Tag: Portsmouth

Memories to be placed on trees of remembrance this Christmas

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Residents are being asked to decorate a Christmas tree with memories this year with the iconic firs being placed in more than 60 locations across the south of England.

Southern Co-op is sending special greetings cards to families they have looked after who have lost a loved one this year. The cards include a pop-out star to let their memories shine bright this Christmas.

They are then being invited to place their stars on the memory trees being put up in Southern Co-op branches of The Co-operative Funeralcare throughout December.

These are based in Alton, Andover, Ash Vale, Aylesbury, Basingstoke, Bishops Waltham, Bognor Regis, Bracknell, Brighton, Camberley, Chichester, Cosham, East Cowes, Emsworth, Fareham, Farnborough, Felpham, Fleet, Freshwater, Frome, Gillingham, Gosport, Havant, Hayling Island, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Hove, Liss, Newport, Peacehaven, Portsmouth, Ryde, Sandown, Shaftesbury, Shanklin, Shoreham by Sea, Sturminster Newton, Uckfield, Warminster, Waterlooville, Wendover, Whitchurch, and Worthing.

Trees will also be located at The Oaks Crematorium in Havant and East Devon Crematorium in Whimple.

The trees are open to everyone in order to give them the opportunity to write a personal message to someone who is no longer with them this Christmas.

Lesley Hadley, Bereavement Coordinator from Southern Co-op’s free Bereavement Care service, said: “This is a meaningful way to acknowledge the absence of our loved ones, and make a start on creating new rituals and traditions that will include them.

“If you are finding this time of year hard, remember to be kind to yourself. It’s okay to spend time in quiet contemplation if you would prefer that to being ‘jollied along’ by well-meaning friends and family.

“Give yourself the opportunity to do what makes you feel most comfortable, rather than what others think you should be doing.”

Information on free bereavement support is available on www.bereavementcare.uk.

Young people get a step up on the co-operative career ladder

Posted on by ashleymarsh

As the number of young people in employment remains below pre-pandemic levels*, a regional co-operative is working to kickstart youth employment in its stores, head office and funeral branches.

Southern Co-op is preparing to welcome its third cohort of Kickstarters at the beginning of September – a Government scheme for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

The latest joiners will take the number of people on Kickstart placements to nearly 40.

The placements are spread across Southern Co-op’s head office in Portsmouth and The Co-operative Food and Funeralcare locations in Addlestone, Banstead, Bristol, Camberley, Havant, Lake on the Isle of Wight, Newbury, Overton, Portsmouth, Romsey, Basingstoke, Southampton, Staines, Tadley and Wimbledon.

Sarah Kavanagh, Business Transformation & HR Director at Southern Co-op, said: “Unemployment has been higher in younger age groups for some time and unfortunately this has been exacerbated by the pandemic. It is clear to us that they need additional help now to get back into work or to take the first step toward full time employment.

“The Kickstart Scheme means we look for people aged 16 to 24, with the right attitude, and give them the opportunity to learn new skills whilst being paid.

“We expected it to take a bit of time for some to find their feet and get into the routine of work but, after about three weeks, we have been getting some great feedback. One manager described their new starter as ‘100% amazing’, ‘flexible, keen and willing to try anything’.”

The Kickstart Scheme placements are funded by the Government for 25 hours per week for six months and referrals are made on to the scheme via local Jobcentres.

The job placements provide opportunities to young people who may have been overlooked before due to lack of experience.

In order to help them gain as many skills as possible, Southern Co-op’s programme is also giving young adults a chance to gain a Level One Certificate in Employability Skills which is being run by Havant & South Downs College.

People interested in a Kickstart placement should speak to their local Jobcentre. For other vacancies at Southern Co-op, visit https://www.southernco-opjobs.co.uk/jobs/.

*Youth Unemployment Statistics, 15 July 2021: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN05871/SN05871.pdf

Voucher donation boosts Portsmouth partnership

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A donation of vouchers to a Portsmouth charity has helped people affected by the pandemic to stay independent.

With more than 7,860 requests for support in a 19 week period between March and July, HIVE Portsmouth has been helping vulnerable people to stay safe and fed during lockdown.

