Neighbourhood News (Salisbury Journal) July 2010

As a result of Cllr Bobbie Chettleburgh’s Mayor’s Appeal for Childrens Chance, the charity identified a need for more up to date literature, so a new promotional folder was designed and produced and is now available with up to date information inserts. The charity also has a pull up banner for anybody holding an event for the charity. Another outcome of the Mayor’s Appeal is the appointment of Mrs Bridget Trump as the 2010 Development Project Manager. Mrs Trump, a lay Canon of Salisbury Cathedral, formerly of Appleford School and a qualified teacher, will be visiting Saliabury Schools in the Autumn term to raise awareness and promote the Bobbie Chettleburgh Grant. The Grant was announced at Cllr Chettleburgh’s farewell concert and is an annual grant for £1000 for a Salisbury youngster between 16-18 to take part in an educational or recreational opportunity that would not otherwise be possible. The Trustees wish to record their thanks for all donations and support, including Salisbury Cathedral and the senior members of Salisbury and South Wilts Golf Club who raised over £370 from an open day.  

If you would like an information folder please call 01722 415991.

Mayor's Farewell Concert

St Thomas's Church was the venue for a magnificent farewell concert on Friday 7th May for the 2009/10 Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Bobbie Chettleburgh. Organised by Jenny Vokes, a member of the Mayor's Appeal committee, the concert was a 'Majors & Minors' event celebrating the partnership between adults and children and showing what can be achieved if only 'given a chance'. Compered by John Foster, the concert featured performances by 'minor' singers and jazz musicians, as well 'major' Barber Shop and instrumental groups.

The evening was concluded with a presentation of the new 'Bobbie Chettleburgh Grant' which will give £1000 each year to a young person in Salisbury for a recreational, cultural or educational opportunity. (Further details can be found by clicking on 'Bobbie's Grant').

Full list of performers - Jazbytes, Anne Louise Richards, St Thomas's Choir, Clare Scott, The Minerva Quartet, Salisbury Cathedral Junior Choir, Close Harmony, Mary Price, Salisbury Methodist Junior Belletones and Ian Newman, who sponsored the event.

Jane Miller, co-founder of Childrens Chance, who made the presentation said; "it was a huge privilege to be named as the charity to benefit from the Mayor's Appeal and a great privilege to be at the concert, and especially to hear singer Anne Louise Richards who was supported by the charity". She concluded her short presentation by congratulating all those involved in the staging of the concert, the performers, the people of St Thomas's Church and the Mayor's Appeal committee. Recognition was also given to former Mayor Elect Mike Osment who originally chose Childrens Chance but had continued to support the Mayor's Appeal despite standing down as a councillor in last year's local elections.

Picture by Jane Miller with the presentation of the Bobbie Chettleburgh Grant, taken on Saturday 15th May during the 2010/11 Mayor Making cemerony at St Thomas's Church.

Chris Moon MBE

More than 140 people filled the Salberg Studio at Salisbury Playhouse to listen to Chris Moon's talk about surviving adversity (Friday 19th March). During an entertaining 90 minute talk Chris skilfully switched from 'stand-up' humour to the more serious aspects of managing fear by 'never being the victim'. In an often hilarious, and always inspiring performance Chris delivered a dynamic live show using  Help for Heroes Chief of Staff Mark Elliott to demonstrate the power of positive thinking. The audience were left wanting more from this accomplished motivational speaker who had travelled from Scotland for the event. The evening was promoted by Childrens Chance who were able to donate £500 from the net proceeds to Help For Heroes.

Picture by Caroline Rippier: Sheridan Cockshutt (sponsor), Jane Miller (co-founder Childrens Chance)Chris Moon (Patron Help for Heroes and Childrens Chance), Bobbie Chettleburgh (Mayor of Salisbury 2009/10), Mark Elliott (Help for Heroes Chief of Staff), Peter Staines (sponsor)., The evening was generously supported by the audience, advertisers, raffle donors, volunteers and sponsors SMS Digital Office Solutions and Computers Dotcom - www.smsoffice.co.uk. Thanks also go to Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury Printing, Salisbury TIC and Cross Keys Bookshop.

