FACTR is a new group personal training facility within the Moxy Hotel grounds. The team of six Chester based personal trainers came together through a shared passion for health and fitness and the desire to create an inclusive gym environment that focuses on educating, supporting and inspiring its members. The official opening to the public is this coming weekend. Trainer Rich Malpass commented: “Not only are we inviting people to trial out our classes for free throughout the weekend, but we’re fortunate enough to have some great local partners involved , Hotpod Yoga, The Kilometre Club, Chalk & Peak Sandwiches. FACTR isn’t just your standard gym, it’s the antidote to intimidating gym environments and unused memberships. Every member who walks through our doors will be supported by a group of experienced coaches, who genuinely care about making a difference to their lives.” The launch begins Friday evening with the ‘After Work(out) Bootcamp’ which ends with team drinks in the Moxy bar. For further details visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/factr-launch-weekend-tickets-326003082997?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
Following the recent closures of several long standing market traders includding Fernyhoughs butchers (48 years of trading), Frankies fancy dress (17 years) and Peak Sandwiches ( 4 years), 3 new businesses have joined the market for its final few months, with the new market scheduled to open in the autumn. Geeky Nerd Toys, next to Death by Tacos specialise in movie and gaming inspired TV figures, toys and t-shirts. Sophie Jackson offers planet friendly stationery and gifting, including greetings cards and everyday household items illustrated with her own designs. The shop is located next to Jeffro’s Wingz an Tingz and is open Thurs to Sat . Meanwhile Fresh Pots Foodhouse, located next to the Chester in Lego display, offer “a new take on take away” with hearty, healthy meals and light bites in sustainable packaging.
The latest council consultation concerns social care provisions. Residents and carers are encouraged to share their views on current services and what they’d like to see in the future. Working in partnership with NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the Council currently offers, through providers, a range of services to ensure everyone can remain healthy and independent for as long as possible and access the right support at the right time. Community-based services can range from befriending schemes, wellbeing activities and carer breaks to more intense support with long-term conditions, following a stay in hospital, help and care at home and rehabilitation. The consultation, which is now live, will ask for people’s views on the council’s proposal to create a more co-ordinated single service with an increased focus on prevention and partnership working. The vision for the new service includes the development of a single all age carers service, the creation of a community grant scheme and a home support service – enabling people to stay in their homes for longer and receive help following hospital stays. It will have an increased focus on targeted support services delivered in the community to support those with long term conditions. Cabinet member for adult social care and health, Councillor Val Armstrong, “Services are currently provided through 23 organisations, which can be confusing for those trying to access them. This is also not the most cost-effective way to ensure that residents are receiving the best support possible. We believe that the support available, and the ways to access it, would be much easier to understand if they were under one service. We want to support and invest in our wide variety of community providers, making sure that we are working as closely as we can with our community, health and hospital partners to make it as easy as possible for residents to access the right support.” An online survey is available at at: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/clcc-consultation, views can also be emailed to CLCCC@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk, with the consultation running until June 19th.
Chester Visual Arts “Radical Times, Radical Change” lecture series continues this week with Susanna Brown on Thursday 5th May. Susanna Brown is a curator and writer specialising in twentieth century and contemporary photography. She lectures internationally and has held curatorial roles at the Victoria and Albert Museum and National Portrait Gallery, London. She is the author of five books and has curated acclaimed exhibitions at twenty venues around the world, most recently Tim Walker: Wonderful Things and A Timeless Allure: The Photographic Art of George Hoyningen-Huene. Susanna’s talk will explore how the pandemic has impacted contemporary photography practices, drawing on her work with the Victoria and Albert Museum and The National Portrait Gallery. The talk begins at 7pm at the Grosvenor Museum lecture theatre. For tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/chester-visual-arts-25582912539. For further details and the remaining lectures see https://thechesterblog.com/2022/03/11/chester-visual-arts-announce-first-annual-lecture-series/
Susanna Brown
Chester Male Voice Choir gathered to sing on the Town Hall Square in Chester recently and raised an impressive £1000 for the British Red Cross Distasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal. Speaking about wanting to do something in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, Blair Wilson, Chairman of Chester Male Voice Choir said “We were deeply concerned about the events taking place in Ukraine and wanted to do something to support the victims of this crisis. We decided to do what comes naturally to the choir and took to the streets of Chester to sing to residents and also visitors to the City. We sang on the Town Hall Square one Saturday morning and were absolutely delighted when an audience gathered to listen. The audience grew throughout the morning and the event was a huge success. Collection buckets were placed out for the collection and a Ukrainian Flag was flown by the Choir to show support for the country and the victims of the conflict. We were delighted to collect £830 on the day and with extra donations, we were able to send £1000 to the DEC appeal. We would like to thank everyone for their generosity, we were overwhelmed by the amount of money collected in a short space of time and also the kind comments and support from all those who came to listen to us on the day.” The choir is currently preparing for the staging of its next event, a special concert which celebrates the Choir’s 80th Anniversary. The concert takes place at Chester Cathedral on Saturday 16th July at 7.30pm when the choir will be joined by special guests, the world renowned Foden’s Band. Tickets are now on sale for the celebratory concert via www.chestercathedral.com. Alternatively, contact the Cathedral box office on 01244 500959. Tickets can also be booked in person.
Chester’s Unknown Vikings return to action this Saturday (May 7th) 10 til 4 at their usual encampment outside St Johns Church. Unknown Vikings Living History society is an independent, fully insured group of historical educators set in the Dark ages in Chester, the Northwest of England and North East of Wales. They aim to show aspects of life in and around the Chester area between the years 902AD and 1072AD. Talks will be every 90 mins including Law Courts, music, fight demos, food demos and fashion shows as well as coin striking throughout the day. There will also be a viking gift stall. For further details visit the groups website https://www.unknownvikings.co.uk/
We Rise is the latest production by Fallen Angels Dance Theatre. The group supports those in recovery from addiction to transform their lives, and to share the recovery journey with the wider public, through dance, performance and creativity. Based on a real account and poetry of Frank, a late Fallen Angels participant, We Rise is the third of a trilogy of performances and explores the challenges of rehabilitation, facing adversity and how creativity can set you free. Watch here on the Fallen Angels website:
Finally this week following their successful Bank Holiday event, Alexanders Live host Street Level 2022, a festival for the visual artson Saturday. Entry is free and includes street art, workshops, a fashion show, pizza, bbq, live music and the chance to tattoo a dustbin. Members of Zusa Young Womens Art Collective will be in attendance at the event which runs from 1 til 7pm.
The Chester blog 