thenetworker The newsletter for Sutton’s Voluntary and Community Sector
In this issue:
Sutton Community Farm, the Sutton Community Fund and we chat to Cllr Simon Wales
July 2014
In this issue Page 3-4 - Sutton Together Sutton’s first voluntary sector consortium launched Page 5 - news Do you know about The Grove Page 6-7 - news Small Charity Week and Arts Network Sutton Page 8-9 - Voluntary Sector We chat to Cllr Simon Wales Page 10-11 - Healthwatch Sutton News and views from Healthwatch Sutton Page 12-13 - Money All about the Sutton Community Fund Page 14-15 - spotlight on.. Sutton Community Farm Page 16-17 Volunteer Centre Sutton Award for MAPS and Volunteers Week Page 18-19 - What’s on Find out about events and happenings in Sutton Page 19 - Contact us Contact details fro SCVS staff
Susanna’s column Welcome to the July 2014 edition of the Networker. The big news from SCVS this month is the launch of Sutton’s first voluntary sector consortium - Sutton Together, which you can read about on page 3. We’ve also had a busy couple of months with many awareness weeks we’ve been working with other organisations to promote - Volunteer’s Week, Learning Disability Awareness Week, Carers’ Week and Small Charity Week have all taken place in recent weeks. We’ve also been continuing to work with local voluntary organisations to get them their PQASSO quality marks and we hope to have some good news to report on that front very soon. We’ve also been planning for Trustees Week which takes place again this November - watch this space for news of events for trustees, and if you’ve ever thought about being a charity trustee get in touch with Razia as she’s looking for some new trustees with certain skills for some of our local organisations. As well as telling you what we’ve been up to, in this edition of the Networker we also chat to Cllr Simon Wales about the future of Sutton’s charities and the best place for a pint in Sutton, find out about the Community Farm and take a look at some of the work that has been funded by grants from the Sutton Community Fund in the last financial year. As ever, we’re always looking for good news from around the sector and for fabulous photos from local charities and voluntary and community organisations to put on the front cover of the Networker. If you have some good news, a story to tell, or simply want to tell our readers about your work, get in touch by emailing us at info@suttoncvs.org.uk. Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter (@SuttonCVS) and Facebook (SuttonCVS) so follow us on both for the latest news for Sutton’s voluntary sector. Susanna Bennett Chief Executive SCVS
Cover pic: - Sutton Community Farm
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news
Monday 23rd June saw the launch of Sutton Together – Sutton’s first voluntary sector consortium, developed to promote greater partnership working across the voluntary sector and better services for the local community. At the launch the eleven founder members (see box on page 4) signed up to a Memorandum of Understanding setting out formal arrangements for working together when it is in the best interests of the voluntary sector and the local community.
respond quickly to opportunities, but not to lose our individual identities or independence. For this reason we have set up what is known as a “lead body” model – this means that whilst we have formal arrangements by which we work together one organisation takes the lead on each opportunity (tender, funding bid, project) and builds around them a group of consortium members and other voluntary organisations to respond and develop a service. This builds on
Why Set Up a Consortium?
The voluntary and community sector in Sutton has successfully collaborated, built partnerships and worked together for the benefit of Sutton’s residents. However, we all know that the funding climate has changed significantly, and we are facing further challenges as the public sector puts together bigger, more complex contracts and calls for organisations with greater scope to take on the delivery of local services. So we knew what we have already been doing in Sutton and that the voluntary sector needed to respond to our strong partnership working. these challenges and work differently. Full consortium members have to be able and willing to become a “lead body” for a contract so How does it work? they must be capable of meeting Sutton Council’s For over a year a group of 11 organisations has tender criteria (PQQ) and be able to demonstrate been working to explore the set-up of a to other Consortium members that they can consortium – all voluntary organisations in Sutton were invited to be involved but there were successfully lead and project manage a large contract. 11 who committed to the work. Those A major concern in the discussions about organisations involved were clear that we wanted establishing a consortium was the issue of to be able to work together formally and be able to wider involvement of local organisations everyone wanted a structure that could include ...cont. page 4
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news ...cont. from page 3 smaller organisations that are close to their suttontogether@suttoncvs.org.uk or call 020 communities and maybe provide specialist The eleven founder members of Sutton services but would not be able to compete for a Together: tender of large funding bid in their own right. So there is a provision for these smaller organisations to become Associate Members, so Age UK Sutton that when an opportunity arises the Marion Harper, Chief Executive Consortium lead for a particular piece of work www.ageuksutton.org.uk can contact them and encourage their involvement. Bioregional Even if voluntary organisations don’t Conor Moloney, Head of Regions & register as associate members every lead Communities organisation will want to be able to put together www.bioregional.com the best possible bid or service, and so they will want to contact any organisation that can contribute to delivering the best possible Imagine outcomes. However, if the consortium already Navroop Kullar, Assistant Director, London knows about the organisation and they are an www.imaginementalhealth.org.uk associate member this makes it easier!
