Whether you are starting up, or relocating, the prospect of moving office can be a daunting experience, and working from home is not always practical. Sometimes there is the need to present a more business-like environment. Whatever the reason, the New Year is the ideal opportunity to take the ‘next step’ before the madness of the end of the financial year arises. Brinkworth House is located within easy reach of Swindon, Cirencester, Gloucester and Cheltenham and the motorway network to Bristol and the West, and offers serviced offices accommodating between 1 and 15 people, offering businesses everything you need to present the perfect image and drive your business forward. Perfect for small or growing businesses with a range of ‘ready to use’ high-tech offices Brinkworth House offers high-speed broadband, meeting rooms, hot desks, receptionists to meet and greet your clients, postal services and free on-site parking. Our agreements are designed to take away the complications of setting up a traditional office within a commercial space. We offer simple, flexible and value-for-money spaces on an ‘easy in, easy out’ arrangement thereby eliminating costly solicitor fees and allowing swift access. Hot-desking has become a popular concept for start-ups and people on the move and Brinkworth House provides a cost-effective, totally flexible, professional, environment in which to work. Simply drop in, plug in and work. If you require a more private meeting space, Brinkworth House allows you the flexibility to book rooms by the hour to create the right setting to meet your clients. For those businesses that are not ready to take the next step, Brinkworth House also offer a virtual business centre. Services range from telephone answering and sales order processing services to mail handling and mail order fulfilment. We provide virtual receptionists, who answer your calls with a personalised greeting. Our team can screen and transfer some or all calls directly to you depending on requirements. They can also schedule your appointments, make outbound calls, answer customer service questions, process orders and handle countless administrative tasks. Whether you are looking to outsource customer interactions or just require an out of office service, we can help, leaving you free to focus on what you do best – running your business. Call us today on 01666 511300 or drop in and talk to us about your requirements. We pride ourselves on being able to cater to our client’s requirements. Claire Brewerton, Brinkworth House, Brinkworth, Wiltshire
SN15 5DF
01666 511300
www.brinkworthhouse.co.uk

Malmesbury & District U3A March meeting

The March meeting of Malmesbury & District University of the Third Age (U3A) will be held on Thursday, 26th March at 10am in the Assembly Rooms at the Town Hall, Malmesbury.

The speaker will be Dinah Starkey, a well-known author of children’s and other books, including Ghosts & Bogles, and Witches, Dragons & Buried Treasure. Her subject will be Sevington Victorian School, near Grittleton. More information on www.sevingtonvictorianschool.co.uk

If you are interested in learning more about Malmesbury U3A, then please contact Membership Secretary Julia Batty on 01249-720327 or access our website: www.malmesburyu3a.org.uk

Malmesbury Community Area – Young People’s Needs Survey

The Local Youth Network have created a online survey for young people aged 13-19 and up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities.
The survey aimed to find out what young people already engage with and what the gaps in provision are. Furthermore, we want to know how accessible activities are and when young people would like them.

The survey responses will directly impact the work of the LYN Management Group, whom will use the information to assure positive change to the lives of young people in the Malmesbury Community Area from this needs led approach.
Please share the link below to anyone, or organisation you know who works with young people!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MalmesburyLYN

Anyone for a French Supper?
Malmesbury’s Whole Hog and the BHF say “Bon Appetit”

The Malmesbury branch of the BHF has partnered up with the Whole Hog to hold a French Supper night.

This special event – on Thursday 26 March, at 7pm – is being organised to help raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) – the nation’s heart charity.
All money raised from the evening will support the BHF in its fight against heart and circulatory disease.
Tickets cost just £16 for the 3-course French theme meal. Make your choice from French Onion Soup or Pate, Boeuf Bourguignon or Coq Au Vin or Ratatouille Au Gratin and Crème Brulee or French cheese and biscuits.
Heart disease touches people of all ages; sadly it is still the nation’s biggest killer.  And despite major advances in heart research, education and care, there is still a lot of work to be done. Events like the French supper evening raise vital funds that help the BHF continue with its life-saving and life-changing work.
Why not volunteer? The Malmesbury BHF team is always looking for new volunteers.  It’s true that the BHF is a huge organization, but it can only continue to help save lives with the help of individual people giving up their time. To join the lively Malmesbury branch, just call the number below or come along on 26 March and have some fun, a great meal, and meet the team.
For more information, and to book your table, call Tony Banks on 01666 860656.

