Looking Both Ways

As a new year approaches, it’s often the case that we look back at the past year with all it’s good, bad and ugly and start to think about, perhaps even plan the next.

At Sustainable Wells we’re reflecting on our mission to encourage ‘everyday changes to make a world of difference’ and although we’re not too chuffed with the lack of progress on a national or even international level we are encouraged by the support we’ve seen for each of our projects adn the feedback we’ve had for this weekly blog/email on a Year of Living Sustainably (yes, there will be a New Years Walk in 2025!)

Freecycle and Repair Café have gone from strength to strength, and we’ve added a regular Repair Saturday based at the library - it may not serve tea and cake but the response has been fantastic.

Managing Tor Hill Lane in a way that benefits nature has been much appreciated by local residents - of the human, wildlife and plant variety!

Make and Mend has been gathering momentum and each month folk gather to darn, stitch, knit and extend the life of garments and fabrics they love or make something natural - the foraged Christmas Wreath workshops were a sell -out!

Fresh and Good have been out and about proving tasty, nutritious food at local events - including Repair Cafés - and will be cooking up a storm at this years New Years Ceilidh (yes, it’s a sell out!)
This event on behalf of Oxfam is a great example of what can happen in a community with a plan and a bit of hard graft. (read full story below)

We celebrate and thank everyone who volunteers their time to these community projects. If you’d like to get involved in any of our projects you can read more HERE.

Volunteers at Tor Hill Lane this year

We recognise that not everyone has the time to get involved but we can all make more sustainable choices.

As we move into 2024, let's all use this fresh start to prioritise sustainability every day.
We can do this by making resolutions to reduce our carbon footprints, recycle and dispose of waste properly, support local and sustainable businesses, and push for greener policies in our community. By taking these actions, we can create a sustainable future that protects our planet for future generations.

New Years Ceilidh - It’s a Sell-Out!  

Twenty years ago, on a bus to the first anti-Iraq War demo in London, two people concocted a plan.

Bevis Miller, then caller for the Backroom Band, and Sue Jones came up with the idea of a big fund-raising ceilidh. The result? A highly successful social event in Priddy Village Hall, which raised a lot of money and smiles – the first big New Year’s Eve Ceilidh. Bevis and his partner Jackie worked hard, cooking chilli, getting a barrel of beer, organising the bar - and other volunteers all played their part on the night.

The event was repeated the next few years. Once it was too successful, with numbers spilling out of the doors! Each time substantial funds were raised for charity.

Then it stopped.

This summer, the idea resurfaced. Would it work again? In September, Mid Somerset Oxfam Group took the plunge and started planning.

Step 1 – Find a band, preferably one willing to play on their most lucrative night of the year, for expenses only. A big ask when ceilidh bands can command up to £1,000 a time. The Backroom Band came up trumps.

Step 2 – Decide the venue. Do we go for the tried-and-tested Priddy Village Hall, with its dance-friendly floor, but a bit tricky to get to, particularly on a winter’s night? Or a more accessible hall such as in Wells? We compared several. None in Wells ticked all the boxes, so we crossed our fingers and chose Priddy, deciding to offer lift-sharing where possible.

Step 3 – Decide what food to offer and who should make it. Fresh and Good (the community cooks of Sustainable Wells), offered their services, providing hot and cold snacks for donations to Oxfam. A wonderful offer as they are excellent at large-scale catering and do it voluntarily.

Step 4 – Decide the ticket price, outlets and number to sell. We went for an affordable £10, and focused on in-person sales, from Oxfam shops in Wells and Glastonbury, and Anna’s Attic in Shepton Mallet. Plus an email address for those wishing to pay online.

Step 5 - Plan the publicity. Luckily, Mid Somerset Oxfam Group has good press and social media officers, who sent releases to local papers, social nubs and dance groups, and put up posters all over.

Step 6 – Sit back and wait. Slowly, slowly the tickets started to sell. We worried. Slowly sales started to pick up. By early December we had sold half our tickets. By mid-December they were selling like ‘hot cakes’ from the Oxfam shop in Wells. On 18 December they sold out.

Now all we have to do is buy the beverages and hibernate till 31 December! Meanwhile various hotels and restaurants in Wells have been very generous with raffle prizes.

Hopefully all will go well and we’ll have a truly community event, putting a smile on our faces and raising funds for Oxfam's work to reduce global poverty and inequality.…. Thanks to a willing band, willing cooks, Oxfam volunteers, lift-givers, local businesses and the dancing public.