Tag: Widley

Remembrance windows honouring our fallen servicemen

Posted on by ashleymarsh
The Co-operative Funeralcare – Cowplain

The importance of Remembrance Day is being brandished in the windows of funeral homes across the south of England thanks to help from children, communities and colleagues.

To mark 100 years of the Royal British Legion, Southern Co-op is making a donation of £5,000 and is encouraging its funeral colleagues to mark the anniversary with bold window displays.

At The Co-operative Funeralcare – Cowplain, children from St Peter’s Catholic School in Waterlooville have painstakingly painted 930 memory stones to remember the 930 people killed in Portsmouth during the Blitz. A further 2,837 were injured and more than 6,000 properties were destroyed.

The Co-operative Funeralcare – Widley

Jackie Duthie, Cowplain Funeral Co-ordinator, said: “The children from Year Six have created the beautiful poppies that we have cascading down on the outside of the window. Out of lots of small crosses the children have also created this wonderful large cross, which looks so poignant and so effective.

“They will be coming along to the branch on Wednesday at 11am to hand out their memory stones to the community in Cowplain. Remembrance Day gives people the chance to remember those who fought and lost their lives during the war and to honour their memory.

“With fewer and fewer living survivors, it’s even more important than ever to remember the sacrifice’s these people made for our country. Teaching our children about the importance of Remembrance Day will keep the memories of these soldiers and brave individuals alive now and in the future.”

At The Co-operative Funeralcare – Widley, Mayor of Havant Councillor Rosy Raines helped to judge the poppy pictures created by children at Purbrook Junior School aged seven to 11 years. All of the children received a certificate for their efforts.

The Co-operative Funeralcare – Peacehaven

Linda Docherty, Widley Funeral Co-ordinator, said: “I am truly blessed to have such wonderful children help me in my display. I have also had a lady knit a poppy wreath for me and another lady made a cross with a poppy helmet which is absolutely amazing.”

At The Co-operative Funeralcare with Caring Lady – Peacehaven, Funeral Co-ordinator Kerry Tester incorporated the original helmet of her grandfather.

Kerry said: “The tin hat is original and was my Grandad’s from the Second World War. I am very proud to be able to display my late grandfather Harold Roberts’ hat in our window as my earliest memories of him were when he would get us to ‘build’ the poppies that he brought home from The Royal British Legion in September ready to sell in time for Remembrance Day.”

At The Co-operative Funeralcare – Farnborough, they have been overwhelmed by the artwork they have had in from the local infant, junior and nursery schools

Anne Whitehouse, Farnborough Funeral Co-ordinator, said: “We designed various simple poppy posters and sent out emails to local infant, junior and nursery schools asking if they would like to colour, paint or collage them for us to display in our window.

The Co-operative Funeralcare – Farnborough

“We had no idea what a fantastic response we would get! The window shows all the amazing posters that have come back to us, so many that they had to be displayed back to back, which just means we get a fabulous wall of poppies to look at on the inside too.”

Southern Co-op’s colleagues will be marking the important day with a minute’s silence including at its local retail stores.

To find your nearest Southern Co-op funeral branch, visit www.funeralcare.co.uk/our-funeral-directors/location-map/.

 

Purbrook mum is on a mission to help local families in need

Posted on by ashleymarsh

After collecting stacks of donated uniforms to help struggling families, a Widley funeral co-ordinator is now turning her hand to food donations.

Linda Docherty has been working at Southern Co-op for over two years and recently moved to its branch of The Co-operative Funeralcare in Widley.

She had barely got her feet under the table before she started encouraging local groups to apply for funding available which led to Purbrook Mother and Toddler Group receiving a £500 donation.

In a thank you letter to Linda, the group said it will help towards rent, insurance, equipment and snack costs and enable them to keep running the group for local families for many months to come.

But Linda wasn’t content and soon paired up with Care and Share Waterlooville – a drop off/pick up point in Waterlooville for essential items that people struggle to afford in difficult times.

Rachel and Jamie from Care and Share Waterlooville said: “Thanks to Linda at the Widley branch of The Co-operative Funeralcare, she helped us at a time when we were super busy with our normal workload of help bank requests by becoming a drop off point for used and new school uniforms.

“The uniform items kindly delivered to us by Linda have been made available for families with children struggling, not just to afford the items, but also to find them with shops and local outlets running out of many items during the post COVID-19/Brexit driver shortage.”

Linda has now turned her attention to food and has set up a donation point in the branch in London Road to make it easy for people to drop off in the local area.

Linda, 54, said: “What an absolute achievement the uniform donations have been. People actually went out and bought uniforms to donate them.

“Being Purbrook born and bred, I want nothing more than to help those less fortunate than myself. I have been less fortunate than others as a single mum of three – now with two grandchildren.

“When you’ve been there and been in that situation then you know what it’s like not to have enough money for uniform or not enough food in the cupboards.

“Working for Southern Co-op has given me more of an opportunity and it’s the icing on the cake that the co-operative like you to help your community. People are always behind me whatever I have come up with which is amazing and I hope it is bringing some life back into Widley.”

Care and Share Waterlooville is currently looking for donations of tinned beans and sausages, hot dog sausages, coffee, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, washing up liquid, bleach and scouring pads. All donations are gratefully received.

To get in touch with Care and Share Waterlooville regarding support, email careandsharewaterlooville@outlook.com or via its Facebook page www.facebook.com/Care-and-Share-Waterlooville-107127284558223.

Or for more information on funding from Southern Co-op’s Love Your Neighbourhood programme, visit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk/love-your-neighbourhood/.

Donation to benefit children with serious health challenges

Posted on by ashleymarsh

Two children with serious health challenges will be able to have a memorable and life-changing week of fun at a residential camp next year thanks to a donation from a regional co-operative.

