roots down walls down
We have published the notice of this year’s annual meeting recently. Here it is for anyone who has not been in the building lately and may have missed it. See you on Sunday 28th April 6.30pm. If you would like a copy of the annual report please contact the Parish Office parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk or pop in on Sunday or at our community cafe and ask for one.
by Keira Jennings
MCR Pathways was established in 2007 to support young people—including those who are care-experienced or who have been recommended by their school as being able to benefit from the programme—to help them realise their full potential through education. This is enacted through our school-based mentoring programme – matching young people with a fully trained volunteer mentor.
The award-winning MCR Pathways programme is in over 130 schools across Scotland and the South East of England. Our programme’s growth and impact serve as testament to the dedication and commitment of both our volunteer mentors and the organisation as a whole. As we continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact, MCR Pathways remains unwavering in its mission to empower and support young people on their journey to fulfilling their potential.
Mentors meet with their young person for one hour in school each week to provide a regular opportunity for the young person to focus on their future, talk through any concerns, or just share thoughts and experiences. A mentor is simply an added source of support; someone there to listen, encourage, and help young people get the best out of school, increase their confidence, boost their qualifications, gain meaningful experiences, and increase their career options after school.
Our volunteer mentors come from every walk of life, background and profession. As every young person is unique, we welcome a diverse range of people to meet this growing need for mentors. No prior experience is needed, just the ability to listen and consistently be there. All it takes is an hour each week to change a young person’s future.
Join us at MCR Pathways to make a lasting connection and inspire a brighter future for young people in your community. We are looking for mentors in Surrey and are active in: Ash Manor School, Thomas Knyvett College, Christ’s College, Sunbury Manor School, Carrington School, The Beacon School and Hinchley Wood School. Further information on the MCR Pathways programme and how to become a mentor is available at https://mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor/
by Pat Scott
We all say “what a lovely community Ash & Ash Vale are” – very true! Would you like to help our wonderful community? Just an hour or so when needed, helping at community events in Ash and Ash Vale such as the Village Fete in June, the Youth Centre (hopefully opening soon), Lakeside Nature Fun Day, Remembrance Day and Fantasia.
For 12 years the Community Street Team have concentrated on engaging with local youngsters between 10 – 16 years to address local anti-social issues. We have engaged with the youth, listen to them and try to suggest alternative routes for their lifestyle.
As a result of Anti Social Behaviour having been reduced successfully, we are now planning to “morph” into a more community-focussed group with some volunteers continuing “Outings” but now some members also giving greater assistance at local events i.e Village Fete, Lakeside Nature Reserve Event, Remembrance Day Parades and Christmas Fantasia.
If you would like to help please contact Pat Scott scott.lpd@outlook.com or (01252) 324941. I look hearing from you.
Here is the latest information about Vivace Chorus’s upcoming concert at GLive, which promises to be an extraordinary evening.
Verdi’s Requiem
GLive, London Rd, Guildford GU1 2AA
18 May 2024, 19.30
Tickets £12.50-£35
Tickets and information: 0343 310 0055
GLive.co.uk (click on the link for more information)
Vivace Chorus will perform this awe-inspiring piece alongside the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union and the National Symphony Orchestra at GLive. With 200 singers, a huge orchestra, four soloists and eight off-stage trumpets, it promises to be a night full of drama and beauty.
Special events this week for Easter 2024:
Wednesday 7:30pm at St Mary’s: Neil’s talk – Reflection on the way of tea – “why I do what I do”
Thursday 6pm at st Mary’s: Maundy Thursday bring and share meal
Good Friday:
10:00 walk of witness sets off from st Mary’s
10:30 service with Churches Together at Ash Wharf outside by the canal bridge
11:30 hot cross buns at the Chapel on wharf rd, all welcome
Afternoon – st Mary’s open for prayer, craft and meditation
Saturday: st Mary’s open all day, come and help with church decoration, flowers team will be in 10:00-12:00 come and join in!
Easter Sunday: special Easter celebration service 10:30am at St Mary’s
(Remember the clock go forward!)
