QSA NEWS

New Year's Resolution - get online!
QSA is now a UK Online Centre and we'll be holding workshops to help people on low incomes take their first steps on the net between January and March 2011. Small groups will be supported to complete an online basics course, helping them get to grips with using a mouse and keyboard, internet searches and email. We'll also support people to access government services, complete forms and job searches, and learn how to use the internet to communicate with friends and family. Contact Ramona Doherty on ramonadoherty@qsa.org.uk with 'UK ONLINE' in the subject heading or call 020 8983 5033 to make a referral.

Season's greetings from QSA - and a plea for help!

Our winter newsletter is now available - click the image to read about what we've been up

to over the last few months. As part of our planning for how best to help people on low incomes over the next three years, we are asking our supporters to help us gather information. If you have donated to QSA in the past, we'd be really grateful if you could spare five minutes to answer this short survey online. Your thoughts, comments and ideas will help us to look clearly at our strengths and weaknesses, making sure we are in a strong position for the coming years.

If you do not already receive our e-bulletin (a short update which is sent to you by email roughly every two months) and would like to, please let us know by sending an email with 'subscribe' in the subject line to rosiemarteau@qsa.org.uk and we'll send over our latest one.

Down to Earth support service begins

UPDATE: We are now recruiting for a Down to Earth development worker, to work alongside the project manager and volunteer mentors. If you are interested in finding out more or applying, visit our vacancies page for further details. Closing date: Thursday 6th January 2011 at 10am.

On Monday 29th November Down to Earth, QSA's new project supporting recently bereaved people on low incomes, will begin taking referrals. Please get in touch if you are a GP, counsellor, health, community or social worker who works with bereaved people in Tower Hamlets or Hackney. We can also take self-referrals, or referrals from friends or family members. A team of five mentors have been trained and are ready to support people through the process of planning an affordable funeral. They will also be trialling our brand new funeral planning resource pack, which has been designed over the last few months.

Jo, a Hackney resident for 25 years, decided to become a mentor while she was volunteering at St. Joseph's Hospice, where a friend of hers passed away several years ago.

<="" span="">"I just thought it was a really good idea to help out people on a low income in that situation. The training was brilliant. Lots of experts were brought in to talk to us and we learnt so much from them. I got lots out of it, including relaxation techniques, and the ability to switch your body off and just sit and listen to people."

If you or anyone you know would be interested in training as a volunteer mentor, click here for more information. Our next training course is in late January/February and an interview evening will be held on Tuesday 14th December from 6pm - 9pm.

Happy Birthday Made of Money!

To celebrate Made of Money reaching the grand old age of 5, we held a party on Thursday 28th October 2010, which was attended by families who'd been on Made of Money courses, staff, volunteers, partners...and even our very own trustee-come-entertainer, Nick 'The Putz'!

The 60 guests enjoyed plenty of face-painting, juggling, hula-hooping, plate-spinning, tightrope-walking, unicycle-riding and pass-the-parcelling action, as well as a healthy buffet and cupcakes.

We also unveiled an exhibition of photos from the recent Dads' photography project, which gave fathers and their children to chance to look together at money and value through a lens.

Thanks to everyone who came along and all the staff and volunteers that helped to make the party such a success. Here's to another 5 years!

Saying goodbye to Paul

On Tuesday 21st September we held a party to bid Paul Allchorne farewell, three days before his retirement on his 65th birthday.

Our longest serving member of staff, Paul clocked up 20 years of stamina, commitment and service and helped make Homestore the remarkable place it is today.

Paul retirement plate

We presented him with a commemorative plate, celebrating the fact that he'll now have more time to spend supporting his beloved team, Millwall FC.

Thanks Paul, and good luck!