April 2009

It's April, it's springtime, and as you may have gathered - your ESCO enjoys a good belly laugh every now and then!

Earlier this month I happened to stumble across some of the classic April Fool's pranks that have been played out over the years. For example - did you know that a mysterious 'zebra crossing' appeared overnight on the M3 in the year 2000?  Or how about the 1982 story run by the Daily Mail about a stock of 10,000 'rouge bras' that were causing interference with radio and television signals? Apparently the chief engineer of British Telecom, upon reading the article, immediately ordered that all his female laboratory employees disclose what type of bra they were wearing!

So 'April Fool's Day seemed a fitting way to start this month's jam-packed, crazy extended services blog.

So hands up whoever is young (or brave) enough to admit they were duped by the Swiss Spaghetti harvest on Panorama in 1957?  Or did you participate in Patrick Moore's 'Planetary Gravitational Alignment' joke via BBC Radio 2, where the nation was instructed to jump up in the air at exactly 9.47am on the morning of 1 April 1976?  Well true to form - I managed to find a few 2009 classics to share with you.  Firstly there was the White House dog (see left) making an appearance on Google Maps, and then there was the practical joke that popped up on the screen for those health conscious folks who loaded their Wii Fit Boards on 1st April (mine just tells me off!).  But we have to take our hats off to the travel company Expedia for their fabulously extravagant prank offer...

Flights to Mars for only $99!

You can see their quality promotional page, YouTube video promotion (as they even went as far as producing a video to promote their amazing $3 trillion money saving offer) and then go and choose your intergalactic hotel from a selection at:

http://www.expedia.com/daily/mars/flights-to-mars/?mcicid=Mars_home_us

Which leads me very nicely to a question I've been puzzling over recently..............

If NASA can put one man on the moon then why can't they put them all up there? 

Joking aside, although it has absolutely no intergalactic connection other than the warp speed that some of our rider manage to reach by crouching down over their handlebars, April started with our spring re-launch of the new 'Ped Shed' at X-Perience Young Persons' Centre in Fareham.  This project not only aims to deliver a message regarding safe and responsible riding, but it also provides a safe place for young riders to 'hang out' once a week.  Councillor John and Mrs Bryant kindly came along on our launch night to chat to some of our young people.  But sadly they declined my offer of burnt burgers and over-stewed mugs of tea.   Somehow I can't see myself being head-hunted by the owner of the burger van on Portdown Hill when this role diminishes in 2010; even with a food hygiene certificate under my belt!

On Friday 3rd April, Mark Hoban (MP) kindly paid a follow-up visit to our students at Portchester Community School.  Again, the PCS students presented themselves beautifully and offered Mr Hoban some very constructive ideas to make Portchester a better place to be a teenager.  Following the young peoples' useful suggestions, there are already plans being discussed to provide a bicycle rack at the Port Solent cinema complex.  So it was a fabulous that our students had the affirmation that their ideas are not only being listened too, but also being acted upon.   We look forward to Mr Hoban returning to the school for another visit in July. 

Although it has not yet be published on the web site, there is a mention of the visit to Portchester Community School in the latest edition of the Conservative's 'In-Touch' Publication.  This should be available soon online at: http://www.farehamconservatives.org.uk/page/56/

Later in the month I set off for the beautiful city of Winchester for a meeting about allocating additional resources for Intergenerational Projects; particularly integrating young people and the older generation.  

Our small task group from the Older-Persons' Well-Being Team and Extended Services finally agreed on the format for the application form.  Therefore, I am now proud to announce that this source of funding is now open for groups and individuals (both from the voluntary and statutory sector) to bid for amounts from £50 to £2,500 for creative, new projects.  Please feel free to download your application form and guidance notes for this intergenerational funding source below:

Intergenerational Project Application Form & Guidance Notes

(The closing date for submitting your bids is: Monday 1st June 2009)

If you require evidence of need for your Older People's Well-Being Application Form, then you may be interested in reading "Fareham Borough Council's Older People's Strategy 2008-2013" at:

 http://www.fareham.gov.uk/pdf/community/OPstrategy.pdf  (Please note that this is a hefty sized document so it may time a wee bit of time to download).

I know that many of our schools are taking part in Silver Surfer's Week this year (11 - 15th May 2009) which is not only fantastic news for our older residents,  but an ideal opportunity to integrate a vast spectrum of age groups into our schools.  Many of these may be your local residents who pass by the school gates each day - so let's try and bring them in and make them welcome.  Many thanks in advance to the CAPP schools who are dipping their toes into the Silver Surfer pool for the first time this year.   I hope your events are a great success and look forward to your feedback and photos.

At the aforementioned meeting, I also had a chance to meet with the 'brains' behind the Hampshire Silver Surfers web site (link below) and preview some of the resources (e.g. such as the HCC Silver Surfers pack shown right).

