GHC Chairman praises Helping Hands volunteers hard work!

John Turpentine, Galleywood Heritage Centre's Chairman, expressed his gratitude and admiration for the volunteers and the amount of hard work that has been completed at the Centre. He said: "I can't believe how much you've done, but why doesn't that surprise me!?"

...Helping Hands 2009!

Nearly 400 volunteers from the Ipswich Stake joined forces with the Parish Council and the Friends of the Centre and started refurbishment work on the disused depot on the Common, part of the old racecourse northern grandstand.

During the 12-hour day volunteers of all ages created a pond, laid out new paths through the grounds, (as pictured) put up fencing, built brick walls, cut back trees, removed undergrowth, landscaped and created a new gateway, painted garage doors, window frames and security grilles along with a multitude of other tasks using material, plant and machinery purchased by Galleywood Parish Council.

Helping Hands also provided 200 bird and bat boxes, new picnic tables, made curtains and created story bags for up to 5 years old for the Children’s Day Nursery. Relief Society Sisters created a beautiful quilt which will be presented to the Centre on November 14th.

The work was completed in less than 12 months and under the expected budget!

Among those who came along to see the work being carried out were Vice Chairman of the parish council, Chairman of the Galleywood Heritage Centre, Chelmsford Mayor & Mayoress and Simon Burns MP.

Maldon and Chelmsford Wards are adopting the centre for ongoing service which has commenced with another wave of bat and bird boxes being built, painting and external decoration, and conservation work by the youth and Elders of the church.

Helping Hands hits the headlines...

We are busy collating all the photos from the day and from the project at the Heritage Centre... but we have already hit the local news headlines!

Counting Down... 1 day to go!

Getting ready for Helping Hands 2009 is no mean feat... and the team behind the project have been planning with military precision since 2008!

We have been involving local Councillors and local media (including the Essex Chronicle) in searching for the perfect opportunity to MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We are often asked WHY we volunteer our time, with nothing in it *for us*... and the answer is easy! We (along with 13 million other volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, as well as volunteers from other faiths) believe that serving other, serving our community is the right thing to do.

The annual Helping Hands day is observed throughout the world - and is not just confined to our efforts at the Galleywood Common! From Brazil to Botswana, and America to Africa... Helping Hands brings people together to build something worthwhile... to make our communities better.

For more information on Helping Hands projects throughout the world visit www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/

Helping Hands cleans up areas affected by Tornadoes
Helping Hands clean up after Hurricane
Helping Hands help school in Brazil
Helping Hands in Africa
Helping Hands help 300 Brazilian Hospitals
Helping Hands youth in USA, Finland, Philippines...
Helping Hands 2009 (USA) - links to media coverage of the multi-state projects...
Helping Hands in New Zealand
Helping Hands help flood victims
Helping Hands in Tonga
Helping Hands youth in Australia

"...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)

Counting Down... 3 days to go!

Counting Down... 5 days to go!

We are dropping 3500 info-filled leaflets in the area to invite our local community to *get involved* with our mammoth Helping Hands 2009 project this coming Saturday! If you live in the Chelmsford area - please stop by and get your hands dirty, wet, paint-covered and more with us...

From 8am-8pm, everyone is welcome at the Galleywood Common. Whether painting, weeding, building, sewing, pruning, sanding, or cleaning... there will be something for everyone! Bring a picnic and enjoy the day making new friends, renewing old ones from previous year's projects... and contributing to a worthwhile community project.

Helping Hands: Where many hands make a difference!

2009 Project Shout Out!

As per our rather detailed *site map* we have a massive range of "roll your sleeves up" projects on the go for our 2009 Helping Hands Day (make a note in your diaries!)

If you can volunteer your skill, time and supplies on any of these projects, please get in touch... We never say no to help from children and adults of all ages - and can find the perfect project to set your helping hands to! Whether sewing, demolishing (sounds fun) or building, painting or gardening. WE NEED YOU to make our 2009 project the best yet!

Work includes... removing old fencing and trees; creating a new path; relocating a gate; tidying the back hedge; creating a Pond; trimming trees; clearing brambles; demolishing a low wall; clearing moss; repairing and painting Garage A as well as Garage B; demolishing more walls; trimming laurel bushes; removing corrugated shelter; creating new disabled bays; renovating fench drain; painting external windows on main building; painting window bars on main building; renovating electrical cupboard; creating new picnic tables; making curtains; gardening; building Bird and Bat boxes; conservation work on Galleywood Common; and creating Story bags for up to 5 years old for the Children's day centre...

Want to get involved? Email us today!

Helping Hands 2009... Project Announcement!

WE HAVE FOUND OUR 2009 PROJECT!

Project 2009: Galleywood is steeped in history with many historical features still existing today. One such example is the now disused depot on the Common; part of the old racecourse northern grandstand. Galleywood Common was the scene of the Chelmsford Races for 176 years (1759 -1935). The racecourse was one of the oldest in England and the principal racecourse in Essex.

