YOUNG FILM MAKERS PRODUCE SHORT FILMS TO HELP SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Young film makers at Petroc college in Barnstaple have produced two short videos to help promote the work of Survivors Alliance North Devon (SAND). SAND provides a specialist counselling service in north Devon for adults who have suffered from sexual abuse or rape and their non-offending family members. Two groups of learners from the foundation learning programme at Petroc worked with community film maker Amanda McCormack from North Devon Moving Image (NDMI). They chose SAND from a number of local charitable organisations who pitched for the free digital media support.
 

Director of SAND, Karen Black says; "We were so delighted and felt privileged to be chosen by the students to design a multi media campaign that would help raise our profile in North Devon. The whole process was made simple and fun by both the students and Amanda and we were highly impressed with the level of student interest and maturity relating to this difficult subject. We are over the moon that through this project many more people in this area will be able to receive help from Survivors Alliance North Devon CIC, and realise that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
 

Chantal Tonks, lead tutor on the Foundation Learning programme at Petroc adds; "The project is really beneficial to our learners, not only to find out more about the services that are available to them in their community but to support an organisation that they have chosen to raise awareness for and to take responsibility for the way the project is delivered. When they see the final results of their work it gives each learner a sense of pride and achievement at completing a media project, that can seem initially challenging, but through learning new skills and working together they have created something that is creative and meaningful."

Tap here to watch the films on the NDMI website 
Tap here to find out more about Survivors Alliance North Devon

Petroc Digital Media Project for SAND

Petroc Digital Media Project for SAND

Petroc Digital Media Project 2017 for SAND - Petroc learners and Russell from SAND (Top Right)
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Tap here to watch the films on the NDMI website 
Tap here to find out more about Survivors Alliance North Devon

WHAAM - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase Concert Friday 20th April

WHAAM YOUTH CONCERT - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase representing North Devon’s youth bands, singers and choirs performing in aid of the Royal National Life Institution's Appledore Lifeboat Station.

WHAAM - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase Concerts have been in popular demand to showcase the talents of North Devon’s YOUTH BANDS, SINGERS AND CHOIRS featuring a broad spectrum of music from rock ’n roll bands to folksy bands and individual singers, from youth theatre groups, senior schools and colleges and pantomimes.

THIS EVENT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SHOWCASE THEIR MUSICAL TALENTS IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE – to gain experience, enhance their confidence in performing and confirm that “North Devon’s Got Talent!”

WHAAM YOUTH will take place at The Pier House, Westward Ho!, one of the top entertainment venues in the region.

WHAAM YOUTH will be officially opened by Tony Merrill, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Appledore.

Acts include some of the categories mentioned above and one or two “special features” included in the programme – a fantastic line-up as follows:-

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Dance Fit Belly Dance Divas

Westward Ho! Theatre Group/ Rob Stirzaker (singer/performer)

Jess Martyn

Kingsley School Choir

Ella Crossland

Yazzy Chamberlain

THE 5:15 BAND

There will also be a Grand Raffle in aid of the RNLI.

Lucy Lowe of EPIC Event Management has joined the team.

The Sound Engineers are Phatdog Events – Dean Kersey and Steve

WHAAM - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase Concert Friday 20th April from 6.00pm to 10.30pm at The Pier House, Westward Ho!
Doors open at 6.00pm and the entertainment will run continuously from 6.30 to 10.30pm with a short break at 9.05pm for the Grand Raffle. 

Tickets £6 Adults, children under16 free from Café Italia Pizzeria, The Co-operative Food, Kitemark-Surf & Kite Shop of Westward Ho! and Market Street Kitchen of Appledore.
On the door or via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHAAMShowcase/
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For further information contact John Barton 

Email: johnbarton007@gmail.com - Tel: 07725 056 094

Moor rain, winter storms, wet recollections and looking skyward

January is nearly over and we still haven’t seen enough light to take a decent shot, a sunrise or a sunset. Such a gloomy start to 2018 colourless, featureless skies and rain, rain, rain…..

A succession of storms hit the UK as the New Year was heralded in with Storm Dylan followed in quick succession by Storm Eleanor on the 3^rd January then Storm Fionn on the 16^th. The constant roar of the wind, the sound of rain and hailstones lashing on the window pane made for a disturbing night’s sleep. The downpours have continued, culminating in flash flooding in parts of North Devon on the 21^st January.

We were driving over to Exmoor, dodging stone-studded flooded roads and diversions, driving up hill, as water cascaded from hedgebanks, culverts and gullies beside the road, then down again motoring on slowly through pools of water at the bottom of each hill. We passed swollen rivers, fast-running streams and flooded fields and still it rained….we stopped briefly at Simonsbath to take a shot of a wider than normal River Barle then headed out over Brendon where the River Exe was just starting to bleed onto the road then down to Malmsmead where Badgeworthy Water raced through the ancient packhorse bridge and over the ford.

We saw very little wildlife on the way, a buzzard, an Exmoor pony, head hung low, a few Ruby Red cattle and sheep of course all well prepared for the harsh weather up on the moor with their natural, fluffy winter coats. Looking a little less at home in the rain were a couple of horses over the fence standing stock still in their man-made coats. This makes me realise how birds and animals can fare well in bad weather with maybe just a little help from us humans. Local farmers are out feeding their animals at all times of day even on a Sunday and you too can do your bit by leaving food and water out for the  birds and critters in the garden.

As January 2018 draws to a conclusion it’s once again time for some colourful events starting with the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch on 27th-29th January. Stargazers enjoyed  the first of two 2018 supermoons on 1^st January. The next one is on the 31^st January,  I am so hoping for a clear star-lit night and no moor rain....!!!

The River Barle in flood at Simonsbath. Photo copyright B. Adams (All Rights Reserved)

River Exe heading for the road. Photo copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

Free running Badgeworthy Water at Malmsmead - Photo copyright B. Adams (All Rights Reserved)

 

The Road Ahead. Flood waters 21st January 2018 Photo copyright Pat Adams (All Rights Reserved)

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Lunar Eclipse and Supermoon 2018 

Tap here for Where and when to see the Supermoon 2018 UK

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 What is a Supermoon 

“Some people will call the full supermoon on January 31 a Blue Moon, too. That’s because it’ll be the second of two full moons in one calendar month. Moreover, the January 31 supermoon will stage a total eclipse of the moon.”  http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-supermoon

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Big Garden Birdwatch. 
Join in, and count the wildlife that's counting on you.
Tap here for information/request a pack