Aldingbourne News
Stay up to date with the latest news from the Aldingbourne Trust
 “We are very proud of all our artists!” says Helen Wilkinson, Lead Creative Arts Instructor at the Aldingbourne Trusts Creative Arts Studio, Aldwick Road.
The Creative Arts Studio, a social enterprise of the Aldingbourne Trust, gives the people they support opportunity to express themselves and learn new skills in a creative and friendly environment. The Creative Arts students have recently won six prizes at the 2019 Mid-Sussex MENCAP Mary Wheeler Art Competition. Andrew Allen won First prize in the Portraits category, Michael Paddington won First prize for Seasons, Peter Spencer won Second prize for Holidays, Tony Jolly won Third prize for Portraits, Richard Best won Fourth prize for Portraits and Terry Barrett received a Highly Commended for Seasons. “Art is an important form of expression as it transcends communication barriers, with experienced instructors and volunteers the Creative Arts team assist artists in developing their skills from painting and drawing, to printmaking or textiles” Says Helen. If you would like more information about our Creative Arts Studio, please visit our website www.aldingbournetrust.org/creative-arts, and to find out more about our award winning charity that supports adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to live the live independent lives.  Santa Claus will be coming to town on Saturday 7th December. Join in the festive fun with the Aldingbourne Trust from 11am to 2pm at their Creative Arts Studio, No73 Aldwick Road Bognor Regis. Where they will be getting in the festive spirit with a charity fundraising Christmas Market in aid of the My Network project.
My Network Co-ordinator, Debbie Allsopp said, “The Christmas Market is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate their talents. Members have been making items to sell and will be around on the day serving teas, coffees, cake, mulled wine and mince pies.” Students from their Creative Arts Studio have also been making goods for sale, so there will be a selection of Christmas gifts available to purchase, and a Christmas tombola offering the chance to win some wonderful Christmas prizes. There are also tables available for rent at £10, so if you crafty and would like to sell some items please contact Debbie on 01243 838539. My network is located at No73 Aldwick Road, which is a welcoming place where people with learning disabilities can come to seek advice, find out information or simply meet friends and socialise. My Network aims to support social inclusion, and hosts social evenings every Thursday from 6-9pm, activities can include bingo, karaoke and quiz nights. They also provide a Saturday lunch club on alternative weekends, where members are encouraged to plan a meal, shop for the ingredients, then prepare, and cook the meal. The Christmas Market will raise additional funds needed to continue the support they offer to adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. It will also support My Network to provide more events to the local community, continuing their support in providing social inclusion.  “The LOL launch party was an amazing experience. I am so proud to be a part of LOL, and to be able to deliver events that are so important and very much needed.” Says Emily Jazz Behan – Living Out Loud Volunteer
Local community groups, including the Aldingbourne Trust, Apulstock, Stay Up Late and Gig Buddies, launched their new Learning Disability and Autism friendly Clubs night at TAO in Bognor Regis on Wednesday 6th November. Community Solutions Manager, Casper Rioseco said “The launch of Living Out Loud last night was a huge success with a resounding turnout. To see so many people enjoying themselves and feeling that they can be themselves and not have to worry about being judged in a safe and welcoming environment was a beauty to see.” It was a huge turnout in numbers with nearly 250 attendees, with a variety of people of different ages coming together, from different walks of life, showing that having a disability and/or autism is not even a consideration to being able to socialise and most of all have fun. They are already in planning for the next night, which will be taking place on Wednesday 4th December and hope to prove once again there is a demand for a full on clubbing experience within the local area for people with a learning disability and/or autism. “The night was filled with good music, a great atmosphere and many happy faces. I can’t wait for the next one, and to see in the future the impact these events will have on the community.” Said Emily.  "We had a great time and thought the spooky woods were brilliantly done!" said Alexandra Buttle from Bognor Regis.
Visitors were thrilled during the Halloween Spooktacular event at the Aldingbourne Country Centre near Chichester. With record numbers of over 4,000 people attending this annual event held in their woodland walk, which was transformed into a spooky wood extravaganza. There was also a non-scary trail and story time, and everyone was invited to dress up for the occasion, with witches, wizards, skeletons, princesses and fairies attending over the three-day event. "The actors in the woods were such fun and so good with our kids" said Kerry Murray from Worthing. Jen Sears, the events manager at the Country Centre said "This is one of our favourite events, the people we support love to get involved and dress up for the occasion". 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 in our own onsite café which features an indoor slide. The Country Centre is now busy getting ready for their Breakfast with Santa days on the 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th December. Visit their website www.aldingbournetrust.org/breakfast-with-santa for more information and to book, as spaces are selling fast!  The Aldingbourne Trust is one of this year’s finalists for the Sussex Business Awards 2019, having been shortlisted for the Charity of the Year award.
Enterprise and Development Manager of the Aldingbourne Trust, Michelle McKinley Bell said: "We are delighted to have been chosen as a finalist for this award. As a charity we support people to live independent lives providing real-life opportunities to develop their skills within a variety of social enterprises - opening doorways for employment within Sussex. We would not have been able to achieve our success without the support we receive from the local community and our corporate partners." The Aldingbourne Trust provides meaningful and valued opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to live independent and fulfilled lives within their local community. Offering support through housing, employment, leisure, education and training opportunities. Visit www.aldingbournetrust.org for information about their social enterprises and how you can support their charity.
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. |
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