NEWSLETTER #8
Autumn/Winter 2022
18 January 2023
Come as you are, bring what you can and take what you need
Tuesday Lunches go from strength to strength
On 1 November, we launched our Tuesday lunches - fresh food made in our professional kitchen and served to diners in our main room, completely Pay as you Feel. Our kitchen volunteers served hearty helpings of cottage pie and macaroni cheese, followed by apple crumble. Anything left over is packaged up and used to replenish Freda, our community freezer.
We are very proud to be able to offer a door-to-door minibus service to those who are not able to make the hot lunches because they are not able to get transport or have difficulty in walking. Spaces are limited and need to be booked in advance.
The Kitchen team and our first lunch visitors sitting down to eat
We held our first ever 'We Hear You' week at the end of November. This was a chance for us to find out how we are supporting you and our local communities, to hear the views of those who visit The Keepers, and to see if there is more that we can be doing.
Happily, most of our feedback was very positive, but there were also some helpful comments and stats to help us improve. Of Hub Visitors interviewed:
- 100% said that they enjoyed their time at The Keepers;
- 94% said they had a space where they felt supported; and
- 89% said they felt more connected to their community.
One 'We Hear You Week' participant said:
My daughter and I have been absolutely blown away by the support we have received through and because of The Keepers. I was at breaking point when I came here and they have been amazing and really pulled me out of a hole! Keep doing what you are doing.
Becoming a 'Warm Space'
The Keepers is now on the map as one of Stroud District's 'Warm Spaces' - a response to the Cost of Living Crisis. Warm Spaces are places where people can gather free-of-charge in a warm, safe, welcoming place if they are struggling to heat their home:
The Keepers is on the map as a Stroud District Warm Space
New Team Members
Since October, we have recruited two new members of staff to the Keepers' Kitchen team.
Lorna is our new Kitchen Coordinator and Alison is our new Cook, who will be covering Tuesday lunches for us:
Hi everyone! Every week I work with Lorna to make delicious meals for our lovely diners to eat at the Keepers or to fill Freda, The Keepers' freezer. I'm from a Hotel and Catering background and used to have my own cake business. I love to cook and I am really enjoying my role at The Keepers.
The volunteers I work with on a weekly basis are great fun and very talented cooks. I hope you will come and join us for lunch at 12.30pm on a Tuesday. We'd love to see you.
Alison - The Keepers' Cook
Christmas at The Keepers 2022!
Christmas Under The Edge
Thank you to all the Keepers' Elves, and to Father Christmas, who made The Keepers' Grotto at Christmas Under the Edge such a success! Father Christmas had visits from children young and old throughout the afternoon and evening, handing out presents that were kindly donated to The Keepers.
Town Hall Teas in December also raised funds for The Keepers, so thanks to all who made cakes, served visitors or came along and supported.
Father Christmas and The Keepers' Elves with Wotton's Town Crier
Christmas Carols at The Keepers
We carried on the tradition this year of carol singing on Christmas Eve. Thank you to our volunteer musicians and vocalists who helped get us all into the Christmas spirit.
Carol singers on Christmas Eve for the second year running
Christmas Lunch at The Keepers
We were very excited to be able to serve up a hot, Christmas lunch to festive diners on Christmas day this year. Last year we were able to cook up Christmas dinners and deliver them to people's homes on Christmas Day, but this was a step up!
We also served hot soup during two Keepers' cafés in between Christmas and New Year. Thanks to all those who gave up their time to help out during the festive period.
UPDATES
Fundraising
We have now launched our "Friends of The Keepers" scheme. In order to ensure the ongoing success of the Community Hub, we are looking to build a base of supporters who will set up a regular donation to help cover our monthly running costs. As we try to keep these costs as low as possible, every donation given will make a massive difference. In return, you will receive 'Friends' updates' by e-mail, an annual invitation to a 'Friends' open evening', a certificate, early access to tickets for events we are running, and a birthday invitation to The Keepers for a piece of cake and hot drink!
To sign up, all you have to do is to go to: https://thekeepers.enthuse.com/friends and sign up to make a monthly donation – of any amount. Just pay as you feel!
New Patron
We are very pleased to announce that we have a new Patron - Gavin Thorpe:
- Stroud-born Gavin has had an interesting journey from being a major recording artist to becoming a qualified counsellor and now a co-founder and co-CEO of the male mental health charity Talk Club.
- The charity focuses on mental fitness, as well as mental health, and has gone from strength to strength with successful campaigns with Nivea men, Liam Gallagher and now Tyson Fury.
- Talk Club will be starting up at The Keepers on Wednesday 1 February and will run every first Wednesday of each month.
I am delighted to be asked to be a patron of The Keepers. Firstly, I grew up in Wotton and have many friends and family still in the area. Secondly, I have a strong passion for mental health and dedicate all my time to helping others to live their best life.
The work and services that The Keepers bring to the community are imperative to us all as we continue to support each other.
Garden
- We now have a group of regular garden volunteers spending time on Tuesdays and Fridays with Amy, our Wellbeing Gardener.
- We are very pleased that we are able to keep Amy on at The Hub until the end of 2023!
- Our shrubs and perennials have all been pruned, and all the vegetables have been planted for the winter.
- Thanks to all our garden volunteers!
Garden volunteers pruning our shrubs and bushes for the winter
IT Schools Africa donation
We would like to say a massive thank you to IT Schools Africa for their generous donation of laptops to the Keepers, which will be used by Keepers' staff.
Holiday Activities
During October Half Term, we invited children to The Keepers to paint pebbles for to then hide around the Wotton area. If anyone discovered such a special painted pebble and brought it into us, then they were then entitled to claim a free drink and piece of cake! The children also painted pumpkins with glow-in-the-dark paint, cooked pumpkin soup (with croutons and roasted pumpkin seeds) and ate pumpkin brownies.
During the Christmas Holidays, we ran cooking and crafts for families in our Kitchen and main room.
Christmas holiday cooking and crafts
What’s New at The Keepers?
Talk Club
Talk Club will be starting up at The Keepers on Wednesday 1 February and will run every first Wednesday of each month.
Breast Cancer group
Every third Thursday of each month, between 10am-11am, The Keepers hosts a monthly breast cancer support group. Anyone touched by breast cancer is invited to drop in for coffee, a piece of cake and a chat.
It's a chance to meet others at different stages of the journey, so whether you're going through diagnosis, treatment, recovery or caring for someone who is, come and meet others who know just how that feels.
New café visiting professionals
A different visiting professional will be at our Keepers' Café every Wednesday 10am - 12pm:
Millie from Clean Slate - Thursdays every fortnight
Stroud District Council Housing Team
Frailty Nurse - once a month on Wednesdays
After School Club
Our new After School Club runs 3pm - 4pm every Monday offering drinks, toast, help with homework and board games!
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.
* 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!
