December 2008

Saturday 20th December

Christmas Spirit

Every year Churches Together in Hedge End, West End and Botley come together to sing carols to bring the spirit of Christmas to shoppers in Hedge End.  We are very pleased to have been chosen to benefit from the collection they made while performing.  Support your local shops, your local churches and your local community!

Churches Together in Hedge End, West End and Botley are:    All Saints Church (CoE) High Street, Botley        Catholic Church, Freegrounds Road, Hedge End        Methodist Church, St. John's Road, Hedge End        Kings Community Church, Upper Northam Road, Hedge End        Salvation Army, The Gap, 37 Bursledon Road, Hedge End            St. Brigid's Church (RC), Woodlea Gardens, West End        St. James' Church (CoE), West End Road, West End        St. John's Church (CoE) St John's Road, Hedge End        St. Luke's Church (CoE), St Luke's Close, Hedge End        United Reformed Church, St. John's Road, Hedge End

Thanks also to Eastleigh Town Band for their Carol Concert at the Pavilion in the Park, Eastleigh, earlier in the month.  It was a great performance- thanks to the band and to everyone who bought a ticket.

We are also pleased to have been adopted by Waitrose at Chandlers Ford as one of their charities of the month. 

Thanks for your support!

 

November 2008

Friday 21st November

Centre Treasurer, James Motherwell, came along to the Friday Club this week to receive a cheque for £1500 from the QE2 Activity Centre Fundraising Committee.  The Fundraising Committee organised a number of events during the year including a Jazz Evening, a Summer Barbecue and an evening with Eastleigh Town Band.

Thanks to everyone involved for organising the events and everyone who came along to support these events.

 

 

October 2008

Staff from Savills Estate Agents came along in October to help put up some fencing, along with friends from the MultiSports Club. We also had a return visit from the guys at Groundworks Solent who helped carry out some clearance work around the Grounds.  A good time was had by all! 

Thanks a lot, you guys.

 

 

September 2008

we said goodbye to a couple of good friends of the Centre this month. 

Sam Smith has been running our riding sessions at the centre for several years now but is leaving us to set up her own stable yard in Somerset.  We wish her the best of luck in the future and thank her and Bill & Sandra at Oasis Riding Stables for their support. 

We also lost one of our favourite volunteers, Steve Scott, who has taken up a post in London.  Steve is an inspiration to everyone he meets.  It is no co-incidence that Barack Obama's bid for the US presidency took an upturn after he bumped into Steve earlier this year!

Good luck to Sam and Steve!

 

 

Sunday 21st September

Special Olympics GB

The QE2 Activity Centre isn't the only body celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.  It was also back in 1978 that Special Olympics Great Britain was established.  Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) is the major provider of sporting opportunities for people with a learning disability and provides equality of opportunity for all athletes regardless of ability or degree of disability. 

So, where else would Special Olympics South hold their birthday party but the QE2 Centre?  Around 170 athletes, families and supporters, from Hampshire, the Channel Islands, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire came along to celebrate. 

Special guest was current Chairman of the SOGB Board Lawrie McMenemy MBE, who is most famously known as Manager of Southampton Football Club during their most successful period in history when he guided his team to FA Cup victory in 1976 against Manchester United.

 

Good luck to all the athletes taking part in the National Games in Leicester 2009!

 

 

August 2008

Friday 15th August

the green team summer scheme

The 2008 Transitions Summer Scheme finished today with the presentation of certificates at Manor Farm and the opportunity to view the Great Fence of Botley and a new coppice at Manor Farm.  As always the Summer Scheme was a lot of hard work, a lot of fun and a great learning experience for everyone concerned - not just the students, but the volunteers and QE2 staff and everyone who contributed along the way.  There's pictures and more info if you follow this link 

 

Monday 4th August

Jason Ringenberg

C'mon in folks! As a really special treat for the summer the legendary Jason Ringenberg - all the way from Bon Aqua, Tennessee - played live at the Centre this afternoon. Jason's set included Route 66 and a typically storming Absolutely Sweet Marie as well as some of Farmer Jason's greatest hits. 

Before Jason played we were treated to a few songs from some guests staying at the centre from Sheiling School.  During an interruption in the middle those nice folks from the MultiSports Club presented a cheque to us for money raised on the sponsored walk on July 20th.  Thanks guys!

www.jasonringenberg.com

Sunday 3rd August

soggy start for summer scheme

As you can see from the picture on the left, this year's "summer" scheme got off to a soggy start.  Never mind, the forecast is better for tomorrow and we've got Jason Ringenberg flying in from Tennessee to entertain us.

before heading off into the woods in the rain everyone pitched in to make a special birthday meal for one of our volunteers.

