Newsletter Spring 2019

Zumbathon Inside this issue: SWALLOW held its first Fundraising Zumbathon at Page 2 – Spring at the Café Village Hall on the 11th May 2019. The event was a great Page 3 – Maggie’s success, with over 30 members, friends and family taking Leaving Party part in three hours of Zumba, raising over £700. Page 5 – Supported Housing Thank you to everyone who attended the event, a lot of hard Page 7 – SWALLOW Sports work went into the day and a big thank you to Elaine from Laney’s Zumba, Western Power Distribution for supporting the event and the organisers of the Godney Gathering and M&S Bath for providing us with prizes for the raffle. Bath Half Update

Fourteen runners, including two of our members Dan and Clarissa, supported by Senior Support Worker, Shelley, successfully completed the Bath Half Marathon on Sunday 17th March in aid of SWALLOW.

The team were on weather watch during the week leading up to the event but thankfully there was no snow. With perfect Dan, SWALLOW member who ran the conditions on the day, all of Team SWALLOW Charity successfully Bath Half and raised £1600 for SWALLOW completed the 13 miles, with our fastest runner Nathan Dod making it round in a fantastic time of 1hour 33 minutes.

A huge congratulations goes out to each of them, not only for running 13 miles, but also raising over £5000.

If their efforts have inspired you to take part in next year’s race and raise funds for SWALLOW then please call Charlotte Sayers on 01761 414034 or email [email protected] to find out more. 2 Spring Newsletter 2019

Spring at the Cafe

The Café celebrated its 5th Birthday at the beginning of April and to mark the occasion, all the trainees and staff enjoyed a meal out at the White Post with everyone having a brilliant evening. Brendon andall the White Post team were very welcoming and accommodating. Cafe

I really enjoyed my meal at the White Post.

All the pub staff team are ‘the Bee’s knees’ they“ “looked after us so well. I feel very passionate

about my work in the café. I like to be able to use the skills I have learnt at college and I use them in a professional way.

The Café has been involved in a number of outside Tara (far left) seen here at the catering events recently, where trainees have had the Dragon’s Den, has now taken opportunity to work and practice their catering skills. over from Maggie as the new These have included catering for Food Bank’s annual Café Manager. celebration supper, Somer Valley Council’s Forum meeting, a Rotary lunch for 18 people.

We were also asked to provide a large buffet for 150 people at The Dragon’s Den event which took place at Pratten’s social club on the 5th April 2019. The Thursday and Friday Café teams worked extremely hard to produce all the food and both John and Dan did an excellent job working at the event. Dan delivered a very successful pitch, requesting the funding for a new chiller to display a wider selection of healthy food produced at the Café.

We have lots of other exciting outside catering events coming up including making 20 trays of brownies for Well done to Michael for Festival at the end of June and another receiving his certificate for U3A training lunch. It’s going to be a busy few months! hard work and reliability whilst working at the Café. Spring Newsletter 2019 3

Maggie’s Leaving Party

After 13 years at SWALLOW, we said a sad farewell to our Café Manager, Maggie. For the last five years, Maggie has gone above and beyond the call of duty running our Community Café, taking it from one day a week opening to an impressive four days.

Maggie has been at the heart of the Café and all of our pop up events, working hard to produce outstanding, quality food including delicious cakes, regular soup orders for Sun Chemicals and the Tasty Treats range of yummy chutneys and jams.

Here are a few pictures from her leaving party at Paulton Rovers on the 25th April. It was a fantastic night with lots of dancing, laughing and a beautiful leaving cake.

Maggie, thank you so much for all you have done for SWALLOW. You will be greatly missed by all staff and members. 4 Spring Newsletter 2019

I like going out

“and being with my “ friends. The lunch was good. I bought a brand new colouring book.

Update from Employment Support Art Group

On 18th February 2019 the Monday Craft Work Skills Artwork by our Art Group Group were given a tour of the Bookbarn by the members was recently on Chief Operational Manager, Fenna Leake. display as part of an exhibition at Norton Hill School. Thank They were shown behind the scenes, where most of you to Daisy Broadway and the books are stored in a warehouse area. Some of the her friends who organised books they have, are bought or hired to use in interior this and raised over £50 for design photo shoots and some are bought or hired to us. Debbie’s artwork has use in films or TV shows, like Dr.Who. also been on display at the Community Café. They were also shown around the Darwin Room which is open to the public if a member of staff is there to keep an eye on the valuable books. This room is full Horticultural of old and antique books and is named the Darwin Room because a descendant of Darwin is an owner Group of the Bookbarn. Now Spring has sprung our Staff and members were treated to a delicious sit down Horticultural Group are busy lunch and after our craft members went off to buy some creating beautiful hanging of the lovely books. baskets, full of bright spring colours. The baskets are We are delighted to announce that, as of Tuesday available to order now for £10 14th May, the fantastic candles created by the Work (£8 refill) and will be ready Skills Craft group will be available to buy in Thomsons at the end of May. Please Hardware Store in Radstock. contact the office if you would like to place an order. Spring Newsletter 2019 5

