LibraryCast from Somerset Libraries UK

Somerset Libraries presents: Somerset LibraryCast with author Ian O’Neill. On this week’s LibraryCast, Jeremy talks with Somerset author Ian O’Neill about his book “ Dancing with Leprechauns “ for Libraries Week 2020. Set in Glastonbury, you will find out all about local resident Seamus the Leprechaun.

Carol tells tales of her childhood, growing up on a farm as one of 7 children. She reminisces as the simplicity of life. Carol talks about positives and negatives of living locally. Later in life, Carol struggled with intense post natal depression. She bravely shares her story, tells of how her strong marriage and love enabled her to get through.  Carol explains that this dark period in her life helped her to help others later on and she offers some beautiful words of wisdom.

‘Together We Are Stronger’ is a project to record stories of isolation, bravery, and kindness during lockdown to reconnect generations and foster a sense of community (during the Covid-19 pandemic) via digital storytelling. Led by artist Natasha Rand, we are working with care home residents and staff, elderly, young people and creatives in Yeovil, telling the stories of bravery and kindness across generations. Podcasts, exhibition, window displays, workshops and family activities are taking place in different forms and locations.

To find out more visit: https://yeovilartspace.uk/together/

Recorded & produced by Natasha Rand

Working in partnership with Eastville Project Space, Somerset Care, Yeovil Library, Quedam Shopping Centre, Love Yeovil & Yeovil College, Buckler’s Mead Academy with the generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund, Somerset Community Foundation, South Somerset District Council, Art Council England Lottery Fund.

Therena is on of the many key worker heroes. She doesn’t look like look your average care home deputy managers but in this podcast she shares her passion for her job. Therena “failed” at school but despite life throwing her obstacles, she has succeeded in her personal and professional life. She talks of her struggles, the natural caring instinct and how there is always a way to climb up and out of rock bottom.

‘Together We Are Stronger’ is a project to record stories of isolation, bravery, and kindness during lockdown to reconnect generations and foster a sense of community (during the Covid-19 pandemic) via digital storytelling. Led by artist Natasha Rand, we are working with care home residents and staff, elderly, young people and creatives in Yeovil, telling the stories of bravery and kindness across generations. Podcasts, exhibition, window displays, workshops and family activities are taking place in different forms and locations.

To find out more visit: https://yeovilartspace.uk/together/

Recorded & produced by Natasha Rand

Working in partnership with Eastville Project Space, Somerset Care, Yeovil Library, Quedam Shopping Centre, Love Yeovil & Yeovil College, Buckler’s Mead Academy with the generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund, Somerset Community Foundation, South Somerset District Council, Art Council England Lottery Fund.

Jamie is the acting deputy manager at Burnworthy House, Somerset Care. He always wanted a rewarding career and decided on care. It was a space that not many men work.

He reflects on the struggles of adjusting to becoming a new dad and how he tackled with the signs of pressure and not quite coping. He speaks honestly about reaching out for help and how the different generations have viewed mental health issues.

‘Together We Are Stronger’ is a project to record stories of isolation, bravery, and kindness during lockdown to reconnect generations and foster a sense of community (during the Covid-19 pandemic) via digital storytelling. Led by artist Natasha Rand, we are working with care home residents and staff, elderly, young people and creatives in Yeovil, telling the stories of bravery and kindness across generations. Podcasts, exhibition, window displays, workshops and family activities are taking place in different forms and locations.

To find out more visit: https://yeovilartspace.uk/together/

Recorded & produced by Natasha Rand

Working in partnership with Eastville Project Space, Somerset Care, Yeovil Library, Quedam Shopping Centre, Love Yeovil & Yeovil College, Buckler’s Mead Academy with the generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund, Somerset Community Foundation, South Somerset District Council, Art Council England Lottery Fund.

Somerset Libraries presents: Somerset LibraryCast about Wells Festival of Literature 2020.  

This week’s LibraryCast explores The 2020 Wells Festival of Literature. Jeremy is in conversation with Rosie Inge and Bug McKaig about the story of the festival, the festival’s educational outreach projects as well as delving into some of this year’s exciting programme.

