Arlesey News Magazine 2023

Welcome to September

Firstly, our thanks go to all o f our contribu tors this month for helping us to get our September issue ready for print much much earlier than usual and allo wing us time away as a family o ver the holidays.

Our September issue is packed full o f the usual ar ticles and updates - some o f our schools take a break this month bu t will be back in full swing by our next edition

We had some lo vely comments last month abou t our new f resher look to the magazine, we are so glad that you liked it!

Inside this month you’ll f ind several features, including an update on the Arlesey Community Larder on page 4 and details on the new triage system currently under way at Larksf ield Surger y on page 5. On page 7 you can f ind ou t more abou t the Arlesey Community Action Day planned for Friday 15th September. On page 18 you’ll f ind a questionnaire f rom Central Bedfordshire Council concerning a Community Flood Risk project they are currently working on This topic is close to the hear ts o f many local residents so please do take the time to take par t if you are able to

Keep sending us in your letters and comments as we lo ve hearing f rom our readers - you can send them by letter, email or by messaging us through our facebook page. We also welcome more new adver tisers once again this month - please do look ou t for them.

We hope you are enjo ying the summer break and wish all children star ting on their ver y f irst journey into school life the ver y best o f luck for the new term

Until next month

Joanne

www justgiving com/ gar denhousehospice

Announcements: We are happy to accept family announcements by post telephone, email or through our facebook page If you would like to make a donation in return for your announcement then please visit the website above Please mention that the donation has been made on behalf of the Stotfold & Arlesey News Magazine

Local News Round- up

Arlesey Communit y Larder - Here for the communit y.

Arlesey Community Larder is a Community Interest Company suppor ting local residents and surrounding areas with food suppor t We are working in par tnership with Arlesey To wn Council and Central Bedfordshire Council to pro vide the ser vice The larder opened to local residents just before Christmas (December 2022) and has helped a number o f families and individuals who require food suppor t If you require our suppor t we will help you withou t judgement or prejudice.

Suppor t for the larder has been fantastic so far, f rom the 1st Arlesey Scou ts and Dambusters Explorers with their ‘Sleep Ou t to Help Ou t’ to the generosity o f local residents and community groups in Arlesey We run a ‘basics larder ’ twice a week and o ffer on ‘occasions food rescue’ f rom local supermarkets Please f ind up to date information on our facebook page @arleseycommunitylarder Donations o f in-date, non-perishable food items to the basic's larder is ver y much welcome as well as monetar y donations to keep our larder stocked. We currently require: tinned meats, tinned meals, tinned f ish, tinned soups, long life milk, eggs, oils

Any monetar y donations can be BACS transfer to: Arlesey Community Larder CIC Sor t Code: 04-06-05 Account 19621234 Arlesey Community Larder can be found at the Arlesey MUGA Pavillion behind the W I Hall on the High Street For enquiries and to f ind ou t ho w you can get involved, contact 07427 650080 Email: thom@arleseycommunitylarder.org

HELP ARLESEY COMMUNITY LARDER THROUGH THE BANKTHEFOOD

APP! Do wnload it NO W

We are pleased to be par tnering with BanktheFood. If you are doing your food shop, check the app for the needed items the larder needs and you can drop your donations at the village hall or WI Hall in Arlesey Help us to make a difference!!e

Recent donation f rom 1st Arlesey Scou ts f rom their ‘sleep ou t for the homeless’ night

Local News Round- up

Larksf ield Medical Par tnership Welcome New Online System.

Accurx Patient Triage

The new online appointment request system is no w up and running at bo th Shefford and Lo wer Stondon Surgeries, and for those registered with Larksf ield and Arlesey Medical Par tnership, access has been available f rom 8th August Registered patients can use the Accur x Patient Triage if you require a non- urgent appointment with a GP or Advanced Practitioner or have an administration quer y This will enable you to make requests in your o wn time, instantly access NHS self-help resources and avoid morning telephone queues

If you do no t have access to the internet or struggle with completing the online form, please telephone the reception team and they will complete the form on your behalf

