Offenham Church & Village magazine, March '24

How Do I Get Something In The Magazine?

This magazine is produced by the Offenham PCC supported by the Parish Council to communicate local church and village events and news to the Offenham community. If you have a local event or news please send to pwoffenham@gmail.com, including how long you would like your advertisement to run for, by the 15th of the month prior to the issue you would like your content included. For inclusion in the APRIL issue please send your content by 15th MARCH

Advertising rates are as follows:

• Full Page £22.00, Half Page £12.00, Quarter Page £8.00, Separate Flyer £28.00 The 10% discount for advertising for a calendar year will continue. Changes to your advert during that year are at the discretion of the editor.

• Discounts may be available for adverts.

We reserve the right to adjust the design of any advertisement to fit the size constraints of the magazine.

Church website: www.eastvaleavon.com

Editor: Phil Williams, pwoffenham@gmail.com

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCC) CONTACTS:

PCC SECRETARY

TREASURER

PCC MEMBERS:

Debbie Harrison, dh1971@hotmail.co.uk

52 Myatt Road, Offenham WR11 8SD. 07933 212680

Claire Penny, 49411 clairepenny99@btinternet.com

Mock Morris, Boat Lane, Offenham, WR11 8QZ.

Amanda Taylor; Angela Guoite; Lisa Farmer; Debbie Newman; Claire Penny; Debbie Harrison Kathryn Kerr

PARISH

ADMINISTRATOR: Faith Quin, eastvaleavon.churches@gmail.com

Offenham CofE First School Headteacher: Jayne Nicol

Benefice Safeguarding Officer: Lisa Farmer 01386 40401

Safeguarding Advocate: Elizabeth Spencer 01789 720078

Dear Friends,

Letter of the Month for March

How connected do you feel with your village community? Is this something that is important to you? For some of us, that sense of connection is really important – for others, not so much. Very often, it is that sense of being known, belonging - being recognised or heard in some way by people around us, that helps us thrive. It can be key in giving us a sense of purpose in our lives. We get it in so many different ways, sometimes major things like going to special events – or contributing to them (like the Christmas carol singing or the Big Help Out in summer) – but we can feel connected with each other in really straightforward, apparently minor ways – like simply saying hello to someone we recognise in the shop or on the street on the way to the Rec. I’ve been thinking about how this sense of connection can be so important, since someone asked me if I had A Big Vision for our churches in the local area. I thought about the book on my desk which has “THRIVE” in big multi-coloured letters splashed across its front cover. How do we thrive? How do we feel encouraged? How do we feel that our life has a purpose and is worth something?

The Bible says that God loves everyone, that God cares about us, and it also reminds us that we should love our neighbour as much as we should love ourselves. That tells us that God is all about connection

From the Parish Registers:

Funerals:

27th January, Anita Shoobridge. 31st January, David Dillistone.

- a relationship based on love and care - between God and the world, and between one neighbour and another. Every week in our church services, we hear words from “the Gospel” (of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) - and we listen, remembering that “Gospel” means “Good news”. For me, that good news is based on the belief that life does have a purpose (to learn more about God’s love, and to get better at showing that love and kindness to others in any way I can). The “good news” is that every single person in our community is valuable, that we do belong, and that we are connected to each other in some way because we are all loved by God.

So I invite you to explore that sense of connection further if you would like to. There are lots of things going on in our villages where people come together to make some brilliant events happen within the community. And we also have quite a bit going on/ events planned within our church congregations too over the next few weeks and months – watch this space! But whatever you do, I hope that you feel known, valued and cared for, whether you have lived here all your life, or if you just moved in last week.

God bless you, Rev. Jo Fielding Revjo.eastvale@gmail.com

Tel 07561 823135

Time for Tea... we meet on the first Sunday each month and all are welcome to join us again for refreshments in Offenham church on 3rd March at 2.30pm.

