Winning Formula At Free Community Fun Day

Published on: 29 Sep, 2014
Updated on: 29 Sep, 2014

It was a win win situation for all at the free community fun day in Park Barn on Saturday (September 27).

Visitors of all ages enjoyed a range of activities – from a free bouncy castle and other gigantic soft play equipment for youngsters, to live music, a free raffle, plenty of great food and time to browse stalls and stands manned by people and groups from the community.

Pupils from Guildford Grove School opened the event singing a number of songs.

The event was held at Kings College in Southway and was jointly run by the Park Barn & Westborough Community Association, the Joining In! project and Surrey County Council’s Travel SMART roadshow that saw the community voting for projects bidding for funding. (See details below).

Joining In! held its annual awards ceremony for volunteers within the community. Hosted by co-ordinator David Rose, shopping voucher prizes and certificates were presented by the chairman of the Park Barn & Westborough Community Association, Wayne McShane.

The winner of the new volunteer award was Liam Dinning, who helps at the Barn Youth Project.

The long-standing volunteeer award went to Tracy Gomm, who has been a volunteer at the Barn Youth Project for six years. The runner up in this category was Edna Yarham, for her volunteering with the local tenants association, St Clare’s Church and a number of other projects.

The new volunteer award went to Dee Stevens. She has been reporting and seeking support on matters of an environmental nature in the area in which she lives, attends local meetings and helps deliver promotional community leaflets. The runner-up was Wendy Taylor, and although a regular volunteer with the Women on a Wednesday group, this award was for her recent work at the Barn Youth Project and her help in delivering promotional material particularly for Joining In!

Each category also had a number of nominations who were highly commended and they all received certificates. Local people, groups and organisations connected with Joining In! were asked to submit nominations.

The Rhythm of Life choir’s debut performance was well received.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the debut performance of a new community choir from the Westborough ward. Formed in May, Rhythm of Life sang at the event to rapturous applause from the audience. They were backed by musicians from Sammy Rat and the Resonators, who also sang and played songs during the afternoon.

The chairman of the Park Barn & Westborough Community Association, Wayne McShane. He deservedly won the prize offered in the Aldershot Road Allotments group’s raffle.

Wayne McShane said: “I am pleased the day went well and that we were able to offer so many free activities especially for young people and more such as the free raffle.

“I thank the children from Guildford Grove School for their singing and to Kings College who allowed us free use of their school.

I would like to thank all those who came along and took part and to those who helped with the setting up and packing away – you did a great job.”

Groups and organisations who were bidding for a share of grants offered through the Travel SMART scheme were delighted to come away with funds to the tune of £87,495 between them.

Travel SMART’s Becky Willson (far right) with county councillor Fiona White who compered the bidding and voting, with Mark Loudon (far left) and Chris Young from Future World of Work.

Travel SMART engagement officer Becky Willson said: “In total 72 local residents voted to decide which projects should receive funding. The groups bidding for money did a great job of canvassing support for their project through some brilliant presentations.

“Local residents clearly had a great day finding out about local groups and projects and celebrating all that goes on in Westborough. As usual the barbecue was very popular and there was plenty of tea and cake to go round too! Thanks to everyone who came along and voted and helped make the day a success.”

Groups and organisations that received funding:

Future World of Work CIC, Employment Support £15,000

The project will expand the existing Westborough Job Club, providing three hour long sessions for 48 weeks of the year. Through the experience gained, the group will expand its services to include practise interview sessions, IT training, one-to-one career coaching and specific workshops.

Surrey Choices Employability/Guildford Bike Project £13,050

EmployAbility is a supported employment service which finds work opportunities for disabled people. This project will see it work in partnership with the Guildford Bike Project to provide a structured and supported route into work for up to 10 disabled people in Westborough.

Matrix Trust, Ready 4 Action, £14,970

The Ready 4 Action project recruits and mobilises hundreds of volunteers to clear, tidy and improve community areas, such as parks and footpaths, over bank holiday weekends. With the help of the local community it identifies areas which need its help and address them, providing training to many volunteers in the process. It will use funding to continue the work it is already doing in Westborough.

Matrix Trust, Reach travel, £14,475

Reach is a life skills course for 11- to14-year-olds, personalised to meet the needs of young people who are behind in their achievement or are a disruptive influence in school. It enables them to re-engage with education and building a better foundation so that they can succeed in school and life. Matrix will use the grant to hire an eight seater vehicle to use as project transport as well as buy project bikes for smaller journeys.

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery, parent waiting shelter, £15,000

St Joseph’s grant will provide a waiting shelter for parents for the nursery, infant and junior playgrounds. This will encourage parents to walk to collect their children whatever the weather as they’ll be able to wait under cover and chat with other parents.

Kings College, work-related learning, £15,000

This project will deliver employability skills to all year groups in the school. It will be run in conjunction with U-Explore, with a professional careers advisor working in the school one day a week. It will include employability guidance, visits to events and companies and workshops on interview skills, CV writing and apprenticeship opportunities.

Picture gallery from the free community fun day: