Believe in Gloucester

Gloucester BiG Knit is helping local charities keep people warm this winter and we’re looking for knitters and crocheters to join us!

Sessions are being held at Gloucester Guildhall every Friday between 12-2pm and due to popular demand will continue past their original February end date. More casual knitters and crocheters can participate at home and drop off their items in the collection bins at the Guildhall. Every age and ability is welcome to join in and there are even small grants available to help those who’d like to set up knitting or crochet groups in the City.

Gloucester BiG Knit is gaining followers now and we want to reach as many people as possible.

BiG Knit will run throughout 2015 so people can drop their creations in to the Guildhall collection bin at any time, and there’ll be a final BiG Collection on October 1^st, which is International Older People’s Day and ties in with Age UK Gloucestershire, one of our chosen charities.

Initially the Big Knit sought to attract older people but all ages love the sessions and the group now has a mix of age groups, genders and abilities. Items will go directly to local people in need, and knitters are reporting health benefits like reduction in stress levels and less arthritic pain.

A limited number of BiG Knit starter boxes are still available for anyone who’d like to join in and requests for a starter pack can be made on the BiG Knit Facebook page facebook.com/bigknitglos which has more info, tips and simple patterns.

Age UK Gloucestershire and Project Beacon – a charity that supports Gloucester’s homeless – will distribute knitted items directly to those in need as part of “Warm & Well Kits” later this year. The Pied Piper Appeal is BiG Knit’s other chosen charity but due to infection control cannot distribute items directly. Instead knitted creations will go on sale in their charity shop at Gloucester Royal Hospital and money raised will help sick and disabled children across the county.

Simple scarves, 6×6 inch squares, small blankets, hats or gloves/handwarmers are needed. BiG Knitters can choose which items they’d like to make and be as creative as they want to be!

If you’re part of a knitting or crochet club or would like to link in with the BiG Knit, share your stories with us at facebook.com/bigknitglos

You can also enquire about the BiG Knit by calling 01452 396396 and asking for Emily Jones or Isobel Edwards.

Gloucester’s BiG Knit aims to stop older people feeling isolated or lonely

A new free and friendly project in Gloucester is bringing people together by knitting, crocheting or sewing to help stop them feeling isolated or lonely. Whilst the sessions are aimed at older people, everyone is encouraged to take part.

Each week creations, in the form of 6×6 inch squares, will be collected and something ‘BiG’ will be put together in early 2015 to show off to the whole city.

The sessions will run every Friday from November 2014 to February 2015, at Gloucester Guildhall, between 12-2pm.

The ‘BiG’ in BiG Knit stands for ‘Believe in Gloucester’, a campaign which celebrates all that is great about Gloucester, its people and places, its past and its present. For more information visit http://believeingloucester.com/ where knitting patterns and designs can also be found.

Cllr Jennie Dallimore, cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods at Gloucester City Council said, “This is an exciting new project for the city and it’s free to take part. The weekly sessions are aimed at older people who would otherwise be home alone in the daytime. Everyone’s individual squares work will be put together to create a large display piece for the city.”

Gloucester’s BiG Knit will also be supporting the Innocent Big Knit, which helps to raise money for Age UK by knitting hats for their smoothie bottles and donating money from each bottle sold.

There are two collections bins at Gloucester Guildhall in Eastgate Street; one for donations of yarn and knitting supplies, and another for participants to drop of their completed creations.

For more information contact Emily Jones or Isobel Edwards on 01452 396396.

A few suggestions for a Halloween-themed Half Term in Gloucester including arts and crafts, spooky shows and more….

Download a PDF with the full list of events.

Gloucester Folk Museum

The annual Apple Day celebrations (20 Oct) are back when the traditional horse drawn cider mill will once again be in action with the help of Fergus the horse turning the mill and crushing apples! There will be lots of local ciders for sale in the garden, apple crushing and oeeling opportunities for kids, an apple-themed caligraphy workshop, plus many apple flavoured delights in the tearooms!

Gloucester Waterways Museum

Witches, mysterious creatures, robbers and drunken fairies will all be found at Gloucester Waterways Museum when John Bassett, from Spaniel In The Works Theatre Company, presents a 30 minute solo version of the company’s popular comic show Dark Tales of Gloucestershire on October 24.

