Open Gardens 2020
For details of our popular Open Gardens event click here. This year we have gone online, so you can visit the gardens from the comfort of your own armchair.
Plenty more FiSH... FiSH Patron Anneka Rice launches new bus
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Transport is at the heart of everything that FiSH does, which is why we have bought a new fully accessible bus for our fleet. The third bus is vital to take older people to a wide range of social and cultural events and also to the supermarket. FiSH operates its bus service in partnership with RaKAT (Richmond Kingston Accessible Transport) and demand for the service is high. In 2018/9 FiSH organised 10,544 passenger journeys on the buses. This included 100 escorted shopping trips to supermarkets, while 760 people enjoyed outings to a variety of places of interest, concerts and events; another 500 people were carried on FiSH buses hired out to different community groups in the Borough. Since the closure of Hammersmith Bridge, local journeys through Barnes, Mortlake and Sheen can take twice as long as they should, which is not ideal for elderly passengers. A third bus means more but shorter journeys. “Our volunteer bus escorts do a splendid job caring for passengers and now we have three buses we are on the lookout for more of these essential “cabin crew” as well as drivers,“ says icky Forster, Director of FiSH. “Of course, we provide all our volunteers with relevant training to ensure they feel supported and equipped to do the job. If anyone has a few hours a week to spare and would like to help on our buses, please contact us. You will be doing an important job and it’s really fun!” Equipping and running three accessible buses is not a cheap operation and FiSH is indebted to its regular funders and loyal supporters, including Richmond Council, Richmond Parish Lands Charity, Barnes Workhouse Fund and St Paul’s Junior School, who have made this third bus possible. |
“A third bus means more outings for our members, shorter journey times on local runs, and an ability to hire out our buses to Age UK and other partner charities, “explains Micky. “FiSH accessible transport is the most important part of our operation. This is because it’s so much more than a bus service. It isn’t just about delivering people and their shopping to their front doors and taking them to lectures, concerts and classes. It’s a social event,” says FiSH Transport Co-ordinator, Deborah Carter. “This not just any bus service, this is FiSH accessible transport with psychological benefits.” Without this community transport service many older residents in Barnes, Mortlake and Sheen would be home alone and house bound.
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MeetUpMondays have come to East Sheen
For several years, ‘Combating Loneliness’ has been one of FiSH’s straplines. Getting people together, making friends, keeping active and bringing the neighbourhood together has been at the heart of all we do. So we were very excited to learn about an initiative called MeetUpMondays.
MeetUpMondaysTM initially began in Wimbledon, took off in Suffolk and is now spreading across the country. It’s a great way to start the week, a chance for neighbours to get together in a community space, have a FREE cup of tea or coffee, a few nibbles and some good conversation whilst making new friends.
FiSH is partnering with The Hare and Hounds pub, who will be hosting MeetUpMondaysTM in East Sheen from Monday September 9th, 11:00-13:00 each week. We are also grateful to Sceon + Berne who have kindly agreed to sponsor this activity for six months.
Do you live alone? Are you a Carer? Unemployed? Recently retired? Do you work from home? Widowed? Has life suddenly gone pear shaped for you? Do you just like meeting people and having a chat? If so, come and join us at The Hare and Hounds on Monday mornings. Everyone welcome!
MeetUpMondaysTM initially began in Wimbledon, took off in Suffolk and is now spreading across the country. It’s a great way to start the week, a chance for neighbours to get together in a community space, have a FREE cup of tea or coffee, a few nibbles and some good conversation whilst making new friends.
FiSH is partnering with The Hare and Hounds pub, who will be hosting MeetUpMondaysTM in East Sheen from Monday September 9th, 11:00-13:00 each week. We are also grateful to Sceon + Berne who have kindly agreed to sponsor this activity for six months.
Do you live alone? Are you a Carer? Unemployed? Recently retired? Do you work from home? Widowed? Has life suddenly gone pear shaped for you? Do you just like meeting people and having a chat? If so, come and join us at The Hare and Hounds on Monday mornings. Everyone welcome!
