Aldingbourne News
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Sarah Mitas, Team Leader at Make said “We love to create opportunities for the people we support to have fun and live the lives they choose. This is a great opportunity for people to make new friends and new connections within the local community. Many people have not been able to experience a traditional school prom – so this will make many dreams come true.”
In September Sarah posted a request on social media asking for prom dress donations, hairdressers and make up artists to support the event. Their social media went wild with responses from local businesses and the local community offering their time to support. Some responses were even from as far as Liverpool, sending good wishes for the event and wishing they were closer to help. Sam Butler, from Sammy B’s Hair Designs, Felpham said “I would absolutely love to help, obviously no charge for such a rewarding honour xxxx.” Jenna Ahmed from Hair in Bloom, Portsmouth said “I would love to help. I’d be truly privileged to be a part of it”. Along with the Prom, the Trust will be hosting a shopping evening on Friday 8th November from 6-9pm, at their MAKE@Aldingbourne enterprise in Cornwall Road, Fratton. The prom attendees can come along and browse of a collection of beautiful prom dresses, suits, shirts, ties and accessories. With drinks and nibbles on offer while they shop, it will be fun and sociable evening with friends as they choose their dream outfit ready for their evening out. On the day of the Prom the team will be hosting a ‘get ready event’ at their Make@Aldingbourne enterprise. Over fifty local hairdressers and make up artists will be turning the centre into a salon for the day, offering free hair styling and makeup for attendees to get ready for their evening. Louise Hanby, one of the people supported by the Trust says “I am really excited as I have never been to a Prom before. I am can’t wait to dress up and have my hair and make up done”. The Winter Wonderland Prom is open to anyone over the age of 18 with a learning disability and/or autism. Tickets are available at £10 each from Make@Aldingbourne, Cornwall Road in Fratton, please call Sarah on 02392 822026 or email sarahm@aldingbourne.org for more information. Visit our website www.aldingbournetrust.org for information about MAKE@Aldingbourne Enterprises, and more about our award winning charity that supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to live independent lives.  “Ash dieback is a growing concern across the country including here in West Sussex, we want to help stop it from spreading within our beautiful landscape” said Peter Stanley, General Manger at the Aldingbourne Country Centre.
This fungal disease is changing our local habitats, and according to West Sussex County Council, “the disease has the potential to kill 95% of West Sussex ash trees over the next 10–20 years. This would have a major impact on the county’s landscape, the wildlife it supports and other ecosystems”. The spores are generally released between June and September, and the disease can spread locally by wind dispersal in an area over ten miles. The symptoms are often easier to spot in mid-late summer, when a healthy ash should be in full leaf. It becomes much harder to identify in autumn, when leaves are naturally changing colour and falling. With the threat of the disease, the Aldingbourne Country Centre near Chichester decided to survey their grounds during the summer to help monitor and reduce the environmental impact this disease is taking locally. The recent survey highlighted several trees in the Country Centre Woodland Walk to be infected, and as a matter of precaution the woodland was closed whilst the maintenance work could be carried out on the infected trees. As a result of these findings, the Country Centre will continue to assess the health of their ash trees and plan their response to reduce the spread of this disease. The woodland walk is now fully open for all to enjoy. Once the trees are cut down, you need to manage their disposal effectively so that the disease is not accidently spread by transporting the waste wood. Forest Research suggests “Movement of logs or unsawn wood from infected trees might also be a pathway for the disease, although this is considered to be a low risk”. As the Country Centre has biomass boilers on site which are currently run on the waste wood they collect as part of their Community Wood Recycling Scheme, they have decided to burn all the trees onsite. “This will remove the transportation risk of spreading the disease, but also give the trees a purpose by creating energy to heat our Country Centre throughout the winter” says Peter. Visit the Trust’s website to find out more about their involvement in local community projects and to for more information about their award winning charity that supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to live independent lives www.aldingbournetrust.org.
Peter Stanley, General Manager of the Trust, said: "With the success of the Long Bench scheme in Littlehampton, we are very excited to be involved in this project. We are looking forward to working with the local community to create fantastic messages on the leaf plaques of this unique tree bench."
