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 go to the CGN website you will be able to access a copy of the Annual Report if you want a fuller picture of all that goes on here.
If you were at the AGM, you may recall me talking about the current funding situation via a council Our Manchester Voluntary & Community Sector grant, which will run until 2021. The council funding makes up just under 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; it really is appreciated.
Subsequent posts will give details of the Christmas party early December (for our older service users) and the Lunch at Houghend Police Social Club (for both volunteers and service users). If any volunteer drivers are available to give some transport help as well on either dates please let me know. Here are some other pieces of information that you might find useful:
- 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
- The drama workshops are starting a new 5 week course from Wednesday 6th November through to 4th December 10.15- 12.15 led by Nakib Narat . These mornings are great fun and there is the possibility of the group doing a small performance at some point either before Christmas or in the New Year, but if you just want to come along and see if it is something you might enjoy then just turn up.
- Stories of our Lives is a new project we have set up which brings older storytellers together with younger writers, sharing memories and experiences around a chosen theme. The morning is spent listening, laughing and chatting, and feeding back what we have learnt from each other. We plan to run some more sessions on a Saturday morning next year, on a monthly basis, so if you are keen to come along, either as a storyteller or writer then please get in touch. The first few sessions will be on January 25th, February 29th and March 29th from 9.30 – 12. Venue to be confirmed but likely to be at Arden Court, Oakhouse drive in Chorlton. Topics discussed will be Music, early friendships and first dates, and food and drink.
- If you prefer smaller groups then the Friday Gardening Club 10-1pm or Thursday Melodics singing group 11.45-1pm or Tuesday afternoon Snooker and darts session at South west manchester cricket Club 1-3pm might be worth considering.
- Monthly History Talks ; always the first Thursday in the month 1.30 – 3pm. December’s talk on Thursday 5th is by Dr Kingsley Purdam from the University of Manchester who will be talking about the history of voting, elections and democracy in Britain. (Yes I realise you might have had enough!). Very timely given the recent announcement that we will be having a general electon on December 12th. Dr Purdam will also be referring to his research into how older people’s voting habits have changed over the years. All welcome
- Brookburn Primary School would like to invite you to their older people’s Xmas party from 10-11.30am on Thursday 19th December. I realise this is also the day of our own big party up at Houghend Police Club, but if you are able to go to Brookburn then please let me know. Plenty of tea and cakes and bingo. Last year our older people worked in teams with the children building gingerbread houses and playing the Generation game, and it was lots of fun, so please support them if you can.
- Office closing over Christmas: we close at 12 noon on Friday 20th December and re open on Monday 30th December, closing for New Years Day on Wednesday 1st January 2020. Thursday coffee morning resumes on 2nd January. Exercise classes resume from Friday 3rd January; however there will be no History talk in January.
- Thursday 5th December at Coffee morning : The children from Chorlton Park Primary School will be visiting us to sing Christmas songs at 10.30am so please come and join us
- Thursday 12th December: last coffee morning of the year so come and enjoy the Melodics leading us in some Christmas carols. 10.45am
- 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.
If you get a chance, have a look at the Chorlton Good Neighbours website www.chorltongoodneighbours.org and catch up with the latest posts and news.
Take care, and ring if you think we can help with anything.
Kind regards
Helen Hibberd, Co ordinator
Chorlton Good Neighbours 