Our AGM was held on-line this year in line with Covid-19 guidance on gatherings. We have also published an Annual Report, with a review of the year’s activities and the annual accounts. You can download it here.
Author: ChloeWCG
WCG Annual Garden Party
Our annual WCG Garden Party was a sunny, fun filled affair. This is a thank-you social for all our wonderful hard working volunteers; who without their support we couldn’t continue to do what we do. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer get in touch we would love to hear from you. You can give as little or as much of your time as you have.
Internet Cafe Temporary Closure
As you know the Wheathampstead Community Library is moving from its present location in the Memorial Hall over to the newly refurbished Fire Station building this Summer. Therefore the WCG Internet Café will be closed for a couple of weeks during the move.
Current plans are that the last Café at the Memorial Hall will be on 2nd July with and the first one in the new building on 23rd July.
Consequently there will be no Internet Café on 9th and 16th July
We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with the committee and volunteers of the Wheathampstead Community Library as it moves to its new location and in changing the face of our offerings at the Internet Café to reflect the development of technology and communication.
Family Fun Day
WCG volunteers win GOLD!
The Gold Awards are presented at the Annual Parish Council in March and we are delighted that two of our invaluable volunteers have been recognised for their work and support in the community.
The Gold Awards are given by the Parish Council to people for their dedication to volunteering in Wheathampstead.
This was what was said about Ann and Bel
“Bel Bluemel the Wheathampstead Community Group Community Secretary visits all the people who request some form of financial help from WCG.
The role requires endless patience, understanding and empathy and there is no doubt that Bel has large quantities of these qualities.
Bel is always the first person to volunteer to help with any job that needs doing, she has total commitment to helping others and she carries out her sometimes difficult role as Community Secretary with selfless modesty”
“Ann Rudeforth has been the Wheathampstead Community Group Transport Secretary for well over 20 years. Her role is to try to ensure that any vulnerable or elderly person living in Wheathampstead is able to attend a medical appointment whether it is the local Village Surgery or Watford or Lister hospitals. Ann has 250 users and 50 volunteer drivers who she organises.
It is a vital lifeline for many people who cannot call upon family because they do not live nearby or friends because they too are no longer able to drive.
Ann quietly and very efficiently pulls everything together ensuring that no-one is let down or left to feel isolated without support. She is a remarkable woman who was awarded the British Empire Medal ( BEM) by the Queen for her services to the Community. “
We are incredibly proud of Ann and Bel for winning these awards, without the support of people like Ann and Bel we couldn’t do what we do within your our community. Well done ladies!
If you are interested in volunteering or want to find out more about how you can help get in touch
VOLUNTARY TRANSPORT CO-ORDINATOR VACANCY
We would like to thank the amazing Ann for all her time and effort with the Wheathampstead Community Group. Ann is stepping down from her invaluable Transport Co-ordinator post for the WCG after many years supporting and will be sorely missed.
Therefore Wheathampstead Community Group (WCG) are seeking a Transport Co-ordinator.
We need someone who is going to be able to run a system using emails with the support of 10 organisers who take it in turns to run the system but the Co-ordinator needs to be in overall control.
Job Description: TRANSPORT CO-ORDINATOR
|
Overall Purpose |
| Responsible for the smooth running of the Transport scheme by ensuring that all client transport needs are met in an effective and efficient manner; |
| Responsible to the Executive Committee as a whole but reports to the Chair. |
| Main Duties and Responsibilities |
| · Maintaining a database of all clients needing to use the transport scheme, recognising their transport needs and scheduling them accordingly; |
| · Maintaining a database of all volunteer drivers, recognising their availability and scheduling their drives accordingly, passing on any changes in driver details to the Treasurer (to ensure accurate insurance records) and to the Secretary and IT support (for amendments to the volunteers database); |
| · Taking responsibility for drawing up a rota of scheme administrators on a fortnightly basis, delegating the day-to-day administration of the scheme accordingly; |
| · Through the administrators, adding new clients for the transport scheme, identifying and cataloguing their needs and adding their details to the database; |
| · Ensuring that all tools to aid the scheme: mobile telephone, blue badges, etc are properly maintained, contracts kept up to date, and that the appropriate tools are made available to the correct volunteers as appropriate; |
| · Checking out new medical venues as they arise; |
| · Checking out parking facilities and charges at all medical venues and reviewing these on a regular basis; |
| · Preparing and distributing notes to assist new drivers, including insurance forms. |
| · Ensuring proper and appropriate communication transport scheme plans and needs to the Executive Committee/Chair. |
Do you know anyone who can help? Would you like to help your local charity? We would love to hear from you if you do. Get in touch
Voluntary Committee Secretary post available
We would like to thank the wonderful Gwladys Shone for all her time and effort with the Wheathampstead Community Group. Gwladys is stepping down from her invaluable Committee Secretary post for the WCG after many years.
