Bearcat Collective

15/04/2026

Understand mental health, build resilience and learn practical ways to support yourself and others in everyday life.

Community Training Project: Subsidised training open to all - Including youth leaders, home carers, group coordinators, retail workers, volunteers and anyone supporting others in the community.

Two subjects available in this series:
Managing Mental Wellness
Useful Sign & Non-Verbal Communication Skills

Courses are separate events on eventbrite — but attendees are welcome (and encouraged) to book both.

Overview
This Mental Wellness course offers a clear, practical introduction to some of the most common mental health conditions and how they affect day-to-day life.

Using a mix of guided discussion, short film clips and interactive exercises, we explore mental health in an accessible, supportive way — focusing on understanding, communication and real-world coping strategies.

The session looks at conditions such as Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety and Schizophrenia, helping participants understand what these experiences can look like, how treatment works, and how behaviour and emotional changes can be managed with care and compassion.

This is a safe space to ask questions, including about specific real-life situations. The aim is not diagnosis, but confidence — helping people feel better equipped to support themselves, their families, colleagues and communities.

All participants receive a comprehensive information pack and further learning guide to support ongoing learning after the session.

The course is delivered by Chris of Simply Training, a highly regarded specialist who delivers over 220 sessions a year to professional care organisations across mental health, learning disability and behavioural support settings.

What You’ll Learn
Identifying common mental health conditions at a community level
How mental health treatments work (medication and therapy)
Understanding behaviour, emotional variation and resilience
Practical approaches to care, nurture and support

Dates & Times
Wednesday 22nd April 2026
13:00–15:30 — Face to face (Henstridge)
18:00–20:00 — Online via Zoom

Face to face (daytime): £15
Online (evening via Zoom): £8

Venue (face to face):
The Honesty Jar Fundraising Office,
Grassroots Garden Centre, Henstridge, BA8 0SA
(Access via the Honesty Jar shop or level access from the garden car park)
Refreshments: Basic refreshments provided

Booking: Advance booking required — numbers are limited

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bearcat-collective-the-honesty-jar-project-34025578385
BOOKING NOW OPEN

Sponsorship: Full sponsorship available for those on a low income — please message to enquire

15/04/2026

Discover how non-verbal communication and simple signing can transform everyday interactions and understanding.

Community Training Project: Subsidised sessions open to all - Including youth leaders, home carers, group coordinators, retail workers, volunteers and anyone supporting others in the community.

Two subjects available in this series:
Mental Wellness
Useful Signing & Communication Skills
Courses are separate events on eventbrite — but attendees are welcome (and encouraged) to book both.

Overview
We communicate far more through body language, gesture, facial expression and tone than through words alone — yet this is often overlooked.

This course explores how non-verbal communication and basic signing can improve understanding, reduce frustration and build stronger connections in everyday situations.

Through discussion, practical exercises and guided examples, participants learn how non-verbal cues are processed, how signing works, and how simple, useful signs can support communication with children, adults, customers, service users and colleagues.

The focus is not fluency, but confidence and awareness — giving people tools they can immediately use at home, at work and in community settings.

As with the Mental Wellness course, participants receive supporting materials and learning guides, and are encouraged to ask questions about real-life communication challenges.

What You’ll Learn
How non-verbal communication is understood and processed
Ways to communicate effectively without words
Basic, practical signing you can use straight away
How non-verbal skills support wellbeing and reduce stress

Dates & Times
Thursday 23rd April 2026
13:00–15:30 — Face to face (Henstridge)
18:00–20:00 — Online via Zoom

Face to face (daytime): £15
Online (evening via Zoom): £8

Venue (face to face):
The Honesty Jar Fundraising Office,
Grassroots Garden Centre, Henstridge, BA8 0SA
(Access via the Honesty Jar shop or level access from the garden car park)
Refreshments: Basic refreshments provided

Booking: Advance booking required — numbers are limited

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bearcat-collective-the-honesty-jar-project-34025578385
BOOKING NOW OPEN

Sponsorship: Full sponsorship available for those on a low income — please message to enquire

04/04/2026

Join us, Folk Jam, bring an instrument or enjoy the music, at Grassroots in Henstridge this Sunday afternoon 1pm-3pm, 5th April. Informal acoustic session of folk tunes from around Europe 🎶🎻🎸🪕 🎶💃🏻🕺🎶🌷… and perhaps some dancing! 🙌💃🏻🕺🎶☕️🫖 Under canvas in the garden next to the cafe in the grounds of Grassroots Garden & Aquatics Centre 🍰🥤

04/04/2026

13/03/2026

BearCat loves being part of the Green Gathering & we’re delighted to share that this year we will be coordinating the Kids Area! 🥳🎪

If you run conscious family activities, crafts, circus skills, storytelling, music, nature workshops or anything else that sparks imagination and play — we’d love to hear from you.

We’ll be bringing together a brilliant crew of workshop leaders, activity providers and children’s entertainers to help create a sustainable, joyful, welcoming space for young festival goers in Chepstow.

Get in touch to come be part of the adventure.

Here’s to another beautiful, inspiring greengathering_ Green Gathering 🌿✨
See you in a field.

11/03/2026

* Tag a friend who’d love to help rummage through the treasures! * We’re looking for extra volunteers to help with some afternoon shifts (1pm–4pm) at The Honesty Jar on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

Of course, anyone is very welcome to volunteer at other times & ad hoc too, but these are the three afternoon shifts we’re especially hoping to fill right now.

At The Honesty Jar there are lots of different activities to get involved with, depending on your interests and skills — sorting donations, displaying items, chatting with visitors, and helping keep everything running smoothly. There’s always something interesting going on, so we’re never bored!

