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Village News
In the news
Melbourn Village Plan
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Library News
R.N.L.I. 5
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Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group 6
Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme 7
Melbourn & District Branch Royal British Legion Women’s Section
Christian Aid Week in Melbourn 2012
Melbourn Village Fete
Melbourn Play Parks Project
Volunteer locally with CATalyst!
Melbourn and Meldreth Self Group
Cutting hair for charity! 7
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Beavers Cubs and Scouts –Please Help Us!
It has been agreed that, Beavers will commence in mid January 2013. See opposite for more information
Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force
Melbourn Detachment re-opens on the 11th September 2012 at: The Cadet Centre in The Moor Melbourn SG8 6ED See page 37 for more information
Melbourn Village Plan
Melbourn Village in Bloom
We have received plenty of compliments and positive feedback on the flower tubs around the cross and village centre. It is hoped to build on this excellent beginning and gradually add more features around the village next year.
Grateful thanks to all who have been involved with this project, but especially Helen Powell from the Melbourn gardening club and Ray Pritchard, without whom the project would never have happened.
Thanks and much appreciation also go to Country Gardens at Frog End who provided plants and planters at generously discounted prices.
If you would like to help with this initiative in the future please contact the Melbourn Village Plan on 01763 232692.
Beavers Cubs and Scouts – Please Help Us!
In the last edition of the Melbourn Magazine we announced the possibility of starting a Beavers group in Melbourn. It has now been agreed that, subject to finding enough support from Melbourn volunteers, Beavers will commence in mid January 2013. Two suitable venues have been identified.
Presently, young people who want to join the Scout movement must travel to Orwell where both leaders and facilities exist for Beavers and Cubs. This arrangement
has worked well. However, sustaining the Orwell group may be difficult in the long run unless more helpers can be found.
Many already travel from Melbourn to Orwell. Consequently, the Orwell group is in danger of being oversubscribed and there is growing pressure from parents in Melbourn for local facilities. Alternatively, some people also journey to Beavers groups at either Royston or Barkway.
This is another appeal for people to come forward who might like to help start a Beavers group in Melbourn. The Orwell leader, Andy Bendon, has offered to assist with basic training for Beavers and Cubs. This would take about one hour a week for six weeks to complete. There will also be a need for a rolling rota of Dads (or Mums) who would be willing to offer support for an hour or two every few weeks. Andy is also offering to help lead Melbourn Beavers during the start-up process.
If you know of anyone who would be interested in training as a leader, or would be happy to be part of a rota helping out, please let us know.
To make contact on Scouting training or assistance in particular or Sports and Leisure matters in general, please contact Mark Wyer on 01763 222497 or markwyer@ntlworld.com
Library News
We pleased to hear that planning permission for a new Hub has been passed and that work on clearing the site will start shortly.
This is wonderful news as it was the only way in which the Library could be maintained in Melbourn. We see the Library as a vital part of the facilities that will go to make up the new Hub Building and intend it to be a major contributor to it. We will have to do a great deal of work before we can make the move and need to know how to change our operation to suit the new situation. We need to know what you consider important in order to make the best use of the limited space available. The space has had to be reduced because the building is not large enough to allow us as much room as we have now in the old Library. We have to make the best possible use of the space available in the new Library work to the advantage of our users. We will have to reduce our stock by about 30%, which is about 1000 books. We hope to do this firstly by taking under used and old books off the shelves and then improving our stock by buying a limited number of new books based on the best seller lists such as Richard and Judy’s. We do not receive any allocation of new Adult Fiction from the Library Service due to the cutbacks. It is possible to place reservations on books but this takes a relatively long time as we only receive books once every two weeks. So we are asking you our users to tell us what you like so we can consider your suggestions.
We are hoping to have one end of the new building, which will have bookcases around the wall and on a central pier. These will fold back against the walls when the Library is closed so that the space in the central area can be used for other functions. There will be some form of Kinder Boxes for the younger children’s books. We will need to find a way of presenting children’s books, which might take the form of a small mobile shelf unit. The Library Desk will have to be incorporated with the reception desk near the entrance.
We hope to be able to increase our opening times when we move to the new Hub. We will need more librarians at that time so if you are interested in helping please call at the library and we will arrange training. The new library system is now running so training can take place using the new system.
With all this in mind we ran a stall at the Village fête in June to sell off some of our surplus stock and had a very successful day when we sold over £50 worth of stock. This money will be used to help purchase a number of new Best Sellers. We hope the purchasers will enjoy the books we sold. We were very pleased with the attention we received and hope you will make use of the library both now and in its new home. Library opening times are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Thursday 5.00 to 7.00 pm Saturday 10.00 to 12.00 noon Story Time Thursdays 10.00 to 10.45 am. Mike Stapleton
R.N.L.I.
A big thank you to all of you who supported us at our stall at the Melbourn Fete, where we raised £150 towards the work of R.N.L.I. We now have our Flag Day in Royston to look forward to, and of course Royston Kite Festival, where we hope to see lots of you who support us, as well as enjoy an enjoyable sunny day-remember those?