How can other voluntary organisations get involved?
If you are able and willing to become a “lead body” please join Sutton Together as a full member If you are not able or do not wish to become a full member please join as an associate member
To join call 020 8644 2867 or email suttontogether@suttoncvs.org.uk
What next?
The group has bid for - and received - some funding from Sutton Council to enable it to progress this model of work, the Consortium is supported by SCVS who manage the planning and day to day work. We are currently working in two areas:
Information and Advice – we have been involved in the development of the new information and advice framework and are starting to plan how we might deliver an innovative service in response to the tender opportunities that will arise later in the year. Social Care – we are looking at the opportunities arising from the Care Act to establish a Delivery Partner model and take on a greater range of service delivery.
If you would like more information on either of these projects please email Susanna Bennett at
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SCILL Centre Samantha Walker, Chief Officer www.scill.org.uk
Sutton Carers Centre Rachael MacLeod, Chief Executive www.carers.org/sutton
Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector (SCVS) Susanna Bennett, Chief Executive www.suttoncvs.org.uk
Sutton Citizens Advice Bureaux Steve Triner, Chief Executive www.suttoncabxorg.uk
Sutton Community Transport Bob Harris, Chief Executive www.suttonct.co.uk
Sutton Mencap Dave Hobday, Chief Executive www.suttonmencap.org.uk
The U (Young Foundation) Diana Coman, Manager www.the-u.org.uk
Volunteer Centre Sutton Chris Parker, Chief Executive www.vcsutton.org.uk 8644 2867.
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Local news
Do you know anything about The Grove? forever’. The mansion became offices and the grounds were opened as a public park. This photo shows The Grove in 1923 just before it was bought by the Council. We know very little about the life of the building either as a Victorian and Edwardian Together with Sutton Council, Volunteer Centre Suttonand Sutton Citizen’s Advice Bureau Sutton family home or as council offices. We do know Centre for the Voluntary Sector is preparing a bid that the council converted one of the original to the Heritage Lottery Fund to open the building sitting rooms into a council chamber, the panelling and a board listing the council leaders to the public and voluntary organisations. Now we need your help to piece together the story of The Grove. Do you have any information about The Grove or the people associated with it? Do you remember working there? Visiting or attending meetings? Did you or one of your relatives exhibit art at The Grove? Do you have photos or papers which feature The Grove? If you think you can help us, please contact Jane Allen – jane.allen@sutton.gov.uk
Set on the edge of Carshalton Ponds, The Grove is hoping to be a hub for Sutton’s voluntary sector.
