Big B&NES 100K
Youth charities Mentoring Plus and Off The Record are inviting locals to take part in their flexible outdoor challenge – The Big BaNES 100k
Locals are being invited to take part in this summer’s Big BaNES 100k, an outdoor fundraising challenge supporting BaNES youth charities Mentoring Plus and Off The Record.
Now in its second year and running until Friday 26 September, the Big BaNES 100k invites people to cover 100km in any way they choose – walking, cycling, swimming, or paddling – and raise money for every step, pedal or paddle.
Funds raised will support the two charities’ work helping local young people aged 5-25 access vital mental health and wellbeing support.
Last year’s challenge raised over £6,500. Ruth Keily, CEO of Mentoring Plus, said:
“The challenge is completely flexible – people can do it at their own pace, in their own way. It’s a great way to enjoy our beautiful countryside while supporting young people who need help.”
This summer, the challenge is also being supported by Bathscape and Walk Bath – two local initiatives dedicated to helping residents connect and walk in nature.
The idea for the challenge was inspired by Annie Legge, who created The Bath 5k Map – a collection of local circular walks – to help others access the mental health benefits of time spent in nature. Her collaboration with Mentoring Plus and Off The Record has raised over £15,000 in the past year through map sales and nature-themed events.
Participants can choose how and when to complete their 100km – solo, with friends, in daily bursts or longer weekend adventures – making it accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
Locals interested in taking part in The Big BaNES 100k can sign up online at: https://bit.ly/BigBaNES2025
Bex Shreeve (Mentoring Plus) Bath
Bath Thermae Spa
The Thermae Bath Spa is delighted to announce it has been named Best City Spa in the prestigious Good Spa Guide Awards 2025. This accolade recognises excellence in spa experiences across the UK, earning Thermae Bath Spa top honours thanks to guest and industry votes. This award also follows the 5 Bubble rating awarded by Good Spa Guide in August 2024.
19 years after opening, this award is especially meaningful as it reflects the votes of spa-goers across the country and underscores the spa’s ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional experience that honours Bath’s centuries-old spa heritage while offering state-of-the-art wellness facilities and reaffirming Bath and Thermae Bath Spa’s reputation as a world-class destination for wellbeing, relaxation, and rejuvenation.
Best Regards,
Neave Ingram,
Marketing Executive
80 years of Friendship
A week-long programme of events, exhibitions, visits and talks is being held in Bath to mark 80 years since the city first linked with the city of Alkmaar, in the Netherlands. “Alkmaar 80 Week” will run from the 7th to the 11th July.
The link between the two cities was established in 1945. Bath decided to raise money and donate clothes and food to help the Dutch city recover from the effects of the second world war. Alkmaar was chosen because in 1940 a young Jewish activist and art lecturer, Mr Elias Prins, had escaped from this city in North Holland and came to stay in Bath. He became an air raid warden in his adopted home, gave public talks about his city and Dutch culture, and made many local friends.
In December 1945, 50 children from Alkmaar came for a respite-stay with families in Bath. The following year 100 children from Bath were invited to have a Summer holiday in Alkmaar. This was the beginning of eight decades of continuous exchanges between clubs, community groups and schools which continue to this day.
For 80 years people from Alkmaar and Bath have been visiting each others’ city not as tourists, but as honoured guests and friends. Both communities keep this link alive because they recognise its importance and relish the genuine pleasure it brings. This city-link still holds lessons for us today: that out of tragedy can come compassion, solidarity, friendship and fun.
During the Alkmaar 80 week, an opening ceremony was held at the Alkmaar Garden on Orange Grove next to the Guildhall. Each day there were public events, including a themed guided walk in the city centre, the joint unveiling of a commemorative plinth in Victoria Park by the Mayors of Bath and Alkmaar, and a ceremony at the memorial to Eli Prins at St Swithun’s Church in Bathford.
The story of how the two cities were linked originally was the subject of an evening talk at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific institution (BRLSI), and information on the Bath-Alkmaar link will also be on display in the World Heritage Visitor Centre.
Chris Davies
Chairman of the Bath-Alkmaar Twinning Association
E-scooter information
I was interested to read Alex Seabrook’s excellent article about the rising number of complaints about E-scooters in Bristol and Bath. I have some past experience of dealing with Freedom of Information requests and would like to comment on the response from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
Firstly the claimed exemption on the basis that the requested information is to be published in the future is not absolute. To rely on it WECA must show it is not in the public interest to release the information earlier. One wonders why this is the case.
It is also astonishing that information cannot be released on the number of complaints because, allegedly, it would take over 18 hours to compile; i.e. over a nominal cost of over £450 specified by law. It does not seem likely that there are such a huge number of complaints that with search engines would take over two days work to identify. In any case failure to keep a unified record smacks of administrative incompetence. One wonders how any contract could be assessed in the absence of any such data.
Nigel Long
Keynsham