New face at FiSH... Clare Smith
We are delighted to welcome Clare who will be joining us for the first few months of 2020 on a charity secondment courtesy of the John Lewis Partnership’s Golden Jubilee Trust. Clare, who is Team Manager at Waitrose in East Sheen, will be released by Waitrose who will pay her salary in full while releasing her to work for FiSH for 2.5 days a week. Clare is already a familiar face to many FiSH members. Waitrose has been very supportive of FiSH events such as Open Gardens and the Retro Café, supporting us with both donations in-kind and with releasing staff to volunteer for us. Clare will be working for FiSH in an engagement role – championing our activities in SW14, developing participation at our regular events as well as recruiting new members and volunteers in the area. We are extremely grateful to Waitrose for this wonderful opportunity to bring in an experienced manager who is so enthusiastic about our work. Thank you!
“I am really looking forward to the opportunity to work alongside FiSH next year" commented Clare. "I am hoping to share my skills and pick up new ones. I have supported FiSH for the past 3 years through Waitrose and have been inspired with the great work you do in the community which I have enjoyed being part of."
“I am really looking forward to the opportunity to work alongside FiSH next year" commented Clare. "I am hoping to share my skills and pick up new ones. I have supported FiSH for the past 3 years through Waitrose and have been inspired with the great work you do in the community which I have enjoyed being part of."
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Picassos in the Park ExhibitionThe members of our Picassos in the Park group recently visited the London Wetland Centre and the art they produced after that visit are currently exhibited at the Wetlands.
Picassos in the Park, supported by FiSH, run weekly art workshops for people living with early dementia. |
Open Gardens 2019
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Sunday 9th June was a marvellous day for our Open Gardens afternoon in East Sheen. The sun may not have shone very brightly but the buzz of conversation in every garden as neighbours introduced themselves to each other and discussed whether this plant was 'Angelica' or that rose was a 'Gertrude Jekyll' was heart-warming! Huge thanks to everyone who supported FiSH by generously opening their gardens, to the volunteers who helped in gardens or by pouring tea and Pimm's - and to all who visited the gardens. We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did!
This wonderful community event, enjoyed this year by over 700 people, has also been a fantastic fundraiser, raising over £10,000 before costs. We are most grateful to MESS for their support and to Savills' for their generous sponsorship. |
Jenny Hughes receives British Empire Medal
Jenny Hughes received her British Empire Medal in a ceremony held at The Tower of London. She was accompanied for this special occasion by her husband, Andy, and also Crispin O'Brien, Chair of FiSH.
''I was truly honoured to be recognised for this award and the ceremony today was a humbling experience to be with such a variety of people who have served their communities in so many amazing ways. Thanks to all those people who have made FiSH what it is today.''
''I was truly honoured to be recognised for this award and the ceremony today was a humbling experience to be with such a variety of people who have served their communities in so many amazing ways. Thanks to all those people who have made FiSH what it is today.''
Picassos in the Park Art Classes
FiSH Neighbourhood Care has stepped in with funding to enable the popular art workshops delivered by Picassos in the Park to carry on in Barnes. The workshops, which are open to people living with early stage dementia and their carers, will now continue this summer and offer participants a chance to be creative together. Classes will run on Tuesdays from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the OSO Arts Centre. To find out more or book a place, please contact Liz on 020 8878 8100 or by email.
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
The FiSH team made up of Micky Forster, Liz Wall, Sally Godstone, Shena Macdonald, Deidre Munro and Steve Chapman were delighted to represent the charity at a special presentation event for QAVS Winners from Greater London, kindly hosted by RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) at their London office in Bishopsgate on Tuesday 11th September 2018.
Micky collected the award from Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK and recognises the importance of our work with older people in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen to combat loneliness and social isolation. FiSH were among twenty winners of the Award in Greater London this year.
Micky collected the award from Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK and recognises the importance of our work with older people in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen to combat loneliness and social isolation. FiSH were among twenty winners of the Award in Greater London this year.
Dame Mary Peters
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On Tuesday July 3rd Dame Mary Peters, Olympian and first lady of British athletics, spoke at our Tuesday Talk and was then interviewed in the evening by sports journalist Vassos Alexander at the OSO. At this fundraising event for FiSH, the audience enthusiastically relived her gold medal winning triumph at the Munich Olympics in 1972. We are extremely grateful to Mary for entertaining and inspiring us as well as raising over £1400 for FISH. Huge thanks also to everyone who supported the event and to the OSO for hosting it.
