Advent Calendar – Page 6 – Wellingborough Eco Group

Redeem Funds

Today our Advent Calendar window opens for Redeem Funds, a ‘not for profit’ Christian organisation, set up to fight against poverty and to help, support, and provide for destitute people regardless of caste, creed, and colour. Redeem Funds work in partnership with Fareshare to collect surplus food from various supermarkets, to redistribute the food to families in our community.

We popped in to see them at their base at 90 Cowper Road, to say hello to Mary, their co-founder and secretary. A couple of their volunteers had just arrived from collections and were setting up food crates in their pergola food store, and a client had also turned up to see what was available, but they still had time to talk to us, and told us on video what they do:

Covid has massively impacted the lives of many people around the world. Seeing a greater need in Northamptonshire, RedeemFunds set up a food bank and has been distributing food parcels fortnightly to many families in the Wellingborough area, as well as providing emergency food parcels for families in need. Currently, they are providing food parcels to more than 30 families, who have been referred from either Northamptonshire Adult Social Services or Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Centre, on regular basis and the need is growing day by day.

“Redeem Funds are doing a brilliant job by donating food parcels for families in needed within the community and utilising food that would otherwise be thrown away. Not only is this helping families in need, but also helping to save the planet by reducing waste – a win win situation!”
John Freeman

So far they have managed to save 14,684 kg food going into landfill and tackled food poverty for lots of local people. Their regular supply of fresh fruits, veggies and breads has helped many families in need. The fresh food is available at their pergola food store, where they simply ask people to just take what they need and for a suggested donation so that they can support more families in need with food parcels.

Redeem Funds are also very active in the community. They will be co-hosting Christmas Dinner today at St. Marks Church, Queensway, for our elderly ones who are by themselves during this festive season; they regularly support UP2U Youth Club at St. Mark’s Church with fresh fruits, pastries and veggies, and they support Wellingborough Eco Group’s Swap Shop every week, with excess food available for free on Tuesday afternoons, from 2-6, at Glamis Hall’s Community Room.

Christmas is a time of sharing love and showing kindness, as Redeem Funds have done all year. Please do support them with donations for their foodbank or get in touch with them if you need support. Find them on Facebook or visit them at 90 Cowper Road, Wellingborough.

Helping Hands

Today’s Advent Calendar opens for Wellingborough Helping Hands Community Support Group and their Chilly Willy Yard Sale that takes place tomorrow and Sunday (18th and 19th December) from 12:00 until 4:00pm at 124 Main Road in Wilby.

Here is an admin from the group, Kat, telling us on video, all about Helping Hands Wellingborough and their Chilly Willy Yard Sale. We filmed her in her front garden, which is where the sale will be:

About Helping Hands

Helping Hands Wellingborough was set up on 19th July 2017, four and a half years ago, by founder Samantha Oakley. Her aim was to create a support network for those in the most urgent need and begin a community helping each other in difficult times.

The group now has 4 admins, Samantha, Gemma, Kat and Catherine; and it has grown to 1800 Facebook members, all listing, requesting and donating unused, outgrown and unwanted items in exchange for food, toiletries and laundry product donations to support the Helping Hands Foodbank facility, which is open to anyone in the Wellingborough area in need.

95% of donations are non-perishable food items, tins, packets, boxes and jars, and 5% are cash donations that are put into a community pot to purchase urgent fresh, frozen foods and baby items for those without the ability to do so themselves.

Helping hands also offer a baby and children’s clothes swishing service, run solely by group admin Gemma, where any clean, reusable clothing can be exchanged for the next size. Children’s coats and uniform are always offered for free as these are essentials and no child should ever be without a coat.

Helping Hands is a not for profit, volunteer led group, not a charity. No admin receives a wage, expenses or bonuses. They do this because they care for the community, and because it’s the right thing to do in this age where support services are stopped or denied funding.

Workers at Co-op Wincanton in Wellingborough bought toys for Helping Hands.

