Christmas Toys & Teens Appeal

Liz Nicholls

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families

Liz Nicholls

, ,

Reading Family Aid’s Toys and Teens Appeal is back to put smiles on people’s faces in time for Christmas 2024!

Reading Family Aid is a local charity supporting disadvantaged children and their families. Each Christmas, the Toys and Teens Appeal helps guarantee that children who would otherwise not receive a single present have something to open on Christmas morning.

The Reading area seems so prosperous that many people might find it hard to imagine there are desperately deprived families here, but the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit families hard in so many ways and your support makes a real difference to every family.

Last year, more than 2,500 children received a gift at Christmas, thanks to the generosity of wonderful donors and supporters, but the charity needs your help again this year and there are two ways you can do this:

1. Donate toys at one of the donation points (or they will collect)
2. Donate money to the appeal, to go towards additional toys

If you are buying a new gift please try to limit the cost to a maximum of around £30 per item. Secondhand items must really be ‘as good as new’ so they must be clean, complete, working – good enough that the receiving family can’t really tell they are not new. Sorry, no soft toys, audio cassettes, computer games, DVDs or CDs, baby equipment or clothes.

Nothing electrical or rechargeable unless it is brand new still in its sealed packaging – if it has a plug on the end and is not new, the team are not insured to donate it.

Please make sure that all the pieces of a set are bagged up together and all the pieces of a jigsaw are together in the original box.

For details of how to donate toys, please visit Donate Toys – Reading Family Aid

To donate money, visit Reading Family Aid | Localgiving

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Chiltern Toy Bank: could you help?

Liz Nicholls

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families

Liz Nicholls

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Could you donate new & (giftable quality) pre-loved toys – between 28th September & 6th October – to bring Christmas cheer to local families in need?

Thanks to the hard work of between 30 & 50 dedicated local volunteers (“Elves”), Chiltern Toy Bank has been providing free toys and gifts at Christmas to children, aged 0-18, living in parts of the Chilterns who would otherwise not receive anything due to financial hardship or other disadvantages of their parents or guardians.

They have operated in and around Chesham, Amersham and Prestwood for over a decade formally became a registered charity in 2018-2019.

Their aim is to make sure that no child will go without a gift over the festive period.

What can I donate?

Any new or pre-loved toys and gifts that are clean, complete and in good condition are welcome. If you wouldn’t gift it to a child in your family for Christmas then they can’t take it. Chiltern Toy Bank particularly needs: arts, crafts and creative kits for ages 8+, science kits for ages 8+, gifts for teenagers aged 13+ (like make-up, toiletries, hats, scarves etc).

They cannot accept soft toys without their CE label attached, any games with missing pieces, books that are scribbled in or have missing pages, colouring and activity books or make-up and arts supplied that are used.

Where can I drop gifts?

Chesham:
• White Hill Centre, White Hill
• Post Office, High Street
• Chesham Town Hall, Parsonage Lane

Prestwood:
• Hildreths Garden Centre
• Wye Country Estate Agent, High Street
• The Pantry at 51
• (All subject to individual opening times)

Amersham:
• Chiltern Lifestyle Centre
• Amersham Common Village Hall, Saturday 28th Sept & Saturday 5th Oct 2-5pm
• King’s Church, Raans Road, Mon 30th Sept – Fri 4th Oct, 9.30am-12pm

To find out more about the charity, or offer to help, or request help, visit Chiltern Toy Bank – Christmas 2023

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Dinton Pasture’s Great British Food Festival

Round & About

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Get ready for a culinary extravaganza at Dinton Pastures Country Park on June 29th and 30th as The Great British Food Festival comes to town

Indulge in a fantastic culinary delights at the Great British Food Festival, Dinton Pastures which is set to host a tantalising celebration of British cuisine.

On June 29th and 30th, culinary enthusiasts, families, and foodies alike will gather to savour the best of Great British food at the Great British Food Festival.

This two-day extravaganza promises a feast for the senses, showcasing the richness and diversity of British gastronomy. From traditional classics to innovative twists, attendees can expect an unparalleled culinary experience.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Great British Food Festival to Dinton Pastures,” said Daniel Maycock, Event Manager. “This event celebrates the best of British street food and artisan produce highlighting its heritage, quality, and creativity. It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to come together, enjoy delicious food, and create lasting memories.”

The festival will feature a vibrant array of food stalls, offering everything from mouth-watering street food to artisanal produce. Attendees can explore a treasure trove of flavours, whether indulging in freshly baked pastries, sampling gourmet cheeses, or relishing succululent meats cooked to perfection.

In addition to the delectable food offerings, the festival will host live cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, providing insight into the techniques and inspirations behind their signature dishes. From mastering the art of pasty to perfecting the ultimate barbecue, these sessions are sure to inspire culinary enthusiasts of all levels.

