Walking Weekend 2012

JOIN NEW FUTURES NEPAL ON THEIR ANNUAL SOCIAL AND AGM

Friday 23rd  March – Sunday 25th March 2012

COALBROOKDALE YOUTH HOSTEL EXCLUSIVELY HIRED FOR YOU TO JOIN US ON OUR REUNION AND WALKING WEEKEND AND AGM

We do hope you are able to join the trustees of New Futures Nepal for our annual social weekend, the Saturday rambling walk and the update on our projects at the Sunday AGM.

For more information click here NFN 2012 AGM Poster.pdf  or to register your interest about the weekend please email  info@newfuturesnepal.org   OR CONTACT: Charles Barton e: charles4jazz@hotmail.com  OR Andrew Small  e: andrew@newfuturesnepal.org    

Coalbrookdale has been recently refurbished to a high standard this building was once the former Literary and Scientific Institute built in 1895 and located in the beautiful World Heritage site of the Ironbridge Gorge where the Industrial Revolution began. It provides a comfortable base for exploring the fascinating area, which of course we will do on the Saturday Walk.

Ironbridge, in Shropshire, is known as “the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution” and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1986 (http://www.ironbridgeguide.info/ironbridge_tour/index.shtml).
The geographical area was formed in the last Ice Age which caused the river to be diverted and the resultant unique gorge was formed.

As its name suggests, the bridge is made of iron and spans the River Severn. It was built by Abraham Darby III in 1779 to allow the passage of locally sourced coal which was used for fuelling local clay and lead industry. This had a significant impact on the local economy. It also had a far reaching impact; people flocked in great numbers to see the first cast iron bridge.
Nowadays there is little sign of these industries. Instead abundant wildlife and flora have reclaimed the area of the gorge which makes it a pleasant environment for walking.

Ordnance Survey Explorer (orange) Map: 242 Landranger (pink) Map: 127 YH Grid Reference: 670043
 

BACK AT ILAM HALL YHA - 2011 REUNION/WALKING WEEKEND AND AGM  

The imposing Victorian gothic manor house with its 84 acres of country park on the banks of the River Manifold drew us back for this year’s  ‘social together’ on 25th – 27th March 2011.
The 2011 FUNDRAISING CHARITY TREK (see ‘NEWS’ page) had arrived back only weeks before  and yes you’ve guessed, many of the participants turned up, (clearly gluttons for punishment),  to reminisce about the breathlessness, steep climbs, snow, ice, cold and the amazing adventurous experience they had been part of  the month previously.
One or two remembered  the  ‘persistent rain’ from above and the mud below foot on last year’s walk, however this year proved cloudy but pleasant.  So 2011 saw a group of 35 take to the Peak District hills.

The walk took the group out along the River Dove and over the hills past the village of Thorpe. The village is one of the few in the Peak with a name which clearly betrays Norse origins. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book, with it’s  little church and Norman tower, built about 1100 AD

The silver lining, as with every year is the lingering lunch stop on the outward journey.  This year it was Debbie and Martin at the Okeover Arms, Mapplton who provided us great hospitality and food in their lovely welcoming pub.  With everyone rejuvenated the return journey to Ilam was a steady walk back along the river. Saturday evening was the usual dinner, chats, superbly run  quizzes and a few hands UNO but that’s another story.

The Sunday AGM Introduced by Lynne our chairperson provided a selection of short presentations with over views of our year gone, as well as thoughts for the future.  From trustee Helen, the latest news on the children (the heart and soul of why NFN exists) and also the challenging Health Project Visit by her and Tracey in April 2010 (see ‘what we do’ page) .  Tracey unveiled the amazing success  the 2011 fundraising trekkers had achieved,  along with presenting ‘one or two interesting’ expedition photographs. Sadly, Colin Culley whose fundraising achievements have  included the Castle Howard events, art exhibitions and introducing mountaineer Doug Scott to our charity, to name but a few, hasdecided to step down as  trustee but will remain a close friend and supporter.  But this news was counterbalanced by the announcement that two new trustees, Tracey and Angie, have joined the fold - (visit ‘about us trustees’ page (to be up-dated))

The weekend is very much about allowing YOU, our supporters to have the opportunity to really  aware that you are not just a donator or a sponsor.  You can meet  people (other than the trustees) who have met and know the children, have talked to them, visited their home and seen them ‘blossom’  over the years of NFN involvement. .  You can see exactly where your money is being spent and on who and what as well as where. 