The Havant-based charity, Over The Wall, originally approached The Co-operative Funeralcare in Widley for a donation of £50 to buy some cakes to help with fundraising.

When Community Fundraising Officer, Judith Meagher, phoned the funeral home to ask about the money, Funeral Co-ordinator Rianne Rose gave her the news that they weren’t donating £50 – they were instead going to donate £1,350.

Karen Willmett, Funeral Co-ordinator, said: “I’d been talking about the charity with a colleague at another one of our branches, also part of Southern Co-op, and they said they wanted to help with the donation to Over The Wall. Before I knew it, they all wanted to contribute which meant a total of £1,350.

“It’s such a special cause that everyone wants to help out. We heard how the children have such serious health challenges that many of them find it hard just to make friends.

“It’s not just funding these activity camps for free… it is everything that is involved from medical staff to refrigeration units for medication. We are so happy to hear that our donation will make a real difference.”

Nine funeral branches from Southern Co-op made up the final donation of £1,350 including The Co-operative Funeralcare in Widley, Hayling Island, Leigh Park, Emsworth, Cowplain, Cosham and Waterlooville.

Over The Wall has increased the numbers of campers attending its free residential activity camps for seriously ill children from 260 in 2010 to 867 in 2018, with plans to reach 1,500 by 2022.

Judith Meagher said: “When they first told me I screamed down the phone. I only went in to the branch on the off chance – I was actually visiting the cake store next door. I had gone away thinking ‘great’ I can buy lots of cakes for £50!

“So to get a donation of £1,350 is just the best news. It made me very emotional. That will pay for two children such as siblings to go to our family camp.

“We look after children affected by a huge number of different illnesses. At camp, we aim to build each camper’s confidence, self-esteem and coping strategies through challenges tailored for each child which could range from climbing a wall to making a new friend.”

At Health Challenge camps and Siblings camps, Over The Wall provide a team of volunteer qualified doctors, paramedics and nurses who provide all necessary care, giving medication, feeds, changing dressings, personal care, as well as monitoring their health over the duration of the camp.

Applications can be made for children aged 8 to 17 years, living in the UK, who are currently receiving treatment, or experiencing health challenges. To find out more, visit www.otw.org.uk.

£1,000 donated at new funeral home opening

Posted on by felicity

The Mayor and Mayoress of Havant, residents and businesses celebrated the opening of a new funeral home in Widley owned by local people.

Open Day at Widley Co-operative Funeralcare

Colleagues at Southern Co-op’s new funeralcare branch in London Road also announced their new charity partner – The Elizabeth Foundation – and gifted them with a cheque for £1,000.

The Portsmouth based charity helps preschool deaf children and babies learn to listen and talk and will now be the funeral home’s partner for one year as part of Southern Co-op’s ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’ scheme.

This initiative addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

Fiona Heath, Fundraising Manager at The Elizabeth Foundation, said: “On behalf of all the staff and families at the Elizabeth Foundation, we would like to thank the Southern Co-op for adopting us as the charity of the year.

“We really look forward to working with all the staff to make this a very fruitful partnership for both of us. They have already helped us by volunteering when we needed help with our Summer Fair last week which was great.”

The recently opened funeral home hosted the open event on Tuesday 17 July to tackle the taboo of funeral planning and introduce residents to the wide range of services and products available from modern day funerals, such as motorcycle hearses, memorials, eco-friendly coffins and much more.
The open evening also included a large raffle to raise money for the Elizabeth Foundation.

For those who were unable to attend the open evening, Rianne Rose, Funeral Co-ordinator at Widley Co-operative Funeralcare, invites residents to pop in for a guided tour without any obligation.

Mayor Peter Wade said: “It’s a pleasure to open the Southern Co-op Funeral home in Widley. I am sure it is going to be a very successful business. I had no idea they have 24/7 bereavement advisors to give help and assistance to anyone. They are a very friendly bunch of people who are always ready and willing to help.”

Southern Co-op is a co-operative society owned by its members who have a say in shaping the organisation’s future and also benefit from a share of the profits.

Everyone is invited to visit Widley’s newest funeral home

Posted on by felicity

Charity, cakes and coffins will be the focus of an open event on Tuesday 17 July as Southern Co-op’s Widley Co-operative Funeralcare branch opens its doors.

Whether residents are overwhelmed by the idea of funeral planning or simply want to plan ahead, the event is open to everyone from 3pm to 7pm.

Visitors may even get to greet the Mayor of Havant, Peter Wade, who will be attending the open event to meet the funeral home’s friendly and professional team of staff.

There will also be a raffle to raise funds for The Elizabeth Foundation, a Portsmouth based charity helping preschool deaf children and babies learn to listen and talk.

Rianne Rose, Funeral Co-ordinator at Widley Co-operative Funeralcare, said: “Floral tributes, coffins, caskets, memorial masonry, pre-paid funeral plans – it can all be a bit baffling.

“We want help people avoid tackling this task at a time when they are grieving which is one of the reasons why we are holding an open event.

“People will be able to get first hand advice on all things funerals from the team who will be able to put people at ease whilst enjoying some drinks and nibbles.

“The day will hopefully give people a better understanding should they need our services in future.”

The Elizabeth Foundation is the funeral home’s chosen charity as part of Southern Co-op’s community engagement programme ‘Love Your Neighbourhood’. This initiative addresses four key social themes for promoting: ‘Greener’, ‘Healthier’, ‘Safer’, and ‘More Inclusive’ neighbourhoods.

The Co-operative Funeralcare Open Event is on 17 July from 3pm to 7pm at 76 London Road, Waterlooville, PO7 5AB. For more information, contact the Widley team on 02392 378472.