The Methodist Church
Middlesbrough and Eston Circuit
“Neither height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:39
Live At Home
The Live at Home scheme is a national organization which is organized by the Methodist Church but is open to everybody. Members are not required to be Christian or indeed have any faith. The scheme is aimed mainly at those who are lonely, elderly or are unable to get out on their own.
Live At Home
The Middlesbrough branch started early in 2002 and is based at Marton Methodist Church. Activities include:
A fortnightly meeting called Good Companions which is open to all and includes games afternoons, outings and a speaker programme.
On alternative weeks we also run a ChatRoom when folk come along to talk over refreshments
or play a game of dominoes (whatever takes their fancy).
Transport is available for
both the Good Companions and the ChatRoom.
One to one visiting is also available to those who are unable to come to the church building, in addition help can be offered with the weekly shopping.
A luncheon club which is based at the church in Eston when a 2 course meal with tea or coffee is available (booking is necessary).
A “Drop in” also takes place at the church in Normanby on Tuesday afternoons.
A Town centre group (similar to the Good Companions) is held fortnightly at Linthorpe Road.
A men’s group (fortnightly) includes a pub lunch followed by a walk or visit to a place of interest.
The 2010 Annual General Meeting
As with all good AGMs, the meeting was short. There was an extra incentive to concentrate on the business in hand. This year, we again followed the AGM with our annual Volunteers' Evening - a supper which had been organised by Doreen. On behalf of everyone who enjoyed the supper, a huge thanks to Doreen for the food, and to Ron for producing the necessary papers for the AGM.
Committee Members for 2010 are: Chair: Catherine Everett Treasurer: Tony Secretary: Beatrice Jebb Other Committee members: Mike Ellis Doreen Fearns Freda Gibson Margaret Gibson Graham Hassall Sylvia Horsley Vic Horsley Pat Nicholson Lilian Pryde Kathleen Smithies Ron Mapplebeck and Doreen Hunt as Scheme Manager and Assistant Manager are also Committee members.
Jim Neesam has resigned from the committee this year, and we'd like to thank him for all his help since the scheme started.
Welcome to Margaret Gibson, who's been driving the minibus for Good Companions for a number of months now, and come up with some new fundraising ideas - she'll be a valuable addition to the committee. We still need to find a vice-chair, to chair meetings if Catherine's not able to be there, and help support Ron and Doreen in the running of the scheme.
I'm not often able to attend Committee meetings over the winter months, and we need to think about appointing a minutes secretary - someone who will make notes of the meeting, and produce printed copies for all committee members. If you can suggest someone for either of these posts, please contact the office. Beatrice
Middlesbrough Live at Home Scheme
Marton Methodist Church The Grove Marton Middlesbrough TS7 8AB
Phone & Fax : 01642 319537
Email: mbro.lah@btconnect.com
NEWSLETTER
Issue 20, June 2010
Lots of information for you in this Newsletter – a look ahead to the Summer’s activities for the various groups, a look back at what’s happened since February, and summary of the AGM held in March.
First of all, though, fundraising.
We’ve just heard from the Big Lottery Fund that they are not able to support Middlesbrough Live at Home Scheme at present, and we’ll miss the considerable amount they’ve given us over the past few years. We’re already checking out other sources of funding – and in fact we have been for a number of months.
We can report a number of successful fund-raising activities since February. Two collections at Tesco have raised £425, and with the proceeds of a Cake Stall at Great Ayton Methodist Church, a concert given by the Mosaic Singers at Marton, and a Jumble Sale organised by Margaret Gibson at Marton, these events have raised a total of £856.
Future fundraising events are concerts by Tony Baines (24th June) and Janie St John (27th August), another Cake Stall at Great Ayton in September, and a Jumble Sale and Nearly New Sale in October.
The Groups We're please to report that both the Normanby Pop In and Good Companions are seeing an increase in membership. The Marton Chat Room which has been running for almost 18 months now has a steady membership, and the Lunch Club and Town Centre groups continue to flourish. The Men's Group, however, is going through a rather lean patch at present.
Outings In May, Good Companions went on a trip to Helmsley, and the Town Centre Group and Normanby Pop In joined for a trip to Grosmont and on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
On 7th June, Normanby Pop In members will visit Saltburn, with a fish and chip meal particularly in mind. In July Good Companions will be visiting Great Ayton and Strikes' Garden Centre. In September the group will go on a Mystery Trip, and in November will visit Northallerton for the annual Christmas shopping excursion.
New Activity at Marton On 20th May, the first meeting of the Crafts Group took place. Doreen and Margaret have been working on developing this activity for several weeks, and have been successful in getting funding. The first meeting went well; members enjoyed a variety of activities, and made plans for future sessions.
It’s been far too long since the last Newsletter. We’ve been waiting for many months to hear from the Big Lottery Fund, and kept putting off the Newsletter until we had news from the fund.
The delay has been made worse because I’ve been out of touch with the everyday administration of the scheme. Things are changing for me now, and Ron, Doreen and I have agreed we should have four Newsletters each year, in February, June, September and November. The September edition will be more of a Newssheet than a full 4-page letter.
We’d like to include your ideas and comments in the Newsletters. Either talk to Ron or Doreen at your Group meeting, or phone the office and Ron or Doreen will pass your contribution on to me.
Beatrice