Thursday 8 December 2011

Elderly Community Care

This year we are running a Christmas Appeal for the Elderly Community Care project. We are asking that you donate £10 that will provide a food parcel for one of the elderly people in our program. With prices rising and the meagre pension barely able to cover necessities the elderly people near our centre are delighted to receive any help. Last year we were able to ensure that each one had a parcel of basic items of food. They also received items of clothing and a shoe box gift thanks to Link Romania.
Please show them you care this Christmas and donate £10.

Thursday 22 September 2011

Elderly Community Care
House renovation project.

During the last three weeks of September one of the volunteers who is part of the Elderly Community Care project, organised a team of young people to decorate Mrs Ana Buruiana’s home.

This activity was done as part of the project “ Elderly Community Care” which is funded by Humanity at Heart and run from The Hope for the Colony Community Centre in Petrosani, Romania. The project aims to enable local people to become involved in activities to help the elderly poor in their area.

The project started in November 2010 and four volunteers take care of 20 elderly people (5 each). They visit them regularly, spend time socialising and discuss how else they can help. With support from the centre the elderly can then take part in programmes which includes free glasses, cultural & social events and receive material help such as clothing, food parcels (when funds allow) and a shoe box at Christmas.

The young people with the key volunteer raised the funds to buy the paint and other items. They thoroughly scrubbed and prepared the walls and then painted them.

Mrs Buruiana now has a lovely clean home thanks to all their hard work! What a great team effort.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

St.Lawrence Fair 2nd July2011


Michelle and one of our brilliant volunteers, Calli, did the St.Lawrence Fair in Hurspierpoint on Saturday. They did a tombola which raised around £100. A Huge thanks to Calli, and to everyone who donated prizes for the Tombola.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Volunteer's 90th Birthday

Last week we celebrated the 90th Birthday of one of our longest serving volunteers, Betty. We organised a garden tea party, and luckily the weather was on our side.

Betty had a wonderful time, and we want to thank her for all her years of service to the charity.

Left, Betty cuts her cake

Thursday 12 May 2011

Work in Romania

In April I was in Romania for nearly three weeks. I spent much of the time in Petrosani visiting the projects we support, mainly the Community Centre situated in the Colony. The staff and volunteers are doing a really good job and it was great to see how much is happening. The homework facility for children, craft and hobby clubs, chess, English lessons and great play activities. There is much for older people as well and the eye testing and screening continues as well as the coffee mornings.

I met with the volunteers who are running the Elderly Care in the Community project. We undertook an assessment which they found very helpful and I also did some Red Cross Therapeutic Massage. It was well attended and every one said how much they enjoyed it, on the left you can see me in the beige jumper talking to Adina the centre manager.

I hope that this project continues to run well as the elderly are so poor they desperately need our help. Finding the funding to enable us to purchase food parcels is the priority. Elizabetha, pictured right is now housebound due to a fall and she would love to be able to get out in her garden in the Spring and Summer. Each volunteer has five elderly people they visit. If we have the items the elderly receive food or clothing and if not they enjoy the company of the volunteer who will chat and listen to them. If you would like to fund a food parcel of £10 a month please contact us.

Whilst I was in Petrosani Tim Bennet and his wife joined me to record local music. Tim lives in Brighton and really likes European music, so he funded his own trip as a working holiday. He is hoping to produce a CD that can be sold to provide funds for our work. It was a wonderful day and many people became interested when we moved out into the courtyard to practice the dancing. The young people in the band come to the centre to promote cultural activities and we hope to arrange a concert one day.

I visited Provedina Devina in Petrilla who also help and support the elderly. I met with the parents and staff of the Special school in Vulcan who are running a toy library for children with special needs. This project is in its infancy but we hope that parents will really appreciate the opportunity to use these special toys and become more involved.
I then moved down to Arad and visited Vis de Copil who run a day centre for homeless and poor families. They are finding the rising costs are impacting what they do and can no longer afford their part time staff. We help to fund the managers wages and she really is vital to running the centre. Katy took us to the Gypsy camp where people have been made homeless as the local authority has bulldozed their homes to make way for a new road. Pictured right, Tim is taping some wonderful musicians.

If you think to can help by a small monthly donation please let us know as our help is needed more than ever.

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Swishing Party

Swishing Party Friday 6th May 6-8pm
Entry by ticket, £5 each, includes a glass of wine. Tickets are available from the shop or email me. Bring between 2-8 items of clothing to swap. We will have tables selling: Contemporary Silver Jewellry, Welleroo handmade bath treats, and unique gifts Avon Products.

Tickets are limited due to space, so please get yours in advance. If you are not sure what a Swishing Party is, contact me and I will send you a fact sheet. See you there, Ann

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Clothes Swap or Swishing Party

We are planning a "Swishing Party" at our charity shop on Friday 6th May.
Please put the date in your diary, and more details to follow.............

Upcoming Fundraising Concert by Vivace!

Vivace! will be singing for Humanity at Heart on Saturday 19th March, 7.30pm at the Adastra Hall in Hassocks.
Vivace! is a small Ditchling based choir, who sing for local charitable causes. The music is an eclectic mix, and their popularity is growing fast. Book now to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are £5, available from our shop in Hassocks, or on the night at the Adastra Hall.