Tag: West Sussex

Garden grows stronger in Emsworth

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Friends of a memorial garden in Emsworth have been gifted with a donation for new flowers, plants and tools.

Colleagues from Emsworth’s Co-operative Funeralcare branch in North Street visited the memorial garden this week to make a donation of £200.

Situated on the southeast corner of Emsworth Jubilee Recreation Ground off Horndean Road, Emsworth’s Memorial Garden was first opened in 2006 after a suggestion was made by a well known resident of Emsworth – Harold Groom.

Several members of the community subsequently campaigned for a public war memorial which covered World War I, World War II and other conflicts.

Friends of Emsworth Memorial Garden help to maintain the garden as well as a range of other activities including holding regular work sessions to maintain and develop the garden.

Volunteers are invited to join the regular maintenance session which is held on the second Monday of each month from 10am to 12pm.

Annie McKnight, Funeral Co-ordinator at the Emsworth branch – part of Southern Co-op, said: “This memorial garden provides a really essential space and is an important part of our community.

“Being part of a regional, independent co-operative, we do our best to support our local community and it is special when we get to support projects like this. We hope it will continue to provide a place of calm and reflection for many years to come.”

The purpose of the Emsworth Memorial Garden is to give people of all faiths, or none, a tranquil place for them to reflect in their own way and honour those local heroes who have given their lives in the cause of justice and peace.

It includes a Memorial Roll with the names of 234 Emsworth war dead engraved on plaques and a sculpture of ‘absence’ in its centre.

Maurice Clarke, from Friends of Emsworth Memorial Garden, said: “A service for all is held every year in the garden on Armistice Day – the 11th November at 11am.

“Everyone is invited to the service which is attended by local dignitaries, members of the Armed Forces, representatives of the emergency services, together with local schools and members of the public.”

To find out more about the Friends of Emsworth Memorial Garden, visit www.emsworthmemorialgarden.org.uk.

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

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

An act of kindness has a knock-on effect in West Sussex

Posted on by ashleymarsh

A Bognor defibrillator donated by local co-operative colleagues has led to life-saving devices being installed in five other centres.

The Laburnum Centre in Lyon Street approached The Co-operative Funeralcare branch in North Bersted earlier this year to see if it could help fund a new defibrillator.

The centre is an over 50s activity hub in Bognor run by Age UK West Sussex and it holds more than 80 classes a week for members.

With nearly 1,200 members, the co-operative colleagues were only too happy to help and joined up with their colleagues in Rose Green and Felpham to donate £950.

Angela Austin, Funeral Co-ordinator at the North Bersted branch – part of Southern Co-op, said: “The centre is absolutely brilliant. It’s a real hub. Being part of a regional, independent co-operative, we do our best to support our local community through donations or volunteering so this was a perfect fit as the centre makes a difference to so many people.

“We are lucky to have this centre at Bognor so we were delighted to be able to help them like they help so many others.”

The defibrillator is now in place at the Laburnum Centre where Southern Co-op’s Bereavement Centre has also been holding free monthly support groups since June 2018.

Activities at the hub include painting, calligraphy, digital photography, mahjong, crib, bridge, bingo, family history classes, Tai Chi, dance, yoga, circuit training and walking football to name a few.

Sarah Smith, Bognor Regis Manager for Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, said: “We also have a thriving gym which is increasing in members on a daily basis. We have a group of key staff and volunteers who are always in the gym so nobody is left to their own devices so people feel very safe and confident in their work out sessions.

“Due to the growing numbers in our gym and exercise classes over time we thought it was prudent to try and get a defibrillator. We approached the Southern Co-op as we have always had a fantastic working relationship with Angela and the team and she was sure she could put forward the idea and get us some help. And the rest is history.

“When we advised our head office of the money we would soon be receiving from Southern Co-op to purchase the defibrillator, it started alarm bells ringing. My boss, Gary Hardley put forward that all his activity centres should really have one of these bits of kit on site. Head office agreed and have secured funding for equipment for the Crawley, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Adur and Arun centres.

“This is great news for all concerned. Thank you to the Southern Co-op for starting the ball rolling.”

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

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

Charity quiz returns to help tackle poverty

Posted on by ashleymarsh

After raising nearly £1,000 for charity in 2018, a quiz is returning to Bognor Regis to continue to tackle the town’s poverty.

Being organised by The Co-operative Funeralcare branches in Rose Green, Bognor Regis and Felpham, colleagues are holding the quiz to raise money for The Bognor Regis Lions Club – Wenceslas Appeal.

The appeal is aimed at helping people get out of fuel poverty during the winter.

Lindsey Booker, Funeral Co-ordinator, said: “The night is more than just a few answers on a blank sheet of paper. It includes a fish and chips supper as well as the chance to win some amazing prizes in a raffle.

“Last year’s was so much fun. We couldn’t have hoped for better. We raised so much essential funding for the appeal and the feedback we had was really positive.

“It is such an incredibly important issue that we want to help to fight. Being able to turn your heating on when you get cold should not be a luxury.”

The funeral homes are part of the regional, independent co-operative – Southern Co-op which encourages its colleagues to hold fundraisers, make donations and volunteer as part of its community engagement programme.

Earlier this year, the local funeralcare colleagues teamed together to wash cars for The Bognor Regis Lions Club – Wenceslas Appeal and raised £178 in total.

The charity quiz and supper is being held on Saturday 12 October at 7pm in the Rowland Rank Centre, at 205 Aldwick Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 3QG.

Tickets are £10 per person including food with four to six people per team. Individuals are welcome.

Places can be booked at any of the three Southern Co-op funeral branches in Rose Green, Bognor Regis and Felpham. Click here to find your nearest branch details.

Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

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

Get your wheels washed for charity

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Colleagues at funeral homes Bognor Regis are dusting off their rags ready for a charity car wash on Saturday 6 July.

Last year £180 was raised by colleagues at The Co-operative Funeralcare thanks to donations from queues of cars eagerly waiting for a summer clean.

Cars and vans of all shapes and sizes are once again invited to the charity car wash to help raise funds for The Bognor Regis Lions Club – Wenceslas Appeal.

The Bognor Regis Lions Club – Wenceslas Appeal is aimed at helping people get out of fuel poverty during the winter.

Amy White, Funeral Co-ordinator at The Co-operative Funeralcare in Bognor, said: “We are really lucky to have such a large forecourt at our sister branch in Rose Green which means we can line up lots of vehicles for a spit and polish.

“Everyone worked really hard last year so we know it is not going to be an easy ride but the cause is worth the effort. We look forward to seeing lots of friendly faces again on the day!”

The three funeral homes taking part are based in Rose Green, Felpham and North Bersted and are part of the regional, independent co-operative, Southern Co-op.

They support a number of local community groups such as the Wenceslas Appeal through Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme.

The programme, ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’, addresses four key social themes for promoting ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

Amy added: “In the middle of summer, it is easy to forget about the struggles people face when it gets colder but this is a cause we need to support all year around. People shouldn’t have to make a choice between food or heat.”

The charity car wash will take place on Saturday 6 July between 10am and 1pm at The Co-operative Funeralcare, at no.6 Nyetimber Lane, Rose Green.

Small cars will be asked for a £5 donation and large cars/vans will be asked for a £10 donation.

To find out more about the Love Your Neighbourhood scheme, click here.