Chilly Willy Yard Sale

Come to the Chilly Willy Yard Sale for last minute Christmas gifts, a 50p table, a jumble rail and much more! Wellingborough Eco Group will be there with their Swap Shop and to answer any questions you may have. There will be free food available from Redeem Funds and a tea and coffee table too!

Helping Hands are holding this special Christmas sale, to raise much needed funds, so they can provide food parcels to families in need for Christmas. Find out more about the group at the Chilly Willy Sale this weekend, and bag a bargain, or find them on Facebook and join in at https://www.facebook.com/groups/327137781050378/

Animals in Need

Today our Advent Calendar window opens to support our wonderful friends at Animals In Need and to let you know about Northamptonshire’s biggest ever dog walk (more about this later). Animals in Need are an organisation dedicated to rescuing sick, injured, trapped and distressed wild and domestic animals. They provide veterinary treatment where necessary, care for and rehabilitate animals until they can be released or re-homed. Animals In Need was set up in 1990, the aim of the organization is alleviate suffering in animals.

The animal Shelter is at Pine Tree Farm, London Road, Little Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN8 2EH and is open to the public between 12 midday and 3pm Tuesday to Sunday. It is run by 8 members of staff and a team of volunteers at Pine Tree Farm and out attending to both domestic and wild animals in the Northamptonshire area. They also work with Northamptonshire Police attending road traffic accidents and out of hours emergencies. Here founder of Animals in Need, Roy Marriott, tells us about the charity with a rescued pig, Ruby:

Feeding and caring for the injured animals they rescue is most important especially in cases of young orphaned birds, which need hand feeding every hour from dawn till dusk. Also young hedgehogs which haven’t reached the required weight to survive hibernation over the winter months, need to be kept warm and fed as do swans that have incurred injuries, many from fishing tackle that they have swallowed or become entangled in.

The BIG Christmas Dog Walk for Animals In Need

Join in a magical dog walk around the beautiful Bradlaugh Fields in Northampton, Santa may even make an appearance! The walk is free to attend, but any donations to support the amazing work of Animals In Need will be greatly appreciated during the walk. Arrive from 10 am, the guided walk begins at 10:30 am. No need to register, just turn up!

Bradlaugh Fields is a 60 hectare open space in Northampton. The site is a former golf course. In 1987 it was proposed to build housing on the site, but after a campaign by local residents it was acquired by Northampton Borough Council and opened as a wildlife park in 1998.

The walk will take approximately one hour and you can cut the walk short if you need to for any reason as they criss-cross and explore the fields. They are expecting over 150 dogs at this annual favourite, making this Northamptonshire’s biggest ever dog walk! All dogs in attendance must be on-lead and sociable! Refreshments are available from the Bradlaugh Fields Barn following the walk!

Support Animals in Need

The shelter has a vegan cafe which is open 11:00 until 4:00 Saturday and Sunday. Pop in for some wonderful vegan food, breakfasts, toasty, shepherds pie, mac n cheese, or beyond burger with chips. There are incredible cakes from Motley bakes plus sweets and chocolate. All funds raised support the animals in there care. Hand sanitiser, masks and gloves are all available.

Every year they try to give all of the animals at Animals in Need a Christmas gift. They have a fundraising stall at Morrisons supermarket in Wellingborough on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for donations. Please consider a gift for an unwanted animal while you are Christmas shopping. You can also donate gifts at the sanctuary or at their charity shop.

The charity shop is at 89 Lea Red, Abington, Northampton. It is open 9am until 5pm Monday to Saturday but closed on Sundays. Why not pop in and grab a Christmas bargain whilst raising vital funds for the animals at the shelter. If you don’t like shopping, and even worse leave everything to the last minute, why not surprise your friends and family with an animal sponsorship, details can be found and more at http://animals-in-need.org

Barnardos

With today’s Advent Calendar, a window opens for a local charity shop, Barnardo’s Wellingborough, who are offering Christmas gifts with a difference; and while things may still be a little different this year, we think it’s even more important to make it extra special. It’s time to sprinkle some sustainable Christmas dust on things and create all of those festive feels and stepping into an eco-friendlier Christmas.