Families can delight in a range of activities tailored to both adults and children, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy with interactive workshops and entertaining performances.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere with live music adding to the festivities throughout the day. Whether relaxing on the grass with a tasty picnic or exploring the various attractions, there’s no shortage of entertainment at the Great British Food Festival.

Tickets for the event are available online at Great British Food Festival at Dinton Pastures Berkshire, offering visitors the opportunity to secure their place. Why not upgrade your visit and enjoy the VIP experience with lots of tempting extras.

Join a weekend of gastronomic delights, entertainment, and community spirit at the Great British Food Festival.

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Wildlife campaign will support the NHS

Round & About

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Families are encouraged to join 30 Days Wild, the campaign by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) to connect with nature every day in June, backed by the NHS.

Wildlife trusts across the UK have run the 30 Days Wild challenge every June for nearly a decade, encouraging people to take one wild act each day. This can be anything from watching wildlife from a window to listening to birdsong or taking a meal or drink outside.

For the first time the initiative has won the backing of the UK’s National Health Service. Liz Shearer, BBOWT’s community engagement director, said: “We are over the moon that the NHS has endorsed our challenge: we have always known that spending time in green spaces can have huge health benefits for many people, helping to lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce anxiety, but now we have the official support of our fantastic health service. Try taking one tiny act to connect with nature and see what it does for you – you could change your life.”

Last year more than 500,000 people took part in 30 Days Wild, including more than 5,000 in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Across the UK, 114,245 households, 11,740 schools, 898 care homes and 1,384 businesses joined in.

Anyone taking part can order a free activity pack, with different packs for families, individuals, businesses and schools containing activities, games and packets of wildflower seeds to sow. A survey of nearly 1,000 participants last year found that people’s favourite activities were watching wildlife and listening to birdsong (85%).

The NHS has decided to back 30 Days Wild as it celebrates its 75th anniversary celebrations this year. The Greener NHS programme at NHS England will showcase NHS gardens and green spaces that support biodiversity, improve air quality, and provide health benefits for staff and patients, both physically and mentally – across the NHS estate.

Join 30 Days Wild and download a free activity pack at 30 Days Wild.

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Maymessy: Recipe for life

Karen Neville

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Social enterprise Maymessy is helping families learn valuable life skills.

Food shopping and cooking for a family can be a challenge, especially when you’re on a tight budget, but help is at hand from a Wantage-based social enterprise.

Maymessy at Garlands Farm, West Challow, believes in giving marginalised groups and disadvantage young people better wellbeing through cookery classes and wellness activities.

It was launched in 2017 by Anna Richards who turned a disused cow shed into the cookery barn supporting young carers, young people in the care system, families struggling financially, those with special needs and refugee families.

Maymessy works with eight local charities and youth groups helping young people to understand the importance of teamwork, build their confidence and self esteem and enjoy time outside in the shared garden as well as giving them greater knowledge of healthy eating and wellbeing.

Maymessy at Garlands Farm

This year, it has branched out to support adults from charities such as Refugee Resource and Style Acre with those who visit working in the vegetable plot and getting to grips with the pots and pans before sitting down to tuck into a plate of their own yummy and nutritious food.

Maymessy can also offer ad hoc work experience, volunteering and mentorship to the young people who go there.

Anna said: “As a qualified teacher with nutritional accreditation and a mother of twin girls, I know how food shopping and cooking for a family can be a challenge, especially when you’re on a tight budget or using a food bank.

“As a local community interest company, I wanted Maymessy to help these families by providing a safe and comfortable space to learn these essential life skills.”

And this year Maymessy has been supporting the NHS in Oxfordshire with weekly deliveries to around 100 Covid-19 special care staff.

Anna added: “At the end of lockdown, we also collaborated with Ray Collins Charitable Trust to provide care packages to the staff of the John Radcliffe Children’s hospital. It was there that we had the idea that we could partner to provide support to local families in Wantage – providing our cooking expertise to the families using the [Wantage Coronavirus] Support Group.”

The WCSG has been working closely with local families over the last seven months supplying much-needed shopping and over this time realised the difference these classes could make.

Anna Richards: Founder of Maymessy

Ray said: “Shopping and cooking on a tight budget is never easy and in some cases can lead to friction and tension in the home. So the Sustainable Wantage, Ray Collins Charitable Trust and the Coronavirus Support Group want to help out by organising cooking classes for parents and hopefully older children to learn new cookery skills together and how to plan and budget for meals.”

To find out more about the work of Maymessy visit www.maymessy.com

Read about the R&A Good Cheer Awards and nominate who has helped in your community.

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