Sadly we had to abandon our stall at the Open Secrets event in June, due to inability to man the stall-even R.N.LI volunteers have holidays-and we head into autumn with a full programme, but very few helpers.
I know that there are Shoreline members out there who support R.N.L.I. so this is a heartfelt plea-can anyone give an hour of their time now and again to help us with our fundraising?
With the severe weather we have experienced recently, R.N.L.I lifeboats have been in action not just at sea, but in inland areas affected by floods-there is a lot of goodwill and support out there for the work we do, but the work cannot carry on without the support of volunteers to collect our funds.
Please have a think about it and call the number below to see if there is a date when you could offer us a little help-you won’t regret it-and nor will the R.N.L.I. J. Emes Secretary Royston Branch-01763 245958
Melbourn and Meldreth Women’s Group
The Women’s Group is for all women of any age. Meetings are held at 7.45p.m. on the 4th Tuesday of each month and the venues vary between The Community Hall behind All Saints Church in Melbourn and The Meeting Room attached to Holy Trinity Church Meldreth. A charge of £1 is made on the evening and there is an option to contribute to our charity pot - our charity this year is The Wallace Cancer Care Trust based in Cambridge.
September 25th sees us meeting in Melbourn to hear details of a trip to Oberammergau to see The Passion Plays. 23rd October we will meet in Meldreth, to hear a talk about Magpas (a charity we have recently supported) and on 27 November we meet in Melbourn for an Advent Reflection, which will be led by Marion Long. We have no meeting in December.
We will also be busy organising the Harvest Supper, which will be in Meldreth Village Hall on 28th September. We hope to run our popular jewellery stall and also one for accessories such as scarves at The All Saints’ Bazaar in November and we would welcome any donations for or help with this. We will also have a tree at The Christmas Tree Festival in Meldreth in November so all in all a few busy months ahead.
If you would like to join us do feel free to come along. If you have any questions please contact either Pat Smith or Sue Toule 260955.
Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme
is looking for a ‘Part Time Mobile Warden’
Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme is a registered charity providing support to those needing help to remain independent in their own homes. It offers friendship as well as practical support. The scheme’s clients span a range of ages but are primarily elderly.
The scheme currently uses three wardens and is seeking a fourth to deliver services to clients within the village of Melbourn, which include: • Twice weekly visits to clients in their homes • Daily phone calls to clients on non visit days • Errands for clients such as local shopping, prescription ordering and collection and visits to post office etc.
The warden will be required to deliver services on a self-employed basis. The scheme operates Monday to Friday. Hours are flexible depending on the number of clients that the warden provides the services to. Some holiday cover (to be shared with the other wardens) would also be required occasionally. The Scheme is looking for someone who can demonstrate the following: • Strong empathy and a natural carer of others • Good listener and able to engage in friendly conversation • Patient and calm in an emergency • Can use initiative to resolve day to day problems • Flexible and able to travel extensively around the village
No experience is necessary just natural ability. Any training and support will be organised by the existing wardens. CRB checks will be conducted.
If you think you have what it takes and would like to be part of this worthwhile service, the scheme’s secretary invites you to apply in writing by 30th September 2012 at MMWS Secretary, 10, Ash Grove, Melbourn, SG8 6BJ.
Please provide your name, address and contact details and a little bit about your reasons for applying and any related information you think would be of interest.
Interviews of suitable applicants will be conducted at a date to be confirmed.
Members enjoyed a Fish and Chip supper supplied by the Men’s Section.
Our Standard Bearer has carried out Standard on several occasions and we are very proud of her; she has also made a kneeler for Meldreth Church.
Members are considering the event of our 75th Anniversary on October 13th 2012. We have gained some new members and welcome them to our branch.
Anyone wishing to join may do so and a ‘trial ‘ can be had at any of our monthly meetings (4th Wed of every month). Contact Chairman Mrs C Lyondell, or Secretary Mrs E Murphy 220841.
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Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme
Can we help you? Can we help a relative? Can we help a neighbour? Who does the Scheme help?
The scheme is open to anyone who requests our help including those who live alone or with their families but need the extra support offered by our services. Couples too are most welcome. It is also open to those in sheltered housing, as the scheme offers different, but complementary services. Note: The scheme also offers its services for short periods to cover the temporary absence of relatives who otherwise provide this support.
We offer help with:
•Friendship and support via twice weekly visits and daily phone calls • Ordering and collection of prescriptions • • • • • • Basic shopping Collection of pensions Setting up Lifeline service Bereavement support Advice on benefits Going to the Post Office to pay your bills • Advice on getting repairs done in your home • Arranging transport to the hospital or other appointments • Just coming round for a chat What will it cost?
We do have to make a small weekly charge for the warden’s services. The fee is only £5 per week (a little more for couples). Margo Wherrell (Mobile Warden) 01763 260966 Mobile: 07935 315497 Email: tigress270549@aol.com Jeannie Seers (Deputy Warden) 01763 262651 Mobile: 07808 735066 Email: jeanseers1@ntlworld.com Joy Hyde (Assistant Warden) 01763 220139 Mobile: 07952 090089. Melbourn Warden Scheme is a registered charity.
