New Home-Start Uttlesford Newsletter published - March 2010
We are pleased to present the fourth issue of the Home-Start Uttlesford newsletter.

This issue says a very warm farewell to Pat Taylor on her retirement. Pat will be greatly missed by her colleagues, management committee, families and volunteers and we all wish her an enjoyable and well deserved retirement.

Read the Newsletter here.

Home-Start Annual Report 2008-09.

The Home-Start Uttlesford Annual Report 2008-2009 can be downloaded from the site. The Report provides an overview of activities last year and as the Chairman reports:

"Home-start Uttlesford was conceived and set up 25 years ago, the first AGM being held on September 25th 1984 so it is a privilege to be Chair in this Silver Jubilee Year. Congratulations to Linda Robinson, who completed 25 years service with us in March and Christine Grierson, who completed 10 years in May. I would like to thank Elfreda Tealby-Watson for her commitment as previous Chair, particularly for her work ..."

Download the Annual Report here

SILVER SPECTACULAR to celebrate 25 years of local children’s and families Charity Home-start Uttlesford

A Summer Ball was held on September 19th to celebrate the achievement of 25years continuous service and support to families with young children in our community We are grateful to Lt Col David Southall of 33 Regiment (EOD), Carver Barracks, Wimbish, for giving us permission to use the wonderful Sergeant’s Mess to host this special event. Thank you to all the Army staff, including the catering staff, for contributing to the success of the evening, and to Michael Findlay’s Band CRISIS who provided music for dancing

As well as past Chairs of Trustees, Volunteers, Staff, our Friends, families and other supporters, we were honoured with the presence of Saffron Walden Town Mayor, Mr Doug Perry and his wife, and the Vice Chair of UDC, Mrs Sue Schneider and Mr Schneider.

Linda Robinson, who has coordinated the work of the scheme during those 25 years was present. She said “The scheme opened on March 4th 1984 and has been training volunteers and supporting families with young children who find managing everyday life stressful, isolating or difficult. Each year as many as 100 families and over 200 children benefit from the support of a volunteer in their home and the opportunity to join one of our two family groups, go on a summer outing, attend a special Christmas party and do the things that many of us take for granted” “We are now looking forward to the next 25 years: As our first Chair of Trustees, Jill Lloyd, said in sending her congratulations to us “Home-start will always be needed”.

Many thanks to those who supported us at the event.  Full details of these can be found here >

Home-start Uttlesford says Thank You to the UDC Community Fund

We have been fortunate to be given a grant of £2000 from this year’s UDC Community Fund.

It is 25 years since Home-start was set up in Uttlesford, and as we celebrate out Silver Jubilee we have reflected that there are still, and maybe always will be, families with children under five in our communities that are finding life as parents difficult.   This year we have supported over 100 Mums who are isolated in our pretty villages, can’t get to shops and services easily, find themselves alone as parents or lack confidence to go out of their homes.    Our volunteers visit regularly, usually weekly, and give support to them and their children.   This money from the UDC will allow us to recruit more volunteers and run a preparation course so that more families can be given support. Thank you for ensuring that Home-start will continue.

Contact us for more information on Home-start and our new volunteer course starting on October 5th.

Linda Robinson - Senior Co-ordinator
Helen Wood - Chair of Trustees

H

ome-Start Uttlesford 100 Club

Joining the 100 Club is a great way to help Home-Start in the simplest possible way. For the sum of £1.00 per month you will be allocated a number which will be entered into a monthly draw. Each month there are 3 cash prizes. 50% of subscriptions are returned in prize money and the remainder is donated to Home-Start Uttlesford, to enable the staff and volunteers to help more families.

With 100 members the monthly top prize would be £25.00 and the amount contributed to Home-Start Uttlesford would be £600 per year.

To join, just fill in the information on the attached form, and return it to the Home-Start office.

100 Club winners 2009

March - Mrs E. M. Whitehead, Annette Daniel,
Christine Grierson
April - Sally Hearne, Annette Daniel,
Clare Anstead
May Pru Lambert, Jean Schofield, Jenny Smith
June Sheila Chambers, John Whitehead, Jim Duvall
July Helen Wood, Mr P Murphy, Tony Vernon