What we know
The Grove is a Victorian house set on the edge of the ponds in the centre of Carshalton. It is surrounded by the park which was once the gardens and grounds of the house. It is generally believed that the house was built at the very start of Queen Victoria’s reign, probably around 1840 although it may be older. We do know that in 1856 the Reverend A.W.B. Cator took the lease. He was the rector of Carshalton and was to live at The Grove until his death in 1879. It would be Cator who created the Victorian garden around the house, parts of which are still visible today. The next owner was Sir Samuel Barrow, a wealthy tanner who lived at The Grove until 1923, extending the building and altering the grounds. Sir Samuel was one of many business men who benefitted financially from the First Top: Wounded soldiers at The Grove in 1917 Bottom: The Grove in 1923 World War but we believe he was also a benefactor, like Cator before him. This photo shows wounded soldiers being entertained at The is still in the building today. We also know that Grove in 1917. The Grove was used for art and craft exhibitions. When Barrow left, the house was put up for Do you know anything more about the auction but failed to reach the reserve price. building? Get in touch! Carshalton Urban District Council bought it the following year ‘to preserve it as an open space
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News
Small Charity Week 2014 16th - 21st June was Small Charity Week, celebrating and raising awareness of the essential work of the UK’s small charity sector who make an invaluable contribution to the lives of millions of individuals. To celebrate Small Charities Week in Sutton we talked to six grassroots organisations that are making a difference in their local areas. You can listen to SCVS’s Razia Sattar’s interviews with them, find out about the work that they are doing, how they are making a difference and what it is like to be a small charity in the London Borough of Sutton on our website at: www.suttoncvs.org.uk/smallcharityweek
Payroll that stacks up Get CPS to manage your payroll and see how much time you could save Focus on service delivery - getting us to sort out your payroll means that you can concentrate on what’s important for your organisation Comply with current legislation - we make sure that pay is calculated correctly, and HMRC have all the correct up to date PAYE information for your organisation No need to purchase specialist software or train staff we are specialists in payroll and up to date with all the latest legislation
Contact us today: t: 020 8644 2867 e: creativepayroll@suttoncvs.org.uk w. www.cpspayroll.co.uk page8
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Local organisations Arthur Hookway and Mrs Su Hookway were in attendance. The Mayor is patron of the new Arts Network Sutton and chaired the AGM on 30 June at which Samia Tossio from SamiArts was elected chair of ANS, Sheree Vickers of Savvy Theatre and Dick Bower of Sutton Amateur Dramatic Club were elected as the two vice chairs. Five executive committee members were also elected and full details will be available on the Arts Network Sutton website www.artsnetworksutton.com Performers at the launch included Presto Performing Arts, Mishmak Youth Theatre, Ambition Dance Group, Paola Tossio and group,
Following 10 months of intense work by Sutton Arts Council (SAC) supported by SCVS and the London Borough of Sutton, Arts Network Sutton (ANS) was successfully launched on 12 June at the Sutton Life Centre. Building on the many years of work done by SAC, Arts Network Sutton (ANS) is a vibrant, new network that brings together local artists and local people with an interest in the arts. ANS promotes, champions, nurtures and acts as an inclusive voice for the diverse range of arts in Sutton. ANS is an independent, formally constituted charity which will be able to access external funding to help support arts projects within the London Borough of Sutton. Prior to the launch, ANS ran a number of events for residents to raise awareness of the arts and of the network including making bunting, flowers and decorations at Honeywood (much of which was used to decorate the Life Centre for the launch!) and taking part in a range of creative activities at a colourful stall on Sutton High Street. An innovative production of Romeo and Juliet by Savvy Theatre Company at the end of May in Honeywood also helped to promote the network. At the launch attendees were greeted at the door by drummers from the Gary Mason Charity. The Mayor and Mayoress of Sutton, Councillor
Above: Ambition Dance Group and The Last Word perform at the launch of Arts Network Sutton
the Christopher Singers and The Last Word. Carshalton College Catering Department provided the delicious food and a good time was generally had by all! For more information about Arts Network Sutton and details of how to become a member, visit the website www.artsnetworksutton.com
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Sutton’s voluntary sector
Five minutes with Councillor Simon Wales Simon Wales has just been re-elected as a Sutton councillor, and the lead member for finance, assets and the voluntary sector. We caught up with him over a cup of tea and got his views on Sutton’s local organisations, where to go for a pint and superhero powers. You’ve just been elected to represent Sutton West ward for the third time. Why did you originally decide to stand as a councillor in Sutton? I have always had an interest in the area, having moved to the Borough in 1974, and first stood for Sutton Council in 1986. It was the philosophy of the then Liberal Party which attracted me winning power to give it back to residents, empowering communities. Since then, the Sutton way has evolved into a unique partnership between the council, residents and those who work to support residents. And it seems to work! What do you think the biggest changes have been in Sutton during your eight years as a councillor? The council has become more and more a commissioning council, which has presented great opportunities to the voluntary sector. This is why I have been so keen to work on the capacity building framework for the voluntary sector, to help organisations develop the skills and resource to take these opportunities. Sutton as an area has become much more ethically diverse, which brings its own challenges and opportunities. Sutton’s a great place – where are some of your favourite places in the borough for lunch, a pint or even just somewhere to go on a weekend? There are so many great places, it is difficult to single any out, but for convenience I sometimes have lunch at Cafe Nero, but for a pint it has to the the Cock and Bull, where the welcome is warm, the beer well kept! I must also mention Sutton's parks, for a quiet afternoon, or the heritage buildings such as Honeywood, Whitehall or Little Holland House for a more cultural time! Talking of lunch and eating out, if you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would you invite and why? Auguste Escoffier - so long as he did the cooking! You’re the lead member for the voluntary sector in Sutton. We’re lucky in Sutton to have so many fantastic local organisations doing such good work. Are there any that you feel deserve a special mention, or you think have really been addressing some of the big issues in the borough recently? Now, that is too much like asking a parent to name their favourite child! Of course there is always a favourite, but never the same one for long.
