www.sebastiansasctiontrust.org      For further information please email Sarah Challis, at sarahc@sebastiansactiontrust.org

Sebastians Action :: Christmas in July 

Sebastian’s Action Trust is inviting community groups, schools, businesses and organisations to get involved in this year’s annual ‘sponsor a child for Christmas’ campaign.

Every year, Sebastian’s Action Trust - a charity based in Crowthorne that supports families of seriously-ill children and young people - organises a fantastic Christmas party. 

Hundreds of people attend, and for families facing an uncertain future with their seriously-ill child, the day creates a wonderful opportunity for precious memories to be made.

It costs around £30 per child for the Trust to create a spectacular party, full of festive sparkle. Among the many attractions families will enjoy are Christmas themed arts and crafts, a face painter, a sensory area, petting farm, disco, BBQ, and the chance to meet real reindeers. And of course, all of the children who come along will receive a special gift from Father Christmas.

In the lead up to the Christmas party, we encourage everyone to get into the festive spirit and make a donation to enable us to make it a day for our families to always remember.

If you would like to organise a fundraising event rather than making a direct donation, we would love for you to contact us with your ideas. We can give you all the support you need to make as much as possible contributing towards this fantastic festive occasion.

To find out more about Sebastian’s Action Trust’s Sponsor a Child this Christmas Campaign, email fundraising@sebastiansactiontiontrust.org or call (01344) 622500.

www.sebastiansactiontrust.org

Mrs June Martin MBE, D.Pharm. , lifetime President of the Ascot District Day Centre in Sunninghill, who has done a vast amount of work to support the Ascot- area elderly, died at her home in North Ascot on July 3rd. Her funeral was held at Easthampstead Crematorium on July 20th.

June, who had a deep and compassionate understanding of a carer's responsibilities, set up Saturday Plus at the Ascot District Day Centre, to offer respite care- an outing for the frail and a break for their carers, at the weekend.   Of all her many achievements, Saturday Day Care Plus was perhaps the one she was most proud of. 

June only retired as Chairman of the Ascot District Day Centre Trust, after 14 years in the post, at her 80^th birthday, but then took on the role of lifelong President. Until recently, she continued to play an active role in  Saturday Day Care Plus,   And even until last year, she was still to be found, working as a judge at the Annual Sunninghill Fancy Dress Wheelbarrow Race, on New Year's Day, come rain or shine, helping raise funds for the Day Centre .

She was part of the founding team at the Day Centre, back in the 1970’s. She explained: “It was local GP, Dr Chandler’s dream when he retired. I was a pharmacist with some experience of day centres and he called a group of people together, held meetings over three years and started a lunch club, to demonstrate the need for one,” she says, “It was a huge success, with local people meeting each other for the first time since they were at school.”

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Charters School’s receives Grant from Prince Philip Trust | Charters School in Sunningdale has recently received a grant of £1,100 from The Prince Philip Trust Fund, to support the purchase of laptops or tablets for students who do not have appropriate IT equipment at home. The new equipment will then be loaned to those students most in need so that they can access online learning from home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The grant was agreed following a Zoom Trustee meeting on 13^th May which was chaired by HRH The Earl of Wessex. In total, £20,000 is being distributed 50:50 by The Prince Philip Trust Fund and The Royal Albert Institute Fund.

Dame Marcia Twelftree, Trustee from The Prince Philip Trust Fund and ex-Head Teacher of Charters School, said: “Schools across the Royal Borough are doing a great job, rising to the challenge of helping their pupils to continue their education online during this difficult time.  However, there are a small number of pupils who simply cannot access that education because of the lack of IT equipment at home. We hope that this grant will help prevent some children from being left behind in their learning, and provide a resource for schools that they can continue to use in the future.”

www.sebastiansasctiontrust.org        e-mail: basbandh@sebastiansactiontrust.org

Decluttering your home? Sebastian’s Action Trust is opening a second charity shop and is appealing for donations of good quality household items including furniture, working lamps, DVDs, books, all pre loved, as well as new children's toys.

www.sebastiansactiontrust.org

New leisure trust to run borough leisure centres

Leisure Focus has been created to run the borough’s leisure centres with the new charitable trust taking control of the borough’s sites from 1st August 2020.

The decision to create the trust has been made in partnership with Legacy Leisure, the current operator of the council’s leisure facilities.

Due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, both parties have agreed it was in the best interests of customers, staff and the wider community to transfer the operation, which will move across to Leisure Focus from 1 August 2020.

Russell O’Keefe, executive director, place, at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and trustee of Leisure Focus, says: “I am delighted that we have been able to set up a new leisure charitable trust, to continue the delivery of leisure services at our sites here in the Royal Borough.

 “They provide such an integral service for the health and wellbeing of residents. The trust is run by local people who are passionate about the local leisure facilities.

The Local Police Neighbourhood Team is offering free Home Security Surveys, to assess the current security measures in place in your home. We will work with you to identify opportunities, to make your home even safer. If you would like to arrange a survey, please email : homesecuritysurveyrequests@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk