As a parent is that how you feel? I certainly did when, fifteen years ago, and a prospective parent, I moved to Swindon. Back then the view of Swindon around the UK wasn’t what you’d call favourable. Indeed – some might argue it still isn’t. And that, at length, is howSTEM with Scooshcame into being.
Scoosh
Doing my bit to improve Swindon, its future and life for its residents is the motivation behind my business, Scoosh. Helping our children to love STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) opens up opportunities for them. And that in turn benefits Swindon.Â
Of course, STEM is not a new thing – though it went by other names. It’s not new to Swindon for sure. Indeed, one might argue, that Swindon, home of the great GWR Works, where Spitfires were built in the war. Then later came Garrard Record decks and the car industry is the home of STEM. Yet there remains a huge STEM skills gap. And within the take-up of STEM-based careers, fewer girls than boys. As this article from the Swindon Advertiser points out: of the science and engineering apprenticeships available to Swindon’s young people, only seven per cent of girls took up STEM-based apprenticeships in 2017/2018. This is a lamentable figure to me – both as a parent and as a one-time software engineer.
The article goes on to state that, across England, the apprenticeship split as a whole, is an even one between men and women. But female representation in STEM subjects remains low. In Swindon, 1,240 STEM apprenticeships were started over the last five years – but a mere ninety were taken up by women. That’s according to data from the Department of Education.
You’re a parent – What does this mean to you?
We can work together to close that gap.
It’s my firm belief that the earlier we get started the better. Sharing books and stories with even the youngest children stimulates their imagination. What’s more it improves speech and literacy – this is scientifically proven. Other things you can do – and Scoosh are here to help:
Throughout childhood, expose them to exciting demonstrations and hands-on projects. Both at home and school.
Play engaging maths games such as Monopoly and T T Rockstars.
Watch awesome scientists like Professor Brian Cox and Tim Peake.
Make YouTube playlists combining music with science. Check out the ASAP Science channel.
Celebrate going to the moon with space toys and a telescope.
Attend science fairs and technology festivals such as ‘Tomorrow’ in 2020 or the Cheltenham Science Festival.Â
Encourage, mentor, sponsor less well-off children.
Scoosh STEM Clubs
The clubs run by Scoosh involve the kids getting hands-on with STEM. Such as:
Using their imagination to build a bridge purely out of paper and masking tape!
Cementing their science knowledge in a practical way by making slime.
Enjoying using maths to solve puzzles.
During the 65+ club sessions run so far, kids have really engaged with the practical and free-form nature of completing projects using their imagination. I give them an end goal and set them to the task. This gives them the opportunity to brainstorm with their friends and I am there to assist if they find it tricky.
This balloon car project which you can see in the YouTube clip below is a sample of Scoosh activities:
Scoosh is here to help you get your kids engaged with STEM. We’re all about sharing fun and STEM projects with children. We do workshops, after-school clubs and 1:1 tutoring. There’s more information here on our website about all of that.
We work too with educators to provide stimulating environments for STEM learning.
Last week I was both surprised and delighted to receive an invitation from Cllr Ravi Venkatesh, Haydon Wick Parish Council, to attend an event he’d organised in Pinehurst. The event’s purpose was something of a literary celebration – in fact a Kannada celebration. Let me explain.
Cllr Venkatesh hails from an Indian state by the name of Karnataka. The language of Karnataka is Kannada. No – I’d not heard of it either. Nor of the Kannada community either. But more on that in a bit.
Bookends
For some years now, when relatives were visiting from India, they’d bring with them books in their mother tongue – Kannada. Seeking to make easier access to books in the Kannada language, Cllr Venkatesh and his wife approached Swindon’s library system to get Kannada-language books integrated into the library system. This the library service agreed to. So the event last Friday evening was to celebrate the integration of fifty Kannada-language books into the library system.
As well as myself and Tony Hillier (Swindon’s community poet!) the visiting Karnataka Govt Secretary for Kannada Development also graced this lovely occasion full of delightful people.
I’ve heard it said that there’s around 120 first languages in Swindon. At a push I could name half a dozen or so – and Kannada would not have been included. So before I went to this event I thought it provident to do a smidge of research.
Also known as Kanarese, Kannada is an ancient language. According to Brittanica.Com, early 21st-century data indicates some 38 million individuals speak Kannada as their first language. Further, it’s likely another 9 to 10 million speak it as a secondary language. In 2008, the Indian government granted Kannada classical-language status.
Kannada Literature
To give you an idea of this language’s literary credentials, Kannada literature began in the 9th century CE with the Kavirajamarga of Nripatunga. Brittanica.com goes on to tell us that the earliest extant grammar dates from the 12th century and is by Nagavarma. In short – the Kannada language is around 1,000 years old. English is around 1.400 years old. So it’s not so far behind in the scheme of things.
The Kannadan Community
So there’s little else to say now, aside from what a pleasure and an honour it was to meet Ravi (Cllr Venkatesh) properly – having bumped into him at community events – and his Kannada community. All of whom could not have been more charming and delightful.