Funeral colleagues in Portsmouth heard how hard HIVE and its partners had been working and wanted to do something to help. The area’s Sector Operations Manager, Sue Mawson, rallied support from eight of Southern Co-op’s funeral branches and donated £700 worth of the co-operative’s retail vouchers.

Sue said: “The pandemic has had a horrendous impact on so many people’s lives. There have been people who’ve worked their whole lives and have been suddenly made redundant and are in need of help. The vouchers were our way of helping people to get essentials which they were no longer able to afford such as toothpaste or plasters.

“We also collected up school uniform from our colleagues and donated them to HIVE’s swap shop. It was all in a good condition just grown out of and hopefully helped a lot of families in the area as they prepared to go back to school. Thank you to our colleagues in Copnor, Rowner, North End, Eastney, Southsea, Fratton, Paulsgrove and Somerstown who have helped.”

HIVE Portsmouth’s initial emergency response was based around helping vulnerable people to stay safe at home, through the provision of food parcels, essential medicines, prescription collection and welfare check calls.

In conjunction with many partner organisations, HIVE oversaw the provision of over 6,000 hot meals, 3,000 food parcels, 4,500 prescriptions and 15,000 well being checks to those that were anxious, scared or lonely.

Julie Hawkins, Strategic Partnership Lead at HIVE, said: “The vouchers have been wonderful in keeping aside and making easily available when needed. In a couple of cases they’ve been used to obtain shopping for people who were unable to get out. We have concentrated on families to date requiring support and the vouchers have enabled people to remain in control of the food they choose to buy which is important for self esteem and independence.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others, and it has really felt that the whole city has been supporting the response. We are very grateful for everyone’s contributions and support and know that the recipients of the vouchers will have valued being able to choose their own shopping, which represents a return to ‘normality’ which is great.”

To support HIVE Portsmouth with its online development, Southern Co-op has also made a donation of £10,000.

With national headlines continuing to focus on the economic down turn, HIVE Portsmouth is welcoming further donations to help support those worried about job security, debt, bereavement or shielding.

People are invited to get in touch via www.hiveportsmouth.org.uk or to make a financial donation via Paypal through a button on its website.

For more information on Southern Co-op’s commitment to support local communities, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/love-your-neighbourhood/.

Sleeping bags and toiletries needed for Havant’s homeless

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Residents are being asked to dig deep into the backs of their cupboards and donate any unwanted goods to help the homeless.

Help for Havant Homeless is a non-profit organisation currently collecting donations to help support the homeless in the Havant borough council area.

To help with the donations, Southern Co-op’s funeral branch in Leigh Park has set up a collection point which colleagues hope to keep open throughout the winter and into 2021.

Help for Havant Homeless is looking for donations which will help the homeless through the cold months such as sleeping bags, toiletries and torches.

Charlene Price, a community volunteer, said: “So far the public have been fantastic. We’ve had lots of donations and are needing help in keeping the donations coming in, especially items such as tinned food and petrol as it involves a lot of driving around. It’s been a real team effort with founders Lisa and Jason Martin and Rio on social media.

“We have local business people helping and the kindness and generosity of people have been amazing such as Heidis in Emsworth which donates food it is unable to keep for the next day.

“If anyone is aware of a homeless person in the Havant Borough Council area it would be great for us to be notified, then we can go out and have a chat with them to see if we can help in any way, even if it’s just to hand out food to them. We will soon be working alongside Two Saints which supports people who are homeless, vulnerable or at risk of becoming homeless.”

Help for Havant Homeless delivers a hot meal three times a week plus anything else they need, such as a tent.

Petrol can be donated via Tesco gift cards and goods donations can be made Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm at The Co-operative Funeralcare – Leigh Park, at 224 Dunsbury Way.

Rachel Cast, Funeral Co-ordinator at the branch which is part of Southern Co-op – the regional co-operative, said: “I wanted to get involved to help out in our local community and actually to make a difference to someone who needs it.

“The donations will be really positive and hopefully help the people who need it most.”

Specific requests for Help for Havant Homeless are currently put on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Help-for-Havant-Homeless-115572733622637/ or questions can be emailed to helpforthehomeless@outlook.com.

