This activity is funded by Cornwall Council as part of their Active Travel Project which is aiming to increase the number of people using active travel, eg walking or cycling to complete journeys. There will be 4 dates for each these walks and we hope they give you the confidence to take this walk or to buddy up with other people who may attend.
If you would like more information email sara@intobodmin.co.uk or ring us on 01208 811185
If you attended our House Warming re-opening event then you might have spotted Tanja Durant quietly sketching in the corner. Tanja is a Gig Sketch Artist and you will normally find her at parties, weddings and celebrations documenting the event on her digital sketch pad, observing the guests and picking up on the conversation and the mood.
This is Tanja’s interpretation of our Open Day – we hope you love it as much as we do…….
There is a new project coming to Bodmin for September – the Community Cooking Club.
Bringing the community together through food is something that Beth, our Cafe Manager feels really passionate about and is what she and her team will be focusing on while The Old Library Cafe is shut and the building undergoes renovations.
Beth is collecting details from anyone who is interested in saving money, sharing skills, and using up surplus food with preserving, batch cooking, no waste cooking and group cook ups. There will be lots of trying new foods and recipes!
If you are interested in joining then let Beth know by emailing cafe@intobodmin.co.uk or pop into Shop 14 (next to Oggy Oggy) and see Shannon on a Mon, Weds or Fri between 10-12pm.
Hospital Rooms is running a series of fun, creative workshops in collaboration with intoBodmin for people with lived experience of inpatient mental health services.
These workshops are part of a project that Hospital Rooms is running with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Twelve artists have been commissioned to create brand new, site-specific artworks for the inpatient wards in Bodmin and Redruth, and would like to provide an opportunity for you to share your ideas and experiences about what could make these spaces better.
The workshops will be taking place at The Shire Hall on Mount Folly Square, in the centre of Bodmin. Each session will last two hours with a break in the middle. They are completely free and include all art materials, and tea, coffee and cake. You are welcome to sign up to as many of the workshops as you like.
For more information about the workshops and accessibility, and to sign up, please head to the Eventbrite page
If you have any questions, access needs, or would like some help with registering, please contact izzy@hospital-rooms.com
intoBodmin team secure building’s future for the local community
The team at intoBodmin are celebrating having bought The Old Library at the top of Bodmin’s high street, which has been their base since 2017. The sale, which was confirmed on 4th July 2023, is the result of having achieved a total £640k of grant funding which the Community Interest Company will also use to fully refurbish the Grade II listed John Passmore Edwards library.
The Old Library is home to a vibrant community hub run by intoBodmin. The building hosts a community café, shared co-working spaces and rooms for hire, plus a licensed venue with a varied events programme. However, the historic building is in poor condition and expensive to run: over the last year, it has cost £120 a day to cover the building’s basic overheads.
Initially raising £115k from Arts Council England, and £60k from Cornwall Council’s proposed devolution deal with the UK Government to purchase the building from Cornwall Council, the intoBodmin team have been awarded a further £465k from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the fund and is responsible for monitoring the progress of projects funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The fund has provided £180k for the Old Library project.
Director Fin Irwin said “From the very beginning, our ambition has always been to purchase The Old Library to secure it as a community space – and owning the building means we’ve been able to win this vital funding to invest in the library and give it a more secure future. It will also allow more of our income to be re-invested into the our community work, rather than paying high running costs”.
Nema Hart, Arts Council England, South West, Director of Place, Economy and Partnerships, says: “It’s fantastic to be supporting the development of The Old Library, a building with a rich legacy, for the creative community and residents of Bodmin. At the Arts Council, we value access to shared spaces for learning, creative engagement, and collaboration – so we’re pleased to see The Old Library in the capable hands of intoBodmin, who are committed to transforming it into a venue that’s open to all, and fit for the future. We can’t wait to see the positive impacts it will bring.”
Repairs and upgrades will focus on making the building warm, watertight and welcoming, as well as reducing its carbon footprint and running costs. The overall facilities will be improved, and energy efficient lighting and heating systems installed – including solar panels donated by Clean Earth.
The building will close for up to 6 months while the refurbishment breathes new life into the iconic building in Bodmin’s town centre. The intoBodmin team and their programme of community activity will be moving to Shop 14 on Fore Street while the redevelopment takes place.
Irwin continued, “This purchase and renovation is such a great opportunity for Bodmin and our organisation. In 1897, the great Cornish philanthropist John Passmore Edwards opened this building as a free library for the people of Bodmin. 126 years later and intoBodmin are able to repair the fabric of the building and make it a community resource fit for the 21st century. We are proud to be able to build on the legacy of The Old Library building, and excited to share this space with all the wonderful people who use it and those who will discover it in the future.”
intoBodmin is an arts and community organisation, which was set up in 2017 by Bodmin local Fin Irwin when the town’s public library provision was moved to a new location and the Public Rooms were sold – all of which threatened to leave Bodmin without a home for culture and the arts. After taking on The Old Library’s lease from Cornwall Council, over the past five years intoBodmin have developed the building into the thriving community hub and arts venue it is today.
