Toy Library at Figheldean

Pewsey Community Area Mobile Toy Library visited the village hall in Figheldean on Tuesday 26 February, taking its selection of toys out for parents or carers to hire. This venue is going from strength to strength - we have a regular core of parents who come along, and every visit seem to get new members - two this week! Wiltshire Scrapstore & Resource Centre also came along, offering an activity for the visiting children and the chance for visitors to buy arts and craft stuff. The toy library (I hope) is becoming like another toddler group with tea and coffee and the chance for parents to get together and chat. The Toy Library is a great way to try out a new toy, or to borrow a large toy that you don't need to store forever (a slide perhaps?). We'll be back in Figheldean in a month - 25th March (just after Easter), and the Coronation Hall, Alton Barnes next week.

Afternoon Tea at The Evergreens

Yesterday, Voluntary Action Kennet joined forces with the Evergreens in Pewsey for an Afternoon Tea. This was to offer support to the group (who have lost members recently and want to attract some new recruits), and it was also an opportunity to promote some new services in the Pewsey area for older people. Visiting the meeting were Rex from Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, Gaynor from as (http://www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk/ - helping people with memory problems), Melanie from Wiltshire Farm Foods, members of U3A (looking to start a group in Pewsey), and Paula and Eve from Pewsey Leisure Centre to offer a taster of Extend- a new movement class for older or less able people who still want to exercise. This was the highlight for me as the trial group all tried on hats for a dance- the gentleman in the blue pillbox looked lovely- if only I'd had a camera!
Information was also passed around about the services based in Voluntary Action Kennet, such as the Time Bank and Pewsey Information Point. Also the sessions offered by the PACT Centre- Silver Surfers and the opportunity to try a game on the Wii.
Hopefully there was something for everyone, the Evergreens met some potential new members, a few people went away with a new Deep Fat Frier or Electric Blanket (thanks to Fire & Rescue), and everyone had some delicious home-made cake!

New Forum

Kirstie is setting up the VAK blog, which will be a forum on which all members of the VAK team can post news and information about the activities and projects run by VAK. As a communication tool it will be invaluable in keeping us all in touch, and should be a way of reaching a wider audience who might be interested or need information.
Getting the site set up is proving fairly straightforward, although there appear to be quite a lot of hoops to jump through before people can write entries or post comments.
Watch this space, as before long we hope to have news (and pictures) about the work we're all doing.

Welcome to the VAK Blog!

This is the first post on the Voluntary Action Kennet blog, and is hopefully the start of a new forum for voluntary groups in the Kennet area to share their thoughts and concerns, and to hear about news and items relevant for them.