AFTER welcoming everyone, Ann Evans, our President, reminded us of the various activities, which would be taking place during the coming month. Final arrangements were made for the visit to the Archive and Archaeology Department at the Hive, in Worcester, and our bi-monthly lunch at the Dolphin Inn, Bishampton.

Members were invited to put their names down to provide items for our ‘Strictly Home-Made’ Stall at the Hampton Flower Show at the end of September.

It was agreed to send a donation to ACWW, who were raising money for the New Hope Gardening Project in Zimbabwe.

Members were asked their opinion on whether they would like to receiver the County Newsletter digitally or be able to read it on Facebook, as opposed to a printed copy, which is the current method. Most members preferred the current option.

Our speaker for the evening was Helen Hurdman, who told us about the charity ‘Working World’ which she set up in 2008. Helen previously worked at Evesham College with young people who had learning difficulties, but found that some services were being withdrawn, so decided to set up the training centre which is based at the Adventure Playground, Woodlands, Evesham. This has grown over the years and now has seven staff, and supports over thirty young adult clients.

The staff work with the clients in small groups on a variety of work activities. Some of clients go on to work for other local employers, some combine a part time job with coming to Working World, some just attend Working World. The activities include running the café on the site, household and gardening tasks, running a small mobile shop that is taken to supported housing schemes, packing and selling sweets, envelope stuffing and leaflet delivery.

Helen was accompanied by one of her clients, who gave a brief description of her time there, and had brought along some packs of sweets for us to buy.

The competition for an item with an ‘X’ in the title was won by Ivy Pullin, with a very attractive New England-style wooden box.

Next month we will be welcoming Catherine Clark, who will tell us about ‘My Life and Hats.’

If you would like to join us at one of our meetings, do come along. We are always pleased to see visitors and you will be made very welcome. We meet in Hampton Guide and Scout Community Hall on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm. For further information, please contact our Secretary, Joyce Davey on 01386 443755.

LIZ RODWAY