Tash Arnold, Co-Director and project lead for the purchase and refurbishment, added “We are so grateful to all our funders – particularly the Architectural Heritage Fund, which has supported our project from the very beginning. Many different teams at Cornwall Council supported and advised us throughout the process, as well as our local councillor Pat Rogerson, and our local MP, Scott Mann.”
The programme of works will begin in July 2023 and are due to be completed in 6 months, with the building reopening in January 2024.
IMAGE CREDITS
intoBodmin 1: The Knit-and-natter group, organised by intoBodmin’s Craft Lead Julie Griffen, which meets at the Old Library every Wednesday, celebrate outside The Old Library. In the centre are intoBodmin team with supporters and representatives of funding bodies, including Pat Rogerson, Cornwall Councillor (St Mary’s and St Leonard); Fin Irwin, Founder and Co-Director; Tash Arnold, Co-Director; Steve Facer Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Team; Calum McGrath, Senior Parliamentary Assistant to Scott Mann MP; Michael Muldowney, Senior Communications Officer to Scott Mann MP.
intoBodmin 2: The intoBodmin team on the steps of The Old Library, celebrating with supporters and representatives of funding bodies. Front row, L-R: Pat Rogerson, Cornwall Councillor (St Mary’s and St Leonard); Fin Irwin, Founder and Co-Director; Tash Arnold, Co-Director; Steve Facer Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Team. Back row, L-R: Calum McGrath, Senior Parliamentary Assistant to Scott Mann MP; Michael Muldowney, Senior Communications Officer to Scott Mann MP.
Last week the intoBodmin team packed up The Old Library building and relocated to Shop 14 on Fore St.
This is because, despite looking good for it’s age the building is over 120 years old and needs some renovating and TLC. It will be closed until the New Year when we hope to re-open with a warmer and greener building!
You can now find the intoBodmin team down in Fore St at Shop 14 – next to Oggy Oggy Pasty.
Our email addresses and phone have all stayed the same
emailus@intobodmin.co.uk | 01208 811185
Our regular groups and activities have all moved with us and you are welcome to join in too.
You can find full details here https://intobodmin.co.uk/the-old…/clubs-and-activities/
We will continue to run a regular programme of events as best we can and without The Old Library as a venue we will be popping up all over Bodmin using some familiar and new venues.
It can be a little daunting getting to grips with a new venue but don’t worry! You will also still be met with a member of the intoBodmin team as usual. If you have any further questions concerning access needs or anything at all, then please do email: events@intobodmin.co.uk
Lots of you are used to popping in and seeing the team throughout the week and this will be a bit harder to do in Shop 14 but the intoBodmin team will be here in the office every Tuesday.
We will keep you updated with our progress!
Not only does our Beth Woolley do an amazing job of running the Old Library Cafe, she also heads up Plastic Free Bodmin!
This means that Bodmin has joined a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source. The town has been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of the work it has done to start reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment.
Beth started the campaign in November 2021, after she struggled to source plastic free items during lockdown. She decided that rather than just complain she should use her frustration to try and make a change locally and was amazed at how many people in Bodmin were interested in environmental issues and wanted to be a part of the journey.
Registering with the SAS Plastic Free Communities movement, Beth pulled together key organisations and businesses in the town to put in place a five-point plan. The objectives include; setting up a community led steering group, instigating the SAS Plastic Free Schools education programme, getting local council commitment and working with local businesses, organisations and community groups to spread the word and minimise the amount of disposable plastics they use.
Beth has been delighted by the results she has had with this campaign and describes the overwhelming response from a diverse range of organisations in Bodmin as “ an inspiring community action”. Currently there are over 25 Bodmin based community groups, businesses and organisations signed up as supporters of the project who are also committed to making changes to their own use of disposable plastics in the future. As well as environmental organisations such as the Bodmin Tidy It Team, there are allies from groups supporting young people, such as Miss Elvy’s Curious School of the Wild and all Bodmins primary schools, Bodmin and Callywith College are signed up to the Plastic Free Schools initiative. Local publications, Bodmin Life and Bodmin voice have helped spread the word, and long established local organisations such as The Rotary Club of Bodmin are also on board. Bodmin Town Council passed a resolution supporting the plastic free journey, committing to taking action itself and supporting plastic-free initiatives within the Town. Beth also has support from a number of local businesses that have become ‘Business Champions’ who have made sustained changes to their business to reduce their single use plastic, including Celtic Produce, Oggy Oggy Pasties, and Sustainability Award winning Discovery42.
Plastic Free Bodmin have been promoting the campaign and plastic free alternatives at various local events, including PandaFest and Bodmin Town Council’s monthly market on Mount Folly to raise awareness amongst the community and in a joint project with Bodmin Way is set to reduce the amount of single use plastic at the town’s annual St Piran’s Day parade. In sponsorship with Proper Cornish, each child who participated in this year’s parade was given a reusable drinking bottle rather than a disposable one- featuring a design from the winner of a recent competition for local school age children illustrating the connection and importance of Cornwall and environmental sustainability.