Other notable historical features are:

• Visible remains of the Napoleonic Defences built in 1803.
• Brick works dating from the early 1800’s.
• A windmill, first mentioned in 1777, which until the 1920’s stood in the grounds of Mill House on the Common.

Proposed Heritage Centre...

The Heritage Centre is planned around the main building comprising of a main hall, three side rooms, kitchen and grounds. It will be made available for exhibitions of both historical and natural heritage interest, with facilities for research and continued learning. There will be provision for the much needed storage of historical artifacts and archives, and also for use as a meeting place for local organisations.

It will also cater for those with more active interests, such as walking groups, kite flyers, cyclists, and for a range of other community activities.

The Common was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 1993. It is envisaged that the Centre will provide the opportunity for parishioners to continue to learn more about local flora and fauna of the Common and the surrounding areas.

Galleywood Parish Council’s earlier application for lottery funding was unsuccessful, but the Galleywood Heritage Committee comprising of six Councillors and advisers, have spent the last six months preparing a revised plan to help fund the capital work from Parish Council reserves, with the help of volunteers’ time and in kind contributions.

Follow our progress online... or come and join in this historic community project!

FOR MORE DETAILS ON HELPING HANDS (Past & Present)... CLICK HERE

Youth Service at Marsh Farm

PRESS RELEASE Youth brave the cold to serve at Marsh Farm

[Chelmsford, Essex – 22nd Nov 2008] Over 50 youth aged between 12-17 braved the chill and volunteered their Saturday morning to work at Marsh Farm (http://www.marshfarmcountrypark.co.uk/) as part of the clean up team in the “Pledge a Hedge” youth initiative.

Marsh Farm had been in need of manpower to help with the project which they had started earlier in the year. Jimmy Allen, Area Manager for Essex County Parks requested help with "...some hedgerows that needed planting, the ideal physical job for a group of teenagers. One section is approx 200m long and needs 600 plants putting in!"

The teenagers from the Chelmsford, Maldon, Colchester & Witham areas (all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - http://www.mormon.org/) were happy to offer their time and helping hands to hours of digging trenches, clearing dirt and debris, as part of a service commitment to their community.

Youth leader Emma Fagg commented, “It was wonderful to see our youth getting stuck into some real physical tasks to help the Marsh Farm project. There was a real team spirit on the day amongst the youth and leaders, and we were grateful for the opportunity to offer our time in such a worthwhile environmental cause.”

Helping Hands hits FACEBOOK

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Handy Helpers in Tendring...

Whilst Helping Hands is a ONE DAY bonanza... the people behind the event also like to help locally where and when needed...

"For some time the local residents of Elmstead market have had to struggle along the overgrown footpath that connects two half’s of the village, the footpath is also a well used route for young school children and parents to get to the local primary school. With stinging nettles both sides almost meeting in the middle, it was felt by the Tendring Branch council that the unit would clear the path, as the local council authority will not take any responsibility for its upkeep.

10am Saturday morning we gathered, about 30+ attended from a unit that has only 45 members, armed with spades, forks and plastic sacks we set about clearing the path. The clearing line was led by the Nigel Rolton, and the Local Church 'Branch President' (aka Pastor) Jason Watling, using petrol driven hedge cutters and strimmers, quickly cut down/back most of the weeds etc. The rest of the members followed behind bagging, digging and pruning/weeding back what was left. Over the years the earth either side of the path had covered the sides reducing the path width by half, this was scraped back.

The whole project only took 2 hours, and it was back to the Branch Presidents home for a BBQ and refreshments. The local residents commented and what a great job had been done, and where very grateful to all that were involved in the clearing project."

Every Little Helps!

Some interesting stats for you on the cumulative efforts around the UK during Helping Hands:

In the UK/Ireland we had approximately 5,488 workers giving 21, 425 hours of service and we still await some reports.... so, as the supermarket slogan goes, EVERY LITTLE HELPS!!

Video of 2008 Helping Hands project

The edited version of our Braintree 2008 Helping Hands is hot off the press...

Maldon Helping Hands 2007...

Now you can watch us all at work during the 2007 Helping Hands Day at St. Peter's Hospital in Maldon, Essex. Our 2008 edition is getting edited as we speak! From the vid below you do get to see the scale of the projects we undertake - as well as the fun we have!! Enjoy ;)

Thank You!

We just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to our kind sponsors who donated materials (paints, brushes, timber, signs etc) and made our task all the easier!!

B&Q

John Anthony Signs

Brooks Bros.

P.S. If you are a local business and want to get involved in next year's project(s) then please contact us HERE...

The Magistrates... verdict!

Mark Brandon, from emerging Essex Band, The Magistrates, lends a hand...

The day in pictures... (3)

This event was also widely publicised for the community to get involved. The goal was to widen our outreach and include volunteers from other faiths, as well as from the immediate surrounding area. Anne (from St. Michael's parish in Braintree) commented, "Thank you so much for letting me join in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and you made me feel so welcome. I think is it great all this work you are doing for MY community. I am sorry I could not stay all day... but have really enjoyed my hour with you all."

