Organic Produce - available now  .....

  • Leeks
  • Leaf Beet
  • Baby Leaf Salad
  • Rhubarb
  • Asparagus
  • Swiss Chard
  • Perpetual Spinach

Seedlings -

Various Herbs - watercress, basil, coriander, chervil.

Tomatoes

Lettuces

For more information, please contact

01243 542075.

                 ----------------------

New Arrivals!  

On Saturday 26th January 2008, we took delivery of an Oxford Sandy and Black sow with 9 piglets to join the social enterprise (see below).  All are settling in well and enjoying their new surroundings!

            

      

   

                   Meeting the Neighbours!

      

           ------------------------------

     Investors in People 

The Aldingbourne Trust had it's review in November 2007 and we are pleased to announce that we have maintained our standard of recognition. 

------------------------------

      Garden Chairs "For Sale"

  made from recycled cable drums

£45 untreated

£55 treated or painted

       Table - £40

Please contact 01243 546032

    for more details.

----------------------------------------

Christian’s Car Wash Company –

Open for Business!

Christian Roberts is a young man with a keen interest in cars.  Christian has had responsibility for washing the Aldingbourne Trust’s minibuses and has studied car maintenance at Chichester College.  With support from the Aldingbourne Trust and a start up grant from the Enham Trust, Christian has now taken the step of turning this interest into running his own business by offering a car washing service at the Aldingbourne Country Centre (just off the A27, near Fontwell). 

 

Christian takes a real pride in hand washing cars and offers the service on a Thursday and Friday at a cost of £5.00 per car.  He is the first person supported by the Aldingbourne Trust to become self-employed, and is pictured here at the launch of his new venture.

                Tel: 01243 542075 for further details

 

After his first successful year in business, Christian has now joined the rest of the working world by having to pay tax! 

     

Christian pictured here with his Accountant - Michael Halson.

              ------------------------------------------------

  Local Railway Stations Adopted

 

 

The Acorn has successfully adopted 19 local Railway Stations including Arundel, Billingshurst and Pulborough.

This will enable present and past students to volunteer in maintaining hanging baskets and other floral displays throughout the year.

 

The stations have provided funding for the necessary materials needed to ensure this project is successful.

 

    

 

----------------------------------------

 

SUSSEX SADDLEBACKS

  SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

  

 

Aldingbourne is supporting Sussex Saddlebacks, a Social Enterprise which has won the first West Sussex Social Enterprise Award.  The award was started to recognise the most innovative business idea that delivers social and environmental change.  People with learning difficulties help to look after and humanely rear the rare breed pigs.

The pigs have been given names including Lavender, Rosie and Bella.  The large male has been named Burdock (Sponsored by MPM2 … suppliers of promotional merchandise, branded clothing and marketing are proud to support Aldingbourne Trust - www.mpm2.co.uk)

 

        Feeding Time!

     

Rosie and Bella have recently (February) become proud mothers to 4 and 9 piglets respectively - both sows and piglets are doing well!

       Rosie with her 4 Piglets

      Some of Bella's 9 piglets - 1 day old!

          ------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOP BUILDING RE-OPENED!

Following the fire of the Top Building at the Aldingbourne Country Centre in May 2006, the new building was officially re-opened by John Dixon, Strategic Director of West Sussex Social and Caring Services on Wednesday 30th May - who originally opened the building in September 2002.

The opening was well attended by staff, service users, parents and carers, as well as representatives from the Fire Service, Underwood Construction Ltd and NFU Mutual.

From left to right: Peter Stanley, General Manager of the Trust, Sue Livett, Managing Director of the Trust, Gary Towson, Fire Services Press Officer, James Wiseman, NFU - Chichester, Clive Wildman, Underwood Construction Ltd and John Dixon, Strategic Director of West Sussex Social and Caring Services.

------------------------------------

      

           “GARDENERS UNITED”

Passionate about participation ……… Daring to be different …

 

The Acorn was recently approached by Newick House School at Burgess Hill to help create a garden for students with learning difficulties and associated special needs aged 4-16.

The group had various challenges to overcome before the project went ahead but they did so successfully, organising transport, equipment, acquiring plants and raising funds to do the work on the garden. 

Rachel Smither, Acorn Assistant Manager entered the young team of volunteers for the Youth Action Network National Award, held at Aston Villa football ground in Birmingham on15th February. 

The team, known as “Gardeners United” walked away with 2nd place out of 50 National entries in the Makin it Real 2006 category.  The award was not about individuals, it was about teams of young people working together to really make a positive contribution to the lives of others in their community by coming up with solutions to a problem and then Makin it Real !

           

Jane Tickner from Outset Youth Action, who runs the Millennium Volunteering Project in West Sussex, explained “I was truly amazed by these youngsters” enthusiasm about this project, with such a limited budget”. She added, “I felt honoured to be involved with such an inspired and positive community project”.

For further information on Gardeners United or The Acorn please call Rachel Smither Tel: 01798 873533.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 LEARNING TO WORK

Aldingbourne is partnering West Sussex County Council, Breakaway, Chichester College in offering support to people with learning disabilities in becoming work ready and finding paid and voluntary work. 

For more details contact Workaid on 01243 546035.