Good Things Come To Those Who Bait
After the Environmental Agency came along to clean up the woodland area around the pond at Sutton Bridge Farm, we installed a fountain to keep the water fresh. All this was in preparation for the expansion of our services and providing disabled fishing for guests at Gowlands and visitors to the farm.
Now we are looking for carp and goldfish to fill our pond so we can stop dangling our hooks in the water and catch something!
If your pond is brimming with fish, please consider donation some to us, so adults with disabilities have the chance to pursue a new interest and hobby that would otherwise be closed to them.
We are also looking for black or green plastic garden furniture for our wheelchair accessible woodland walk, which will take visitors around the pond. This furniture will provide a well earned read for walkers to admire the natural beauty around them.
For more information or to make a donation, please contact Ricky on 07833 241205.
The Weather Rained on Our Parade
On Wednesday 2nd August, Hamelin Trust was answering questions put to us by the public at the Southend Community Event.
Priory Park, Prittlewell, is usually popular in the summer: it boasts a large children’s play area, a pond, a walled garden, and on Wednesday 2nd August the Southend Community Event. There were a wide variety of businesses and charities with stalls set up to answer questions, live music, and rides to entertain the masses.
The day started off overcast, but dry with locals teeming between stalls and marquees. We were rushed off our feet in the morning, giving out details about our services, in particular our most local service to Southend: Sutton Bridge Farm.
However, as the day drew on, the great British weather decided to bring an end to the festivities. Although most stalls remained open during the torrential rain, the visitors were not as inclined to stay, instead heading home early. Despite this, we still managed to connect with many people and groups in the local community.
If you could not make it to the event and would like to ask us about one of our services, please call 01277 653889.
Summer at Sutton Bridge Farm
With the summer sun high in the sky, Sutton Bridge Farm opened its doors to the public on Saturday 22nd July.
Our open day was to give the local community and potential service users the chance to take a tour of our facilities, which include:
- Gowlands – our short break respite service for adults with disabilities
- The Hydrotherapy Pool – were service user and the public cab take to the specially heated water and feel the benefits on aching joints
- Roots & Shoots – our horticultural project that gives adults with disabilities the chance to gain work experience and learn social skills.
While on tour or just wandering the grounds, guests had the chance to have any questions about the services and the future plans of the site answered by staff members. We have some big plans for Sutton Bridge Farm, including having wheelchair accessible fishing at our pond and the construction of a café.
With stalls of flowers, and fresh fruit and vegetables on sale, guests could take home and get a flavour of the hard work all the adults who work at Roots & Shoots.
Thank you everyone who came and showed your support.
You raised a fantastic £90.98!
If you were unable to attend the event, but would like to buy some of our fresh fruit and vegetables, we have some good news for you! Roots & Shoots has a stall at Rochford Farmers Market every first Saturday of the month (excluding January). We hope to see you there!
Summertime in Billericay
Hot summer sun, food, live music, and stalls all around: there was plenty to see and do at this year’s Summerfest.
The Rotary of Billericay Mayflower returned to Queen Elizabeth II Field with an amazing Summerfest that was the place to be this July. On Sunday 9th July, Hamelin Trust joined various other local charities and businesses with a stall, shaded by a line of trees, and a number of fundraising games.
We had hundreds of people stopping to try their luck at the Wheel of Fortune and Lucky Dip, or just to ask us what we do. We were even able to help a man out when he asked for information on how to donate furniture.
A big thank you to all our volunteers who took the time to set up and stay with the stall, answering all your questions. We could not continue, or attend these events if it was not for your dedication to make a difference to the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their carers.
We would also like to thank all those who stopped by our stall and made donations, whether it was furniture or to participate in one of our games.
You raised a fantastic £142.24!
Turning Up the Heat
On July 2nd, eight team members from World of Spice Ltd. took time away from the office and spices that heat up Radford Crescent to take part in the Chelmsford 5K Inflatable Run.
Usually a venue where people dress up to watch horse racing, Chelmsford City Racecourse opened the track for the 5K Inflatable Run for a different race with less formal attire.
Running on behalf of Hamelin Trust were: Adriana, Alan, Chloe, Dan, Mark, Roger, Sam, and Sonia. Dressed in luminescent tutus, they were a technicoloured blur around the track, climbing over inflated obstacle before dropping safely back down, and continuing on their way. All runners had great fun during the race, and are happy that all the money they raised will be going towards providing vital services to children and adults with disabilities, and unpaid adult carers.
World of Spice raised a total of £660!
We would like to thank World of Spice, their runners, and everybody who sponsored them for your generous donation.
A Big Thank You for the Big Summer Raffle
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all those who supported Hamelin Trust this month by purchasing tickets for our Big Summer Raffle! All the money you have raised will have a direct impact on the children and adults with disabilities who use our services.
You managed to raise a whopping £791.50!
Thanks to your generous donations and buying raffle tickets, the children in our services will now be able to interact together by using a new 10.1″ convertible tablet. They will have the opportunity to learn and play together.
With handheld instruments and interacting by using a new music system, adults with disabilities will be taking part in different music sessions to help communication.
These activities increase social interaction and enable children and adults with disabilities to develop and learn new skills, which are vital to encourage independence.
Your support makes all the difference.
Thank you, from everyone at Hamelin Trust!
