NEWSLETTER #13
Spring 2024
14 April 2024
Come as you are, bring what you can and take what you need
We Hear You Week 2023
Thank you to everyone that took part in The Keepers' We Hear You Week 2023!
We are extremely grateful for all the feedback, views and opinions that were given in the surveys.
We are proud to be able to share some of the key highlights from what our volunteers, visitors and facilitators/visiting professionals had to say about their experience of The Keepers:
- 95% of visitors feel they have a space where they feel supported
- 90% of people supported feel less isolated
- 95% of volunteers feel more connected to their community
- 97% of people would recommend The Keepers to others
We will use all the results to help us shape the support, groups and activities we will offer our local communities in the future.
We Hear You Week 2023 overview
Drivers needed!
For the past six months, our volunteer transport scheme has brought people together on Tuesdays for great conversations and delicious hot meals. The scheme has included those who don't have transport, aren't able to go out or have limited mobility.
Now we're looking to expand our scheme to bring people to our drop-in cafe on Wednesday mornings.
Are you free on Wednesday mornings? Can you spare a morning once a month, fortnightly, or weekly to drive?
There is some paperwork for drivers to complete. If you're interested, or just want to ask a question, please message through Facebook or send an email to thekeeperscommunityhub@gmail.com.
Could you be one of our drivers?
5-Star Food Hygiene rating
Exciting news! Following a visit from the Environmental Health Officer, we're thrilled to share that our Kitchen at The Keepers has once again achieved a fantastic 5-star rating!
This wouldn't be possible to achieve without our incredible team of staff and volunteers. All food rustled up in our kitchen (whether freezer meals, Tuesday hot lunch, cafe sweet treats or after-school toast) is available to everyone on a pay-as-you-feel basis.
Congratulations to our kitchen team
CEO update
The Keepers' CEO, Chris
Fundraising is a crucial element of our work here at The Keepers. Not only does it help generate much needed money to help support our day-to-day work, but it also allows us the ability to bring on board new services for the community. We do look to external funding support from the likes of National Lottery and Stroud District Council but we are also keenly aware that local community-based fundraising not only helps cement crucial bonds with the people that we serve but it also means we can have some good fun at the same time.
Here are a few of the initiatives that we are involved with:
- Our Quiz night in February was a great community event. It has spurred the fundraising team to look to repeat this or similar events.
- After applying to Tesco they have awarded us the opportunity to be voted for in Wotton/Cam stores by the public to help with fundraising efforts. Please help support us when you shop at Tesco and vote for The Keepers using the blue tokens. Also, look out for some Keepers' supporters fundraising in person at the Tesco store in Cam!
- We are starting the roll-out of The Keepers' Donation Boxes in the area - look out for your local one.
- The web page and payment/ordering system for our fundraising T-Shirts is now set up. You can check them out at:
The new Keepers' t-shirts
Finally, this quarter, we started the recruitment process for a newly-created Project Administrator role to help us keep organised and efficient. Interviews were held in the week commencing 18th March - watch this space to see who the successful candidate was!!
Outreach update
Keepers in Kingswood
- Keepers in Kingswood (KiK) had 243 visits to the hub from January - March 2024.
- Adult Education have run board games and numeracy sessions on a Tuesday which have proven popular and Craft Corner continues to run on a Friday. Drop-ins have included Men's Shed, NHS Gloucestershire Falls Education Team and the Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).
North Nibley
- The Keepers attends the weekly drop-in cafés/chat which run at North Nibley Chapel. These are now registered with Stroud District Council as a Warm Space for their Wednesday coffee morning and film afternoon.
Wotton
- Kindi-tots - Weekly drop-ins run at the 'Stay and Play' session held in the pre-school which The Keepers attends.
- Nikki, our Outreach Support Worker, is currently exploring options to provide outreach activities in Wotton in line with the Outreach Strategy.
Charfield
- We continue to build relationships with community groups in the village that include Charfield Primary School, Charfield Christian Centre, Village Hall Committee and the Parish Council.
The area covered by The Keepers
Other updates
Trial of Antenatal session
This trial was run by the leaders of the Wotton Area Parent Support Group and went really well. Here is an update from Dee, one of the founders:
We had five pregnant Mums come along and three existing ones. It was an opportunity to meet up to discuss taboo topics and allowed the pregnant Mums to connect given that there are no existing services that allow local Mums to connect. The NHS services are now purely online and if you can't afford NCT (National Childbirth Trust), you're isolated.
We are a partner of Wotton's first ever Pride!
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday 15th June 2024 - Wotton's first ever Pride
We are delighted to have joined Wotton Pride's list of partners and will be running a rainbow café on the day - watch this space for further details. To find out more about Wotton Pride and see how you could get involved, search 'Wotton Pride' on Facebook.
Garden Update
We are sowing lots of seeds at the moment including cabbage, sunflowers, cosmos, tomatoes and courgettes. We are still looking for seedling donations, of all types, so if anyone has any spares, please bring them along!
New spring shoots in The Keepers' garden
Easter Food Bags
Thank you so much to all the people that helped make our Easter Food Bags happen again this year.
