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Category: Charitable

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Silver Sunday Afternoon Tea

Silver Sunday TeaSilver Sunday – Invitation to Afternoon Tea

For the older members of our community. Particularly if you are elderly, living alone and not fortunate enough to have family and/or friends living nearby this could be for you. You are warmly invited to an Afternoon Tea with folk in a similar situation to yourself. We will provide transport to pick you up from your home, bring you to the tea and return you to your home when the tea has finished.

If you, a neighbour or someone else you know, would like to come to the tea please phone Judith Fletcher (01206 241969) or Andrew Wilks (01206 242511).  If you can let us know you are coming it will help with our arrangements.

Do you know anybody who could attend?

This invitation has been issued by the West Bergholt Methodist Church who have said:

There has been much publicity about the proportion of our population that are elderly is increasing. Also that there is a significant proportion of elderly people who live alone and can be lonely and become isolated. A charitable trust has set up “Silver Sunday” in trying to raise this issue and try to take steps to address it (www.silversunday.org.uk). We became aware of this and felt we as a Church would like to respond.

As a follow-up to the popular events we have already held this year we are holding another simple afternoon tea on Sunday October 11th at 3.00pm and inviting folk to attend.

We recognise that it could be quite difficult to reach elderly, lonely isolated people and encourage them to come to such an event. We are contacting as many relevant organisations with contacts in the village as possible to seek support with this and are encouraging them to let us know of anyone they feel could be invited.

While it is likely that many of our target audience will not have access to the web it is possible that we might reach some this way or at least neighbours who may know someone to invite.

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Job Vacancy with RCCE – Rural Housing Enabler

Full Time – 35 hours per week
Salary circa £24,000

Job Vacancy with RCCE
Rural Housing Enabler

RCCE logoRural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) is a leading charity working in Essex for over 85 years. We provide assistance to people and communities throughout rural Essex to build a sustainable future

RCCE is looking for a new Rural Housing Enabler to help rural communities in Essex provide the housing they need.

You will promote and advise on affordable rural housing, working with parish councils, registered providers and local authorities to achieve this. You will attend community events, deliver presentations at parish council meetings and undertake housing needs surveys.

You will also have the opportunity to work on other community engagement projects that include wider housing and development priorities or needs.

You will be a confident communicator, able to prioritise and problem solve and be enthusiastic about rural communities, especially in terms of affordable housing. This role will require flexibility, as it involves some out of hours working. We are particularly interested in hearing from applicants that have experience of affordable rural housing or planning/development.

Application deadline: 12 noon Wednesday 3rd June

Interviews: Wednesday 10th June

Contact: Sarah Sapsford (Community Engagement Manager) – 01376 574 330, [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or www.essexrcc.org.uk.

RCCE registered charity no 1097009 Registered company no 4609624

To apply you must complete an application form and an equality monitoring form, which can be downloaded from RCCE’s website: www.essexrcc.org.uk/Working_for_us  or can be provided by contacting us (see above).

For any queries relating to the posts or application process, or informal discussion please call 01376 574 330.

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Silver Sunday – Invitation to Tea

Silver Sunday – Invitation to Tea

This invitation has been issued by the West Bergholt Methodist Church who have said:

Silver Sunday TeaThere has been considerable publicity about the fact that the proportion of our population that are elderly is increasing. Also that there is a significant proportion of elderly people who live alone and can be lonely and become isolated. A charitable trust has set up “Silver Sunday” in an attempt to raise this issue and try to take steps to address it (www.silversunday.org.uk). We became aware of this and felt we as a Church would like to respond.

As a follow up to the popular March tea  we are holding another simple afternoon tea on Sunday June 14th at 3.00pm and inviting folk to attend.

We recognise that it could be quite difficult to reach elderly, lonely isolated people and encourage them to come to such an event. We are contacting as many relevant organisations with contacts in the village as possible to seek support with this and are encouraging them to let us know of anyone they feel could be invited.

While it is likely that many of our target audience will not have access to the web it is possible that we might reach some this way or at least neighbours who may know someone to invite.

Invitation

Being held for the older members of our community this event will be at the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane on Sunday afternoon June 14th at 3.00 pm.

Particularly if you are elderly, living alone and not fortunate enough to have family and/or friends living nearby this could be for you. You are warmly invited to an Afternoon Tea with folk in a similar situation to yourself. We will provide transport to pick you up from your home, bring you to the tea and return you to your home when the tea has finished.

If you, a neighbour or someone else you know, would like to come to the tea please phone Judith Fletcher (01206 241969) or Andrew Wilks (01206 242511).  If you can let us know you are coming it will help with our arrangements.

 

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Treasure Hunt

Treasure-HuntTreasure Hunt

West Bergholt Cricket Club are organizing a Treasure Hunt in support of the Tom Bowdidge Foundation on Sunday 28th June.   Starting from their pavilion (Manor Road, West Bergholt, Colchester. C06 3JQ) at 2pm, the event promises an afternoon of fun and adventure for everyone.

