This is a workshop at Spike Island. I’ve given them a ring and it’s free to attend in the main gallery space, you just turn up and take part. There’s also a cafe there. The contact details for Spike Island are:

Telephone: 929 2266
Email:  admin@spikeisland.org.uk
Post: 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol, BS1 6UX

“Activities for Families with Simon Tozer: Draw and Print your own Chapbook

Saturday 11 September, 12pm – 4pm

Join Simon to create your own Chapbooks…small and cheaply produced booklets sold by itinerant dealers, or chapmen, often illustrated with woodcuts. They contained tales of popular heroes, legend and folklore, jests, reports of notorious crimes, ballads, nursery rhymes, school lessons, farces, biblical tales, dream lore, and other popular matter. The texts were mostly crude and anonymous…

Using mono-screenprint methods along with simple but cunning paper folding techniques we will convert a corner of the gallery into a nineteenth century printshop. You will emerge as a (self) published graphic artist or writer.  This workshop is suitable for all ages: anyone in fact that can hold a pencil and has a story to tell.”

Text copied from http://www.spikeisland.org.uk/

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

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

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/

Walking distance from Montpelier along public footpath- St Werburghs City Farm is a green oasis in the heart of Bristol. Entry to the farm is free so anyone can experience first hand contact with the natural world. On the farm there is a range of livestock such as pigs, cows and sheep, a community garden, an adventure playground and a friendly cafe. We also have the Boiling Wells Project which is a 3 acre environmental conservation site on Boiling Wells Lane.

Watercress Road, St. Werbergh’s Telephone- 0117 942 8241

The farm site is open every day of the year including all bank holidays. Summer 9am to 5pm Winter 9am to 4pm

website

Sunday 25th April, 3:30pm

FREE concert for children – Babar the Elephant 

St Alban’s Church, Westbury Park, Bristol, BS6 7NU 

Bristol Concert Orchestra are offering free admission to a concert for children at St Alban’s Church, Westbury Park.

The orchestra is passionate about inspring the next generation of Bristol musicians and hope as many children as possible will come to be spellbound by Poulenc’s setting of the delightful story of Babar the Little Elephant (narrated by T.M. Alexander, Bristol author of the ’Tribe’ series of children’s books) and thrilled by the sound of a full orchestra in Offenbach’s ’Orpheus in the Underworld’ overture, which includes the famous ’can-can’ music.

Admission is free to children under 12 AND adults accompanied by children, with an optional retiring collection (admission for unaccompanied adults is £8).

Early booking is advised to guarantee your seats – free tickets can be reserved online at the orchestra’s website: www.bristolconcertorchestra.org.uk

Date & Time : 28/03/2010 , from 7:30pm…

Venue: The Pieran Centre , 27 Portland Square , St Pauls , Bristol, BS2 8SA

An evening of rich & uproarious film-making from Bristol and Somerset based Biggerhouse & friends. Films by & abput people with dementia , people with learning difficulties and other great human beings in the South West & Wales

Tom Stubbs from Biggerhouse introduces 10 short films made with skill & love and the help of people who don’t often get to tell their stories. This inspiring selection not only introduces valuable new worlds but also shows the different ways in which film can teach , learn, explore & entertain….

Visit www. biggerhouse.co.uk for more details…       

 Bookings… 0117 924 4512

Bar opens @ 7pm- films at 7:30pm. £5 (+concs)