Past Millcaster episodes

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Millcaster Tales officially launched in February 2009.

The tales raise issues we could all face. However, all characters and organisations in Millcaster Tales are fictitious and any similarity to a real person, living or dead, or to an existing or historic organisation is purely coincidental. 

Stories are listed here in the order they were published.

The old timer

Part 1

HomeFront faces big funding challenges. But founder and vice chair, Walter, seems more intent on monitoring the complaints log and distracting staff from their work. What is Director Ben going to do about his lovable but meddlesome founding trustee? Read The old timer (part one).

Broken Biscuits

Part 1

New Year, new problems for Mercedes, CEO of Millcaster Aid for Africa. She comes back after the holiday to find out that Jocelyn, Director of Fundraising, has upset a key sponsor's wife. Could a few drunken comments made at a fundraising event threaten the very survival of the charity? Read Broken Biscuits (part 1).

Part 2

Mercedes, Chief Executive of Millcaster Aid to Africa, has discovered that Jocelyn, Director of Fundraising, has upset the wife of a key sponsor. As a result, the sponsor has cancelled his organisation’s fundraising deal with Millcaster Aid to Africa and withdrawn his personal sponsorship of the farm-building project in Masero, Rwanda. Jocelyn has resigned with immediate effect. What next? Read Broken Biscuits (part 2).

Part 3

Having upset a key sponsor, Millcaster Aid to Africa has lost 65% of its income. Mercedes, the Chief Executive has announced that there will be redundancies. But that's not the end of her worries. Has her cleaner seen something while dusting that could spell the end for the charity? Read Broken Biscuits (part 3).

Part 4

Mercedes receives an invitation to dinner at Camilla's house. Could this be a long-awaited olive branch or yet another problem for the embattled charity? Read Broken Biscuits (part 4).

Oh Henry!

Part 1

Henry, the caretaker at Focus on the Child children's home, has a particularly bad day getting ready for Christmas. Will his habitual grumbling and stubbornness finally land him in trouble? Or will Siobhan, the general manager at the home, let him off the hook again? Read Oh Henry (part1).

Part 2

Henry, the caretaker at Focus on the Child children's home, is having a bad Christmas, and it's about to get worse. He's caught bad-mouthing the children's home to potential volunteers. Is this the final straw for his boss, Siobhan? Does she have the facts to discipline him properly? And could this confrontation ruin Christmas for the kids? Read Oh Henry! (part 2).

Brewing up a storm

Part 1

Shania gets chatting to some Indian tourists in the Mill Pot Cafe. They tell her about Millcaster's links to the Indian brewing trade. She sees an opportunity to revive the famous Millcaster Blaster ale and turn around the fortunes of struggling Mill Brew Society. Will the narrow-minded Chair agree? Read brewing up a storm (part 1).

Part 2

Nolan Frinley-Hughes faces down his father, James, at the Mill Brew Society AGM. He, Morris and Shania pitch their plan to get the society brewing again. But how will James react? And will the representatives from the local Asian community see the divided Society as something they can invest in? Read brewing up a storm (part 2).

Asylum at HomeFront

Part 1

The racist views of new Chair Hugh cause trouble at HomeFront. How should Director Ben deal with a bad situation? Asylum at HomeFront (part 1).

Part 2

Ben meets with new Chair Hugh. He challenges him about the decision of the committee not to house an asylum-seeking couple. Will Hugh back down? Will the press get hold of the story? Will the solicitors take the matter further? Can Ben get HomeFront out of this mess? Asylum at HomeFront (part 2).

Mutiny at MillcARTS

Part 1

MillcARTS have eagerly been waiting for news of their grant application. Artistic Director Jason gets the letter and immediately springs into action, he must organise the best launch event ever! When Simon, General Manager returns from holiday, he is not a happy man. Read Mutiny at MillcARTS (part 1).