As well as her amazing sports career as an athlete, team manager and ambassador, Mary has her own charitable trust - the Mary Peters' Trust which helps young sports people in Northern Ireland achieve their potential. You can find out more about this at: http://marypeterstrust.org/ |
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Royal Wedding Tea Party
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Here at FiSH we do like a good tea party! Bone china, sandwiches and cakes, scones with jam and cream... and what better excuse could there be than celebrating the marriage of Prince Harry! On Friday May 18th, the day before the wedding of Harry and Meghan, almost 100 guests came to Barnes Green for a party arranged jointly by FiSH and Age UK Richmond. Afternoon tea was served and the guests entertained by a Skiffle band!
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New Director
Micky Forster, a long-term Barnes resident and trustee of Barnes Community Association, will be joining FiSH Neighbourhood Care as Executive Director in February 2018.
Micky says ‘’I am delighted to be joining FiSH, a charity that delivers a much needed and unique blend of practical help and emotional support to older and vulnerable people in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen through its amazing staff and volunteers.
Having parents in their 90s still living at home in the area, I believe passionately in helping people to maintain their independence so they can do as much as they can for as long as they can.
I hope my experience from 10 years in the charity sector, knowledge of the area, local contacts and community organisations will enable me to effectively champion this trusted organisation. I feel very proud to be joining FiSH at this exciting time to help this wonderful charity meet the growing needs in our local community.’’
Micky started her career in sales and marketing in the airline and travel industry and has spent the last 10 years working as a fundraiser at Turn2us, Bowel & Cancer Research and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. She has also been a Samaritan’s listening volunteer for nearly 25 years.
Crispin O’Brien, chair of FiSH, commented, “It will be hard to follow Jenny Hughes who has done a great job for over 17 years but we are really lucky to have found someone so committed to our cause, so well connected in SW13 and SW14 and already involved with our community. Micky will provide leadership and help us put our strategy into effect in the challenging years ahead.”
Micky says ‘’I am delighted to be joining FiSH, a charity that delivers a much needed and unique blend of practical help and emotional support to older and vulnerable people in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen through its amazing staff and volunteers.
Having parents in their 90s still living at home in the area, I believe passionately in helping people to maintain their independence so they can do as much as they can for as long as they can.
I hope my experience from 10 years in the charity sector, knowledge of the area, local contacts and community organisations will enable me to effectively champion this trusted organisation. I feel very proud to be joining FiSH at this exciting time to help this wonderful charity meet the growing needs in our local community.’’
Micky started her career in sales and marketing in the airline and travel industry and has spent the last 10 years working as a fundraiser at Turn2us, Bowel & Cancer Research and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. She has also been a Samaritan’s listening volunteer for nearly 25 years.
Crispin O’Brien, chair of FiSH, commented, “It will be hard to follow Jenny Hughes who has done a great job for over 17 years but we are really lucky to have found someone so committed to our cause, so well connected in SW13 and SW14 and already involved with our community. Micky will provide leadership and help us put our strategy into effect in the challenging years ahead.”
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
FiSH Neighbourhood Care, has won the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. (FiSH stands for Friendship, Independence, Help and Support). FiSH exists to combat loneliness and social isolation in older and vulnerable people living in Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen so that they continue to live independent and dignified lives. Through their 300 strong volunteer network they connect the community offering friendship, support and practical help.
Receiving the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups, represents a tremendous achievement for the charity and its volunteers.
Crispin O’Brien, Chair of FiSH said “Everyone who volunteers for FiSH should feel immensely proud of the recognition that this award represents. They should never underestimate the value of their service to the local community and the difference they make to people’s lives. Without the goodwill and generosity of our dedicated volunteers none of FiSH’s activities would be possible. In 2017/8 FiSH volunteers gave 32,500 hours of their time to help older and vulnerable people in SW13 and SW14. It would require over 18 full time trained staff to replace these hours at a cost to Richmond Council of over £580,000 every year.”
Micky Forster, Director at FiSH commented “Volunteers are our life blood. We are lucky to have so many wonderful people carrying out a range of roles as befrienders, car drivers, bus escorts, minibus drivers, shoppers, listeners, cake makers, fundraisers, event organisers, dementia friends, speakers, gardeners, handy people, helpline co-ordinators and trustees. However we always need more volunteers. If you live in Barnes, Mortlake or East Sheen and have a few hours to spare, please join us. We’ll provide you with support and training and you’ll get more back than you can ever imagine”.
