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These are websites I use to find activity ideas for you. You may sometimes prefer to go directly to these sites:

• Go places Do things (teenagers)
• Go Places to Play (younger children)
• Titchhiker’s Guide Pick of the Month
• Bristol City Council’s Events Page
• Visit Bristol – events
• Crackerjack
• Creative Learning Agency
• Easton and Lawrence Hill Events Diary
• First group discounts /days out
• Colston Hall
• Bristol Folk House
• The Trinity Centre
• St Werburghs events
• the love of it (not just Bristol)
• Bristol Parenting Hub
• Wellspring Healthy Living Centre
• The Prom Music Bar
• The Comedy Box (16+)

Please email bristol@time2share.org.uk if you have similar websites to recommend (no junk please!).

Cinema remains a popular (but expensive) befriending activity. This information should help you save money for your matched family:

Kids’ Clubs

Vue cinemas (e.g. Cribbs Causeway) have a good deal: there‘s a film on that costs 95p for adults/children (but adults need a child with them) on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This also seems to apply to everyday in the school holidays (usually around 10am). See www.myvue.com , choose cinema and then ‘hot offers‘. There are also teenage films for £1.95 (see here) and 3D films for £2.95.

Cineworld, Hengrove Leisure Park, Hengrove Way, Bristol, 0871 200 2000. £1 (incl fun and games) one adult admitted free when accompanied by a child. Saturday mornings (check dates and films). See www.cineworld.co.uk/films/junior . Scroll down to the bottom of the listings for the Bristol cinema and you‘ll see the £1 films

Cinékids is at the Watershed (Canon‘s Rd, near the Fountains in the Centre) once a month. It is usually 1pm on the 3rd Saturday of the month (check their calendar) and is aimed at children aged 8-12. Cost £2 per child and £3.50 for adults (adults need to be accompanied by a child). There are often creative activities related to the film afterwards. e.g. a street dance workshop in July 2010.

Odeon (Union Street, Broadmead). £1 and one adult admitted free with a child. See here and look for the parent and child icon (Saturday and Sunday).

Cinema discounts

CEA cards enable a disabled person to take someone else into the cinema with them for free (e.g. their befriender or parent). The cards cost £5.50 and last a year so they pay for themselves the first time you use them. See www.ceacard.co.uk  to apply.

 “The CEA Card is the national concessionary card developed by the Association to allow people with disabilities to obtain one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. Around 90 per cent of UK cinemas now support the scheme, ranging from the large national chains to smaller independent operators. Further details on the scheme can be found on the CEA Card website here. (This site may open in a new window)”. At the moment it seems to cost £5.50 and last one year. This means that one befriender or parent can go to the cinema free each time they are with a young person who has a valid CEA card.

This website: www.artsline.org.uk will give you accessibility information about different venues, including cinemas. If you follow this link: www.yourlocalcinema.com/ad.bristol.html you will see a list of current films in Bristol which have audio descriptions (for people who are visually impaired).

Befriendees love having one off trips out of Bristol over the summer.

Use Journey Planner to plan specific public transport journeys.

Here are some ideas for local beaches:

Berrow and Brean, or Burnham-on-Sea (29 miles from Bristol)

get there: via the M5 (j22) or A38 and follow signs, or by train to Highbridge and Burnham (usually every hour or so, but check times and how you get to Brean from Burnham!)

ffi: www.burnham-on-sea.com

Beach: lots to do including boating. It’s great at high tide here, but be careful with the mudflats at low tide. Swimming is best avoided on Burnham’s South Beach because the currents are very strong.

Nearby: lighthouse on wooden stilts, pier with pavillion and amusement arcade, Apex Park Wildlife centre, 19th century shipwreck, Brean Down, Alstone Wildlife Park, Brean Down Tropical Bird Garden, Brean Leisure Park.

Clevedon (14 miles from Bristol)

get there: M4 (j20)

ffi: www.clevedon.gov.uk

Beach: quaint seaside (more retired people than kids with spades). Small and pebbly beaches but with rock pool opportunities. There’s a pier.

Weston-Super-Mare (22 miles from Bristol)

get there: M5 (j21) then A370 westwards and follow signs, or A368. Trains every half hour or so from Temple Meads.

ffi: www.weston-super-mare.com

Beach: mini Blackpool with donkey rides and all. The pier should be reopening this summer (Points West will keep us updated!).

Nearby: SeaQuarium, North Somerset Museum, Helicopter Museum, Weston Wheel (like the London Eye). You can take boat trips to Steep Holm (nature reserve island) from Knightstone Harbour.

Portishead (10 miles from Bristol)

get there: go over the Suspension Bridge and take the A369. Take the 357/358/359 bus from central Bristol (they seem to leave around every half hour and take about 45 minutes).

