| Stuart Bexon seen here (left) with Director, Marcus Green has joined us from Cheltenham Community Projects and is replacing Vanessa Gearson. Stuart has joined us raise funds from within the community with a programme of events and activities throughout the county. | An early career in the revenue producing side of provincial newspapers took him to every corner of the UK where his company were major publishers of local newspapers. This was followed by years of freelance marketing & fundraising consultancy work from Northleach to the North Pole. He has lived and worked in Gloucestershire for 27 years and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. In recent years he has been fundraising for a major charity in both Gloucestershire and across seven counties and for another local organisation. Stuart has built his own house, has been both a church warden and Parish Councillor and is currently a sidesman and is actively involved with Northleach church. He is married, has three teenagers and enjoys walking (member YHA), mountain bike riding and creative gardening. He is passionate about the environment, organic food and imaginative energy efficient architecture. |
| Marcus Green, our Director demonstrates visual aids to David Drew, Labour and Co-operative MP for Stroud during his recent visit. His website is here. |
New Chairman - Miranda Ford |  | Miranda was elected Chairman of the GCAB Board of Trustees at the AGM held on the 22nd September 2004. She succeeded Jennie Smart who was Acting Chairman and now resumes her position as Vice Chairman.Miranda is well known to GCAB and acted as our consultant during 2003 to forge a new strategy and way forward. We are even more fortunate to be able to to have her services as Chairman of the board of trustees. |
| Extended Opening Hours for the Resource CentreWe are pleased to announce that our resource centre at 81 Albion Street in Cheltenham will now be open Monday-Friday from 9-4; formerly it was open only in the mornings. |
| Carolyn - New Visiting Co-ordinator for the Cirencester Area Carolyn joins us to replace Rosalind who is retiring at the end of June. |
New Fundraising Assistant - Kathryn HoneywillKathryn joins us to assist Vanessa Gearson in a very important fundraising role.She is on a 'Work Placement' from the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham where she is studying Marketing. She will be with us for a year before returning to university to complete her course. | 
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New Trustee - Derek HiornsDerek's appointment as a trustee to GCAB was ratified at the General Committee Meeting on the 2nd June 2004. Derek was moved by his firm, CEGB to Cheltenham from London in 1972, and continued to Head the Control & Instrumentation design for the many of their nuclear power stations. | 
| He is a Chartered Electrical and Mechanical Engineer and Institution of Electrical Engineers Membership Advisor for Gloucestershire. Until recently he was Member of the Gloucestershire Diocesan Advisory Committee on Faculties and Care of churches, and during this time responsible for design and Project Management of some 340 Church heating, lighting and sound system projects.Churchwarden for 6 years at St Luke’s, Cheltenham and also Chairman of British Standards and other International Committees.He has been involved in assisting visually impaired people by the maintenance & repair of Talking Books for RNIB in London and Cheltenham for over 30 years. Derek is married with 2 children to a loving and supportive wife, Muriel.We think you will agree that GCAB is most fortunate to secure his services as a trustee. |
New Fundraiser - Vanessa Gearson Appointed | 
| Vanessa joins us having previously worked as Private Secretary to the Chairman of the Conservative Party, The Rt. Hon. David Davis MP. In 2002-2003 she worked for the Leader of the Party, The Rt. Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP, as Head of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. Most recently she was Deputy Director of Conservative Central Office working for the party chairman.Marcus Green, Director of GCAB said, “We are very pleased to have appointed Vanessa as our first fundraiser. She is well known in the Gloucestershire voluntary and business sector and brings a wealth of experience of fundraising. Finding the right person for this role has not been easy and Vanessa comes to us following an extensive search. We look forward to her work with us.”Jennie Smart, Chairman GCAB said, “I warmly welcome Vanessa as a member of staff. I have no doubt that she will very soon become a valuable part of the team.” |
