News and Events
SFE News and Events February 2010
Event – 25th March SFE Partner briefing and Celebratory Morning
The SFE staff are very encouraged by the early response to the invitations sent out for this event. If you have received an invitation and have not yet replied you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible as there are a limit on the number of places available.
Anyone requiring information about the event should phone the SFE Office on 01785 606674.
News – Congratulations Gareth
Our congratulations go to Gareth Davis on being offered a new post managing a diving shop in Newcastle under Lyme. Those who know Gareth, or have previously read his profile on this site, will be well aware of the great enjoyment he derives from this sport and his recently won qualifications. As such the job offer was just too exciting an opportunity for him to forego.
Gareth has served the SFE well as warehouse man and driver using the knowledge and experience he gained with the MoD to good effect. He brought organisation and discipline to the SFE, which has now been incorporated into working methods detailed in the SFE’s Business Process Manual. He has proved to be a great support to Nick Maylon, who stepped into the role of SFE Operations Co-ordinator in September 2009. During Gareth’s time at the SFE the organisation has also seen a number of volunteers succeed in achieving their ambitions whether that has been to return to gainful or employment or in making their knowledge and skills freely available to the community of Stafford which has been of support to them. Gareth’s role in supporting their efforts has been much appreciated.
There is therefore some sadness within the SFE that Gareth’s experience and commitment is being lost but the organisation takes much pride in the fact that one of the team has been tempted to move on to a post that the SFE trusts will provide him with much personal satisfaction.
Yes this is Gareth Davis in real life!
Event – First village collection with Biffa at Great Haywood Saturday 20th February
In order to help secure much needed stock the SFE has begun participating in Village Collection Days which have included attending a Bulky Waste collection day alongside Biffa at Great Haywood on Saturday 20th February 2010.
While the SFE gathered some useful material for reuse it was clear that not everyone knew why the SFE was there. The great plus from the SFE’s perspective was getting to know the Biffa staff, who were very supportive, and exploring with them how we can help people better understand what we can reuse and what we can’t find new homes for.
Partnership working
A Special Request
As previously reported the SFE is facing a particularly high demand for furniture at this time. Specific items in high demand are:
- Bunk Beds
- Double beds
- Three piece suites
- Electrical white goods of all types
In order to help meet the needs of a number of people who are coming to the SFE and entering their first flat the organisation has a higher than expected demand for home starter packs including household essentials in the form of crockery, cooking utensils, knives and forks, clean bedding etc. The SFE has not canvassed for such items previously but the organisation would now welcome them to help meet this fresh and growing demand.
The SFE staff are very conscious that the above request may seem at odds with an occasional inability to collect an item. Most often this arises as a result of a lack of storage space for slow moving items and the irregular patterns in demand and offering of donations. Because of the limited space currently available to it the SFE has great difficulty in securing that happy balance. Hopefully the SFE will be able to address that issue soon.