Beach: It’s a fairly sandy beach and the closest to Bristol. Just by the beach there’s an open air swimming pool and a boating lake.

To find out more about local beaches see: the beach guide website.

Parents should cover volunteer and child costs so consult parents about any big day trip plans (Time2Share has no activity budget this year).

Some of this information came from a recent edition of Venue.

The latest Summer Holiday bowling deal from Hollywood Bowl is:

“Treat the little monsters to two games, a meal and a drink for just £4.95 per person*. To get this offer simply find your nearest bowl and book – it’s as simple as that.”

*A few Ts & Cs apply

Mostly copied from http://www.venue.co.uk/dayso/dayso_events.html:

July

July 16-24: Bristol Brouhaha Comedy Festival Tobacco Factory & Hen and Chicken, Bristol. www.tobaccofactory.com
July 17: Boogie for Brizzle Bristol Zoo. www.bristolzoo.org.uk
July 18-Sept 5: David Hockney: Six Tales from the Brothers Grimm RWA, Bristol. www.rwa.org.uk
July 19: 40th Anniversary Celebrations of return of Brunel’s ss Great Britain to Bristol. www.ssgreatbritain.org
July 22-25: Trowbridge Pump Festival Trowbridge, Wilts. www.trowbridgefestival.co.uk
July 23-Aug 7: Bath International Guitar Festival www.igf.org.uk
July 24-25: Berkeley Skirmish Berkeley Castle, Glos. www.berkeleyskirmish.com
July 29: Romeo & Juliet open-air performance, Bristol Zoo. www.bristolzoo.org.uk
July 30-Aug 1: Bristol Harbour Festival Bristol harbourside. www.bristol-city.gov.uk/harbourfestival

AUGUST

Aug 1st Islamic Cultural Fayre. 12-6pm. Eastville Park. www.bmcs.org.uk

Aug 7-8: Dalek Invasion Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Somerset. www.fleetairarm.com
Aug 12-15: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta Ashton Court Estate, Bristol. www.bristolfiesta.co.uk
Aug 16-22: Pride Bristol gay festival. Parade in Castle Park, Bristol, Aug 21.
Aug 18: Priddy Sheep Fair Priddy, Somerset. www.priddysheepfair.co.uk
Aug 23-30: Festival of the Tree Westonbirt Arboretum, nr Tetbury, Glos. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Aug 29: World Bog-Snorkelling Championship Llanwyrtyd Wells, Powys. www.green-events.co.uk
Aug 30: Bank Holiday

 SEPTEMBER

Sept 3-5: Didmarton Bluegrass Festival Kemble Airfield, nr Cirencester. www.didmarton-bluegrass.co.uk
Sept 4-5: Bristol International Festival of Kites and Air Creations Ashton Court Estate, Bristol. www.kite-festival.org.uk
Sept 5: Bristol Half Marathon Bristol City Centre. www.bristolhalfmarathon.com
Sept 9-12: Heritage Open Days 2009 various venues, all over UK. www.heritageopendays.org
Sept 11: Bristol Doors Open Day www.bristoldoorsopenday.org
Sept 11-12: Swindon Railway Festival STEAM, Swindon. www.swindon.gov.uk/steam
Sept 16 (TBC): Opening of new Brunel Institute, ss Great Britain, Bristol. www.ssgreatbritain.org
Sept 17-26: Jane Austen Festival various venues, Bath. www.janeausten.co.uk

Sept 17-18: Igfest (interesting games festival) www.igfest.org/
Sept 24-26: Bristol Festival Harbourside, Bristol. www.thebristolfestival.org
Sept 24-Oct 3: Bath Festival of Children’s Literature 2010 various venues, Bath. www.bathfestivals.org.uk
Sept 25-26: Silverline Power Tool Drag Racing Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Somerset. www.fleetairarm.com
Sept 25-26: Bristol Do Portland Sq, Bristol. www.thebristoldo.com

Should help you plan the summer! 

OCTOBER

Oct 2-3: Great Western LEGO Show STEAM, Swindon. www.swindon.gov.uk/steam
Oct 6: Dairy Show Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet. www.bathandwest.com
Oct 15-17: Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival bristolcajunfestival.com
Oct 16-23: Bath Bach Festival, various venues, Bath. www.chantry-singers.org.uk
Oct 23-31: Halloween Festival, Bristol Zoo. www.bristolzoo.org.uk
Oct 29-Nov 7: Bath Film Festival bathfilmfestival.org.uk

Disabled children who have parents on a low income are likely to be eligible for a scheme which gives out free computers and assistive technology.

The best thing is to phone up to apply: 0333 200 1004

Or phone for more information: 0800 877 8777 | 024 7641 6994
To find out more online see this link.

Please could volunteers pass this information onto families who don’t have a computer (as they probably won’t be online to read this!)?

Bristol Museums are adjusting their opening times.