Shopping pre-loved may not be your first thought when it comes to Christmas shopping, but you can something incredibly unique and extra special. Barnardo’s Wellingborough is a treasure trove full of amazing pre-loved gift ideas. From vintage and one off pieces, unique homeware, and a huge selection of books and toys. There really is something for everyone! Here Alise shows you around the store and tells you a bit more bout Barnardo’s:

It’s Kidsmas!

This year they have lots of festive activities for you to take part in online. You can grab your trainers and take on the virtual challenge to Race Santa around the world, knit a snowman for your loved ones or watch Kidsmas Live. There’s plenty to choose from. Get involved on their website and support them at their Wellingborough shop.

Barnardo’s transforms the lives of the most vulnerable children in Northamptonshire and across the UK through the work of their services, campaigns, and research expertise. The charity believes they can bring out the best in every child, whether the issue is child poverty, sexual exploitation, disability, or domestic violence. They help young people leaving care, children with a parent in prison, and provide early intervention for families struggling to cope. Barnardo’s also finds suitable adoptive homes and foster placements for children in care. Registered charity no. 216250.

Address

106 Gold Street
Wellingborough
NN8 4ES
View on Google Maps

Call

01933 274594

Opening hours

Monday – Saturday – 9:00 – 16:00 (closed for lunch 12:00-1:00)
Sunday – Closed

Wellie Wombles

Today’s Advent Calendar window opens to say thank you to Wellie Wombles, the litter picking group from Wellingborough Eco Group, started on Facebook by Freddie Harris in February 2021, as a Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire group of Northants Litter Wombles. Both groups have been set up to encourage people to litter pick. Here’s Freddie talking about Wellie Wombles:

Wellie Wombles are individual litter pickers who, like the TV Characters, go Wombling free tidying up after the everyday people. We do suggest that Wombles start near where you live but can litter pick whenever they want to, and pretty much wherever they want to. As a group we simply offer help, supplies and guidance, plus give litter pickers the chance to share photos with each other of what has been picked on the Wellie Wombles Facebook group.

Wellie Wombles regularly litter pick 100+ bags a month just in Wellingborough and have filled 60 bags so far this month already! Maybe you have seen a Wellie Womble or two tidying up your local area, or have seen one of those red bags at the side of the road? Wellie Wombles also join in the Wellingborough Eco Group ‘Two Hour Tidy Up’ every month, tidying up local parks and public spaces.

Plus Freddie is busy working behind the scenes and has had some great success stories, including engaging with local schools and young people on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, by setting up local neighbourhood hubs where people can borrow our litter pickers and hoops; and with local business, to get them to take up litter picking. He is currently engaging with supporters over the festive period to see if they would like to do some picking too.

To help you, we have teamed up with Glamis Hall every Tuesday afternoon for Tuesday Tidy Ups, with Wellingborough Library Monday to Saturday and with Wellingborough Norse Monday to Friday; to loan litter pickers, hi-vis and hoops, and to give away bags. Equipment and bags are to be collected from one of the above locations, equipment is to be returned on the same day; and bags left for Wellingborough Norse by a public highway or at Glamis Hall on Tuesdays for collection. To get bags collected, simply report them on our website. You can also purchase a variety of pickers and hoops from us at our Tuesday Tidy Ups.

Tuesday Tidy Ups started at the Victoria Centre

Come to Tuesday Tidy Ups this afternoon at Glamis Hall’s Community room from 2:00 until 6:00pm to meet Freddie and other Wellie Wombles for a tidy up or just a chat. Find out more about Wellie Wombles on our webpage or join the Wellie Wombles Facebook group.