TESCO COLLECTION | A big thank-you to Douglas Thomson for arranging a 2 day collection in the 23rd and 24th January at Tesco in Bishop's Cleeve. A grand total of £1040.78 was raised. Thanks also to Jenny Young at Tesco plus all the helpers; Douglas, John, Ron, Noel, William, Dolores, Fred, Pat (and dog), Anthony, Brian, Hazel, Jenny, Janet, Paul, Jennie, David, Beryl, Ann, Geoff and Bert. |  | Jennie doing her shift |
Jennie Smart is the New Acting ChairmanFollowing the resignation of Mrs Dolores Boss-Habgood as Chairman on the 7th January 2004, Mrs Jennie Smart, previously one of our two Vice Chairmen agreed to be Acting Chairman. This was effective from the 12th January 2004 and ratified at the full trustees meeting which took place on Wednesday the 4th February 2004.Mr Tony Milton has also resigned as a trustee. |  | Mrs Jennie Smart |
Christine | Volunteer Appreciation Morning (4th December 2003) | 
Pat | Dolores as Chairman personally thanked both Christine and Pat for their hard work. They have always been dedicated to the Volunteer sector of our charity, constantly giving much more than 100% of all their time and effort. This was shown further by their organising this morning's appreciation attended by over 35 volunteers from around the county.Of the volunteers she said, this party is for you. Your help is immeasurable. You, the Volunteers, are essential and vitally needed in both the Hospital Service and with our volunteer visiting service to VIP members. In the hospital you are the first line of defence. You let those who have visual problems know of our GCAB services here. You, visiting volunteers bring happiness to many who could be housebound, unable to manipulate the high street crowds. In whatever capacity you serve you are appreciated. Many of our VIPs would be lost for comfort if it were not for the dedication and loyalty of our hospital and visiting volunteer service. |
Tribute to Mrs Muriel Smith's work with GCAB (AGM Pages)Tribute was paid to Muriel Smith's work with GCAB at the 2003 AGM. She began 1989 when she became a Trustee, followed by the Vice Chair in 1992 finally becoming Chairman in 1997. During her Chairmanship, she had to cope during a very difficult period with the loss of the Secretary through ill health and the Treasurer due to moving overseas. Other Trustees either retired or died all of whom had to be replaced. This all occurred during a time of great expansion for GCAB and consequently the work load increased accordingly.For many many years she ran her two hair-dressing salons until 1980 when she was registered visually impaired, firstly as partially sighted and in 1981 registered blind. She bravely undertook a three-month's rehabilitation course at the RNIB's Torquay Centre where she learnt wood-turning and typing. | |
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| Muriel (left) presented with a Garden Statue and Flowers |
| She also learnt Braille, but having lost the sensation in her fingers through a broken wrist in 1988 she was no longer able to do this so she decided to learn how to use a computer, word processing and a CCTV which magnifies print.During her term as Chairman she provided dynamic leadership, being full of ideas and was always very determined and articulate when promoting and advocating the needs of VIPs in this County in particular.Muriel has decided to retire as Chairman for GCAB. All the worries and cares of dealing with GCAB demands are over and she can now spend some peaceful and precious time in her garden. Everyone within the GCAB community would like to thank her for her endless work and efforts and wish her all the best in her retirement. In appreciation we would like to present Muriel with something which we are hoping she can enjoy for many years to come. Muriel was then asked by Dolores to uncover your new treasure. This was a garden statue. |
This was followed on the 1st October by a lunch given in tribute to the work of Muriel for GCAB attended by many Trustees and Staff. Muriel paid particular tribute to her husband Michael without whom she would not have been able to carry out the work she had. It was preceded by the first meeting under Dolores's stewardship where the very vital Draft Strategy Paper for GCAB's future way forward was discussed. | 
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News - Miranda Ford (updated 2nd February 2004)GCAB recognised that their current Strategic Objectives must revolve around financial sustainability, consolidation of current valid services and ongoing development throughout the county of Gloucestershire. This is even more important now that RNIB have withdrawn financial support to local associations like ourselves.Our constitutional objective is: to promote relief of visually impaired people within the area of benefit in any manner which now is, or thereafter may be deemed by law to be charitable.To this end, we have signed a nine month contract with Miranda Ford of MF Associates who previously prepared a consultancy proposal to support the continued achievement of these current Strategic Objectives.We are pleased to announce that we will be extending Miranda's contract with GCAB to complete the recruitment process for a Fundraising and Marketing Manager. |  | Miranda Ford (Click Picture for Profile) |
