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Hello and welcome to the July Newsletter! Wow, what a June we’ve had! The weather certainly surprised us with another heatwave, definitely a few toasty days! Looking ahead, more hot weather is expected this month. Please remember to stay hydrated and keep an eye on the weather warnings to stay safe. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page as we will be making any updates on there about being closed or changes to the times of services. However, we’d love to see you at the centre, so why not pop down to our Community Wednesday for a cuppa and a sweet treat? Looking forward to catching up with you! Everyone is welcome.
If you have skills to share, great at making a cuppa or just happy to listen and share stories, there are plenty of ways to get involved with us, 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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In June, enthusiastic volunteers from Hale Community and Youth Centre proudly took part in the Beacon of Peace walk.
Their participation helped raise vital funds to support community projects and initiatives. We are very proud of their commitment and thank everyone who contributed to making the event a success.
Beacon of Peace was founded to serve humanity without regard to colour, creed, nationality, or race. Our mission is to alleviate suffering, assist those in need, foster community cohesion, support humanitarian initiatives, bring people together, enhance understanding, and promote peace among people from all walks of life.
Beacon of Peace is an initiative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association, part of the UK’s oldest established Muslim community. Originally known as Charity Walk For Peace (CWFP), the name and branding were updated in 2024 to Beacon of Peace (BoP) to reflect the expanded scope of fundraising events beyond charity walks and to illustrate a broader horizon of reach and global humanitarian projects.
Since its inception in 1985, the charity walk has been held at various venues across the UK, attracting thousands of participants annually. Millions of pounds have been raised and distributed to over 600 UK registered charities and used to support humanitarian projects. Numerous regional charity receptions, walks, and events are organized throughout the UK, culminating in an annual event designed to benefit various charities that provide practical help and support to vulnerable people.
Our goals are to assist society, support charitable endeavours, and demonstrate loyalty to our country and nation. A distinctive feature of Beacon of Peace is that all organizers are unpaid volunteers, ensuring that no administrative costs are deducted from donations. All operational costs are covered by membership subscriptions.
Every Penny Raised Goes To Charity
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A huge congratulations to our amazing young people for their fantastic achievements in this year’s Youth Club Business Challenge! Over the past few months, they have worked incredibly hard to design, create, and market their own products, developing valuable skills in teamwork, creativity, communication, and enterprise along the way. We were so proud to see them represent our community & youth centre at the Parish fair, confidently showcasing and selling the products they had worked so hard to create. Their enthusiasm, professionalism, and determination shone through from start to finish. Well done to every young person involved—you should be incredibly proud of what you have achieved, because we certainly are! |
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Our garden is looking lovely |
Our garden is looking absolutely lovely, thanks to our incredible volunteers. With vibrant bursts of colour and much needed shade, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy. Do pop down to see us and experience the beauty of the garden for yourself! Pop down on a Wednesday and you can also enjoy lunch, a sweet treat and a cuppa at our community Wednesday Café. Also if you fancy getting involved yourself, green fingered or not why not drop in on a Tuesday afternoon at 2pm when the gardening volunteers meet for about an hour. All tools and support will be provided from the friendly team. |
Equally our Youth Centre garden is also looking fantastic especially the new wildflower patch. |
Hale Academy Community Week |
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A wonderful group of children joined our gardening club on Tuesday and helped plant herbs and seeds with the gardening team. It was a reminder that gardens can be fun for everyone. We hope they will come back and keep an eye on their efforts over the year. We also had a special visit to our Wednesday pop in from a year 2 class who visited the Community Centre and sang to some of our local residents using sign language. The children were described as a 'credit to the school' and that 'it has been a pleasure to have them visit'. We also had a pleasure of a 2nd visit from year 1 students, who came to drop of some postcards with lovely messages and drawings on to brighten our day. The fantastic artwork will now be on display at the centre. |
The team joined the Centre’s 'Community Wednesday', speaking with residents about local issues and concerns, whilst also sharing advice on how to stay safe. Thank you to everyone who came along and took the time to chat. |
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Residents and people working in Guildford and Waverley can now access FiveDinners, a free online meal‑planning service. With the cost of living continuing to affect households, Waverley and Guildford Borough Councils have been working with celebrity TV chef Theo Michaels to offer free access to FiveDinners to make everyday meal planning easier and more affordable. FiveDinners creates personalised meal plans to help you: ✓ save money ✓ reduce food waste ✓ eat well and more healthily ✓ shop smarter ✓ be more confident in the kitchen Every week households get a new meal plan designed just for them with a complete shopping list for the week ahead. It’s simple to use and tailored to your household. Meals include low calorie, vegetarian, affordable, Gluten Free, type 2 diabetes and so much more! Let your friends and family living and working in Guildford and Waverley know – while it’s free to use! Employers – let your staff know about this benefit available to them – while it’s free to use!
