A fantastic BWR pre-loved Boutique Sale is on next Thursday, 2nd May in Combe Down. Please come along, find a fashionable bargain and contribute to a fantastic cause!

Off the Record Bath and North East Somerset is running a volunteer independent visitor service and is looking for long term befrienders to children/young people aged 5-18 looked after in foster care.  

Each volunteer is matched with one young person and takes them out for an activity once a month. 

All applicants welcome. Visit https://www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk/volunteer for more information.

Off the Record Bath and North East Somerset (OTR) improves the emotional health and wellbeing of young people. OTR provides a range of free services for anyone aged 10-25 living, working or studying in BaNES, including counselling, listening support, youth participation, advocacy, support for care leavers and a LGBTQ+ focused youth group.

BWR has been working away with plans for a new logo and website to better reflect the work we do and the people we support. We look forward to unveiling this later in the year.

We’re so very grateful to the kind people helping us with design and inspiration and content and all the techie stuff that’s going to make this possible.

Right now, we’d particularly like to thank Darius Jéan, who invited the team to his Bath studio for professional headshots for our new website.

Darius, who is a photographer and filmmaker specialising in weddings and events, says: “I search for joy. I capture moments that are for the most part unposed to document the story: not create it.”

We love this example of his beautiful work, below. For more information and to see more of his photography visit www.dariusjean.co.uk.

Charlotte MacDiarmid stepped down from the trustee board and her role as chair at the end of March. Charlotte joined BWR as a trustee in late 2019 and we thank her for the huge part she has played in those four years.

She had this message for BWR colleagues: “I have loved being part of such a wonderful and dynamic local charity. Its been quite a journey and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to achieve together. Its been a pleasure to work alongside such a dedicated and compassionate bunch of people – you are all amazing! I’m constantly inspired at the lengths BWR volunteers and staff go to to make sure refugees and asylum seekers in Bath feel welcome, feel supported, and have a chance at a better life here. Its a very positive antidote to the sometimes toxic discourse at national level.”

“I’m confident I’m leaving the trustee board in a good place. In the past year we have recruited new trustees who bring new experience, skills and expertise to the board.

“I wish BWR every success going forward and I will continue to support from the sidelines. Together we can all continue to make Bath and the surrounding area a warm and welcoming place for those who have been forced to flee their homelands.”