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Summer 2003Don't forget - the Summer Jollies coming up in June - a coffee morning celebrate all your volunteering - at the GCAB Centre in Cheltenham - Tuesday 3rd June from 10.30am to 12 noon. Do come and join us. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and handing out the well deserved Long Service awards.VOLUNTEER VISITORS Christine W’A warm welcome to Stella H’ as a new volunteer to help out in the reception and resource area, and Gina J’ as a visiting volunteer; both are from Cheltenham.It never ceases to surprise me what you volunteers get up to. Taking your VIP out rowing, or out for a night ballroom dancing, sharing fish and chip suppers and days out, our needy VIP's are truly lucky to have such a lot of dedicated and adventurous volunteers to support them. Our thanks to you all. Looking through the files I noticed that 12 volunteers have been with us for 8 years, 5 for 9 years, 3 for 10 years, 2 for 11 years and 2 more for 12 years and one sterling volunteer, Dorothy F’, for 13 years. Fantastic! And that's not including the 48 volunteers serving between 3 and 7 years. I think you are all amazing. It will be such a pleasure handing out Long Service certificates in June. Do try to come. | |
Are any of you interested in gaining a Certificate in Interpersonal Skills for Volunteers? The University of Wales, Lampeter, has developed a course aimed at volunteers, which has been running now for eight years, and is offered as a distance learning course. I enclose a copy of an article about the course and if anyone wants to go for it we shall be delighted and supportive.When you are asked for ideas for talks - if you are a member of a group or club that has speakers - please suggest GCAB as we are always ready to spread the word and are happy to give talks to anyone who will listen!Thank you to everyone who supported Ollie Wakefield in his run in the London Marathon to provide funds for GCAB. Ollie's grandmother is a VIP and we were very pleased when Ollie offered to run on our behalf - fortunately the RAF flew Ollie back from Iraq (where he had to train in between duties) in time for the Marathon. He raised in the region of £3000.Still on the Fund Raising theme, we know that 'small' events - coffee mornings, Bring & Buy sales, Lunches, table top sales etc - are all valuable sources of funding and spreading the word. We would like to see groups set up around the county as 'Friends of GCAB' who would be prepared to run regular or occasional small events. Maybe this is something that you could help with - or you have friends / family who would be interested in starting up a Friends Group. We would be more than pleased if you are interested in this - do call and let us know - it goes without saying that we shall help all we can to get things off the ground.Some Pictures from the Volunteer Awards and Coffee Morning on the 2nd June 2003
HOSPITAL INFORMATION SERVICE Pat BarlowI'm very pleased to welcome two new recruits to the hospital service: Maureen F’ at Cheltenham General and Elizabeth P’ at Gloucester Royal. Both are nearing the end of their "in-service" training and gaining in confidence. It's not easy to approach complete strangers and strike up a conversation! I've been doing it for nearly seven years but never under-estimate the challenge it poses for newcomers.All hospital volunteers are now receiving an "official" volunteer badge, in our trademark black on yellow. Please look after them like newborn lambs - its taken years to get them manufactured! (I suggest they are left on the trolley, not taken home). Like all charities, we watch our pennies but thought it was time to invest a little bit of money in a professional-looking piece of ID. We have decided to put first-name only on them, as there have been reports from other charities about volunteers being checked out in the telephone book and being contacted. Sad but true that we all need to be more security conscious these days. |  | Pat Barlow and Volunteer David Bailey at Cheltenham General Outpatients |
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I'm in touch with you all personally but would still like to say "happy Summer" and thanks again for all you do for GCAB.
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