In excess of 800 newsletters have been delivered across the two villages in the last week in our biggest run so far.
For those who live further afield and the odd one or two we have missed it can be downloaded by clicking the adjacent image.
Easter Breakfast Selling Well
Well over 70 tickets have been sold/ordered so far for the Easter Breakfast which will make it one of the most successful so far since we started them in 2013.
There are still a few spaces left – to order yours click this link HERE
Hall Seeks a Caretaker
Less than two years ago the committee was concerned that a reduction in regular users was going to cause a funding shortfall.
As a result of a lot of hard work, the hall is now very vibrant, financially stable and looking forward to a bright future.
There is so much going on at the hall that fitting every request in as well as opening up for family events is proving a challenge. So much so that we are now advertising for a self-employed casual caretaker role to assist at weekends.
The job description can be obtained from Martyn Hordern on 01538 750657 or martyn_hordern@hotmail.com, but basically, we are looking for a trustworthy and reliable individual who has time over a weekend to meet our hirers on the day, show them around and then return later to tidy up where required and lock the hall up. There would be a flat fee paid for each event.
Frequency is variable but averages 2 weekends a month in the spring and then tails off as the weather improves before picking up again in the autumn.
Tiny Talk at the hall from 19th April
We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting Tiny Talk classes at the hall from 19th April.
There will be two classes on a Thursday morning each week.
The classes are for babies and mums (dads as well of course) and all you need to know is posted below:
Helen Reeves-Howard the organiser explains what’s what :
💜Classes begin on 19th April.
💛10 – 11am Baby signing
💙11.15 – 12.15pm Toddler talking.
So what actually happens at TinyTalk classes?
TinyTalk Baby Signing classes are 1 hour long, with the same structure every week to help your little TinyTalker feel secure. With your baby, you’ll get to;
⭐️ Sing favourite nursery rhymes.
⭐️ March and dance to our walkabout songs (Hokey Cokey is a definite favourite that makes the babies giggle!).
⭐️ Take part in sensory activities, including bubbles, sensory shapes, flashing balls and reading books.
⭐️ Learn around 5 core signs every week.
In the second half of the session, the babies have a chance to play with a wide range of toys, and the grown ups can get a hot drink – this is often a rare opportunity to drink a whole cup of tea or coffee with a small baby! Many parents say that this is their favourite part of the week – and there are chocolate biscuits too. You’ll be able to take home a small handout to remind you of the core signs, as we all know what a lack of sleep does to the memory.
Our Toddler Talking classes follow the same basic structure that your little ones are used to, as familiarity is so comforting! Though it’s not essential to have attended the baby classes.
During class time we;
⭐️ Encourage toddlers’ speech and language development.
⭐️ Bring songs, stories, and games alive with signs, props, and more!
⭐️ Promote skills such as turn taking, sharing, following instructions and teamwork.
⭐️ Cover different themes such as zoo animals, colours, opposites and lots more, to give them the vocabulary to tell you about their world.
Of course our toddlers know none of this, they’re too busy having fun!
If you want to know more about classes then get in touch via
📧 helenrh@tinytalk.co.uk
🌍 tinytalk.co.uk/helenrh
☎ 07837742287
What’s On – Download Page
We are almost done delivering our newsletters and hope to be completed by the weekend.
There was not the room to fit all that’s goes on week in week out at the hall so as stated here is all that we have on each week on a page.
There are links to web pages and email addresses where relevant.
Download it to your computer, tablet etc and save it for future reference.
We have not tested it extensively on mobile devices – please give it a go and let us know how it works (or not) Just click on the image at the top of the page.
Post Office Service Monday 19th February
We were advised earlier last week that the Post Office will have a shortened service tomorrow.
It will be open from 2.45pm until 4.45 pm.
Bhangra Sanity Taster Session at the Hall 6th April
Bhangra Blaze returns for another taster session at the hall on Friday 6th April from 7.30pm.
Cost is £5 each and there is no need to book.
Plenty of fun and get fit at the same time.
Contact Janine on 07769565012 for more details.
Kingsley Youth Club – Update
Some will have read the post on the halls Facebook page the other week asking about the proceeds from the sale of the youth club. The same question was asked in a letter to the ‘Stunner’ last week.