If a patient is vulnerable, or has learning diff iculties or canno t access the form via the website or smar t phone, they can still call and the reception staff have all been trained to f ill ou t the form on their behalf Walk in patients will be asked to f ill ou t the form, then they will need to wait for a response f rom the clinician, the reception staff will no t be able to book appointments for GP appointments or minor illness this will all be done by the triage clinician once the form has been submitted

Your practice will get be in touch with you by the end o f the second working day after submitting your form, and quicker if it is urgent You will be contacted by text, email or telephone, and will be o ffered either an appointment, advice, or help to access the appropriate healthcare ser vice

Your request will no t bee seen immediately, so it is impor tant to call 111 if you feel your issue is urgent or needs immediate attention

Information brought to you by Ivel Valley Sou th Primar y Care Net works, Care Coordinating team at blmkicb carecoordinator ivs@nhs net

CRIME FIGURES for Arlesey (May 2023)

We have had several requests to rever t back to repor ting the local crime f igures as quo ted on the local Police uk website

We will repor t these on a monthly basis (please remember the f igures will be a couple o f months prior to publication due to a delay in the police crime repor ting system )

V iolence & Sexual Offences 11

Other Crime - 6

Vehicle Crime - 3

Anti- social behaviour - 8

Criminal damage & arson - 7

Source: www police co uk

Local News Round- up

Local Ladies Aim High at the Archer y GB Junior National Ou tdoor Championships.

Neve Church and Abi Speltinkx, bo th 17 recently took par t in the Archer y GB Junior National Ou tdoor Championships in Lilleshall, Shropshire after they were called up to represent the Under 21 reser ve categor y in July Bo th girls belong to local club Aim 4 Spor t AC who are always on the lookou t for new members. Bo th girls were prompted to pursue this spor t by their teacher Mr McGee at Etonbur y Academy with bo th girls thoroughly enjo ying the challenges the spor t brings

The club is open to new members, with no experience necessar y - just the willingness to learn a new skill. If you are looking for something rather unique to learn and are interested in f inding ou t more then contact www aim4spor tac co uk

Neve Church, pictured f irst right and Abi Speltinkx pictured far right, take aim for the Under 21 reser ves in Shropshire Belo w bo th girls representing their club Aim 4 Spor t AC. www aim4spor tac co uk

Update from Cllr Jodie Chiller y

Follo wing my previous updates on working on addressing repor ts o f anti- social behaviour I'm pleased to be able to inform you all o f the Arlesey Community Action Day Plans have been in the pipeline for while, bu t since being elected I've been working closely with o ff icers in the Safer Communities Team and fully suppor t this oppor tunity for the community to be able to engage with them too Together, we've made several residential visits and the team have carried ou t patrols in areas where anti social behaviour has been repor ted

So, save the date, we are looking for ward to holding the Arlesey Action Day event in Arlesey on Friday 15th September between 10am and 2pm The aim o f a Community Action Day is to have a visible presence, with uniformed o ff icers f rom Central Bedfordshire Council, the To wn Council, and par tner agencies such as Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Ser vice There will be street cleansing, litter picks and o ther maintenance issues actioned, as well as pro viding high-visibility patrols, public reassurance, and crime prevention advice It’s an oppor tunity for you to come ou t and meet the team, share concerns, repor t issues, get some crime prevention and safety advice. If any community groups would like to be involved with the action day, by doing their o wn action or holding an event or session to suppor t the community please contact Community.Safety@centralbedfordshire.go v.uk

Dear Editor,

We were luck enough to mo ve to to the area last year in May As with mo ving, we found we needed a variety o f house jobs to be done.

We looked through the Arlesey News for inspiration and found Darren Peters Proper ty Maintenance. He turned ou t to be a multi skilled handyman, f rom electrics to plumbing, plastering and carpentr y, plus much more besides Always reliable and pleasant to have around

He is def initely our ‘go to’ man. Ver y satisf ied customers

P&C.

