The new academic year has kicked off with enthusiasm and plenty of community spirit, thanks to the energetic efforts of our volunteer group. In just three short weeks, these students have already engaged and participated in a large variety of activities.
The term begun with assisting with the U3A Open Day at the Free Church where volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help out; lots of tables and chairs were set out and packed away again and it was a pleasure to spend time with students who were prepared to muck in and be as flexible as they could, both mentally and physically!
Next came an old favourite, Hedge Hackers, which is a fortnightly activity growing in popularity and number. Hedge Hackers provides a chance to get outdoors, clear back overgrown hedges, and give the area around St Jude’s Church a fresh, cared-for look. A special thank you goes to parents for kindly providing equipment for this activity; your support has helped make the job both easier and more enjoyable.
The group also turned their talents indoors, assisting with museum scanning for the archive of St Jude’s Church. This behind-the-scenes work helps preserve local history for future generations, and our volunteers took great pride in carefully digitising valuable documents and records. There is a lot to scan so this valuable work will continue throughout the term.
Equally heart-warming was student involvement in Tea and Tech, where volunteers offered friendly support to local residents keen to build confidence with technology over cups of tea.
Finally, the volunteers launched the brand-new Talk and Walk sessions. Designed to combine gentle exercise with good conversation, we began this new initiative in glorious sunshine. We met some people along the way who are familiar to us through other activities and hope that this initiative will grow as word reaches the local community. Watch this space!
It’s been a packed and purposeful start to the year, and the enthusiasm of the volunteers has set a wonderful tone for the months ahead. Thank you all for your time.
Mrs D Walker, Director of Studies