A big thank you to all who have donated to our Big Summer Raffle
Below are details of some of our donors:
Immervox Returns
Immervox, a Basildon based company providing business telecommunication solutions, returned to Sutton Bridge Farm for another volunteering day on 30th June. This time they focused on the Ginger Bread House that was put up last winter. The cabin had taken the brunt of the winter was looking a little shabby, the red paint already peeling and fading. The volunteers from Immervox gave the house a fresh coat of paint in Hamelin Trust green, brightening the whole area.
The Ginger Bread House is used by adults with disabilities who use Gowlands as a short break respite home and would like to thank the volunteers for their efforts.
Spreading the Word at
On Sunday 25th June we were in Sainsbury’s Local, Billericay, handing out promotional leaflets that show what Hamelin Trust does and how donors and volunteers are making a difference to the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their carers.
Our stall was manned by Gwenne, a trustee, and Mark, our newest volunteer in the Fundraising department. They both did well in answering questions put to them by the public and Mark did superbly, spending most of his time at the entrance so everybody could see us.
Thank you to all of you who donated to us during this event. You raised a total of £109, which will go towards helping children and adults with disabilities and their carers to gain in confidence and independence.
Did you miss us? If there is anything you would like to know about what we do, email enquires@hamelintrust.org.uk or call 01277 653889.
Or if you would prefer, wait until Hamelin Trust is at Sainsbury’s Local again. We will back in the usual place and time on Friday 21st July.
A Soaring Success!
After last year’s successful skydive, Hamelin Trust returned to Headcorn Airfield, Kent, with a bunch of budding divers to raise money for children and adults with disabilities and their carers.
Sun lotion was essential on Saturday 17th June, when the skydivers assembled on the grass at Headcorn Airfield. With temperatures of up to 27°C that weekend, the small wait between jumps gave our skydivers time to sunbathe, waiting for their turn to cool off by hurtling back towards the ground.
All those involved had a great day, especially, it would seem, Jake Webb. Before the jump he was excited and, once safely back on terra firma, he expressed his desire to go again. Declan Lynn must have been anxious before his jump, being afraid of heights, but throughout the event he had a smile on his face.
All skydivers reached new heights in supporting children and adults with disabilities and carers. We would like to thank you all for braving the height and terrifying return to Earth.
Well done Declan Lynn, David Prince, Jo Turner, Joseph Turner, Jake Webb, and especially Megan Star, who uses our Outreach Support service for making it through the challenge and supporting the local community.
Support Our Skydivers!
It is that time of the year again!
Some plucky supporters of Hamelin Trust will be hurtling through the air and towards the grassy ground. Coming down from 12,000ft at that speed is not how most of us would like to spend our Saturday afternoon, but seven Hamelin Trust supporters have decided it is for them.
The skydive this year will be extra special as two people close to Hamelin Trust will be taking part.
Jo Turner, a brave staff member from Hamelin House, has decided to take the leap to raise money for children and adults with disabilities and their carers.
Megan Star, who uses our Outreach Support service, will also be taking part in the jump. She is very adventurous and does not let her disability get in the way of fulfilling her dreams. Having never done something like this before, it is a huge deal for her and Hamelin Trust.
Come along to cheer all our jumpers on by coming along from 8.30am on 17th June at:
Headcorn Airfield
Ashford
Kent
TN27 9HX
You can also show your support by going online and sponsoring our skydivers. You can do this by clicking on their names below:
Barleylands Fun Walk
The Barleylands Fun Walk is to raise money for charities and good causes while providing fun for the whole family. Last year the Walk raised £110,000 for nearly 100 charitable projects.
There are two walks to chose from and one is suitable for families, toddlers, and the disabled (but wheelchairs and buggies may have difficulties due to uneven farmland).
Download your Sponsorship Form here.
Where: Barleylands Farm, Barleylands Road, Billericay, CM11 2UD
When: Sunday 21st May, 1pm (but arrive a little early for a BBQ lunch!)
If you would like more information about the event, please email: fundraising@hamelintrust.org.uk
Sutton Bridge Farm Open Day
You are invited to our open day!
Come along and see our Roots and Shoots project, Hydrotherapy Pool, and Gowlands short break service! See the hard work that our service users have been doing, have a tour around the site, and you will have the opportunity to have any questions about what these services do by our team. You can also purchase project grown plants and vegetables.
Where: Sutton Bridge Farm, Sutton Road, Rochford, SS4 1XS
When: Wednesday 31st May, 10am-3pm (call in any time!)
May 2016 – Charity Skydive
On Sunday 8th May, 2016 – Five brave volunteers and staff Skydived at Headcorn Airfield to raise funds for Hamelin Trust.
It is not too late to support them by donating on their Just Giving pages:
March 2013 – Zeelandia Cupcake Decorating Morning
Supports Hamelin Trust
Zeelandia, a local bakery ingredients company approached Hamelin Trust to ask if they could carry out a cupcake decorating activity. They wanted to help teach practical skills to the adults with learning disabilities.
This was welcomed with open arms and the Cupcake Decorating was carried out at Hamelin Trust™s central office on Thursday 28th March, 2013.
Caroline Ratcliffe, Marketing Executive and Adam Davies, Bakery Technician at Zeelandia carried out the activity. Supplying all the sponges, icings and decorations Caroline and Adam gave demonstrations and assisted the adults with their creations. The adults benefited from the activity and enjoyed eating their creations for lunch.
Hamelin Trust are looking forward to working with Zeelandia again later in the year to carry out a similar fun activity. A big thank you to all the staff at Zeelandia who made this activity happen.
