A vital component of the magazine team, Julie Cleary has thrown herself into the Advertising Coordinator role. We’re very grateful to former Coordinator, Susanna Webb, for some great advertiser relationships and the best handover notes in branch history! Anita Caruso could not continue as Newsletter Editor due to work commitments. However, her idea for digitising ‘First Words’ is made reality on your screen right now, brought to fruition by our new Editor, Susanna Dale-Simmonds. Do get in touch if you are interested in being our Newsletter Designer.
A new job means Mel Skinner has had to step back from Baby Cafe Penge, with Kate Cameron now running both this and Baby Cafe Beckenham. The unprecedented response to our October BCP fundraising campaign speaks volumes about the esteem in which Mel and Kate are held, and the appreciation of their dedication from the community.
We're hoping Catherine Foster will take over as Happy Mondays Coordinator from 2017, from the legend that is Louise Whiteheart. Catherine will also be keeping the meeting admin. shipshape in the new role of Minutes Secretary.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the time and effort given by all our volunteers - you are all appreciated, thank you!
Volunteering is a fantastic way to make new friends. It’s also a good way to keep your brain in gear and have something to put on your CV if you go back to work. Some roles require only a few minutes a week whilst others need significantly more commitment. Only the core roles require you to hold NCT membership. Very few roles require attending monthly meetings if you do not wish to, as we communicate by email (provided by the branch) and through a closed Facebook group.
If you would like to get involved, please contact [email protected], or check out our current vacancies online. If you would like to help out in a more informal way, we always need volunteers for rota tasks, as detailed on our website.
We’d love to have you on the team!
Eleanor Wheeler
Interim Branch Coordinator and mum to Miles (5), Rory (2) & Douglas (1)