As another year draws to a close, we look back on a year of wonderful events. From pop up shops to carol concerts, gift fairs and plant sales, we thank everyone who has supported us this year.
FUNDRAISING – 2024!
Spring
February saw us move to a new location for our pop up shops, and we had a fantastic two-day sale at Ilmington Village Hall, raising over £3200.
Summer
Another new location for us, in May we hosted our fashion event at Primrose Hill Farm who so kindly chose us as their charity of the year for 2024. Our 96 guests enjoyed dinner by The Kitchen & Co, a fashion show from Dice and Justina, and auction. We raised £4354 and had a lovely evening. May was also the month for our village plant and home produce sales with 14 villages taking part this year, raising over £11,200!
As ever, we’re so grateful for the National Garden Scheme at this time of the year. We loved hosting the teas at Admington Hall, and were also recipients of a generous donation from Ilmington Open Gardens.
In June, the village of Oxhill had a fantastic garage sale, with each stall making a £10 donation to SHN, and in July we were delighted, once more, to be part of the Tour d’Ilmington cycle ride. It was all about butterflies by the middle of the month, with our remembrance butterflies and the glorious butterfly walks at Blackberry Farm.
Autumn
Moving in to September, Jazz on the Lawn in Barton on the Heath was organised by an exceptional team of supporters and raised over £6000 for the charity. It fell on the same weekend as our 10k at Walton Hall, with over 170 people crossing the starting line and raising £10,500. What a weekend!
We returned to Feldon Valley in Brailes for our annual golf day. A little rain didn’t dampen our spirits and, as always, this was a fun-filled day and a great fundraiser for us. Next year, this event will take place in July when we hope for sunshine. Teams are already booking their places so please do take a look online if you’re interested.
October was the Shipston & District Literary Society’s event ‘From Page to Screen with Anton Lesser’ where we were invited to run the bar. It’s always a delight to be involved in events with Anton who is patron of SHN. The autumn season finale was our second pop up shop at Ilmington Village Hall. These events are ‘all hands on deck’ and couldn’t take place without our wonderful volunteers. A busy two day sale saw us raise £3860.
Winter
The Moda Rosa Designer Sale is always one of our favourites, and this year was no different with rails of beautiful clothes at Darlingscott Farm. November is always a busy month, and the Designer Sale was closely followed by our Christmas Gift Fair at Ettington Community Centre. Despite icy weather on ‘opening night’, it was lovely to see so many friendly faces come along to start their Christmas shopping.
Fast forward two weeks, and it was time for Carols at Holy Trinity in Stratford upon Avon, where we were treated to wonderful readings by Anton Lesser and singing by the talented Mollie Smith, with Julian Smith at the helm once again. Weather really hasn’t been on our side this year and Storm Darragh was in full force, but we had a wonderful evening and raised £8472 for the charity.
Finally, on the 13th December, our Christmas Craft Fair, a new event last year that has really become one of our favourites – chance to enjoy some Christmas shopping from talented local craftspeople, catch up with some of our volunteers and enjoy a sausage roll from Paddock Farm (they’re the best, after all!).
And now… it’s time for a Christmas break. We’ll be sending out more information in our new year newsletter. As always, we thank our amazing volunteers, all the local businesses who have supported us this year and our wonderful community. We’re looking forward to 2025!
Kate, Allison & Jo (SHN Fundraising team)