Community News

Thanks for the photos and little blog from our lovely Dig It Community Allotment  leader Lisa Harper  and to the generosity of Elsenham Lodge 8973  ( Essex Freemasons ) for supporting our project! We’ve been beaning and sowed different varieties of Dwarf beans, climbing beans and runner beans. Much needed watering everywhere on the plot. Topping up our paths with bark chippings. Finding shady spots to rest and listen to the birds. Harvesting herbs, for our wonderful Jacquie t

Swimming tonight for some of our members. Our group, for 16-25 year olds, is all about giving members a voice to make a choice on a Friday evening! Everyone loves to socialise on a Friday night!   Tonight, Willow chose swimming and also chose who she would like to go with her. Great choice!  So much fun, laughter and mischief!   Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund  and the #lotteryplayers #inclusionmatters   #MakeADifference   #lovewhatwedo   #FridayFeeling   #f

In the words of our lovely volunteer Emma, ‘What a night!!!’ This was a really special evening. There were so many memorable moments in our end of half term showcase. Our Music Man members were full of pride and confidence Joel welcomed the audience to the evening in his own beautiful words. Each item on the programme was introduced by a different member, and lovely Sarah closed the evening, with a thank you message. Finally, we all took a very proud bow!! Thank you to everyo

Fishing games and activities tonight with Jack from Angling Trust .  Super competition and lots of concentration! Such a great night finding out how to fish   Thank you so much Jack for a great evening! Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund  and the #lotteryplayers #MakeADifference   #lovinglife   #Fridayfeeling   #fridaynight   #gettogether   #lovewhatwedo   #newskills   #somuchfun

Side by side club on Wednesday making memories and having fun with our most important people - our members! Here they are fully engaged with their beanbag games night! Photo creds to Marion Grainge  - thanks to our lovely staff and volunteers for making this possible. #lovewhatwedo   #volunteer   #funwithfriends   #mencap

A full house, a house full of sheer joy   The joy of making music, the joy of being with friends, the joy of seeing the happiness on each other’s faces, the joy of helping each other, the joy of celebrating important events, and the joy of accomplishment. Spot the joy!! Supported by the Postcode Lottery UK  awarded by the #postcodetrust  and London Stansted Airport  awarded by the #stanstedairportcommunityfund   #cometogether   #MakeADifference   #lovewhatwedo   #MondayMagic

Tonight is Olivia’s choice of trip and she chose to go to the cinema!  The smell of popcorn, the experience of the big screen and the suspense! So lovely to support local and visit Saffron Screen     Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund  and #lotteryplayers #FridayFeeling   #BigScreen   #MakeADifference   #fun   #MakeAmazingHappen   #lovewhatwedo   #supportlocal

Friendships that root deeper than our carrots.  Mental health blooming in the fresh air.  Nutrition that starts with dirt under our fingernails.  Nature as the ultimate healer. Wednesday saw our GrowAbility group together in the spring sunshine - members and volunteers working together at the Dig It Community Allotment . Sowing seeds, writing labels (VERY important!) weeding, planting, watering! Look those leek seedlings our group planted only a few weeks ago! New strawberry

It was such a fun night at Side By Side this week playing Boccia! It’s such a fun game that everyone can take part in and they did! It was competitive but everyone was happy and encouraging to each other. Loads of laughter and mutual support it’s what Wednesday nights are all about! Thanks to the club leaders and volunteers for working so hard to make this possible! #friendshipgoals   #boccia   #competition   #lovewhatwedo

We missed Esther, Doriyan and Matthew today - but Barry Julie Tristan and Charis were all up for some fresh air and working on the plot! Lisa kept everyone busy. So this week we used our own homemade compost (we made using a toblerone compost method!) to top up the soil in our strawberry planter & raised beds. It’s really important to top up our existing soil with fresh new compost full of nutrients to feed this years plants and vegetables we plan to grow  we love learning to