If you enjoy being part of a friendly, busy community project, we’d love to hear from you.
Message: http://m.me/thehonestyjar

Find us at Grassroots in Henstridge on the Dorset/Somerset border
BA8 0SA

https://www.bearcatcollective.co.uk/volunteer-with-us.html

09/03/2026

🐣🌸🐰 Join us for a joyful Easter Garden Party set in the beautiful gardens at Grassroots — a relaxed, family-friendly day full of music, creativity and community spirit.

🗓 Saturday 4th April 11am–5pm
📍 Grassroots Garden Centre, Henstridge BA8 0SA

This year, Live Music is back! 🎶
Bring a chair or a blanket, settle in, and enjoy a laid-back afternoon surrounded by good people and good vibes.

✨ What’s happening on the day:
• Easter Egg Hunt running all day (£1 per child)
• Easter Bonnet Competition at 1pm 🎩🐰
• Craft Workshops using reused and recycled materials
• Garden Games for all ages
• Face Painting
• Fundraising Bargain Craft Supplies Stall 🎨🖼️
• Plus plenty of surprises as the day unfolds
• Live Music from 12noon…
BLUES UNION (Blues, Rock & Soul)
LIAM HOWARD (Singer-Songwriter)
KD (Eclectic Covers)
PLUM LOCO (Guitar & Snare Drum based Indie Folk)
RACHEL HILL (Singer-Songwriter)

All of this takes place alongside our Pre-Season Summer Sale, where you can shop second-hand before buying new — festival gear, summer clothes, creative finds and more — all on a pay-what-you-feel basis, supporting our volunteer-run community reuse project.

☕ The Garden Café will be open all day
Hot food, cakes, and hot & cold drinks available.

🚗 Parking is limited, so if you’re able, please walk, cycle or car-share — thank you 💚🌍

Keep an eye on this space for updates as we add more activities.
Come for the party, stay for the music, leave with many treasures and a happier planet ♻️💚

09/03/2026

Drop in and say Hi… we’ll be in the Kids Area with SwapShop & Crafts 😊💚

✊ TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS' FESTIVAL 2026 IS LIVE! ✊

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival 2026 17th - 19th July on sale NOW in our online shop:

https://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/tickets

🎫 BIG discounts for children and young people aged 18-30. See website for full details.

🎸 We are thrilled to announce our initial music line-up, featuring an incredible mix of performers across a range of genres. Daily line-ups and timings can be found on the website.

Please welcome Honeyfeet Beans on Toast Girlband Joe Yorke Maddie Morris Music The Skimmity Hitchers Bridget. Liam Vincent & The Odd Foxes Isaiah Dreads The Peoples Army Mark Thomas and many more!

Plus of course our usual dynamic mix of speakers, workshops & discussions, kids activities, theatre, open mic, poetry, radical history, info stalls, camping, food & drink and the famous Sunday banner parade through Tolpuddle village 🎪

A festival of solidarity, action and hope. We look forward to seeing you there 🌞

Supported by Trades Union Congress (TUC) and UK trade unions 🤝

15/10/2025

🎻🐻 How BearCat Collective Got Its Name! 🐾💚… Did you know that The Honesty Jar grew out of a much bigger story that started over 15 years ago? 🌿

Before the SwapShops, music nights, and community reuse projects… our founder Samantha, lived on a boat in Poole & Portland Harbours. To stop losing her phone, she tied a little tinkly bell to it, earning her the nickname ‘Ship’s Cat’ which became her call sign on the ship-to-shore radio 🐈‍⬛.

Her good friend Glenn, an environmental scientist with a big heart…and an even bigger bear suit! 🐻 shared her passion for creative, sustainable events. Together, they began running village hall music nights and pop-up SwapShops, bringing people together to share, create, and celebrate local talent.

The dancing bear and the ship’s cat playing fiddle had a few outings as a performance — even helping to switch on Christmas lights at local towns! 🧸🐈‍⬛🎻🎶

Through friendship and shared values grew the name BearCat Collective — a community of artists, musicians, and makers working together to bring people joy, creativity, and connection while reducing waste and supporting each other.

Five years ago, that same spirit evolved to start The Honesty Jar Project, our permanent community reuse hub that continues to grow thanks to all of you. 💚♻️

14/10/2025

🌿💚 How The Honesty Jar Began… 💚🌿
Every big idea starts with a small spark — and ours began on a blanket at a festival campsite.

Our founder, Samantha, was travelling as a musician with a Victorian horse-drawn stage when she laid out a few spare items for anyone who might need them. What happened next was pure synchronicity — people swapped, shared, and smiled as they found just what they needed. The warmth and connection that weekend planted the seed for what would eventually grow to become The Honesty Jar. ✨

That was 15 years ago, but the story goes back even further…
As a child, Samantha visited her grandfather’s caravan site in the Lake District. There was a single outdoor phone and a little jam jar beside it with a note encouraging callers to please contribute towards the cost of your call. 📞
That was her first encounter with an honesty system — trusting people to give what they could.

Years later, she saw a similar idea at a community fair: a “Magic Hat” collecting donations so the organisers could afford to bake cakes and serve tea again next time. That sense of shared ownership and generosity inspired everything that followed. 🍰🎩

Over time, those simple swap blankets became pop-up SwapShops in village halls — places filled with crafts, music, and laughter where everyone could give and take freely. And now, The Honesty Jar in Henstridge is a full-time community reuse hub, run by 40 volunteers, redistributing around 100 tonnes of items every year.

What started with a jar of coins and a handful of kindness has become a movement — one powered by trust, reuse, and community. 🌍💚