If so, you may be interested in the latest newsletter from the local organisation Carers for Carers:

C4C Newsletter September 2015

Deb Watts will be holding a coffee/tea morning for Macmillan Cancer Support on 26th Spetember 2015 from 11 am-2 pm in the Reading Room.

The Web Wise Project aims to help people over the age of fifty to get similar benefits from using the internet that younger people take for granted.  Eleven million people in the UK do not use the internet, yet often services and goods are most easily, and cheaply, available from the internet.  Older people, who do not use the internet, are increasingly at risk of being excluded from what are becoming “normal” life opportunities and activities.

Web Wise is provided by Age UK Warwickshire, in conjunction with Stratford District Citizen’s Advice Bureau.  We organise courses in local venues, like village halls.  Each course lasts six weeks, with one two-hour lesson each week.  The project is funded by Comic Relief.  We also work in partnership with Orbit Housing, Heart of England.

Web Wise courses are free.

Our courses cover the basic functions of the internet, including the World Wide Web, email and Skype (video calling), banking, shopping, and searching for information.  There is a particular emphasis on helping learners to save money, and to manage finances more effectively, by using services on the internet.

You may bring you own laptop or tablet computers, or you can use one of ours.  John Sawyer, the Project Co-ordinator, leads the courses and, where possible, there will also be Web Wise volunteers, who can give one to one support.   We try to tailor the course to individual needs, and to this end each learner is invited to do a self-assessment prior to starting the course.  Our next courses are at:

• Stretton on Fosse Village Hall –  Wednesday afternoons, starting 12 August
• Wellesbourne Church Centre – Tuesday mornings, starting 1 September
• Southam Grange Hall – Monday afternoons, starting 7 September
• Claverdon Church Centre – Thursday afternoons, starting 10 September

If you would like to attend one of the above courses, please contact:

John Sawyer on 07881 812943, or email john.sawyer@ageukwarks.org.uk or write to John Sawyer, Age UK Warwickshire, 8 Clemens Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 2DL

What will you be learning?

Lesson one: Introduction

• Overview of course
• Introduction to the internet and how to get on line
• Introduction to web browsers and search engines
• Practising basic search skills

Lesson two: Staying safe on line

• Anti-virus and firewall
• Password security
• Awareness of scams
• Awareness of fraud
• Using secure websites
• Using credit and debit cards
• Avoiding exploitation
• Advice from Warwickshire Trading Standards

Lesson three: Communication

• Setting up an email account
• Composing emails
• Replying to emails
• Forwarding emails
• Attaching files to emails
• Setting up a Skype account
• Introduction to social networking

Lesson 4: Managing money more effectively

• Online banking
• Saving money on train tickets
• Internet shopping
• Improving search techniques

Lesson 5:  Increasing income

• Getting financial advice
• Getting the best savings rates
• Selling things on eBay
• Using Pay Pal
• Using customer service terminals

Lesson 6:  Saving money on utilities

• Cheaper gas and electricity
• Cheaper broadband connections
• Using social networking
• Backing up
• Review of course

Avon Dassett Local History Group rounded off their year-long project on a year in the life of the village during World War I, The Extraordinary and the Everyday, with an exhibition at the Dassett Country Show on 1 August.

The Exhibition provided information on 12 of the 31 Avon Dassett men who enlisted during the war as well as details of life on the Home Front. There were also displays of material from current villagers commemorating their relatives who fought in the war.

William Harding of Daventry won the Under 12s Quiz and Paul Hayden of Avon Dassett, the Adults Quiz.

The weather stayed kind and there was a record turnout for the Dassett Country Show on August 1.

For more pictures and reports see this article in the Banbury Guardian: http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/community/community-news/sun-shines-down-on-fun-filled-dassett-country-show-1-6882886

Following the Gardening Club’s enjoyable visit to the garden of Graham and Sandra Rice in Leamington Hastings, Sandra has kindly supplied information on the historic trees and grounds of Bitham Hall. To learn more visit the local history pages.

In spite of the heavy rain which brought the event to a premature end, the total raised by the Soap Box Derby was £3750.00. When expenses for food and drink and printing etc. are subtracted the amount available for donation is £2000.00 to BLESMA and £500.00 to McMillan Cancer Support.

Well done to everyone involved!

In spite of the appalling weather, and having to abandon the races on safety grounds, Avon Dassett Soapbox Derby raised around £3000 for BLESMA and Macmillan Nurses the supported charities.

Many thanks to Colin Smith and Graeme Miller who worked tirelessly to organise this year’s event.

See this report from the Lentus team for information on the challenging conditions.

In spite of a dramatic electrical storm in the middle afternoon, a power failure at the teas, and a blocked toilet causing a minor flood, Avon Dassett Open Gardens was a resounding success with everyone showing true Dunkirk spirit and carrying on!

A total of 10 village gardens were open, there was a sale of gardening books, plants and tombola in the Reading Room, and St John’s Church was open for visitors. There was also a Plant Stall at Hill Top Farm, and Teas were served at Old Mill Cottage. Despite the heavy showers mid afternoon, there was a good turn out of visitors, up 50% on 2014.

Money raised for the National Gardens Scheme group of Charities was as follows:-

212 Admissions @ £5……………£1,060.00
Teas………………………………………£456.00
Reading Room tombola etc………..£84.24
Share of Plant Sales…………………..£20.00
Donation……………………………………£5.00

Total Raised for NGS……………..£1,625.24
Well done to everyone concerned.