Made in Northamptonshire

Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for Made In Northamptonshire, a county wide networking group designed to bring together like-minded businesses and individuals from the food and drink sector. The ’support local’ philosophy is at the heart of Made In Northamptonshire, who believe that it is a positive and helpful way to support your local community.

In December 2020, Made In Northamptonshire opened their first shop at Rushden Lakes stocking a vast array of delicious local produce including tasty treats from award-winning Friars Farm, The Confectionist, Brooklyn Brownies, Vicky’s Kitchen, Daily Bread, Explore Chocolate, The Good Loaf, Warner’s Distillery, Nakasero Foods and many more; there really is something for everyone!

The Made In Northamptonshire Shop at Rushden Lakes is open 7 days a week: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm Saturdays and 11am-4pm Sundays! The shop is located in between Starbucks and Heavenly Desserts (see map below). They also have a satellite store at Jeyes of Earls Barton. The Made In Northamptonshire team look forward to you visiting them soon!

Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre

Today’s Advent Calendar Window opens for a local community centre and charity that is working hard to achieve their goal of being a community centre that is run by the community for the community. Paula Elmore and Marion Lamont have recently taken over the management of the Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre CIO with two general assistants. Paula and Marion are both trustees who give their time freely and are supported by their wonderful volunteers and other trustees, who all help to keep the centre open and running smoothly.

Kate and Paula tell us about the activities at the Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre

The centre is recovering from a couple of difficult years (as many others are) and Paula and Marion are hoping to improve the centre, and attract more groups to help enhance peoples’ lives around the area. These groups could be older residents’ groups and coffee mornings, mother and toddler groups, home education groups and more, watch this space as they grow. These and many more exciting things are happening now:

Fit & Fed local children can come and have fun in the school holidays through exercise, with qualified instructors. They also do crafts and get hot meals for themselves and their families.
Nest Youth Club on Mondays 4 to 6pm
The Compound Our Trustee, Kam works his magic all over Northamptonshire! Based in the centre, he works educating and mentoring young people through exercise and music. He also has raised funds for calisthenic bars to be placed outside in Hemmingwell, where he can often be found training and talking to our young people.
Elmore Education has a learning room in the centre, where Paula teaches vulnerable young people who can’t be in school for any reason.
Bingo evenings on Wednesdays, run by the new Hemmingwell Residents’ Association.
Seventh Evangelist Church on Saturday mornings

Shudan Martial Arts run by Jeff Gonsalves are regular users of the centre for young leader and self defence classes
Arts and Culture with Made for Many for young people.
Employment Training with Goodwill Solutions CIC bring courses to the centre to help local residents build their working potential and enhance their lives.
Food Bank (sponsored by Goodwill Solutions CIC) on Tuesdays at 1.30pm to 3.30pm, with extra parcels available to help those in need throughout the week.
Police Local PCSOs have an office at the centre, helping with events such as ‘Safer Streets’ initiative.
NN8 Off the Streets have placed a bleed kit at the centre and are working with their trustee, Kam, in to schools to help educate our children in the fight against knife crime

The centre’s wonderful hall and separate meeting room are available to hire for community events, parties, functions and meetings, both during the week and at weekends. This is at a discounted rate for local residents. The centre also hosts parties for the community, including a Christmas party this Saturday that has completely sold out!

Open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, visit Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre CIO at 119 Nest Farm Crescent, Hemmingwell NN8 4TU Wellingborough, there is car parking at the rear of the building, or call 01933 405595.

Christmas Tree Festival

Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for the United Reformed Church on the High Street, who are hosting their first ever Christmas Tree Festival. There are 40 trees on show, decorated by schools, businesses, groups and individuals from the town. Here Kay, Cynthia and Claire from the URC, tell us on video all about the festival, and the project it is raising funds for.