Enter your home or workplace postcode. |
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We are fortunate to be hosting the Farnham Maltings Doorstep Duets again this summer. They will be performing at midday on Wednesday 15th July. It is always a beautiful and uplifting production so please do put it in your diary and come along to enjoy. Alongside this the Pop In cafe will be open so make a date of it. We look forward to welcoming you. |
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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 |
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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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Plant Profile - AstrantiaRHS - The Garden |
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Certain plants are essential for certain garden conditions. Solvay is for well-drained soil in sun, for instance, or ferns for a shady corner. But for clay soil that may be saturated in winter or rock solid in summer or both Astrantias all the herbaceous perennials the rest of the border should orbit around.
Tough, long-lived plants that shrug off insect and mollusc attack, rabbit resistant and flower prolifically in late spring and summer, and then often again in autumn.
In general, those with silver green flowers are the easiest to grow, and in the shadier parts of the garden that pale, frosty lime toned inflorescences seem to glow with an almost luminous quality. In sunnier spots choose the reds, burgundies and mahoganies for maximum drama and wow factor. Astranias Are members of the carrot or cow parsley family, which also contains other garden of stalwarts such as eryngiums and Ammi majus AGM. Confusingly, given that they're completely unrelated to asters, the genesis name is derived from the Latin word aster, which means star and refers to the shape of the floral bracts.
So botanically the entirety of the flowers and the bracts is an inflorescence. The bracts, flowers and flower stalks can be lime, silver, pink, red or burgundy, with the bracts varying in size, spikiness and degree of veining. The ovaries (immature fruits) silvery lime green but can be stuffed with pink or red. Darker red plants often have ruby notes on the uppermost leaves and stems, adding to that border impact. Overall, astrantias lend theoretical air to any garden, there are many fascinating side to their character. Even their common names Aunt Hattie’s pincushion, melancholy gentlemen or masterwort are charming and evocative, much like the plants themselves. |
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1. Astrantia major ‘Midnight Owl’ Large Blooms start pale then deepen over time, creating an attractive patchwork of different colours as the season progresses. 2. A. Major ‘Elaine’s Pink’ Silvery bracts with a soft pink blush; grey-green veins merge at the spiky tips. Relative slow growing. 3. A. ‘Bright and Breezy’ Rare, but worth finding for the large rounded inflorescences with jade-tipped, pink-tinged bracts. 4. A. major subsp. Involucrata ‘Jumble Hole’ Excellent, with large bracts of a brilliant silvery white, tipped in green. Flowers for many months. 5. A. ‘Mrs Macgregor’ Lush, large lime-green leaves and profuse mid-sized pink sterile bloom for an extended period. 6. A. major ‘Norwell Star’ A new, large-flowered cultivar with translucent pink bracts tipped in dark pink. Grows steadily, forming decent clumps over time. 7. A. ‘Roma’ AGM One of the earlies and longest flowering; the bracts, ovaries and flowers are all the same beautiful pink hue. 8. A. major ‘Venice’ Pink bracts tipped with jade and burgundy. Blooms through into November, with gradually smaller, dark flowers. 9. A. ‘Hadspen Blood’ An old stalwart with short bracts. The contrast with lime ovaries against their burgundy tips is showy. 10. A. major ‘Star of Magic’ The best variegated Astrantia; leaves unfurl with pinky-red margin maturing to a bright white that lasts. 11. A. major subsp. Involucrate ‘Barrister’ Larger clean white bracts are tipped in jade. Flowers stalks are rich picky-red, giving a wonderful contrast. 12. A. major Sparkling Stars Red (‘Westarr’) An excellent form that’s superseded older dark reds such as ‘Hadspen Blood’ by having extra vigour. 13. A. ‘Buckland’ AGM A classic, with silvery bracts and a hint of pink in the flowers. Earliest to bloom, with up to three more flushes.
If you would like to know more you can at: |
Check out the RSPB’s Birds of the Month and discover which seasonal visitors and familiar favourites you might spot while out and about. It’s a simple way to enjoy nature, learn a few easy ID tips and make your next walk a little more wildlife-filled. Here are six birds to look out for.
Turtle Dove Lapwing House Sparrow Tree Sparrow Yellow Hammer Wood Pigeon
Share your bird sightings
Get inspired, get out in nature and you might just see some of these birds this month. RSPB would love love to hear how you get on. You can send your photos to us at NotesonNature@rspb.org.uk They'll share some of the best in a future issue of Notes on Nature. |
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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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