It was commented by all who had never seen a Helping Hands Day in action, just how many youth and children were happy to get involved... paint brushes at the ready. It is unusual to see kids of all ages working alongside their mums or dads, aunts, friends, neighbours... and strangers.

The day in pictures... MEDIA COVERAGE

Local papers sent photographers. Shauna (from the Braintree & Witham Times) as well as Paul (from the Essex Chronicle) took a series of pictures which we hope will make this week's news. The project really highlights the MASSIVE improvements that can occur when loads (hundreds!!) of people all set about to make a difference in just ONE day...

Whether it is painting, sewing, rendering, cutting, mowing, pruning, digging, sanding, building or just taking round cold drinks (which were well needed in the blazing Essex sun!!) the tasks undertaken today created a vibrant buzz around a Hospital that was threatened with closure. With a little (well... actually A LOT) of graft; restoring tired facades and crumbling exteriors gave the whole place a feeling of vitality.

The staff nurses I spoke to on the ward (which kept functioning "business as usual") said, "This has been marvelous. It has been so lovely to see all the changes. The outside really needed a facelift, and what you have done here has made a huge difference."

The day in pictures... (1)

Projects included: Making curtains, cushions, story sacks for a local school; painting a murial on the wall in the Occupational Therapy room; Rendering and renovating the out buildings - painting, sanding etc; Creating outdoor chairs and tables; Clearing the massive overgrown areas and landscaping for use; Creating a path; Creating raised beds; Replanting overgrown rockeries; Clearing the enterance gardens... (just for starters!!)

Ground Zero...

We had several visitors on site throughout the day...

(From left to right...)
Mat Harrowing (Bishop of Witham Ward), Lord Newton (previous MP for Braintree); the Chairman for the District Council - Lady Newton; Adrian Foster (Stake President for Ipswich Stake) and lastly Paul Munden (non-exec director of Mid-Essex Care Trust.)

TODAY is the day...

Work has already started on the 2008 Helping Hands Day... and some volunteers have been lending their hands since 8am this morning! We will be reporting on site, and adding photos as the event unfolds...

(See left)
Meet Ray Stevens, the 86 year old LOCAL HERO who works full time (unpaid) as the sole gardener at the Braintree Hospital receiving the Helping Hands treatment. He donates not only his time, but also all the plants, as well as equipment used in his work. He later commented, "I am overwhelmed at the work being done here. It is wonderful to see young people working for their community. I could never have done all this. Thank you so much."

Essex can fight back...

The "pinch" seems to have hit us all, and the economic gloom has even adversely impacted donations to charities.

Forewarned back in January by UKFundraising; Newsweek recently reported that the struggling economy is hitting hard on charities, with donations expecting to slump in 2008 and into 2009.

With many of us looking inwards, and turning our attention to our homes and community - there is no better time to donate a day to help improve local facilities used by those most in need of our help.

Leaflets will be distributed in the local Essex area over the next week to invite residents to lend a hand, and join hundreds of local Essex Christians make a difference in one day. If you want to join in on Saturday 28th June, just turn up any time from 8am - 8pm at the William Julien Courtauld Hospital, and make your mark on your community!

Contact us: helpinghandsuk@live.co.uk

Helping Hands - Braintree, Essex

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE

[Chelmsford, Essex; 13th June 2008] The count down until the fourth annual Help Hands Day has begun! Saturday 28th June will see over 10,000 volunteers donate their time and services in over 100 local projects nationwide.

The William Julien Courtauld Hospital in Braintree will be the focus for Essex volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who will work alongside the local community to improve, restore and repair.

Media are welcome to attend and report on site during the mammoth overhaul project, which will see rejuvenation of the Mid Essex Primary Care Trust hospital.

The crumbling exterior will see young and old alike paint, plaster, garden, build and repair. The local homeless organisation CHESS will also benefit from the days events.

This follows on from the successful transformation in 2007, when the St. Peter’s Hospital, Maldon received the Helping Hands treatment, leaving the Mix Essex Primary Care Trust Manager, Laurie Payne, in tears... "I must confess that I sat and had a few tears on a bench, in the rain, as the improvements you have made were quite overwhelming. Could you please convey my personal thanks, from the bottom of my heart, to all the wonderful people who helped to make this happen. The hospital has become a much more welcoming place for patients, visitors and staff and a credit to the community. Thank you all, once again, and all I can say is... Groundforce - eat your heart out!"

On a national level; A combined total of over 50,000 hours of service is anticipated by nearly 10,000 members collectively. And the local communities, with their varied projects, will be changed for the good of all. Participants will be easily recognised in their communities by their signature bright yellow vests, or the older white and blue versions, with the distinctive Helping Hands logo emblazened across their chests.Typically, young and old will work side by side to beautify the communities in which they live. As in the past, most of the work will be undertaken outdoors in gardens, parks, woodlands, playgrounds and in cleaning up building facades.

For more details on the William Julien Courtald Hospital, visit http://www.meht.nhs.uk/

For details of how to get involved and volunteer your time to help improve Essex - email helpinghandsuk@live.co.uk