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Sutton’s voluntary sector It’s a time of a lot of big changes for the sector. What do you feel are the biggest challenges organisations in Sutton are having to deal with at the moment? Getting to grips with commissioning and working more collaboratively to seize the bigger opportunities. For some sadly, the biggest challenge will be to survive in a climate of shrinking resources and changing demands. The sector has always had challenges around funding, and many organisations are brilliant at levering in funding from outside sources - we just need to find a way to enable every organisation to be that successful. And what do you think the next year or so has in store for Sutton charities? An opportunity to do what they do best - innovate and to think outside the box to find solutions. It will be a time when these skills will be needed more than ever. And finally, one of life’s most important questions… which super power would you most like to have? As a keen amateur historian, I'd love to be able to travel back in time, and meet some of the greatest people in their prime Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Elizabeth Fry, Emmeline Pankhurst - the list is endless!
Cllr Wales receiving a national Compact Award for Sutton in 2013
New directories of voluntary sector services published SCVS has published two new directories of services provided by voluntary and community sector organisations in Sutton, who every year secure a substantial amount of external funding to provide much needed services for local people Sutton's Adult Health, Wellbeing and Social Care voluntary and community sector is made up of over 100 charities, community groups and social enterprises, and the Children's and Young People's voluntary and community sector has over 70 charities, community groups and social enterprises, all existing purely to benefit Sutton's community. Directory of voluntary sector services for adults in Sutton Directory of voluntary sector services for children and young people in Sutton You can also download pdf versions of the directories from our website.
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Healthwatch Sutton
New priorities for Healthwatch Sutton This year, Healthwatch Sutton will be looking into the following areas of health and social care:
Access to GP services
If you are a group or organisation that has an interest in any of these areas, please get in touch with the Healthwatch Sutton team on 020 8641 9540 to find out how to get involved.
Children and Young People’s experience of health and social care We will also be keeping an eye on any developments that may lead to service changes Carers for people with dementia locally, in particular plans arising from the Better Care Fund and South West London Collaborative We will be investigating, writing reports and making recommendations based on the feedback Commissioning.
that we receive from local people.
Report into discharge from St. Helier Hospital published Healthwatch Sutton’s investigation into patients’ experience of going home from hospital has led to a series of recommendations for improvement.
and services. Discharges late in the day.
Some patients have not received written information about their medicines.
We also found: The staff at Epsom and St Helier hospital have Nearly two thirds of patients who completed worked closely with Healthwatch Sutton to collect the telephone interview stated that they the views of patients. We interviewed 33 patients found their overall experience to be ‘good’ or over the phone after they had returned home. ‘excellent’ Patients told us:
Discussions about discharge happen late in the patients stay
They experienced delays: Delays on the day of discharge due to the late availability of medication, transport and for other reasons. Delays to the planned day of discharge due to tests, procedures
Approximately 9 out of 10 respondents felt that they were able to discuss their concerns with the medical teams.
We have made a series of recommendations so that future patients can benefit from improvements made in response to these findings. Please contact us for the full report.