Therefore Wheathampstead Community Group (WCG) are seeking a Committee Secretary, who is responsible for the smooth running of our formal meetings and the recruitment and administration of our volunteers. The role is important to the support of our Chair.
The main duties and responsibilities of the role are:
Ensuring that WCG Committee and Annual General meetings are run efficiently and are properly recorded:
- Formulating agendas with the Chair;
- Collecting, organising and distributing documents for meetings;
- Ensuring communication of Committee decisions;
- Organising Annual General Meetings in accordance with the requirements of the WCG constitution;
- Ahead of the Annual General Meeting, receive and process nominations from WCG members for Officers. Should nominations exceed vacancies, then administer any elections;
- Ensuring that all WCG meetings are recorded and those records stored;
Recruiting and administering WCG volunteers:
- Keeping a record of all new volunteers and ensuring that they are all DBS checked.
- Liaising as appropriate with the Committee member to whom new volunteers may be assigned;
- Liaising with the database administrator to ensure the database of WCG volunteers is up to date;
- Emailing WCG members and volunteers about events and meetings;
- Coordinating WCG’s annual appeal with other committee members, taking responsibility for the recruitment, briefing and administration of volunteer collectors.
Do you know anyone who used to be an accountant or is a whiz with numbers? Would you like to help your local charity? We would love to hear from you if you do. Get in touch
Santa is on his way!
Santa’s on his way!Jolly old Santa Claus is about to fly into Wheathampstead.Wheathampstead Community Group are pleased to announce that we will be closely supporting the Rotary in Harpenden Santa Sleigh runs in Wheathampstead this year.You’ll see him first with his elves and sleigh at the Lights Up festivities in Wheathampstead High Street on Thursday November 29 at 6pm.Then, in the early evenings (5:30 to 8:30pm), he’ll be touringBury Green, Wick Avenue, Lattimore Road and area on Tuesday December 4Butterfield Road, The Hill and Marford Road and area on Thursday December 6Necton Road, Tudor Road, Caesars Road and area on Friday December 7Conquerors HillandHill Dyke estateonMonday December 10Waddling Lane, Lower Luton Road, Folly Fields and area on Thursday December 13
John Bunyan Family Fun Day 2017
This annual event continues to raise significant funds year after year. With matched funding, the September 2017 event raised a record total of ￡3,729, which included donations of ￡550 that were to a specific project. 50% of the general fundraising (￡1,589) was passed on to the Beech Hyde Association in support of the school.
Save the Date! The 2018 Fun Day is Saturday September 22nd!
Getting to know our Treasurer, Mike Greensmith
Mike took over the role from David Law last year, here we find out more about him and what his role within the group is and what his future plans are.
Over the past 40 years I held a series of senior finance roles in major financial services organisations. I have also operated my own management consultancy, specialising in relationship management, risk management and corporate governance. I am a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (FCMA). Previously and since taking early retirement, I have worked with other charities in voluntary Trustee and Director roles, principally around Finance and Accounting.
As Treasurer of Wheathampstead Community Group, I have a hard act to follow after 12 years of sterling service by David Law. Since taking on the role, I have focussed in moving WCG banking and finances on line. I have gone through my first annual collection and leant much from it. However the biggest challenges for me have been around regulatory controls and policies. Financial reporting standards for charities are getting stricter all the time to meet the latest regulations. Privacy and data protection policies, even for small charities like WCG, now have to be formalised and fully documented to meet the latest GDPR standards. Using my business controls experience and working with other WCG Trustees, I have updated these standards and policies for WCG. I have also put together our first fully documented Business Plan and Budget. Over the next 12 months, I plan to review and update other WCG policies and procedures, including Safeguarding.
Despite having lived in Wheathampstead for over 30 years, I have surprised myself how much I have learnt about the village and community of Wheathampstead since taking on the role fo Treasurer. I am especially pleased to get know the other WCG Trustees. I can honestly say that I am honoured to be part of such a hard working, contentious team who are all so positive and friendly in their approach to supporting our great community. I look forward to working with my fellow Trustees for many years to come.
We feel super lucky to have Mike on board and look forward to working with him for many years to come. If you are interested in lending your sills, expertise or time to the local community get in touch