OXSPRING FRIENDS
Who are Oxspring Friends?
In 2000, Oxspring Parish Council suggested that an autonomous group be set up to take forward much needed projects and activities for the community with a view to raising their own funds. Freda Shaw took this on, contacting members of the community who had specific skills, i.e. finance, administration, leadership to name a few and from this the 6 members of the Executive Committee were elected. With the much needed professional help from Voluntary Action Barnsley a Constitution was set up, approved and signed, A bank account was set up and Oxspring Friends was born.
What did/do they do?
Harvest supper dance (which was 70s 80s themed) was a success for several years
Children’s Halloween disco again was a success for several years
New Year’s Eve supper dance (Ceilidh)-
Seniors’ tea with live entertainment -
Support dwindled for the above, so they were abandoned after only a few years
Carol singing Evening -
Indoor Bowling - October till April -every Monday afternoon
Oxspring Friends Now!
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons the original Group foundered and in 2019 considered dissolving and allocating any remaining funds to other causes in the village. Then came COVID, when another small group of volunteers called the Oxspring Buddies set up to ensure that during lock down any vulnerable people had the help and support they needed to get through the crisis.
The Chair of Oxspring Parish Council suggested that rather than dissolve Oxspring Friends as had been planned, that they join forces with the Oxspring Buddies yet continue under the name, Oxspring Friends (due to bank accounts, formal constitutions etc.) but with a new Committee and therefore a new beginning!
Funds for Oxspring Friends have always been raised by private donations, grants and various fund- raising events.
Oxspring Friends (Reborn)
The initial meeting to bring the two groups together took place on August 23rd and a new Committee was formed. If anyone is interested in joining this new group as a member (there are only three meetings per year) or as a regular volunteer, please contact Ann Walker – walkerann2000@gmail.com; we would love to have you on board. In addition to the Oxspring Friends' original aims and objectives, we still want to be able to offer help and support to anyone in the village who needs it at a time of crisis- so therefore we are also looking for volunteers to help on an ad hoc basis as well.
What we currently offer
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Indoor Bowling - October till April -every Monday afternoon 2 pm
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Munch and Mingle – first Saturday in the month 10.00 a.m. - 12 noon at St Aidans
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Christmas Market with hot mulled wine and mince pies – December in St Aidans
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Christmas Carol concert in December with free drinks, nibbles, visit from Father Christmas
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Christmas hamper project
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Recognition of special events, i.e. important birthdays, loss of a loved one, illness etc.
The above events have proved to be very popular and our Munch and Mingle events are very well attended and are a good fund raiser for all the other things we do throughout the year.
We continue to go from strength to strength and have been very lucky to join forces with some of the ladies from St Aidan's Church who give us much needed support with our events.
If you think you might be interested in joining us please do not hesitate to contact me via the above email address. We would love to have additional support with our community ventures.