HART MATTERS….. Autumn 2014

Hart Voluntary Action is funded by

Inside this issue: NOTICE OF HART VOLUNTARY ACTION’S AGM

Hart Voluntary Action 2-5 10 NOVEMBER 2014 News 10.00-11.00 Council 6 Chairman’s News COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC OFFICES, FLEET, GU51 4AE Welcome to new HVA 7 Members Followed by the

Village Agent - 8 HART VOLUNTARY SECTOR FORUM & 11.15-12.30 + LUNCH Health & 9 Wellbeing News THEME: THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERS Hart District Council 10 News Speakers from: Age Concern Hampshire Homestart Rushmoor and Hart Others News and 11-15 Information St Michael’s Hospice

HVA Team and 16 All Welcome! Please cotact us to let us know if you are planning to attend. Dates for the Diary Tel 01252 815652 or e-mail [email protected]

We are looking for new Trustees New Hart Access Forum

We would love to hear from you if you would be interested in Hart District Council is planning to set up a new finding out more about what’s involved in being a Trustee for Forum of community representatives to help ensure Hart Voluntary Action. We are keen to hear from anyone who no-one is facing barriers to accessing the services has an interest in the voluntary and community sector in Hart and support they need because of their age, or who has an interest in or experience of working in the public disability, ethnicity or medical condition etc. sector, especially in health or social care. We would be interested to hear from any voluntary People with direct experience in the areas of youth work, sector representative who would be able to speak counselling, or mental health or who have practical knowledge on behalf of their members or clients. Interested to and experience of running a charity or running fundraising know more? events would also be very welcome. Please do get in touch.

Call Caroline Winchurch on 01252 815652 Call Caroline Winchurch on 01252 815652

page 1 HART VOLUNTARY ACTION NEWS

Have Your Say in Hart

We would like to say well done to the following groups which were successful in obtaining enough votes to receive a Have Your Say grant. Thank you also to Hampshire County Council for making this possible.

Brendoncare Club Hampshire A film projector for their Fleet social clubs for older people. Events in Crondall and Ewshot Day outings for elderly residents. Fleet Phoenix A young parents’ group. Fleet Girls & Ladies Football Club Winter training sessions. Friends of Ancells Farm New play equipment for teenagers in Ancells Park. Friends of Basingbourne Park Bat detection equipment for use in the park. Friends of Crookham Infants School New play equipment for Year R children. Fruition Youth Youth workers for a new young carers’ club in . Hants and Surrey Borders Riding for the Riding lessons for young children with a range of disabilities. Disabled Association Junior Football Club Line marking of football pitches. Hook Allotment Association Composting toilet maintenance. OCD and BDD Support Group (Fleet) Venue hire costs and external speakers. Potley Hill Primary School PTA A new mural for the school playground on the theme of “Community” Sebastian's Action Trust Support for Hart children with life-limiting illnesses. The Cross Barn Outside furniture and plants to extend the use of this venue.

HVA ANNUAL SURVEY 2014 “The newsletter is interesting and Many thanks to all of you who responded to our annual survey in June/July. Top of informative.” your list of HVA services accessed since the beginning of the year was advice and information closely followed by volunteer recruitment. The services you said you would miss the most if HVA did not exist are 1) advice and information 2) support with grants/fundraising bids and 3) recruiting new or more volunteers.

We also received a number of very useful suggestions on how we might further improve our services: an active Facebook page and an online calendar of activities were two - Hart Voluntary Action is now on Facebook as is the Hart Volunteer Centre and we are looking at creating a calendar as part of the review of our web-site.

Other suggestions were volunteer recruitment events to allow groups to meet potential “I know support is volunteers face-to-face, more networking to bring companies/businesses together with just an e-mail away.” the voluntary sector and more evening events. We will be looking at how we can accommodate these suggestions into our future programme of support. page 2 HART VOLUNTARY ACTION NEWS

CHANGES TO THE “DO-IT” WEB-SITE

Towards the end of November the do-it.org.uk website will re-launch. This is one of the websites where we, at Hart Volunteer Centre, advertise your volunteering opportunities. Volunteer Centres across the country post their volunteering opportunities to this website and in Hart we have been using it as our platform since 2003. It is probably the most powerful tool currently at our disposal for recruiting volunteers. The website will have some great new features which we will tell you more about in the next few weeks. One of these is the option to drop your logo and pictures relating to your volunteering activities onto the online post.

