Community Event

Haydon Wick Parish Council teams up with BEST- Be A Better You, to deliver half-term enrichment sessions

Haydon Wick Parish Council teams up with BEST- Be A Better You, to deliver half-term enrichment sessions 800 800 Georgina Morgan-Denn

BEST’s programmes also help to increase confidence and emotional resilience which support young people to progress to a positive future.

 

Haydon Wick Council and BEST – ‘Be A Better You’ hosted two sessions this February half term. This time, they got even more exciting!

The Council saw record number of attendees, with over 40 children benefitting from the event.  Activities included non-contact boxing, team games and football skills taster sessions for young people aged between five and twelve years. The boxing is always very popular and all attendees absolutely love giving it a go. The football skills workshop is a new addition to the BEST portfolio and is becoming a firm favourite with young people.

‘Best – Be A Better You’ is a charity who aim to provide children and young people with one-to- one mentoring programmes and positive enrichment activities. Haydon Wick Council has partnered with BEST for over two years, and each session always very popular during the school holidays.

One parent had this to say “My children really enjoy these sessions, and they really help me out as a single parent”

One of the young people who attended said “I really hope we get to come to this in the summer like last year, we love it!”

The second session was new to both Haydon Wick Council and BEST, as it was aimed exclusively at 13-16 year olds.  The young people were given the opportunity to try a new discipline, such as boxing and circuit training. It can be very difficult for young people, especially teenagers, to express themselves in a positive way. The activities proved to be great for stress management and self-control. BEST’s programmes also help to increase confidence and emotional resilience which support young people to progress to a positive future.

Those who attended thoroughly enjoyed the activities at this session, which included tyre flipping, boxing and a Parish Council & Police Team versus Young People Team Tug of War. For teenagers in the Parish to be able to recognise supportive and friendly adults in the community is really important as it helps to break down the communication barriers.

Craig Hiscock, Operations Manager at BEST said; “We really enjoy working with Haydon Wick Parish Council. There are great facilities and we always manage to reach lots of young people from this parish This half term we wanted to do some targeted work with 13-16 year olds in the form of a boxing boot camp style session. We talked about the recent tragic event in the parish and asked the young people what type of help and services they feel would benefit the young people of Haydon Wick in the future.”

Councillor R Ross, Chair of Community Development Committee said “We are delighted to have been able to work alongside BEST in delivering these two programmes, both of which have provided a wonderful opportunity for local children of all ages to have some fun, socialise and experience a new activity. What has really stood out for me is the fantastic efforts and team spirit showed by the children taking part, and more importantly they looked like they were having great fun!”

People grab themselves a bargain at Haydon Wick’s first Children’s Clothes and Toy Sale

People grab themselves a bargain at Haydon Wick’s first Children’s Clothes and Toy Sale 800 800 Georgina Morgan-Denn

On Saturday 4th February, the Council saw over fifteen stall holders attend the GLL Haydon Centre sports hall to sell any of their children’s belonging that they no longer play with or fit in to. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

 

With the rising cost of living causing many families to struggle with buying essentials, Haydon Wick Parish Council hosted a Children’s Clothes and Toys Sale to enable people to make some money by selling their unused belongings, which enabled those who were unable to buy things brand new, the opportunity to grab a bargain. The Council was pleased to be able to cover the cost of the venue hire and the stall holders each paid five pounds which was donated to Swindon Food Collective. The total amount raised for the charity was over £75.00.

 

Doors opened at 10.00am and there was a steady flow of people coming in and out of the sale and stall holders all went away happy that they had sold some items. There was lots of positive feedback from both parties.

 

One stall holder stated “it was wonderful that we were able to pay a small fee which is being donated to a very worthy cause, and make some money for our own families. We would love to have this opportunity again during the year”.

 

Other attendees of the event said, “a purchase for just ten pence has given my daughter a huge smile” and “what a wonderful opportunity to help those who are struggling financially at the moment, I would love to see more events like this one”.

 

It is very rewarding to see items not go to waste but to also see them going to new homes and be loved like they were new again.

Reducing Loneliness & Isolation Event Delivered for the community of Haydon Wick

Reducing Loneliness & Isolation Event Delivered for the community of Haydon Wick 800 800 Georgina Morgan-Denn

On Friday 7th October 2022, Haydon Wick Parish Council hosted a ‘Quiz, Curry and Karaoke Evening’ at the Haydon Wick Working Men’s Club. The event was delivered as part of the Council’s reducing loneliness and isolation programme designed to encourage members of the community to meet new people. The tickets went on sale from late September and the maximum number – 60 sold out very quickly.

 

Tasty Indian Street food was supplied by the Chaat Café and thoroughly enjoyed by all. The winning quiz team took away some lovely prizes. When the karaoke started, some of the quiz enthusiasts were a little reticent, but the whole room joined in with some classic songs before a few individuals took to the mic.

 

Councillor Ellen Baker Lee, Vice Chairman of Haydon Wick Parish Council had this to say about the event:

“Friday evening was so special! Everyone I have talked to since really enjoyed themselves and I am being asked when we were going to do it again. I know that some of the attendees do not usually attend this type of event and they had a great time”.

 

The Parish Council is always keen to hear from the community about how it can continue to deliver popular events for everyone to enjoy. If you have any suggestions that you think would be well received in the Parish, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Community Development Officer: events@haydonwick.gov.uk

 

Successful First Skate Jam event at Haydon Wick

Successful First Skate Jam event at Haydon Wick 800 800 Georgina Morgan-Denn

Saturday 3rd September 2022 saw a fantastic action-packed skate jam held at Haydon Wick’s skate park on the anniversary of its first birthday. This event was the first of its kind since the skate park opened last September.

The Community Development Team hosted the event in conjunction with the team from ATB Skate Shop. ATB provided the soundtrack and PA, snacks, and drinks, along with competitions including scooter limbo, best trick, and musical statues. Among the prizes handed out on the day, were a skateboard deck, scooter wheels and grips, tech decks and scooter stunt pegs.

The popular event was attended by over 40 children and young people, and their parents. Feedback on the day and since, have been very positive and the young people want to see this happen again.

Councillor Rebecca Ross, Chair of the Community Development Committee at Haydon Wick Parish Council had this to say about the event:

“It’s great to see local young people enjoying the skate park and participating in such an enjoyable event. Skating and scooter riding helps young people keep active, build confidence, and stay active. The Parish Council hopes to hold an annual event like this every year to celebrate the skate park’s birthday.”

 

 

 

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