September Update

Posted on August 28, 2021August 28, 2021 by old school

Queen Camel Community Land Trust

Hello everyone! We trust you have had a happy and refreshing summer holiday despite the disappearance of the heatwave. During this holiday period, refurbishment has continued apace at the Old School. This includes the transformation of one room into a hairdressing salon which Lisa Hinks plans to open on 7^th September. A huge vote of thanks to husband, Rob, and other members of her family who have worked so hard to help us achieve this deadline – and our very best wishes to Lisa from everyone already at the Old School.

Since the last edition of this magazine we are delighted to tell you there are three new enterprises starting by or during October. These are

‘Lucy’s Beauties’, by Lucy Stone, a beauty therapist: face–hands–feet. Facebook: @sparkfordbeautys;
‘The Old School Day Centre’ for people with complex needs, by Ewelina Wiesner owner of Silverstars Care, who says, “Our aim is to offer day activities and a hot meal to enable and stimulate, for example people with dementia. In addition, we would like to offer help around learning new skills (e.g. employment opportunity) for people with learning disabilities”; and
The Clinic’, by Kit & Simon Stapely, who will be providing a holistic health clinic which will help those who suffer from, for example, Osteoporosis, Multiple Sclerosis and similar afflictions, and much more.

Each of the above will have their own websites and/or Facebook (and other social media) sites which in turn will be linked to the Old School website. To achieve their opening plans and like Lisa & Rob, they will be helping the Old School band of volunteers to transform their rooms.

While this is happening, the external transformation of the old school hall by HFP is continuing. For a (short) while it might become a white box, The length of ‘short’ is somewhat dependent on paint supplies – suppliers are struggling to get stock – but this does give Perry a little longer to design a mural!

Art Exhibition: tenant Andy Palmer, is holding an exhibition of his work from 18^th September to 3^rd October.

This is part of Somerset Art Works’ ‘Open Studios’ event across Somerset. More information can be found on their website: www.somersetartworks.org.uk.

We (CLT) hope to have restarted our art gallery by that date. Some of you will remember we had started this before the advent of Covid but when the first lockdown came upon us we returned most of the art to its owners. We hope that all readers of this magazine may wish to visit this exhibition, noting of course that Cam’s Kitchen is open on Wednesday-Friday and Saturday morning and usually the artisans in the Pods in the old hall will also be open for you to visit.

We had originally planned that the anniversary of our acquisition of the site, 3^rd May 2019, would become our annual open event but Covid stopped that happening for two years. Our forward plan for next year is to dovetail our open event with the village celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee (from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June). This is just an early notice so that you can mark the dates.

As always enquiries through admin@oldschoolqueencamel.org.uk or to 01935 850254.

May Update and News

Posted on June 1, 2021June 1, 2021 by old school

Queen Camel Community Land Trust

Our second anniversary of buying the Old School was on 3^rd May (above picture just before this, with the Ad Hoc notice still on the gate). We were not able to celebrate either the first or the second anniversaries due to lockdowns but hopefully we will have a big party for the third next year – ideas welcome.

In last month’s issue we congratulated Christine & Ian on the successful start of Cam’s Kitchen. This week they were delighted to start welcoming visitors to their tables inside – dry and warm and out of the wind. We were delighted that in the nick of time we finished decorating the first of two toilets for the use of visitors in this Victorian building. The second will be completed as soon as possible.

This month we record a welcome to the Benefice Office (and our congratulations to Revd. Katharine on her engagement). We have noted that they also love Christine’s coffee!

We hope in the not-too-distant future and before the end of this year to welcome a hairdresser, a local person whose name will be announced when we have finalised arrangements.

The front gardens are coming along well – a very big ‘thank you’ to Bob & Helen for hours of care and to Claire for planting suggestions and also to Geoff who gallantly battles with the leaves and grass. More volunteers for the garden and/or painting (that 4^th bridge) would be very welcome. We also still have some workspace – as always enquiries through admin@oldschoolqueencamel.org.uk or to 01935 850254.

RHC

Open for Business & Community Share Launch

Posted on October 10, 2019October 10, 2019 by old school

OLD SCHOOL, QUEEN CAMEL, SOMERSET, OPENS FOR BUSINESS AND LAUNCHES A COMMUNITY SHARE OFFER

When the Countess Gytha Primary School, Queen Camel moved to new premises the Queen Camel Community Land Trust Ltd. (QCCLT) came up with a plan to breathe new life into the site. The original Victorian schoolhouse, now Grade II listed, was built in 1872 and was gifted to the parish by the Mildmay family. The school was transferred to and extended by Somerset County Council and has been educating children from the local and wider community almost continually ever since.

The Board of QCCLT shared a vision of developing the site into a self-sustaining, vibrant enterprise which would support new and small businesses and provide services and facilities that would help the local community and those in need. With the help of a grant from Power to Change, QCCLT purchased the site from Somerset County Council in May this year and is now bringing the dream to fruition.

Thanks to a band of willing volunteers, the outdoor wilderness has been tamed and may eventually contain a children’s play area and sensory garden. The 1920s building now has its first tenants who have gamely decorated their own rooms and provide practical help and support to the Directors of QCCLT.

Of course, the road to sustainability is costly. Bridging Bonds need to be repaid and there are a number of urgent works that need attending to. QCCLT is, therefore, asking both the local and wider community to help by buying shares. The share offer was launched on 27^th and 28^th September when the Old School threw open its doors inviting everyone to see the work in progress and to be part of the Old School’s future by becoming shareholders. Many came to reminisce about their own or their children’s time at the school, met QCCLT Board members and the wonderful and talented tenants to date:

Jo Noall of ReactiveK9 – a dog behaviourist and trainer,
Marcus and Glenda Colquhoun of Affinity Arts – glass artists specialising in kiln-formed glass,
HomeFirst Plus, a not for profit organisation helping elderly and vulnerable people live independently,
Amie Hancock of Helping Hands, offering a holistic approach to working with families, children, young people, adults and parents, and
Marilyn Upton, a qualified practitioner of hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helping people cope with anxiety and stress.

Whether you are interested in the share offer, renting some space, meeting the tenants or are just curious you can go along to meet the Old School Community 5.00-7.00pm on Wednesday 6^th November over a glass of wine and nibbles or 11.00-1.00pm on Saturdays 9^thand 16^th November over coffee and biscuits.

You can communicate with the Old School, find out about the share offer and find contact details for the tenants on the Old School website www.OldSchoolQueenCamel.org.uk . You can email them at admin@oldschoolqueencamel.org.uk. You can find them at The Old School, High Street, Queen Camel, Somerset, BA22 7NH. They would love to hear from you!