Part 2

The two directors of MillcARTS are in the middle of a bitter argument. Artistic Director Jason has planned a spectacular launch event to celebrate their new grant. Simon, General Manager is adamant that the event is not part of his carefully worked out budget. Frida, Chair of MillcARTS has come in to sort them out.Read Mutiny at MillcARTS (part 2).

The runaway campaign

Part 1

After the success of Age Aid's befriending campaign, the team decide to help the town organise itself in the event of an outbreak of swine flu. However, their revised campaign 'find a friend' generates unexpected results! Find out more in the runaway campaign (part 1).

Part 2

It is Monday morning and Emily has to tell Joan that Age Aid's swine flu chat forum is being used as a dating site. How should Age Aid respond? Will it damage their reputation? Have your your say about the runaway campaign (part 2).

Communications crisis

Part 1

Emily and Will have been working hard for months. Today Age Aid will launch its campaign to raise awareness about lonely older people in Millcaster. The database has been tested and the email written, all they need to do is send it to their supporters. Then a communications crisis (part 1) hits. What will they do? 

Part 2

As the computer virus spreads round the Age Aid office, can Emily and Will save the campaign? Where did the virus come from and who is to blame? Find out what happens in communications crisis (part 2).

Mark's story

Part 1

It's Mark's first day back at work after six months away. Will his colleagues treat him the same? Will he still be able to do his job? Will he finally be able to get his life back to normal? Read Mark's story (part 1). 

Part 2

Mark has been back at work for over a month following the  accident which damaged his sight. He is finding it difficult to be in an office where his colleagues aren't including him. It's the day of the team meeting and it's time for him to clear the air. Read Mark's story (part 2).

The affair

Part 1

Joan and Ashok are seeing a lot of each other: is there more than a professional relationship here? Is it anyone's business but their own? Should Sunita tell Joan that she is at the centre of office gossip? Read the affair (part 1).

Part 2

It's time for Sunita to decide. Will she tell chief executive Joan about the office rumours she and Ashok are having an affair? Or will she opt for an easier life and keep quiet? Read the affair (part 2).

Low level bullying

Part 1

Mercedes' day doesn't start well. Ed, a productive and respected member of the fundraising team hands in his notice. She asks him why and eventually he admits that he can't work with Jocelyn. Is she a poor manager or is this a case of low level bullying (part 1)?

Part 2

Mercedes has to make a decision. She suspects that Jocelyn is a bully but she is the best Director of Fundraising they have had. What is more important - a happy team or income? Find out how Mercedes handles the situation in our story of low level bullying (part 2).

The missing laptop

Part 1

It's late at the offices of Focus on the Child. Pete really should go home but still has lots to do. He decides to finish the work off at home so saves the data onto his laptop. He leaves his office for a moment and when he returns the laptop has gone. Read the case of the missing laptop (part 1).

Part 2

It's the day after the laptop went missing - was it stolen or simply lost? Siobhan's not sure what action to take and whether to involve the police Pete is worried about whether he'll lose his job. Read the case of the missing laptop (part 2).

Volunteer management

It is Ron's first day as volunteer co-ordinator at Mill Cat Trust. He thinks that there has been too much cat stroking time and not enough real work. Times are about to change. Read managing volunteers at Mill Cat Trust.

Business planning at Mill Cat Trust

Part 1

Jan thinks it time for Mill Cat Trust to look to the future. She wants to organise an away day for the team to do business planning. Will the team understand why this is important or do they just want to look after the cats? Read business planning at Mill Cat Trust (part 1).

Part 2

Jan feels that the team learnt a great deal at the away day - Chris the Director is particularly excited about the possibilities for strategic planning. But before the planning can move ahead, Jan needs to deal with Ron, who walked out of the away day at lunchtime. Read business planning at Mill Cat Trust (part 2).

Please Note:

Millcaster Tales raises issues we could all face. However, all characters and organisations in Millcaster Tales are fictitious and any similarity to a real person, living or dead, or to an existing or historic organisation is purely coincidental.