The event costs £10 per car and registration is now open, closing at 5pm on 18th June.  Registration is by email – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].  All enquiries to 07702 344679 or by email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].  50% of proceeds will be donated to the Tom Bowdidge Foundation, a charity registered in England & Wales, 1156553, which has been established in Tom’s memory to support teenagers and young people with cancer.

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Part Time Job Vacancy – RCCE

RCCE logoPart Time Job Vacancy – RCCE

Partnerships Officer
Circa £24,000 pro rata for 2 days/week (£9,600)

Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) is a leading charity working in Essex for over 85 years.  RCCE is looking for a motivated and organised individual with proven excellent administration skills to assist in supporting its partnership work on a part time basis.

The successful applicant will produce detailed minutes for the Essex Rural Partnership and support other areas of partnership work, including arranging events, communications with partners and implementing actions to deliver the Essex Rural Strategy.  They will be confident communicating with people at all levels and enthusiastic about rural communities.

To apply for this post you must complete and submit an application form and an equality monitoring form.  These forms can be downloaded and completed in MSWord format, or downloaded and printed in pdf format to be completed by hand.  All are available at http://www.essexrcc.org.uk/Working_for_us/Partnerships_Officer.aspx or can be requested to be posted in hard copy.

Application deadline: 10.00am Wednesday 22nd April

Interviews: Thursday 30th April

Contact: 01376 574 335 or www.essexrcc.org.uk

RCCE registered charity no 1097009  Registered company no 4609624

For any queries relating to the post or application process, please call 01376 574 330.

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Appeal for SN Support Volunteers

Appeal for Special Needs Support Volunteers

ecdpDo you want to have the opportunity to support children with Special Education needs, then why not become a volunteer Independent Supporter (IS) with ECDP?  The purpose of the role is:

To provide appropriate support to young people with special educational needs (SEN) and their parents/carers through the transition from a traditional Special Educational Needs Statement system to  the new Education, Health & Care (EHC) assessment and planning process.

  •  Full training will be provided
  • All reasonable expenses will be provided
  • Volunteers will be working either alongside other volunteers and staff or independently
  • Working hours are flexible
  • Volunteers would usually need to commit to around 6 hours per month
  • To support group-based and individually focused support, workshops/events which will empower young people and parents/carers to make informed choices/decisions

Successful applicants will be required to complete two days face to face training, two days on-line training plus some supplementary training.

Training is available throughout Essex.  If you would like to work with us to support disabled children and their parents/carers in Essex, please contact Cindy Peacock by email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or call her on 01245 392 319.

More about ECDP

ecdp (Essex Coalition of Disabled People) is a pioneering charitable organisation (no. 1091293), run by disabled people, for disabled people.   They deliver a range of services and award winning programmes which enhance the everyday lives of disabled people across the UK.  Involving and engaging disabled people in all that they do, ensuring that their voice continues to be heard.

Our values

Our values underpin everything we do and shape our behaviour, both as an organisation and as individuals working within ecdp. We are:

Inclusive

We include anyone who has rights under the Equality Act 2010 within our definition of ‘disabled people’. This includes anyone with a physical and/or sensory impairment, mental health condition, learning disability or long-term health condition (such as HIV/AIDS or cancer). We also recognise anyone who declares themselves to be a disabled person.

Expert

As an organisation run by and for disabled people, we have a unique and insightful perspective. Our history and work provides us with a depth of knowledge on the issues faced by disabled people in Essex. We use this knowledge to add value to our own work and that of the public, private and voluntary sectors in order to effect change for disabled people.

Innovative

We are adaptable, embrace change and try new ways of doing things. We work in an imaginative and flexible way, seeking feedback to help us innovate.

Responsive

We listen to the needs of and work in partnership with disabled people and our stakeholders. We respond in a timely manner and in a way that is enabling, supportive and professional.

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Reach new heights with the EACH Colchester Abseil

Abseil Colchester town hallReach new heights with the EACH Colchester Abseil

On the 22nd March 2015, the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) are holding their fourth Colchester Abseil at The Town Hall.

The abseil will be an exhilarating 100ft descent and will give participants a birds eye view of the high street.  The abseil is being managed by Creation Climbing Centre and there are up to 60 places are available.

Last year over 50 adults took to the challenge raising a fantastic £6,500 for EACH!  The money raised helps care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions and supports their families.  Last year, EACH helped 572 families, many of whom live in Essex.

  • Minimum age to take part is 12 years.
  • Registration and sponsorship:
    • £15 registration for adults 17 yrs and over – minimum sponsorship £85.
    • £15 registration for children 16 yrs and under – minimum sponsorship £30.

To find out more about this fantastic event and to sign up, go to www.each.org.uk/colchesterabseil or call 01206 848450.

More about EACHEACH - abseil in support of them

From babies to young people up to the age of 18, EACH supports families, children and young people living with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk from diagnosis to end-of-life and throughout bereavement. They do this through a range of services delivered where the family wish – in their own home, at hospital, in the community or at one of their three hospices in Milton, Ipswich and Quidenham.