The project participants outside Central Community Centre – once the Medical Fund Society Hospital
NB: Both Secret Secret Swindon and Swindon in 50 Buildings between them tell of the Medical Fund Society, the Mechanics’ Institution, the GWR Railway Village and central community centre.
Funding partners
The organisations that enabled this project to take place are:
‘Starting in Summer 2018, 35 young people based at Central Community Centre in Swindon’s historic and award-winning Railway Village began a project to create artworks inspired by the heritage around them and share these with the local community.
‘Sharing Swindon’s Story’ focused on the community and cultural heritage of our town, linked to the first generations of ‘New Swindonians’ and the Mechanics’ Institution.’
A group of 11-16 year olds from the local youth club designed and led the project.
Despite the fact that I’ve now got three non-fiction books, and this blog, well and truly under my belt, I am in awe of anyone that can write fiction. I have neither the imagination nor the staying power for that. And I’m not ‘just saying’ that. I know my limitations and fiction writing is it.
About Jamie’s Book – ISBN: 978-1-4990-9428-2
The Anomaly Crystal is described as an action-packed, science fiction, fantasy war story. This epic tale spans 200 years and is spun from the gripping issues of ancient sorcery and armed conflict upon a mysterious planet.
If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, you’ll find an extract on Google books here:
Says Jamie about his book
Say’s Jamie about his book: ‘I drew my inspiration for this novel from my own interest in the science fiction and fantasy genre – one that I enjoy a great deal in both film and book form.
I wanted to create my own story within the genre for others with the same interests. Besides which, I’d long harboured an ambition to write a book. That motivation and my passion sustained me the three years or so that it took for me to complete The Anomaly Crystal. You see what I mean about needing stickability?
The Anomaly Crystal is the first in a series. The novel’s storyline spans a period of approximately 200 years. It features a great war between the humans and a creature race that live upon a mysterious planet. Within this timeframe, a supernatural artefact called ‘the anomaly crystal‘ that releases elemental magic was created to affect the outcome of this war.’
‘The outcome from a destined great war between humans and creatures will be decided by the courage and emotions of a few honourable and worthy individuals. Raven is the last blood line descendent from the greatest wizard known as Grackle, and he has found himself living in a time of endless uncertainty, magic and sorcery between the humans and a terrifying creature race residing upon the mysterious Planet of Phoenix. Significant emotional elements, bravery, hatred and love are the fundamental factors for either the humans or the creatures surviving existence during this epic adventure.’
Jamie Martin with his book
Back cover of the Anomaly Crystal
Where to buy Jamie’s Book
To order a copy of this novel, please see links below. Otherwise contact Jamie directly to receive a copy:
Swindon Civic Voice seem to be something of a literary lot. Chair Angela Atkinson, aka Born again Swindonian, is now the author of three Swindon related books – the second of which – Swindon in 50 Buildings is out now. But she’s not on her own! Oh no. One of their trustees, Alan Gaunt, can also claim authorship as a a thing with his book, A Good Man and a Brave Man.
‘This is not the story of a traditional hero in the mould of Nelson or Wellington but that of a village shepherd, a local man who did not come from the nobility or the ranks of the nation’s leaders but simply loved his family and died in the service of his country.’
Cecil Packer was a farm labourer, a factory worker, a shepherd and a devoted family man. Like so many others he went to France to fight for his country in the First World War and never returned. Cecil survived both the Gallipoli and Somme campaigns. So for his descendants, his death on the Western Front when his battalion was far from the front line was a mystery as well as a tragedy.
Alan Gaunt, whose wife Shirley is Cecil’s great-granddaughter, set about researching Cecil’s humble but interesting life and finally established the tragic circumstances of his accidental death in December 1916, aged 31.
Cecil Thomas Packer was born in 1885 in Minty, Wiltshire and grew up in Poole Keynes, Gloucestershire. He enlisted in 1915 in Cirencester and served with the 8thService Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He died on 13th December 1916 in Flanders.
he book is a moving account of a humble man who fought for King and Country, and will appeal to all those with an interest in military and social history; local historians (in Gloucestershire/Wiltshire) as well as anyone who wishes to research their own family history.
About the author
Author, Alan Gaunt was born in Salisbury (Wiltshire) and grew up in South Cerney(Gloucestershire). He was educated in Cirencester and, later, in Bushey (Herts). He is a retired Civil Servant. Alan is married (with two grown-up children) and lives in Swindon.
George Gaunt was a quiet and gentle man who served with honour in the Coldstream Guards. George became a respected publican in a Gloucestershire village, and the entire community mourned his early passing. Thirty years later, his son Alan learned that George had been married before and had two other children. Alan set off on a trail of enquiry to piece together a comprehensive and fascinating account of the father he had lost when he was only 13 years old. This book is the result of Alan’s research and tells the story of his father and how Alan learned about his half-brother.