Whilst the matter is nothing to do with the village hall it is a matter that is causing some concern clearly to the community.
The following is a statement and comment that will hopefully provide the reassurance everyone has been seeking :
Support Staffordshire has helped with the wind-down and closure of the charity (Kingsley Parish Youth Club) through Knights solicitors of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
The remaining funds were transferred to the Staffordshire Community Foundation in accordance with charity law.
It will form the basis of a new grant pot focusing on the Kingsley area which will be advertised in the spring.
Support Staffordshire will be alerted as soon as applications are open and we will be publicising it in the local press and to all on our database.
(to subscribe click https://www.supportstaffordshire.org.uk/ and complete the keep in touch section)
The following is a quote from the Staffordshire Community Foundation :
‘The Kingsley Community Fund is a fund that is held by The Community Foundation for Staffordshire and forms part of our portfolio of funds for the Staffordshire Moorlands, which bring benefit to local communities. The application process for all funds will be open and transparent and will be publicised widely. It is expected that the fund will open for applications in late spring/early summer 2018’
Mind Spirit and Body Event 25th February
10am to 5pm
FREE ENTRY
Come along to experience a range of complementary treatments, readings, and stalls, including:
Reiki,
Celtic Reiki
Crystal Healing,
Indian Head Massage,
Reflexology,
Darshan with Dhyan Ji between 10.30 and 12
Angel Card readings by Silka
Tarot, Crystal Ball and Palmistry by Rosemarie
Mel Stanton will be there selling her wonderful crystals and gemstone jewellery,
Tropic Cheadle (Gemma) will be there with Tropic Natural Skincare and Cosmetics, certified vegan and cruelty free products.
The Witches Coven with magickal and mystical gifts.
Magick Touch Natural Healing – vegan soaps and cosmetics.
Bless Your Arts by Kerry Broad – Angelic and mystical art.
Debbi Silcock – Wire art angels, mermaids, books and lots more…
REFRESHMENTS
Charity Raffle
We are delighted to support ‘The Extra Guest’ and ‘Help for the Homeless’ as our chosen charities.
That was the Week That Was Village Halls Week
Hopefully, this first Village Halls Week has given everyone an idea as to whats on at the hall and a bit of an idea as to what goes on in terms of running the building?
In numbers, it has been a great week in terms of people engaging with the hall. We have had 6 new Facebook page likes almost 150 visits to the page as well as over 1300 people reached in total.
The website has seen over 150-page visits and our tweets have been liked and retweeted quite widely and we have gained 3 new followers on Twitter.
Therefore our online community looks in fine shape, but remember this is not just an online world, the hall is an actual building run by real people in a real community.
So much of our lives are ruled by our online presence (said as this is being written for our online community ?) that we can be in danger of actually not getting out and mixing in the community we live in. We are on the edge of an area of outstanding natural beauty as well as one that has a rich industrial heritage and we should do as much as we can to enjoy it and that includes the hall.
So, what happens at the hall at a weekend? Well just like Night at the Museum it can come alive, but with the shouts and laughter of young children who attend birthday parties held at the hall. We have one on Sunday, the third this month.
Our rates are some of the most competitive around and the hall is just right for such events, but also suits big people as well as any community gathering.
Please do consider the hall as a venue for your event and also do support events we hold at the hall. Yes, they are often fundraisers but they are also moral raisers in the community and we are keen to keep on building a stronger community.
During the next few months, we aim to hold an Easter Breakfast, a summers evening concert, as well as hosting the Scarecrow festival among a series of events. As we have said before the size of our committee dictates what we can do, so if you are tempted to get involved please do get in touch.
There is a ‘contact us’ on the website, you can message us on Facebook or call Martyn Hordern on 01538 750657.
You never know, you might just like it!
It would be very much amiss of us not to draw attention to the sad passing of a village stalwart, Cedric Woodward who died a few days ago at the age of 86.
At the time of his death, Cedric was Treasurer for the Britsh Legion branch in the village, the Gardeners Association and previously for the Village Luncheon Club. He was also Chair of the Pensioners Association and an active member of St. Werburgh’s Church and the Choir.
Without his efforts these groups would have struggled but its also an example of how organisations rely on the same people to keep them going.
He was a testament to those people who volunteer in our communities and we should count ourselves lucky that he was prepared to commit his time in the way he did.