Your LETTERS

Dear Editor,

I have a couple o f items I wish to sell:

1x Drive handy mobility trolley with shelves

Excellent condition,Cost £150 sell for £80

1x por tmeirion egg storage chicken, ceramic £10. Colour bro wn Tel 07501 066 444

Dear Editor,

We read with interest the ar ticle inside last month’s magazine featuring the school which used to be situated along Arlesey Road We have lived in Arlesey (close to Arlesey Road ) for some thir ty plus years and never knew o f its existance. Ver y interesting to f ind more ou t abou t our local histor y Mr T Banks

Mental Health Matters - with Jo Loach

Self-talk

In managing our mental health, it is impor tant to pay attention to what we think abou t our experiences and thus the way that we speak to ourselves abou t them This internal self- talk can help or hinder our ability to manage and navigate our way through challenging times

This self- talk is o ften referred to as a harsh internal critic who may pro vide a running commentar y o f criticism o ver what you are doing and ho w you are doing it. This type o f self- talk may o verlook your effor ts and achievements and instead focus on perceived failings.

While there is a reality to us all failing or making mistakes along the way o f life, a critical response o f self- talk is more likely to squash or shame us than to encourage us to look for the learning within or to seek suppor t to manage. When self- talk is par ticularly critical or crushing, it can keep us floored, defeated, struggling to seek suppor t or gro wth or stuck in a self-defeating cycle

When things don’t go to plan or times o f trial are par ticularly testing or continued, we can become worn do wn These are the times that we most need kindness, understanding and compassion

The more we can cultivate this, the more we can implement it in response to ourselves and our struggles. And the more we can cultivate and practice encouraging, suppor tive selftalk in our times o f need, the more we can respond with kindness and compassion to the needs o f o thers.

If we are typically quite good at helpful self- talk, we can become vulnerable during times o f prolonged stress, to a resurgence o f older more unhelpful patterns o f self- talk. In the face o f challenges, it is always wor th checking in whether your self- talk is helpful or unhelpful.

Jo Loach is a BACP Accredited Counsellor, with an MA in contemporar y therapeu tic counselling

We have so much to look for ward to this academic year, welcoming our new September intake and our f irst year o f Sixth Form!

Here at Etonbur y Academy we’re a school where ever y child can shine Our children are conf ident, lo ve learning and flourish Our people are dedicated pro fessionals who care and nur ture ever y individual child by unlocking their full po tential to be the best that they can be Our pro ven track record gives you ever y good reason to consider Etonbur y as the right school for your child Arriving in year f ive, our f irst-class learning environment pro vides a seamless education through to year 13, enabling our children to aim high We will soon be opening our Sixth Form, o ffering a f irst-class all- through education

By encouraging a lo ve o f learning and building conf idence, we ensure ever y child fulf ils their individual po tential according to their o wn abilities, skills and interests We believe in educating the whole child – inside the classroom and beyond, by giving them an engaging curriculum and a vibrant and adventurous programme o f extra -curricular activities. Etonbur y’ s facilities, resources and specialist teaching are second- to -none. So too is our commitment to pastoral care. This is a place where ever y child is safe, secure and suppor ted.

Ever y single member o f our learning community – students, staff and parents – are par t o f our success stor y. Together we make Etonbur y Academy a school to be ver y proud o f

WALKS FOR HEALTH

Would you like to join a f riendly local group for weekly local walk? Walks star t at 10.45am

Meeting points for September:

7th, 14th Scou t Hu t - Baldock Rd, Sto tfold

21st, 28th The Cro wn PH, The Green, Sto tfold

For details contact Beth Over f ield 01462 815672

Nor th Her ts Road Runners

Entries are no w open for the Standalone10k on 1st Oct. www standalone10k org uk The next 1st Sat o f the month 5k at Letchwor th Common will be 2nd September at 9am. Entr y is f ree and open to all abilities We continue our training sessions with qualif ied coaches on Tues. & Thurs evenings at 7pm These are open to all, why no t come along for a taster session with no obligation

Contact Ian 07506429928 or nhrr.org.uk

Etonbur y A cademy

Our children are happy and achieve their full po tential, come and see for yourself what makes Etonbur y special

We’d be delighted to welcome you to our Opening Evening, Thursday 5 October, or if you would like a personal tour, please do get in touch with us on 01462 730391 or via email eta -o ff ice@bestacademies org uk to book

Etonbur y Academy

Sto tfold Rd, Arlesey SG15 6XS T: 01462 730391

Our

announcements

GEORGE

Happy 13th Bir thday

You’re o ff icially a teenager!

