th Anniv This s wee eek k Open n Daw cel elebrat ebrates es our r 15 th niver ersary! sary! Our success cess woul uld d not t have ve been en poss ssible ble without thout the e suppor port t and d dedi dicat cation on of f our Vol olunte unteers ers and d Suppo porte rters rs. The comm mmuni unity ty, Counci ncil, busines sinesses, ses, clubs ubs and local ocal shop ops s of Dawlis lish h have ve suppo pport rted ed us in so many ny ways ys throug rougho hout ut the e yea ears rs THAN ANK K YOU AL ALL To our custom stomers rs, cli lients nts and d doggy ggy visi sito tors rs TH THANK ANK YOU U TO TOO! And fina inally to all ll our r Truste stees es a special ecial thank nk you u for r your ur dedic dicati tion on suppor port t and d guid idance nce
HOW IT ALL BEGAN Wednesday 8 th June 2005
First volun lunteer teer Coord rdin inators tors Marg rgaret aret and Harry ry got t the charity arity started ed and then n a grant nt from Devon von Commun unit ity y Foun undati dation on meant t we were re able e to appoint int Sue Hill l as our r first paid Coordinat rdinator or. . Over er the years ars the charit arity developed eloped and Sue formed med the Commun unity ty Litter ter picking king group oup and helped ped instig igat ate e Dawli lish h becomi oming ng a Fairtr rtrade de town wn. . When en Sue retir ired, ed, Heather ther Conway way fill lled ed in as Co-ordinator ordinator for r some time. e. Angie ie Weather therhead head was then n appointed inted and toget ether her with th Naomi mi Merr rral the Open n Daw profil file e was raised ed to a high igher er level el in the communi munity ty and we became ame involv olved ed in numerous merous projects ects aroun und d the town. n. Both Angie ie and Naomi mi moved ed on to new w opportuni rtuniti ties es in 2019. After er a busy time e searc rching ing for their ir repla lacemen cements ts we were re fortuna tunate te to have e been joined ed by Olivia ivia Gore re and Anthon ony Butler ler as new Coord rdinators inators who have e been n activ ive e with th new w ideas to keep p Open n Daw moving ing forw rward ard We owe a grea reat t debt of gratitude atitude to each ch of our r Coordinators rdinators over er the past 15 years ars but our r succ cces ess would ld not have e been possibl ble e withou out the hard d work rk and dedica icati tion on of our r Volunteers teers and Support orter ers
Where we are now… To keep ep our r volu lunteers nteers and custom tomers ers safe during ing the Covid id-19 19 pandem emic ic we have e clos osed ed our premis ises es. . Instead ead we are conti tinui nuing ng to distribute ribute infor forma mation ion and advice ice throug ough h the phone, ne, email il and with h our partners ners throu ough gh Helpi ping ng Dawli lish. h. We maint ntai ain n and put new w posts onto o the Helping ping Dawlish wlish websit ite e and Facebook ebook page e as well l as our own. n. We have e also help lped ed to produc duce e and update te leaflet flets and put up posters ers around ound the town wn and onto o the publi lic display board rds We still l have e lots of plans ns for r Open n Daw and look ok forw rward ard to being ng able to safely ly reopen pen and welcome lcome our r customers tomers and clients ients back! k! A message from our Trustees… …The Trustees of Open Daw are delighted to be celebrating 15 years of supporting the community in Dawlish. We look forward, with our excellent Coordinators, to being able to continue doing so in the future and hope to resume face-to-face services as soon as circumstances allow
As a person who drops into Open Daw once a month (during our normal lives) I would like to say how much I appreciate the time and effort you all put into the service you provide. I am always given a really warm welcome and a cup of tea which is much appreciated. Everyone is so friendly and it is a real focal point for the local community. I look forward to a time when we are able to restart our connection in person. Meanwhile I hope you are all staying safe and keeping well Penny Thompson Advice and Information Officer The Royal British Legion
Dawlish Garden Trust
The Sunflower Bunch - Dawlish Cancer Support Group was set up in December 2009 to offer a friendly face to those who are or have been going through surgery and/or treatment for any kind of cancer. They also welcome relatives of patients who also need support
Memories - Open Daw Poem 2015 “ Knowledge is power” they say, Coffee comes with a smile, but where to go to find things out, not at the touch of a button. when you’re not even sure Volunteers give their time, gain a purpose; just what it is you need to know ? grant a space, a place to sit and be, “Look online!” is fine advice, to talk if you want, but if you can’t, you’l+l know or just dip a toe in the water... that being unable to surf the net Next time, maybe, you’ll have the courage is an additional burden. to say what you’ve come for. And even if you’re at ease with Open Daw – Wikipedia, ten years of opening doors no machine can read the pauses by giving information, in between your words, ten years of opening doors no ‘app’ will listen sympathetically, by giving support and a friendly welcome. or understand your story. Ten years of the door being open Open Daw provides community for anyone who wants to come in. information - and so much more. Elaine Jarvest Miller (June 2015)
Memories - Litter Pick Team 2015
Memories - 70s 80s Disco 2018
Memories - clean for the Queen 2016
Memories - Open Daw reopening 2018
Memories - Grease 2015
Congratulations and best wishes on Open Daw's 15th anniversary from Dawlish Town Council - 'Councillors Surgery at Open Daw' Such kindness shown by the staff and volunteers at Open Daw. It strengthens relationships of those that frequent and creates a sense of wellbeing and belonging. It also provides community support and help to those who need it Cllr Carole Tamlyn
Open Daw provides a wonderful service for our community! I am the coordinator of a monthly poetry group that meets in normal times in the foyer of the Methodist Church monthly. I have always found that the Open Daw has been more than willing to publicise and promote our meetings to the wider Dawlish community. This is important because not all are on email and therefore rely on this to be kept in touch. Visitors to Dawlish too occasionally attend our meetings having seen one of our posters on the Open Daw notice boards. Second, I am a member, and on the Committee, of Dawlish Stamp Club and, for three years now, we have held small events on mornings at the Open Daw to help promote our club. You have always been unfailingly supportive and helpful to us. Third, as a Trustee of Assist Teignbridge, I know that you work closely, and in cooperation, with that organisation and its staff to help promote and publicise its services through signposting and advice. In other instances where I've wanted to publicise or to draw attention to a forthcoming event, you've always been very willing to help and to promote it either on social media, through your notice boards or face to face with the many local residents who call at Open Daw on weekdays for a coffee and a chat. Do please keep up, and thank you, for all the good work you do because you are very much part of our community, help to promote its cohesiveness and provide a truly valuable service! Robin Buchanan – Poetry for Pleasure and Dawlish Stamp Club
With thanks to all the providers that have held regular, free surgeries at Open Daw: Local Councillors Devon Carers Sunflower Bunch Cancer Support Teign Housing Scott Richards solicitors Independent Living Centre Dawlish Museum Crohns and Colitis care Royal British Legion Local Police Energy Clinic – Exeter Community Energy Assist Teignbridge South West Water Devon Disability Network Chess club Dawlish Gardens Trust
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