The Parish Council’s main aim is to make our village a better place to live and visit and some of the most important ways in which we do this rely heavily on volunteers.
Having recently reviewed the village’s emergency plan, we have now brought together a group of volunteers who will turn out to support local people in the event of a significant emergency. We’re proud to say that Theydon Bois is one of the few localities in our district that has an organised group that is available to respond if the worst happens and this is a fitting testament to a community that has a strong tradition of helping others.
Around 20 people have agreed to become ‘Theydon Emergency Volunteers’ and many attended a training session at the Village Hall to prepare for their role on 5th June 2024 (see picture). The session included a ‘Welcome’ from Parish Council Chairman Cllr Peter Gooch, input on our emergency plan and guidance from our local emergency planning officer on how to run an emergency rest centre.
Almost all those attending said that they now have a much better understanding of how emergencies are managed and most said that they feel more confident about undertaking the emergency volunteer role.
A second training session is planned in the evening on 25th September 2024 for those who were unable to attend the first session and is also open to anyone else who might like to become involved.
The training is free and attending to find out more about the volunteer role doesn’t carry any obligation to join the group. No experience is required, and volunteers will never be asked to undertake a dangerous activity nor enter any area that might be hazardous.
Village litter pick is another way in which the Council works with local people to improve our village.
It is great to report that there are now 25 people in the litter pick group, of which 10-15 generally turn out for an hour or so on the first Saturday of each month, starting at 9am at the rear of the Village Hall car park. Thanks to the hard work of our local street cleaner, the central village area is maintained to a high standard, so the litter pick focuses our effort on the adjacent forest and approach roads, where sadly we always find discarded bottles, cans, takeaway food wrappings and the ubiquitous nitrous oxide cylinders.
In 2023, we collected almost 300 bags of litter and at one of our most recent litter picks, we were unexpectedly joined by our new MP, Neil Hudson (see picture).
It was the first time many of us had met Neil and those of us who spoke to him were impressed by his willingness to listen and obvious knowledge of the area. At a time when people are often quick to criticise and slower to praise, it would be easy to dismiss this visit as a public relations exercise – and it may have been! But for the record, Neil put in a full shift, and he didn’t falter when, rather bizarrely, he found a relatively large number of not-so-fresh fish that someone had decided to dump in Coopersale Lane!
And given that this visit happened shortly after the general election, it would seem to bode well for his relationship with Theydon Bois that Neil chose our village as one of the first places to meet his constituents.
Theydon Emergency Volunteers and the litter pick are not the only ways in which local people freely give their time to the benefit of others.
Lisa Kinneally and her team of helpers run the Community Cuppa in St Mary’s church hall on the last Wednesday of every month. Affectionately known by some as a ‘youth club for adults’, this event is partly funded by the Parish Council and enables people to come together over a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of delicious cake. And for the past year or so, Cllr Pat Gill and others have offered those attending the added bonus of the ‘Repair Café’, where people can get a wide range of household items such as vacuum cleaners, radios and small furniture repaired.
It is not possible in this article to list all the voluntary activities that happen locally but in trying to provide a snapshot of how people to come together to make difference in our community, it would be remiss not to mention two major annual events. The Christmas Market is organised by the Parish Council with the help of a team of local helpers, whereas credit for the Donkey Derby goes to the local Scout Group and Nik O’Flynn, ably assisted by a large number of helpers who have supported this event for many years.
If you are someone who likes to make a difference and are interested in any of the opportunities that are described here, please contact the Parish Clerk on 07927 581856 or via parish.clerk@theydonbois-pc.gov.uk
