In this Newsletter, we will be looking back at recent Gig Buddy events, sharing local news and activities, and letting you know about our future events which all of our Gig Buddies are welcome to come along to.

​We are also looking to recruit more Volunteers so if you would like to become part of the Gig Buddies community and share the many benefits of being a Volunteer, such as free tickets to events and improving your CV, please contact us if you or anyone you know would like to help adults in Portsmouth make new friends.

Aldingbourne Trust joins the global celebration of the #IWD2023 campaign #EmbraceEquity, which aims to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren't enough and why true inclusion and belonging require equitable action! 

What's the difference between equality and equity, you ask? While the two terms are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Equality refers to treating everyone the same and providing equal opportunities. However, this approach assumes that everyone starts from the same place and has the exact same needs, which isn't true and demonstrates that more than 'equal opportunities' is needed. In contrast, equity ensures everyone has what they need to succeed, regardless of their starting point. It acknowledges that some people face additional barriers and need extra support to overcome them. With equity, we can truly reach equality!

We recognize that women and other marginalized groups face additional barriers and challenges that require equitable action to overcome. Our diverse workforce reflects our passion for social justice and commitment to equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender identity or expression. Only by working together can we create a world where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and succeed.

Not just today but every day, give equity a warm embrace! Each of us has a responsibility to challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. How will you embrace equity?
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Written by Lizzie Williams

It was a week in February like we had never experienced before. We're calling it a 'week of dreams!' that saw us welcome over 3000 visitors to a Great Day Out in record-breaking style.

Families across the region flocked to the Country Centre to make the most of the holiday break, with planned activities to enjoy every single day. From our 'Meet and Greet' and goat grooming sessions with our farm animals, indoor cinema, aRTie the Aldingbourne Express, and a special members-only 'Stargazing Event'. 

One such visitor was Kelly Tormey, who had not long become an annual member of the Trust, "After recently moving to the area, we had heard some fantastic things about Aldingbourne Trust & it exceeded our expectations, so much so that we became members after our first visit."

Kelly was full of praise for the staff at the Trust, who went above and beyond to ensure that her family had a wonderful time. "Every staff member we came into contact with was so friendly and helpful, from the reception staff, to the cafe, the farm team, to the lovely man that organises the guinea pig snuggles! (My son's favourite experience that he hasn't stopped speaking about or watching the video of since we left). There is such a great selection of activities to keep you endlessly entertained!" Kelly exclaimed. "We're going to be making some of the best childhood memories here, I can tell!"

We are thrilled to hear such positive feedback from our visitors and are already looking forward to our 'Easter Eggcitement' events. If you haven't yet visited Aldingbourne Country Centre, why not join us for an Easter FULL of fun this April? And don't forget, every penny you spend goes directly to helping us support adults in our community with learning disabilities and/or autism. Thank YOU for making a difference! 

​Written by Lizzie Williams

Hello and welcome to Gig Buddies January Newsletter! 

In this Newsletter, we will be looking at Gig Buddies events for you to get involved with, as well as sharing local news and activities to keep you entertained, including our Laser Quest and Pool events for February and a look at what we have been doing recently.

We are also looking to recruit more Volunteers, so if you would like to become part of the Gig Buddies community and share the many benefits of being a Volunteer (such as free tickets to events and discounted gym membership), please contact us if you or anyone you know would like to help adults who have a learning disability and/or Autism in Portsmouth make new friends.

Aldingbourne Trust has announced their latest Country Centre attraction: aRTie the Land Train! aRTie will debut on Saturday, 03 December, offering a new perspective to showcase all the site offers through the comfort and excitement of a train ride. A Great Day Out at Aldingbourne just got even GREATER!

Karen Tyrrell joined the Country Centre as Visitor & Enterprise Operations Manager 6 months ago. She has since been exploring new and quirky activities to enhance the 'Great Day Out' experience. Securing aRTie was nothing short of a collaborative effort, though. Karen shared, "The Land Train was a little above our budget. But thanks to an Invest4 Grant from the Business Hot House Programme (funded through the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Brighton & Hove City Council), and an Arun District Council Business Growth Grant, we could make the purchase."

Bringing aRTie to the South Coast was no mean feat as his previous home was in Coventry. However, the superb team at R.T. Page, experts in road transport, storage, handling and logistics, offered to make the journey! Robin Gray, Transport Manager, said, "R.T. Page is proud to support such a good local cause and wishes them all the best for the future. We look forward to helping in the future to support the Aldingbourne Trust." 