WELCOME TO CHILDRENS CHANCE!

You may have just received one of our cards and wondering what Childrens Chance is all about, or you have been given a delicious pudding with our name it, or you have just heard of us through this year's Mayor's Appeal...? Whatever brings you to our site, welcome! To see where our money goes please click on the icon on the left for 'Case Examples', to find out general information please visit 'About Us', and to find out what has been going on in terms of fund-raising and events please continue here or go to 'News and Events'. Our 'Rules' will also tell you more about how our giving is governed, and of course an Application Form can be downloaded from the button on the left as well - it is a simple one page form. We hope you find it all self-explanatory and interesting. If you think we can improve the site and the sign posting please let us know. And if you would like to support us please go to 'Supporters'.

On the subject of support we do need funds! So if you are choosing your office/church/school charity for 2010 then please consider us. We are local, and entirely run by volunteers, so about 95p in every pound raised goes to the children.

We are of course the Mayor's charity for 2009/10 which is a great privilege (thank you Cllr Bobbie Chettleburgh and your Appeal committee!) but the funds from the Mayor's Appeal are not normally donated until November (nearly a year away) so we have a long time to go, and alot of money to raise in the interim if we are to continue to support our local children. So please do consider helping us. Call me on 01722 415991 if you would like to chat, or if you would like me to come and see you and tell you more. THANK YOU.

Jane Miller (Chair)

Dream Tiger

DREAM TIGER - a small book with a big heart by David King is on sale at Simply Hampers in Fisherton Street and the coffee shop at the top of the Antiques Market in Catherine Street, or by calling 01722 415991. It is an ideal gift for posting (no extra postage charge and fits into a small envelope/A6) or for Christmas stockings - with all profits to the charity. Dream Tiger was launched at a Poetry Reading with David King, Susie Gibson and Anthony Fairweather at the Pheasant Inn on 12th December. Thank you to David, Susie and Anthony for a beautiful evening and for their generosity in donating all proceeds to Childrens Chance.

Michael Portillo and Andrew Harvey

Michael Portillo was 'in conversation' with our President Andrew Harvey on Friday 27th November 2009, in Salisbury's Guildhall. It was a rare opportunity to see one of contemporary politics most famous personalities. The event raised just under £3000 (gross) for the Mayor's Appeal 2009-10.     Sponsored by Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants.
Photos by Caroline Rippier, Christine Vale and Jane Miller. See below for report by Caroline Rippier.
Thanks go to the Mayor's Appeal 2009-10 committee who supported this event: Cllr Bobbie Chettleburgh (Mayor), Linda Baker (Chair), Sue Philips (Treasurer), Roger and Cindy Demain-Griffiths, Jenny Vokes, Chris Baker and Ros Weston. Report by Caroline Rippier: Twice in five years Michael Portillo has lent his support to Children’s Chance. This time, his audience packed Salisbury’s Guildhall to listen as the former politician chatted with Andrew Harvey, BBC newsman and president of the charity. Now a respected journalist, television presenter, panelist on Radio 4’s The Moral Maze and political pundit, Michael’s easy-going personality came through in answers to questions posed by Andrew and later by members of the audience. He ranged from talking about the under-sized sofa he shares with Diane Abbot in the BBC politics programme This Week, to his views on the likely outcome of next year’s general election. For those who may be interested, he considers it unlikely that the Conservatives will win an overall majority in spite of opinion polls indicating otherwise. Other topics ranged from MPs’ reputations, Michael’s reasons for disliking a certain prominent political leader, the NHS, his view that unemployment will rise still further, and the impending rise in poverty among retired people. From taking on the role of single mum in a reality TV experiment, to investigating his late father’s background in Spain during the Civil War, Michael’s career since his years in Parliament has been nothing if not varied. He said that his next exposure on the small screen is to be what he termed “light-hearted” train journeys round this country seen through Victorian eyes. The series of 20 half-hour programmes is to be shown early in the New Year. Self-deprecating and amusing, Michael proved again that he connects easily with his listeners. He also provoked some fairly heated discussion afterwards.