Latest News
Competition Winning Students visit wood@aldingbourne
Three girls from Bournemouth-based Avonbourne School visited wood@aldingbourne last week as their prize for winning a national competition.
Social Firms UK ran the competition as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Avonbourne’s winning idea was to create a leisure/community centre for disabled soldiers returning from conflict which the judges thought was: "…really original, timely and full of potential for turning into a Social Firm."
The prize for the Year 10 students was a visit to Social Firm Wood@aldingbourne which supports adults with learning disabilities into employment. Their range of services includes a collection service, recycled timber, seasonal logs, recycled wooden products, recycled chip fat as fuel and commissions.
The girls were let loose with serious power tools and tasked to make a Disability Chopping Board which enables people to be safe when chopping vegetables using one hand. Stephanie said: “It’s great that people who have a learning difficulty are involved in such a worthwhile project… The products that are made here are all made from recycled wood and I am very proud to be a winner and have this opportunity to visit wood@aldingbourne. The centre provides such a positive social involvement and everyone, whatever their disability can contribute however large or small”
Photo: Barry Waddington, Wood Commissions Coordinator and (Right) John Groves, Wood Collections Coordinator remain calm whilst the three students, Emma Basket, Stephanie Freeman and Hannah Phillips, get to grips with their task.
For further information contact:
Michelle McKinley Bell – Enterprise and Development Manager
Tel: 01243 544607 07918058600
Email: michellem@aldingbournetrust.co.uk
DEFINITIONS
The Aldingbourne Trust
A local charity based near Fontwell, which supports adults with learning disabilities to become more independent by developing skills and providing support to live independently, seek employment and be fully inclusive within their local community.
Global Entrepreneur Week
Took place 16th – 19th Nov 2009. As part of the initiative, Social Firms UK ran a competition “A Social Enterprise Challenge” where students had to come up with an idea for an enterprise with social benefit.
Social Firm
A Social Firm is a business set up specifically to create employment for disabled people. There are three core values that Social Firms will subscribe to within their businesses, orientated around Enterprise, Employment and Empowerment. Secondary to the values-led approach to Social Firm development, Social Firms will aim to employ at least 25% of their paid, contracted workforce that are people with disabilities, and they will aim to achieve at least 50% of income through sales, to reflect their ambition to reduce reliance on grants and subsidies.
Social Firms UK
Social Firms UK aims to create employment opportunities for disabled people through the development and support of Social Firms. For more information see: www.socialfirmsuk.co.uk
Aldingbourne Trust Community Team win First Prize for Community Work - Youth Action Network Shine09 Award
The Aldingbourne Trust Community Team went to the RICHMIX centre in London to be awarded First Prize for innovative community project for the work they have carried out in the local community.
The team also received a cheque for £1000 which will be put toward developing the project further.
More publicity about the event, both locally and nationally will follow shortly.
The team have been working in partnership with Southern Rail in delivering stunning floral displays in over 19 Southern Rails stations to raise awareness & challenge pre-conceived ideas relating to people with learning disabilities. Since starting in 2007, they have expanded greatly and have been discussed with great interest. Consequently, they have been approached by various other stations to do similar work with. Following this they aim to set up their own Social Gardening Enterprise!
Have your say in our forum!
Join many others in topical discussions regarding subjects relating to learning disabilities and The Aldingbourne Trust. We welcome ideas, suggestions, comments, news and much more! To register for free on our forum, click on the following link:
Happy chatting !
Wood Pallet Recycling Service
Go Green by recycling your wooden pallets and helping the environment. For more details, click on the following link:
Seasoned Logs - Autumn 2009
Aldingbourne are currently preparing a new venture to provide an additional service to its customers by starting to sell seasoned logs in the Autumn - watch this space for more info.
Custom Cakes for All Occasions
Do you need a special cake for your Birthday, Anniversary, Wedding, etc? If so, why not support your local charity and contact us with your requirements.
All cakes are made to order and decorated at ‘The Acorn’. Produced by the students under the supervision of Chef Rhys Spirovski.
Cakes can be delivered locally if required.
Please contact Rhys for more details on 01798 873533.
A selection of cake previously ordered:
Are you looking for a venue?
Have you considered using our function rooms for your party, evening class, special event or wedding reception?
Our rooms are available for evening and weekend use. For more details, please contact us on 01243 542075.
Gifts @ Aldingbourne
Visit our newly refurbished shop offering a selection of Aldingbourne produce and gifts from local crafts people, including jewellery, hand crafted fabric bags, household gifts, woodland bowls, greeting cards, items made from hazel and birch, plants (camelias, acers, etc). Free range pork also available on request.
John Cole (www.themagicofmushrooms.com), a local master craftsman producing unique wooden mushrooms and garden sculptures from locally sourced wood, has linked with Aldingbourne to display his crafts in our gift shop.
If you are a local craftsperson and interested in working in partnership with Aldingbourne by displaying your products in our Gift Shop, please contact Michelle McKinley-Bell on 01243 544607.
Art & Craft Service News
Browse our Gift Shop at Aldingbourne for latest artwork and crafts.
We need your help!
We are in the process of re-vamping our shop at Aldingbourne Country Centre which will be re-opening shortly with new stock from local craftsmen as well as our own produce.
We would welcome any display material such as wooden crates, fruit boxes, wooden display units, basketware, etc that would create a rustic country feel to our shop.
We are seeking volunteers to assist our clients to make craft items, such as greeting cards, to sell in the shop. In addition, we would welcome any donations or contributions of craft materials such as fabric, card, coloured paper, buttons, etc.
If you are interested in helping us in this area, please call Michelle McKinley-Bell on 01243 544607.
Also, if anyone has an interest or knowledge in building eco friendly houses using environmentally friendly materials, please contact us on 01243 544607.
SUSSEX SADDLEBACKS SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Aldingbourne are hosting rare breed pigs which are being looked after by a local group "Sussex Saddlebacks" - including some of our services users.
The breeding sows, Lavender, Rosie and Bella (Sussex Saddlebacks) have been joined by Elsie (an Oxford Sandy and Black). The large male has been named Burdock, and has sired a number of litters. Burdock is sponsored by MPM2. Pictured below are the latest arrivals.
If you are interested in purchasing meat from the scheme, please email Sussex Saddlebacks (sussexsaddlebacks@gmail.com) or visit their website - http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/sussexsaddlebacks/
Elsie with one of her litters.