At this stage we are gathering logos so we have them ready to add to the website. When we migrate our data to the new cloud-based system, we will have a couple of weeks to update our data before the website goes live, so we plan to be ready! Therefore if you’d like to have your logo added to your profile that we currently hold for you, just mail a copy across to [email protected].

We will keep you posted of any further changes as and when they arise but for now it’s business as usual.

VOLUNTEER CENTRE APPRENTICE

Hart Voluntary Action would like to recruit a Business Administration Apprentice to be based at our Volunteer Centre “Hub” in Hart Shopping Centre. Duties will include:

 Updating information on the Centre’s database and/or excel spreadsheets.  Researching and verifying information about volunteer placement organisations via internet search, email or telephone contact.  Drafting/editing information about volunteering roles.  Handling correspondence relating to individual volunteer enquiries by email or telephone.  Handling correspondence with volunteer placement organisations related to volunteer referrals and chasing up feedback about volunteers placed by email and telephone.  Promotion of the Centre, latest volunteering opportunities and other related news items on social media (Facebook and Twitter).  Dealing with client enquiries face to face at the Volunteer Centre.  Producing statistical information from the database or associated spreadsheets for reports.

Open to anyone aged 16-24 with good literacy levels and an interest in developing a variety of communications and administration skills.

A Level 2 NVQ in Business Administration forms part of this apprenticeship with support from Inclusion Hampshire. The apprenticeship is for one year - 30 hours per week @ £4.00 per hour. Hart Voluntary Action will offer additional training related to volunteer recruitment and management. This apprenticeship offers many opportunities for future employment in the charity/voluntary sector or the private/public sector.

To apply, please contact Jane Copsey, Business and Operations Manager, Inclusion Hampshire, Dickson House, Road, Hook, RG27 9DJ - Tel: 01256 760800 or [email protected] www.inclusionhampshire.org.uk

page 3 HART VOLUNTARY ACTION NEWS

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH HOOK/HARTLEY WINTNEY GP SURGERIES

Hart Voluntary Action’s Minding the Garden project has teamed up with a local GP surgery and an allotment association to offer patients the opportunity to improve their mental and physical wellbeing by getting involved in growing their own produce on a shared allotment plot.

Earlier this year, the Hook and Hartley Wintney GP Partnership and the Hook Allotment Association approached the Minding the Garden team to help establish a weekly allotment session for people with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

Minding the Garden has been running ‘Ecotherapy’ gardening sessions for over 5 years but this is the first partnership they have developed with a local surgery. New clients are referred to the project directly by their GP. The team meet every Wednesday morning and the project has been running successfully for 6 months.

The Hook Allotment Association was able to offer a full size plot to the project. There was a real team effort to get the plot ready for growing. This has included preparing the soil by digging up many weeds and grass clumps, building raised beds, compost bins and preparing the site for a new shed. The team have been enjoying the fruits of their labour over the last few months including potatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, runner beans, sweet corn, beetroot and rhubarb.

The Minding the Garden team are very grateful for the support from Dr Andrew Fernando, Dr Sarah Longstaff, Practice Manager, Dee French, and Mary-Anne Barber from Hook Allotment Association in helping get the project off the ground.

If you know someone who is a patient at Hook or Hartley Wintney surgeries who might benefit, please encourage him or her to get in contact with their GP or with Minding the Garden direct on 01252 815652 or email [email protected]

Hart Voluntary Action would like to thank the following for

their recent donations to the Minding the Garden Project:

Hart Rotary Club, Lions Club of Fleet, Hook & Odiham Rotary Club, Eli Lilly and Cllr John Bennison.

Thanks also to Morrisons in Elvetham Heath and The Station Pub in Fleet for donations of bulbs and plug plants. page 4 LOCALGIVING.COM GROW YOUR TENNER APPEAL

We need your help

Between 14 October 2014 and 31 January 2015 Localgiving.com will double YES double the first £10 you donate or double the first £10 of any direct debit donations for 6 months.

Can you host a Tea Party or Coffee Morning and ask your friends to support us?

ABOUT 121 YOUTH COUNSELLING

121 offers counselling sessions to 11-19 year olds in Hart. Young people have 50 minutes to talk about anything that is troubling them in a confidential and friendly environment.