  Silver Surfers Hampshire 

The Hampshire Silver Surfers web site contains lots of useful links, tips and downloadable resources to make your own event a success - including a link to Computer Skills for Life that can be used with your first time, tentative web browsers.  At the Hampshire Silver Surfers launch event (see picture above left), it appeared that searching 'Romsey' on Google earth was particularly popular with the older participants; as well as searching for books on Amazon, reading the news on the BBC sites and finding out the local weather forecast.  I hope this useful new site gives you plenty of creative ideas for your own event?

Please feel free to contact the Silver surfers team to add your event to their database of free events taking place across the county.

Another event that schools, children's' centres and community groups may like to get involved in, is the first ever National Family Week that runs from the 25th - 31st May 2009.  This event aims to bring families together and on Monday 25th May there will be a Guinness Book of Records attempt to hold the biggest family picnic ever!   To be part of this supersized picnic event and for more ideas on how your organisation can help celebrate everything about families, then please take a look at the new web site at:

National Family Week

On the site there is a database of listings of family events taking place across the country, but sadly Hampshire events are few and far between.  But fear not, there is still time to get your own family events listed!

Don't forget that you can signpost your families to sign up to regular newsletters from: www.fitterfamilies.com.    Fitter Families also supports the Change 4 Life initiative. 

Please find below a downloadable poster to display at schools, Children's Centres and community groups with 8 top tips for families to eat well, move more and live longer that you may consider putting up at your setting:

Change 4 Life - 8 Top Tips (pdf)

Please don't forget that is you are thinking of setting up Change 4 Life, Healthy Families sessions at your school, then please contact Maggie Knox, the Family Learning Coordinator at Keepsake Children's Centre for lots of great ideas that are being piloted at Red Barn Primary School this month.  Visit http://www.portchestercommunitycentre.btik.com/ and click on Keepsake Children's Centre for Maggie's contact details and look out for the new spring edition of the Portchester People publication that features Family Learning on the front cover.

Is anyone is interested in running Trailblazer scheme from September 2009?  This may particularly be of interest to some of our local primary schools who are thinking of piloting this form of outdoor education project, then I have the contact details for a qualified teacher who may be interested in offering this excellent project at other schools. 

Please e-mail me on shiggs@farehamaction.org.uk or ring 07814 307012 if you would like more details of the facilitator.

I would also recommend that our partners take a visit to the Trailblazer Homepage to find out all of the up and coming training courses.  You will also find details of THE DIG, which is an additional fun training day for staff delivering Trailblazers. For all schools with a pond, you may be interested in the following:

  Make the most your school grounds! 

If you are interested in offering your pond as a training resource, arrange training for staff in maximising its teaching potential, and would like advice on pond management and improvement for wildlife.  Then please contact: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust on dianas@hwt.org.uk

Which leads me beautifully onto introducing you to Jaxs' Arts & Designs - the home of creative arts based projects, activities and training which uses a variety of re-used, recycled and natural materials.    Many of the activities, whether delivered as a one-off workshop at a school, Children's Centre, Gala, Festival or Carnival event, or as a longer series of workshops, can be used in a variety of environments as a tool for engagement and activity.

 If you would like more details, or you would like to contact the artist Jacqueline Rolls directly then please take a visit to:

Jaxs' Arts & Designs

I shall come right back down-to earth to finish this month's blog.  For creative signposting opportunities to put into your newsletters, please sign up to the mailing list from Culture-All to receive special offers, listing of events and competitions taking place across Hampshire.  This month for instance, you can download 2 for the price of 1 discount vouchers for Manor Farm and Staunton Country Park, amongst many other amazing offers for families.  The Culture All Hampshire web site has lots of inspirational ideas for days out in Hampshire...with something to suit everyone.

Please let finally me introduce you to a partner who can offer tailor-made "Relaxation for Health" packages for our school and community partners.   The Golden Light Reiki School offer a vast array of packages including: meditation and relaxation, Reiki taster sessions, personal empowerment sessions, Tai Chi, healthy eating talks, exercise plans and stress-busting techniques.    All of these sessions can be tailored for any groups of adults (including stressed teaching and support staff), young children and even teenagers.  These sessions have been well-received by Sure Start Children's Centres. 

If you require more details, then please feel free to contact Karen on 01329 842458 or visit:  www.reikigold.com

Please note that Extended Services CAPP grant funding can be made available for some of these community and family workshop activities/events/courses and events.  Please feel free to get in touch with Susie if you are unsure of the eligibility of certain projects, or simply if you would like to discuss any of your plans towards sustainable extended services in 2010.  There is still a small amount of grant funding remaining for this financial year.

Please remember to submit your 2008/09  CAPP Grant Application Form to Susie before 1 July 2009

I look forward to seeing many of you for the 2009 school audit visits.  I also look forward to seeing many, many more of our community partners at the next CAPP meeting on 22nd May 2009 (10 am -12 noon at Portchester Community Centre) where Portsmouth Relate with be giving a presentation about supporting families in schools.  Until then, please remember that packing tape should not be used for painful practical jokes...

What do you call an overweight ET?

An Extra Cholesterol!