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter, it’s the fastest way to keep up to date with the latest information.
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Healthwatch Sutton
What’s been your experience of accessing GP services in Sutton? People in Sutton have told us that they have sometimes found accessing GP services to be difficult. We need to know what your experience has been and your views about how things can be improved. We would be very grateful if you could take 10 minutes to complete this short questionnaire about local GP services. You can access the survey at
www.surveymonkey.com/s/suttongpaccess or call us on 020 8641 9540 and we can send you a paper copy with a freepost return address. If you work for an organisation that can help promote this survey to your contacts then please get in touch. We would like as many people as possible to share their views.
Tel: 020 8255 8155
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Money
A look at the Sutton Community Fund Since March nearly £50,000 has been awarded to local Sutton organisations and there’s still over £100,000 up for grabs. Where from? Why the Sutton Community Fund of course!
All these organisations had grants from the Sutton Community Fund last financial year. This year it could be you!
The Sutton Community Fund awards grants of between £300 and £10,000 to projects that benefit Sutton's residents. In 2013/14 19 grants, totalling £105,078 were awarded to 18 local organisations to fund a wide variety of projects. Last year The Oaks Way Centre was granted money to purchase new kitchen equipment, appoint a new chef and revamp their kitchen which opened in April this year. Bob Harris, one of the centre’s trustees said “We’d like to thank the fund’s trustees for their support in what has turned out to be an expanding project. From the initial kitchen refurbishment our ideas have expanded to the redevelopment of part of the centre and the creation of a dining room where our members now sit down at restaurant style tables laid out with table cloths. Overall it is a much more pleasant and engaging atmosphere for all concerned at the centre.” Another project benefitting from the fund last financial year was the Citizenship Media Group. They awarded funds to work with young people aged 12-17 to make a short film on citizenship. 35 young people have already been involved in the project group, which has met up once a week for the past five months. Sessions so far have included discussions of social issues, script development, lighting workshops and some early filming sessions and they will soon be starting to produce their film. Off the back of this work the group has received an All England Lottery Grant to run a follow-up project, where they will be making a longer, more substantial film short film in late 2014 and into 2015. Richard Wilson from the Media Group said of the project “the students have really enjoyed themselves and though it continues to be lots of hard work, we really believe in this project and in the students’ development”.
RACE
Jigsaw4U nity u m m o use C sociation Clockho As Sutton LG BT Forum Riverside Com mun nity Associatio o n i t da n u o F TutuOff the Record lling unse o C h t u o Y
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Sutton Mencap g People n u o Y r o f bs Surrey Clu Citizenship M edia Sutton Black History Group en’s m o W n o t t Su Centre Gar y Mason Rh ythm Empowerment ical a Therapy m a r D t u o b a d Roun United in Dance Springboard Project Oaks Way Centre Horizon Church thenetworker
Money Gary Mason Rhythmical Empowerment has also seen the benefit of applying for funds from the Sutton Community Fund. An earlier grant from the Sutton Community Fund had enabled them to provide weekly workshops in Roundshaw and Riverside. These proved very popular with groups such as residential care homes, Mencap, head injury rehabilitation and carers, with participants growing in confidence week by week as they learnt a new skill. The charity wanted to continue these sessions and so successfully applied for another grant from the Sutton Community Fund last financial year. Christine Lindsay of the Gary Mason Charity told us how securing these funds has made a difference to one Sutton resident. “I have one particular chap to tell you about who joined two terms ago. He was very difficult for the support workers to do anything with at all. A big guy who swore a lot and refused to get involved with any activities they took him to so
grants were awarded totalling £44,609.50. Some of the organisations that have received grants from the fund this year are:
they brought him to us expecting no co-operation at all. He also hated being looked at by anyone. The first week he sat out in the foyer of the church hall complaining about the noise of the drums. The next week I persuaded him inside the door by giving him a table and chair between him and the drumming circle, and something to drink, while he waited for it 'to be over'. The third week, he was one of the first in. He saw me and sat straight down on a chair with a drum and from that moment took full part in the drumming circle lessons in a compliant way. Now every week he says a big 'hello' to me and the workshop leader, comes to the kitchen servery for his drink and biscuits in the interval and actually has chats with me, proper conversations with smiles that are genuine. This is just one of many transformations that I have seen over the time we have had the benefit of the grants from Sutton Community Fund.” So far this financial year (2014/15) we have had one round of applications for the fund. Fourteen applications were made and went to the Sutton Community Fund Panel and subsequently nine
