Category: POD NEWS

Scrapstore is back by popular demand.

We are holding another Pop Up Event in a different venue.

Come along to Vallis Youth Centre, Vallis Rd Frome on

Saturday 11th March from 1-4pm.

We are focusing on families and will have the usual craft activities for children and Purple Elephant offering a play space for tots.

But teachers and childcare professionals or community groups are always welcome.

Refreshments will also be available on site. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and cake.

Entrance is £1 with children under 12 yrs FREE.

Bring a bag for life if you can, but we will have bags to purchase if you forget.

Our amazing Pod Member Volunteers who are all adults with additional needs are running the event. They ask you to be patient and kind as they are all learning new skills by volunteering in this project. They want to give good service to the Frome Community, but ask for your support in return. Scrapstore is a joyful place where we, in conjunction with the Kindness Festival , ask everyone to be respectful and kind. It takes time to learn new skills and gain confidence.

Come along and grab a bargain or inspiration to get creative or playful. There really is something for everyone at Scrapstore.

Spread the word!!

The venue has some parking, but be aware it may be busy. Please look out for children and pedestrians carrying large amounts of scrap when entering or leaving the car park.

Family Fun For All – Silent Disco

Come along on and boogie. We have music on 3 channels for all ages and musical tastes. Good family fun!!

Friday 24th Feb from 6.30-8.30pm at Trinity Church Hall.

Tickets £5 for headphones £2 parent carer entrance.

Available from admin@thepodcharity.org.uk or call 07842110574

Bar and soft drink and snacks available.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Scrapstore draws crowds.

On Tuesday 15th Nov we held another amazing Scrapstore event at the Cheese and Grain.

Our wonderful team of Pod Plus members were supported to run the event which saw over 300 people attend and buy our scrap.

The Mayor of Frome also attended and personally thanked the Pod Plus members and all volunteers for their hard work and for bringing this community resource to Frome.

Scrapstore is another project developed by Pod with members who have requested an opportunity to gain work experience in a supported way.

We are working closely with the team to help them feel confident in their roles and to be able to carry these skills on into the future and hopefully gain paid employment.

The hope is that one day we will have a permanent premises and presence in Frome offering bespoke work experience for adults with disabilities through this business model.

The Scrapstore event raised almost £1400 for Pod, but it was the members who worked so hard and served their Frome Community which is the greatest success.

The next Scrapstore is planned in January. Date to be confirmed. This will be publicised on social media and posters around the town.

We are very grateful for the support of the community in this project. But we also ask all who attend to remember that everyone who is working at these events is a volunteer and many have additional needs or disabilities which may be hidden. Kindness, respect, encouragement and inclusion is at the heart of everything Pod does.

We hope this will continue within Scrapstore and that Frome will get behind this amazing project and the Young Adults who have inspired and co-designed it.

See you at the next event!

Workshop’s First Sale Success!

Workshop held its first sale of fantastic handmade products in the Charity Fayre on Saturday 26th Nov at the Cheese & Grain.

Tracey Boyland also who attends Workshop regularly volunteered to run the stall and we had lots of lovely comments about the products made in Workshop.

We sold lots of Christmas gifts, cards and decorations and made a fab £172.50 for Pod.

If you are over 18 and would like to be part of Workshop on Saturdays 10am-3pm or half day, contact Project Lead Cassie on 07843192974 or email cassie@thepodcharity.org.uk

Workshop Returns

We are pleased to bring back our popular Saturday creative project Workshop. New sessions begin on 5th November and will run weekly from 10am -3pm. Half sessions available 10am-12.30pm.

Workshop is a great place to meet new people or catch up with friends, learn new skill or share skills you have. Bring lunch to a full day and experience the feel of being in a work place with support and fun.

For more information on the project contact- becky@thepodcharity.org.uk

To book a place contact project lead Cassie on 07843192974

Scrapstore is back !

On 15th November from 2-5pm we will be filling the Cheese & Grain again with an amazing selection of scrap materials for art, craft and play or even DIY. All run by our fab Pod Plus team.

Entry £1 – Children Under 12 , home schooled children or those accompanied by teaching staff enter FREE.

School parties are welcome. Please contact becky@thepodcharity.org.uk to arrange.

Bring a bag for life to fill and grab some materials to get creative . Bags will be available to buy, scrap is sold according to size of bag filled. Some items individually priced.

Another Successful Pop Disco

On Tuesday 13th Sept members boogied away with their headphones on at the very popular Silent Disco. 23 people attended which was a mixture of familiar faces and new ones. And everyone’s family, friends or support were able to join in the fun with their own headphones. It was so much fun, if you can tolerate a little out of tune singing occasionally! But the best night.

We also had DJ support from our amazing volunteer Jonathan and 2 members Alex and Bradley who between them ran the 3 music channels.

If you have never attended a silent disco before try to come along to one of our open access discos for over 16’s, or our fundraising events which will be happening in the near future. It is a fun family event which gives choice to opt in or out instantly.

Yummy snacks and drinks are available to buy , which are also a range requested by the group and always popular.

We are looking forward to the next Pop Disco on 18th October. The members voted for Karaoke at the next event. Looking forward to seeing more new faces.

Job Vacancies

We currently have no job vacancies within Pod projects .

However, volunteering opportunities are always available at Pod.

We rely on our many volunteers to support the projects and events which make Pod unique. We aim to open up opportunities for and within our community.

This may be within one of the social groups , getting crafty at Workshop, helping our members to make Frome “green” at Scrapstore or coming along for a boogie at Pop Disco. There is so much to get involved in.

Please contact admin@thepodcharity.org.uk ,if you wish to find out more.

Purple Elephant & Frome Children’s Festival are putting on another amazing event.

Sunday 21st August. 10am-2pm. From the Cheese & Grain along the river path, into the woods and in Welshmill park.

The event has been designed with young people who have additional needs to make it fully accessible and inclusive. If you would like to find out more or check suitability of activities contact Purple Elephant directly. https:www.purpleelephant.org.uk/

Loads of really cool activities and all designed with additional needs in mind. Play , create, climb, read, learn, watch , listen and join in. And its all free!

The Pod have a creative stall run by Pod Plus members with Sarah and Becky . We will be showing you how to make a washer pendant.

Come along and say hi or have a go. It is always lovely to see you!

After the disappointing cancellation of the Frome Half Marathon, we have decided to create an event for the Pod Squad and anyone else who would like to join us.

We are holding a Fun, Family Run/Walk/roll on Sunday 17th July at 10am on The Old Show Field, Frome. Either 5k or 1k distances.

Meet us by the Cricket Club at 9.30 to sign in. Come in fancy dress if you choose. Bring friends and family to join in or support. Or just come along to shout and cheer encouragement for our wonderful Pod Squad.

We are being supported to hold this event by Parkrun Frome and ADSA who have provided water an snacks for runners.

Contact Becky on 07546781615 or email becky@thepodcharity.org.uk for more information or to enter.

Hope to see you there!