Spring 2018 Issue

News

An Exciting

new year

ahead at the

Beechtree Tesco Bags of Help With the £1000 from the Tesco bags of help scheme we are

planning a complete re-vamp of our garden, with new

greenhouse, staging and cold frames.

We would welcome volunteers to help Angie, our garden

co-ordinator. If you are able to help, or know someone that is,

please contact us .

Note the new improved front aspect with Veg planting boxes.

Goodbye Slippy decking!

On-going Activities at or through the Beechtree 2018

Mondays (Excluding bank holidays)

Arts and crafts 10am—12noon 5 weekly sessions at £20 per course

Extend Exercise 1st Session 1-2pm Gentle seated or standing exercise to music.

2nd Session 2-15 –3-15pm Only £3.00 Per Session

Junior Youth Group 8-11yrs 4-6pm

Tuesdays

Senior Yoga 2pm (contact Paula on 07866470958)

Mens Walking football—2pm telephone Beechtree to register

Beginners art classes (temporarily suspended due to low attendance— to be reviewed)

Wednesdays

Walking for Health—Meet at the Civic Centre 10am FREE

Alternate short or long walks

IT Help Drop in session 1pm—3pm First session FREE

Volunteers on hand to help with your IT needs

Thursdays

Job Club– Building Better Opportunities—Project update section for more information

Help for Jobseekers, online job searching, CV writing, Interview techniques, numeracy, literacy

FREE

One to one sessions available by appointment

FREE

Senior Youth Group—12 –16 yrs 5pm to 7pm

Saturdays

Autism West Midlands—Board Games Club (9-18yrs)

Meets every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month– 10.30 to 12-30pm

Telephone 01743 250962 for more information.

Trustee Tutorials -: Over the last few months the trustees have been learning better

governance, in a series of seminars led by Golden Kite Solutions, it is hoped this will

translate into better support for the staff and volunteers of the Beechtree

Trustees give of their time for free to ensure the success of our charity.

If you, or anyone you know , has appropriate skills i.e. legal, then please let us know.

Wendy Wood reports on funding:-

In January we received £1500 from the EDGAR LAWLEY FOUNDATION for the youth group towards

sessional costs, we also received £1500 from EDWARD CADBURY towards additional expenses for the

youth group such as ingredients for cooking. Sadly we were unsuccessful in securing any funds from

the NATIONAL VEGAN SOCIETY to promote healthy vegetarian foods during National Vegetarian

Week (14th—21st May). We are still trying to find some funds to enable our not for profit café to put on

free tasters during that week.

The coffee morning in January raised just over £200 which goes towards general expenses at the

centre. I have submitted an application to Whitchurch Town Council for funds towards replacing some

of the Technology equipment used daily by the community, as of yet we have not received a reply.

WARBURTONS BAKERY donated £250 for the cookery sessions.

Last week I attended a day at Whitchurch Library to promote Walking for Health and the Beechtree

Community Centre, although not a huge number of visitors it was lovely to meet other agencies and

Quick Quiz from Penny

1 Which bridge is located further west on the

River Thames Westminster or Tower?

2 How many holes are there in a 10 pin bowl-

ing ball?

3 The Romans regarded Jupiter the King of

the gods as the equivalent of which Greek

God?

4 What is the meaning of the phrase “bona

fide”?

(a) For this (b) After death (c)In good faith

(d) word for word.

5 What V makes up the spinal column?

6 Dos is Spanish for what number?

7 What name is given to a triangle with one

angle greater than 90 degree?

8 What was originally almost 4000km long,

beginning in Chicago and ending in Los An-

geles?

9 What is represented by the seven spikes

on the Statue of Liberty crown?

10 Can you name 4 of South America sover-

eign states?

Just for fun (Answers on back Page)

We all need friends, why not make

friends and be a Friend to us;-

Volunteers welcomed in all areas:-

IT Support

Community Garden

Walking for Health Leaders

Youth Project

Building better opportunities

Café

Trustees

Why not get in touch for further details:-

Beechtree Community Centre

Claypit Street, Whitchurch. SY13 1NT

Tel: 01948 66612 email:info@btcc.org.uk

www.beechtreecentre.org

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Hello Everyone

I hope that you all enjoyed the Easter break.

It is the time of the year when we look forward to

a summer that can be enjoyed by all.

Here at the Beechtree Centre we aim to provide

activities for all age groups across the wide

spectrum of Whitchurch and surrounding areas.

The increase in the activities we now offer helps

to strengthen our commitment to the local

community.

I have always said that volunteers who make a

contribution to what we offer and want to

achieve are invaluable. From our walk leaders

who turn out in all weathers, our IT volunteers

who help people become part of the

Technological age, to the receptionists who make

the office run more efficiently,a huge Thank you

from us all.

Despite the fact that this centre is now into its

15th year and getting recognised it is not as well

known as we would like but the situation is slowly

changing. The centre is being promoted more,

we are starting to take our activities out to the

wider community and working on partnerships

with other organisations.

We are always looking for additional volunteers,

trustees and committee members who are able

to contribute their skills. Anyone who is

interested please contact

the Centre with their de-

tails.

Regards

FOR YOUR DIARY

May 14—18 Vegan Week

May TBC Car Boot at Alderford Lake

June TBC - Makers Market 1st Sat of Month

August 10th - Coffee Morning at Whitchurch

Civic Centre

Oct 6th TBC - Blackberry fair

Oct TBC— Annual Quiz Night

Pre-Christmas—Film afternoon

TBC

Above are some of the Art Group pictured on their trip on Monday 26th

March

They went to the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester Art and Craft centre and Manchester Art Gallery.

The group were enthused with new ideas and inspiration from what they saw.