The service is FREE to young people, but costs £25 per session to run. The service is dependent on donations and grants so we need your help to raise funds to support as many Hart young people as possible who need the help.

It is estimated that 1 in 10 young people have problems that are classified as mental health issues. Based on the last census data, approximately 1080 young people in Hart have a mental health problem of which it is estimated that around 400 young people need counselling. Understandably, schools can not support all these young people and not all meet the criteria for support via the NHS.

Did you know that 14-19 years is the crucial age? Half the adults with long term mental health problems were first diagnosed before the age of 14, three quarters by the age of 20.

121 Youth Counselling aims to step in early, offer young people a life-line by listening to their worries, stresses and fears. We guide them to develop Coping Strategies that will set them up for life.

Please could you make a donation via the Hart Voluntary Action Localgiving.com fundraising page during the Grow Your Tenner period to this fantastic new project.

You, your friends and family can either set up your own supporter’s page at http://localgiving.com and link it to Hart Voluntary Action or donate via our dedicated supporter’s page https://localgiving.com/fundraising/121

For more information contact us by email [email protected] or call 01252 815642

page 5 HART DISTRICT COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

Hart Chairman’s Volunteer Recognition Scheme

Councillor Myra Billings, Chairman of Hart District Council, has launched a set of new awards to recognise members of the public for their help in or for the community.

Working in partnership with Hart Voluntary Action, the Council aim to showcase the hard work and dedication of volunteers within the district.

Speaking about the awards, Cllr Billings said: “I’m delighted to launch these new awards that will highlight deserving volunteers in Hart. I hope to receive entries from local individuals or organisations that go above and beyond the call of duty to help others. I look forward to working with Hart Voluntary Action who are kindly assisting me in these awards.”

Cllr Billings will accept nominations until 10th April 2015. Awards will be presented throughout the year during the Full Council meetings on:

30th October 2014 29th January 2015 30th April 2015

If you know of an individual or voluntary organisation who are deserving of such recognition, please contact 01252 815652 or visit www.hartvolaction.org.uk for an application form or for more information.

THE CHAIRMAN OF HART DISTRICT COUNCIL

Charity Jumble and Nearly New Sale

Monteagle Community Centre ,Yateley

Saturday 25 October 2014 from 2pm – 4pm

Entry price: 50 pence

All funds raised will go towards the Chairman's nominated charity The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

If you have any jumble to donate then please contact Councillor Myra Billings on 01252 872715

page 6 HVA MEMBERS’ PAGES

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS!

101st Odiham Scout Group - is the newest scout group to open in the Odiham Scout District area. The group currently runs 1 Beavers group, 2 Cubs groups and 1 Scouts groups and are based at Quetta Park Community Centre and Zebon Copse Community Centre in . To find out more please contact the Group Scout Leader Sara Sanderson via their web-site 101stodihamscoutgroup.org.uk or call 0771 3627990.

Anchor Trust (Hampshire Lakes) - Anchor Trust is one of the UK’s largest not-for-profit providers of housing and care for older people. Hampshire Lakes is one of Anchor’s latest developments - a new retirement village consisting of independent living, assisted living, and a 36-bed care home - which is due to open in Sandhurst Road, Yateley in Spring 2015. The General Manager, Rhona Smith, is keen to connect residents at Hampshire Lakes with the local community . Contact details [email protected] tel: 07826 956368, website: anchor.org.uk

Churches Together in Fleet and Crookham - we are the umbrella group through which the Christian churches in Fleet and Church Crookham carry out joint ventures and community projects such as Hart Foodbank, Fleet Angels, and Christians Against Poverty with a view to serving local people and being a credible witness to the Christian faith. More information on our web-site ctfleet.org.uk or by contacting the Chair, Will Parker, [email protected]

Could your organisation/group use some more stationery? HVA has been donated a box of pencils, scissors, rulers, string, sellotape etc by the District Council’s Electoral Services team and we can’t use it all.

If your organisation can make use of any of these please contact Karen on 01252 815652 Or email: [email protected]

page 7 VILLAGE AGENT: CRONDALL AND EWSHOT

The Village Pump for older people in Crondall and Ewshot

Day trip to the ISLE OF WIGHT

Wednesday 18th June 2014

On a rather cool grey looking morning nearly 50 excited older people gathered in Ewshot and Crondall for our annual day trip. Once on board the coach, an itinerary of the day was given out and discussed so people could consider what they would like to see at Osborne House whilst there. On reaching Southampton it was not long before we were on the Red Funnel Ferry and after a very comfortable crossing lasting one hour, we were driven the short journey to Osborne House.

