15th May 2025 • The HERALD • Page 41 v FOR GOOD ADVICE, ASK YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v FOOD FOR THOUGHT Born from the Hampshire Street Food Awards, e Big Eat Festival celebrates the county’s best street food while giving back to the community. Taking place on 24th, 25th (10am-8pm) and 26th May (10am-6pm) at Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley (SO31 5RA), the festival is FREE entry and will be opened by special guest, MasterChef UK 2023 champion, Chariya Khattiyot, who will also be trading at the event. As well as tasty street food, from around the world, supplied by local traders there will be live music as well as live entertainment each day. On Monday 26th May there will also be a Fun Dog Show run in partnership with Hamble Hounds, £2 entry per dog, per class with monies raised donated to Canine Partners. All pro ts from e Big Eat are donated to local charities and food banks, with the focus always on bringing the community together around a love for food, not for nancial gain. e Waterside Food Project, part of the New Forest Aquaponics CIC family of projects, host a FREE Community Cook Up every Thursday 3.30pm to 5.30pm at Black eld Baptist Church on Hampton Lane. Surplus food from supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste is collected by volunteers and used to cook tasty meals. Go along for some tasty food and great company, everyone is welcome. e Waterside Food Project aims to reduce food waste across the Waterside and also runs the Community Fridge in Hythe Library. For more information please visit: www. facebook.com/Watersidefoodproject MUSIC IN MAYTIME Free Community Cook Ups The Big Eat Festival On Saturday 17th May, 7.30pm, Ann Turner and Friends are presenting a concert in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Dibden Purlieu, entitled ‘Music in Maytime’. e concert will be supporting Hope Gardens in Tamil Nadu, South India. Hope Gardens is the charity linked to the Christian facility, Rhema Garden, based in Cumbum, Tamil Nadu, which has been supported by St Andrew’s Church for more than 25 years. e starting of Hope Gardens involved a former curate in St Andrew’s Church with the, now Archbishop, Samuel Gnanaprahasam. You will hear more about the charity during the evening. is concert will feature a range of musical styles including vocal music, some piano duets, a piano solo and a cello solo. ere will be music from musical theatre as well as other types of music and there will also be an opportunity for you to join in with a couple of choruses! e work of Hope Gardens is structured along three particular strands: 1. In hope for children the garden provides care and education for disabled children based on a wellestablished and respected school in the gardens. In Indian society children with learning or physical disabilities are o en neglected, if not worse. e school in Hope Gardens supports 28 children where they are taught how to integrate into society within the learning community. ere is also support for children in the community at large whose parents o en have to work late and the children are provided with a meal and a place where they can study and play safely. Finally there is a scheme to sponsor children particularly orphans, some of whom are accommodated in an onsite hostel and whose education expenses are covered by the sponsorship. 2. In hope for communities there is the provision of medical care based in a clinic in the Gardens which provides medical, and maternity care in an a ordable way to the local community. In the last ten years or so there has also been the establishment of a mobile medical clinic to provide health care to the surrounding 32 villages. is was achieved by the purchase of an ambulance and the employment of additional sta . ere are also currently 6 sewing institutes set up enabling women to have means of supporting themselves and their families when this is necessary. Selfsu ciency is at the heart of attaining sustainability. These initiatives provide employment, revenue and training opportunities. 3. In hope for churches the Gardens are the base for a very successful Bible college preparing for people to pursue a career in ministry, it is grounded in practical training and support in the local community. Pastors and their families live in their local community and support those most in need. ey build up sustainable programmes to help people become self-su cient and it is exciting for those in the Gardens to be building sustainable enterprises in the local communities. ere is no charge or tickets for the concert but there will be a retiring collection which will be used totally in support of the charity. Why not go along to an entertaining evening and support a very worthwhile cause. Volunteers Needed To Support New Social Groups Age Concern Hampshire is seeking dedicated volunteers to support the expansion of its community social groups. Volunteers play a crucial role in facilitating activities, providing companionship, and creating a welcoming environment for participants. ose interested in making a positive impact to communities in Totton, Fordingbridge and Ringwood should get in touch by calling Kate Harrison on: 07501 553230 or visit: www.ageconcernhampshire.org.uk/ job/basingstoke-social-group-volunteersng Each social group o ers a variety of engaging activities designed to promote movement, social interaction and mental stimulation with weekly activities including games, entertainment sessions and informative talks. ese activities create a supportive environment where individuals can share knowledge, experiences, and mutual interests, all while building connections and developing new friendships to improve their overall health and wellbeing. e new social groups have been established thanks to funding from the housing association SNG (Sovereign Network Group) which is acting as an ambassador and match funder of the Hampshire Active Health Programme, the charity will support communities by launching new groups for residents of SNG accommodation in Totton, Fordingbridge and Ringwood. ese new groups will operate alongside existing social groups in Basingstoke, Overton, Whitchurch and Kingsclere. TABLE TOP SALES Every 2 weeks on a Tuesday morning from 9.30am to 12noon there’s a great TABLE TOP SALE at Cornerstone Hythe URC in New Road. ere’s always a great selection of electrical items, jewellery, collectables, kitchenware, glassware, bags, toys, bric-a-brac, a great many jigsaw puzzles and an extensive library of paperback books, CDs and DVDs. Co ee, tea and biscuits are always available in the Foyer too. All proceeds go to the Cornerstone Building Repairs Fund. e next sale is on 27th May. Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies Fawley/Holbury u3a are a group for retired people and meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month at e British Legion, Exbury Road, Black eld at 2pm. e monthly speakers cover many topics, and a erwards there is co ee/tea and biscuits and an opportunity to meet new friends. ere are several interest groups, including history and photography, and a quiz a ernoon that members can join. If you would like to join this friendly group please go along to a meeting, you will be very welcome, or call: 023 8084 5883 for more information. e next meeting is 27th May when the speaker will be Martin Lloyd. Martin worked for HM Immigration for 24years. His talk is ‘Passports, Assassins, Traitors and Spies’.
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