As we embark on a new term, let’s look back at this Summer. Our staff and volunteers have delivered joy through a variety of new events and activities, in addition to our regular activities: 

Our over-65s celebrated a Summer Staycation party with bingo, raffles, games and dancing. They went out for a day of sun, sea and fish and chips at Clacton on Sea. The Bowls session moved outdoors to Central Park to make the most of the good weather. Many enjoyed the 4-week Line Dancing classes courtesy of Immediate Theatre. Our Summer party for our support group for people with dementia and their carers exuded with joy and love.

Barclays East Ham team kindly match funded our Meals with Joy Appeal so that we raised a total of £945.02. This will help us start providing hot lunches for elders in the coming winter months.

From our sports project, 60 people gathered to watch the Euro finals over pizza and drinks at our Pavilion, as a change from seeing each other sweating in exercise classes!

Our Community Garden has seen growth spurts in vegetables such as tomatoes, pumpkins, apples and berries. The garden now has a new outdoor kitchen, thanks to funding from Tate & Lyle, and hard work from the NewLife team, enabling our visitors to cook freshly plucked food to share with each other.

Through our Go Wild! Summer Scheme, 200 children enjoyed fun activities, new experiences, friendship, hot meals and day trips, including a colourful paint-throwing Holi event!

Our Mini Explorers team enabled children and parents to explore Newham parks, water thirsty plants at our Community Garden and visit the Museum of the Home and Discover Children’s Story Centre. Our SEND Summer Social provided a safe and joyful space for children with SEND and their parents and carers.