High Wycombe Central Aid Society

It’s that season again. I am sitting here watching the fair set up for the Christmas lights in the High Street and it’s only November! We have just given some hot food to a man who’s living on the streets and has not received a penny from the DWP for 6 weeks. Quite why people come to this town from other parts is a mystery to me. They are usually getting away from something they don’t like. I am pleased to think that the Night Shelter will be reopening in January for 3 months, as it has seen positive results over the last two years.

We have had a few changes since our last newsletter. We employed a new chef at the Pop In. Her name is Erica and she has fitted in very well and is keeping up our high standards of cooking. Alan Edmondson, who was supervising the Pop In, has left us to start a new venture with his wife, Maria. We all wish them well. This means that Erica has taken the joint role of supervisor and chef at the Pop In .

We are in negotiations with Wycombe District Council over the lease of the furniture warehouse for another five year term. This will put our finances under some strain as the rent and services charges are significantly higher than before. Add to this that our sales for the first half year are down and our grants of furniture are up, it makes the picture look bleak.

We continue to be lucky with donations of cash to help our funds, some solicited and others out of the blue. We also receive very generous donations of food goods at Harvest Festival time and now is the time for us to pass candidates for Christmas hampers to other donors.

We were very saddened to lose our dear friends, Eva Hodgkinson and Phyllis Woodrow, who had been with the Society for many years.

Clyde Perkins
November 2009