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Hello and welcome to the May Newsletter!
Flowers are blooming, and the sun has come out, bringing warmth and new energy to our beautiful garden, we hope you all pop by.
We're excited to share the latest updates and happenings with you.
Let's dive in!
If you have skills to share, whether you’re a whizz with databases or simply keen to lend a hand, there are plenty of ways to get involved, drop us an email - office@halecommunitycentre.org.uk.
We’d be thrilled to hear from you! |
The newsletter can also we downloaded straight from the website. |
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Our Beautiful Mosaics are now on display in the garden!
We are delighted to share that our lovely mosaics are finally up and ready to be enjoyed in our garden. These stunning artworks were created by the talented and award-winning artist Denise Jaques and members of our community. This was made possible by funding from the UKSPF.
Farnham Town Council kindly erected the mosaics, adding vibrant colours and a bit of sparkle to our outdoor space. We invite everyone to come along, relax, and appreciate these wonderful mosaics.
Come and enjoy! |
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Cooking at the centre continues to be a hit |
Our popular after-school cooking classes for kids and slow-cooking sessions for adults are always a hit. Whether your little ones love to get hands-on or you're looking to master the art of slow cooking, there's something for everyone. Keep an eye out for our next course and be sure to get yourself signed up.
These projects are funded by The Bettercare Fund, Hubbub and Neighbourly.
Don't miss out on the fun and delicious learning experience!
For more information feel free to get in contact. Bookings@halecommunitycentre.org.uk |
Feroza from Surrey Wildlife Trust has been joining the girls again this term to make wildflower seed bombs and seedling pots out of recycled newspaper and to also lead a nature walk in Caesar Camp. |
The Rural life community open day was a hit as always with the little train being a very popular highlight, and the weather was particularly lovely so much so I heard they nearly sold out of ice cream.
We also have to thank the Hoppa bus service for again taking locals to and from The Community Centre to the museum. |
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The Community Centre attended the annual Farnham Duck Race run by the Farnham Weyside Rotary Club. There was lots of great stalls including our tombola, children's lucky dip and Face painting stalls. The sun was on our side and lots of tasty snow cones keeping everyone cool, getting everyone ready for the ducks to be launched into the river. We raised over £600 for our Community and Youth Centre.
Thank you to all that supported us. |
Art club stained glass workshop with Surrey Craft Legacies |
The centre hosted a special stained glass workshop with Surrey Craft Legacies for the Thursday art group. Their aim is to keep ancient crafting techniques alive. The class created some lovely creations to take home and enjoy. |
Because of increased demand, we'll invite you to one Fridge and Cupboard session each week to collect food. If there's any extra food, we'll put it in the external cupboard or display it in the foyer. Please feel free to stop by and see if there is anything you would like. Our core hours of opening are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday. On Wednesdays there will still be a pay-what-you-can-afford lunch, Fridays a cafe with hot drinks and pastries and Sundays it will remain as an opportunity to sit outside and enjoy the garden. You remain welcome to come along to any session for refreshments only. Please also remember we are a charity so any donations that you can give to us will help to sustain the work we do. |
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If you or your children are interested in getting fit or just moving a bit more, why not come along to the Build Your Own Fitness class on Tuesday evenings or for the younger ones to the Monday Kids Fitness class, Both classes are run by James who is a fully qualified fitness instructor, he can help you tailor the exercises to your needs and ability.
For more information feel free to get in contact. Bookings@halecommunitycentre.org.uk |
Community project 'Bunting Bonanza' |
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Our youth provision is expanding to welcome Year 6 boys and girls to our single gender youth club sessions.
• Year 6 boys - Tuesdays
• Year 6 girls - Wednesdays
Sessions are age appropriate and offer a safe, friendly, and supportive space where young people can make friends, build confidence, and enjoy fun activities in a relaxed environment.
For more information or to sign up please email:
Youth@halecommunitycentre.org.uk |
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Our Youth team are now popping in weekly to Heath End school for a lunch time drop in session to give our young people a safe and friendly place to unwind and someone to chat to.
If your young people attend Heath End School and would like more information please contact student reception. |
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Do you know that we rely on our rental income to support the running of the centres, as we receive NO statutory funding. So if you need a space for anything, do get in touch and see if we can help. We have competitive rates for our warm and welcoming spaces.