Sutton Community Fund Workshops
Alzheimer’s Society (singing for the brain classes) Imagine (supporting the running of a pilot project for people with mental health issues) Sangam (supporting the running of exercise classes) Sutton Mencap (running two leisure groups groupies and high fliers) Urban Youth Action (supporting open ramp sports coaching and support sessions, plus running large competitions) There is still £112,239.50 left in the pot to be awarded by March 2015, so it is well worth putting your application for funding in! Grants awarded must be used within 1 year and applications are now being accepted for the next round - deadline 17th September 2014. The application process is quite straightforward but it is important that you read the guidance notes (available on our website) before applying, and please make sure that you have all the documents listed on the checklist. You can download the application form and guidance notes from our website: www.suttoncvs.org.uk/communityfund If you need any help to complete your application form, or you have any questions about the fund, please call Jackie or Razia on 020 8644 2867 or email them. If you have an idea for a project but you’re not sure where to start with your application we run dedicated free workshops for anyone looking at applying to the fund. Seven organisations attended our last workshop, four went on to apply for the Community Fund and all these applications were successful!
“The workshop provided an excellent framework for our funding application” said one recent participant of the course.
The next workshop is on 14th August, 10am12noon at Granfers Community Centre, Sutton. Bring your project idea to this session and we will help you to make a start on your application. The session will also cover ways to gather evidence using different sources and the reasons why some funding applications fail. To book your place please email jackie@suttoncvs.org.uk asap as places are limited.
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Local organisations
Sutton Community Farm Maybe you’re a fan of their veg boxes, or you’ve visited the farm and seen the great work they do. We caught up with Sam Smith who told us the story of the farm and their plans for the future. “Several years ago, there was a neighbourhood survey in Hackbridge that asked local residents what would best help them to live a more environmentally fair lifestyle, and support our
local vision of One Planet Living. The lack of fresh, local food and training opportunities were some of the big issues that kept coming up. The idea seemed obvious, we need a community farm in Sutton! So a couple of enterprising staff at BioRegional started looking for land. We found 7 acres near Wallington, on an unused smallholding on Little Woodcote Estate, with beautiful views overlooking the city. On our first day, we invited the community to join in and had 50 volunteers.
So where are we now? Since starting in 2010, we have spun-out from BioRegional as an independent not-for-profit enterprise with 5 employees and 2 apprentices. We deliver over 170 VegBags to residents in Sutton each week as well as going to Wallington Farmers’ Market and selling to restaurants. We work with schools, disability colleges, probation services and corporate groups that are looking to escape the office and get mucky for a day. At the heart of our farm is a diverse and thriving community of volunteers, on average 35 per week. Volunteers come to learn new skills and share knowledge, meet people and be inspired about local food. We are so grateful for their commitment and enthusiasm. I’ve been working at the farm for the last two years and feel so fortunate to be here. The Farm has helped me to reconnect with nature and where my food comes from. I feel inspired by how much we grow, by the sense of community spirit and the enjoyment of eating delicious, chemicalfree food. Real food!
Our future plans We want help to create a thriving, healthy local food culture in Sutton. But here’s the snag. In the face of dominant supermarkets and big-scale farming (that has its own set of problems), small
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Local organisations scale farming is not easily viable. We would never survive on sales of produce alone. Therefore as we continue to develop as a community amenity and demonstrate a model of sustainable farming that is good for people and planet, we realise we must take an enterprising approach to our activities. We are constantly thinking about how we can best innovate and this takes a lot of energy. For example, we are currently reviewing six really exciting business opportunities, including a community farm shop/cafe, a food enterprise business hub and exploring how we can work with Sutton’s Public Health teams. As we explore these avenues, we need to be careful to take the right path as a farm and not lose sight of how our pumpkins are doing! As a community farm, we are owned and shaped by the local community. Later this year, we will be launching non-for-profit community shares, so you can own a piece of Sutton Community Farm!