Another joyful Monday evening. Every week so many beautiful things happen at Music Man Learning new songs and new skills, the smiles, the sense of achievement, the camaraderie and friendship, the support and respect we show each other. Music Man is more than music. Music Man helps us to grow in so many ways. Thank you to our inspirational Music Leader Nicky New, and to all our lovely volunteers, for making this wonderful project happen every week. Supported by the People's Po

LOOK at us!! So smart, and so proud of our new personalised Music Man Holdalls! Thank you, Thank You, Thank You, to London Stansted Airport   #Communityfund  for your generosity and for making everyone so happy! Every week, we will be responsible for taking our holdalls, full of instruments home, and looking after them until the next Music Man session. What a fabulous evening we had! Exciting new bag, exciting new music, and a very excited Ollie celebrating his birthday!!! Su

We will be back…thank you to Zafferano Lounge : lovely staff and delicious food. What a great Friday 13th it turned out to be! We had so many subjects to talk about and discussed future trips out: we will join a quiz night, go to the cinema , bowling and anticipating adult soft play outing. Tonight, we had Michael, Gaynor and Ann joining us for the first time - they enjoyed their first night out with Our Choice! Supported by Saffron Walden Golf Club  and London Stansted Airpo

This evening, we showcased some of the new music we have been learning this half term, to a very warm and receptive audience. They were so impressed with the progress that everyone has made. Music Man members presented each number, and then everyone performed with a confidence that grows week by week. Nicky was so proud, and invited everyone to take bow at the end. The audience responded with generous and very well deserved applause. Supported by the People's Postcode Lottery

Tonight, some of our members are at Trio Italian in Saffron Walden for dinner. Alicia’s choice of trip, as it will soon be her birthday! Everyone loves the pizza  and pasta  on offer   Lots of options to choose on the menu…what would you choose? Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund  and #lotteryplayers . #fridaynight   #mencap   #MakeADifference   #lovewhatwedo   #gettogetherwithfriends   #FridayFeeling

Our members are so competitive at bowling! Who will win tonight? It’s a very close game   Always a popular activity and a fun night for everyone! Celebrating Flo’s birthday tonight . Flo chose the activity and who she would like to go with. Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund  and #lotteryplayers #MakeADifference   #bringingsmiles   #mencap   #lovewhatwedo   #lovelife   #FridayFeeling   #fridayvibes   #fridaynight   #tenpinbowling #outincambridge   #greatstarttot

Who knew our members were such talented actors? Tonight’s game of charades at Side by Side was such fun! We were all thrilled at the inventive and dramatic performances. Everyone really gave it their all! Between the acting and guessing, we celebrated Jamie and Emma’s birthdays with cupcakes (thanks Jamie! ) and a group singalong. We finished the night with Hangman, where Noah proved to be the master of words.   #sidebyside   #mencap   #lovewhatwedo   #friendsareforever   #br

A truly magical space, where we flourish, and where miracles happen. Where every individual’s achievements are celebrated, and where we help each other. What a wonderfully eclectic array of music this evening! We absolutely loved it….from the musicals to the dambusters!! Look at the smiles on our faces . We love Music Man Mondays! Supported by People's Postcode Lottery  (awarded by the Postcode Trust) and the #stanstedairportcommunityfund  ( London Stansted Airport ) #musicis

We were invited to watch the relaxed performance of the Saffron Players ’ Camelot Panto tonight! First our members paid for their own tickets - practicing life skills, then met all the cast of the show. Each cast member explained who they were and what part they play. We loved every bit of the show! The music, singing, laughter and fun! Thank you for inviting us! #goodtimes   #laughter   #community   #mencap   #lovewhatwedo   #MakeADifference   #panto

We love all the new pieces of music that Nicky is introducing us to!   We tapped quietly on our tambourines to Kermit the Frogs wonderful Rainbow Song, we sang along beautifully to Hallelujah, and we showed off our Scottish dancing to Scotland the Brave!!! Music Man makes us all so happy  Thank you to everyone who makes these very special evenings happen. Supported by the People's Postcode Lottery  awarded by the Postcode Trust and the #stanstedcommunityfund  ( London Stanste