The church will be open EVERY DAY from 10am until 4pm. Please follow current COVID-19 guidance while in the building. For more details please go to https://eastvaleavon.com

THE BENEFICE OF THE EAST VALE & AVON CHURCHES

SERVICES FOR March 2024 eastvaleavon.com

Please do take the opportunity to share fellowship and enjoy worship in any of the parish churches in our benefice

Date 9.30am 11.00 Other Services

1st March

World Day of Prayer 2pm Cleeve Prior Service for World Day of Prayer

3rd March

3rd Sunday of Lent Badsey Morning Praise Offenham, Eucharist Cleeve Prior, Matins

10th March

4th Sunday of Lent Mothering Sunday

17th March

5th Sunday of Lent Passiontide

Bretforton Morning Praise S. Littleton, Eucharist Cleeve Prior, Morning Praise

Offenham Morning Praise Badsey, Eucharist by Extension Cleeve Prior, Eucharist

24th March Palm Sunday Bretforton Benefice Eucharist

MONDAY 25th March 7pm Cleeve Prior Compline

TUESDAY 26th March 7pm South Littleton Compline

WEDNESDAY 27th March 7pm Bretforton Tenebrae (Service of Shadows)

THURSDAY 28th March

Maundy Thursday

FRIDAY

29th March

Good Friday

SATURDAY 30th March

Holy Saturday

31st March

Easter Sunday Easter Eucharist Bretforton

South Littleton, (by Extension)

Easter Eucharist Badsey Cleeve Prior Offenham

7pm Offenham Benefice Eucharist

12pm - 1pm Badsey, Vigil at the Foot of the Cross. 1pm - 2pm Clv Prior, Solemn Eulogy of the Passion.

7pm Badsey, Easter Vigil

LITTER PICK (Offenham Wombles) Sunday 10th March.

Meet on the corner of Mill Lane/Main Street at 10am. Equipment provided. ALL ARE WELCOME! Julie Day

Offenham Coffee Club

Every Tuesday, from 10am at Royal British Legion from 10am. Tea * Coffee * Raffle EVERYONE WELCOME.

Toddler Group - Village Hall

Every Friday during term time, 10am - 1.30pm. £2.50, card payment only please.

Offenham Wake Dates

Wednesday 1st May, May Day Celebrations.

Sunday 2nd June, Art Competition & Sports.

Thursday 6th June, Rounders.

Saturday 8th June, Wake Day.

Sunday 9th June, Treasure Hunt, Duck Race & Bellboats.

A fantastic amaount of just over £400 was collected for County Air Ambulance at the Christmas Carols around the Maypole in December. Thank you to everyone who donated, it is very much appreciated.

Offenham Flower Club

We meet on the first Wednesday of every month in Offenham Village Hall, doors open 7pm for 7.30 start. Next meeting is on 6th March, competition is ‘Minimal’. Our programme covers a range of topics - Talks, Demonstrations, Hands on Workshops and Competitions. If you would like further information on the Club, email offenhamflowerclub@gmail.com. See our facebook page - Offenham Flower Club.

Maypole Club (Now in the Legion Club)

Meetings:

Wed 27th March, Age UK, Comp ‘V’.

Wed 24th April, AGM + ?.

Outings:

Mon 11th March, Malvern Link Shopping Park, then Tewkesbury, 9.15, £8.

Mon 15th April, Ledbury, then Leominster, 9.15, £10. Contact Edith on 45247.

Hello!

We are a group of ladies (although we would love to welcome some men!) who meet fortnightly to knit, sew, make cards, etc. We meet 7 - 9pm on Wednesday evenings at the British Legion and would welcome new members. We know it’s sometimes hard to walk in somewhere on your own but we really are a friendly bunch. Come and join us!

Offenham Royal British Legion

See our Facebook page.

Offenham Church/Village Calendars

The calendars are available now at the Village Shop, Brewery and Pub, £6 each.

Dressmaking

Do you have a sewing machine sitting at home collecting dust? Whether you are new to dress making or have experience you would be welcome to join us.

We will be meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month, starting on the 4th January, between 1.30 and 4pm at the Village Hall in Offenham. Numbers will be limited to 12, (You must be member of U3a in order to attend.)

For the past year I have undertaken a diploma in dressmaking, learning many new skills.

If you are happy to work from a commercial pattern, I will guide you how to get the best fit from your pattern, and examples being insert zips and adding pockets.

