Last week I sent two emails, this week I sent more. I aim to direct people to my community notice board and invite people to discuss ideas of Bodmin and what makes the town good, what needs to be improved and what they feel are the main issues within the town. lets see how this goes.
This week, I have been exploring the idea of branding this project. With the focus being community I wanted to create an icon that encapsulates this and have decided (for now) to work with the above graphic.
How can I use social design and community engagement to build a platform for collaboration and growth within my local area?
The above question now encapsulates my project, responding to a request from susanna to write a short statement about our work this just rolled onto the page. I looked back and thought. Humm yeah that is my project summarised. I think that it is key to consider the history and identity of Bodmin and I will also include this research into my written outcome but the focus will be to present a document that explores the idea of community engagement and social design.
”William and Susie Gore <thegores@hotmail.co.uk>To:Jamie BaldwinCc:cllrphillips@bodmin.gov.uk,Ann GreganFri 1 May at 15:03Dear Jamie,
First of all I hope you don’t mind me addressing you as Jamie and thank you very much for your e-mail concerning your Bodmin project, to which I am replying as Chairman of Bodmin Hospital League of Friends. I thought it would be of help to you to give a little background to Bodmin Hospital, the League of Friends and what BHLF does. Bodmin Hospital was opened in 2002, the first hospital in Cornwall to be built for 50 years, replacing two hospitals – the former East Cornwall Hospital in Rhind Street, built 1910, but its foundation goes back to 1840, and the former St Lawrence’s Hospital, built in 1820. As you can see from this brief history of those two hospitals Bodmin has had a long association in caring for those in need of medical or mental health provision and the present Bodmin Hospital continues this long tradition. Each of those two former hospitals had its own league of friends which came together to form a new league of friends when the hospital was opened in 2002. This new league was initially named Friends of Bodmin Hospital but changed to Bodmin Hospital League of Friends (BHLF). There are still members on the committee of BHLF who served on those two former league of friends. BHLF is a charity, it is guided by its constitution and through fund raising responds to requests from the hospital staff so that services and equipment not supplied by the NHS for the hospital can be bought by the hospital itself. The patients of the hospital are at the heart of what BHLF stands for and it must be remembered that patients come to Bodmin Hospital from all over Cornwall; although the hospital takes its name from the local town it is truly a county hospital.
I am hoping that this background doesn’t come over as too ‘academic’ and speaking on behalf of BHLF I cannot stress enough how much BHLF gratitude owes to the people of Bodmin in supporting the work we do for the hospital. It is never ending this support. We have been Sainsbury’s Bodmin Charity of the year not long ago and for June 2020 during volunteer week Iceland Bodmin has chosen BHLF as its charity. Local organizations such as the Lions, Rotary, Inner Wheel are quite marvellous in their support for BHLF, particularly at fund raising events that need at times quite a lot of extra helpers to set things up and then at the event itself. Each year in June BHLF has the Hospital Fete which we hold on land of the former St Lawrence’s Hospital. Alas, no fete this year. It is such a happy and successful event, not just financially. but also socially. and we are so blessed with the support that comes from Bodmin for the fete, which Bodmin Town Council recognises as a key cultural event during the year for the town. People flock to the fete which has taken place for years, at least 50 years, and probably longer. Sponsorship for BHLF’s events, the fete in particular, is always needed and the business people of Bodmin (and elsewhere) respond so willingly and generously with sponsorship.
BHLF has a very good relationship with Bodmin Town Council which we value and we try to give back to the council in support whenever we can, in attending civic events when invited or community events. One of BHLF’s strengths is a twice yearly newsletter and I am asking Ann Gregan, BHLF’s secretary and a recipient as well of my e-mail to you, to send you some copies of past Newsletters.
In your first point you ask what makes Bodmin great. On behalf of Bodmin League of Friends I have great pleasure in writing that it is never ending generosity from the people of Bodmin towards BHLF in our work for this very special hospital, generosity we never take for granted, and we can never thank the people of Bodmin enough for their support.
Alas, I am sure you will appreciate that for BHLF it is beyond its remit to comment on the next two points of your project and I truly wish you well with this project.
Please stay safe and well as we all stay united in doing what we can to stop this terrible virus and protect the NHS.
With best wishes,
Susie GoreChairman – BHLF
Pixels and Serifs. 