Tag: volunteer

Supported housing gets a spruce-up

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Individuals in Bognor were given the gift of a newly refurbished home in time for the new year thanks to help from some local present-givers.

Volunteers from The Co-operative Funeralcare branches in Rose Green, North Bersted and Felpham swapped their uniforms for less formal attire to help Stonepillow with one of its supported accommodation houses in Bognor.

Stonepillow is a homeless charity for the Chichester and Arun Districts and offers shelter, information and support to homeless and vulnerable individuals.

Amy White, Funeral Co-ordinator at The Co-operative Funeralcare in Chichester Road, North Bersted, said: “It was an incredibly wet and dreary day but it didn’t matter because we knew that a bit of elbow grease might give a lift to someone who needed it.

“Our funeral branches are all part of Southern Co-op and we are supported to make a difference to our community through fundraising or volunteering. But it is charities like Stonepillow that are the real heroes.

“Stonepillow makes a real impact on the lives of people on their journey out of homelessness. Thank you.”

Laura Bulbeck, PR & Events Manager at Stonepillow, said: “Christmas can be an especially difficult time for people who are homeless and we are so grateful for the support we receive from the local community. We would like to say a huge thank you to The Co-operative Funeralcare team for brightening up one of our properties.”

To find out more about how you can help visit www.stonepillow.org.uk.

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ aims to help communities become greener, healthier, safer and more inclusive.

To find out more about Southern Co-op’s commitment to making a difference, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/makingadifference/.

Bus of ‘Hope’ gets a new look

Posted on by ashleymarsh

A lick of paint has transformed a community bus in Southwick thanks to a talented funeral co-ordinator.

Answering an animal call for help, Thomas Parfitt from The Co-operative Funeralcare in Frome spent five days transforming the bus at Hope Nature Centre in Southwick.

The bus, which had been generously donated by the More Bus Group, is now adorned with animals of all shapes and sizes and will be used at the centre as part of its work to train people with learning disabilities in animal care and catering skills.

The bus will be converted into a venue for school groups and birthday parties and an events space for the nature centre and its customers.

Thomas said: “One of my colleagues knew about my passion and forwarded me the appeal for an artist. The funeral home where I work is part of a regional co-operative, Southern Co-op, which has a whole programme dedicated to supporting local communities so it wasn’t hard to persuade my colleagues to donate £300 for the materials and paint.

“As soon as I got the green light, on my days off, I started painting. I used all the animals that are in the farm as references and popped a cartoon twist on them. It’s all painted using spray paints – no brushes or pens.

“The bus is now stood as the Hope Hub – an area that is going to be used as an information and learning tool. It is really great to make such a difference to the centre and those who use it.”

The added space is expected to have a huge impact on the local schools and communities, and a programme of events and activities planned for 2019.

Director of HR at Hope Nature Centre, Clair Beaty-Pownall, said: “We were incredibly grateful for the donation of the bus to Hope Nature Centre and we are delighted that it has been completely transformed.

“After securing funding to have the interior stripped we then needed an exterior ‘make over’. The bus now looks amazing and we know that it will have a very positive impact, not only on the centre, but on the local community, who will be able to enjoy this exciting additional space for many years to come!”

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ addresses four key social themes – promoting greener, healthier, safer, and more inclusive neighbourhoods.

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

Local Read Easy group gets a funding boost

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Adults who struggle with reading in Gillingham and Shaftesbury will be getting a new set of books thanks to a donation from a local co-operative.

Elizabeth and Rosalind from Read Easy with Suzanne Smith

Colleagues at The Co-operative Funeralcare, in Shaftesbury, have been regularly supporting Read Easy Gillingham and Shaftesbury through use of their conference room.

And they were so impressed by the work of the local group that they have also donated £200 to buy a new set of reading manuals.

Read Easy is a not-for-profit organisation that recruits, trains and supports volunteers to give free one-to-one help to adults who find reading difficult for any reason.

The local project covers Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Wincanton, Sherborne and the surrounding villages.

Co-ordinator for the local group, Jenny, said: “It is estimated that one in six adults in the UK struggles, or lacks confidence, with reading.

“Read Easy is flexible and confidential to learn at your own pace with a volunteer coach to help. Currently we have twenty four adults enrolled with two more starting soon.

“The recent donation has been used to buy one complete set of reading manuals and books as well as two books of worksheets used for improving reading and writing fluency a total of 37 books altogether – this is so much appreciated, thank you very much to our friends at Southern Co-op.“

The Shaftesbury funeral branch, part of the regional, independent co-operative Southern Co-op, has also inspired their sister branch in Gillingham to provide a meeting point for the group.

Suzanne Smith, Southern Co-op’s Funeral Co-ordinator in Shaftesbury, said: “Local groups like this make such a difference to our community. The impact that the volunteers have on people’s lives is invaluable. We are proud to support them.”

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

To find out more about ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’, visit www.southernco-op.co.uk/makingadifference. To find out more about Read Easy or if you know someone who would like help to read you, contact 07748 977 330 or visit www.readeasy.org.uk.