Colleagues get back to nature during lockdown

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Pam Beeby based in Fareham

Funeral colleagues in and around Portsmouth have walked, run and jumped nearly 1,000 miles in a bid to beat the lockdown blues.

The area’s manager at Southern Co-op set the challenge for her colleagues to take them outside of their comfort zone. But even she was surprised at how far they could push themselves.

Nine colleagues, based at local branches of The Co-operative Funeralcare, took part and the winner was Sally Cornwell who walked 123 miles in June compared to just four miles in March.

To celebrate their success, a donation of £200 will be made to Portsmouth in the Community – Sally’s charity of choice and two £50 donations will go to two other local charities for the runners up.

Julie Feist with Jeanette Battersby-Wilcox

Sally, who works at branch in Fratton, said: “Not only do I feel better in myself, I also got to spend a lot of time with hubby and boys as they joined me on most walking occasions which was wonderful. I shall continue to do what I have done in June as its much better than going to the gym.”

Even the area’s Sector Operations Manager, Sue Mawson, got involved and exhausted herself by running 180 miles.

James Smith, who works in Rowner, went from walking 10 miles in May to 90 miles in June.

James said: “We have made friends with some dog walkers (and a particularly energetic little terrier), been attacked by spiky bushes, and learned the days that the local mental health facility does its own walks around and about.

“It has definitely helped keep me and [my partner] Dan sane during June to be getting out and about and we expect it to continue, at least while the weather is nice.”

Sue Mawson Sector Operations Manager

Other colleagues who took part were Julie Feist, based in Southsea – who walked 36 miles with her dogs to every single local branch, Pam Beeby, based in Fareham – who completed 131 miles doing 47 different activities and reducing her alcohol intake to zero, Sharon Whitford, based in North End – who walked 150,000 steps, Stacey Wilson, based in Fareham – who dropped a dress size, Jo Pitman, based in Southsea – who walked 100 miles, and Kyela Trivet, based in Gosport – who walked a total of 361,725 steps.

Claire McGinty, Regional Operations Manager at Southern Co-op, said: “All of the participants are winners in my eyes. We all agreed that everyone did amazingly, not only by participating in the challenge, but for doing something out of their comfort zone.

“It was so lovely to read what each colleague did as part of the challenge and to read that friends were made with local dog walkers, families spent more time together and that the local wild life was explored! We are still in uncertain times so to see that this challenge has helped colleagues feel better is just incredible.”

For more ideas on improving your health and connecting with nature, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/love-your-neighbourhood/how-you-can-help-your-local-community-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/.

South coast bereavement centre supports thousands of people in 20 years

Posted on by ashleymarsh

A free bereavement care service is celebrating its 20th anniversary after touching the lives of more than 59,200 people.

The Bereavement Centre, part of the regional co-operative Southern Co-op, was the brainchild of one of its colleagues who worked in its Co-operative Funeralcare services.

After 24 years at Southern Co-op and The Co-operative Funeralcare, Ingrid McAllister-Derry knew there was a need to offer an aftercare service and emotional support for colleagues.

Her boss Steve Pearce, now the Chief Operating Officer for End of Life Services at Southern Co-op, agreed and The Bereavement Centre was launched on May 15 2000.

Ingrid, who is now The Bereavement Manager Care Liaison Officer, said: “It was quite pioneering. I had to learn things as we went along and became a professionally-qualified counsellor.

Ingrid McAllister-Derry in 1994

“We grew the service over the years to offer one-to-one bereavement support for anyone in the community – not just for people who had used our funeral services at The Co-operative Funeralcare. After 11 years, we recruited a bereavement co-ordinator and now have a team of five.”

The Bereavement Centre now provides free support for people suffering with grief and loss face-to-face or via online services such as Skype across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex and select areas of Berkshire, Dorset, Surrey and Wiltshire.

This has also helped to take some pressure off other local mental health services that have long waiting times.

Ingrid McAllister-Derry and Ang Higgins

The team also works with key workers including carers, doctors, nurses and teachers through training sessions to coach them on the practicalities of dealing with a death and loss of any kind. This includes helping medical professionals understand how to help grieving families and give the best bedside manner and support to those suffering.

