Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee - AGM

Wednesday 10^thApril 2018 at 7:30pm

In the Rear Hall

 (Please use the kitchen entrance)

The Village Hall affairs have been well publicised recently and support for its fundraising efforts is very much appreciated.

The Committee is a group of volunteers drawn from village organisations who give up their time (and peace of mind!) to maintain and run the Village Hall on your behalf. It would make their job so much more worthwhile if village residents showed their appreciation of this work by attending the AGM.

A new committee will have been formed and its work in the coming year will be so much easier if it knows it has the backing of the village residents. So, please come to hear the reports and its aims for the future. 

Please put the date in your diaries and try to attend. 

Thank you

Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

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Children's Parties at Upchurch Village Hall

Contact Booking Secretary, Mollie Harriss on: 01634 364859

Upchurch Village Hall - Management Committee

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The Churches Conservation Trust - Annual Appeal - Heritage Crime

The Churches Conservation Trust is the national charity protecting churches at risk. They care for the churches vested in them by the Church Commissioners of the Church of England, repairing the damage from sometimes years of neglect, and work with local communities to bring them back to life again.

The trust has launched its annual appeal to create a £50,000 fighting fund to protect our historic buildings. They have already saved 350 beautiful buildings which attract almost 2 million visitors a year. With your help and support they are kept open and in use - living once again at the heart of their communities.

What is Heritage Crime?

The problem of crime and anti-social behaviour relating to historic buildings is not a modern phenomenon. It has been documented and recorded for centuries. However, what is new is the sheer scale and extent.

Historic England define Heritage Crime as:
‘Any offence which harms the value of England’s heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations.’

Harm caused to heritage by crime or anti-social behaviour often has both direct and indirect impacts. Vandalism or theft not only results in damage to heritage assets themselves, but also to the local community to which they belonged, through indirect social or economic consequences.

Annual Appeal

Halting the Epidemic of Heritage Crime

The growing scourge of Heritage Crime has afflicted many churches and those of The Churches Conservation Trust are no exception. You may be aware of the terrible impact of metal theft at a number of our most cherished sites. Damage to a roof inevitably leads to interior issues resulting from water ingress.

Precious objects including stained glass and wooden panels are also not immune. At Withcote in Leicestershire, thieves removed a Tudor glass panel showing the prophet Ezekiel - very likely the work of Henry VIII’s glazier - from the remote 16th-century chapel.

At Torbryan in Devon two painted panels were hacked out of the 15th-century rood screen and whisked away for sale. 2 years later - following a high profile, international media campaign and police operation - the trust were lucky enough to recover, conserve and re-site the panels - but the cost was high.

Fighting Back

These buildings belong to us all. Their architecture, fabric and contents form a precious collection of public art - free for everyone to experience and draw inspiration from. 2019 will be the trust's 50th year. In the lead up to this important anniversary they are launching a Campaign against Heritage Crime in liaison with other sector bodies. As part of this they are opening an appeal for £50,000 to start a fighting fund to protect our buildings and keep the doors open for all to enjoy, now and long into the future.

You can make a donation to their campaign at >> www.visitchurches.org.uk/get-involved/donate

Find out more about the trust at their website >> https://www.visitchurches.org.uk

Thank you for helping to fight back against Heritage Crime.

Upchurch Matters
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My Shining Star Easter Eggstravaganza - Tickets Available

Good Friday 19th April will see the Easter Bunny making a guest appearance, bringing Easter treats and fun crafts with him.

The My Shining Star Easter Eggstravaganza is being held behind 97 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7BD from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

There will be an *ice cream van serving cold drinks, ice cream and waffles. A *burger van serving hot food and drinks, *facepainting (adults can get involved too!) and the My Shining Star Marquee will be up selling merchandise and raffle tickets (£1 per strip)!

*All at an additional cost and not included in the ticket price.

Tickets must be pre-booked and include an Easter Egg Hunt with a FREE Easter egg prize, meeting the Easter Bunny and fun arts and crafts in the lovely decorated barn. Book now to avoid disappointment!

Tickets are limited and in high demand so please be quick.

Slots are every half an hour from 11:00am to 4:00pm.

Ticket price is £5.50 per child.

Book now at: www.myshiningstar.eventbrite.co.uk

Please come and support this not-for-profit local charity. Everything raised through your fun and activities will go towards supporting children and their families through the traumatic journey of childhood cancer.

We look forward to seeing you all in April!

Anita Marinelli - My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity
Website: www.myshiningstar.co.uk
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Phonics Builders Medway - New Parent and Child Classes

Phonics Builders offers high quality, fun, play-based classes to introduce your child to letters and sounds. Each session is structured around the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, with the emphasis on communication and language, physical development, social and emotional development and literacy.

Each class will include songs, games and activities to help build the foundations for reading and writing, as well as activities to develop gross and fine motor skills required to support your child’s handwriting. When children play, they learn!

Book your free taster session today. Spaces are limited, so get in touch.

Phone: 07817 868857

Email: phonicsbuilders@yahoo.com

Message via our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pg/phonicsbuilders

Lisa Masters

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The English Festival at Riverside Country Park

Celebrate with a trip to the beach at one of Medway’s award winning parks next month.

The English Festival returns to Riverside Country Park, Lower Rainham Road ME7 2XH on Saturday 20th April, between 11:00am and 5:00pm. The fun packed FREE festival marks St George’s Day with activities celebrating iconic English traditions.

The beach is back

This year the beach will be back so bring your bucket and spade and get ready for a range of traditional English seaside activities.

There’s plenty of cultural, historical and beach themed activities including: pirate workshops, building sandcastles, a helter skelter, shire horse displays, donkey rides, a bandstand, steam engines and tractors. George and the Dragon will also walk around the festival meeting visitors, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

The festival falls on Easter weekend so get ready for Easter egg hunts and much more!

Getting there

Park & Ride

£1 per Person (return). Children under 16 go FREE. From Greenwich University - look out for the yellow Park & Ride signs - running from 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Park & Walk

£3 per vehicle at Bloors Wharf (bottom of Bloors Lane, off Lower Rainham Road) and enjoy a pleasant 15 minute walk to the event along the river path.

Parking On-site

£5 (limited spaces available). Parking will be primarily for blue badge holders.

Look out for local roadsigns or check online for details of this year's parking arrangements. Riverside Country Park is covered under the Medway bus routes, however, the Saturday bus service does not enter the country park site.

For more information, visit >> www.medway.gov.uk/englishfestival

Upchurch Matters

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