Basingstoke Now: Recent Episodes
Communicast
Basingstoke Now is a digital media platform for Basingstoke and the surrounding areas including Overton, Hook, and Odiham.
Every week, we're joined by Mark Paine from the Basingstoke Gazette to talk about the big news stories that they've been covering over the past week.
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Every week, we’re joined by the Basingstoke Gazette, to talk about the biggest local news stories of the week. This week Mark Paine takes us through the stories.
You can keep up with the local news at https://basingstokegazette.co.uk
Homelessness is something that most of us will thankfully never experience - but we could.
Losing a job, bad debts, or a relationship breakup can all mean someone ending up without a decent roof over their head, including living on the streets.
The Camrose Centre is one of a number of organisations in the Basingstoke area that can help those who are homeless.
Supported by a dedicated team of volunteers and the genrosity of people who donate funds and items to them, the Camrose Centre makes a difference to those who are at their most vulnerable.
And, like most charities and community groups, there are massively grateful to those who enable them to do the work they do.
If you need their help, or you want to find out what you can do to support them, find out more on their website.
Every week, we’re joined by Sophie Day, head of news at the Basingstoke Gazette, to talk about the biggest local news stories of the week.
You can keep up with the local news at https://basingstokegazette.co.uk
The Pink Place (inc. The Blue Space) is a Basingstoke cancer support charity that has been running for 12 years.
It was founded in Wote Street but is now based in The Orchard, providing support services, complementary therapies, and counselling and much more for men and women of all ages from diagnosis and beyond.
Christine Griffiths is their fundraising and events manager and she's been telling BASINGSTOKE NOW more about the charity and its services and inviting you to join in with some big fundraising events that are taking place this year.
You can find out more about The Pink Place on their website.
BASINGSTOKE NOW has been talking to Lynne Whitehead of Basingstoke & District Cat Protection about the need to rehome cats that owners have been unable to continue to look after.
Lynne also talked about the importance of spaying cats, both to prevent unwanted pregnancies but also to reduce aggression, especially in tom cats, and the risk of serious diseases such as Feline AIDS.
Can you rehome a rescue cat? Or perhaps you could volunteer for the charity as a foster carer or fundraiser? You can get in touch with them via their website or Facebook page.
Brighton Hill School is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025 and is trying to track down as many past students, parents, teachers, and others who have been part of its history.
Head of transition and marketing at the school, Dan Du-Heaume has been telling BASINGSTOKE NOW why creating the Yellow Alumni is important not just for the social side of bringing the school's past and present together, but for the rich history and experience that former students and others can bring.
If you want to join the Yellow Alumni then you can find the details on the school website or social media.
Sebastian's Action Trust is a charity offering respite breaks, outreach, and bereavement service for the families of seriously ill children.
One of their two main facilities is The Bluebells at North Waltham and the services they provide are entirely funded by donations and fundraising activities.
In March, the charity has three fundraising events:
- A 60 mile challenge called Step Out for Seb
- A pub quiz at The Purefoy Arms in Preston Candover
- A firewalk at their Crowthorne centre.
Listen to find out more about what the charity does and how you can get involved in these events.
Visit their website at https://sebastiansactiontrust.org/
Millers Ark is 32 years old this year and we've been down to meet founder Elizabeth Miller and some of the amazing animals that thrill visitors at the farm near Hook.
Find out more at millersark.co.uk
Basingstoke Neighbourcare helps people who are unable to get out by themselves - mainly elderly people - through accompanies transport to medical appointments, shops, and clubs as well as a befriender service.
Listen to find out how you can get involved, or use their service, and learn more about this valuable local charity.
Find out more at neighbourcare.com
Every week, we're joined by Sophie Day, head of news at the Basingstoke Gazette, to talk about the biggest local news stories of the week.
You can keep up with the local news at https://basingstokegazette.co.uk
Basingstoke nutrition coach Kate Houldsworth knows what it's like to have an unhealthy relationship with food. For 25 years she struggled with periods of restricted diet followed by binging.
Now, she works with people who want to eat well and in this feature she talks about diets including how to avoid the 'yo-yo' diets that so many people find themselves in, where they diet, lose weight, put it back on again, and then start a new diet.
What's good to eat? What's good to avoid? Does fat make you fat? And how can you stick to a healthy diet or weight-loss programme?
Find out more about Kate at https://www.khnutritioncoaching.co.uk/
BASINGSTOKE NOW has been talking to Phil Thomas from the Basingstoke Food Bank who has thanked the people of the town and surrounding areas for their amazing generosity in donating items and money to the organisation.
The food bank has helped thousands of people since it was set up a decade ago and is seeing increased demand as the cost of living squeezes budgets.
Phil has also said that people should feel no shame about using the food bank, noting that any of us could find ourselves in crisis.
He also talked about the ambition that we get to a point where Basingstoke doesn't need a food bank and explained how the organisation are working hard to help people with the issues that leave them in desperate situations including benefit delays.
Find out more at: https://basingstoke.foodbank.org.uk/
Basingstoke man Graham Kent has written his first book at the age of 72, telling the story of his grandfather's World War I experiences.
Graham, who has lived in Basingstoke for 50 years and used to run FHC for Hair at Houndmills, discovered his grandfather's wartime diaries only after he died.
The Life and Times of William James Kent adapts this first-hand account of time spent in the Royal Navy.
You can get a copy of the book by emailing Graham: grahamkent50@outlook.com
It's winter, everything is more expensive, and all the news seems to be bad. It can be hard to stay positive, but there are things we can do.
BASINGSTOKE NOW has been talking to Basingstoke hypnotherapist and MNLP coach Kim Searle about how to cut through the gloom and be positive about life.
She says that our brains are hard-wired to be alert for bad events and also hates things being left unresolved, so we have work to do to rise above so much negativity.
But there are things that we can do and one of them is so simple - being appreciative and grateful for what we have, especially the small things that we sometimes take for granted.
The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane has been talking to BASINGSTOKE NOW about his forthcoming spring charity concert at The Anvil.
Councillor Paul Miller told us about the two charities that he’s supporting during his mayoral year: The Pink Place incorporating The Blue Space and Tough Enough to Care.Music loving residents will have the chance to say “Thank You for the Music” at the Mayor’s Charity Concert this spring.
Talented choirs and singing groups from across the borough and further afield will come together for the one-night-only celebration of song at The Anvil on Saturday 4 March at 7.30pm.
Organised by Basingstoke Festival of Choirs, the evening promises entertainment from varied and diverse performers offering something for everyone from musical theatre through to popular opera.
Special guest choirs include St Mary’s CE Junior School, Odiham Military Wives Choir and Ukrainian choir Kalyna with accompaniment provided by the Heritage Light Orchestra.
Tickets for the Thank You for the Music concert, which will support the Mayor’s Charity Appeal 2022/23, are on sale now from the Anvil Box Office.
Basingstoke Now is a digital media platform for Basingstoke and the surrounding areas including Overton, Hook, and Odiham.