Joining In! Week Of Free Events Across Westborough Ward

Published on: 16 Sep, 2013
Updated on: 16 Sep, 2013

A week of free events is taking place across Westborough ward from Monday to Saturday, September 23 to 28, promising something for all ages.

It culminates with the Joining In! Jamboree on the Saturday in conjunction with Travel SMART – at which members of the community have the chance to vote on how £115,000 will be spent on local projects.

It will also feature a car boot sale (free pitches for stallholders), a free draw with lots of prizes, entertainment, plenty of children’s activities including a bouncy castle, an awards ceremony for the area’s top volunteers, plus refreshments and more…

The ward includes Westboorugh, Park Barn and parts of Stoughton including Rydes Hill and Shepherds Hill.

The Joining In! Week is aimed at getting people involved in their local community and is being organised by the Joining In! community project. Those planning the week’s events are David Rose, the project co-ordinator. He works 14 hours per week on the project that is managed by Voluntary Action South West Surrey. (He is, of course, also a main contributor to The Guildford Dragon NEWS).

Assisting him with Joining In! are community safety wardens Tracy James and Richard Musgrove, with generous support from county councillor Fiona White, borough councillor Julia McShane, and members of the Park Barn & Westborough Community Association.

David said: “We hope people from our community will come along and take part and enjoy the things we have planned for this first annual Joining In! Week.

“Events such as these help build community relations. It means people can get together and find out about the many things going on in the Westborough ward. There are so many groups and organisations, it’s a happening place!

“But you don’t have to live in the ward to join in. You might like to come and take part in the community clean up, or the bat walk. We have two workshops aimed at volunteer groups – they are open to all in the South West Surrey area.

“You will certainly be welcome at Saturday’s jamboree – but, Travel SMART rules mean you have to be a resident to take part in the actual electronic voting.

“Take a look at the Joining In! website where there are details of the week, as well as comprehensive listings of local groups, organisations, churches, schools, and so on, who offer the chance for people to get involved in volunteering their time and services.

Here is a full list of what’s going on:

Monday, September 23:

Broadstreet Brook Community Clean Up 

Celebrating the start of Joining In Week, muck in and help us get the litter out of this wonderful brook on Broadstreet Common. Applegarth Avenue and Roman Farm Road are the main streets that back on to it.

Come along anytime between 2pm and 6pm. Meet at Hartshill entrance to the common (GU2 8LW) or find the working part nerby. Light refreshments will be provided.

This event is being organised in conjunction with Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Surrey Greenspace Project. Supported by Guildford Borough Council, it has kindly agreed to take the rubbish away for free – let’s give them plenty to do!

For more details, contact Surrey Greenspace Project’s community outreach officer Tasha Feddery. Email: tasha.feddery@surreywt.org.uk Tel: 07891 514575.

Tuesday, September 24:

Come on a bat walk, 7pm to 8.30pm. Meet Harts Hill entrance to Broadstreet Common GU2 8LW.

Join Surrey Greenspace Project’s community outreach officer Tasha Feddery to find out all about these fascinating animals and other nocturnal creatures that become active as darkness falls.

Get a chance to use bat detectors to identify help identify and record the species found on Broadstreet Common. FREE (donations to Surrey Wildlife Trust welcome!)

Please wear warm clothes and take a torch if you have one. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more details contact Email: tasha.feddery@surreywt.org.uk Tel: 07891 514575. This is also ideal for any youth groups.

Wednesday, September 25:

Grassroots meeting to feature work of Joining In!.

Being co-ordinated by community safety warden Tracy James. Email: Tracy.James@guildford.gov.uk

Thursday, September 26:

Joining In! visit by David Rose and Jessica Hogan-Smith to meet senior students at Kings College and talk about volunteering opportunities for young people.

Thursday, September 26:

Workshops hosted by Voluntary Action South West Surrey (VASWS) for groups and organisations (across South West Surrey) to learn about volunteering opportunities and grants available to them and how to apply.

Being held at St Francis’ Church Hall, Beckingham Road, Westborough GU2 8BU, from 11.45pm to 4pm.

The first workshop on volunteering will be led by Jessica Hogan-Smith from 11.45am to 1.15pm. Followed by funding workshop led by Monica Vidal from 2pm to 3.30pm.

Attend either or both. Free lunch for all those who attend. More details from VASWS on 01483 504626.

Saturday, September 28:

Joining In! Jamboree from 10am to 5pm

The family orientated event takes place at the Park Barn Centre in conjunction with Surrey County Council’s Travel SMART programme at which people get the chance to have their say on how up to £115,000 is spent for the community’s benefit in the Westborough ward (that includes Westborough, Park Barn, and adjoining parts of Rydes Hill and Stoughton).

Car boot sale – free pitches. Set up 9.30am, runs from 10am to noon. To book your pitch call Richard Musgrove.Tel: 07876 578431. Email: Richard.Musgrove@guildford.gov.uk

Kids’ activities courtesy of the Spinney, facepainting courtesy of the Barn Youth Project, free bouncy castle, fun activities with Surrey Wildlife Trust, and more…

Entertainment by Showdown Arts and students from Kings College.

Lunchtime barbecue (quality burgers and sausages at discounted prices, about £1), Nepalese food (at discounted prices) free cakes in the afternoon, plus tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Volunteer awards ceremony – don’t forget to make your nominations. For a nomination form call David Rose on 07825 419408. Email: d.rose@vasws.org.uk or Tracy James on 07767 475822. Email: Tracy.James@guildford.gov.uk

Free prize draw – donations of prizes welcome, please!

Have a stand at the jamboree event for your group or organisation and to promote what you do. It promises to be an ideal day to meet others and tell them what you do and what you are about.

Volunteer helpers needed on the day.

More details about the Joining In! project on its website www.joiningin.org.uk