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| 2 members of the Tool Bank with one of the lawn mowers |
What do you get if you put together a disused housing office, a great community and a brand new set of garden tools?
The flagship SARH Community Tool Bank!
The Tool Bank is a pilot project set up by SARH’s Community Involvement Team (supported by the Neighbourhood Services Team) that offers members of the Highfields community the opportunity to hire all sorts of garden tools from lawnmowers to trowels. This will enable them to give their garden anything from a little bit of TLC to a full on make over!
The launch of the project was a great success with many community members signing up and great weather teasing out even the most reluctant of gardeners! SARH thought that this project would be an excellent way to help people get out into their gardens, improving the appearance of the neighbourhood at the same time improving their own health and wellbeing. Similar schemes have seen great success elsewhere in the country but this is the first one that we are aware of in Staffordshire. SARH hope it will not be the last with plans to set up more in our neighbourhoods in the future.
Anybody over the age of 18 and living in Highfields can sign up for the membership scheme of this Tool Hire and tools can then be hired at a cost of £1. The summer opening times for the Tool Bank are Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10am until 12noon and if you want to sign up to the scheme please bring proof of address and identification to the Tool Bank at 72a Lilleshall Way, Highfields, ST17 9FD during opening times.
If you want any more information please call the Community Involvement Team on 0800 111 4554 or email cp@sarh.co.uk. Come along and sign up today! As the old saying goes “If you want to be happy for life, get a garden!”
So What?
The Tool Bank provides an affordable way for people to keep their gardens smart and tidy giving them even more pride in the area where they live. It also helps ensure that SARH communities are places where people want to live.
A volunteer’s story
A message from one of our valued volunteers…
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| DJ outside the Resource Centre |
“Hi my name is DJ, I first volunteered at the Community Resource Centre at Greyfriars just over 3 years ago. In that time I have seen massive changes at the centre as well as in myself. When I first got involved I was shy, had no computer skills and had an ambition to work with children. In just a few years I have been on numerous Stafford and Rural Homes Community Learning Programme courses; learnt a range of skills from computing and CV writing as well as completing Accredited courses in Food Safety and have just finished one on Retail and Customer Services. Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am and 12pm I make use of some of what I have learnt at the IT/Job Search sessions where I help people looking for work, teaching them basic computer skills and supporting them in their efforts to find a job. My dream to work with children is becoming a reality as I am training to be a Youth Worker and have just returned from an adventure activity centre in the Dearne Valley where I was supporting one of the Youth Groups I work with. My life has changed for the better and can pass this message on to others.”
So What…
Volunteering isn’t just about giving time to help others, it is about the effect on the community and that it can be a life changing experience for those who give as well as those who receive.
More Awards…
As regular readers will be aware SARH were fortunate enough to be shortlisted for several regional awards recently. Riding high on the success of being highly commended in 2 categories we are proud to announce that our partner Chase Against Crimes of Hate (CACH) have been shortlisted for an award in the prestigious National Diversity Awards!
CACH, who helped out at our recent Celebrating Differences Day – see below, focus on stamping out hate crime and discrimination of all kinds. They offer support to victims who have been targeted due to their race, belief, disability, sexuality, gender etc. As well as offering this support they also do proactive work in communities and in schools. For more information visit their website, selfreport@cachpartnership.org.uk or call 0797 149 7988.
So What?
SARH’s partnership with CACH helps to reassure and support our customers and communities who can turn to CACH for support that will help them feel less isolated and alone.
Celebrating Differences Day
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| A collage of some of the activities at the Celebrating Differences Day |
The Celebrating Differences Day was a fun event for people of all ages and from all backgrounds to get involved in and enjoy. Over 25 people attended including youngsters from 10 years old through to people in their 70’s. The activities were designed to get people working together and they did just that. Each person learnt how to spell their name in sign language and experienced Brazilian arts and culture through a drumming workshop.
A number of partner organisations came along to get involved and raise awareness of their work including CACH (Chase Against Crimes of Hate), Richmond Fellowship, Staffordshire Police, U3A (University of the 3rd Age), ASSIST (Autism and Sensory Support in Staffordshire), Care Home Funding Advocates and Healthwatch Staffordshire. There was a quiz which aimed to encourage people to network, raise awareness of the different organisations and encourage people to learn as much as possible about them. Maureen Andrews and her granddaughter Keira were the lucky winners of £25 shopping vouchers!
The day was finished off with an art project where a wonderful black and white piece of art was created. This will go on display in Doxey House Independent living Scheme so that it can be enjoyed by plenty of people.
A reporter from BBC Radio Stoke attended most of the event and had a chat with staff, partner organisations and customers to find out what the day was all about. This was aired on the mid-morning and afternoon show which has thousands of listeners.
So What?
The Celebrating Differences event was fun for all involved, creating community cohesion and it was a good example of intergenerational working. The activities got people interacting, building their confidence and trying something new and different. It was a good opportunity to network and raised awareness of some fantastic organisations and the work they do.
COMING UP
Take a look at some of these events that the SARH's Community Involvement Team are bringing to the borough of Stafford...
£50 VOUCHERS UP FOR GRABS. TAKE PART IN OUR SURVEY TO BE ENTERED INTO OUR PRIZE DRAW. ANYONE CAN ENTER!!!
We are looking for suggestions and honest feedback to help us shape our Community Learning Programme 2014. This will be our 7th annual Programme which offers a variety of free courses, workshops and activities to people living in the communities across Stafford Borough. The Programme is put together to give people opportunities to improve their lifestyle whether it is by gaining skills needed for a job, building their confidence, taking up a new form of exercise, gaining advice to save money on their bills, picking up a hobby or making new friends.
Since 2008 we have delivered around 250 courses across the communities of Stafford Borough. So far this year over 300 people have benefited from the Community Learning Programme and 49 people have achieved a recognised qualification.
We are proud to say we offer something for everyone but want to make sure we continue offering sessions and courses that you, the community, will benefit from. Therefore we need your help!
Please follow the link to the survey below and answer the questions as best and honestly as you can. The survey will take around 5-10 minutes to complete and your feedback is really valuable to us.
Don’t forget to put your name, address, telephone number and/or email address to be entered in to the prize draw. The survey will close on Friday 13th September and a winning name will be selected at random on Monday 16th September.
Hard copies are available upon request. Contact the Community Involvement Team on 0800 111 4554 or pick one up from SARH Head Office, Stafford Advice Shop or the Community Resource Centre.
Thank you for taking part.
Link to Survey
More from our Community Learning Programme...
If you want any information about any of the events that have already happened of that are coming up in the future please do not hesitate to contact us on
0800 111 4554
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