(no time for daily updates!)

 

 

 

 

 

July 2008

Sunday 20th July

Walk for QE2 activity centre

A couple of dozen people (plus two dogs) took part in a five kilometre ramble around Manor Farm Country Park walk on Sunday morning.  It was a beautiful day and hardly anything got broken.  Pictures may follow. A number of families from Eastleigh's Multi Sports Club joined us, as well as a family enjoying a HAS short break at the Centre and some folk along for a guided walk.  Here's a short report from the Multi Sports Club website: 

Sponsored Walk

We enjoyed a great walk on Sunday 21 July, led by Phil Oates from the QEII centre who is a Heritage Guide. The weather was good to us, and we spent 2½ hours exploring the area. We learned interesting facts about the river, and people who used to live there. There was Dave the Peddlar who was cut up (literally) and dumped in the river. There was the hidden well, evidence of brick works and old jetties. There was the wreckage of Henry V's ship, Grace Dieu. However, the highlight of the walk was when Phil fell off the fence! Oh how everyone laughed. (He wasn't hurt!)

Many thanks to the families who supported us, by participating and by sponsoring. Watch this space for the total raised, to be shared between Multi Sports Club and the QEII centre.

Families who walked, and walked, and walked . . . Small, Perrin, Jones, Daud, Nicholson, Trimmer

Not too late to make a donation and reward their efforts on behalf of the club!
 

I don't know, you fall off one fence . . . does anyone let you forget? . . .

Thanks to everyone who took part.

 

Wednesday 3rd July

LOCAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRMS GO HEAD TO HEAD IN CHARITY CHALLENGE DAY

 The Southampton offices of leading accountants and business advisers BDO Stoy Hayward and leading regional law firm Coffin Mew, went head-to-head today in a charity build challenge to help provide some much needed facilities for a local activity centre. 

The day, held at the QE2 Silver Jubilee Activities Centre in Bursledon, who specialise in providing day activities for people with disabilities, proved to be a real success. 

A team of ten from BDO Stoy Hayward challenged a team of ten from Coffin Mew, to build new sections for the centre’s caving system, in a head-to-head style challenge. The two teams’ work was judged at the end of the day by the centre manager and a senior instructor for craftsmanship and team work.  

Centre manager, Phil Oates said: “It was a close run challenge and the results were excellent but BDO Stoy Hayward pipped Coffin Mew to the post. We really appreciate the work undertaken by both of the teams, it is great to see local businesses coming in and working on projects like these, which provide an invaluable facility to people in the local community that use the centre.” 

Forensic Senior at BDO Stoy Hayward and organiser for the day, Simon Jones said: ”It was a fantastic day. We all had a great time and enjoyed the challenge of undertaking the activity against each other, and at the same time we created some much needed facilities for the centre.” 

BDO Stoy Hayward regularly undertake work in the local community as part of its Community Volunteering Policy, which allows employees to use up to six paid working days a year to positively contribute to the world outside the workplace by volunteering their time. Recent activities have included helping the Forestry Commission with a public litter pick at Wilverley in the New Forest and a beach clean with the Marine Conservation Society at Netley.

 For more information on BDO Stoy Hayward please visit www.bdo.co.uk and for Coffin Mew http://www.coffinmew.co.uk.

 

June 2008

Monday 30th June

Long story short: it’s been a busy month.  There has been no time for writing about what is going on because there’s so much going on!  We’ve had a lot of people through the doors, along for day visits or for summer holidays. 

There’s more people using the Centre for day activities than ever before.  Every week we have over thirty groups from local schools, day centres and homes in the community taking part in activities.  They come from all over Hampshire – plus a few from Dorset, Sussex and Surrey.   

During June we’ve had groups in from all over the south of Britain and the odd group from Manchester and Germany. We’re already taking bookings for next season so maybe it is time to think about next year’s holiday or school trip.

Friday 20th June

Summer party

              

We had a very entertaining Summer Party with German beer, German sausages and Eastleigh Town Band.  Thanks to the Friday Club and Fundraising Committee for organising this event; thanks to the members of the Eastleigh Town Band for giving their time so generously; thanks to the guest conductors who did such a great job!

                      

By the way the Eastleigh Town band were great – you really should go and see them.  They are playing at Eastleigh’s Leigh Park at 2:00 on Sunday 26th July – what better way to spend a sunny summer Sunday? 