After a short walk through the visitors centre, the first venue was the Restaurant, where Paul from English Heritage explained about the various functions of the delightful room during Queen Victoria’s reign. A lovely two course meal followed by coffee was ably served by Heidi and her very attentive staff.

After that people were free to visit the House, Walled Garden, Swiss Chalet or just relax by the beautiful beach area and enjoy a delicious ice cream. The time seemed to pass by all too quickly before we had to meet again for our return journey via the ferry. By this time we were well blessed with sunshine and many people were pleased to just relax on the boat for the return crossing. Many happy but tired people were back in Ewshot or Crondall after a lovely day out with good weather and company.

We are greatly indebted to Hart Voluntary Action for funding the coach hire through the ‘Have your Say’ grant and The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation along with Red Funnel who covered the cost of the ferry crossing.

Tony Hopkins and Monica Cheeseman

Well done to Tony and his co-organisers in being awarded a second Have Your Say grant to organise more such outings over the coming months. Details about regular “Village Pump” get-togethers for older residents living in or near Crondall/Ewshot by contacting Tony Hopkins on 07543 294591 or [email protected] page 8 HAMPSHIRE HEALTH AND WELLBEING NEWS

Below are some news items from Hampshire County Council’s latest issue of “Health and Wellbeing News”

Have your say on Short Breaks

A 12-week consultation on changes to the way short breaks for disabled children are provided in Hampshire has opened and runs until 12 December 2014. Since 2008, the County Council has found £140m in savings. In spite of these efficiencies, the budget for services for children with disabilities was protected. However, with future cuts expected in Government funding, this position is no longer sustainable. As part of a further £26m that Children's Services must find by 2015 between £2.5m and £3.5m has been identified as potential savings from the budget for children with disabilities. Of the current total budget for children with disabilities (£19.7m), it is proposed that £1.85m (9.4%) of savings could be made by making changes to how open access short breaks services are currently provided. The consultation questionnaire can be completed online, alternatively paper copies can be requested by emailing: [email protected] or calling 01962 846370

‘Local Offer' launched for special educational needs and disability

With support from Parent Voice and Hampshire Parent Carer Network, Hampshire County Council has launched a new online source for parents, professionals and young people to find out about services and support for children and young people up to the age of 25 who have special educational needs or who are disabled (SEND). The purpose of the 'Local Offer' website - www.hantslocaloffer.info is to become a comprehensive single source of information about health, education, social care support and leisure services for children and young people with special educational needs or who are disabled. Parent Voice is providing telephone support alongside the Local Offer website on 0300 303 8603. More information about the SEND changes is available online at www.hants.gov.uk/sendreform.

Hampshire Health Checks – new campaign

To raise awareness of NHS Health Checks and increase uptake, a new campaign is being launched in Hampshire. Targeted advertising will appear on 99p store till receipts, town bus sides, Smooth and Jack FM radio stations and in local football team programmes.

The message aimed at 40-74 year olds is: “Take up your free NHS Health Check – talk to your GP or take up your personal invite.”

For more information visit the Hampshire Health Checks webpage www3.hants.gov.uk/healthcheck or to get involved, email [email protected] or [email protected]

If you would like to subscribe to receive future copies by e-mail of the HCC Health and Wellbeing News, please go to http://www3.hants.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing.htm and look for the link to the newsletter in the left-hand menu. You may also be interested to know that the Hart Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board now also has its own newsletter - go to http://www.hart.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing-newsletter to subscribe.

page 9 NEWS AND INFORMATION : HART DISTRICT COUNCIL

Who remembers that Bee Gees classic “Stayin’ alive”? ..

Well that’s the name of Hart District Council’s new activity programme for local residents who want to stay stronger for longer. You don’t need to be a fitness freak or have the latest pair of trainers, just a little bit of money and some comfortable clothes to exercise in.

The new leisure fitness programme, based at Hart Leisure Centre in Fleet, provides residents with a wide range of healthy activities and makes exercise fun and enjoyable. Activities include short mat bowls, swimming, gym sessions, badminton and traditional aerobics. All of the activities are a great place to meet new people and burn off extra calories.