Enjo y your day Lo ve you Dad, Kayleigh & Lily xxxx

LILY POPS

Happy 6th Bir thday

Hope your day is as special as you are Lo ve you Mummy, Daddy & George xx

YVONNE MYNO TT

2nd September

Happy 70th Bir thday!

Huge Happy Bir thday wishes to our AMA ZING Mum! (& Nanna)

Lo ts o f lo ve f rom all the family xxx

MARY FYE

We would like to thank ever yone who attended the funeral o f the late Mar y Fye who fell asleep peacefully surrounded by her family on the 10th o f July

Thank you for all your kind messages o f suppor t at this ver y sad time Mar y passed a few days before her 82nd bir thday. She was a much lo ved mum, Nan and great grandmo ther who will be greatly missed

Mar y lived her whole life in Arlesey - her family o wned the Fountain pub for many years. She leaves behind her husband Ernie after 68 happy years together

OLIVIA SAUNDERS

Wishing you a ver y Happy bir thday!

And also the ver y best o f luck for your sponsered abseil for Dravet Syndrome on 16th September

With lo ve f rom Mum, Dad, Oliver Mandie, Lucy, Alex, Nan and Grandad xx

YVONNE MYNO TT

2nd September

Happy 70th Bir thday!

Huge Happy Bir thday wishes to our AMA ZING Mum! (& Nanna)

Lo ts o f lo ve f rom all the family xxx

JANET EVERSON

In lo ving memor y o f our mum, who we sadly lost on 11th July 2023. A much lo ved lady, always with a f riendly smile

The family o f Janet would like to take the oppor tunity to thank ever ybody who came to Mums funeral and for their kind messages o f suppor t, cards and donations made in her memor y.

To compare is to despair…

Nine weeks to go and the Ironman plan is heading into a critical period where sessions are reaching maximum distances and the clock is being watched. In the old days, you’d press the star t bu tton o f your trusty Casio and set ou t on your training run. You’d have a f inish time and a rough idea o f the distance and that was it. No wadays, my watch will tell me ho w far I’ve been, my hear t rate, the pace I’m running and will bleep at me to go faster or slo wer At the end it will congratulate me if I’ve achieved a fastest time and then the information will be uploaded onto my phone, my training app, and into the world that is Strava

Strava is the Swedish verb to ‘strive’ and is a ‘community for athletes’; you post all your activities, as does ever yone else You follo w f riends and their training schedules, and they follo w you So no t only can you upload and view all your data, you get to see ever yone else’s too and, similar to o ther social media, it can be quite addictive And this is where the problem lies; the training has been consistent and I’m feeling f itter than I have done for many years And yet, I’m no t as quick as I once was or as fast as some o f the o thers around me

When I was younger, I completed a marathon at a faster pace than I can no w run 3 miles In fact, I’m no t sure I could run just 1 mile under 7 minu tes/mile which is what I

did then for the duration o f 26! They say, ‘ to compare is the thief o f jo y’ and it’s true that the exhilaration I feel when completing a training session soon disappears when I star t analysing the f igures against my former self or to those around me.

So what’s the answer? Well just as in all areas o f life, comparing yourself to o thers or to a younger, sprightlier you is never going to achieve a positive ou tcome I’m no t going to turn o ff Strava quite yet, bu t I will focus on my o wn achievements as the person that I am no w a 52 year-old mum o f 3 who is hoping to complete an Ironman

News from - Arlesey Conser vation for Nature (ACORN)

In Praise o f the Humble Weed

Ragwor t, f riend, or foe? To the horsey set it is their most hated species bu t to the Cinnabar mo th it is their plant o f life So, do we destro y ever y plant we see as horse o wners advocate or do we let them gro w to preser ve a beau tiful black and red mo th? In the July edition o f the Arlesey News, we briefly co vered the medicinal chemicals that can be found in plants Ragwor t contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and when ingested in su ff icient quantities can cause liver failure Most animals avoid eating toxic plants bu t when a meado w is cu t for hay then if there is any in the meado w then it gets into the dried hay It is ver y diff icult to f ind and pick ou t when all you have is hoo ves For the Cinnabar mo th caterpillars, despite having vivid black and yello w stripes to pu t the birds o ff, the toxins pro vide a defence mechanism while they feed on the plants. When they f irst hatch, they are quite edible, no t sure who tried this in the f irst place, bu t as they absorb the toxin they become bitter and indigestible. No w that is one plant you can cross o ff your list o f what no t to eat when you visit the Glebe Meado ws.