Monday 2nd June

The HAS/QE2activitycentre project

Hampshire Autistic Society, working in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre, is pleased to offer individuals with ASD and their families/carers an opportunity to stay, or to participate in activities, at the Centre at a much reduced rate (conditions may apply). 

At the moment dates are currently available during July, August, September and October for both accommodation and activities.  To obtain further information, or to make a booking, please contact the Outreach Department on 023 8063 3951 or e-mail carole.hiorns@has.org.uk

  

May 2008

Thursday 22nd May

there is a good reason for the long gap since the last update - it isn't that nothing has been happening - it is that so much has been happening! Earlier this week some very lucky regulars went out in the Solent on board The Salix Lady, a 38' Broom motor cruiser!

This was made possible with help from our friends at the Calvert Trust, Keswick, in particular John Crosbie and the boat's owner, Jock Birnie.  Four groups of adults with autism or learning disabilities went out, we saw Cowes, Southampton Docks, Tenacious, Gypsy Moth IV, Ellen MacArthur's big cat and lots of water! 

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One of the first groups to use the QE2 Activity Centre, thirty years ago, was Anglesey Lodge, run by Hampshire Autistic Society (HAS).  I'm pleased to say they are still using the Centre - in fact we now have half a dozen different groups every week from HAS.  And we're about to have even more. 

We are working together with HAS to enable families of people with autism to visit the Centre for holidays and day activities.  Watch this space (and the HAS website) for news.

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April 2008

 

Friday April 18th

 30th anniversary party

over 100 friends and supporters of the Centre came along to celebrate 30 years of the QE2 Activity Centre.  Eastleigh mayor Roger Smith, flanked by the Centre's Chair, Godfrey Olson, and Vice Chair, Mrs Sanders, cut the birthday cake and we were entertained by Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo and Jason McNiff and his band.  I don't remember the last time I saw people dancing to a Leonard Cohen song or clapping along to a an Italian anarchist chant - what can I say but Bella Ciao!

Thanks to Jason, Steve & Graham and Emily, Jo, Jill & Anna for the music; thanks to everyone else who came along and enjoyed themselves.

16th April 2008

in the news

yes we do!  We've always been keen on recycling here at the QE2 activity centre - and for the past decade we've been collecting aluminium foil.  Around the Borough of Eastleigh there are five collection points where you can take clean foil for recycling - these are sited at Tesco, Bursledon; Asda, Chandlers Ford; Sainsbury/Marks & Spencer, Hedge End Park; Mortimer Road car park, Botley; and Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh.

The foil then comes to the Centre and a couple of enthusiastic volunteers (take a bow, Dave and Joyce!) crush it into handy cubes with a baling machine.  When there's enough collected we have it taken away and a short time later we receive a cheque.  This helps us - and helps the planet too!

in the news again

Both the Southampton Advertiser and the Southern Daily Echo reported on the generous donation from the Garfield Weston Foundation. 

Work has started on the new kitchen for the log cabin (that's the one behind the folk in the picture below).  It should be finished very soon.

 

10th April 2008

thanks!

QE2 Activity Centre and Pals say thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation for a generous donation towards the Cabin refurbishment project! 

The donation will be used to improve the cabin accommodation at the Centre - where Berkshire's Pals group has been staying this week. 

Says Will from Pals  "it has been a great week and a brilliant opportunity to practice living skills and social skills.  The donation will mean it will be even better in the future".

We also heard this week from Southampton City Council that they will be providing grant support for the QE2 Activity Centre again this year.  Centre manager Phil Oates says "The continued support of local authorities like Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council really makes a difference to the Centre. We look forward to working with Southampton and Hampshire residents in the future, particularly as new ways of providing day services for people with learning disabilities are developed".

 

spot the difference competition

6th April 2008

take a look at these two pictures of the cabins taken just a few days apart . . .

 

Oh well, it'll soon be summer!

 

poetry competition

4th April 2008

here are the winning entries in the poetry competition

QE2 is the place to be

QE2 is the place to be

people are all upbeat

the staff are all

mad like Kerry and

Emily.  So what are

we going to do? will

we all go have some

fun and some laughing

by Laura

 

Whoosh, squelch, ping

 

Whoosh! down the zipwire.

Squelch! through the mud

Ping! goes the arrow

hitting the target with a thud

Off we ramble round the Hamble

Oh ouch, was that a bramble?!