After experiencing the war, Ruth trained to be a teacher. She then took a two year trip to Australia and continued to teach in the out- back of Australia. She talks of the excitement from the time, the life long friends she made and how it became an experience she never forgot.

‘Together We Are Stronger’ is a project to record stories of isolation, bravery, and kindness during lockdown to reconnect generations and foster a sense of community (during the Covid-19 pandemic) via digital storytelling. Led by artist Natasha Rand, we are working with care home residents and staff, elderly, young people and creatives in Yeovil, telling the stories of bravery and kindness across generations. Podcasts, exhibition, window displays, workshops and family activities are taking place in different forms and locations.

To find out more visit: https://yeovilartspace.uk/together/

Recorded & produced by Natasha Rand

Working in partnership with Eastville Project Space, Somerset Care, Yeovil Library, Quedam Shopping Centre, Love Yeovil & Yeovil College, Buckler’s Mead Academy with the generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund, Somerset Community Foundation, South Somerset District Council, Art Council England Lottery Fund.

Irene is 91 years old and happily living in a Somerset Care home. Her interview took place in December of 2020 over a Zoom call, where she shared her life story. Not wanting to ask her parents for the money for art school in 1943, Irene got a job at a fashion house at the age of 14 and worked her way up to the design room and dressed film stars and royalty. She talks of her early morning journeys up to London, her father and his secret code breaking work and the joys of motherhood.

‘Together We Are Stronger’ is a project to record stories of isolation, bravery, and kindness during lockdown to reconnect generations and foster a sense of community (during the Covid-19 pandemic) via digital storytelling. Led by artist Natasha Rand, we are working with care home residents and staff, elderly, young people and creatives in Yeovil, telling the stories of bravery and kindness across generations. Podcasts, exhibition, window displays, workshops and family activities are taking place in different forms and locations.

To find out more visit: https://yeovilartspace.uk/together/

Recorded & produced by Natasha Rand

Working in partnership with Eastville Project Space, Somerset Care, Yeovil Library, Quedam Shopping Centre, Love Yeovil & Yeovil College, Buckler’s Mead Academy with the generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund, Somerset Community Foundation, South Somerset District Council, Art Council England Lottery Fund.

Della is over 90 and talks about her experiences of childhood in the Blitz, London. She was responsible for looking after the children that were left behind after the bombing. Della talks about the impact of dealing with this trauma and how that led her into nursing as a career. She talks about her faith and how that helped her to belong and help others. She offers words of wisdom and guidance to the younger generation.

‘Together We Are Stronger’ is a project to record stories of isolation, bravery, and kindness during lockdown to reconnect generations and foster a sense of community (during the Covid-19 pandemic) via digital storytelling. Led by artist Natasha Rand, we are working with care home residents and staff, elderly, young people and creatives in Yeovil, telling the stories of bravery and kindness across generations. Podcasts, exhibition, window displays, workshops and family activities are taking place in different forms and locations.

To find out more visit: https://yeovilartspace.uk/together/

Recorded & produced by Natasha Rand

Working in partnership with Eastville Project Space, Somerset Care, Yeovil Library, Quedam Shopping Centre, Love Yeovil & Yeovil College, Buckler’s Mead Academy with the generous support from The National Lottery Community Fund, Somerset Community Foundation, South Somerset District Council, Art Council England Lottery Fund.

Somerset LibraryCast with 2020 Frome Festival Short Story Competition winner with author Elizabeth Pratt. On this edition of LibraryCast , Jeremy is in conversation with author Elizabeth Pratt. Elizabeth is the winner of this year’s Frome Festival Short Story Competition and tells us about her winning story “ Peace Offering “.

On this week’s LibraryCast we introduce episode  2 of  the Frome Festival’s,  Frome Short Story Competition.  Jeremy is in conversation with Jill Warrener who is this year’s local Frome Short Story prize winner, with her story “ Air Freshener and Jam “.