Supporting TCF Volunteers - Overnight Meeting: Postponed to March 2021

28 March 2020, 12.30 – 29 March 2020, 16.00

Sedgebrook Hall Hotel, Northampton

THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED

In light of Government recommendations that the UK population should, where possible, avoid social contact and that all non-essential travel and meetings are avoided and due to the rise in the spread of the coronavirus, we have made the decision to cancel the Supporting our Supporters overnight meeting for TCF volunteers scheduled for 28-29 March. Please be assured that this is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but rather it is to protect the health of you all and the wider community.

We hope to be able to reschedule the meeting for later in the year or early in 2021.

If you have already made travel arrangements to the meeting incurring costs and cannot reclaim these from your travel company, please do let us have details for reimbursement. Do note that even if your travel ticket states it is non- refundable, many companies will give refunds at this time.

Thank you warmly for all your support. We were so moved by your willingness and generosity of spirit in your offers to help in so many different ways for this weekend – from workshop facilitators, activity leaders including our ceilidh callers, guest speakers and to individual volunteers willing to be part of the panel interviews and discuss their own activities and commitment to peer support through TCF. And, thank you to everyone who made the commitment to come to and participate in the weekend. We are just sorry that on this occasion we are unable to run the meeting due to such extraordinary circumstances, but as mentioned we do hope very much to reschedule. Please do know that if you have any questions or queries about this or any other matter relating to volunteering for TCF at this time, do not hesitate to contact either myself or Ruth Mercier (helpline@tcf.org.uk) .

With warmest wishes, and thank you all for your understanding.

Take care of yourselves,

Carolyn Brice
Chief Executive

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We really hope that as many you as possible will join us at this overnight meeting for TCF volunteers. Our programme and time together will run from Saturday 28th March from lunchtime, until Sunday 29th March until 4 pm. This is an event where we would like to give back to you for all you do in supporting others.

We will be offering a range of activities for our volunteers, including guest speakers, workshops, discussion groups and 'surgeries' as well as supportive sessions offering you a time for self care. A full programme will be available nearer the time, but at present we have a writing workshop planned as well as a presentation by the CEO of the Coroners Court Support Service. There will be other not to be missed events too!

There will be specific sessions for our Helpline volunteers, group facilitators, local support contacts, online group moderators and all our other volunteers.

We would like to encourage as many volunteers as possible to attend the weekend and so it is free of charge to attend for active Compassionate Friends volunteers. Our charity will cover all costs for one night's accommodation and meals (from lunch on Saturday to tea and biscuits on Sunday afternoon at the lovely Sedgebrook Hall Hotel venue in Northamptonshire, and any travel costs to the venue if required. We only ask for a £25 deposit payment to secure your place - and if you wish to claim this back as volunteer expenses please do so using the expense form here.

If you are travelling from a distance away and need to stay the night of Friday 27^th March or Sunday 29^th March then please let us know when you book. TCF will cover an extra night of accommodation too for those who need it in order to be able to attend.

If you are able to, and wish to support this initiative from TCF, then you are welcome to donate more when you book to help us cover the costs for the weekend. The true cost to us per volunteer is £150 per delegate, plus any travel expenses you wish to claim. The total cost to TCF of this weekend is £10,000 minimum + travel expenses. You can donate when you book - by adding to the 'bursary fund' for the event when the online booking form asks you. We hugely appreciate your financial support in putting on this event.

Please note we have a limited number of places for this overnight retreat for volunteers so please book early! All bookings must be made by 31 January 2020 latest.

We so hope you will join us - this is an exciting new initiative for us and we want to be able to offer you, our wonderful volunteers, support as you in turn support others. And, it will just be wonderful to be together and share the rewards and challenges of offering our unique support, understanding and friendship to others.

Please save the date and book NOW! We so hope we will see you there.

If you want any further information about this overnight meeting please get in touch with Carolyn or Ruth at info@tcf.org.uk