Want to get involved? The best way to support us is to buy our produce, head to our online farm shop at www.suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk. We would also love to show you around, if you’re interested in coming to our farm, head to our website and click on visit.”
Your local VegBox scheme To give our community affordable access to fresh, locally grown and organic food we run a not-forprofit VegBox Scheme where we produce a bag or box of fresh, seasonal vegetables each week and distribute them to homes and pick-up points every Thursday and Friday for our customers to collect. You can place an order online in advance for an organic produce delivery the following week. Most people have a recurring order, weekly or fortnightly. An easy way to help get your 5-aday.
Fresh, delicious, and very local How fresh? We harvest our produce on Wednesday afternoon, and deliver on Thursday and Friday. We grow as much produce on our 7 acre farm as possible and to keep a good variety of veg in our box, we source from other local producers too. These producers are all organic and listed on our website.
A zero food waste solution Most of us have heard some alarming statistics about food waste; one third of food we grow going straight into the bin! What a waste. Our VegBox scheme is ideal for minimising food waste, as we harvest exactly what we need for our boxes. If we just sold in a shop or farmer markets, we run the risk of not selling it all and having perfectly good food going to waste.
Not just VegBoxes... We complement our offering with a variety of organic produce, all sourced locally or contributed by friends of the farm, such as fruit, bread and eggs. These items can be included ordered once or included in your recurring order through your online account. To order, please visit: www.suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk
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local organisations Volunteer Centre Sutton
A Queens Award for MAPS Last month MAPS (Mentoring, Advocacy and Peer Support), a project of Volunteer Centre Sutton, was delighted to become one of the proud recipients of this year’s prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), in recognition of its outstanding services to the local community.
vulnerable in their community. We are looking forward to sharing the award with the MAPS team volunteers, and friends at our VCS Garden The award is given to groups of volunteers Party to be held later this month’. who regularly devote their time to helping others MAPS trains local volunteers to support in the community, improving the quality of life vulnerable, disadvantaged young people, often and opportunity for others and providing an with multiple, complex needs, so that they can outstanding service. build resilience, improve their self-esteem and The winners of this award were invited to confidence, enabling them to enjoy a healthy, attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace. successful life and to play an active, positive part They also received an ornamental English crystal in their community. from the local Lord Lieutenant, presented on A past beneficiary of the programme behalf of the Queen, and a certificate signed by commented: the Queen, recognising this achievement. “(my mentor is) like Nanny McPhee: when you MAPS Manager, Helen Gasparelli, said of need her but don’t want her she is always there, the achievement but when you want her but don’t need her it’s ‘It is an honour and a privilege for MAPS to time for her to go.” have received this award, on behalf of the To find out more about MAPS email outstanding work of our volunteer mentors and vcsutton@vcsutton.org.uk or call 020 8661 5900. team who selflessly give their time to the most
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Volunteer Centre Sutton
2014 marked the 30th anniversary of Volunteer’s Week – an annual opportunity for Volunteer Centres, voluntary organisations and anyone involved with volunteering to celebrate volunteers and to promote the benefits of volunteering. This year, Volunteer Centre Sutton hosted two events, a Pop-Up breakfast stall in Sutton High St on Saturday 31st May, kicking off Volunteer’s Week, by offering free breakfast, in association with Starbucks, to thank those already volunteering, or to those who wanted to get involved in it. The sun shone, the crowd grew, and the breakfast quickly disappeared! A social media campaign was also launched, asking for a #volunteerselfie to #thanksutton, with prizes for the winners! There was also a VolunTREE, where passers- by were encouraged to leave a label, hanging like a leaf, with a message of thanks for a volunteer, or to pledge an interest in volunteering. Over a hundred labels were left fluttering in the breeze during that sunny morning, and 90 children walked away, happy with their balloons! Volunteer’s Week culminated with the Big Breakfast in Sutton Central Library on Friday 6th June, a chance to formally thank volunteers in Sutton for all their time, energy and commitment throughout the year. Over 180 people attended the breakfast, whether they were volunteers,
voluntary organisations, stakeholders or local MP’s. An open mic session gave attendees the opportunity to say a personal thank-you to volunteers, with Volunteer Centre Sutton providing a free breakfast, in association with Starbucks, as a token of thanks to Sutton’s very special volunteers.
