Home-Start Surrey Heath offer a variety of outings for our families which gives them an opportunity to meet others and to enjoy a day out. We also arrange social events for our volunteers as part of their ongoing support and development. Below are reports of some our recent events:

AUTISM SESSION FOR VOLUNTEERS - NOVEMBER 2011 - Sue Skippage, an Outreach Worker from Freemantles School – a specialist school for Autism, came in to talk to volunteers on the 30th November. The session was well attended and feedback was very positive.

TABLE TOP/CRAFT SALE: The fundraising committee arranged a craft/table top sale on Saturday 26^th November at Heatherside Community Hall.  Many, many thanks to all volunteers and their families who helped on the day – baking and selling cakes/refreshments; manning stalls; setting up and clearing; donating raffle prizes etc etc!  Thank you to everyone who booked a table. It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning, albeit a lot of hard work – this was the first event of this kind and we made £270.

FUND-RAISING EVENT - GALA HALLOWEEN QUIZ NIGHT. 14^th October 2011: First of all a huge thank you to those of you who came along / put teams together / helped organize / set up and arrange / provided raffle and auction prizes for and in all ways possible - helped support our fund raising event on Friday at Pine Ridge Golf Club.  Early indications show a profit of just over £1100, which is fantastic.  The Mayor & his wife came along to offer support and both thoroughly enjoyed the evening.  Thanks to all individuals and companies who provided gifts and donated raffle prizes.  The Crab & Dragon Pub in Camberley provided a fantastic Halloween Quiz to keep us all entertained, Transmission Interrupted were the band and we enjoyed a hot buffet.

FRIMLEY GREEN CARNIVAL: We manned a “Win a Teddy” stall, sold good quality nearly new books and again, Rosemary sold her wonderful handmade jewellery (with all proceeds going to the scheme) at the Frimley Green Carnival on Sunday 10^th July from 1-5pm to raise funds for the scheme, to promote our services and to attract potential volunteers for our planned Volunteer Preparation Course starting in September 2011. 

A big thank you to both Stephnie and Mel’s family for helping all day long – on the stall and setting up and putting away; Rosemary for selling her jewellery and both her and Agnes for their help all day – we simply couldn’t have managed without you! 

Councillor Tim Dodds, The Mayor of Surrey Heath with Stephnie’s son, Joe.

It was the first time we’d had a stand at this event, booked after we had received £500 from the Frimley Green Carnival committee. This year the committee is kindly donating some of the proceeds from ‘Family Gala Evening’ to our scheme.  It was a fabulous day with great attendance and interest and we managed to raise about £235 on the day!!!  The Mayor came to chat to us and Mel and Steph got to speak about Home-Start on the Frimley Park Hospital Radio.

FAMILY EVENTS:

We have now completed the pilot Depression Support Group.  It was a huge success and well attended. A huge thanks again to all the volunteers who helped with the crèche – we simply could not have offered this without you.  Thank you also to Pine Ridge Sure Start Children's Centre for the use of their facilities.  It was hard work putting together this group, however very rewarding. We have had positive feedback from the attendees and referrers and have 11 referrals to the scheme for another group should we be able to secure funding.

SUMMER TRIP, BIRDWORLD, WEDNESDAY 22^nd JUNE

Families joined us for a rather wet trip to Birdworld!  Unfortunately, we couldn't have chosen a more wet and cold day.  However, we managed to have a look around the park and had a picnic, before returning home on the coach, wet and slightly worn out!