Ou t o f interest did anyone go and have a count o f the number o f different plant species that can be found there

10? 20? 50? If you counted

o ver 100 then you would be getting somewhere nearer

In the flora sur vey o f 2000 (updated 2003) when ACORN purchased the meado ws 178 plant species were identif ied by Paul Stapleton o f the Bedfordshire Natural Histor y Society Paul Stapleton who under took the study did have an advantage o ver us lay people as he was a lecturer in Arable Weeds

Ano ther plant that can be found in the Glebe Meado ws is the Horseradish. This can also be found on the shelves in supermarkets in a jar o f relish And to be honest if you fancy some on your roast beef it is far easier to get it f rom the shop than tr y and dig the wild form f rom ou t o f the ground. It has a deep tenacious roo t. The main ingredients o f the horseradish plant are: gluconastur tiin, sinigrin, iso thio - and thiocyanates, allyl thiocyanate, allyl thiocyanate and allyl iso thiocyanate acids, plus o ther nitrogenated compounds, and mustard oil (up to 0.2%). It is no t the mustard oil which makes it ho t it is the iso thiocyanate which oxidises when mixed with air and saliva.

The relish is made f rom the roo t and when grated for cooking is the equivalent o f being doused by mustard gas in a World War 1 trench The cattle tend no t to eat it I wonder why?

From time to time the media star t a stor y abou t a poisonous plant and currently the Giant Hogweed has come to the fore Some years ago, laburnum trees were deemed the bad bo y as the seeds were poisonous Schools were cu tting do wn them do wn in the school grounds en masse so children wouldn’t come into contact with them

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The Giant Hogweed’s sap (an introduction f rom Russia) if it comes into contact with the skin causes severe blistering when exposed to UV light The problem is our humble native Hogweed gro wing in the roadside verges is o ften mistaken for it and then repor ts star t springing up all o ver the countr y Bo tanically they are identif ied as the Genus Heraclium which also include Fennel, Ground Elder and Co w Parsley Confusing isn’t it Bo th the Hogweed and Co w Parsley can be found in the meado ws, bu t no t the Giant Hogweed

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hing ca o a - o mming s and g tle” & the at

Britten Jane a ut! oc a t ir s an co-op o e “ t”

So, there you have a weed that can kill a horse. A weed to spice up your roast beef a weed that can cause sever blisters, and ano ther to make you wee and one to feed your plants with Nearly forgo t the Pyrethrum family which can be used to get rid o f those anno ying little insects you f ind when visiting the meado ws, although we don’t have any gro wing there [or the Giant Hogweed ]

So here is a nice song to sing when you visit the Glebe Meado ws it was sung by Doris Day back in the Sixties (ask Granny Google who she was)

ter Car Ian -

Something that is in great abundance there is grass and Common Couch (grass) was used as a diuretic in folk medicine The par t that had the medical proper ties was the roo t or specif ically the rhizomes which were gathered and dried It had to be carefully stored in air tight containers to secure the chemicals proper ties one o ther being bactericidal It was one o f the rarer used treatments being diff icult to gather and store

hed sc names ll s” e and tmas hs m e und a milk g b i d and e s b e n n e

King ntha the do mps sh oing

Ano ther plant that gro ws in abundance along the riverside is the Russian Comf rey. The deep bell- shaped flo wers are a bit too deep for the bees to reach do wn to get the nectar so they make a small hole in the side o f the petal to reach it. If you look carefully at the sides o f the flo wers you will be able to tell if a bee has visited it. The Russian Comfrey is a hybrid introduction o f the Borage family. It was used medicinally going back to the Roman era. Poultices were applied to wounds to stop bleeding. Some used it for ar thritis. It was used as a food crop, bu t it is co vered in prickly hairs so no t quite a delicacy. Tea was made f rom it to treat internal complaints Ho wever, in recent years it has been associated in scientif ic studies as a possible carcinogenic source

