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New heaters at New Ark

Now that the weather has turned autumnal, our children, playworkers and the animals are keeping warm thanks to a £6,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund. The grant gave our own fundraising efforts a vital boost and meant we could complete this work during 2014, before the weather turned cold again.

Playgroup children and staff with one of our new heaters
Playgroup children and staff with one of our new heaters

Nikki Anderson, New Ark Playgroup Manager, said: “Many activities at New Ark take place outdoors in our adventure playground, city farm and eco garden – it is vital that everyone has a warm place to retreat to.”

The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery. It is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.

lottery hi_big_e_min_blk

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Dave Wilson is running for New Ark

**Update** David gained £105 for us in sponsorship donations, which will go towards buying a new carpet for our quiet corner. Hope you’ve recovered now David!

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David Wilson is running the Great Eastern Run on 12 October to raise money for New Ark. That’s 13.1 miles around the streets of Peterborough, plus weeks of getting up in the dark for training runs.

David is fundraising so that we can buy a new carpet for our quiet corner, to help make it a cosy and inviting place to read books and talk. Children at New Ark have access to the most amazing outdoor adventure playground, city farm and woodland garden. Help spruce up their indoor room and give David a virtual cheer by making a donation at this link today. Remember to Gift Aid it!
www.localgiving.com/fundraising/davewilsonnewark

Dave Wilson

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Christmas Indulgence Night – 7 Nov

** Update ** We are pleased to announce that a grand total of £679.52 was raised at this event on 7 November. Thank you to all the people who supported us. Pictures taken on the night have been uploaded onto our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newarkplay

 

christmas indulgence evening poster

♥ Advance ticket £5 includes entrance and light buffet available (£7 on the night)
♥ All profits for New Ark – bring your friends for a night out!
♥ Please note that this is a cash only event
♥ Get your tickets from New Ark now – call 01733 340605 or email Charlotte on charlottenewark@gmail.com

Come and pamper yourself at New Ark’s Christmas Indulgence Evening, with all profits going towards our fundraising target of £15,000. We’ll have a licensed bar and seating. All stalls will be charging for their goods/activities – some are donating all their profits to us (we’ll give them a New Ark poster to display so you know). We will also be running a raffle, with prizes donated by our stallholders.

A list of confirmed stallholders is below – keep an eye on this page and our Facebook page for updates:
♥ A & K Sweet Surrender (chocolate and sweet creations)
♥ Angel Card Readings (card readings)
♥ Angels Whispering (card readings/auragraph)
♥ Ashwood Artisan Accessories (handmade gemstone jewellery)
♥ Bagalicious (handbags, purses, wallets & scarves)
♥ Body Shop (Body Shop products)
♥ Bombtastic (bath and shower products)
♥ The Craft (handmade jewellery & accessories)
♥ The Craft Nest (make up and jewellery)
♥ Daisy Loves (jewellery and accessories)
♥ Daniele Caked and Baked (cakes)
♥ Dream Nails by Rose (gelish manicures)
♥ Feel Better Reiki (reiki products/ massage
♥ Flutterby bags (handbags, purses, scarfs and accessories)
♥ Forever Living (aloe vera products)
♥ Frances Green (secure nails, waxing and Indian head massage)
♥ Funky Bows ‘N’ Things (hair accessories)
♥ Glitzy Glam (jewellery)
♥ Lily Lush (gelish manicures)
♥ Lucy’s Lollies (handmade lollies)
♥ Massage for the Masses (chair massage)
♥ Miss Cherry Retro (vintage inspired dresses, cushions and accessories)
♥ Nail Envy/ Herbalife (gelish polish/herbal shakes)
♥ Nessa’s Handmade Jewellery (jewellery)
♥ Paintbox (handcrafted unique felt decorations)
♥ Pampered Chef (cookware and kitchen gadgets)
♥ Partylite (candles, holders)
♥ Scrappysonia (jams, preserves and sweets)
♥ Simply Beauty (brows, eyelashes, spray tans, scents)
♥ Thai Foot Massage (foot massage)
♥ Top Tots Boutique (hair and baby)
♥ Treats and Eats (homemade gifts)

For more information about our charitable objectives see: www.newarkplay.co.uk/about/

If you want to book a stall, see www.newarkplay.co.uk/stallbookingndulgence

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Stall bookings for Indulgence fundraiser

Do you run a business that offers beauty, therapy or gifts and treats? We are taking stall bookings for our Christmas Indulgence evening, which is on the evening of Friday 7 November 2014 in the Executive Suite at the POSH ground. This event will be widely publicised on New Ark’s website, posters, social media etc. This is an ideal opportunity to grow your business.

