August Newsletter 2026 part two

4. While we are on the subject of fund raising, an update on the various initiatives we are involved with. Firstly, the HBC weekly lottery. The graph below shows our progress towards our yearly total. This is based on the number of members who hold tickets. We could achieve much more, by members even just by purchasing a single £1:00 ticket each week. You would have the chance to win £25:00 each week and the occasional big prize. We have had numerous winners within the membership. You keep the winnings and WMS have a percentage of the ticket sales each week.

The second financial support comes from Easy Funding. You buy online, click & collect or just recently in the store and Easy Funding donates a percentage to the charity of your choice, hopefully WMS. Here is an example for Argos: -

Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk. Once registered every eligible sale will automatically generate a donation to WMS.

5. We are planning another of the popular fish/chip suppers with a speaker again at the Cowplain activity Centre, during the next couple of months. Dates to be announced. A list will be available as before with dining choices and a list of talks of which the one most voted for will be the talk of the evening.

6. When I get off my P&R bus at the Hard for work, I usually have a little while until I can enter the dockyard at 0900. Recently I noticed a sign-up ‘PORTSEA MEN’S SHED’ so as I had time before I could enter the dockyard I went in search of the Shed. I was lucky as a Shed member was just opening and I introduced myself. He, along with other members, had great time showing off their workshop. If I drank every cup of coffee offered am sure it would have been in double figures. It was a very friendly visit as we exchanged stories of our respective Sheds. The ethos of Sheds certainly was evident at Portsea. Here are some photos of their workshops.

Parish Notices.: -

1. As mentioned in last months newsletter it was thought that less than 50% of members attended regularly. If there is something that isn’t provided for you or the conditions of membership, please get in contact. On a personal note, I am one of the 50% not physically at the Shed very often and this observation was mentioned to me by one member. I put out emails asking for manpower but am hardly there myself. It’s a fair point; however I explained to him that most of my contribution to the WMS daily life is with the editing of newsletters, notices for events, membership introductions, grant applications, the collection of donated tools and equipment, agendas\minutes etc. This is conducted away from the Shed in between work hours and my other commitments, so I do believe I do my bit in the daily life of WMS. I hope that has now been put to bed.

July 2026 diary of events dates: -

WMS Committee Meeting 1030 Friday 7th August

WMS Monthly BBQ 1200 Friday 7th August

Long term diary dates: - (full details later in the year)

1. WMS AGM Tue 1st Sep (St Wilfrid’s Church lower hall)

2. WMS Summer family BBQ Sun 13th Sep (Anders Hall Jubilee Park)

3. WMS Christmas Lunch 11th Dec (Cowplain Activity Centre)