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Contents
Big enough to deliver.
Small enough to care.
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News
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New volunteering opportunities across Berkshire! |
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A volunteer is a person who believes that people can make a difference and is willing to prove it. (Anonymous)
Volunteering can prove to be one of the most rewarding of experiences as well as an opportunity to try out new activities and make new friends.
At Age Concern Berkshire we have some 250 volunteers with many more opportunities still needing to be filled. The amount of commitment is variable, ranging from a few hours per month to more regular days. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and all ages.
Currently we have volunteering opportunities in Newbury, Thatcham and other parts of West Berkshire, in Reading, Windsor and Maidenhead, and in Wokingham, Arborfield and Twyford.
Many of the volunteering opportunities we have are linked to two of our major programmes - Silver Surfers and Active Ageing (see below) for which we need volunteers who are computer literate or wish to help older people stay active.
Other programmes for which we urgently need volunteers are:
Volunteer Befriending
We will link you with an older person who would welcome your friendship and practical support. This can be in the form of regular visits, or telephone contact, or a combination of the two. We have current vacancies in West Berkshire and Reading.
Volunteer Home from Hospital
This scheme provides practical (not medical) help to an older person on the first few days after discharge from hospital, anything from doing the shopping to helping sort the mail that has built up. Volunteers find this an especially rewarding experience. Current vacancies exist in Wokingham, West Berkshire and Reading
Volunteer Shoppers
Your help is needed to develop a shopping service for elderly and housebound people. The role can involve placing orders over the internet, or visiting the supermarket. The service is starting in the area covered by West Berkshire Council, so if you live in this area and can help start up this important service, do get in touch.
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COMPUTER LITERATE VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU! |
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Due to ever increasing demand, Age Concern Berkshire is running a new series of weekly "Silver Surfer" computer sessions at venues across Berkshire.
We urgently need a number of volunteers who are willing to spend an hour or more, helping older people to understand computer basics and giving them confidence to surf the Internet.
If you have basic computer skills in Word, Explorer, and email, you could help someone understand what is becoming an essential requirement of today's living. Any other IT skills that you may have would be a bonus! The other key qualities are patience, and an interest in conveying what you know to someone else in simple terms.
Alternatively, if you know someone who would benefit from individual help with any aspect of computing, in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, please let them know about it, or ask them to give us a call.
Amongst current venues needing volunteers are the following:
Reading: Reading Central Library; John Madejski Academy; Ranikhet School (Dee Park)
Maidenhead: Cox Green Library (run in partnership with Age Concern Windsor)
Windsor: The Spencer Denney Centre, Dedworth
Bracknell: The Pines Primary School, Hanworth
Newbury: Newbury Central Library
If you are interested in taking part in this very worth-while activity,
please email us (acb@acberk.org) or
give us a call on 0118 959 4242. There's a leaflet telling you
more here.
Thank you! |
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Tea Dance - 12th February, Concert Hall,
Blagrave Street, Reading |
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This popular event returns to the Concert Hall in
Blagrave Street once more. If you've not been to one of these
events before, the Concert Hall is a wonderful venue for a dance,
especially with the opportunity to dance to live music. |
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Music will again be
supplied by Sounds Easy, and there'll be a music quiz and
interludes on the Father Willis organ. There will, of course, be tea and
refreshments! Book your tickets in person at the Hexagon or Town
Hall, or call 0118 960 6060 to speak to one of the friendly Box Office
Staff.
This event is supported by
Age Concern Berkshire and The Royal British Legion. |
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We have moved! |
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After over 25 years in
Wilton Road, at St Andrew's House (pictured below) Age Concern Berkshire has moved.
During
December, 2006, we moved in to our new home on three floors of 119 London Street,
Reading. 119 London Street is
also known as Huntley House, where a certain J Huntley and Son opened a biscuit
bakery back in 1822 (the premises were then known as 72 London Street.)
Transport was, of course, very different in those days. London Street, Reading was then on the main stage coach
route from London to Bristol, Bath and the West Country.
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A favourite stopping point was The Crown Inn, which
was then just opposite Huntley House. This gave Mr Huntley an excellent
opportunity to sell biscuits to hungry travellers, and the business
flourished. Joseph Huntley was something of an innovator. On learning
from the travellers that the biscuits tended to break on the journey
over the bumpy roads, he started selling them in a metal tin and hence
the biscuit tin was born.
The firm was passed from father to son in 1838, and
George Palmer joined as a partner in 1841.
The company soon outgrew its original
shop and moved to a factory on Kings Road in 1846. The rest, as they
say, is history a worldwide success story, which only came to an end
for us when the Reading factory closed in 1972 the year of their 150th
anniversary. |
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