Excited to embark on aRTie? Visit www.aldingbourne.org/attractions to learn more about Aldingbournes 'Great Day Out' attractions.

​Written by Lizzie Williams

From work experience to graduation day - we are excited to share Rebekah's journey on the Open Farm.

​Since joining the Trust in 2019 on a work experience placement, Rebekah has completed her Higher National Diploma in Animal Care (Brinsbury College), where she gained a deeper insight and understanding of varied species and the different aspects of looking after animals.

Rebekah knew from a young age that she wanted to work with animals. She had initially hoped to become a vet, but the further she got into her studies and farm experiences, she realised that primates were her passion.

With a variety of animals to care for on the Open Farm, Rebakah has made many unique connections. However, one animal has a special place in her heart: Sage, the Sussex saddleback pig. "She has been with us since she was a sweet little piglet, and now, she's a fully grown mischievous pig! It has been an absolute joy being involved in rearing her and ensuring she is cared for correctly."

Farm Manager Jon Clarke shared, "It was clear from a very early stage that she is a trustworthy and reliable person and this, combined with her caring nature, meant she was ideally suited to a support role on the Open Farm. She works tirelessly for the animals and takes great care in ensuring their health and well-being."

When asked about the particular highlights of her role, Rebekah shared, "There have been many, but if I was to narrow it down to one, then I think that must be supporting the clients on the Farm. It is the best feeling when you see them happy and achieve things they thought they never would. For example, I recently assisted a client in picking out the donkeys' hooves!"

Whilst Rebekah is proud to have passed her course with a Distinction, she's relieved she doesn't have to worry about assignments for now! Keen to keep expanding her knowledge, she has since enrolled in an online Environmental Conservation course. We can't wait to see where her passion leads her next. 

On behalf of us all at Aldingbourne Trust, we congratulate you, Rebekah!

Written by Lizzie Williams 

Wood@Aldingbourne Enterprise gets crafty with the latest landmark unveiled at Aldingbourne Country Centre - a giant Adirondack chair.
When you can take something ordinary, like a chair, and make it 5x bigger, you can't help but stop and bask in its extraordinariness!
 
Aldingbourne takes great pride in its visitor experience and constantly explores new quirky ways to enhance the 'Great Day Out' experience. Our Visitor & Enterprise Manager, Karen Tyrrell, made the proposition to the Country Centres Wood@Aldingbourne Team. Brian Alden, Wood Manager, came up with the design, but it was down to Volunteer Bill Adams to decipher the sketch and assemble a team to build this new landmark piece by piece.
 
It was a challenging build, Bill said, "We had to make it in the workshop and then disassemble it to paint it, and then get it outside before we could reassemble it again because it wouldn't fit through the doorways." Reflecting on the finished piece, "I'm delighted with how it turned out, and I think the best way to see it is with people sitting in it!"
 
Chloe Thorp, who visited the Country Centre with a friend and their children, shared, "We had the pleasure of using the new Giant Chair for some great picture moments! The children noticed it straight away with its bright colours and of course the size! The girls ran straight to it and wanted a photo together, so of course, we whipped out our cameras for those cute picture moments we all love as a parent! I think it's a great part of the centre, and both the children and grownups love it." 
 
Looking for a giant chair to capture that epic family photo you've been planning to send to extended family? Why not take a trip to Aldingbourne Country Centre, where you can find such a chair on their Oak Tree Field. 

​Stick PO18 0JP into the sat nav, and you'll be on your way!

​Written by Lizzie Williams

The 'Make A Difference Awards' highlights community champions making a difference where they live, presented by BBC Radio Solent for Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight. On Tuesday, the 20th of September, the ceremony was held at Portsmouth Guildhall, where eight category winners were announced.

Nominated by the community for creating real change by breaking down barriers and bringing people from different walks of life together, a judge of panels selected MAKE as the winner of 'The Together Award'. Through solid partnerships between social enterprise and charity activities, Aldingbourne Trust enables people with learning disabilities and/or autism across Sussex and Hampshire to have real choices and be more independent. 

MAKE@Aldingbourne supports people to develop skills in various areas such as retail, café and creative sessions where they can make gifts, artwork and more! Art is a powerful tool of self-expression and individualism, and they love to see how that is reflected in each person's creations.