On as usual this week:
Chapel cafe 9:30-12:30
Little lambs 10:00-11:30
Chapelkids 11:00-14:00
(Friday cafe will be at chapel this week, not at st Mary’s)
All free to attend, all welcome, see you there!
Chapel Kids and friends will be going to visit Forest Kids Ash on 10th April. Text for more info! 07730609446
Local Easter Appeal: Would you like to add something special to our food parcels next week? We would welcome donations of Easter treats for the #AshVillagesFoodParcelsProject any time before 28th March. Thank you for your support!
You can donate at St Mary’s or at The Chapel when we are open, or message us to arrange a time with our project team. 07730609446
Happy Easter!
Fund our local Food Parcels Project…by giving us your vote at Co-Op! Vote online or via their App. The voting link is here: https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/76829
The Ash Villages Food Parcels Project serves local people in Ash, Ash Vale, Ash Green and Tongham. We deliver emergency food and toiletries to local people in crisis, and offer a listening ear. Your vote will mean we receive more funding. Thank you for your support.
How this cause brings people in the community together: Our Food Parcels project helps local people in crisis, providing emergency food and toiletries. Referrals come from CAB, Wellbeing Team, Social Services, DWP and local churches too. As well as food, we offer a listening ear, and help to connect people to other sources of help, including Chapel Cafe and local warm hubs. We are connecting with people to battle against the anxiety, isolation and mental strain that goes hand in hand with food poverty. We can all work together to make sure that none of our neighbours go hungry. Our donors and grant funders are wonderful and the lovely team of volunteers are amazing at what they do.
So please – Vote today, and spread the word to encourage others to help us too!
Thank you. https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/76829
The Ash Villages Food Parcels Project is a joint project between St Mary’s Church in Ash Vale (Revd Neil Lambert) and the Ash Villages Support Circle (Carla Morson), kindly hosted at The Chapel Project on Wharf Rd. If you need to contact us you can contact our Project Manager Alex Sanderson on foodparcels@ash-vale.org.uk Tel.: 07730 609446
The Ash Vale Community Fridge and Ash Villages Food Parcels Project team have some great news this week! We will be receiving short dated items from the 2 local Co-ops on Saturdays going forward, saving even more good food from being wasted. This is in addition to the donations we already receive regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. What a great way to stop waste!
If you’d like to visit the Community Fridge and pick up some free food to save it from being wasted, it’s open 24/7 in our Community Shed at The Chapel, Wharf Rd, GU12 5AY. First come first served. (Remember to update the red folder so we can track how much food we are saving from the bin!) please only take what you can definitely use, so everyone can share and nothing is wasted.
Got more than you need? You can also donate your own surplus food, as long as it is sealed in its original packaging, and in date (or fresh from the allotment!) Please update the red folder with date & weight when you donate, so we can track how much food is saved from the bin.
Did you know? From June 2023-December 2023 the Community Fridge alone saved over 1000kg food from being wasted! Thank you to everyone who uses the fridge, and to all our amazing donors and volunteers.
Questions? Contact us on foodparcels@ash-vale.org.uk
Foodbank referrals: Please call our project manager to make a referral on 07730609446
#CommunityFridge #AshValeCommunityFridge #AshVillagesFoodParcelsProject #EndHunger #StopFoodWaste #CoOpAsh #CoOpAshVale #Hubbub
You are warmly invited to come to our Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday 14th February 2024 at 6.30pm. Join us at St Mary’s on Vale Road, GU12 5JE. All are welcome.
The first day of Lent is called Ash Wedensday. This is the time in the year for a special service with the imposition of ashes. If you want to know more about it, why not pop in to St Mary’s and ask? Our cafe is open on Fridays 10:00-13:00 and our Sunday services start at 10:30am. See you soon!
Join us on Tuesday 13th Feb 2024 from 10am-12:30 for some pancake day fun! Races, crafts and yummy pancakes for all ages. It’s all by donation, no set fee. Pop along and enjoy a family friendly get together at St Mary’s church, Ash Vale GU12 5JE All are welcome.
PS – We don’t have staff for this, just a lovely team of volunteers, and all help is much appreciated at tidy up time. Thank you for pitching in – many hands make light work!
pic credit https://pixabay.com/users/valshill-12389644/