You may already have heard that Hertfordshire County Council Children’s Services Panel accepted the recommendation ‘to no longer fund the Home Visiting service provided by Hertfordshire Home-Start schemes’. This will mean that the statutory funding for Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire (HSRSC) will cease from 1st October 2015. This is devastating news for the scheme. However, the Board of Trustees have been working over the last few years to diversify our funding streams and this plan, along with good financial management, means that over the next few months there will be no immediate changes to how we work with families and volunteers. The strength of HSRSC is that whatever the involvement in the scheme, be it staff, trustee, volunteer, supporter or member we all share the same vision, “Supporting families in our local community”. We are sure that this spirit, combined with the heart-warming testimonials from our families, will continue to inspire us to find every possible way to finance this great service and allow our staff team and volunteers to get on with what they do best, supporting families. So, how can you support us? There are a number of ways you can help us by volunteering. Home Visiting – A home visiting volunteer would normally be a parent or have parenting experience with an understanding of the problems and pleasures of family life. We link this wellsupported and trained volunteer to the most suitable family referred, offering home visits, usually for 2-3 hours a week. Family Group – These volunteers help set up the equipment and activities and spend time with both the children and parents offering practical and emotional support at our family support group. Home visiting and family group volunteers are required to attend the Home-Start preparation course – the next training course will start on 16th September, 2015 and it is not too late to sign up for this – please contact us on 01763 262262. Supporters – If you have a few hours to spare now and again, please consider becoming a supporter. Supporters helps us with activities ranging from wrapping the children’s Christmas presents, baking a cake, donating tombola prizes for our ‘mum’s tombola’ at Christmas time and helping with fundraising events. You could support one of our fundraising events: Saturday 10th October – 7.00 for 7.30pm – Quiz Night with supper to be held at Meldreth Village Hall. This will be a fun quiz – teams of 6 are required but if you can’t get a full team, please do still join us and we can include you in another team. Tickets will be £10 each to include your supper and there will be a licensed bar and a raffle held at this event. Thursday 1st December – Christmas Door Decoration
Workshops – to be held at Foxton Village Hall – back by popular demand – we are running 2 workshops on the day so you can attend which one suits you best, they will be held at 11.00am – 2.00pm and 7.00pm – 10.00pm. Tickets are £20 please book as soon as possible as this is always a very popular event. Become a member of our Fundraising Events Committee – This committee, chaired by a Trustee, plan and organise our programme of events. Volunteers on this fun and lively committee are always needed to attend meetings and take part in the events. Snowflake Tea Parties – would you like to host a tea party with your family and friends from your office, playgroup, school, book club etc.? We will supply you with a “tea bag” fundraising pack with ideas and recipes for all you need to host an event. Would you like to host a Pampered Chef party – We are very lucky to have a Pampered Chef organiser as a supporter of HSRSC, these parties can be held during the day or the evening. You and your guests will get a chance to try out the innovative, multifunctional kitchen tools, learn how to prepare impressive recipes quickly, enjoy the tasty results and relax and have fun!
Do you shop online? If you do, please consider using easyfundraising.org.uk - Register your details on www.easyfundraising.org.uk and choose HomeStart Royston and South Cambridgeshire as your charity. Then when you want to search you sign into easyfundraising first, then click on your chosen retailer, decide on your product and, at no extra cost to you, we will automatically receive a percentage of your spend. Please remember easyfundraising when you are shopping on-line and spread the word … tell all your friends and family. If you recruit new supporters HSRSC will get even more! Get Smart for Home-Start – This is a really tasty and easy way to support us. All you need to do is buy a tube of smarties, enjoy eating them and then together as a family or with friends fill the tube with 20p pieces. Once your tube is full please send a cheque made out to Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire to the address below, pop into our office or you can pay your money directly into our account – HSBC – sort code 40-39-22, account number 71363379 using the reference smartie. If you would like further information about any of these events or activities please contact us at our office – HomeStart Royston & South Cambrideshire, Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth, Cambs, SG8 6JP, by calling us on 01763 262262, email us on admin@hsrsc.org.uk or see our website www.hsrsc.org.uk. You can also catch up with us on Facebook. We are always very grateful for the support we receive from our local community and so if you can take part in only one of the above, this will make a real different to local families. Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you. For more details contact Sarah or Jackie at: Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire, Unit 6, Valley Farm, Station Road, Meldreth, Royston, Herts, SG8 6JP
Tel: 01763 262262 or e-mail admin@hsrsc.org.uk www.hsrsc.org.uk Registered Charity No 1105385
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