Dark Tales of Gloucestershire is suitable for children over five years old and takes traditional folk tales from across the county and retells them in a lively, funny and exciting way using rhyme, music, and dance. The performances will form part of the Museum’s Wicked Wednesday series and are scheduled to start at 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm on Wednesday October 24. The performance is included in the normal admission price to the Museum.

On Saturday October 27 come dressed up as a ghoul, ghost or witch and take part in the museums Halloween trail to win a prize.

Plus the 45-minute boat cruises will be running throughout half-term leaving at 12 noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm

Gloucester Quays

Bring your little horrors to Gloucester Quays Monster Mash and enjoy half term activities including pumpkin carving, magic shows and craft workshops. Be careful you don’t bump into our creepy characters roaming the malls and have a hoot watching the wise owls.

Harry Potter Day – FREE

Monday 22 Oct, 11am – 3pm

(magic illusion shows at 11am and 2pm)

Creepy Crafts and Spooky Snaps – FREE

Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 Oct, 11am-3pm

Petrifying Pumpkins! – FREE

Thursday 25 & Friday 26 Oct, 11am – 3pm

Gloucester Cathedral

The Big Draw

Tuesday 23 & Wednesday 24 Oct

Collect your clipboard, paper and pencil and then start drawing. Be inspired by the building and draw your favourite part.

Nature In Art

British Wildlife Photography Awards

The 90 winning and shortlisted photographs from the 2012 competition recently launched in mid September in London. World class images celebrating the diversity of British fauna and flora and their environments.

More Halloween Half Term events:

Last chance to visit Painswick Rococo Garden (closes on 31 October)

Frightmare at Over Farm (20-31 October)

Getting your costume ready for the Gloucester Zombie Walk (Saturday 27 October)

Download a PDF with the full list of events.

A study carried out last year by Ebuyer.com had our very own city as the second geekiest city in the UK. Now some of you might take offence to such an accolade but it actually reflects wthat a great IT sector there is for such a small city. Taking the runners up spot after Cambridge is no disgrace either, considering the research facilities and the world famous university they have at their disposal. That’s why we chose IT as one of the reasons to Believe in Gloucester.

So, how was this stat calculated? The study looked at IT career opportunities, IT education and training and the uptake of IT consumer goods per capita. Whilst yesterday’s budget announced that Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and London will bid for their share of a £100m “super-connected cities” subsidy, Gloucester also has reason to celebrate it’s IT and communications sector. With companies such as Fasthosts, Symantec and Star leading the way in cloud computing and other visions for the future and financial services such as Ecclesiastical Insurance , Gloucester folk shouldn’t feel ashamed to embrace their inner geek.

This infographic was brought to you by Ebuyer.com, the UK’s largest independent online electrical retailer.
If you
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We Believe in Gloucester because of the world famous produce that we’re privileged to have on our doorstep. The Gloucester Old spot pig is no exception, and with This is Gloucestershire running a competition looking for the county’s most succulent sausage, there are two nominees from our fair city in the running. The Farmhouse Deli (Northgate Street + Eastgate Indoor Market) and Nick Brown’s Butcher (Insworth Lane) are in the top 3 of a closely-fought battle with Halford’s of Tewkesbury.

Support Gloucester’s champion sausage makers and vote for them here before the contest closes at 5pm Monday 5 March.

Read the story on This is Gloucestershire.

The Believe in Gloucester team went out into the city and beyond to capture the reasons why local people love their city. Among the lovely people that took part are former England Rugby Captain, Phil Vickery MBE and rising singing star, Mary-Jess Leaverland, both of whom are great ambassadors for Gloucester nationally and internationally. You might recognise a few other characters who run businesses and attractions in the city as well. The video was first played at the BiG launch event on Wednesday 29 February and helped set the mood for a positive campaign about everything’s that’s great in Gloucester.

But why stop there?

Believe in Gloucester will continue to record submissions from people about what thet love about the city and also invite the public to upload their own short clips. Stay tuned for more news soon.