Steve Pearce said: “Over the past 20 years, Ingrid and her team have supported 24,960 people at their educational sessions and have given wellbeing support to 26,859 people. The help they have provided for people has been invaluable.

“During the current pandemic, the help they have given families and to colleagues has been second-to-none. What was once just an idea, has grown into something that hundreds of people rely on. Thank you Ingrid for everything you and your team have achieved.”

In 2004, Ingrid started a friendship group in Portsmouth, which is still running now with around 35 members.

The team now runs nine Wellbeing support groups in Andover, Bognor Regis, Clayton (near Hassocks), Fareham, Farnborough, Frome, Peacehaven, Portsmouth and Sandown.

It also holds additional workshops covering subjects such as anxiety and loss, resilience, multicultural, mental health and mindfulness. For businesses that need something more bespoke, they can create a workshop to suit these needs as well.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the team has been supporting nursing homes and care in the community as well as giving people virtual help during lockdown with telephone support to the bereaved and care professionals.

Ingrid said: “Part of Southern Co-op’s values is about giving back to the communities in which we serve. How better can this be demonstrated than by providing a free bereavement service for 20 years?

“We believe passionately about giving something back and have quietly done this for all these years. It’s been a real privilege.”

To find out more or to get support, call 08081691922, email info@thebereavementcentre.co.uk or visit www.bereavementcentre.co.uk/.

Donation helps a mother’s campaign to get people talking about drugs

Posted on by ashleymarsh

A mother, whose daughter tragically died after taking drugs at a festival, has high hopes for the new year as a financial boost will allow her to continue spreading her important message.

Since she lost her daughter in 2018, Janine Milburn has been working hard to get more people talking about drugs in a bid that others’ lives might be saved.

Janine, who works full time at a care home near Chichester, has spent the last year talking at various groups about her campaign ‘Georgia Jones Don’t Go With The Flo’ which looks at harm reduction and related topics such as peer pressure in teenagers.

She wants to keep these talks free and available to everyone but she is reliant on donations and has just received £500 from The Co-operative Funeralcare in Leigh Park.

Tracy Newman, Funeral Co-ordinator at the branch which is part of Southern Co-op, said: “Janine is an incredibly inspiring woman and she is so dedicated to what she is doing. My colleague Rachel Cast supported her with her daughter’s funeral and we’ve followed her campaign over the last year.

“We hope the donation will enable her to continue spreading important information about drugs. If just one life is saved then it has been worth it.”

Janine recently spoke at Hayling College and said the response from pupils and teachers was absolutely brilliant.

She also has some exciting news which she hopes to reveal in the next few months which will enable her to get the message to even more school children across the county.

Janine said: “I have spent a lot of time talking and waiting and making sure what I offer fits into what schools need to educate their pupils safely. There is a fine line between educating kids and putting ideas into their heads.

“In the last 18 months I have learnt so much. The more I have delved into it, the more I have realised there isn’t the resources out there.

Janine Milburn

There are just a handful of people like me.

“There’s a lot of people who just don’t want to talk about drugs but Portsmouth is one of the worst cities in England for drug related deaths. A lot of dealers are selling through social media. It’s scary.

“You get a lot of people who say it’s their own fault as they knew what they were doing. Georgia thought she knew what she was doing but she didn’t have a clue. They all think they are invincible.

“MDMA when it its purest form can be dangerous but it’s also a drug that gets mixed with dangerous things. The more people talk about it, the more they can learn.”

Full details of the campaign can be found on Facebook via https://www.facebook.com/flos2018/.

For further details on Southern Co-op’s community investment programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/makingadifference/.

Summer Fun Day in Copnor

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Live music, family activities and a Disney princess are all coming together in Copnor for a Summer Fun Day in aid of a local charity.

The whole community is invited to join in with family friendly activities on Wednesday 28 August at The Baffins Pub in 127 Tangier Road, in Portsmouth.

From 1pm there will be live entertainment provided by Lisa Marie from the soul, Motown and pop duo The Estelles – who is also organising the event in her daytime role as a funeral co-ordinator.