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Receiving the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups, represents a tremendous achievement for the charity and its volunteers.
Crispin O’Brien, Chair of FiSH said “Everyone who volunteers for FiSH should feel immensely proud of the recognition that this award represents. They should never underestimate the value of their service to the local community and the difference they make to people’s lives. Without the goodwill and generosity of our dedicated volunteers none of FiSH’s activities would be possible. In 2017/8 FiSH volunteers gave 32,500 hours of their time to help older and vulnerable people in SW13 and SW14. It would require over 18 full time trained staff to replace these hours at a cost to Richmond Council of over £580,000 every year.”
Micky Forster, Director at FiSH commented “Volunteers are our life blood. We are lucky to have so many wonderful people carrying out a range of roles as befrienders, car drivers, bus escorts, minibus drivers, shoppers, listeners, cake makers, fundraisers, event organisers, dementia friends, speakers, gardeners, handy people, helpline co-ordinators and trustees. However we always need more volunteers. If you live in Barnes, Mortlake or East Sheen and have a few hours to spare, please join us. We’ll provide you with support and training and you’ll get more back than you can ever imagine”.
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Harvest Tea Party
St Michael & All Angels Church in Barnes celebrates it's 150th anniversary in 2017. As part of the celebrations, FiSH was invited to arrange a community tea party and this took place on Saturday October 7th 2017. With music from Saxanova, and a film by Tom Stanier about days gone by in Barnes (featuring FiSH members, Ellen and George) plus plenty of tea, scones, chat and laughter... a lovely day was had by all!
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Open Gardens 2017
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Thank you to everyone who supported our Open Gardens weekend in East Sheen. 30 gardens were open on May 20th & 21st, teas were served, Pimms was poured, classic cars gleamed and the gardens looked amazing! After a week of almost non-stop rain, we were fortunate to have good weather, enabling visitors to enjoy the gardens are their very best. Such events require a cast of thousands and we are very grateful to all those who worked so hard to make the event the success that it was. Over £8,000 was raised, a proportion of which will be shared with the Mortlake with East Sheen Society.
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Challenge Anneka
Anneka Rice has been a keen FiSH volunteer for some time and regularly visits one of our clients in Barnes. She is passionate about befriending and has become an ambassador for both befriending and FiSH - and that is something we are hugely grateful for. She was recently interviewed on the ITV programe 'This Morning' and rather than go alone, she took Sylvia with her. Her challenge to those watching was 'This is not difficult, it's something anyone can do.' Immediately after the interview, our phones were red hot with calls and emails coming in from Scotland to Cornwall, Kent to Birmingham to Sunderland. There is obviously a willingness to get involved... so our challenge to those who run befriending schemes up and down the country would be to advertise your service. Together we can combat loneliness!
Brush Up Your Shakespeare!
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Our annual concert took place on Saturday November 14th 2015 at Wathen Hall, St Paul's School. Despite the ghastly weather, the concert was well attended and everyone enjoyed the music and readings, all of which followed a Shakespearean theme.
Many people helped to make the evening a success and the stars of the evening were the Barnes Concert Band, Abigail Cruttenden, Joe Fraser, Denys Graham, Michael Steffan, the 'Flamin' Dames' and Alison Wilson. However, as always, there was a cast of thousands working behind the scenes for weeks beforehand and on the night. THANK YOU to you all! |
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Memories & Music from the 'Great War'
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We had a marvellous evening on Saturday November 15th 2014 when we presented Memories & Music from the 'Great War' in the beautiful Wathen Hall at St Paul's School, Barnes. The event was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and featured filmed interviews of FiSH friends and volunteers recounting memories of the First World War. The evening was linked together by a selection of music, readings of letters from the front and community singing. We are hugely grateful to Peter Snow, Anthony Calf, Buffy Davis, and Denys Graham for their professional contributions and to Jessica Hughes, Barnes Community Choir, and Barnes Concert Band for making all the music go with a swing, an also to the staff and boy's at St Pauls for all their help both on stage and behind the scenes! Tom Stanier's brilliant film, Memories of the Great War, proved to be a very moving tribute to those who served and gave their lives during the War.
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