We have the main hall that can come with or without the lounge area, a smaller training room and the consulting room suitable for 1-2-1s, therapies and beauty and medical appointments, all available to hire, and all have access to our lovely kitchen facilities. |
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Lilacs are some of the most widely admired and recognisable of all early summer-flowering shrubs. The familiarity of new common garden lilacs, peaked in France in the late 19th century. Some of the most popular cultivars are still grown today, such as the ever-reliable double flowered 'Charles Joly' AGM. They comes in shades ranging from creamy-white to pale pink, purple, rosy-red, and even blue. Even among the larger species there are several that have a naturally more pleasing growth habit, well-furnished with branches down to the ground. This specific plant is a case in point, making a shapely vase-like bush with gently ached branches, from which almost bubbelia-like, pendulous panicles of densely packed, red-pink flowers. |
See useful video on how to use the app below. |
Merlin Bird ID is a free, user-friendly app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that helps identify birds by sound, photo, or simple questions, and works offline for global birdwatching.
Key Features
Bird Identification: Merlin offers multiple ways to identify birds. You can answer a few simple questions about a bird, upload a photo, or record a bird’s song or call. The app then provides a list of possible matches using machine learning and expert-curated data from eBird and the Macaulay Library.
Sound ID: This feature listens to birds around you in real time and suggests species based on their calls. It works offline, making it effective in remote locations.
Photo ID: Snap a photo or upload one from your camera roll, and Merlin will suggest likely species matches. This also works offline.
Guided Identification: Merlin can ask questions about the bird’s size, colour, and location to narrow down possibilities, making it accessible for beginners.
Life Lists and Scrapbook: Users can save identified birds to a personal life list and build a digital scrapbook of sightings. The app integrates with eBird to track and explore birds in different regions and seasons.
For more information pop to their website
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There are also regular courses available through TalkPlus
Knowing Me Knowing You Course:
A six-week virtual course that explores thoughts and feelings around anxiety, low mood, and wellbeing in a safe environment, allowing space to have special time with your baby. This course is for new mothers with babies under the age of 12 months, Living with a postcode within Hart and Rushmoor, struggling with mild to moderate levels of low mood/anxiety. The next course starts 13th April 2026.
Baby and Me Course: (Farnham Patients only) Patients outside of Farnham can refer and ask for information about our Knowing Me Knowing you Course.
It is an 8-week course that explores thoughts and feelings around anxiety, low mood and wellbeing and feeling alone in a safe environment, allowing space to have special time with your baby.
Currently running in February, next course starts: TBC
CBT Strategies for Menopause Webinar: Gain valuable insights into navigating the peri-menopause and menopause journey, Learn how CBT can empower you and manage symptoms, reduce stress and foster a positive mindset during this time of change.
This is being run on Tuesday 12th May 6pm - 7:30pm online.
For further information about all the courses we run and how to self-refer, please visit: www.talkplus.org.uk
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Hale Community and Youth Centre values your connection with us, whether you are a regular newsletter reader or someone who enjoys our activities.
Can you give us feedback?
Can you make a small donation as a one off or monthly?
Can you volunteer?
We understand that not everyone will be able to participate, and that's perfectly fine. If you do NOT want to hear further from us on how you can make a difference please email us at fundraising@halecommunitycentre.org.uk.
THANK YOU. |
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Interested in volunteering?
We are currently looking for new volunteers for a variety of roles to support our new projects. Interested? Please contact Sue |
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At Hale Community Centre we have many great services on offer for free, one of these is Citizens Advice. Most Wednesdays you can find Sharon at our Community Pop-in 11:00-1:30 who is on hand to advise you on all sorts of different concerns.
A major concern at present is the rise in the cost of heating our homes and paying for other utilities, this is where advisers like Sharon are a real gem. You can pop in to speak to Sharon about where you may be able to get extra help. If you are struggling with any kind of financial issues you can also speak to a member of the Community Centre team as we can signpost you to local funding and support that may be available.
Citizens Advice - They give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem. They are here to help everyone who needs it with practical advice you can really trust. They are a national charity and network of local charities that offer confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. |
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If you would like to donate! You can support us by donating via our JUST GIVING page: |
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Did you know that Hale Community Centre is a Not for Profit, independent organisation?
Can you help Hale Community Centre do more?
Hale Community Centre has worked hard to provide a safe and welcoming space that supports the community as it navigates its way through the changes we have all gone through to our normal lives and routines. We do not receive regular funding from the local councils and have to raise income from renting our rooms and from donations and project work in order to keep the Centre open to all. The operational costs to be covered by the Charity are over £1,000 per week.
Are you interested in becoming a friend of Hale Community Centre?
This would involve either providing a one-off donation or providing a regular donation, the charity could also claim gift aid if appropriate.
Are you able to support the activities at Hale Community Centre as a volunteer?
Or are you already involved in an organisation that could offer free sessions?
For more information or to donate or volunteer please contact Melissa Salisbury on 07471 180958 or by email at manager@halecommunitycentre.org.uk
Bank details: Sort code: 08 92 99 Account No: 65375602
You can support us by donating via our JUST GIVING page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/hccjustgiving |
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