Malmesbury & District U3A February meeting

The February meeting of Malmesbury & District University of the Third Age (U3A) will be held on Thursday, 26th February at 10am in the Assembly Rooms at the Town Hall, Malmesbury.

The speaker will be Paul Deacon, whose subject will be The History of 20th Century Western Art. This will be the second of a two-part talk to Malmesbury & District U3A by Paul Deacon, a well-known local artist and art teacher.

If you are interested in learning more about Malmesbury U3A, then please contact Membership Secretary Julia Batty on 01249-720327 or access our website: www.malmesburyu3a.org.uk

Malmesbury Music Academy is inviting you to drop in and sing with our vocal coach Eleanor and the ARC (Adult Rock Chorus) sessions.   The session runs for an hour from 11:20am. You can drop in at any time during the hour, and stay for as long as you want  The only thing we ask is that you love to sing!  So come along, bring a friend, and discover just how much fun singing can be!

Malmesbury Music academy offers session and lessons for all.  Whether you sing, dance or play, we have classes to suit so come and see what we can offer you. Your first taster session is FREE!  We meet every Saturday morning during term time, from 10am-1pm, at the Primary School.

BRING HOME THE HARVEST FOR BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT 2014
The stage is set, the harvest is home and you are invited!
20th September to 5th October 2014

Sponsored by Tesco and Aramark

With the Scottish Referendum taking place as British Food Fortnight is about to commence, this year’s promotion has an added poignancy as it brings people together in celebration of the wonderfully diverse and delicious food that is produced across the British Isles.

The national food promotion heralds the return of the immensely popular Bring Home the Harvest campaign, which aims to rekindle the tradition of celebrating British food and the harvest across the nation; in homes, in the streets, in schools, churches, farms, hospitals, restaurants, pubs, shops, community centres and indeed any place that lends itself to celebrating with plenty of good food and community spirit! Tesco, British farming’s biggest customer, joins Aramark in sponsoring the event and Tesco stores will be leading the harvest celebrations around the country.

Why is celebrating British food and the harvest important?
Secretary of State Elizabeth Truss, who is leading the judging of the event’s Harvest Heros competition, said: “Food and farming is hardwired into who we are – it’s a cornerstone of our local communities and a powerhouse of our economy.

I want us to lead the world in this vital area and capitalise on the revival of local food. I’m committed to connecting more people with what they eat and drink and increasing the opportunity at every level to choose healthy, seasonal, local produce.

Important events like British Food Fortnight and Bring Home the Harvest help by bringing us together in celebration of all that is great about our wonderful food and drink – from our gastro pubs and chippies, to our Sunday roast and farmers markets.

I’m delighted to be on the judging panel for my first Harvest Heros competition and I look forward to seeing some inspiring examples of communities celebrating our great British food.”

Chris Bush, UK’s Managing Director for Tesco which is sponsoring the Bring Home the Harvest campaign, said: “We are immensely proud to be a part of British Food Fortnight. Supporting UK farming and providing families with fantastic fresh food, is right at the heart of what we do. Harvest is the perfect opportunity to celebrate Britain’s fantastic food heritage, whilst encouraging our youngsters to have a better relationship with food. ‘

Commenting on this year’s harvest celebrations, organiser Alexia Robinson said: “For a fledgling campaign, Bring Home the Harvest captured the nation’s imagination incredibly quickly last year and we already feel we have come a long way to restoring Harvest Festival’s place on the national calendar. There is still much to do, particularly with the younger generations who have not grown up with the tradition of celebrating the harvest. We are so delighted that Tesco has joined the campaign; their wholehearted support is a tremendous boost for our activities.”

She continues: “We are fortunate to live in a country with four distinct seasons: ‘the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain’; a wonderfully varied topography with fells, dales, moors, plains, valleys, marsh, pasture and coast; and a vibrant farming community that despite relentless challenges continues to succeed in producing some of the highest quality food in the world. From our beef and sheep breeds which are the envy of the world; to our dairy farmers who now produce more types of cheese than France; to the abundance and rich variety of fruit and vegetables; to nature’s harvest which gives us mushrooms, haws, hips, blackberries and sweet chestnuts. There is so much to celebrate this British Food Fortnight.”

Highlights for this year include:

· CELEBRATING OUR NATION’S HARVEST HEROES

Love British Food and The Telegraph’s Bring Home the Harvest awards are back! Following the excellent entries last year which ranged from farm discovery trails, inner city interfaith celebrations and scarecrow competitions, we are looking for the communities who organise the most innovative, inclusive and imaginative harvest celebrations during British Food Fortnight. New for 2014 we are also throwing down the gauntlet to groups of young people to take part – the Junior and Youth category entrants are being encouraged this year to give the adults a run for their money!

