14TH OCTOBER 2012

LATEST NEWSLETTER FROM THE CENTRAL BEDS TEAM - DUNSTABLE, HOUGHTON REGIS AND LEIGHTON BUZZARD.... CONTACT KAREN, JULIE OR LYNNE FOR HELP....

Drop-ins:
Tuesdays: Houghton Regis Library 2pm to 4.30pm
Wednesdays: The Pioneer Centre, Manchester Place, Dunstable 2pm to 4.30pm
Thursdays: The Mayfield Centre, Downside, Dunstable  2pm to 4.30pm (please phone to check until further notice)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/4YPUK/504893649546153 - Visit our fantastic new Website and LIKE us!

Hi Everyone,

Hows it all going? Any success stories out there?

No webwatch this week but don't let that stop you searching! I've attached a list of useful websites and some hints and tips on applying for apprenticeships. For the time being, if you would like to call in to our drop-in at the Mayfield Centre, please call us first as it is sometimes closed due to staffing issues.

CENTRE PARCS RECUITMENT DAY - Reminder from Nuance
Hello Bedfordshire.
We are Nuance, Retail operator at Center Parcs.
We are looking to recruit enthusiastic, friendly and sociable people to be part of our brand new retail team at Center Parcs Woburn Forest when it opens in spring next year. If you are interested to learn more, come and meet us at our open day at Woburn Village Hall on  23rd OCT, 10am – 4pm. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE. www.thenuancegroup.com/woburn

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
The Central Youth Volunteering Project is for young people aged 13-18 living in, or attending school in, Central Bedfordshire. It offers lots of different volunteering opportunities and the chance to be awarded a nationally recognised award - perfect for listing on UCAS applications, CVs etc.
Volunteering has so many benefits – improves skills preparing young people for further education or employment, raises self-esteem and confidence and is a great chance to meet new people.
For more information please email sarah@bedfordvb.org.uk or call 01234 213100.
Many thanks
Sarah
Sarah Bigg
Central Youth Volunteering Project

FREE DRIVING SAFETY COURSES !     
WOW! - here's a great offer....
AMEY are providing FREE driving safety courses for 16-24 year olds who live in Central Bedfordshire or Luton.
MORE 16 gives 16 year olds their first driving experience. Parents can attend to give guidance whilst their teens practice. A high-speed passenger ride with a pro-driver is offered to all parents who attend!
MORE DRIVE is for 17-24 year olds who have passed their driving test. You will drive on a skid pan, experiences ABS braking systems and practice emergency stops at speed to show stopping distances.
The next course is on 24 November 2013  at Millbrook Proving Ground. Please email roadsafety@amey.co.uk to find out more. Places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis!
If you’re unable to attend on this date, the next course is provisionally booked for March – although applications won’t open until the new year.

DUNSTABLE PRIORY GATEWAY HERITAGE PROJECT
Here's an exciting voluntary opportunity for anyone interested in archaeology, stonemasonary, film, photography or artwork:

The priory gateway lies next to St Peter's Church and Priory Gardens in Dunstable. It is a Listed structure and forms part of the nationally protected medieval priory site. It is one of the last upstanding structures (with this exception of St Peter's Church) associated with what was once one of the most prosperous Priories in England. We know quite a lot about life in the Priory as extensive records have survived and recently been translated and one of the suggestions is that the gateway/gatehouse once might have housed a school.

 

For much of this year the gateway has been surrounded in heras fencing, this is because being largely built of soft Totternhoe clunch its natural deterioration was rapidly worsened by last year's exceptionally cold winter. The gateway is owned by Dunstable Town Council and I am working with them on a project to repair the gateway and enhance its conservation and interpretation. At present we are exploring ideas of how to involve the local community in the repair project and would like to hear from any young people who may be interested in volunteering. The repair works will be undertaken by professional stonemasons. Our initial thoughts on engaging the community include some of the following ideas:

shadowing the stonemasons and the buildings archaeologist;

volunteering with the excavation of an archaeological trench across the gateway foundations;

keeping a record of the project through film, photography and artwork

creating interpretation that will appeal to all ages (so basically not just a static interpretation panel).

Hannah Firth

Archaeologist, Development Management

Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ

Direct Dial: 0300 300 6603 |  Internal ext: 76603 |  Mobile: 07854528528 | Email: hannah.firth@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
OK, I think that's everything. We'll be back with Webwatch next week. Have a great week-end!Kind regards,
Karen