Stalls are £10 plus a raffle prize which should be a product or service from your business (our raffle prize list will be publicised). Or you can choose to donate all your proceeds from the evening to New Ark. To book, please email fundraising.newark@gmail.com and request a booking form (or download it from here). The form needs to be returned with your £10 booking fee by 30 September 2014. Stalls will only be allocated on payment of booking fee.

In case of query please contact: Charlotte Griggs on 01733 340605 or email fundraising.newark@gmail.com if non urgent.

christmas indulgence evening poster

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Repairs and Maintenance – thank you

We wanted to say a big thank you to all our staff and volunteers for your support, dedication, good humour and hard work during our recent Repairs and Maintenance week. We were delighted to received help from working parties from local companies Cummins and BGL, as well as our hard working staff and regular volunteers. We hope that all our children are noticing and enjoying the work completed – including painting, gardening, cleaning and the creation of some new play activities!

r&m montage

Our next Repairs and Maintenance week will be from 13-17 April 2015 – if you can help during that week please contact us on 01733 340605. The kind of things we need help with are:

• People to paint, clean, garden, sort and organise – both individuals and group working parties are welcomed.
• Donations of cleaning products including bleach, scourers, cleansers, cloths, etc.
• Unwanted tins of paint – unopened or recently opened
• Money, so that we can repair/replace anything faulty as we find it. You can make an online donation at www.localgiving.com/charity/newarkplay

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Little House fundraising

**Update** Do you see one of your Little House decorated boxes here? Then you’ve won a prize! Come and see a staff member next time you are in. And if you haven’t brought your moneybox back yet there is still time we haven’t counted the final total yet…

little house montage

We are delighted to announce our latest Little House fundraising scheme, which is open to all our supporters to take part in.

You will be asked to pay a nominal fee of 50p and will be given a plastic house moneybox, to take home and fill with spare change and return it to New Ark on/before 31 October 2014. Your 50p will be returned to you on request.

The moneybox comes inside a plain white box which may be decorated and returned to us. We will be offering prizes for the three highest amounts raised by the deadline, and also prizes for decorated boxes returned to us by the deadline

Please consider taking part – with the money raised we will be erecting a sunshade tarpaulin over our sandpit area. Ask Jodie Watson or Abbie Braines for details.

Here’s some of the houses decorated and returned already – they look fab!

boxes 2 boxes

 

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News for playground & toddler group

Donations of bread and fruit

We are always seeking donations of sliced bread/toppings/fruit. During the holiday sessions some children arrive at 8.30/9am for additional childcare without eating breakfast before they get here – we are very happy to make them toast and offer fruit before our general sessions start. During afterschool sessions this food comes in useful to offer children a light tea after a long day at school. During playgroup sessions, fruit is offered at snacktime. Please do buy bread and fruit for us when you see it on offer and hand it to a member of staff when collecting your child.

Register now for Autumn afterschool sessions

afterschool poster

If you want your child to come to our autumn afterschool sessions please do register them asap. This is especially important if you wish them to join the walkover from Newark Hill school during week commencing 8 September, as we need to ensure that we are adequately staffed for the walkover. We cannot accept bookings/payments 1-5 September as our office is closed during Repairs & Maintenance week. You must book your child onto walkover for week commencing 8 September, before Friday 29th August.

There is no need to fill out another registration form if you are already registered for our holiday sessions – just see a staff member in the office. If you do need a registration form, please download one from www.newarkplay.co.uk/afterschool, along with copies of the walkover form for September if required.

Parent and Toddler sessions

Parent and Toddler group is not running on Wednesday 20th August due to staff holidays. Parents with under 5s are very welcome to come to the farm and main playground as a one-off visitor – for details see www.newarkplay.co.uk/whats-on/visits/visit. Please ring us before setting off to check that the city farm is open (part time hours due to staff holidays).