If you’d like support in advertising your volunteering opportunities, marketing your organisation, or volunteer management, please check out our website at: www.vcsutton.org.uk , email vcsutton@vcsutton.org.uk or call 0208 661 5900.
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what’s on
July - August 2014 Take Part, Take Pride All Summer, across Sutton This summer there’s loads to do across the borough from carnivals and festivals to talks and walks, exhibitions and open days. See the full programme
Superhighways summer surgery Thurs 17th July Granfers Community Centre, Sutton SM1 3AA Like to know more about using social media or your website to communicate the difference you make? Book your place on a free Impact Aloud Summer Surgery for dedicated one-to-one advice. www.superhighways.org.uk
World War I Commemorative event Sun 3rd Aug Carshalton Ponds/Memorial Gardens, Honeywood Walk Remember the start of WWI at this commemorative event at Carshalton Ponds. www.sutton.gov.uk/ takeparttakepride
Chicken keeping workshop Sat 9th Aug Benhill Allotments, Sutton Learn the basics, covering housing and protecting chickens, their daily maintenance and what to feed them. No experience necessary. £25. Call 020 8770 6611 for more info.
Little Holland House open afternoon Sun 3rd Aug, Sun 24th Aug and Mon 25th Aug 40 Beeches Ave, Carshalton Visit the former home of Frank Dickinson (1874-1961), artist, designer and craftsman, who built his house between 1902-04 in the English Arts & Crafts style. Call 020 8770 4781. Free
Wallington Farmers’ Market Sat 9th Aug Library Gardens, Woodcote Rd, Wallington Established in 1999, it is the borough's oldest Farmers' Market and hosts around 26 local producers stalls every month. www.ecolocalmarkets.org.uk
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Digital Tea Party Fri 15th Aug Sutton Civic Offices Courtyard Hosted by Age UK Sutton, this is an opportunity for people to get acquainted with the online world. There will be various devices available for people to try including laptops, tablets and smart phones, and volunteers will be on hand to teach people how to use them as well as demonstrate social media and the web. www.ageuksutton.org.uk
Bat Walk Sat 23rd Aug, 8-10pm Car Park by Riverside Animal Hospital, Beddington Park Bats are busy feeding up, trying to put on as much body weight as possible to enter hibernation when the weather turns cold at the end of summer. Join this short walk and talk about how bats live. Bat detectors will be provided. Suitable for: everyone - £4pp, booking recommended. Call 020 8770 5822.
Carshalton Environmental Fair Mon 25th Aug Carshalton Park Over 150 stalls, children's activities, local craft, interactive demonstrations, farmers' market, music and performing arts, lots of tasty food, a bar with real ales and more, information, campaign groups and more.... www.envfair.org.uk
thenetworker
More dates for the diary‌ 2014 SCVS forums Children, Young People and Families' Forums 2014 Thursday 11th September, Wednesday 10th December (9.30 - 11.30am at Granfers Community Centre, Sutton, SM1 3AA)
contact us thenetworker The Networker is the bi-monthly magazine of : Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector (SCVS) Granfers Community Centre, 73-79 Oakhill Road,
020 8644 2867
Health, Wellbeing and Social Care Forum
info@suttoncvs.org.uk
Tuesday 23rd September, Tuesday 9th December. (10am - 12noon at Granfers Community Centre).
@SuttonCVS
Please confirm your attendance for each forum by emailing jackie@suttoncvs.org.uk at least a week in advance.
facebook.com/suttoncvs www.suttoncvs.org.uk Registered Charity No: 1063129
Chief Executive: Susanna Bennett Communications and Admin: Claire Avery Jackie Parr Development Team Toni Walsh Tom Strannix Razia Sattar Accountancy Services: Glory Sivaraja Helen Varley Gowri Srithasan Creative Payroll Solutions Ltd (CPS): Karen Adorjan Melanie Brannan Healthwatch Sutton Pete Flavell Pam Howe Sara Thomas
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