Almost Weekly News No. 52 – 17/12/2021
Merry Christmas everyone
On behalf of our members, volunteers, staff and trustees we would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a very festive and healthy New Year.
Christmas Closing:
Rockspring & the Bookshop
We will be closed on Christmas Eve, 24th Dec, and will re-open on Tuesday 4th January 2022.
Our Christmas Special
Not all of our members are able to come to Rockspring at the moment –
so our pavement choir has been out visiting to share carols, mince pies
and apple crumbles!
Welcome to our bumper Christmas newsletter…. we’ve been so busy over the past few weeks so there is lots and lots to catch up on in this edition, including our recent AGM!
Latest government restrictions and increasing rates of Covid in the community mean we’ve moved some of our sessions, like Youth Club, online, but we’re all making the best of it and enjoying the run up to Christmas and the New Year.
Working Together’s 2021 AGM
This year’s AGM took place in the Baptist Church at Rockspring for Trustees, members, volunteers, supporters and staff.
Our Chair of Trustees, Nicola, thanked our members, their families and carers, staff, volunteers, Trustees, our funders and supporters for their ongoing help and support to Working Together through, what had been, a challenging year.
Our Treasurer, Mike Beazley, presented the accounts for 2020/2021, advising that Working Together is in a good financial position, thanks to our funders and supporters. The accounts were approved by Trustees.
Chief Officer, Nigel, rounded off the meeting with two agenda items.
Firstly, he thanked everyone for all of their hard work and support. Nigel launched our first Annual Report, which includes information and photos on our activities across the year.
Looking forwards Nigel confirmed we are continuing to operate within Covid safe guidelines, providing support and delivering services and activities for our Working Together members – most of whom we are now able to welcome back to Rockspring. Our café has re-opened for advance bookings with many of our supporters enjoying their cream teas.
Our work supporting the Foodbank continues, together with partnership working with other local community based organisations. We hope 2022 will be an exciting year as it is our 20th Anniversary.
Nigel shared a letter written by Thomas at the AGM to update Trustees on work underway to celebrate Working Together’s 20th anniversary.
Thomas confirmed that we have received a letter from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who, unfortunately aren’t able to attend our celebrations in September, but send us their best wishes and were
delighted to hear about the wonderful work done by Working Together.
A copy of this letter can be found on the Working Together website.
As you will all know our much loved colleague and close friend Fiona sadly passed away in October – her fun, laughter, care and compassion will be sadly missed by everyone at Working Together.
At the AGM we paused for a moment to remember Fee and also Richard, our Founder, and Simon lit two candles in their memory.
Annual Report 2021
Our new Annual Report was unveiled at the AGM.
The report covers the period from 1st July 2020 to 30th June 2021 and a copy can be downloaded on the website or ask us for a copy.
The report includes photos, artwork, stories and the thoughts of our members and staff.
Children in Need
As the AGM was taking place, Youth Club members were holding a danceathon to raise money for Children in Need.
Everyone had a great time and those attending the AGM were invited to join in with the dancing and help raise some money.
Thanks to DJ for putting on the disco and to Bonnie for her help.
Tim’s visit to
Sainsbury and Argos
New Sainsbury and Argos store has opened at Rocks Green in Ludlow and Tim, on behalf of Working Together, went along to have a look on the first day it opened.
Tim checked out all of the new shopping facilities and the staff were really welcoming and friendly. It was a big thumbs up from Tim!
Ludlow Medieval Bazaar
We were very sad to hear that some of the marquees in Ludlow Castle had been damaged by Storm Arwen.
Luckily, our stall was safely inside St Laurence’s Church.
We sold some second-hand books and DVDs, some of our handmade jams, chutneys, and Christmas Cards.
Some Medieval Re-enactors who had come to visit Ludlow came to say hello to Working Together.
We enjoyed telling people all about the great work that Working Together does and we raised some important funds for WT too.
Christmas Gifts…
This year we want to say a Happy first Christmas to our brilliant Charity Bookshop volunteers and to remind everyone that the Bookshop in Craven Arms will be open up to December 23rd for anyone who’s looking for that perfect Christmas gift.
We stock a huge range high quality preloved books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl and jigsaws to cover almost every taste.
Pop in to the shop next time you’re passing at:
Unit 2, Drovers’ House,
The Auction Yard, Craven Arms, SY7 9BZ
Open 9.30am to 4pm Tues to Fri and until 1pm Saturdays.
(the shop will be closed on 24/12/21 & reopen 03/01/22)
A Very Rare Bird Book…
Not all books that are rare are valuable, but recently we received a donation of books that included a rare book.
The book was an ornithology book about Ewen Kennedy and Jane, our volunteer book valuer, tells the story…
“The book is no. 39 of a very limited edition of 75, privately printed in 1913.
The subject, Ewen Kennedy, was a keen amateur ornithologist. He died in Chile, aged twenty-eight. His sister wrote the book and the book is very rare, but unfortunately not hugely valuable, probably because he didn’t reach his full potential.
The colour pictures are lovely.”
This story does have a happy ending though.. as, after a few emails, we have been able to rehome the book at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, where the book will be looked after and preserved for use by future generations of ornithologists.
Youth Club: Making Smoothies…
Members have been having fun making smoothies and also enjoyed getting ready for Children in Need day.
We have now switched back to online Youth Club sessions to ensure we can keep everyone safe.
Sammy, Jan and Di are putting together a really great programme of activities for the new year.
Diversity Night Out
Diversity members met up for a drink in the pub recently, for a chat and to plan ahead for 2022. A great time was had by all.
Cheers!
