Thanks to Waitrose, 4Networking Business Breakfast Club And the Welsh Ambulance Service
Bridges Community Centre was delighted to recently take delivery of a defibrillator which is now kept in the reception area for emergency use. The funds for this were provided from the Waitrose green token collection scheme and also from contributions made by the 4N Business Breakfast club, which meets at Bridges every other Friday. Bridges staff and volunteers have already received training in the use of the defibrillator from the Welsh Ambulance Service.
Mark Walton, Bridges Centre Director, commented,“We are very grateful to the British Heart Foundation for supplying us with this vital piece of equipment and for Waitrose customers and our business breakfast friends for helping to raise the necessary sum to purchase it. We felt that with so many people using the centre on a daily basis that it was important that we have this life saving equipment available.”
Right: Di Handley (Waitrose) and Mark Walton (Bridges) with the defibrillator, members of the 4N Breakfast Club in the background.
Below: Carl Powell (Welsh Ambulance Service) delivering training to Bridges staff and volunteers.
Bridges Board of Trustees: new faces, new roles
Welcome to Anne Godden, Andrew Kyle and congratulations to Ann Rosser, newly appointed Chair of Trustees.
Change of Trustees
At the July meeting of the Trustees, Graham Jones announced his immediate resignation from the position of Chair due to ill health. Graham has been Chair since 2012 and previously held the post of Treasurer. He has done a fantastic job during this period, steering Bridges through some difficult times, showing great attention to detail and always offering wise support and guidance.
He will be much missed as Chair but will remain as a Trustee. We wish him all the best for his future health.
Ann Rosser was unanimously elected as Chair to replace Graham (see interview below).
Two new Trustees also joined the Board in July: Andrew Kyle, who is a local financial adviser, and Ann Godden, who has recently retired as Day Services Manager at Monnow Vale and is currently a Community Connections volunteer.
MW
Five minutes with our new Chair of Trustees: Ann Rosser
5 facts you didn’t know about Ann Rosser:
1. She’s a Birmingham University Alumnus (date withheld!)
2. She’s a retired GP from Bromsgrove
3. She first spotted Monmouth on a canoe trip through the Wye Valley
4. She knows all about the Teddy Bear’s picnic on the Kymin
5. She’s a Geordie
Ann moved to Monmouth 4 years ago with her two canoes in tow, after retiring from her practice in Bromsgrove. With her husband’s family originally from Abergavenny, and Monmouth being situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there was much to interest and attract.
Once in Monmouth a friend introduced Ann to Bridges. Knowing that Ann was looking for something worthwhile to do in her free time, and with her skills and knowledge as a retired doctor she was a natural fit to become chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, and a very active member of the Events and Marketing Committee. This has allowed Ann to fulfil a useful role in the community and the added bonus of an increased social circle of friends.
On accepting her new role Ann was asked the following questions:
What do you envisage your role as Chair of the Trustees to be?
“The role of chair is to lead and co-ordinate the team of trustees with all their different experience and expertise; to fulfil the objectives and aims of Bridges; to support staff and volunteers so that we all work together to the same goal”
What are the challenges you will face as Chair?
“To continue providing the same level of service for Monmouth community and enhance and develop existing facilities in order to fulfil the changing needs of our community; to access funding from a variety of sources, difficult in the present economic climate; to maintain the beauty of our Grade II* listed building Drybridge House so that it continues to provides a safe and pleasant environment for the use of the community.”
And in her spare time what does Ann like to do?
“A spot of gardening, walking (Ann set up our Nordic Walking group), I have recently been on a patchwork quilting course and there are always those two canoes…”
Amanda Endicott
Promise Auction Success Story
What a great win-win news story! The half price PV system for a community building that Gwent Energy CIC offered at the Bridges Community Centre/Home-Start Monmouthshire Promise Auction is installed at Devauden Memorial Hall: 8kW
When the roof was being repaired we took advantage of the scaffolding to paint some of the areas not easily reached. Steve is painting the window of the “lost” room above the main staircase, accessible now only by ladders. Was this a servant’s room?
Congratulations to the Bonus Ball winners for July!
Shirley Smith, Joan Evans, Ann Brankley, Greta Brute
We welcome to the Stable Block Al's Tattoos and Piercings. Quite a departure from our usual business clientele but a sure fire way of changing public perceptions of what Bridges is about!
Monmouth Social Circles
Monmouth Social Circles, our day club for seniors needs volunteers.
Tea & chit chat, bingo, and trips. Be amazing, be a volunteer! A cracking way to give something back to your community.
To find out more please contact Bridges Reception on 01600715638 reception@bridgescentre.org.uk
"Hi (Bridges),
Just wanted to say a BIG BIG thank you for such a fab evening at Drybridge House. We had such a lovely night and everything was perfect. Thank you for all your help beforehand and on the night, much appreciated. Please pass on our thanks to the bar staff and caretaker who were great on the night also.
Would definitely recommend your venue to others.
Thanks again and see you soon.
Kind Regards
Joanna & Dave"
We all love Summer, just not having to work in the heat!
Here's a great photo to cheer you up if you're at work. There is always someone worse off than you! Can you spot the guys working on our roof in the photo. And no, they aren't gargoyles!
Thanks to a generous grant from Monmouth Town Council, we have been able to complete the replacement work for the lead that was stolen from our roof over three years ago. Our intrepid roofers from Q and M Services in Gloucester also helped to carry out repairs to the roof above the Nelson Room which would not have been possible without the scaffolding that was already on site.
Bothy Gardening Group
A lovely photo to show off the hard work of our Bothy Gardening Group.
Community Volunteer Gardeners with big hearts. A greatly appreciated part of the Bridges family.
The Gardening Group are looking for new volunteers to join their very sociable group.
If you're interested in finding out more please contact Bridges Reception on 01600715638 reception@bridgescentre.org.uk
We would like to thank the people of Monmouth for their generous response to our Flag Day on Friday 11th July. We only collected from 9am to 1pm but raised the excellent sum of £320.86. Thank you to the volunteers who actually did the collecting, their time and good humour is much appreciated.
Mari Lydford has a second hand piano that is FREE to a good home. To arrange collection please contact Mari on 01600772201 or marilyd@hotmail.co.uk
Do you have a feature article for our Newsletter? Or just want a mention in Despatches? Please submit your article for consideration by the 2nd Wednesday of the month.