A Message From our Volunteer Coordinator 

​I would like to say how grateful I am to be working with a great team of Volunteers at the Trust.  Every day I am in awe of your enthusiasm, kindness and your flexibility to help the people we support.  I have been communicating with our Volunteers either via emails, telephone calls, WhatsApp Groups, Teams and Facebook Social Groups and I am pleased to say that we have recruited over 13 short term Volunteers and 4 Gig Buddies so far during this difficult time...
Eggstra-ordinary generosity from Waitrose
Cassie (one of the people we support) had mentioned that she was disappointed she would not be receiving her chocolate Easter egg this year from her parent who lives abroad, due to Covid 19 and the lockdown.

Tracy Milward our Volunteer Coordinator had heard elsewhere that local supermarkets were struggling with the quantities of Easter eggs that were not being purchased due to them being non-essential items.

Tracy spoke to one of her Volunteers, Clare Seaby and she had a contact at Waitrose, Laura Quiggan Community Matters Champion - the story developed.  
​Waitrose Rustington were very keen to help – they kindly donated up to 100 eggs and treats for all the people we support in our supported living and outreach services. Cassie got her Easter egg this year which made her very happy. - Thank you Waitrose & Clare!
Personal Protective Equipment

​Our No 73 Sewing Group, Debbie Bagnall and several volunteers have been busy creating 187 bright, colourful face masks.

These masks made from natural cotton will be used by the people we support to use to help protect them whilst out in the community on essential journeys to get medical supplies or food.

 ❤️
We know it’s “good to talk” now more than ever
A small team of Volunteers have been in regular contact with the people we support by telephone, ensuring they know we are there for them.   This also led to our Volunteer Clare Seaby going to Cassie's house to revamp her garden so she can enjoy her outside space.
'Aldingbourne on Wheels'
A small team of seven Volunteers have been delivering the food which is made in our Café to our Supported Living Services, this includes a weekly visit to Worthing and Chichester. 

Nothing is too much trouble for this team, we have changed venues, times and added to this rota on a weekly basis, however, despite all of this, the meals are always delivered on time!  Our Volunteers have also helped cover shifts to ensure that the Catering Staff are not alone in the Quarry Building! 
Work Work Work
As the Country Centre is closed to the public, our volunteers have taken advantage of helping with general maintenance of the site, and also helping with the enormous amount of plants we have in our Horticulture department and ongoing works in the farm.   This is all essential work to help maintain the smooth running of the Centre, ready for when we can return to our new normality, whenever that may be.
Aldingbourne online and in your home
Our volunteers have actively been involved in live streams for our private facebook pages; they have provided daily dance classes by Susanne Hill which have been such fun, keeping us fit and happy! – thank you Susanne. We have also had baking live streams from Hedda Wells who volunteers in our Creative Arts Studio.  

Our volunteers love being apart of one of our closed groups call ACC Live TV with Jen and Em.  This show has brought our volunteers together with the people we support.  They look forward to this Live Stream every day and not forgetting the Live Performances on a Monday and Wednesday evenings by Dawn Gracie and Sarah Wood which has given our volunteers joy in their living rooms.

We have had several donations from individuals over the past few months, amongst those donations are Rathbones of Chichester who have provided our Charity with £4,000 & Pat Wright, Creative Arts Volunteer has also set up a fundraising page selling her beautiful unique hand painted cards.