sensory Services Choir

https://artspacecinderford.org/wellbeing-choir/

https://www.forestsensoryservices.org/

TELL YOUR STORY music by Ikson//Release #46 – ‘Still’ https://on.soundcloud.com/uLJ4QG1dgSkwE5JRG

These episodes are created with a love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Melanie@fvaf.org.uk community@fvaf.org.uk

These episodes are created with a love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Please join us for part 2 of our special extended episode on Dementia where we speak with Andy Morgan-Watts, co-founder of The Forest of Dean Dementia Action Alliance.

Andy shares something of his personal experience of caring for his wife. His passion for volunteering with Dementia Action Alliance, and the importance of spreading awareness to help build inclusive communities

For more information on some of the help and activities that are available, please see the links below:

• https://www.crossroadsglos.org.uk/dementia-action-alliance/
• https://www.justgiving.com/page/julie-kingston-1716358950881?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Sy6K7agVtCmMzxV31EJjFjv-gfb_2fx95msztURhENYK1FWIA-o6_D1k_aem_428vPZ0sSHTo4CUVa3FwSg
• https://sheppardhouse.co.uk
• https://www.gaylemerchantnutrition.co.uk/
• https://foodforthebrain.org/the-cognitive-function-test/
• https://www.brainhealthprogramme.com/
• https://gloucestershirecarershub.co.uk/
• https://www.fdean.gov.uk/communities-health-and-leisure/community-health-and-wellbeing/dementia-awareness/

Helplines:

Gloucestershire Support After Suicide Service (GSASS) 07483 375 516 Email: glossupportaftersuicide@rethink.org

Samaritans 116 123 (24 hours, free to call) www.samaritans.org

SANE: Mental Health Helpline 0300 304 7000 (7 days a week 4.30pm–10.30pm) www.sane.org.uk MIND 0300 123 3393 (Mon–Fri 9am–6pm) www.mind.org.uk

Melanie@fvaf.org.uk community@fvaf.org.uk

Music contribution comes from TELL YOUR STORY by Ikson//Release #46 – ‘Still’ https://on.soundcloud.com/uL4QG1dgSKwE5JRG

These episodes are created with a love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Please join us for a special extended episode as we explore the subject of Dementia and how it affects people, here in the Forest. We look at what services are on offer for people locally and pay a visit the Dementia Action Alliance Day. We get to speak to Lyndon Biddle who is the CEO at Sheppherd House - and Gail Merchant, who is a nutritionist and ardent supporter of improving our brain health.

We visit a Music Memory Café in Lydney and speak with Julie Kingston who is the Activities and Volunteer Co-ordinator at Crossroads Gloucestershire. She helps us find out about some of the services they have on offer.

We head over to Symonds Yat and a lunch that’s taking place at the Old Court Hotel restaurant. There we meet a couple who are enjoying one of the regular events being put on by the charity.

Special thanks go to Andy Morgan-Watts who joins us in part two of this episode. He shares something of his personal experience of caring for his wife.

For more information on some of the help and activities that are available, please see the links below:

• https://www.crossroadsglos.org.uk/dementia-action-alliance/
• https://www.justgiving.com/page/julie-kingston-1716358950881?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0Sy6K7agVtCmMzxV31EJjFjv-gfb_2fx95msztURhENYK1FWIA-o6_D1k_aem_428vPZ0sSHTo4CUVa3FwSg
• https://sheppardhouse.co.uk
• https://www.gaylemerchantnutrition.co.uk/
• https://foodforthebrain.org/the-cognitive-function-test/
• https://www.brainhealthprogramme.com/
• https://gloucestershirecarershub.co.uk/
• https://www.fdean.gov.uk/communities-health-and-leisure/community-health-and-wellbeing/dementia-awareness/

News media articles:

• Doctor says anti-inflammatory diet can help prevent dementia, diabetes and cancer (msn.com)
• https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/dementia-warning-as-four-habits-linked-to-cognitive-decline/ar-BB1pBKrb?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=d1155c2146f7475bb122a94597a16eca&ei=16

Helplines:

Gloucestershire Support After Suicide Service (GSASS) 07483 375 516 Email: glossupportaftersuicide@rethink.org

Samaritans 116 123 (24 hours, free to call) www.samaritans.org

SANE: Mental Health Helpline 0300 304 7000 (7 days a week 4.30pm–10.30pm) www.sane.org.uk MIND 0300 123 3393 (Mon–Fri 9am–6pm) www.mind.org.uk

Melanie@fvaf.org.uk community@fvaf.org.uk

Music contribution comes from TELL YOUR STORY by Ikson//Release #46 – ‘Sti

These episodes are created with a love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Please join us for episode 3 where we investigate the concept of Men’s Sheds - where they first started and the social benefits they provide. We take a trip to the Forest of Dean’s very own Community Shed and get to speak to some of the ‘Shedders’ and volunteers who work tirelessly to offer a safe space for people to connect, craft and build. We speak to Geoff Trout who help set up the Shed with his partner, Jane. We talk about Geoff’s involvement, passion and aspirations for the Forest Community Shed, going forward.

Our special thanks go to Jane, Debbie and Anna - and both Geoffs!

For more information on the activities happening at the Shed, please refer to their website, listed below - and if you’re wondering how to set up a Shed in your area, Men’s Sheds UK have a plethora of case studies and information to help inspire you:

https://www.forestcommunityshed.com/

https://menssheds.org.uk/

Permission was kindly given for the article quoted by Louise Starks ‘Researching the Value and Impact of Men’s Sheds on their members’. Please refer here for further information

https://menssheds.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/1000-faces-report-final-.pdf

These episodes are created with the love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Melanie@fvaf.org.uk community@fvaf.org.uk

Music contribution comes from TELL YOUR STORY by Ikson // Release #46 – ‘Still’ https://on.soundcloud.com/uLJ4QG1dgSkwE5JRG

These episodes are created with a love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Episode 2

These episodes are created with the love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Melanie@fvaf.org.uk community@fvaf.org.uk

With special thanks to Miriam Goldby and The Shalom Network who can be contacted at miriamgoldby@theshalomnetwork.org.uk and the residents and volunteers at Camphill Village Trust. We couldn’t have brought the conversations to life without your voices.

Credit: Music in episode from TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™

These episodes are created with a love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

These episodes are created with the love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.

Melanie@fvaf.org.uk community@fvaf.org.uk

With special thanks to HARE Forest School, including Charlie, Jenny, Zena and Amy… and guest star, Pippin. Please email info@harecic.co.uk or refer to their website for further information. A big thank you as well to Andrew Embling from Wilde Earth Journeys who can be contacted at hello@wildeearthjourneys.org

https://www.youtube.com/@wildeearthjourneys

Credit: Music in episode from TELL YOUR STORY music by ikson™

These episodes are created with a love of grassroots, community action at the heart of them. We showcase inspiring stories from people who have made their ideas come to life.