Hor ticulturally it has been a popular plant because o f its high nitrogen and po tassium content (NPK ) Mulches o f the cu t tops were laid around f ruit trees at one time No w a liquid feed made f rom the ro tting tops is the popular choice The cu t stems are placed in a big water container and as they decay the minerals are slo wly released An occasion stir helps it on its way bu t be warned it is a ver y smelly process An alternative (no t so smelly) is to allo w just the leaves to ro t do wn in a closed container and allo w the liquor to run ou t for collection underneath This is then watered do wn before feeding the plants

Please, please don't eat the daisies, Don't eat the daisies, please, please Please, please don't eat the daisies, Don't eat the daisies, please, please Or any o ther wild plant!

Foo tno te: All plants in bold gro w in the Glebe Meado ws.

News from Our Local Churches.

News from St Peter ’s Church

nd we will be looking for ward days and the har vest to be en we give thanks for all the gifts o f that the land gives us. gro wn produce and the products made f rom what is gro wn, , y y p p n’t have enough food, no t just in the poorer nations, bu t on our o wn doorstep. Our Har vest Festival Ser vice is on Sunday the 24th September at 9.30am. All are welcome to come and join in our praise and thanks to God for our food and crops. If you are able to bring a gift to the ser vice we will be suppor ting the “The Need Project”, as they help people in the local community. (tinned food, cereals, co ffee, tea, sugar, maybe a “ treat” etc )

In August we carried ou t the topple test (as advised in the August issue) o f all the headstones in the churchyard This is required by law as a Health and Safety issue Some headstones have been laid do wn, as they were unstable If your headstone has been laid do wn, you can leave it as it is, or contact a stonemason to reinstate with modern f ixings Relatives and family, NOT the church are solely responsible for the maintenance and care o f their headstones A gentle reminder too, that edging around the grave, or stone chippings, are no longer allo wed

“Afternoon Tea” returns after the summer break, on 6th September at 2pm

I am sorr y to say that the process o f appointing a new V icar is still ongoing An adver t will be online and in the Church times in September with inter views in October We continue to pray for the right person who can lead this church into the fu ture

Ser vices

Our ser vice times are:-

1st, 3rd,4th,5th Sundays 9 30am

2nd Sunday All Age Worship 10 00am

Ref reshments are ser ved after each ser vice an oppor tunity to socialise.

Weekdays

Co ffee Mornings Tuesday 10.30am in church

10.30am-12 noon Toddler and Parent/Carer Group

1st Wednesday in the month Afternoon Tea 2- 4m - All Welcome

Helen Bardell, Churchwarden. 01462 731227/07967144571,vicar@arlesey.org.uk

The Pathway Hypno therapy Rooms

Do you struggle with anxiety or depression?

Have you follo wed diets and still struggled to lose weight? Do you really want to quit smoking bu t don’t kno w ho w? Do you struggle with negative thought patterns or phobias? The Pathway Hypno therapy Rooms can help!

We can suppor t you to o vercome your negative thoughts and behaviours to create a positive fu ture

CONTACT US TODAY! CALL 07497 157531

glen@thepathwayhypno therapyrooms co uk

www.thepathwayhypno therapyrooms.co.uk

Communit y Matters

Conditions treated include spinal and extremity injuries, neck related headaches and sprains/strains

We are NOW OPEN

Our revised opening hours:

Tues: 2pm-7pm Wed: 10am-7pm Thursday: 3pm-7pm

Friday: 10am - 1pm Saturday: 10am-2pm

Our Trading Standards Team are warning residents in Arlesey and the surrounding area to be on their guard after receiving repor ts o f unsolicited doorstep calls being carried ou t by individuals - kno wn as "No ttingham Knockers" - o ffering household goods for sale