The Project

After many years of planning, High Street United Reformed Church are embarking on their largest project since the current Church building was opened in 1875. The aim is to make the Church more welcoming and amenable to all the people of the town and beyond. The project received Planning Approval in April 2017 and is fund-raising to make the dream a reality. The Project, with estimated costs of £600,000 consists of four stages:

New external ramp to the front of the Church to allow for an easier, more dignified and inclusive access to those with disabilities and for coffin bearers at funerals.
New glazed door providing an elegant and secure enclosure to the external lobby.
The foyer, under the balcony, will be enclosed by a glazed partition through which you can enter the worship area of the Church. The foyer, which will become the High Street HUB, will be a multi-functional area, separately heated and encasing a servery and a meeting room.
The existing main worship area of the Church will be redecorated.

The most exciting change is to the foyer, creating The High Street HUB. They already hold Coffee mornings daily in the Church, which attract a number of regulars, some of whom are out of work and some are homeless and in need of a safe place for refreshment and a friendly chat, but this could be better.

Creating The HUB will enable the United Reformed Church to offer better services to the local community. With easily heated and adaptable spaces for use by the whole community that are easily accessible by all and right on the High Street!

The HUB will give the church the opportunity do what they currently do and more, with a purpose built servery, offering quality light refreshments; and a meeting room that’s able to seat 40 persons, for small gatherings, for those seeking counsel and for further outreach work.

The Trees

With 40 trees on display, you would expect variety, but at Wellingborough Christmas Tree Festival, there are some really unusual takes on the traditional festive focal point. Most are pretty, some are large and others make a point. Helping Hands, Wellingborough Library, Glamis Hall, Weavers Academy and Wellingborough Lions are just some of the organisations that have displayed a tree.

Look out for our Wellie Womble Tidy Up Tree, it’s been growing at our allotment for a couple of years after being saved from the bin, and it’s all about litter picking. Plus you have to see the Wellingborough African Caribbean Association tree that has been dressed to impress. Here are pictures of some the trees from a distance:

To get a closer look, you will have to come to the Christmas Tree Festival!

Come to Wellingborough Christmas Tree Festival at the United Reformed Church on the High Street. It’s on from 10am until 4pm today or on Sunday from 1pm until 4pm. Entrance is £2 per adult, accompanied children are free. Refreshments are available, including mince pies, and all proceeds will go toward their High Street HUB project.

Wellingborough Christmas Market

Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for Wellingborough Town Council, because they have organised a Christmas Market tomorrow (Saturday 11th) from 8:30am until 3pm on the Market Square. We spoke to Emma, Projects Officer at Wellingborough Town Council, who said “There will be a variety of stalls selling gifts, decorations, food and more at Wellingborough Christmas Market, plus we have lots more exciting festive events in the Town Centre too.” Stalls at Wellingborough Christmas Market include:

Mystical Mosaics
A Touch of Wax
Artlenock Artistry
The Daylight Centre
Izzys bakes
Cashew the Cactus
Grumpy Brands
LDM Leisure
Lulu Belle Loves Paper
Scented Dreams
June Plum
The Food Barn
Sparky’s Snack Box

And many more! Shoppers at Wellingborough Christmas Market will also be visited by some of Santa’s real reindeer between 11am and 3pm, pop along and say hello? Plus whilst your in the Town Centre, so why not have some more festive fun at the other events:

Santa will be in his snowy grotto at the Swansgate Shopping Centre from 10am until 4pm, and what’s even better is that entry is completely free! You will be greeted by Santa’s cheeky elves before you can talk to Santa, have your photo taken as well as receiving a free gift for every child! Pre booking for the grotto is recommended but not essential. There will be two queues on the event days, shoppers in the pre-booked queue will be made a priority. Book your tickets here!

