Page 24 • The HERALD • 13th July 2023 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v • OVENS • RANGES • AGA • EVERHOT • BARBECUES H ECO Friendly H Fully Insured H Satisfaction Guaranteed Hampshire • Dorset • Wiltshire Tel: 01489 332026 or 07817 558677 PROFESSIONAL OVEN CLEANING by RVA Clean & Service Ltd Honeypot Volunteer Receives Girdlers’ Medallion for Supporting Young Carers John Lay-Flurrie from New Milton, has received a Girdler’s Medallion for his volunteering with e Honeypot Children’s Charity and helping to build brighter futures and create happy childhood memories for young carers aged 5-12. Honeypot aims to alleviate young carers’ social isolation, support their emotional wellbeing, and help them build the con dence and skills they need to succeed in education. eir services include residential respite breaks, learning breaks, creative virtual workshops, memorable days out and the Wellbeing Fund. As a charity, they support over 3,000 young carers aged 5-12 each year, including ~500 children from across Hampshire and Dorset. e Honeypot Children’s Charity has been supported by e Girdlers’ Company for more than 25 years. e Girdlers’ Company is one of the 110 Livery Companies of the City of London. It was involved in the making of girdles (or belts), and received its Letter Patent from Edward III in 1327. It no longer practises its cra however it has the honour of presenting the girdle and stole worn by the sovereign at each coronation, most recently to King Charles III. It is now an organisation with charitable objectives founded on the shared values of stewardship, benefaction, personal engagement and fellowship. collecting pots. He uses his extensive general knowledge to create quizzes at Honeypot events, even running daily and weekly online quizzes during Covid in aid of Honeypot for his network of friends and family across the world. John is keen to share his experiences as a Honeypot volunteer encouraging others to join. He “recruited” a runner for a local marathon last year, helped with her fundraising activities and thanks to his support she has chosen to run the London Marathon for Honeypot this year. John is a natural story teller and has a huge puppet collection. He’s been to Honeypot House and entertained the young carers on their annual weekend respite break with a talk about puppets. What’s amazing about John is not only how much he does to help others, but that he continues to do so whilst experiencing personal trauma. In 2017, his wife Cathy (who also used to volunteer for Honeypot) died of Cancer. Since then he has found new friendships at a bereavement support group, where he met his new partner Jenny (whose husband died at the same time as Cathy), who he has inspired to become involved in Honeypot volunteering too. Viv Carter, Honeypot’s Community Engagement Manager, accompanied John and Jenny to the Prizegiving Evening in London and said “We know there are lots of amazing people across the UK who give their time and energy to help others but John really stands out as a local hero. He never asks for thanks or recognition and that’s why everyone at Honeypot is delighted that his support of young carers is being celebrated with the award of a Girdlers’ Medallion.” John commented: “During the time that I have been supporting the Honeypot Children’s Charity, I have seen many changes in my life, but also in the lives of the young carers and in the support that Honeypot offers them. The charity has continued to earn my respect by the way it changes to meet the new circumstances of the young carers. It has been my pleasure to support that work. When so many volunteers support Honeypot, in so many ways, to be chosen as an award winner at the Girdlers’ Presentation Evening in the City of London is amazing. The presentation has left me with wonderful memories of the evening and the people we met, that I will take with me to my next Honeypot adventure…with the medal of course.” Volunteeringopportunities atHoneypot include supporting fundraising activities and events (as John does) and now also joining their amazing and dedicated team of support workers in spending a day with them and the children on their annual residential respite breaks. You can help the children enjoy taking part in go karting, den building, baking, arts and cra s and theatre productions, as well as photography and many other exciting activities. You could also volunteer to help prepare and serve lunch or dinner. If you would like to nd out more, visit Honeypot’s website: www.honeypot.org.uk/volunteering The Worshipful Company of Girdlers Master: Sir Thomas Crawley-Boevey, Bt. With John Lay-Flurrie Honeypot was asked to nominate a volunteer to receive a Girdlers’ Medallion at their annual Prizegiving Evening held in Girdlers’ Hall in London in May. It was an easy decision to nominate John Lay-Flurrie from New Milton who has been a volunteer ambassador with Honeypot for 8 years. John is never “o duty”, telling everyone and anyone about the work Honeypot does to support local young carers age 5-12. Previously Honeypot & young carers issues were unknown in John’s area. Now, thanks to him, they know! Support has risen dramatically, with John directly and indirectly raising over £15,000. John is committed to helping others, making his community a better place. He currently volunteers for at least 5 local organisations but his main volunteering activity is for Honeypot, raising funds and awareness of young carers and how Honeypot supports them, by giving talks to local community groups and assemblies in schools (a very familiar environment as he is a retired headteacher). He represents Honeypot at events and thoroughly enjoys regularly acting as Santa at local events in aid of Honeypot. (Young Carers Christmas Party, New Milton Christmas Festivals, Sammy Miller Museum Christmas Fair and Teatime with Santa at Fairweathers Garden Centre in Beaulieu). He helps with bucket collections and keeps an eye on local M.D.S. DIGITAL INSTALLS/SERVICE • DIGITAL AERIALS/FREEVIEW • SKY DIGITAL/FREESAT DIGITAL • EXTRA TELEVISION POINTS • TELEPHONE LINES/POINTS • TELEVISION SYSTEMS SETUP/TUNED • WALL MOUNTED TV’S QUALIFIED, FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE FREE SURVEYS/QUOTES BEAULIEU: 01590 611011 MOBILE: 07717 194441
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