North, south, east or west

Our orienteering is not the best

Survival skills under the trees

Boiling water to make the tea

At the end of the day we're ready for a rest

The staff at Bursledon are simply the best!

from Anglesey Lodge

 

CHECK OUT THESE RECORDINGS FROM LAST YEAR'S "NO DEEPER BLUE"

March 2008

poetry competition

Following on from our very successful art competition earlier in the year - here comes the poetry! All you have to do is to write a poem connected in some way (no matter how vaguely!) with the QE2 Activity Centre.  Send it by post, pigeon, e-mail or deliver it by hand by Friday 4th April. The best will go on the website, they'll all go on the wall.

 As always there's a great prize - 4 tickets to our birthday party on April 18th! 

  springtime in the manor farm country park

Spring is sprung and the wild flowers are on their way.  Here are some of the pictures that visitors from ILG have taken during their 12 week environmental activity block.  Other activities have included making bird boxes and creating an art attack. 

grants and donations

We have heard this week from Hampshire County Council, University of Southampton and CLA Charitable Trust that they are all going to support us this year. 

 

 

orienteering

 Skills for Working Life students from Taunton's College, Southampton have been working on an orienteering course in the Manor Farm Country Park.  They started by going to an existing orienteering course in another country park to find out what orienteering is all about, then learned about making maps of their own before planning routes in the country park.  Then they designed and made orienteering markers, that would be suitable for our regular visitors.  Finally they placed the new markers out in the woods around the Centre.  Several groups have already had a go and the new onsite orienteering course gets a big thumbs-up!

 

February 2008

Monday 25th February

art competition - the winner

Congratulations Sara! 

Sara has won an activity session for her group this coming Friday.  Go to the art gallery to see Sara's piece "Climbers" in all its glory.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote.  Thanks to all the artists who entered.

 

Friday 15th February

art competition - vote, vote, vote!!

the walls of the QE2activitycentre are currently bedecked with entries for our 30th Anniversary Art Competition.  The Judge has carried out the difficult task of whittling down to just six finalists - and now we would like your help in choosing the winner.  Head to the art gallery now!

Friday 8th February

what's new

New games from Emily, artwork from Horndean Day Services and a new ramp built by Hampshire Probation Services.  Not only that but work has begun on the A frame cabin bathrooms - two have been completed and two more are being worked on right now.  By the time you come for a holiday all five A frames will have spanking new shower rooms.

January 2008

Wednesday January 30th

Around this time last year the Charlie Dimmock TV series "River Walks" featured a programme about the River Hamble.  This included a piece about the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre.  If you missed it last time around its going to be shown again on Wednesday 30th January at 7:30pm and 11:30pm - this time around its on the slightly esoteric UKTV Gardens channel. 

January 18th 2008

welcome back

A new year and already there's lots going on at the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre.  The cabin refurbishment has started with all five A frame cabins having their bathrooms replaced.  The new climbing wall sections (see left) are ready to go, the tunnel system has been extended, the pontoon boat is back on the water after its annual service.

Its only January but already this year we've had groups in from Yorda, Releasing Potential, Portsmouth Day Services, Hampshire Autistic Society, Fairhaven, Anglesey Lodge, Hope Lodge School, Bassett, ILG, Hillcrest, People Potential, Limington House School, Finnegan Unit, Havant Day Services, Purbeck Care, Tauntons College and Robinia.  Each week over thirty groups of people with special needs are using the Centre, covering an area from Purbeck in the west to Bognor in the east, Basingstoke and beyond to the north.

If you are interested in a regular day booking in the summer get in touch quickly because there are not many places left and priority will be given to groups that come throughout the year.

January 11th 2008

art competition

To start off the year we are running an art competition with a great first prize - an activity session for your group on February 29th!

All you have to do is create a piece of art, relating to the QE2 Centre, the activities here, or the number 30. It could be a picture of the time you went canoeing, or something you've seen in the woods, or on the river; it could be a photo of your friends, even a poem about your visit here.

All the entries submitted will be displayed at the Centre. The prize of a group activity session on February 29th, will be awarded for the piece of art which, in the opinion of the judges, best captures the spirit of the Centre!

Create your entry - painting, model, sculpture or poem - and deliver it to the Centre by hand, email, post or pigeon by Thursday 14th February 2008.  The competition is open to anyone - the prize of an activity session is for a special needs group - the winning entrant can nominate which group that is.

January 1st 2008

happy new year and happy anniversary!

In March 1978 HRH Princess Margaret opened the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre.  To celebrate thirty years of providing activity opportunities for people with special needs we are going to have a whole series of events.