Page 27 - Phonebox Magazine February 2014

With Mark Lancaster
independent using the local facilities. Helping people to continue to manage everyday activities, such as shopping and banking, reduces the need for them to rely on family or carers who are more likely to go to out of town stores.
Participating businesses are designated as ‘Dementia Friendly’ and will be asked to display an especially designed sign and then be listed in related publicity. I am encouraging business owners to support the project, which naturally brings communities closer together and ensures vulnerable people know they can go about their day with relative ease. On behalf of Project Worker, Joy Oehlman, I ask that businesses get behind the innovative project and email Joy jao1806@hotmail.co.uk or write c/o Cobbs Garden Surgery to add your support.
One final note and a date for your diary, The Rt Hon Theresa May will be guest speaker at a dinner to be held at the RAF Club in London on 7th March. If you would like to attend this prestigious event please
email agent@buckinghamcca.co.uk
Christmas Lunch
Charity Begins at Home
Tanya Noble
It was a normal morning in late October and a commute on the M1 towards North London. An accident ahead completely blocked the motorway, which meant a standstill and engines were off for nearly two hours. Jeremy Vine was on the radio,
with a feature called ‘eating before heating’...it was a phone in and was predominantly people that had to choose between heating their homes or eating. It was not until a lady called ‘Clare from Hampshire’ that I really paid attention. Clare had a job, and although she had very low earnings, she could not complement her income with benefits due to previous debt. During the winter she would come home, feed her dog and go straight to bed. She could not afford the electricity or the heating. Some days all she had to eat was a slice of bread with value margarine and salt and pepper. Clare was clearly distressed but stated she did not want people to feel sorry for her, she just wanted people to be aware that there are those in need in our communities, not just overseas which gets a lot of publicity. I was in tears....this was not some cleverly edited charity video designed to pull your heart strings - this was real life.
I approached our local Rector Claire Wood and asked if there was a need for helping people in the Parish of Olney. I was surprised to hear there was and that a lot of it goes on behind closed doors. I knew I wanted to do something to help - or at least brighten up the day of people that would benefit. The idea of a Christmas Lunch came because it is a time of year that can be very hard for some members of the community. They might be on their own, have just come out of hospital, cannot afford Christmas luxuries or be homeless, to name just a few.
This year it was all last minute, but still, the response and generosity of family, friends and members of the local community was overwhelming. We raised over £750, which we have in a fund, and all the food as well as gifts were also donated. We served 16 lunches (including volunteers) as well as delivering to a couple in Olney who couldn’t get out. We also delivered sacks of gifts for children, and food parcels to a few families. A week ago I had an email from ‘Claire from Hampshire’. She had seen my post (I had shared on radio 2 Twitter) and wanted to apologise for the distress she had caused me, and to thank me for helping those who could not help themselves this Christmas. She hoped 2014 would bring me every happiness. My response - she did not distress me she inspired me to act, and I only hoped there were people doing similar things in her local community... because really it does not take much. This Christmas has probably been one of my favourites, and I was lucky enough to have my mum and step-dad and some close friends helping. I also met some other inspirational people who had also been kind enough to give up their Christmas Day to help. From a local homeless guy to a couple to whom we delivered lunch, it was a pleasure to spend my Christmas Day with them. I would love to be able to help more but every little definitely helps.
I just want to thank all those that contributed. I could not have done it without any of your help and generosity, so thank you for helping to make it a reality. We will definitely be aiming to do this again this year and am meeting with Claire Wood to discuss how we can improve and help more people.
It may be a little early in the year, but we would love to hear from anyone interested in helping or donating, or if you are interested in coming to the lunch itself. You can email me at tanyajnoble@mac.com
Phonebox Magazine 27