Cllr Anne Crampton, Hart’s Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing commented:

”As a family practitioner I know the value of exercise and the positive effects upon mental and physical health. I think that the Leisure team has come up with something really positive that hits one of our priorities for the year so I’m really pleased to endorse this.”

Hart District Council knows how important it is to stay active, both physically and mentally, as we age, so with all sessions set at an affordable price and no membership fees or long term commitments required, the Stayin’ Alive programme is accessible to everyone.

For further details please call reception on 01252 629974, [email protected] or visit www.threesixfive.org.uk to see a full timetable of activities.

Hart District Council is proud to announce that Hart is now a Fairtrade district

The journey began 4 years ago when students from Court Moor and Heatherside schools gave a presentation to Cabinet and asked the Council to take the lead in the campaign to achieve Fairtrade Status for Hart. Since then a Steering group has been formed, and many events have taken place to raise awareness of Fairtrade. In 2013 the Council passed a resolution to support Fairtrade and enough evidence has now been gathered to show that Fairtrade is supported by businesses, shops, eating establishments, schools, churches and other community groups in the district.

We would like to encourage more people and organisations to get involved and to join the Fairtrade Steering Group. The group meets several times a year to organise fun Fairtrade events, promote Fairtrade to local businesses and residents, give talks and ensure that Hart continues to maintain its Fairtrade district status. Members include volunteers from schools, faith groups, local businesses, campaigning groups, councillors, council officers and individuals. If you are interested in becoming a member, get in touch with Martine Fullbrook on 01252 774126 or e-mail [email protected]. page 10 NEWS AND INFORMATION

Happy Hedgehog Recue Yateley Needs You

Ark Wildlife are running a free food giveaway competition and Happy Hedgehog Recue Yateley would like to win.

More votes means more free hedgehog food and with so many hedgehogs in their care this would really help them. The campaign ends until 31st October.

Please vote by going to www.arkwildlife.co.uk/heroes and click on Happy Hedgehog Rescue Yateley and type Happy Hedgehog Rescue Yateley in field box above e-mail.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

FLEET TOWN COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW!

Fleet Town Council is asking local residents and visitors to Fleet to give their views on entertainment and recreational facilities on offer at The Harlington, Fleet, both now and in the future.

You can complete the survey by going to: www.fleet-tc.gov.uk. Alternatively a paper copy was included in the Fleet Newsletter 'Town Talk' which was delivered to every house in Fleet or a copy can be obtained from Fleet Town Council at The Harlington.

Says Bob Schofield, Chairman of Fleet Town Council:

 “Over the last four years, Fleet Town Council has been committed to making the Harlington offer an increased range of entertainment and recreational facilities to local residents and visitors.  The Council’s strategy has been to invest in the Harlington to make the venue more attractive.  The results are starting to be seen with the public subsidy being reduced, allowing the Council to make an even greater investment in the facility and other Town Council assets.  The Town Council has invested in the annual Pantomime that received great reviews and brought many young families to The Harlington.  We have recently converted the old Carnival Hall into a dedicated dance studio and hope this will bring dance schools, classes and exercise groups to the Harlington.  We have been progressively redecorating the building and making the facility more “user friendly.”

An independent market survey firm is being used to analyse the results so that the conclusions of the survey are not prejudiced by the Town Council’s own views.

So please help by completing the survey and letting Fleet Town Council know what they can do to help make Fleet an even better place to visit.’’

If you would like any further information please contact Fleet Town Council [email protected] or call 01252 625246

page 11 DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES - HART UPDATE

One of Hart Voluntary Action’s commitments when it signed up to the Hampshire Dementia Action Alliance last year was to promote services and activities for people with dementia in Hart and their families. Here is an update for our Hart Matters readers:

Dementia Friendly High Streets - Fleet High Street is Hampshire’s third Dementia Friendly High Street and was officially launched back in February. Andover Mind, which is managing this scheme for Hampshire County Council, has so far signed up 24 high street businesses and retailers (eg Boots, W C Baker’s & Son, Sugarplum, Hart Travel and More Than Coffee) along with Hart District Council and the Harlington. If you see the Dementia Friendly Hampshire sign in a premises’ window, this means the business/organisation has signed up to the Hampshire Dementia Action Alliance and has received appropriate dementia awareness training.

