THURST UPDATE 2021

Since lockdown the café has welcomed back its regular customers, and also many new ones, and has widened the range of products available. If you have not visited come and give it a try. Friday mornings we have teamed up with Bury Soft Play for “Coffee and Soft Play” allowing mums to meet and talk, whilst watching their children play and integrate with others of the same age

The big weekend allowed us to identify the need for providing entertainment for all ages in the village, we have the facilities in the hall and the new Thurst Bar, and will be holding regular events throughout the year, the first of these is a New Year’s Eve Party. To assist we have purchased Disco equipment and Lights

We have created a Team to organise this and would love more people to join and help us, In 2022 we already have planned Craft Fairs, a big event on Father’s Day in June ( at the moment can’t tell you more) everything is in the early stages, but we have quite a few ideas, if you want to get involved contact us at info@thurstonnewgreen.co.uk

Register your donations – CO-OP

The New Green Centre – donate your pennies

When you buy selected Co-op products and services, 2p for every £1 spent goes into your membership account. And the Co-op will split the same between like-minded organisations and local causes.

You can select a local cause you would like to support for example The New Green Community Trust.

If you do not select a cause to support, Co-op will share the funds you raised equally between the 3 causes in your community. 

To date £170.63 has been donated to the New Green and we ask you to register your Co-op membership Card and select The New Green Community Trust. Pennies donated by you for no cost to you.  

Big Weekend Sept ’21

The New Green Community Centre put together a programme to suit the young and old. The Thurst served delicious food and there was a BBQ served by Thurston Butchers. Four varied music events and demos from various clubs and businesses also took place over the weekend. Including carpet bowls, Zumba and Croquet. There was a social walk and picnic on the field. Children were fascinated by the Circus acts. The Knitters and Sewers displayed there creations. The Ben Wragge Skate Park Charity provided a mini ramp for young children to try their scooters on. Bury Soft Play provided a taster session in the hall. Bury Student Orchestra provided entertainment on the patio. The Hullab’lues played Jazz, Blues and Rock in the evening whist the people of Thurston enjoyed drinks from the Thurst Bar. Suffolk Police popped by to show there support and made themselves available for a chat. Thurston residents brought along their empty bottle so The Mobile Refill Shop could replenish store cupboard stocks and eco friendly household cleaning liquids. Finally Retro Cars and tractors drove onto the green so residents could browse around the vintage cars.       

General News

We look forward to welcoming back our hirers, hopefully some of the groups that were unable to return since the start of the pandemic will be able to restart. They should notice that we have decorated the centre, and had the floor in the hall refurbished during the first lockdown.

We are also modernising the lighting in the hall and the Bowden Meeting room, as well as adding charging points for phones and tablets.

Out on our parklands you will have also noticed the addition of a trim trail, and park benches, these were heavily used during the summer as the community discovered and enjoyed the parklands.

Kickstart

As part of the measures that the government announced, they announced a scheme to encourage job creation for job placements for 16-24 year olds on Universal Credit.  The applications must be for a minimum of 30 peoples, however in association with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, we applied for 2 positions, and have been informed that our application has been successful. The recruitment process may be slow, but hopefully by the time we leave lockdown, we will be in a position to potentially use them to widen opening hours or services provided.

For details of the scheme please visit:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme

Post Lockdown Restriction Update – July 2020

We anticipate that activities will return, but very slowly, as a result of this it would be financially unviable to open Thurst for the hours that it was “pre-lockdown”. However we realise that it is a facility for villagers to meet friends in a social atmosphere.
The decision as therefore been taken to open as a four week trial seven days a week, from 10:00 until 14:00. We are currently ensure that it will be Covid Secure, as a result you will notice some changes.
Entry and exit will be through the garden door and you will see signs to guide you, the canopies will be out, in the event of bad weather, both the sun lounge and if needed the meeting room will be made available. Take out will be available for use on the green, however the menu will be simplified, however ice cream, Bluebell’s Cakes products (including sausage rolls, cheese straws), soft drinks, alcohol, will be available. There will be a few new additions like Muffins and Cookies. The big change is that currently we will not be offering food that requires preparation like sandwiches or jacket potato.

According to the latest Government guidelines the outside play equipment is permitted to be used, however the soft play area is not so that this will be taped off.

If you have never visited Thurst Cafe, you will be surprised we have recently refurbished and updated it, as mentioned this opening period is for a trial, we urge you to support this, in order that we can justify or even expand this service. Should you have any suggestions please let our friendly staff know or leave a comment here on the website

We have also been informed that Extend, Slimming World and Weight Watchers are hoping to return during July

Update On The Last 3 Months

With the imposed closure of the New Green Centre, the opportunity was taken to decorate the hall, the meeting room corridors etc. We also had the floor in the hall resurfaced. These were done ensuring that all social distancing was observed, normally these maintenance matters would have been performed during August and would have meant some activities and meetings would have had to be cancelled.
Out on the green we have installed three new picnic benches which have proved very popular
In the garden area we have had installed some play equipment for the up to 6 year olds, whilst also along with the council (and assistance from the National Lottery) we have had installed a trim trail.
As a mark of thanks and respect for all his efforts for the village in many roles, especially the establishment of the centre we have named the meeting room after Colonel Roger Bowden, and it is now signed as the Bowden Meeting Room.
We also found we had a wild animal invade the green, in the form of a snake. However upon examination it was found that it was a Stone Snake, thanks to the organisers.
The facilities are for the benefit of the villagers irrespective of age, gender, religion, or race, please feel free to use the facilities.

New Website

The Covid outbreak has meant that we have had to look at the way we operate, and we decided that the website needed dramatic changes.
We have added many new features, and it is our intention to continue to be at the heart of the village, links to hirers, and other activities will be added.
We will update and advise when we are aware over the forthcoming months when the activities will restart.
We have also added the facility should you wish to hire the hall, (or even just curious to see what is going on) a calendar of events and the facility to book the rooms on line.
We welcome your suggestions and comments