NEWSLETTER #5
4th April 2022
Come as you are, bring what you can and take what you need
What's On at The Keepers?
We continue to have a full timetable of activities at The Keepers, including:
* AgeUK Gloucestershire Springboard group
* Teens in Crisis (TIC+)
* Job Club
* P3 – helping people to change their lives for the better
* Qigong classes
* Craft and Chat
* IT courses for beginners
* 'Welcome Space' run by Independence Trust and CALMHS
* AgeUK Glos Help Team and the Health Visitor here monthly
* FREE hearing-aid clinics for NHS hearing-aid wearers, taking place every other month
* Basic first aid training – running for 2 days in April
You can find all up-to-date activities for the current week and month on our website here: www.thekeepers.org.uk/regular-events
Or call us on 07585 466418 or pop in and see us during the following hours:
Monday - 9.00am - 4.00pm (Closed Bank Holidays)
Tuesday - 9.00am - 4.00pm
Wednesday - 9.00am - 1.00pm
Thursday - 9.00am - 4.00pm
Friday - 9.00am - 1.00pm
The Keepers' Cafe
Our cafe is still open every Wednesday from 10 til 12 for great tea/coffee, cake and a chance to catch up with friends and meet new people.
Each week in the cafe we have a visitor and we were please to have Reconnect, The Older Drivers' Forum and Wotton Bowls Club amongst our March visitors.
We have also had some local groups arrange to meet their volunteers at the cafe. If you would like to organise something like that - please let us know so we can bake some extra cakes!
The Digibus is coming to Wotton!
The DigiBus project is bringing digital education and experiences to local communities in Gloucestershire. The converted and accessible double-decker bus has been travelling around the county stopping at various community venues offering their Free Service.
It is coming to Wotton on 8th April and will be at the Fire Station from 9.15am until 4.00pm.
Everyone, and all ages are welcome to come on board, and they can help with all things digital, including:
- Internet security
- Internet browsing
- Manageing your money online
- Mobile device help
- I.T Problem solving
- Socialising online (video calling, social media etc)
- Booking GP apointments and navigating their website
- Online job hunting
- Shopping online
- 3D printing
You can also bring your broken device along. If you tell them what the problem is, they’ll help you to work out what has gone wrong and how to put it right.
If you have a specific question/problem, you can book your free 1-1 session with one of their trainers here. Or pop along and have a look on the day.
Window Wanderland at The Keepers
Once again, the organisers and participants of Wotton Window Wanderland did a fantastic job, with windows displaying all the different passions within our community.
The Keepers had its own window created by the members of our weekly ‘Welcome Space’ group. With some help from two Under the Edge Arts volunteers, the window showed how their feelings of desperation, sadness, isolation and fear have changed since being a part of the group. Just as a tree grows and changes, so their feelings have changed, enabling them to trust, laugh, care and be cared for as part of a community.
March and April Seed and Seedling Share
Have you planted some seeds and got part of a packet left over?
Have you always wanted to grow something but haven’t got any seeds to sow?
Would you like to grow a few of something but can’t justify buying a whole packet of seeds?
Our Seed Share is for everyone! Let’s not allow seeds to go to waste.
You don’t need to bring, in order to take!
Throughout April and May we are also running a seedling share where you can bring your extra seedlings to share with others, plant them in the Keepers' garden or take something home from someone else.
Just pop in whenever we are open.
Red Cross Ukraine Appeal
Several people in our community contacted The Keepers, asking how they could help the families in Ukraine. After seeking advice, we have encouraged people to make a donation to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal to ensure support reaches the people who need it most.
As well as donating online, local people have added their cash donations to a collection bucket at The Keepers, which will be sent to the Red Cross.
We have also attended the local HUSH (Help for Ukraine Support Hub) meetings, where useful information has been given to local people wishing to host Ukrainian families. For more information, see their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/hushbv
The Keepers have offered to support both local host families and Ukrainian families by doing what we do best – opening our doors to everyone. Our friendly volunteers will continue to give a warm welcome with cups of tea, friendly chat and support.
