Your Leisure – Get Out Get Active
Over the last three years, Your Leisure, has been working on a prestigious national project in partnership with Spirit of 2012 and Activity Alliance to encourage local communities to ‘Get Out Get Active’ (GOGA), with the goal of improving people’s health and wellbeing by helping them to make the most the beautiful beaches, parks, woodlands and walks Kent has to offer.
‘Get Out Get Active’ has been a successful example of how a well-crafted project, led by a forward thinking organisations and funders, can not only have a significant impact on the hardest to reach communities to help them get more active, but in Your Leisure’s case, it can also help change an organisation’s approach to the services it provides and how it engages with everyone in their community.
Ian Barker, Your Leisure’s Community and Funding Manager, said: “The support from Activity alliance and Spirit of 2012 has been outstanding and not only in the form of funding, but even more importantly in the form of inspirational leadership, guidance and encouragement to try different ways of working, learning and sharing. From that, our organisation’s aspirations continue to evolve, nurtured by our partners’ influence and support.”
‘Get Out Get Active’ has helped to provide funding for bespoke equipment — New Age Kurling sets and replacement parts for fully accessible bikes – that has enabled those who struggle to maintain an active lifestyle due to living with long term health conditions and disabilities to… well… ‘Get Out and Get Active’.
Barry Horne, Chief Executive at Activity Alliance, stated: “I wanted to thank you for the positive contribution that the Thanet locality has made to the GOGA project. It seems such a long time since we met to discuss and then kickstart the Thanet GOGA programme. I have to say that the way the complete company buys into the values and aims of the project stands out within the UK project and is something that Your Leisure should be very proud of! We have seen some great work across the GOGA areas, but your case study will be used as an example of best practice to other Leisure Trusts and providers. The positive contribution that you have made is dis-proportionate to the amount of funding given in comparison to other localities but shows what can be achieved with teamwork, commitment and creative thinking.”
The national Get Out Get Active project has been so well received and delivered on its objectives, that Activity Alliance has secured further funding to carry on the great work beyond 2020. “New funding will broaden Get Out Get Active impact”.
Aston Walker Memorial Service
Margate funeral directors Aston Walker will hold a Christmas Memorial Service on December 12 from 7pm to 9pm.
The service will be held at Age UK Thanet, Randolph House, Zion Place, Cliftonville.
It includes music from the Cliftonville Community Choir at 7.30pm. There will also be mince pies, mulled wine and a gift for all. Messages can be placed on the memorial tree,
The event if free, call Lucy Howard on 01843 227059 for more details.
Your Leisure – Going green
Inspired by the successful launch of the single-use plastic elimination project at other Your Leisure operated facilities, the team at Margate Winter Gardens are on a mission to make their venue greener for the new decade; starting with the removal of “wasteful” Christmas crackers at this year’s Winter Wonderland festive banqueting nights. Instead, the money usually spent on crackers will be donated to local charities spreading goodwill to local communities.
Each year it is estimated that Christmas crackers account for up to 154 million pieces of plastic that end up in UK landfills and potentially our oceans causing harm to British wildlife and ecosystems.
Lynne Boyd, Deputy Hospitality & Entertainments Manager at Margate Winter Gardens said: “One of the most wonderful things about the venue is the sweeping sea view. Looking out upon a Turner seascape every day, we wanted to make sure that as a coastal venue we are doing everything we can to protect our seas. This is the start of us phasing out all single-use plastic items, and products that contain single-use plastics which can end up in our waters.
“Winter Wonderland is a fabulous run of dinners and welcomes thousands of guests but over previous years, our teams have thrown away far too much non-recyclable plastic from these wasteful crackers and it’s time to make a change. We’re looking at procuring genuinely environmentally friendly alternatives for the future.”
The money saved this year by not purchasing Christmas crackers will instead be donated to two wonderful charities who support Thanet’s communities; Speak Up CIC and Pilgrims Hospices.
Throughout 2020, Your Leisure will be focusing on not only looking in at itself to improve its environmental footprint but also placing a focus on education. The Kent-based Leisure operator hopes to lead the way; educating staff and members of the local community on how to reduce their ecological footprint while enjoying life and having fun.
QEQM Hospital League of Friends
When the Broadstairs Men’s Diners Club had to fold they donated some of their residual funds to the QEQM Hospital League of Friends, which has enabled the charity to fund the purchase of a blood pressure monitor for Rainbow Children’s Ward. Pictured with the monitor are Emma Desmond & Catherine Teixeira from the Ward and members of the former Club Brian Laker & Henry Martell together with the Friends’ Chairman Jeremy Voizey.
More information about the QEQM Hospital League of Friends is available at their page on Facebook.
Seaside Jazz Club
We are glad to welcome back for our special Christmas date, the Black Cat Jazz Band with Tony O’Sullivan (leader, trumpet & vocals), Ian Turner (clarinet & vocals), Keith Blundell (trombone), Andy Maynard (banjo), Colin Martin (piano), Colin Hodges (bass and vocals).
Time & date : 12 noon, Saturday 14th December
Venue : Ramsgate Small Boat Owners Club, Guildford Lawn, Ramsgate, CT11 9AY.
Admission : Members £10, Visitors £15, including buffet lunch. (Membership is £10 per annum)
As it is a special date, remember to bring your decorated brollies for the ‘jazz around’ New Orleans style at the end !
For more details phone 01843 596789
Dickens Fellowship
The Dickens Declaimers, a dramatic reading group from the Broadstairs branch of the Dickens Fellowship, will be performing A Christmas Carol at Townleys (Albion House) Ramsgate, on Saturday 14th December at 3 pm; at The Pavilion in Broadstairs on Sunday 15th December at 3 pm; and at the Charles Dickens in Broadstairs on Monday 16th December at 6.30 pm. Entry is FREE – a collection will be taken for the NSPCC.
Inner Wheel Club of Margate
The members of Margate Inner Wheel Club formed a small part of a superb effort to help a charity for homeless children in Kenya.
From 40 local Inner Wheel Clubs, more than 200 ladies gathered at Ditton Community Centre to hear the background to ‘Footsteps’: a charity founded by Martin and Mary Print in Kenya. Their ambition is to ensure a home and education is provided to help as many children who have been ‘living on the streets’ as possible. We listened to a superb talk, accompanied by photos of young folk – taken over the past few years – each benefiting from kindness, care and the supply of a home, food and education.
From 10.30 a.m. till 3 p.m. each local Club raised money in many ways – selling unwanted gifts – home-made cakes and jams – all kinds of competitions – number of sweets in a jar – weight of cake etc. Those extremely happy ladies raised a very good sum of money to enable more children to benefit from the work of the Charity.
If there was a happy, fun time to be had we had it! We all bought items we would NEVER use – but we all received great satisfaction with every £1 spent!
Ramsgate Albion Townswomen’s Guild
he December Christmas Meeting was Chaired by Margaret Price who welcomed everyone to a very festive hall.
Minutes from the November meeting were read by Terry Elliott then approved and signed.
As this was the last meeting before the New Year we entertained ourselves with Christmas poems and table quizzes.
The raffle and craft table were will supported and at tea break we enjoyed homemade cupcakes made by Jill Gausby.
The flowers for the afternoon were supplied by Avice Winfield who kindly donated them to the raffle table.
As this was the last meeting before the New Year everyone now looks forward to a year of interesting speakers and
activities. We always welcome new members to come and join us at St. Ethelberts Church Hall in Hereson Road Ramsgate. The meetings start at 2.30pm. on the first Monday of each month. So come along and meet us.