Beth is overjoyed that the town has now been awarded plastic free community status and sees this as just the start of the journey. Beth states that “its not about doing plastic free perfectly, but about many people making small changes for the greater good of the community we live in”, she is keen to continue to work with local groups, schools and businesses to reduce the town’s plastic use even further and develop a more environmentally sustainable approach as a community. Plastic Free Bodmin is only getting bigger and more impactful and welcomes any interested volunteers, groups or businesses to support their goals- please get in touch!
More information:
Beth Woolley, Community Lead, Plastic Free Bodmin: plasticfreebodmin@gmail.com Plastic Free Communities: www.plasticfree.org.uk
Surfers Against Sewage: www.sas.org.uk
Hi – I’m Rebecca and on this page you can find out all about the sustainable fashion workshops I’m running in Bodmin. These sessions are for people looking to learn new skills and create new clothing. You need to be aged 16+ to attend.
My idea to do this project came from the fact we have a lot of charity shops in Bodmin and a lack of mainstream shops to buy current fashion and trends. I care about the environment and also where I live and work and I wanted to do something to change this. I love to learn new creative things.
From the 7th March there will a series workshops; x5 workshops where you can learn a new skills and x7 practice and make sessions. A workshop leader will lead each skill session and you will need to book in. In these sessions materials will be provided.
In the practice and making sessions you will be able to practice the skills you have learnt so far. I’ll be there to support you so if you’ve missed the skills session you can also join in. You will need to bring your own materials for these sessions and if you want to bring your own project you are welcome to!
Workshop Details
Tuesday 7th March 5pm – 7pm
Skills Session – Natural Dying
Workshop Lead: Sian Cornish
All materials provided.
You will need to sign up here as spaces are limited.
Tuesday 14th March 5pm – 7pm
Practice and Making Session – Dying
There will be no workshop lead but this will be a chance to practice your own dying skills. We can share our skills and help each other. You will need to bring your own materials.
This session is drop in.
Tuesday 21st March 5pm – 7pm
Skills Sessions – Plastic Flowers from a bottle
Workshop Lead: Rebecca
All materials provided
You will need to sign up here as spaces are limited.
Tuesday 28th March 5pm – 7pm
Skills Sessions – Embroidery
Workshop Lead: Lucy Whittaker
All materials provided but you will need to bring your item of choice for embroidery.
You will need to sign up here as spaces are limited.
Tuesday 4th April 5pm – 7pm
Practice and Making Session – Embroidery
There will be no workshop lead but this will be a chance to practice your own embroidery skills. We can share our skills and help each other. You will need to bring your own materials.
This session is drop in.
Tuesday 11th April 5pm – 7pm
Practice and Making Session – Embroidery
There will be no workshop lead but this will be a chance to practice your own embroidery skills. We can share our skills and help each other. You will need to bring your own materials.
This session is drop in.
Tuesday 18th April 5pm – 7pm
Skills Sessions – Keeping with the Trends
Workshop Lead: Rebecca
All materials provided, there will be sewing machines available to use. You are welcome to bring your own sewing machine and also items of clothing if you wish.
You will need to sign up here as spaces are limited.
Tuesday 25th April 5pm – 7pm
Practice and Making Session – Keeping with the Trends
There will be no workshop lead but this will be a chance to practice your own sewing skills. We can share our skills and help each other. You will need to bring your own materials.
This session is drop in.
Tuesday 2nd May 5pm – 7pm
Practice and Making Session – Keeping with the Trends
There will be no workshop lead but this will be a chance to practice your own sewing skills. We can share our skills and help each other. You will need to bring your own materials.
This session is drop in.
Tuesday 9th May 5pm – 7pm
Skills Sessions – Patchwork
Workshop Lead: Amanda Young
All materials provided, these sessions will focus on hand sewing techniques.
You will need to sign up here as spaces are limited.
Tuesday 16th May 5pm – 7pm
Practice and Making Session – Patchwork
There will be no workshop lead but this will be a chance to practice your own patchwork skills. We can share our skills and help each other. You will need to bring your own materials.
This session is drop in.
Tuesday 23rd May 5pm – 7pm
Practice and Making Session – Patchwork
There will be no workshop lead but this will be a chance to practice your own patchwork skills. We can share our skills and help each other. You will need to bring your own materials.
This session is drop in.
This project is supported by
Feast, Arts Council, Cornwall Council
Thanks to
Bodmin Lions £200 for materials for workshops
intoBodmin – creative space and office and mentoring support
techneopro – for their donations of materials
Plastic Free Bodmin – for support on this project
George Ellis was a photographer based in Bodmin, he captured the everyday lives of people living in the Town. We’ve been running a creative workshops over the last couple of months, which has been exploring his collection of extraordinary Bodmin photographs from the 1930’s to 1980’s.
We’d like to invite you to our event to share with you what we’ve created!
There will be a display from both our BodZine project and Henwyn Collective.
The BodZine team have been making a DIY, collaborative ‘scrapbook’ of imagery and opinion and the Henwyn collective have been exploring interests in photography and printing techniques.
We can’t wait to see what they’ve come up with alongside a display of George Ellis photographs of Bodmin.
The event is on 11th March at 2pm in The Old LIbrary Cafe and is free to attend.