If this is of interest to you please contact me, Denise.crossman@hotmail.co.uk

OFFENHAM VILLAGE HALL NOTICBOARD

Bookings 07519 033287 or email bookings@offenhamvillagehall.org.uk

For General & Carpark enquires email contact@offenhamvillagehall.org.uk

Weekly Acvies at the Hall

Monday Pulsefit Cardiac Fitness Class

Tuesday Gentle Yoga with Wendy, Silver Swans Dance , Zumba with Kerry.

Thursday Coffee Morning, Jump Dance Academy, Zumba With Tracey, Aikido Maral Arts

Friday NCT Mothers & Toddlers. Pulsefit, Tai Chi for beer health

Monthly Acvies include Offenham Flower Club, Offenham Parish Council Meeng, Youth Club, U3A Sewing Club

Check our website what’s on tab for details

Thursday Coffee Morning 10 am - Midday

Join your friends for a bacon sandwich & coffee. All Welcome.

Borrow a book Or puzzle now available

The ideal venue for all your family celebraons and events

Perfect for meengs, exercise classes & many other group acvies

Fully licensed bar available. Plug & Play sound system with microphones

Stage & dance floor, flashing party lights & projector available

Arrange a viewing to plan and discuss your event requirements

Our Annual General Meeng Monday March 11th 2024 7.00 pm start

All welcome. Get the latest updates on our latest projects . Become a Trustee and help protect your halls future

Table Top Sale

Changed to Saturday 6th April 2024 9am - Noon

£5 per table email contact@offenhamvillagehall.org.uk to book or Call 07519 033287

IF YOU BUY ONLINE PLEASE HELP US

Raise FREE donaons of up 10% can be raised for us from over 7,000 brands.

It's simple and will only take 2 minutes of your me to sign up! It will not cost you a penny

Only sign up once and you will be automacally nofied which companies are in the scheme. Why let the companies keep all the profit from your purchases.

OFFENHAM PARISH COUNCIL

Chairman: Marc Farmer

Members: Sheila Briers, Ian Graham, Kathleen Henderson, James Moclair, Marcus Taylor, Matthew Rea, Samantha Muxworthy.

Clerk: Diane Cox 07714 869946 also street light faults.

District Councillor: Aaron Powell 07404 065311, aaron.powell@wychavon.net.

County Councillor: Alistair Adams 01789 721227, adams.pebworth@gmail.com.

Highways Issues: Worcestershire Hub 01905 765765.

Public Footpaths Warden: Roy Betts metro.roy100@gmail.com. (NOT pavements)

Next Parish Council Meeting:

Monday 4th March, 7.30pm in Offenham Village Hall. Any organisation or individual wishing to attend, please contact the Clerk on 07714 869946.

Monthly report from Offenham Parish Council

• The Community Speedwatch scheme is at last moving forward with training dates available to volunteers in March.

• The planning application for the Multi Use Games Area has been approved by Wychavon District Council.

You may not be aware that Wychavon District Council provides a bulky waste collection, it costs £20 for 2 items and can be arranged online from this link: https://selfservice.wychavon.gov.uk/bulkywastewdc/

PLANNING: Full details at www.wychavon.gov.uk/planning

OffenhamVillage Stores & PO

Well, now that January & February are out of the way and we are seeing more than a chink of light in the early morning skies, it’s starting to feel like spring is on its way. This is the time of year that we feel the village starts to come to life after hibernating for the winter and we are looking forward to the lighter evenings.

We have no news to bring you regarding the sale of the business, only that we are hoping for the change of ownership to take place around the end of March. Hopefully in April’s magazine we should be able to give you more information.

Valentines Day showed us this year, that there are some very romantic people in the village! We sold out of all our Valentine cards and flowers and you had us routing through our normal stock of cards to try to find alternatives. Not sure why, but the ‘Happy Birthday Grandma’ cards that we tried were not too popular!!

So next we have Mother’s Day (10th March) and Easter (Good Friday, 29th March). Be sure to check out our stunning range of cards for both of these occasions, as our supplier, Noel Tatt, do a beautiful range. They will be on sale soon. (if you can’t find what you are looking for, you could always try the ‘Happy Birthday Grandma’ card??).

