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Providing a roof for those who need it as empty properties in Bath converted
Empty properties are being converted to help those struggling with life put a roof over their heads.
Bath charity Developing Health and Independence (DHI) is refurbishing several properties in the city after receiving £119,000 from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The money has been used by the charity to increase its Empty Homes Scheme, which offers cash grants and interest free loans to finance the refurbishment of empty properties in Bath and north east Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bristol.
Finished homes are then rented out through DHI's not-for-profit lettings agency, Home Turf Lettings, which specialises in rentals to the homeless or people threatened with homelessness.
DHI's social enterprise director, Mark Coates, said: "We've all seen those empty buildings that you walk past every day.
"At best they are an annoyance, and at worst they can make the surrounding environment less pleasant to live in.
"With today's economic climate when there's such a need to find decent, affordable housing, we think our Empty Homes Scheme offers a genuine win/win scenario for property owners and local residents alike."
The charity is now about to let the first two homes refurbished using the Government handout.
DHI client Sam, who was previously homeless but now lives in a property refurbished by DHI, praised the scheme.
He said: "The help, advice, support and action provided by DHI has been fantastic throughout.
"I received the keys to my own, new, beautiful home in Bath.
"I have the safety and the security I have dreamt of, and I believe a platform to rebuild my life, to become a valuable and respected citizen, father and son."
DHI is appealing for members of the local community to nominate empty buildings they would like to see refurbished.
Anyone who would like to nominate an empty property should call Mark Coates on 0117 3012560 or email hello@hometurflettings.co.uk.
Fifty train to become lifeguards in Bath
People in Bath have been training to become lifeguards.
A scheme at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre and Culverhay Sports Centre has helped 50 people complete the qualification, with a further 24 to be trained by the end of the year.
The Bath centre is hosting an extra two courses this year to try to keep up with local demand.
General manager Barnaby Rich said: "This valuable training provides residents in our communities with marketable skills and helps them to find work within the leisure industry, including those who progress to full or casual employment at Aquaterra leisure centres or at other pools."
The syllabus for the Royal Lifesaving Society's National Pool Lifeguard Qualification includes pool supervision, rescue techniques, resuscitation, first aid, spinal injury management and health and safety in leisure centres.
Each course is 40 hours in length plus an assessment and once gained is valid for two years.
Applicants must be 16 or over, a competent swimmer with a high level of water confidence and have a good level of fitness.
For more information and costs visit www.aquaterra .org/lifeguarding.
Royal United Hospital consultant's call to ban skin allergy chemical
A consultant dermatologist at the Royal United Hospital is calling for a chemical to be banned from everyday cosmetics and household cleaning products because it causes a severe allergic reaction in many people.
Dr Deirdre Buckley says she has seen a big increase in the number of patients having a reaction to methylisothia- zolinone.
The chemical, known as MI, is used in a wide range of products including shampoos, moisturisers, shower gels, sunscreens, baby wipes and detergents, and also in paint.
Dr Buckley said: "Reactions to this chemical have become very common.
"In the first half of this year 11 out of 80 RUH patients with skin problems who were tested for allergies, were allergic to MI.
"MI has been legally permitted in the EU for years, but the permitted limit of concentration of 100 parts per million is more than 25 times higher than the concentration allowed prior to 2005.
"The British Association of Dermatologists is calling for this limit to be lowered to prevent more people becoming sensitised to it."
Kassia Gawronski, from Bath, had an extreme reaction to MI.
She said: "I was referred to the RUH with a skin condition, which did eventually clear, but we didn't know what might have caused it.
"Patch testing was carried out on my back and we discovered I was allergic to MI.
"I had a really severe reaction to the chemical, which blistered my skin, it spread across my back and made it very sore and itchy. It was horrid."
Talk on Saltford Brass Mill
People are invited to attend a talk about the Saltford Brass Mill and its links with the Commonwealth.
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) Bath and District Branch has invited Tony Coverdale to give the talk at Hestia Rise, Tyning End, in Bath, at 6.30pm on Wednesday, September 4.
It will cost £7.50, including wine and snacks, to RCS, English Speaking Union (ESU) and Britain-Australia Society, and £8.50 to non-members.
Next year the RCS will be combining with both the ESU and the Britain-Australia Society to provide a programme of talks and functions.
The group's next event will be the Inaugural RCS Bath Commonwealth Lecture and Reception to be given by Lord Howell on Monday, November 25, at the BRLSI in Bath.
Anyone interested in attending the Saltford Brass Mill event should contact secretary Emma Harris at emmaharris3 @gmail.com.
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Mary Berry's thermal recipe for keeping warm during freezing filming of Great British Bake Off
Her wardrobe on The Great British Bake Off has earned almost as much praise as her culinary skills, but now the lengths that Mary Berry has to go to just to keep warm on the show have been revealed. The show, which has returned to BBC2 with judges former Bath schoolgirl Mary, 78 and Paul Hollywood, 47, is pre-recorded in a specially constructed tent in Somerset from the spring. Mel Giedroyc, who presents the hit show with Sue Perkins, told the Radio Times: "When we first started filming, in April, it was freezing so our main concern was to keep Mary Berry warm. "She had four thermal layers on and two water bottles down the trouser.s"