- To all our volunteers that shopped for items, packed bags and helped to hand them out.
- To Hobbs House Bakery that provided lovely hot cross buns.
- To Wotton Coop that let us borrow some trolleys that helped take the strain.
- To Cam Tesco that helped us do a special bulk buy of many of the items.
- To the pupils and staff at KLB that donated so many eggs and toiletries.
- To Kingswood Brownies and Guides that donated extra stuff for our food pantry for Easter.
- To all the people that donated bags for life and the local individuals and organisations that donated money and food.
Easter Holiday Activities
For Easter 2024 we decided to collaborate with The Ernest Cook Trust who came and ran a nature-based workshop for kids. They all had an eggs-elent time!
Ernest Cook Trust - learning about and enjoying nature
The Keepers is sharing its knowledge
There has been a growing interest from organisations eager to learn from the initiatives and activities we are undertaking at The Keepers including:
Gloucestershire College - exploring supported volunteers;
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - consultation on community hub experiences;
Stroud District Council's (SDC) Executive Team
Wotton Window Wanderland
The Keepers’ windows were adorned with colourful designs depicting ‘Happiness Is’ for the Wotton Window Wanderland event held in mid February. The windows were created by two of our volunteers Bernie and Debby who not only came up with the designs (from a very sketchy brief!) but set to work cutting and sticking and hanging them up for the town to see. They were very well received. Our thanks and appreciation to both volunteers for doing such a great job.
The Keepers' 'Happiness is...' window display
Trustee Corner
Your update from The Keepers' Trustees this quarter comes from Catherine Braun:
One of my favourite parts of being a Trustee at the Keepers is discussing the operations report at our bi-monthly trustee meetings. There are always lots of financial issues for us to consider of course, to check that we are on track against budget (we’re doing fine!) as well as fundraising plans and other updates, but the operations report is the most inspiring. At every meeting, it references even more new groups, activities and events, as The Keepers continues to blossom as a community hub for the whole area. When Lloyds Bank closed its branch on the high street, I was pleased to learn that they had decided to keep a regular presence at The Keepers – the natural choice for a community drop in for people who need help with banking.
The operations report also highlights the very many groups at The Keepers, where people can connect with each other, learn a language, share experiences or just enjoy a creative activity or a cup of tea and cake, in an inclusive and welcoming space. For anyone seeking advice, about something in the local community, a health, housing or other issue, there are usually professionals at the weekly café who can help. It’s great to see that so many other organisations are keen to visit and collaborate with The Keepers too.
From the outset, the Keepers has been about supporting the many communities in the wider Wotton area, and with the development of the Outreach Team, we’re now seeing even more sessions in neighbouring villages and at other locations in Wotton.
Finally, I never cease to be amazed at the incredible volunteer effort which powers much of the activity at The Keepers, whether that’s in the kitchen (making the delicious food that stocks Freda the Community Freezer), in the garden, working for a project or driving, to help others access facilities. At the last meeting, we agreed to pilot a new befriending service, which will take community volunteering a step further, reaching out to connect with people who may be socially isolated.
What’s New at The Keepers?
Cruse Bereavement
We are delighted to announce that Cruse Support will be providing a drop-in bereavement support service on a monthly basis. The dates for the next few months are:
- 29th April, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
- 27th May, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
- 24th June, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
It will be informal, you will be offered a cuppa and some cake and there will be 3 Cruse volunteers there for you. It's as much a chance to bring people together and help support each other.
Spanish for Beginners / The Terrified
Every Thursday 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm. All levels welcome.
Citizens Advice
We host Citizens Advice drop-in sessions which offer confidential in-person advice and where you can find the knowledge and confidence you need to find your way forward - whoever you are, and whatever your problem.
The drop-ins run every fortnight on a Monday between 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Guideposts CONNECT Social Groups
Free dementia-friendly friendship and support groups in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire for people living with long term health conditions, people who care for a friend or relative, and those looking to make new local friendships.
- When: Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday
- Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Where: The Keepers
Creative Writing Workshops
We're thrilled to announce the return of Creative Writing Workshops, led by the talented local author and playwright Mark Seaman.
- Dates: 4 weeks starting April 11th
- Times: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
NEW: Baby and Toddler group starting in April
We're excited to announce a brand new Baby and Toddler group here at The Keepers!
- Keepers Tots is starting from Friday 19th April (9:15 am - 10:30 am).
- For Parents/Carers with children aged 0-4 years.
To see what's on at The Keepers each week, just click below:
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. We are also looking for volunteers to join our fundraising committee. 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.
* Easyfundraising - We’re now registered with Easyfundraising, which means you can help us for FREE. Over 7,000 shops will donate to us when you use Easyfundraising to shop with them online – at no extra cost to you. All you need to do is sign up and remember to use Easyfundraising whenever you shop online. These donations really mount up, so please sign up to support us by clicking the button below. By signing up, you aren't agreeing to do anything - just that you'll try to go through Easyfundraising when you shop online.
We have produced some easy-to-follow instructions which you can find here
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!