Remember our promotions, great savings on the Freezer Deal and Chilled Meal Deal and don’t forget JISP - be sure to check out the offers we have and if you haven’t downloaded the app, pop it on your phone….you are missing out on many savings! If you need help with this, ask one of the team – they are experts at getting you started and giving you tips on how to use it.

Iney & Pete

OPENING TIMES

SHOP

Monday to Friday 7.30am - 7pm

Saturday 8am - 5.30pm

Sunday 8am - 1pm

BANK HOLIDAYS 8am - 1pm (Good Friday & Easter Monday)

EASTER SUNDAY: CLOSED

POST OFFICE

Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm (Closed for lunch 1pm - 2pm every Tuesday & Wednesday. Please avoid between these times generally as we would have to close for lunch every day if we are short staffed).

Saturday 9am - 12 noon

Sunday CLOSED

BANK HOLIDAYS CLOSED (Good Friday & Easter Monday)

Have your say in Worcestershire-wide Air Quality Survey

Residents across the County are being encouraged to take part in an air quality survey being conducted by Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS).

The survey, which is being delivered in partnership with Worcestershire County Council’s Public Health Team, aims to gather valuable insights from the community to further enhance air quality monitoring and management efforts.

This comes in conjunction with a recent installation of 26 real-time air quality monitors located across the county as part of a three-year DEFRA-funded project to improve air quality in Worcestershire.

The survey will help WRS identify hotspots and ensure that their air quality initiatives align with the needs and priorities of the community, including health.

Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, Simon Wilkes, said: “Understanding what drives the behaviour of

the residents and visitors is absolutely vital for us to help inform our efforts to create a healthier living environment for everyone in Worcestershire. Please do take the time to complete this survey and share your views.”

Residents can share their views through the survey by visiting

www.worcsregservices.gov.uk/airquality

This survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and closes at 11pm on Sunday, 12 May.

The survey will cover various aspects of air quality, including perceptions, concerns, and suggestions for improvement. By actively participating, residents can contribute to shaping future air quality policies and initiatives tailored to meet the needs of the community.

For more information about the survey or the DEFRA project, please contact WRS Enquiries

enquiries@worcsregservices.gov.uk

Home and Property Security Roadshow

The Community Safety Team from Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council will be in Honeybourne village Hall on Saturday 23rd March, from 10am to 1pm offering advice around Home and Property Security. Though the Malvern Hills and Wychavon Districts are both low crime districts, there are always simple steps everyone can take to further reduce the chances of theft and burglary from occurring, therefore, these events are free for anyone to attend where they will be able to discuss any home and property security concerns and offer advice.

The knowledgeable and trained community safety officers can also provide examples of effective home and property security. They can also offer overt property security marking for small items, and bespoke security marking for bicycles.

Neighbourhood Alert

Who are your local Neighbourhood Officers for the ‘Rural North’ area?

PC Alex Prentice and PCSO Bradley Sansom. They can be contacted by emailing eveshamrn.snt@westmercia.police.uk. Sadly, PCSO Sansom will be leaving his role as a PCSO in March to work in a different department, still within West Mercia.

We are actively now more than ever involved with our Evesham SNT Facebook page. Please follow Evesham SNT to keep up to date with our activities and to see when our local drop in/engagement sessions are. @EveshamSNT (Facebook). @EveshamCops (Twitter)

Engagements

As you may know, we do weekly engagement sessions in each of the villages across the Evesham Rural North patch. We are always open to listening to the public if they believe the engagements with the public should be done differently. Please, if have any ideas on how we can better engage with the public, please let me know by emailing eveshamrn.snt@westmercia. police.uk.

E-Scooters

We are receiving an increase in reports of use of e-scooters. Can we please remind everyone that the use of electric scooters and hoverboards is illegal on public roads – except those that are part of an official government trial (we do not have any of these locally).

Although you can lawfully buy an e-scooter, they are currently illegal to use on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes and pedestrian-only areas, unlike part of an approved trial. As we do not have any of these trials locally, e-scooters and hoverboards can only be ridden on private land with the permission of the land owner. E-scooters are classed as a Powered

Transporter and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles in terms of requiring insurance, tax, MOT, license and registration. Anyone found using them in public areas risk having them seized by the police. Enforcement operations are being planned along with sessions to educate young people.

What have we been up to?