The Dementia Friendly Toolkit is available to use by any business or organisation and can be downloaded from Hampshire County Council’s web-site.

The process to turn Hartley Wintney’s High Street into a Dementia Friendly High Street is also underway. This is being overseen by the Hartley Wintney Dementia Action Group.

Dementia Action Groups - All around Hampshire, people who want to make their communities Dementia Friendly are coming together and forming Dementia Action Groups. Local people are best placed to know what is needed in their area and who has the contacts to get things done; we support the Groups, helping them achieve their aims with advice and guidance. Everyone who participates helps to make a difference to the lives of people with dementia and their carers. Groups are being established in the following / villages in Hart – Fleet, Hartley Wintney and Odiham. To find out more or for advice on setting up your own group please contact Jenny Allcott 07827317468 [email protected]

Hart and Rushmoor Dementia Advice Service - The Hart and Rushmoor Dementia advice service started in October 2012 to help people with dementia and their carers, family and friends to get the appropriate support from first diagnosis throughout their illness. Since then 369 people have accessed the service.

How does the service help?

 we are a consistent point of contact and support from first diagnosis throughout your journey  we listen to you and answer your questions  we help you to identify what information you need and how to find it  we provide you with tailored information to help you live your life to the full  we tell you about other local services  we support you to plan for the future.

How do I get a referral to the Dementia Advice Service? You can ask the following to refer you to the service: your GP, the community mental health team or other healthcare professionals or you can contact the service yourself.

Contact details: Civic Offices, Harlington Way, Fleet, GU51 4AE Tel:01252 624808 - email: [email protected] page 12 DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES - HART UPDATE

The Alzheimer's Society provides support and information via telephone, email or home visits, and also runs groups in the Hart and Rushmoor area, with help from our volunteers. We offer Singing for the Brain in Hartley Wintney, a Carers' Support Group in Elvetham Heath, and an Activities Group for people with dementia and their carers in Aldershot. In collaboration with Frimley Park Hospital we run a drop-in for carers at their Pine Trees Restaurant. We give talks and run Dementia Friends sessions for local businesses, churches and voluntary organisations, and are looking particularly to promote dementia awareness in local schools and colleges.

Our 2 new reports, released in September, 'Dementia 2014: Opportunity for Change' and 'Dementia UK: Second Edition' (an update of the 2007 Dementia UK report) can be accessed on the front page of our website. There is also an infographic demonstrating the findings which can be viewed using this link: alzheimers.org.uk/infographic In addition, we would ask anyone who has a little time to go online to the Dementia Friends website and sign up to being a Dementia Friend. Dementia Friends is a social action movement, funded by the government and under the aegis of the Alzheimer's Society, which promotes dementia awareness. The link to this is dementiafriends.org.uk Please contact Fay Freemantle on 07900240829 or 01256 363393 for more information, or you can email her at [email protected]

Sunrise Living, Church Road, Fleet, GU51 4NB run a monthly Memory Café which is open to anyone with dementia and family members/carers. Our own Minding the Garden Team runs an open Garden Club there once a month as well which is open to all older people. Full details by contacting Sunrise Living on 01252 616657. The next Gardening Club take place on 17 November from 14.30-16.30.

The Forget-Me-Not Café was launched in Hartley Wintney in September and will run from the new St John’s Church Centre on a fortnightly basis on Tuesday afternoons. This a joint venture with the Hartley Wintney Voluntary Care Group. More details by contacting Chris Cornwell on 01252 843251.

The Alzheimer Café meets on the 3rd Friday of the month 19.00-21.00 in Farnborough at St Peter’s Parish Centre, 60 Church Avenue, GU14 7AP. An Alzheimer Café is a gathering of people affected by and/or interested in dementia. Monthly gatherings are for the purpose of education, discussions, exchanging information about dementia, and for opportunities to socialise and meet others. No charge to attend. People and come and go as they please, just like at a café. More details from Hilary Dyce on 07742 699 930 [email protected] or alzheimercafe.co.uk

Weekly Music to Remember sessions run at Odiham Cottage Hospital on Thursday mornings 11.00 -12.30 - call Lynne Ewing on 01256 393604 or see rosefielddaycentre.co.uk (also beneficial for people with other medical conditions such as Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis). Randell House, Fernhill Road, Blackwater, GU17 9HR, 01276 31840 hosts a monthly Garden Club which is open to residents and non-residents and is also run by Minding the Garden. The Club meets on Tuesday mornings and the next 2 sessions are 4 November and 2 December.