IT MATTERS

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PAST YEAR

By Gilda Nicholson Digital Inclusion Officer

Bite size—two weekly courses

Runs over two weeks, bite size chunks of learning, running

at both Wem Town Hall and BTCC, including word pro-

cessing, keyboarding, introduction to the internet,

Internet searches and setting up email accounts.

Introduction to shopping on line, beginners guide to EBay,

and introduction to social networking, Skype, Facetime

etc.

Beginners Guide to using IPads

This is the first time I have tried this session, we have four

people booked onto the session. This session is basically

showing people the basics on how to use IPads and

general tips on ways round it.

Wednesday IT drop in sessions

These happen every week and enable people to book on

for 5 sessions (getting one week free) or pay weekly £5 per

sessions. We have laptops, tablets, IPads, mobiles and

cameras brought into this session with all sorts of queries.

Beginners guide to the internet

This course was run earlier in the year and went well.

I have done several presentations throughout the year and

will be doing some talks at local WI’s as well.

For further details on these courses , or any other IT

problems you may have, contact Gilda or any of her

able and keen volunteers at the Beechtree , or call

in , we will be happy to help. Remember you can

bring your own equipment to the sessions or make

use of those provided at the centre.

Party time at Youth Club

The Junior group recently hosted their very

own Pizza Party! Young people had lots of fun

being encouraged to make a mess and learn-

ing to make their very own pizza. Youth Work-

ers had them tossing their very own dough

before being let loose on their ingredients.

There was a lively atmosphere with lots of

banter and discussion that kept everyone

happy. They were then left with plenty of

time to enjoy their creations.

Tom Nielsen

Youth Engagement Officer.

Note from the editor

It is showing all the signs of being an

exciting time for the Beechtree and

with so much bad publicity surrounding

charities at present, it is good to know

that we are operating within a friendly ,

well run, vibrant organisation with

strong objectives.

As you will see from this newsletter ,

the Beechtree offers so much to the

local community.

We thank you all for your support and

look forward to meeting with you at

some of our events.

Please enjoy our newsletter and let us

know what you think. When you have

read from cover to cover why not

re-cycle ,PASS IT ON to a friend or

neighbour so they can learn more

about our charity.

ED.

Now based from the Beechtree

Local Coordinator , Linda Field , once again

runs the

SHROPSHIRE COMMUNITY CAR SCHEME.

If you need transport for hospital, doctor or

dentist appointments, or any other appoint-

ments or visiting commitments, this scheme

may be able to help you.

Now with additional drivers, this is a local

volunteer scheme for people unable to use

other forms of transport.

Linda will be able to advise you on contribution

amount and any other queries you may have

Contact Linda on 01948 664447

Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm

Great Ideas Invited

We are always looking to improve. If you have any ideas to boost in-

come, to be more efficient, better interaction with the community,

providing alternate services etc:- Don’t be shy, let us know, everyone’s

contribution is welcome and will be given proper consideration

Getting into shape with James

Sociable sports is taking a break for 1 week on 28th March and recommences on April 4th. We’ll be into our 8th week

and so far we have had 20 different people accessing the activities on offer. It has been really pleasing to see everyone

having so much fun thanks to the Postcode Lottery Trust. We’ll be losing some people to the bowling season so there will

be plenty of room for everyone to come down and try their hand at New Age Kurling, Boccia or Badminton.

The Walking Football sessions are still going strong and membership has grown. It’s good to see a few of the guys shrink-

ing in size over the last year! We’re hoping to raise some funds for proper goalposts and are in talks with Prees Walking

Football about arranging a friendly match. There’s always room for more players and you needn’t be experienced.

We’re busy in the Café planning for what we can use from the community garden. We have new planting boxes for

fresh salad and herbs. We’re really looking forward to serving up some delicious dishes, made from home-grown pro-

duce, to our wonderful customers.

The Co-op Local Community Funded Healthy Cooking and Eating sessions have been going well and the participants are

replicating the dishes at home which is what it’s all about. The next 6 week block starts on April 6th. Please contact us

to register your place before they all go

Congratulations to:-

Toby on the birth of his lovely daughter

And to Lisa on her 40th (was it a secret)

Must have something to do with the water in the Café

Look out for Vegan week—May 14th to 18th

If you think eating Vegan means chomping through raw vegetables, then think again! Need

proof. Then call into the Beechtree Café during the above week, when you can enjoy cakes,

curries and healthy meals as well as most of your favourite foods.

Our delicious Vegan meals are sure to please —bring along family and friends and try the

Take a break

In the Bradbury Café at the Beechtree

Open 9.30a,.—3.30pm Monday to Friday

Delicious home produced food and drinks for a healthy lifestyle

Specials available most days

Relax with your friends or colleagues in convivial surroundings

AVAILABLE FOR FUNCTIONS

Free Wifi for customers

Building Better Opportunities Project

Our Building Better Opportunity Project is aimed at helping the unemployed get back into work.

Support can be given with:-

Registering with Universal Job Match

CV writing

Creating an email account & sending emails

Online job searching & applying for jobs online

Filling in application forms

Interview techniques & confidence building

Basic IT Training, Numeracy and Literacy

Thanks to Nick, from 1st for floor-

ing, Green End, Whitchurch, for

his help with the artificial grass.

Beechtree Community Centre,

Claypit Street Whitchurch SY131NT

Tel 01948666612; email info@btcc.org.uk

www.beechtreecentre.org

Psst

It’s not a secret –Pass it on to Friends and

Neighbours, let them know about the Beechtree

How did you get on

Answers to the Quiz

1. Westminster

2. 3

3. Zeus

4. In good faith

5. Vertebrae

6. Two

7. Obtuse

8. Route 66

9. Seven Seas and the continents of the

world

10. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile.

Columbia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraquay,

Peru, Surinam.