This has been a year when we’ve picked ourselves up after the pandemic and re-grouped. However, we have proved that we can still carry out a worthwhile programme with a smaller dedicated group. We started the year with our Murder Mystery on a warm summer evening. Heartfelt thanks go to Vanessa and her Compact team for working so hard to create a sell-out event. The evening was great fun and remained mysterious to the end! The Coronation chicken, salad and new potatoes followed by Sue’s rocky road fruit platters were well received. The Bar also did well and we made over £1000 during the evening.
At Hey Day in 2022 we made just over £200 but last year we took nearly £700! However, this was partly due to some very generous donations. Our strategy with good quality bric-a-brac at reasonable prices is paying off, so let’s hope for good weather again this year and lots of sales.
August Bank holiday brought the Art Trail round again. We took over £1200 over the four days which was a £500 increase on the previous year – although it seemed at the time that refreshment and painting sales were fairly modest. However, the event is not too much hard work involving usually just one day’s commitment per person over the weekend.
Then to the Cheese Festival which Linda and Vanessa offered to organise with great success. The weather was hot and with the support of our SERO friends, we coped admirably and although sales were down on the previous year we raised nearly £2000 over the two days. A ten per cent donation of £200 was made to the Cheese Festival organisers.
Our final event of the year was the Christmas Cracker with songs from Geoffrey Horton and James Smith on keyboards. Again, it was a sell-out evening – this time serving extensive nibbles. Cynth and Anne organised a brilliant and profitable raffle. They also made Christmas garlands and wreaths which were popular, plus Vanessa ran a silent auction of donated prizes. A fabulous profit of £1600 was made on the evening.
We were thrilled to be able to have our £5,500 donation to Julia’s House match funded during the week of the Big Give, making a contribution of £11,000. A further £500 was agreed to be donated to the Vale Pantry community food store in Sturminster Newton which aims to support families long-term and to help them get back on their feet.
Since SERO’s inception in 2004 the Committees have raised a total of £160,041.20! These funds are now needed more than ever. Julia’s House CEO, Martin Edwards recently announced that they face a £1m budget deficit this year. 92% of their annual running costs are currently met by fundraising efforts and Julia’s House is one of the lowest funded hospices in the country – receiving just eight per cent Government funding.
So well done to all the Committee for your efforts. The coming year sees some exciting new planned events alongside our usual moneymakers. A big thank you to everyone who has worked so hard this year.
Katie Partridge and Julie Little