Sarah Mitas, the project manager, said, " We feel incredibly proud to be recognised as a community venue which is inclusive of everybody. The people we support are thrilled knowing they are valuable members of a team and that their work is appreciated".

​Written by Lizzie Williams

We held a Friends of the Aldingbourne Trust Drinks Party on Monday 30th May and welcomed 76 people to Woodmancote Farmhouse in a marquee full of lovely flowers which guests were invited to take home with them.  

Guests were given drinks and delicious canapés, all made by the team in the Cafe at the Aldingbourne Country Centre.  
Andrew, supported by the Aldingbourne Trust, gave a heartwarming speech about how important the Aldingbourne Trust is to him and encouraged guests to join the Friends.  

A number of people joined the Friends of Aldingbourne Trust.  Their invaluable friendship will help provide activities and equipment for people supported by the Trust that they would not otherwise be able to enjoy.
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Huge thanks to all involved and to everyone for coming.  We took over £1,200.

A brand-new children’s day nursery will open in September in an exciting and innovative collaboration between Seasons Children’s Nursery & Forest School and local award-winning charity supporting people with learning difficulties and autism, the Aldingbourne Trust.
 
Seasons Day Nursery will be housed in a newly refurbished detached building at the Trust’s Aldingbourne Country Centre near Chichester, complete with its own Children’s Garden, vegetable beds and access to the Open Farm, woodland walk and woodland Bothy.
 
Hannah Rosalie, founder of the nursery, said: “The new building will allow us to provide an additional 21 places and offer up to 30 hours of funded (‘free entitlement’) hours for two and three year old’s.”
 
The new nursery will be run by qualified teachers with a particular focus on outdoor learning. “I believe that the best place for children to grow and learn is in the real world. That’s why I love what we do here at Barn Cottage, our existing nursery near Pulborough. We feed the chickens, collect the eggs, bake, grow vegetables and have the freedom to go for country walks and wave to the postman. It’s real, calm and child-centred and when Ofsted rated us Outstanding, despite our creative take on the curriculum, it was a big credit to my small team”
 
Seasons will boast a Farm School (animal care, growing vegetables and more) and Forest School with direct access to a wide range of existing activities at the 15-acre Aldingbourne Country Centre. Nature and arts-based activities will be woven throughout the Early Years curriculum to provide a child centred holistic setting run by fully qualified Early years educators.
 
Michelle McKinley Bell, Head of Enterprise & Development at the Aldingbourne Trust says: “As well as offering visitors a Great Day Out with a wide range of activities including open farm, maze, ride on tractors, woodland walk, mini golf, sand, water and play areas at the Country Centre; we are a well-established charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autism to live independent lives and develop their skills within a variety of social enterprises to enable them to gain voluntary or paid employment within the community.”
 
“Our innovative approach has developed and grown over the past 44 years and continues to evolve with lots of exciting plans for the future.  The Country Centre hosts a variety of social enterprises open to the public, including wood recycling, plant nursery, retail gift shop and café serving delicious homemade lunches, using locally sourced ingredients and it even boasts an indoor slide! The people we support are central to everything we do, and their skills and talents are showcased within each enterprise. ”
 
“A nursery on site to support working parents locally seemed an obvious addition to our portfolio of enterprises and we are very excited to welcome Seasons Day Nursery to our Country Centre in the Autumn” says Michelle. 
 
Hannah continues, “Operating a small nursery within the confines of a safe community of like-minded people will allow us to continue to provide exceptional learning opportunities for children in a real-world environment. No strip lights, no plastic toys, no scratchy carpet tiles, just a beautiful well-designed space, quality wooden resources, exceptional educators and a whole load of love and nurturing in a real-life community with people who care.”
 
Seasons Day Nursery was established in 2016, originally as a childminding service. The business has grown to become a successful day care operation providing a high-quality service to families and children from three months to school age.
 
Seasons Day Nursery is due to open at the Aldingbourne Country Centre in September 2022, and will offer free entitlement places for 2–4-year-olds.
 
For more information and a prospectus, email bookings@hannahrosalie.co.uk
To apply to work at Seasons Day Nursery email info@hannahrosalie.co.uk
Information on Aldingbourne Trust please visit www.aldingbournetrust.org
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