Bristol Museum& Art Gallery
New opening hours from 3 July 2010
Open all year round, except Christmas day and Boxing day

Opening Hours

Thursday – Tuesday :10.30am – 5pm
Wednesdays : 10.30am-8pm

This is useful for Wednesday befrienders to know because visiting the museum is a good, free activity and they often have interesting exhibitions or activities. e.g. at the moment you can see art from the new world. Under 7s can get involved in creative activities. See this link to find out about events which are on over the summer. There are also family trails etc.

Blaise Castle House Museum

Befrienders often go to Blaise Castle for picnics, so it’s useful to know when you can also go around the museum.

Opening hours from 3 July 2010

3 July -31 October 2010
Wednesday to Sunday 10.30am-4pm, except during the summer holidays – see below.

Summer Holidays 27 July- 31 August 2010
Open 6 days a week [closed Mondays] 10.30am-4pm

Winter opening [1 November - 21 April 2011]
Saturday & Sunday: 10.30am-4pm

I’ve just heard that there’s a new website for Bristol parents.

You may be interested to visit: www.bristolparentinghub.co.uk/

I think this is also a useful resource for Bristol Befrienders as it contains links for activity ideas and advice about supporting children of different ages.

Another useful website I’ve found recently is this page: www.venue.co.uk/dayso/dayso_events.html on the Venue website. It is a list of all the summer events in and around Bristol. Perhaps you could arrange a special summer outing for your befriendee?

Type: Activities and Play. Organiser: Bristol City Council Youth and Play Services

Windmill Hill Adventure Playground is an inclusive play facility for children. We are ‘Open Access’ – this means that children and young people can come and leave as they please, join in with activities or choose something to play.
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Activities include arts and crafts, clay with pottery wheel, cooking, table football, ping pong, wood-working sessions, t –shirt design, computer and play station, outside play on large structures, man-hunt, trampoline, fire building etc.
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We’re here for 6 – 14 year olds, providing space and an opportunity to play in a safe and stimulating environment. Under 6’s are welcome but need to be accompanied by an adult (over 18). If over 6’s are staying by themselves then we ask parents to complete a Registration Form for safety and security. Please come in and fill one in.

Opening times-15:30 to 19:00

Phillip Street, Bedminster, BS3 4EA

Contact Sarah and the play team on 0117 9633241 or Sarah.Rowland@windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

Big outdoor play area with ramps, rope swings, things to climb, slides and lots more activities for children and young people to get involved in. There is also a small nature area with a pond, a picnic area, a tuck shop and café which sells low cost meals for kids.

Entry is free! Open every day except Friday and Saturday

Felix Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0HE. Telephone- 01179 551265

They often have holiday activities as well. Children need an adult with them.

All children and young people aged 16 and under (and usually volunteer carers) can enjoy free swimming in Bristol’s pools during the published public swim sessions. To take up the free swim offer all swimmers will need an “Everyone Active” card. The cards are free and are available from any of the centres operated on behalf of the council.

For more information visit www.bristol.gov.uk/freeswimming. Why not try one of these pools:

Easton Leisure Centre

Large accessible swimming pool in Easton with a slide and learner’s pool! There are also basketball courts and badminton courts which cost £7 to use, as well as five-a-side football and a soft play area.

Open Weekdays 7am-10:30pm; Weekends 7:30am-10pm

Thrissel Street, Easton, Bristol BS5 0SW. Telephone- 0117 955 8840

Jubilee Swimming Pool, Knowle

Facilities include a five lane pool and a play pen.

Jubilee Road, Knowle, BS4 2LP Telephone- 0117 903 1607

To increase parent and carer involvement in decision making a new programme has been set up which YOU can get involved in. It aims to help Bristol City Council to plan better services for disabled young people and adults for the future.

There will be a participation meeting on the 21^st May 2010 at The Council House for parents and carers to talk about important areas to be developed. This is your opportunity to have your voice on disabled peoples services heard, and your local area developed.

If you would like more information on how to be involved contact Nettie Howlett 0117 939 2562 or nettieh@carers-bs.org.uk

Monday Parent Carers Coffee Morning

For parents and carers of children under 18 with an illness, disability or special need.

Come along and enjoy coffee and cake and have a chat. The coffee morning will take place every second Monday of the month from June at 10-30am-12pm (except school holidays).

For more information or to book contact 01170375623 or email NettieH@carers-bs.org.uk

A rescue centre for abused and neglected horses and ponies. There are lots of things to do and a variety of animals to see such as donkeys, goats, pigs, ferrets and birds. Watch horse jumping shows, visit the play barn, outdoor play area, nature trail and the onsite cafe. Horse World is only 20 minutes drive from town and a great day out.

£4 entry and carers are free.

Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, BS14 0QJ. Telephone 01275 540173

www.horseworld.org.uk/