page 13 VOXSCHOOL + SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS HAMPSHIRE

Congratulations to Victoria Beebee, who has been selected for the School for Social Entrepreneurs Hampshire this year. Victoria runs VoxSchool and VoxChoir. She will be looking at how she can scale up her work, her passion for singing and VoxChoir activities into a social enterprise which will link music and singing to physical and emotional wellbeing. Details about the next VoxSchool Community Concert below. If you would like to find out more about VoxChoir, please go to the new web-site voxskool.com/wordpress/

The School for Social Entrepreneurs Hampshire is run by Action Hampshire and provides an exciting and challenging programme that brings together people who want to make a difference through enterprise. It’s practical, rather than academic – all that’s required is a good idea and the drive and commitment to make it happen. More information about the School for Social Entrepreneurs by contacting Angela Dunning, SSE Hampshire Co-ordinator on 01962 857388 or see www.actionhampshire.org. page 14 LOCAL EVENTS

Fleet Christmas Festival Wednesday, 26th November 2014

Every year Fleet celebrates the start of the Christmas season with an atmospheric festival on the high street. The Fleet Christmas Festival Team give local not-for-profit organisations the chance to create public awareness and fund raise by having a stall.

Fleet Christmas Festival, which attracted over 14,000 people last year, will include a traditional Christmas market, the new ice rink, live entertainment across 3 stages, Santa’s arrival, switching on of the Christmas lights, a small funfair, as well as the support of the famous TV and West End cast of Fleet’s second professional pantomime.

Many of you joined us for our first ever Fleet Food Festival in May this year and we expect this year’s Christmas event to be bigger and better than ever!

The Fleet Christmas Festival will be open from 2pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday 26th November 2014, with the closure of Fleet Road from midday to allow for businesses and stallholders to set up their stands.

For more information on the Festival visit www.fleetanddistrictfestival.co.uk

Please do come and support this vital charity in its centenary year

The Amazing Royal British Legion Coffee Morning & Sale in aid of THE POPPY APPEAL

is back on Saturday, 8th November 2014 At THE CROSS BARN, ODIHAM from 10.00 - 12.00

Raffle, plants, bookstall - Home made cakes & preserves, Cynthia’s cuddly toys - New & Old treasures from the gift stall IDEAL FOR CHRISTMAS

Please note that:

Hart Voluntary Action will be closed from 12 noon on 24th December 2014 and will re-open on Friday, 2nd January 2015.

All related HVA projects and groups will also be closed during this period.

page 15 HART VOLUNTARY ACTION TEAM

Chief Executive Caroline Winchurch Administrator / Hart Health Walks Co-Ordinator Karen Harrie Financial Controller Jo Cater Mental Health Projects Co-Ordinator Megan Ravenhill Volunteer Centre Development Officer Sue Vincent Minding the Garden (MtG) - Project Officer Guy Clayton MtG - Social & Therapeutic Horticultural Officer Amanda Conlon MtG - Project Administrator Pat Bedford Sunshine & Showers Facilitator & 121 Youth Counsellor Kimberley Wellesley-Wood Database/IT Support Officer Michael Hughes Youth Groups Leader David Hewlett

Young Carers‘ Assistant Heather Jobbins

Hosted by HVA HCC Senior Community Development Officer Amanda Lee

Dates for Your Diary

HVA AGM/Voluntary Sector Forum Monday, 10th November 2014 Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Fleet - 10.00 - 13.00

Voluntary Sector Forum dates for 2015 9th February / 11th May / 6th July / 9th November

Hart Matters is published 3 times each year Deadlines for articles to be included in future editions of Hart Matters

16th January 2015 / 8th May 2015 / 11th September 2015

Contact details: Office opening hours: Monday - Friday 09.00—16.30

Hart Voluntary Action, Civic Offices, Harlington Way, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 4AE Tel: 01252 815652 E-mail: [email protected] Scan the QR code HartVoluntaryAction for the HVA website

Volunteer Centre, First Floor, Hart Shopping Centre, Fleet Tel: 01252 627070 E-mail: [email protected]

HartVolunteerCentre Hart_Volunteers

Web-site www.hartvolaction.org.uk Registered charity no: 1119912 Company no: 5982733 page 16