It is alleged that the callers are claiming to have permission f rom Central Bedfordshire Council to carr y ou t cold-calling in the area and that they represent a training company which pro vides resettlement work and suppor ts the rehabilitation o f ex-o ffenders The claims being made are false We strongly recommend that residents do no t agree to bu y any goods or ser vices f rom an unexpected caller on their doorstep

If you are interested in what is being o ffered, we always advise that you take time to think abou t the purchase and consider shopping around f irst and, where relevant, obtain comparative quo tes f rom repu table local businesses before deciding to purchase goods or ser vices being o ffered

Residents who are considering having home impro vement work or repair work carried ou t can f ind appro ved local traders on our Bu y With Conf idence scheme If you suspect suspicious cold calling activity, please repor t it to us by calling 0808 223 1133 or by email at trading.standards

@centralbedfordshire

Wh ab know you do at flooding? local out

liv you Do Brook Pix the near e ? receive you Do warnings? flood

Update from the Need Project

Our latest facts & fi gures..

www.theneedproject.org

•784 parcels pro vided •349 top- up bags collected from our pop- up sites •£54,450 (food value for the month) £6,602 cost to run the centre each month •63 - increase in food parcels this month •1,785 adults, 1531 children, 43 pensioners helped this month.

Ano ther month gone and we are into August. Well what can I say. Sadly, I think July will be our biggest month since the star t o f the project, some 18 years ago. Over 750 family food parcels in July and hundreds o f top up bags at our drop ins.

Where is it going to end? We don’t kno w and as month on month it’s getting busier, it’s a big concern. Bu t, we are so ver y grateful for the amazing suppor t, through f inance, prayer and kindness sho wn to us as we carr y ou t the work o f feeding our neighbours who are stuggling in these diff icult times

I’ve said before that I wish we were no t needed and we did something else, bu t the ministr y o f the Need Project is to feed hungr y people, o f whatever colour, creed, gender, faith or non faith If you are genuinely struggling and hungr y, we will help via the 65 odd agencies who will willingly refer to our Project

Our building plans are going slo wly, bu t steadily mo ving and if God wants us to have the building, we believe we should have, He will deal with it

As always we are grateful for your suppor t and in July we have had several wonder ful gifts o f money and I pray that God will bless all those who have gifted to the ongoing work o f the Need Project

Please see our current repor t on our website at https://theneedproject.org/repor ts/.

In closing, thank you so much to all the volunteers who give some 1,000 hours a month at least to the Project. Withou t you, we would no t be able to function. Thank you to our staff to for going abo ve and beyond. A special thanks to Jean who is mo ving on, we wish her well in her new ventures.

The fu ture for us is exciting and also scar y, bu t if we stay focused on our mission to our neighbour with lo ve and kindness, then I kno w it will be ok

Thank you Gordon

If you need to kno w more or want to look around our centre, please call me to arrange it.

Down Memory Lane

As we are in ‘fete season’ thank you to Simon Spoor for once again supplying us with this wonder ful sho t o f a past Arlesey Fete f rom yester year! Looks like a fancy dress parade - Can anyone name the year or indeed anyone pictured? We are always delighted to see your ‘old pho tographs’ and are ver y happy to collect them to borro w and then return Give us a call on 01462 731986 or send an email to arlesey news@yahoo com if you can have any you can share!

Useful Telephone Numbers

Arlesey To wn Council To wn Council Off ice Arlesey Community Centre, High Street, Arlesey, Beds

SG15 6SN Phone: 01462 733722

Email: clerk@arlesey-tc.go v uk

Central Bedfordshire Council, Prior y House, Chicksands, Shefford SG17 5TQ 0300 300 8000

Email customer ser vices@centralbedfordshire go v.uk

Web www centralbedfordshire.go v.uk

Waste Collection / Recycling / Dog Warden / Fly tipping / Grass Cu tting / Street Cleaning / Abandoned Vehicles

0300 300 8631 or 0300 300 8632

Doctor

Way Sou th,

City, Her ts, SG6 1NY

ACORN -Arlesey Conser vation For Nature Mick Jackson 07970 734416 ( Treasurer)

acorn@gmail com

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