Care at end of life isn’t the only service EACH provides though; many children and young people who use their services are extremely active but need additional support and care.  A child might receive the support of a play specialist to give them access to appropriate play activities helping them grow in confidence and aid their physical and mental wellbeing, enjoy sensory rooms at the hospices, have music therapy sessions to offer the opportunity to interact, communicate and express themselves or sessions in the therapeutic hydrotherapy pool.

Their support stretches further than the young person to include families, they know the stresses and strains living with a life-threatening illness can place on all the family. EACH runs special family events where families can meet others in similar situations to them, sibling days always full of smiles and laughter and spiritual care.

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Trees for Years 2015

Blossom of the Bird Cherry – one of the varieties on offer

Trees for Years 2015

Colchester Borough Council have 2015 free trees and fruit bushes to give away as the popular annual Trees for Years initiative returns for the ninth year in a row.

The free plants are available to Colchester Borough residents, community groups and parish councils. Residents can collect up to three plants per household and up to 15 per community group, school or parish council.

This year’s initiative includes a variety of fruit bushes, decorative shrubs and trees to help create a greener Colchester for all.  Species available this year are:

  • Raspberry Canes
  • Gooseberry Bush
  • Acer campestre – Field Maple
  • Betulapendula – Silver Birch
  • Cornusalba ‘Siberica’ – Red Stem Dogwood
  • Cornusstolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ – Yellow Stem Dogwood
  • Blackcurrant Canes
  • Forsythia x intermedia ‘Spectabilis’
  • Prunuspadus – Bird Cherry
  • Corylusavellana – Hazel Cob Nut

The 2015 bare root trees and fruit bushes will be available on a first come first served basis.

Cultivation guidance will be available so that trees can be selected, taking into account the ultimate size and form of mature trees.

People collecting trees need to bring their own bags to put them in.

Trees must be planted on private property. Postcodes will be recorded to monitor the distribution.

The event, which is funded through sponsorship by officeis takes place on Saturday 7 February, from 10am to 1pm, in the car park of Colchester Borough Council’s offices at Rowan House, in Sheepen Road, Colchester.

 

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Happy time at Christmas

Christmas Posada introduced a Happy Time for allHappy time at Christmas

The West Bergholt Methodist Church report that their Christmas celebration events certainly went well and provided a happy time for all involved.

Posada

Mary and Joseph travelled extensively around the villages of West Bergholt and Great Horkesley visiting a wide variety of groups. They visited 10 meetings of the various uniformed organisations throughout November. They then joined all the youngsters from the uniformed organisations at the Gift and Parade service in the West Bergholt Methodist Church on December 7th. Following a lively and enjoyable service, with contributions from the young people which included the construction of a shelter, the gifts were distributed and gratefully received by Colchester Womens Refuge, The Night Shelter and Beacon House. Mary and Joseph continued their travels in December visiting some carol singers20  groups before returning to the Methodist Church for the Candlelight Carol service on December 21.

Carol Singing Friday 19 December

A hardy band of carol singers were outside the Coop store from 18.15 to 19.30. They entertained shoppers, some of whom joined in with the singers,  and Coop staff with a range of popular carols. Thanks to the generosity of the shoppers, and the singers, the sum of £37 was raised for Action for Children. The hot drinks and mince pies enjoyed after the singing were most welcome.

Candlelight Carols Sunday 21 December

The service by candlelight, led by Rev Ruth Ridge, provided a very special Christmas celebration atmosphere with a mix of traditional carols and readings. Many of the congregation were also able to enjoy a chat with coffee and mince pies in the hall after the service.

Christmas craftCoffee and Craft Monday 22 December

This again proved to be a popular morning for families. Thirty-eight children, together with accompanying adults, enjoyed a range of Christmas crafts.  There was also time to enjoy a chat and the drinks and cakes proved popular also. We will be looking to provide further Coffee and Craft mornings in the Easter school holidays – look out for our publicity nearer the time.
Thanks to all who supported and worked to make possible the above events and best wishes for the New Year.
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Action for Children Result 2014

Action for Children

As last year, the Methodist Church in West Bergholt organised their annual house-to-house collection for “Action for Children” (formerly National Childrens Homes) , the Methodist children’s charity.  Last year they nearly reached £1,000 (£934.79 to be precise), and whilst they would have dearly loved to break that barrier this year, once again they missed out by a small amount raising £930.19, which is very similar to last years.  This was achieved despite the fact that the shortage of collectors this year meant they were not able to cover as much of the village as they had done in previous years, as one of the organizers commented:

This is a very worthwhile contribution to the important work of Action for Children. Thanks to all who supported and particularly to the small band of collectors. We did not break the £1,000 barrier this year but maybe next year! 

Action for Children is a national charity founded over 140 years ago.  It is dedicated to supporting and speaking out for the UK’s most vulnerable and neglected children and young people, for as long as it takes to make a difference in their lives…  In short they:

  • work directly with over 300,000 children, young people, parents and carers (a 20% increase over last year!);
  • run more than 650 services across the UK; and
  • tackle issues such as child neglect and abuse.

Their vision is:

For a world where all children and young people have a sense of belonging and are loved and valued.  A world where they can break through injustice, deprivation and inequality to fulfil their potential, shape their own destiny and experience the joy of life.