Chorlton Good Neighbours, Wilbraham St Ninians Church, Egerton Rd South, M21 0XJ
email helen@chorltongoodneighbours.org Tel 0161 881 -2925
Dear Good Neighbour
Although it may seem some time ago, many thanks to everyone who supported the Annual General Meeting in September; it was a fantastic occasion with about 90 people there. If you would like to see a copy of the Annual report just let me know and I can get one to you.
If you were at the AGM, you may recall me talking about the new funding programme for the Voluntary and Community sector that the council has introduced. We are now on a 3 year grant programme, with the council funding being 50% of our income, the rest being raised through donations, legacies, fundraising and making small fee charges. So thank you to everyone who can contribute in any way at all.
I enclose details of the Christmas party early December (for our older service users) and the Lunch at Houghend Police Social Club (for both volunteers and users). If any volunteer drivers are available to give some transport help on either dates please let me know. Here are some other pieces of information that you might find useful:
- Tuesday 20th November: Chorlton High school would like to invite 6-8 older people to join them in the morning (10-11.30am) as part of Chorlton Book festival. The theme for the book festival this year is Inspire/Pushing the Boundaries and usually the school invite colleagues from the Archives Dept, Central Library who come with relevant old books and lots of interesting facts to share with everyone. We always have a great morning with the students so come and give it a go if you are interested. I can provide some transport if it helps and will be with you during the session. Please get in touch if you feel up for it.
- Thursday 22 November10.30am : during Chorlton Book festival week our very owndrama group will be performing ‘snowed in’ , written by Nakib Narat . Thisproduction is set in a pub during a snowstorm and different groups of peoplehave to spend the night together, including a spooky ghost and a catnapper! We are also delighted to have the LadyMayoress with us that morning, Councillor June Hitchin who will be arrivingabout 10.15am for the 10.30am start of the performance. But please come at 10and have a coffee first. Everyone welcome .
- Hear to help service for hearing aid users: One of our audiology colleagues will be here the first Thursday of every month 9.30-11.30am to check your hearing aids, clean the tubing and give out free batteries and advice. No appointment needed ; just turn up & have a coffee while you wait
- Friday Gardening Club 10-1pm would like to see a few more new faces if anyone fancies coming down to see what it is all about. We have just a small plot at the side of the church, with a few raised beds, greenhouse and patio area, with overhead porch, to sit and have our coffee! Just turn up.
- Monthly History Talks ; always the first Thursday in the month 1.30-3pm. December’s talk on Thursday 6th is by Michael Thompson who will be showing clips and leading small discussions/feedback on various topics associated with his Wargen film, which has recorded the memories of WW2 survivors. Excerpts include Call up, Evacuation, Americans and other visitors, and Coming Home and experience. I have seen some of the film and it is extremely sensitive and well produced, and Michael is an excellent speaker.
- Brookburn Primary School would like to invite you to their older people’s Xmas party from 2-3pm on Wednesday 19th December . Plenty of tea and cakes and bingo …again let me know if you could support them or need a lift in; they really do appreciate you going in
- Office closing over Christmas : we close at 12 noon on Monday 24 December and re open on Wednesday 2 January 2019. Thursday coffee morning resumes on 3rd January. Exercise classes resume from Friday 4th January; however there will be no History talk in January.
- Thursday 6th December at Coffee morning : our Melodics singing group will be here to sing some Christmas songs and carols at 10.45am so come along and join in
Thursday 13th December : last coffee morning of the year so come and enjoy the school children from Chorlton Park school singing carols and various songs.
New Years Lunch on Thursday 17th January: the children from Oswald rd primary School will be coming to sing during the morning at 10.45pm and this will then be followed by a soup, sandwich and cake lunch. I am sure a game of bingo or two will also be taking place! Aim to finish about 12.30-12.45pm.
Finally, I continue to get plenty of offers from local young people, in their 20’s and 30’s, who want to volunteer a couple of hours each week, to visit and offer some company and carry out small odd jobs for older residents. If you would like me to match you up with someone then please ring me so that I can tell you more about how it works. Currently we have 95 older people being supported this way,and everyone tells me how much they enjoy the visits and the friendship.
Thank you as always for your support to Good Neighbours. We are incredibly lucky to have a brilliant group of volunteers who help with visiting and transport, (amongst a lot of other things they do,) but we also appreciate the consistent attendance and support from our older people.
Takecare, and ring if you think we can help with anything.
Kind regards
Helen Hibberd, Co ordinator
Chorlton Good Neighbours 