As well as being presented with an exquisite award handcrafted by the talented letter carver Tom Sargeant and made of oak from the Duchy Estate, there are some fabulous prizes up for grabs. The champions will be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Michelin Starred Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons gardens, where a member of the expert team will reveal more about Raymond Blanc’s new National Heritage Garden over a delicious breakfast. The winners of the Youth and Junior categories will receive an action-packed gardening workshop with Blue Peter Gardener Chris Collins, plus cookery equipment from Tesco Home Range.

The winners will be chosen by a panel of distinguished judges: The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Raymond Blanc; Adam Henson; Chris Collins and Chris Bush, Tesco Managing Director, UK.

Entries close at midday on the 8th October 2014 and the winner will be announced at the end of October. For full details of the competition, please click here.

· GIVING THANKS AT BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL

The National Harvest Service, an event first held at Westminster Abbey last year, and now firmly established on the National calendar, will take place at Birmingham Cathedral on 20th October.

Young people from across the country will take centre stage at the celebration – over 400 children will present their harvest boxes, filled with home-grown and home-cooked goodies which they have prepared themselves. The children will be joined by a host of dignitaries and supporters, including the Bishop of Birmingham who will be giving a special address, and who will be welcomed to the Cathedral by a stunning harvest display, created by Tesco. A harvest poem written by Lauren Williams, Young Poet Laureate for Birmingham 2013-14, will be unveiled, plus at the end of the Service, the produce will be collected from the Cathedral by a horse drawn trolley and taken to the Birmingham Central Food Bank for distribution. The Cathedral will also be the first to welcome the new ‘Harvest Torch’ a symbolic sculpture which will pass from host city to host city, akin to the Olympic Torch.

· #HarvestFever ONLINE!

Harvest time will be brought to the masses during British Food Fortnight thanks to a new #HarvestFever social media campaign backed by Farmers Guardian.

Love British Food and Farmers Guardian are calling everyone from farmers, school classes, allotmenteers and families to get involved by posing with British and home-grown produce and sharing snaps to put a modern spin on a traditional celebration. Show your support by posting your #HarvestFever selfie photos on Facebook and Twitter. Remember to tag @FarmersGuardian and @LoveBritishFood, use the hashtag #HarvestFever and then nominate some of your friends and colleagues to do the same!

· BRITISH FOOD FORTNIGHT – IT’S HAPPENING NEAR YOU

A new National Committee has been set up to encourage participation around the country. Activities include British Food Fortnight menus and promotions in shops, pubs and restaurants led by Tesco; food festivals in more than half the English counties led by Horsham, Emsworth and Stone; special menus and activities such as sausage making and bake-offs in care homes for the elderly organised by Hallmark Care Homes; school menus designed by Two Michelin Star Great British Menu judge Phil Howard in Cucina Restaurants; and seasonal hospital menus promoted by the Hospital Caterers Association. From large food service organisations and pubs such as Centreplate and Enterprise Inns to smaller groups like Whiting & Hammond and Casual Restaurants, retailers and caterers are putting British first for the Fortnight.

Other special initiatives organised by members of the Bring Home the Harvest National Committee include:

– National Trust food events happening at properties across the country, including especially chosen British recipes in selected tearooms.

– The Church of England website www.aharvestnearyou.com, where visitors can locate their nearest Harvest Service.
What resources are available to help people take part?
Click here for downloadable ‘Bring Home the Harvest 2014’ posters, bunting and shelf-barkers. www.lovebritishfood.co.uk also has details of all the competitions, ideas for taking part and 14 things people can do – one for each day of British Food Fortnight – to join in the fun and bring the harvest alive in their homes and communities.

Who is behind British Food Fortnight?
The Bring Home the Harvest campaign is sponsored by Tesco Plc. British Food Fortnight is sponsored by ARAMARK and a large family of organisations led by Centreplate, Enterprise Inns, Hallmark Care Homes, Cucina Restaurants and Whiting and Hammond.

The Love British Food National Committee is made up of representatives from across the spectrum of food and farming industries. For further details about the Love British Food National Committee, please click here.

From Zumba Dance to charity vocals,  Becky Browning and Jacquie Sherlock who met at a Zumba class, have recently released a charity EP to help raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Care.

Finkle and Sky Everything has been released and is available for download on iTunes and other stores.   CD’s are also available directly from the girls for £5 by emailing finklensky@gmail.com.