The Aldingbourne Trust will deal with the application process for purchasing, engraving and installing the plaques. This will then be managed through the wood department at the Aldingbourne Country Centre and people with learning disabilities and/or autism, who are supported by the Trust, are actively involved in fitting the plaques and maintaining the bench. Councillor Dan Purchese, Arun District Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “We are delighted to be launching this imaginative scheme, which allows people to create a unique memory by leaving a personal message inscribed onto a leaf-shaped plaque. The dedication will provide a long-lasting tribute that can be visited over time.” Please visit www.aldingbournetrust.org/celebration-of-life-tree or call 01243 542075 to find out more information on how you can purchase a slat on the new bench.  Looking for something spooktacular to do over the October half term? Halloween fun is coming to the Aldingbourne Country Centre on Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th October.
Be prepared to be scared and take part in some frightening fun and ghoulish games around our Woodland Walk. Look out for the zombies, ghosts and witches and take part in the pumpkin treasure hunt around the woods to win a treat. We are also running a non scary Halloween hunt, where children can enjoy spooky story time and musical trail. Over the three days there will be a face painter on site to help complete your spooktacular look, so why not come dressed up in your favourite Halloween costume to join in the fun. Our Halloween event will be held from 10am – 4pm, and is included in the £6 per person entry fee. If you like the idea of supporting a local charity by having fun, the Aldingbourne Country Centre is well worth a visit. Open everyday from 10am until 4.30pm. With a woodland walk, open farm, mini golf, soft play, sand and water play area, wooden train and castle play area, and delicious locally sourced and home-cooked food and Halloween treats in our own onsite café which features an indoor slide. Visit our website www.aldingbournetrust.org for more information and more about our award winning charity that supports adults with learning disabilities and / or autism to live independent lives.
It's fair to say that John Buck is an enthusiastic and industrious worker. Indeed, so eager is the 51-year-old toiler that if asked to dig a hole he might well endeavour to reach Australia!
That's the view of Anthony Hughes, who is John’s employment consultant at WorkAid, an award-winning scheme which aims to match adults with learning disabilities or autism with suitable work placements. WorkAid is an arm of The Aldingbourne Trust, Chichester, near Fontwell, and the organisation has had reason to celebrate this week thanks to the progress that John -- who is just one of the people they support -- has made. John works as a trolley attendant at Tesco but has worked in a number of different areas in the past. And describing John’s work ethic, Anthony said: “John is a great character. He is a very enthusiastic worker and would attempt to dig to Australia if you asked!” John gained full-time employment at a local garden nursery after gaining experience at the Acorn horticultural unit. When the garden centre closed down, he looked for more employment and gained further experience through a range of other jobs. John worked as a warehouse and office cleaner and as a grape picker at a local vineyard. John has now been happily working at his local Tesco Extra at Broadbridge Heath for three months and is considered a valuable member of the team. He has at times been offered overtime and has now been offered a permanent contract. If you have employment opportunities at your business for people with learning disabilities and/or autism like John, please contact our WorkAid team on 01243 546035 or workaid@aldingbourne.org. Or please visit www.aldingbournetrust.org/supported-employment, and to find out more about our award-winning charity that supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to live independent lives. In partnership with the Aldingbourne Trust, Bognor Regis Library is creating a community garden space for everyone to enjoy. The project has been supported through National Lottery funding, by local volunteers, corporate support from Southern Water and Outside Interest, and with help from the people that the Trust supports with learning disabilities and/or autism.
Those who have been involved in the project recently gathered together to celebrate what they have achieved. Lisa Palmer the community garden project coordinator at the Aldingbourne Trust said “Thank you to everyone for your help and your ideas in creating this community space. We are so proud of the garden we have achieved together and we are so proud of you for showcasing your talents in a way that will benefit everyone”. The garden creates an inclusive environment for people of all abilities to enjoy and relax in, and will also host activities by the library for children and for people living with dementia. The garden furniture and planters have all been made by the Wood Recycling team at the Aldingbourne Country Centre, creating peaceful spaces to sit and gardening areas that are accessible to all. “The garden is here because of you, it’s wonderful for you to see what you have been working on to be pulled together. It has brought a breath of fresh air to this community area” said Lisa. The artwork painted around the garden has been created by the Trust’s Creative Arts students from Aldwick Road. Where they have created a giant bookcase and included characters from Wind in the Willows and Alice in Wonderland. Sue Livett, Managing Director of the Aldingbourne Trust said “It’s amazing! Everyone loves what you have achieved. You have created something for the community which will be here for years to come”. Visit the Trust’s website to find out more about their involvement in local community projects and to for more information about their award winning charity that supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to live independent lives www.aldingbournetrust.org. |
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