We’re excited to share further details of plans for our community picnic event this Saturday.
We’re looking forward to learning about nature and conservation with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), providing some fun activities for kids, offering a chance to refresh your wardrobe at the clothes swap, and hearing your views about the park and how we can make improvements.
All activities are free of charge, so just bring your family, friends, food and something to sit on.
Oh, and let’s not forget to keep hoping for a wee bit of sunshine!
The Heart of Newhaven Community, Friends of Victoria Park and The VP Allotment Holders invite you to The Picnic in the Park, at Victoria Park on Sunday 19 June from 12.30pm-3.30pm.
Bring a picnic and enjoy meeting your neighbours in the park
Children’s Races (including the world-famous 3-legged!) Fun Dog Parade
Plant Swap Table
Kids’ Books Swap Table
Live Music
Optional Fancy Dress for People and Pets!
Prizes for taking part for Children and Dogs!
Check the ‘Friends of Victoria Park’ and ‘Heart of Newhaven’ Facebook pages for updates
First of all, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to our recent Crowdfunder campaign.
This is to be put towards the costs of sprucing up the building once we get the keys. Lots of volunteers are of course already hard at work getting ready for the big day, making inventories and moving furniture, all essential logistical work.
Soon, it really will be “all hands on deck” as we start with the paintbrushes and the trowels and we’ll be calling on even more help on the ground then.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t already given, the Crowdfunder is still open for donations.
Did you know however that you can gift to our charity at any time you like, or even on a regular basis?
All you have to do is go to our website and follow the links.
You can donate online directly to our bank or you can send a cheque if you prefer.
Now that the weather is improving, remember our big Picnic in the Park, to be held in Victoria Park on Sunday 19th June, between 12.30 and 3.30pm.
Inspired by the Eden Project’s Big Lunch, this is being held in collaboration with the Friends of Victoria Park and the Victoria Park Allotment Holders. Bring a picnic and enjoy meeting your neighbours. Take part in the fun races and games or take advantage of the plants and books swap tables. There will even be an (optional) fancy dress competition for children and pets – with prizes!
New initiatives
Thanks to successful applications to the Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund 2022, The Arnold Clark Community Fund and the People’s Postcode Trust, we have successfully achieved funding to help connect and bring people together. This is the aim of the following two new projects.
Reminiscence training
We know that sharing stories and memories is valuable in preserving not just family history but social history and brings people of different generations together through understanding and sharing. It’s also enjoyable and rewarding.
If you’re interested in reminiscence and recording people’s stories and memories, then we have funding for training in reminiscence work which will be led by the Living Memory Association.
The second project is an expansion of our earlier Pots of Kindness. That project was so well received that we are going to run another.
This time, as well as primary school children, we are inviting young people of 16+ to get involved.
We will supply the seeds, pots and compost. All you do is plant the seeds and write a short letter to an elderly recipient. We’ll deliver the planted pots with their accompanying letters to the elderly or isolated within the community.
It’s a wonderful way to bring the generations together.
Finally, we are due to hold our next AGM shortly, probably towards the end of June. If you’ve not become a member, consider doing so now, before the meeting, so that you have the right to vote.
There are two types of membership depending on where you live and you can find out all about it on the website page.
