Better Together
Christopher Auker-Howlett, Founder
Gloucester Community Networking (GCN), is a small ‘Not for Profit Organisation’, that facilitates the networking between individuals and organisations for the betterment of all!
Due to various COVID-19 Lockdown measures introduced in 2020, we have had to radically reduce the number of activities we were hoping to carry out for our Core Projects: WORS, F4FA and GIVS. However, we are still going ahead with the Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Sunday for 2020. Please see the links and PDF documents below for more information.
The Covid-19 pandemic has drastically affected the number of activities that GCN can be part of. However, we will still be able to carry out Remembrance 2020 activities.
As always, Tesco Churchdown Branch have been amazing in allowing GCN / RBL to set up a Poppy Appeal table just inside the store to help GCN volunteers & Royal British Legion Collection Volunteers to arrange donations, provide Poppies and various other RBL merchandise to the local community.
From 26th October to 4th November (the day before England's one month lockdown), Tesco Shoppers (and donations made for our painted cement Poppies) made by The Churchdown Community Crafters, Mary Jordan, Janet & Gary Murden and others) have helped GCN / RBL Volunteers to raise a total of:
£3039.35GCN would like to extend our gratitude to all volunteers and of course, to the extremely generous people who made a donation!
THANK YOU!Check out our Churchdown & Innsworth "Lest We Forget" Facebook page
It has understandably been difficult confirming arrangements for this year's Poppy Appeal due to Covid-19 restrictions and the availability of volunteers. We have previously been able to ensure our volunteers have been present at Tesco, Churchdown each day, all day, for the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday.
However, due to the ages of our usual vounteers and their need for shielding, we have had to reduce the number of hours we are available. Therefore, if we are not in store when you visit, there are poppies and collection tins at the Customer Services desk and at the end of each Check-out.
You can always donate to the Poppy Appeal and buy merchandise directly by visiting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal website.As a guide, GCN and Poppy Appeal volunteers will normally aim to be present in-store weekdays and Saturdays between 12pm and 6pm, and Sundays 12pm to 4pm.
Chris Auker-Howlett wearing face mask.
Poppy Appeal merchandise behind protective shields.
New 'Royal British Legion' Contactless Payment Card machine
Royal British Legion Information Boards
Covid-19 Protection in place: Table Shields, Face Shields and everything is wiped down regularly with hand sanitiser
Veteran Chris Berry: Just one of the many wonderful volunteers available to take your donations
Concrete Poppies available, made by the Helping Hands Community Crafters, Mary Jordan and Janet Murden
Severn Signs Ltd, based in Innsworth Technology Park, very generously donated 2 x 7ft clear pull-up display sails complete with GCN logo for us to use as Covid-19 Shields
One of the main projects GCN has been concentrating on since 2018 is named "Glos100" and ran throughout 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. We are thrilled to announce that we helped raise over £5,000 for various charities, such as:
We have unfortunately had to cancel further WW1 and other events since March 2020, due to the Covid-19 restrictions. However, GCN was able to commemorate Victory over Japan » day that halted the ongoing and bloody battles but at the same time heralded in the age of the Atomic Bomb, which indiscriminately killed millions of Japanese civilians in Hiroshima » and Nagasaki »
You can find a complete list of WW1 related events that have taken place by visting our Glos 100 Press Release page »
