Message from Paul
I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for 2014. I have no idea where this year has gone; it only seems like 5 minutes ago we were planning for 2013!
What a great year it has been with so many events! Without the help and support of all of you, they simply wouldn’t happen. I would like to say a huge thanks to you all for all the hard work, time and support you have given Support 4 Sight over the past year. I very much look forward to working with you all in what looks to be an exciting 2014, especially with the Charity’s 20th Anniversary.
Nicola’s Fundraising Quiz
Great News! Thanks to the brilliant fundraising efforts of our wonderful volunteer, Nicola Smith, we have received a wonderful donation of £269!
Nicola raised these funds through her quiz night and it will be spent supporting our monthly Saffron Walden Coffee Mornings for people with sight loss. (Here's a pic of Nicola with our mascot, Seymour).
Thank you so much, Nicola - You're a real star!
Volunteer Training in 2014
Is there any training you would like to receive? Whether it’s on S4S services, low vision equipment or computer training, we want to hear from you! Please get in touch and let us know what you would like to have on the training agenda for 2014.
Recycling
If you have any old jewellery, mobiles, stamps or printer cartridges that you are looking to dispose of, consider passing them to us to recycle. Everything we recycle helps to raise funds for Support 4 Sight and goes towards the many services we provide.
Christmas Cards
If you still need to buy your cards, ours are now on sale for 2013! The cards are £3.50 for a pack of ten or £10 for three packs.
Donated items
Did you donate a cassette recorder and a set of hair stylers? If so, please get in touch with Margaret as she has a couple of questions about them and would also like to thank you.
Tour De France
Do you have any ideas for next year’s event? The route will be coming by the centre and unfortunately we are unable to have this day for a street collection. So we need your ideas on how we could fundraise at this big event! To talk through any ideas you might have please contact the centre.
Seymour
Would anyone like to have a go at being Seymour? We are looking for a few more volunteers who would be willing to be Seymour at some of our collections and events. If you might be interested, please contact Margaret.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Collections – Any ideas for new areas we could approach for collections would be very appreciated! We welcome all contributions, so please pass on your ideas to Margaret.
Charity of the Season
This year Saffron Walden Football Club has chosen Support 4 Sight as their Charity of the Season and on Saturday 19th October, Seymour went along to a game and met the chairman of the club. We were invited back to their last game before Christmas on 21st December for a 3pm kick-off! Please let us know if you can help collect on the day. We have also been allowed to use their club room, so please pass on any ideas for fundraising!
MyGuide
We have set the dates for level 1 training, there will be a course on Monday 24th February and Monday 3rd March. Anyone wanting to learn the MyGuide skills, make sure you are signed up for this! Please contact Paul as soon as you can. If you have already received the training and would like to brush up your MyGuide skills, please also contact Paul to see if there is a space available
Hospital Rota – Radwinter Road
The Hospital desk needs more people willing to take on this opportunity! If you would be interested and would like to give it a try please contact Paul in the centre. Training will be provided and you will initially attend the helpdesk in a pair until you feel comfortable taking on this opportunity alone.
Volunteers are needed to help out!
Please help with the Bishop’s Stortford Hospital Helpdesk, our newsletters, computer training and social media. Full training for all of these roles can be provided, if you’re interested, just drop in or ring Paul!
Christmas Party
Our Christmas party is on 4th January and will take place at the Crown House Hotel in Great Chesterford.
If you are hoping to come along but haven’t been in touch, please contact the centre as soon as possible.
Christmas and New Year
Everyone here at Support 4 Sight would like to wish all of our volunteers a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Support 4 Sight’s offices will be closed over the Christmas period. Our centre will be closing on Tuesday 24th December at 12 noon and will re-open for services as usual on Friday 3rd January.
Cleaning Day
If you would like to join us in the New Year to spruce up the centre, come along on Thursday 2nd January 2014, when we will have our annual cleaning day for the centre!
Staff Update
Madeleine will be away from the centre on maternity leave from 17th January and will be back in the summer. If during this time you have any urgent enquiries for Madeleine, please contact Paul or email with the details.
Volunteering Opportunities
We have a couple of new volunteering opportunities that you may like to consider putting yourself forward for.
Volunteer Reception, which includes answering the phone, passing on any messages and ordering items of equipment. Full training will be given and this will be set on a rota basis.
Volunteer Administrator, Cover on Thursdays in the centre while Paul is working on a new project up-stairs. This role would be suited to a volunteer confident in assisting service users with sight loss enquiries, handling calls and completing outcomes forms. Full training will be given and this can also be on a rota basis.
Toner re-cycling volunteer to help with re-cycling our toners regularly.
If you would like to get involved with any of these opportunities please call the centre and speak to Paul.
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