JOIN US IN 2012 - WATCH OUT FOR THE NEXT WALKING WEEKEND DATE FOR 2012

                            2010 YHA WALKING WEEKEND AND AGM NEWS STORY

As with previous years a successful weekend was had by all 43 people attending. YHA Ilam is part of an imposing Victorian gothic manor house.. Its grounds stretch to 84 acres of country park on the banks of the River Manifold, What a place, we felt like guests of the Lord of the Manor.

Although a similar weekend format each year (raising vital funds, a Saturday walk and Sunday AGM) yet every year seems completely different. The event allows for supporters to meet one another as well as the trustees.

2010 saw a group of 43 people invade the hostel with just over 30 taking in the Saturday walk. As previous years the main walk started at the hostel and followed a circular route.

Now it is always been known for the Saturday walks which over years have seen  snow drifts to stunning hot spring sun but all in lovely locations.  Of course the walks do not always go to plan and I (Trustee Charles) mention this because the weather on Friday was fine and the weather on Sunday was bright hot sunshine with lovely views all round.  You may ask why have I missed Saturday out!

Well Saturday was ‘persistent rain’ as we made our way over the very ‘misty stunning views’. An odd steep decline on the outward country journey led to mud as well as water proving a challenge. For many it was a test not of endurance but whether their walking gear really was waterproof.  It also proved mud can be every bit as slippery as snow and ice and with an odd fallen tree and I think you have the picture. But it has to be said our intrepid trekkers, took it all in there stride although I sense it is a good job I could not read their minds at the time.

The silver lining on the outward journey was the Lunch stop at the Watts Russell pub at Hopedale.  And, although we arrived earlier than planned and all together instead of staggered (the plan like the weather not quite going to plan),  I have to say Chris and Bruce the owners gave us great hospitality and food in a lovely warm welcoming pub.  With everyone refilled the return journey to Ilam was a steady walk back along the river down the Dovedale valley and woods. Saturday evening was dinner, chats, two excellent quizzes with great prizes and relaxing.
 
MORE IMPORTANTLY people talked and met the trustees, learnt about the where’s, what’s, when’s and whys of New Futures Nepal.  How the money is spent. From Helen, the latest news on the children (the heart and soul of why NFN exists). Colin Culley explained about the Castle Howard Annual event in Yorkshire (see www.challenge4nepal.org).  Those signed up to the 2011 Charity trek had the opportunity to meet and talk to each other and to Tracey, the trek organiser.  . 
We, the trustees of New Futures Nepal, have known and grown with the children and their carers over the last 8 years.  By meeting our supporters face to face we hope they feel more involved, more committed and confident that their funds are going where they intended.
                      

2009 YHA WALKING WEEKEND AND AGM NEWS STORY 

Over the last 4 years we have organised a Youth Hostel (or B&B) Walking Weekend, all of which have been a chance for supporters to meet the trustees and attend our AGM. It has seen New Futures Nepal descend on Grassmere, Castleton, Gradbach, and 2009 was at the brand new National Forest YHA.

Apart from the weekends raising funds, it is also a social weekend with a choice of walks or just being a free spirit. 2009 weekend was held at the new YHA at the National Forest near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Derbyshire and was a particularly successful with just under 60 people joining us. It was also a chance for the New Futures Nepal 2008 Charity Trek Party to reunite with their trekking group.  

The main walk, (shorter ones for those less energetic) started at the hostel and followed a circular route passing through a mix of very new plantations which needed the imagination to be seen as the forest of the future to other centuries old countryside and villages. We strolled through villages such as Overseal and down to Botany Bay (did not see any boats!). Cottons in the Elms was our first refreshment stop, of course only the pub was open. Few of the elms which gave the village its name remain as result of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s.

Leaving Cotton in the Elms we walked along ‘the coffin route’, Before the graveyard at Coton was begun, the dead were carried to Lullington for burial along this route through the “Devil’s Arches”.   Lullington was our next refreshments and pub lunch stop. Lullington has the distinction of being the most southerly village in Derbyshire. The Colville Arms is named after Charles Robert Colville, former Lord of the Manor and MP for Lullington in the mid 1800s.

The homeward bound route took us through Birchington House to Netherseal. Netherseal was recorded in the Domesday  In the late 1800s, a large colliery produced 500 tons of coal per day with around 500 men employed. Sir Nigel Gresley, designer of The Mallard steam locomotive, which held the world speed record of 126 mph in 1938, is buried in the churchyard. After the village of Donisthorpe we joined the Heritage Trail back to the Hostel.

Like other years it is important to all of the trustees, (for which New Futures Nepal is very personal in that we all have known and grown up with the children and their carers over the last 7 years), to make every effort to meet our supporters and for them to have the chance to feel more than just a donator or sponsor.