BEDS GARDEN CARERS

Disability Awareness Day 2004

As the day approached, the BGC building became increasingly hectic with people rushing around making sure that paperwork for the event was correct and in order, making cakes to be sold, finishing off notice boards and finally loading the equipment on to the trailer. The Awareness Day was the following day and although I had never experienced the Awareness Day (apart from being a member of the public) I was feeling calm; all that I needed to do was to collect the cakes the following morning at 7.45am and be at St Paul's Square by 8am. When I arrived at BGC the following morning to collect the cakes, I was greeted by about 20 deflated helium balloons that had been inflated the previous night. Not a good start to the day!!!!!

When I arrived at St Paul's square there was an overwhelming smell of fish. The town's market had been on the previous day and the odour was still lingering around the area that was to be the Mencap stall and the BGC cake stall. Thankfully someone came along and washed the area down so the smell eventually went. Once we had set up our designated areas and the project members had arrived, it was time to declare the event open and for the fun to begin.

The cake stall had excellent support with people donating homemade cakes, and helping run the cake stall. Three of the project members helped serve on the stall. Gemma Henchy,who has past experience working in a busy café in Milton Keynes, helped serve the cakes. Stuart Goldsmith served the hot and cold drinks whilst Stephen Brill took the money. Also Mrs Foster volunteered for the day and supported the project members to serve the customers. The cake stall received a steady stream of customers many of whom came back for more.

The main entertainment came from two sets of performers: BGC's very own Stomp production from the Education department, and Mencap's Stardust. Both sets of performers turned up the volume and provided much interest and entertainment for the crowd of onlookers.

As well as musical and theatrical entertainment there was miniature model painting, a raffle, a tombola and a balloon race. There where many other stalls providing information on their various charities and businesses.

The whole day was a success, and planning will soon start for the event next year.

Zoe Johnson -Team Leader

After my usual morning pick-ups of project members, I knew that my day was going to be different when I arrived at base to find the balloons filled with helium for the balloon race had all deflated. No gardening today. Balloons re-inflated I made my way to St Paul's Square full of anticipation but looking forward to a day I knew would be different, interesting and fun. One eye over my shoulder, and every 3 hours the minibus was moved to fool the zone boys. (Traffic wardens to those of you unaccustomed to a name given by the local newspaper, who will remain nameless, bearing in mind they failed to put our advert in the paper SUNDAY before). Anyway less waffle more interest. I was seconded by our glorious leader to look after the tombola and raffle stall. It was slow but steady selling interesting prizes. With the help of the project members the morning turned from 9am to 11am and to lunchtime. Weather - sunshine and cloud with a moderate breeze. Music and dancing displays created a wonderful atmosphere.

Then, appearing from all angles, the boss with her digital camera (worrying I say. Anyone who photographs me normally breaks their camera) - anyway more of what was happening: balloons being sold for the balloon race, coffee, tea and cakes and items from our charity furniture stall. More singing, dancing and stalls from more charities and organisations than I knew existed.

The end of the afternoon brought the release of the balloons and the draw for the raffle. Me? I won 3rd prize, not a bad day after all. I knew it was going to be a good day.

Absolutely wonderful: topped off by the police replacing us on the square ready for England's Euro 2004 game against Switzerland. Rain clouds gathered: we had survived.

Roger Williams -Team Leader

Disability Awareness Day June 18th 2003

Following the brilliant success of our first Disability Awareness Day in 2002 (details below), we are planning another event for 2003. It's partly to raise funds, but also to demonstrate to the community what our Project Members and those with other disabilities can achieve. Phone or email us to book a site - there's no charge - and get involved.

Phone Sharon Hart on 01234 352899 or email sharon@bedsgardencarers.org.uk

Disability Awareness Day June 19th 2002

Thankfully the day dawned bright and sunny on the day of our first Disability Awareness Day into which a great deal of hard work and planning had gone over the past year.

The Day:

The theme for the day was “I am what I am” and proud of it. The Lady Mayor of Bedford declared the day open by cutting a ribbon and went on to talk to all the exhibitors and project members. The Mayor stayed for approximately an hour leaving with information on several of the stalls and promising to support further events we might hold. The aim of the day was first to bring to the general public a greater knowledge of disability in all its forms and thus more understanding, and secondly to disseminate information from other charities and services and have representation from these charities and services in one area. The charities that responded to our invitation were Sight Concern, Aspergers, Spina Bifida and Hyrdocephalus, Disability Information Service, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Library Link and the Community Arts Team.
Sound Investments, who performed during the day, struck a lighter note. This is a choir of adults with learning disabilities. Members of the BGC project undertook a street collection, sold raffle tickets and talked to passers-by.

One of the highlights of the day was the launching of the helium balloons for the balloon race. The prize was a motor scooter donated by ATM of Woburn Sands. Masters Joseph McDowell, Jordan Williams and Ben Evans, who were introduced to us via the Aspergers Society, launched the balloons; the local press captured the moment.

The Evening:

The day flew by. In the evening there was a fund-raising dinner at The Bedford Swan Hotel on the embankment. Eighty-five people attended what turned out to be a very successful occasion with incredible support from everyone involved. The room at the Swan is based on a coaching inn and is very elegant; the round tables of ten were decorated with blue cornflowers complimented by white flowers - the cornflower being our logo - white linen and blue napkins.
Our speaker was the actor Mr. Warwick Davis. Warwick appeared in the film Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone where he appeared as Professor Flitwick. He had just finished filming the next Harry Potter film released in November.

He is also known for his appearances in the Star War films as a leading Ewok and then as the “walking” Yoda, Jedi Master. In the 1980s a much loved film was released called “Willow”, in which Warwick was Willow. He was cast in two series of the BBC television classic, The Chronicles of Narnia as the swashbuckling mouse Reepicheep. There have been other notable films, too many to mention in this short report, but safe to say that Warwick gave an inspiring after dinner speech about his outlook on life as a “short person” and how he came to be in films and went on to make us laugh with his stories.

The evening continued with a very successful auction. The auctioneer, David Fletcher of Douglas Ross from Woburn, encouraged the bidding for our 23 lots and the money raised ran well into four figures. Our thanks to him and also to the guests who supported us by bidding so generously for our lots.

CD:

As part of this Disability Awareness Day project Tim Branson, one of our project members had the idea that we should produce a CD entitled “I am what I am” - this was then adopted as the theme to run through the day and has become a philosophy adopted by all of us involved with BGC. The songs' composer, Jerry Herman, rearranged the lyrics for us and Tim contacted Paul Bell and the Backline Band who arranged the music for “I am what I am” and “Lean on Me”, the other song on the CD. Paul Bell and the Back line Band recorded the two songs and members of BGC attended the recording studio, Linford Manor Studio, one Sunday and can be heard on the second track, - the recording engineers have worked wonders! Paul Bell and the Backline Band performed the song 'I am what I am' for its first public performance.

The CD is now on sale at HMV and Our Price Records in Milton Keynes and can be purchased from us, Telephone 01234-352899. Sales are going well so order soon before stock runs out.

 Listen to a sample track here: you'll need an mp3 player installed

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