Beauchamp Place Supported On the 12th April at our Community Housing Café, Mo was presented with a certificate and voucher for her generosity to Charity. She has made several donations over the past 2 years including her recent donation of Easter eggs to the local Sarah’s outings to Bath Church food bank. Thank you Mo. Sarah has had a very busy couple of months visiting both the Jane Austen centre in Bath and going to see her favourite singer Peter Andre at the Bath Forum. Sarah said “I really enjoyed it and it was worth going to see him, this was the third time I have seen him. He sang all of his songs and I got to meet his support band”. “The Jane Austen Centre was very enjoyable and educational. It tells you all about her life. I would recommend it”. 2nd Birthday Gardens Party Around 30 members and staff Spring Clean recently held a party to celebrate the 2nd year at Beauchamp The gorgeous weather in April Place. All enjoyed a boogie and allowed residents at Chilcompton Lizzie made a lovely cake for Road and Beauchamp Place the celebration. We hope to hold to have a garden clean up. something similar every year. They were kept busy in the nice weather and now have a spacious area to enjoy throughout the Thank Yous summer. Well done to all involved, the gardens Thank you to Mardons Sports & are looking great! Social Club and their customers who donated over £50 in change in our collection tin on the bar.

Base Sean Boon and Louis Kowalski recently held an Afternoon Tea House for friends and family at their home and raised £350. Thank Members of Base you Sean & Louis for supporting House enjoyed SWALLOW. a meal out to celebrate Paul’s Thank you to St Peter’s Church 50th Birthday. Westfield for organising a coffee morning on the 9th May and raising £213. 6 Spring Newsletter 2019

Events

Thank Yous Fun Club

37 members and staff had a great meal out at the Red Lion pub in Bath. Here are some pictures from the night. A great evening of laughter and friendship was enjoyed by all.

Lizzie has kindly donated £100 to the Café. We have used the money to buy new table cloths for the Café. Thank you Lizzie.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Westfield Methodist

Church, High Tea Event on the

Quiz Night 27th April. Sally and friends

put on an amazing spread Here are some of our members attending the recent and raised a fantastic £530! quiz night at the White Post. This is a monthly event “ and members always have a great night. The lovely staff at TSB Midsomer Norton, who have been supporting us for nearly I enjoy coming to the quiz I can answer 2 years, held an Easter raffle “some of the questions and love the music round. and raised over £160. Spring Newsletter 2019 7

SWALLOW Sports Wheels for All The Wheels for All initiative is a nationally recognised SWALLOW Football Team programme that embraces all children and adults with SWALLOW FC are having disabilities and differing another successful season needs, to engage in a and have been playing quality cycling activity. with real enthusiasm and determination which just Here is a picture of Sasha shows as they have won 4, enjoying the sunshine at a drawn 1 and lost 1 game. Wheels for All session at Good luck for all the Odd Down playing fields upcoming matches. on the 30th March 2019.

Please welcome Tom and Gary who have recently Thank Yous joined the team. A huge THANK YOU to Thank you to Sun Chemicals for sponsoring the new Tom who ran a Half Marathon football kits. Your continued support is greatly appreciated. on a treadmill and raised over £500 for SWALLOW! Bike Bath - Join the Team

Bike Bath is a day of cycling taking in the best scenery in the city and the surrounding countryside. We have reduced entry places available for the 25, 50 or 80 mile routes.

If you would like to join the team and help raise money for SWALLOW, then please contact Charlotte Sayers on 01761 414034 or email [email protected] for full details. 8 Spring Newsletter 2019

The High Sheriff of visits SWALLOW Community Cafe

The Café had a recent visit from Johnnie Halliday, the High Sheriff of Somerset, who was visiting local Charities with the Quartet Community Foundation. Make a huge Mendip difference by becoming a Friend Male Voice of SWALLOW Choir Thank you to the Mendip By making a small, regular donation to Male Voice Choir for their support our work, you will: • Receive a newsletter and regular updates recent donation of £100. • Invitation to Friend’s events Here is a picture of Sarah • Your name on our Tree of Friendship collecting the cheque on behalf of SWALLOW. To find out more about becoming a Friend of SWALLOW, please email Nicky Tew at [email protected] Dates for Staff News your diary

• Please welcome Tara who has joined 27th May – Craft stall held SWALLOW as Manager at our Community Café Village Day • Please welcome back Lily who has returned from Maternity Leave 3rd June – Work Skills Craft • Sam has taken on new responsibilities following her Stall at Bookbarn International recent appointment as our Deputy Registered Manager. 15th June – Members and staff sports day at Writhlington sports centre SWALLOW 15th/16th June – Step it The Old Engine House Up Charity Dance Show – Old Pit Road Writhlington Sports Centre Midsomer Norton BA3 4BQ 30th June – Bike Bath 01761414034 13th July – Midsomer Norton [email protected] www.swallowcharity.org Fayre stall Reg Charity No: 1045893 20th July – Godney Gathering Company No: 3034328 3rd August – Donate to SWALLOW via our Just Giving Street Fayre Page: www.justgiving.com/swallow 13th September – Jenny Peplow Concert at The Methodist Hall, Paulton Thank you to TPM for their support of our printed newsletters.