Alongside this, our drop in cafe every Wednesday morning (all pay as you feel), the community freezer (pay as you feel) and dry food store will all be available for anyone and everyone to use. Several of the organisations present in the Hub may also come in useful for people needing support, whether emotionally or financially, including P3, GEM Job Club and social prescribers.
If needed, we will also make room space available for Ukrainian families and host families to meet together for support.
Kitchen Update
🛠 Thanks to a grant from Gloucestershire County Council, we are having a professional-grade kitchen installed to help us produce food for our community freezer and run an even better food service at the café. We are also hoping to provide an opportunity for people to share a meal together and offer cookery courses around low-cost healthy meals.
🛠 The first stage involved pulling out the old Keepers kitchen, and of course, some trusty volunteers were on hand to help us do this.
🛠 Next was knocking a hole through the wall to create a serving hatch!
🛠 This was quickly followed by the painting of walls and assembling of kitchen units.
We still have a way to go until the kitchen can be used but we are all very excited and can’t wait to see the final result! We are also hugely grateful to all the dedicated and talented volunteers who are helping along the way.
First 'official' garden volunteering session of 2022
The Keepers' Community Garden opened its gates again on 15th March for our first 'official' garden volunteering session of 2022!
Spring bulbs were admired, beds were weeded, brambles were removed, seeds were sown and roses planted.
Watch this space for further open garden sessions.
Easter Boxes
These are difficult times for our community, and some of us have been hit harder than others.
Due to the generosity of some local donors, we are now able to offer a one-off Easter food box to anyone living in Wotton and the surrounding area/villages who is finding it hard to make ends meet at this difficult time. There is no need for a referral.
Boxes can be ordered from March 28th to April 6th – by popping into The Keepers, by calling us on 07585 466418, or by completing a form online by clicking this link https://bit.ly/KeepersEaster22.
Ordered boxes can be collected from The Keepers on Symn Lane in Wotton on Monday 11th April and Tuesday 12th April between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
If you would like to make a food donation towards the Easter boxes, please drop it into The Keepers when we are open between now and 6th April.
Please share with those you know who may not get this newsletter, but who could do with a box this Easter.
Don't forget we have our community freezer which is open to everyone - Pay As You Feel. Those who can pay a bit more for their meals, subsidise those who cannot afford to pay at this time. We have had some delicious beef stews available this month!
Hope Ball Success
On Saturday 19th March, the fundraising Hope Ball 2022 was held at De Vere Tortworth Court Hotel, raising vital funds for The Keepers and Bridge2Aid.
The evening was a huge success, with £2400 being raised for each charity and people having a great excuse to get dressed up and have a party!
Huge thanks to everyone who came along, all who donated a raffle prize (including a number of local businesses), the ball organisers, and the Ball sponsor – AP Air Europe Ltd. Also thanks to Tommy and The Fuse and Panache and Paul (on the piano) for entertaining us.
Recycling at The Keepers
In March we celebrated Global Recycling Day. Recycling and reusing a little bit each day goes a long way to preserve our precious primary resources and protect the future of our planet.
At the Keepers, we recycle in a big way!
* Bra bank - help funds breast cancer research and also supports small businesses in Africa
* Stamps - supports the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) - we can raise up to £20 per kilogram of stamps
* Jewellery, watches, coins, cameras, old phones - raises money for Traidcraft who promote fair trade across the world
* Printer cartridges - supports The Keepers Community Hub (us!) - we've raised £15.76 so far by sending off cartridges for recycling.
Please drop in when we are open if you have any of the above to recycle.
Get Involved...
There are lots of ways to get involved and/or to support The Keepers:
* Volunteer - there are a number of different roles/jobs.
* Fundraise - running a small event, or making a regular or one-off donation on our website. You can also take part in the Lucky Severn Lottery that takes place each week. Click here for more info. If you decide to join in, remember to choose The Keepers as your charity to support!
* Share info with neighbours, friends and colleagues who may not receive our newsletter.
* Follow us and like our posts on Social Media to ensure the information gets to as many people as possible.
* Or simply..... Next time you are ordering anything on Amazon, go to https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ instead and choose "The Keepers - Wotton Area Community Hub" as your charity. They will donate to us each time you order.
If you would like to made a donation to us directly, you can do so by clicking the button below or through our website. Many thanks for your support!
