The first week of #WivenhoeWellness has been a tremendous success. There is a fantastic schedule aimed to promote physical and mental wellbeing in the community. Laughter yoga, bird watching exhibitions and creative perseverance have all featured so far. Wivenhoe Town Council hope this is the start of something bigger. There is a shift in the Town Council to focus on wellbeing and environmental issues. The full schedule of events is available over here https://www.facebook.com/TownCouncilWivenhoe/posts/235342841555582

It’s the 7th Brightlingsea Winterfest this February when people in Brightlingsea and this time around the world can join in a vast number of events online – all aimed at their physical and mental wellbeing. There are musical evenings by local and ex-Brightlingsea musicians, fun yoga classes, a photography workshop and new for this year an employment skills workshop being run on Zoom.

Organiser and founding member of Winterfest Alix Sheppard says they had no idea when they started all those years ago that it would be such a success.

The Winterfest raises money for Mid and North East Essex Mind as well as a Winterfest wellbeing fund which gives grants to local organisations. And you can find out what’s on at this year’s festival on their Facebook site, Brightlingsea Winterfest or their website brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk.

Wivenhoe Town Council are launching their own Wellness fortnight – Wivenhoe Wellness Retreat - to try and bolster the spirits of people living in the town.

Much like the Brightlingsea Winterfest, which is on at the moment, Wivenhoe residents will be able to take part in a whole series of online events, including cooking, yoga and dance, all aimed at helping the community through these difficult times.

Wivenhoe Wellness retreat will be starting on the 22nd February. Details of the events are on the Town Council’s Facebook page @TownCouncilWivenhoe and notice boards around the town, and there’s a Twitter feed hashtag WivenhoeWellness. Anyone who’d like to take part in the opening Zoom event should email the town clerk on [email protected].

Colne Radio is very proud to have partnered with Norwegian Bakers of Wivenhoe. You can find out more about their delightful products over here https://www.norwegianbakers.com/

There’s a call for volunteers in the Colchester area to help support coronavirus patients, who have been discharged from hospital and are recovering at home. 

The charity Community 360 says there’s an urgent need for people with specialist skills such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and personal trainers who can help those who’ve been affected to recover fully. And they are also calling for carers, caterers and admin staff to help out because there’s a shortage of people able to do such work due to sickness or the need to self-isolate or to look after loved ones.

But the charity also says that anyone with spare time is needed to help those who are recovering at home just to do simple tasks such as cooking or cleaning, or helping them to exercise.

The charity says training and Personal Protective Equipment will be provided to make sure volunteers are kept safe.

Anyone interested can apply directly to Community 360 by phoning 01206 505250 or via the

website www.volunteeressex.org

The Tendring Dementia Alliance has called upon local businesses to be more supportive towards the 3,000 people in the area who are affected by dementia. Colne Radio caught up with Jane from the group to find out more about the proposals.

The Mercury is celebrating after receiving £250,000 from the Cultural Recovery Fund. This will help the local theatre survive until the Spring when it is hoped that performances will be able to resume once again. Colne Radio caught up with Creative Director Ryan McBryde to find out what the future holds for The Mercury.

Farmers, landowners and pubs with big gardens in the area are being asked to allow their outdoor spaces to be used for pop up theatre productions. It’s the brainchild of a local producer who says actors and theatre performers are desperate to get back to staging safe productions during the current coronavirus restrictions. Malochy Luckie says they’ re already talking to farmers with a view to getting underway in the spring.

You’ve probably heard the new podcast series Essex By the sea which is being broadcast on Colne radio. Well, It’s the brainchild of Essex broadcaster Owen Ward who says he’s wanted to produce a series about the coastline for a long time Owen says he’s fascinated by how varied it is and how much there is to learn about it.

The Mercury in Colchester is appealing to the public to help save the theatre from what could be permanent closure. It’s launched a crowd funding campaign because Covid 19 means that the theatre can’t open and so isn’t getting the revenue it needs to survive. Creative Director Ryan McBryde says they want anyone who values the Mercury to donate to the crowd funder.