Parent and toddler group is back for one last summer holiday session on Wednesday 27 August 2-4pm. It is closed on 3 September during our Repairs and Maintenance week. On Wednesday 10th September we return to our normal termtime schedule of 1-3pm (with the city farm open from 2pm). For more information on our friendly Parent and Toddler group please see www.newarkplay.co.uk/whats-on/toddler-group

 

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Fundraising events – save the dates

We have lots of great fundraising events planned for the autumn. Please save the below dates, and read on for ideas on how you can help New Ark with our ongoing fundraising.

Our next fundraising drop in meeting is on Tuesday 23rd September 1-3pm in Charlotte’s office. Just pop along during that time, or if you can’t make it but would still like to help with fundraising please email fundraising.newark@gmail.com.

Open Day, Saturday 4 October 1-4pm
We welcome donations of baked cakes etc to sell on the day. Entry will be by donation to this annual community event.

Christmas Pamper & Indulgence Evening, Friday 7th November 7-11pm
Do you know a business who might donate a make-over, a hotel stay, or something equally attractive for our top raffle prize? If yes please do ask them on our behalf – top prize means lots of publicity opportunities! We are also seeking stallholders who should email fundraising.newark@gmail.com for further information.

Christmas Bazaar, Saturday 29 November noon-4pm
We are now collecting donations of small gifts that will fit inside a jam jar – either loose or inside a clean jar. Ideas include a handful of lego, loom bands, beauty products, wrapped sweets – it really could be anything small that is suitable for either children or adults. If you can volunteer on the day of the Bazaar to run a stall, please send an email with your name, phone number and availability to fundraising.newark@gmail.com.

We are about to launch a fun ‘Little House’ fundraiser that aims to raise money to buy a shelter/sunshade for our sandpit. Any New Ark child/supporter can take part – look out for information which will be starting to circulate next week!

Do you run/manage a local business that is willing to keep a New Ark fundraising collection tin by your till? If yes please drop us an email with “collection tin” in the title to fundraising.newark@gmail.com

And finally, please do consider buying your Back to School supplies online via www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/newark. Up to 15% of what you spend will be donated to us and there are lots of high street retailers involved including Tesco, John Lewis, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Argos and M+S.

easyfundraising school poster

Thanks for your ongoing support everyone.

 

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Our Playday event

Did you come to our playday event last Saturday? We had a great time and raised almost £200 in refreshment sales and donations. Here are a few pictures taken on the day – there are more on our Facebook page – as well as some information on why play is so important.

“Freely-chosen play is an essential part of every child’s life and is vital to emotional and physical development. Children need a place where they can explore risk and adventure and where no-one expects a piece of work to be produced at the end of an activity.”
Nikki Anderson, New Ark playworker

playday montage

Playday is the UK’s national day for play, traditionally held on the first Wednesday in August. It is a celebration of children’s right to play, and a campaign that highlights the importance of play in children’s lives.

What is play?

Play is a wide range of activities and behaviours that a child freely chooses to take part in. Play may or may not involve equipment. Children may play alone or with others. Play may or may not have an end product. It may be boisterous and energetic or quiet and completive; light-hearted or very serious.

Why is play important?

  • Playing is fun: it is how children enjoy themselves, each other and families.
  • Play can promote development, learning, imagination, creativity and independence.
  • Play can help to keep children healthy and active.
  • Play allows children to experience and encounter boundaries, learning to assess and manage risk in their lives; both physical and social.
  • Play helps children to understand the people and places in their lives, learn about their environment and develop a sense of community.
  • Play allows children to find out about themselves, their abilities, their interests and the contribution they can make.
  • Play can be therapeutic. It helps children to deal with difficult or painful circumstances such as emotional stress or medical treatment.
  • Play can be a way of building and maintaining important relationships with friends, carers and family members.Source: Charter for Children’s Play, Play England, 2007

The UK government is signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that all children and young people have the right to relax and play, and join in a wide range of activities.

Finally, you may also be interested in this BBC news item about a newly published report, which reviews a wide range of research into the importance of play in supporting children develop essential skills and knowledge as they grow up.