Lisa Legg, aka Lisa Marie, works at The Co-operative Funeralcare in Copnor and is holding the event with Sharon Wallen, Leader of Not Forgotten.

The event will be raising money for Not Forgotten which gives local residents over 60 a place to socialise and remove isolation.

The member numbers have grown from five to 20 and activities range from a regular lunch club to day trips and pub quizzes.

The group is open to everyone and Sharon is hoping to raise money to help with transport for those less able.

Lisa Legg, from the Copnor branch which is part of Southern Co-op – the independent, regional co-operative, said: “I first heard about the charity Not Forgotten when I put out an appeal for community groups to get in touch who needed support – something all Southern Co-op colleagues are encouraged to do.

“As soon as I saw what the group does for local people, I knew I had to be more involved. I regularly help out at their lunch group and have donated cushions to make the chairs more comfortable.

“One of the great things about the group is that no one is excluded as even those who are under 60 are invited to join in and volunteer their time to help.”

The Summer Fun Day will include a visit from a Disney princess, Moana, around 2pm when she will be singing and signing autographs – with thanks to Gold events.

There will also be a raffle and a children’s colouring competition.

The event is not ticketed and organisers are asking for a small donation to attend – minimum of £1.

To support the charity’s members, The Baffins Pub is also kindly offering meals to members of Not Forgotten for just £3.

To find out more visit The Co‑operative Funeralcare in Copnor at 65 Tangier Road, call 02392 698362 or email CopnorFuneral@southerncoops.co.uk.

Click here to find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to making a difference.

First donations made to Legs4Africa

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Thanks to the generosity of bereaved families, two prosthetic legs are on their way to amputees living in some of the poorest countries in the world.

The donations mark the start of a new connection with Southern Co-op’s funeral homes in and around Portsmouth and the charity Legs4Africa.

Spearheaded by a funeral co-ordinator in Portsmouth, Jan Saidy became aware of the charity’s appeal for support and believed there would be a number of families who would like to help others after the death of their loved one.

Colleagues at The Co-operative Funeralcare branches across the region are now making families aware of the scheme and two prosthetics have already been donated by local families.

Jan, at Southern Co-op’s Somerstown branch, said: “We often forget how lucky we are in the UK so it is really humbling to know that there are families who are willing to share such a precious gift.

“Healthcare providers may not accept the prosthetics back so by donating them to Legs4Africa they can be sent to mobility centres in low income African countries where they are used to custom build prosthetic legs.”

Approximately 30 percent of the prosthetics given to Legs4Africa come from donations from bereaved families. All donations are made with the explicit consent of each family.

Tom Williams, Founder of Legs4Africa, said: “A leg might just be the best legacy someone could ever leave behind. By donating a prosthetic, you can give someone in another country the chance to get back on their feet and be independent again.”

To find out more about Legs4Africa visit www.legs4africa.org.

Pre-school gets life-saving defibrillator

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After three months of fundraising, a Portsmouth pre-school has installed a life-saving defibrillator in memory of a volunteer.

More than £1,000 was raised for the device including £250 from The Co-operative Funeralcare in North End – part of the regional, independent co-operative, Southern Co-op.

Parade Community Preschool, in North End, decided to raise the money to install the equipment after volunteer, Stephen Urry, died suddenly of a heart attack in November.

Funeral Co-ordinators Emily Warden and Nicki Button spotted the appeal on Facebook and decided to get involved.

Emily said: “We obviously come into contact with a lot of bereaved families and it just seemed right and apt that we get involved with this project. The school is local to us and the defibrillator will benefit our community.

“The fact that the project came from one of the school staff losing her husband to a sudden heart attack really pulled on my heart strings.

“The staff there were so grateful. When I phoned the manager to tell her we wanted to donate she cried. It was a really nice feeling knowing we were making a difference.”

The defibrillator was installed in March and is also accessible to Northern Parade Junior School and the nearby Family Hub.

The donation was made as part of Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ which addresses four key social themes – promoting greener, healthier, safer, and more inclusive neighbourhoods.

To find out more about ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’, click here.