The United Reform Church on the High Street is hosting their first ever Christmas Tree Festival. There will be over 35 trees on show, decorated by schools, businesses and individuals from the town, look out for Wellingborough Eco Group’s Wellie Womble Tree! Visit on Saturday from 10am until 4pm or on Sunday from 1pm until 4pm. Entrance is £2 per adult, accompanied children are free, all proceeds will go toward their Hub project . Refreshments will be available. More about this on tomorrow’s Advent Calendar…

There is a Christmas Craft Market at the Tithe Barn! With cards, candles, pinnies, jewellery, bags; all sorts of unique gifts and accessories; there is something for everyone! Pick up out of the ordinary gifts this year, locally made; something special and different! Join in the tombola fun, in support of Cats Protection. Plus a chance to decorate or dedicate a Christmas Tree bauble, to be hung on the tree in town. Open 10.30am until 4pm, admission is free, refreshments served all day.

And to finish off with, All Hallows Church and the Town Council have teamed up together to provide a Christmas Carol Concert in the grounds of All Hallows Church after the Christmas Market, at 3pm. Everyone is welcome to join the celebrations. Do come along and enjoy a mince pie and non- alcoholic mulled wine.

Wellingborough Town Council was formed following a Community Governance Review in 2018. It consists of 23 councillors who were elected for four years on 6th May 2021. Wellingborough Town Council will aim to provide some local services in tandem with other local authorities within the area. It is a community focused council, striving to make Wellingborough a better place to live, work and play.

Wellingborough Christmas Market has been organised by Wellingborough Town Council with North Northamptonshire Council using the Welcome Back fund. North Northamptonshire Council is also using this fund for their Hi Street campaign to promote our High Streets, and look, even Santa is shopping locally this year:

Did you spot Santa when he visited Wellingborough while doing his Christmas shopping? Perhaps tomorrow is the day you you can join him? Emma, Projects Officer at Wellingborough Town Council, told us “Wellingborough is the festive place to be this Saturday. Come to Wellingborough Christmas Market, shop locally, join in the celebrations and have a great time.”

Glamis Hall Christmas Festival

Today’s Advent Calendar window opens for Glamis Hall For All, because it’s their Christmas Festival on Saturday! Entry to the festival is free, the fun starts at 9:30 and finishes at 4:00. You can meet Santa for just £5 and have your face painted for £2.50, plus there’s lots of other stalls, a café, a raffle, a tombola, and Wellingborough Eco Group has a Swap Shop and a pocket money games stall too!

Glamis Hall are requesting that you book Santa in advance via Ticket Source to avoid disappointment. Children visiting Santa receive a Christmas stocking containing Christmas-themed activity sheets, treats and a stationary set. Reindeer food and hot chocolate cones are available to purchase on the day.

Jo, Centre Manager, tells us all about the Christmas Festival at Glamis Hall

A Christmas market for the grown-ups includes food & drink stalls, handmade and specialist gift stalls include candles and crackers, pickles and jams, handmade items, and sweets. Don’t forget to visit the tombola and raffle stalls to try for a prize.

About Glamis Hall

Glamis Hall is a community centre on the Queensway Estate in Wellingborough. Run for the community, by the community, their motto is Glamis Hall for all. Home to a day centre for older people, a youth club, football and GLJ Theatre. Hall & rooms for hire. There plenty of free parking or take the W1 bus from Church Street in the town centre.

Glamis Hall consists of a wellbeing centre for the over 50s, a large sports hall with a kitchen and servery, a community meeting room, and sports changing rooms. After being closed by Wellingborough Borough Council in 2014, Glamis Hall reopened as a charity run by volunteers and relatives of clients in January 2015. The Hall’s many daily visitors, who range in age from 51 to 103, help to decide the programming.

Regular activities include a Monday to Friday lunch club, yoga, raffles, and bingo. They have a shop on site and host visits from hairdressers, optometrists and district nurses– making it easy for their clients to access the services they need with minimal travel. Glamis Hall’s mission is to provide an affordable community hub for the residents of the Borough of Wellingborough and the surrounding areas.

Glamis Hall also host Wellingborough Eco Group’s Repair Cafes, Swap Shops and Tuesday Tidy Ups with Wellie Wombles, plus we are looking at more projects in the New Year! But let’s get Christmas done first, see you on Saturday at Glamis Hall, 9:30-4, for some festive fun for all!