Various schools have been visited with regards to parking. Again, can parents please park sensibly when dropping off/picking up children, and if you can, please walk! Be mindful of junctions, dropped kerbs and peoples driveways and please do not drop children off whilst in the middle of the road.

Drop in sessions/engagement sessions are attended throughout the month on various days including weekends. Please attend these if you feel the need to.

Various coffee mornings have been attended and crime prevention presentations have been provided to the local residents.

All of the above is sent through Neighbourhood Matters. We are encouraging people to sign up to this service as it’s a great way of finding out what we are up to and where we will be. Please ensure you sign up to this free service.

Take a look at the website for further information:

https://neighbourhoodmatters.co.uk/

Ask for Angela’

Although this was included in the magazine before Christmas, it remains relevant. ‘Angela’ is a codeword for people to use if you start to feel unsafe while out in pubs or nightclubs. If you approach a member of staff and ‘Ask for Angela’ the staff will know that you are in need of some help in getting out of the situation and call you a taxi or help you out of the venue discreetly without fuss.

For further information you can log onto www.nationalpubwatch.org.uk.

St Mary & St Milburgh Church, Offenham 100Club

The Offenham PCC 100Club returns in May 2024 to raise money for your church. There will be ten draws a year from May to February and half of the subscription will be used as the prize fund. There will be three prizes each month and a super-draw with larger prizes in December. The draw is open to anyone 16 years old and above, they don’t have to live in Offenham.

To enter the draw please complete an application form and return it by 30th April, 2024. Payment can be made by cheque or internet banking but must be received by 30th April 2024. The first draw will be on Sunday 5th May at the church during ‘Time for Tea’, and the winners will be notified as soon as possible afterwards.

If you have any questions please contact Claire Penny or ask any member of the PCC. Good Luck!

Rules

1. The ‘Offenham Church 100 Club’ (100Club) operates under the rules of the Gambling Act 2005 for a Small Society Lottery, licence number 23/00752/LOTLIC.

2. The promoter is the Treasurer of the Parochial Church Council (PCC).

3. The PCC reserves the right to alter the rules of the 100Club as may be necessary.

4. All profits of the 100Club will be used to support St Mary & St Milburgh Church, Offenham.

5. Membership is open to anyone 16 years old or over.

6. 50% of the subscription will make up the prize fund.

7. The membership year runs from May to February. There will be one draw per month taking place at ‘Time for Tea’ in Offenham Church on the first Sunday of each month. If there is no ‘Time for Tea’ then the draw will take place on, or as soon as possible after the first Sunday.

8. The membership fee is payable annually and must be received by 30th April for entry into the draw.

9. Membership is £20 per year per number, members may have multiple numbers.

10. Numbers will be allocated by the administrator.

11. Prize winners will be published in the Parish Magazine.

12. There will be three prizes each month. December will be a SuperDraw.

13. The value of the prizes will be announced on 1st May each year.

14. Prizes will be paid by cheque. Every effort will be made to pay out the prizes within one week of the draw.

15. If the prize winner cannot be located or the cheque is not banked withing six months the prize will revert to the PCC.

St Mary & St Milburgh, Offenham 100 Club Offenham Church 100Club Application Form

St Mary & St Milburgh, Offenham 100 Club

Offenham Church 100Club Application Form

Name____________________________________________________________

Telephone/Email____________________________________________________

If you win a prize:

Name (as it should be on a cheque)______________________________________

Postal Address (to which cheques will be sent)______________________________

I would like to purchase _______ numbers in the 100Club from May 2024 to February 2025 at £20 per number.

I enclose a cheque for £_______ payable to ‘Offenham PCC’.

OR

I have made payment of £_______ by bank transfer (reference 100Club24)

Details for payment:

• Account Name: Offenham PCC

• Sort Code: 09-01-51

• Account Number: 64169407

I have read, understood and agree to the rules of the Offenham Church 100Club. I authorise my name to be displayed in the Parish Magazine and in Church advertising in the event that I am winner.

Signature________________________________________

Date__________________

Please return the form to Claire Penny, Mock Morris, Boat Lane, Offenham, WR11 8QZ or email them to clairepenny99@btinternet.com

“

make me feel alive! ”